Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 22,013 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
11,660 results
in Scam Awareness
8newsnow.com
· 2025-12-03
Scammers are increasingly targeting seniors with sophisticated fraud schemes, including AI-generated voice clones and fake government impersonations, particularly during the holiday season. To address this growing threat, Nevada's Secretary of State's Office is hosting a free fraud prevention presentation on December 3rd at the MLK Senior Center in Las Vegas, where experts will teach seniors and caregivers how to identify red flags and protect themselves from financial loss. Attendees will learn practical, step-by-step strategies to recognize and avoid these scams.
sanantonioreport.org
· 2025-12-03
San Antonio Councilwoman Teri Castillo is proposing new protections against financial scams targeting seniors, including stricter regulations on door-to-door solicitation such as limiting hours to daytime and requiring vendors to wear ID badges and carry bonds. Over 1,100 cases of senior financial exploitation were reported in Bexar County last year, though the actual number is likely much higher since most cases go unreported. The proposal also seeks to improve seniors' access to legal aid and increase coordination between the city, financial institutions, and law enforcement to prevent fraud.
patch.com
· 2025-12-03
The Canton Police Department is warning seniors about a surge in financial scams, noting that Connecticut victims lost $31.9 million in 2024 alone, with most victims over 65 years old. Scammers use high-pressure tactics, fake caller IDs, and requests for untraceable payments like gift cards and cryptocurrency to steal money and personal information. Seniors should watch for urgent demands, refusals to meet in person, and instructions not to contact family, and should verify claims by calling known numbers and reporting suspected scams to police immediately.
wgem.com
· 2025-12-03
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud last year, with scammers increasingly targeting people during the holiday season through email, phone calls, and text messages—with seniors particularly vulnerable to "emergency scams" where fraudsters pose as relatives needing money. Common holiday scams include fake online stores, gift card tampering, credit card theft, and fraudulent charity solicitations. To protect yourself, verify websites and charities before purchasing or donating, purchase gift cards directly from cashiers, maintain a trusted contact list to screen calls, and never share card numbers or PINs with unsolicited callers.
miragenews.com
· 2025-12-03
During the busy holiday shopping season, scammers are increasingly targeting online shoppers, particularly on Facebook Marketplace, with cases rising in Dunedin and across the country. To protect yourself, police recommend checking when a seller's profile was created (new accounts are riskier), verifying that the seller's profile name matches their bank account name, avoiding payment screenshots, and conducting cash transactions in person at public locations with CCTV. For expensive items like cars, use verification tools like Carjam.co.nz, and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
wjhl.com
· 2025-12-03
# Article Summary
Three individuals—two from New Jersey and one from Washington—have been sentenced to a combined 20 years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that targeted elderly Americans, including a Tennessee man who lost his entire $86,900 life savings and later died by suicide. The scammers impersonated celebrities and government officials online to convince victims they were in romantic relationships, then extorted money by posing as law enforcement claiming investigations were underway. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious of unsolicited romantic advances online, never send money to people you haven't met in person, and verify claims by contacting official organizations directly through their published phone numbers rather than using contact information provided by the scammer.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-03
Three individuals—two from New Jersey and one from Washington—were sentenced to a combined 20 years in prison for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded a Tennessee victim of nearly $87,000 in 2023, ultimately contributing to his suicide. The scam involved criminals in Nigeria impersonating celebrities and government officials online to trick elderly victims into sending money, with U.S.-based conspirators receiving the funds and using harassment tactics to extract additional payments. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected romantic connections online, never send money to someone you haven't met in person, and report suspicious communications to authorities immediately.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-03
Fraudsters target shoppers during Christmas by creating fake websites and social media ads that mimic legitimate retailers, offering counterfeit or non-existent products at unrealistically low prices. Consumers should be wary of suspicious web addresses, pressure tactics like limited-time offers, and deals that seem too good to be true, as scammers use social media, email, text, and WhatsApp to steal money and personal information. To protect yourself, verify store URLs carefully, avoid urgent "flash sales," and shop only on verified legitimate websites.
wmdt.com
· 2025-12-02
Online scams targeting seniors have surged in the U.S., with older Americans losing nearly $4.9 billion last year—an average of $83,000 per victim—through tactics like fake charity appeals, gift card requests, and AI-generated impersonations of family members. Experts advise seniors to be wary of urgent requests, especially those demanding secrecy, and recommend establishing a safe word with loved ones to verify identities before sharing information. If you suspect a scam, hang up immediately, delete suspicious emails, call a trusted number to verify the contact, and report the incident to AARP or the FCC.
orilliamatters.com
· 2025-12-02
An Orillia senior nearly fell victim to a text message scam that falsely claimed she and her husband had traffic and parking violations, urging them to click a link to pay fines. The scammers exploited the couple's doubt by referencing recent driving situations and using official-sounding language, but lacked identifying details like license plate numbers. The key takeaway: legitimate government fines never arrive by text message with payment links—they come through official email or regular mail, so residents should verify directly with their municipality before paying anything.
orlandoweekly.com
· 2025-12-02
Florida ranked 8th among U.S. states for romance scams, with residents losing over $44 million to catfishing schemes in 2025—more than any other top 15 state—with the average victim losing $25,707. The scams disproportionately target older adults aged 60-79, though young adults aged 20-29 are also frequently victimized. To protect yourself, be cautious of online relationships that move quickly to requests for money, verify identities through video calls before deepening connections, and research unfamiliar contacts on social media.
aol.com
· 2025-12-02
An 83-year-old author and former university professor became the victim of a catfishing scam on Facebook in 2023, where someone pretended to be someone else to defraud her emotionally and financially. According to a 2023 Pew report, nearly half of women over 50 who use online dating have encountered scammers, making this a widespread problem affecting vulnerable populations. To protect yourself, experts advise trusting your instincts, being cautious about online relationships that seem too good to be true, and guarding personal and financial information from people you haven't met in person or verified through independent means.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-02
# AI-Powered Holiday Scams on the Rise
Artificial intelligence is making holiday scams increasingly sophisticated and dangerous, allowing criminals to create convincing fake voices and complex fraud schemes that have cost Georgians millions of dollars, according to the U.S. Secret Service. Romance and investment scams are among the costliest threats, with romance fraud causing over $800 million in losses nationwide and one metro Atlanta victim losing more than $3 million to AI-enhanced investment scams. To protect yourself, the Secret Service recommends being skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from family members, extraordinary sales offers, and suspicious online coupons—always verify directly through official company websites before responding to requests for money.
atg.wa.gov
· 2025-12-02
During the 2024 holiday season, Washington consumers were targeted by scammers posing as collectors for the "Youth Upliftment Society," a for-profit LLC falsely claiming to be a registered charity, who used tap-to-pay technology to charge unsuspecting donors significantly more than they agreed to donate—with some charged over $4,800 when they only authorized $15. To protect yourself, verify charities through the Washington Secretary of State's database or trusted rating sites like GiveWell or Charity Navigator before donating, and always review transaction details before completing tap-to-pay donations, or avoid the feature entirely for charitable giving.
legit.ng
· 2025-12-02
Nigerian singer Peter Okoye has denied reports that the EFCC (an anti-corruption agency) abandoned an $800,000 fraud lawsuit he filed against his brother Jude, calling the claims "propaganda" and "lies" on social media. The EFCC allegedly told the court they had no evidence linking Jude to the fraud case, but Peter insists the court session being referenced never actually took place. The dispute stems from ongoing tensions between the Okoye brothers following the breakup of their music group P-Square.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-02
# Cyber Monday Fraud Alert
This Cyber Monday is expected to generate over $14.2 billion in online sales, but scammers are actively targeting shoppers with fake websites, phony delivery notifications, and fraudulent job offers to steal personal information and money—Americans have already reported $7 billion in fraud this year. To stay safe, verify website URLs carefully for typos, avoid clicking links in unsolicited text messages about package deliveries, be cautious of too-good-to-be-true job postings, and monitor your credit card statements closely for unauthorized charges. When shopping, trust your instincts if something seems off, shop only on verified retailer websites, and use secure payment methods whenever possible.
wmbfnews.com
· 2025-12-02
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about online Secret Santa schemes that resurface each holiday season, where scammers pose festive gift-exchange posts on social media to trick people into sharing personal information like emails and home addresses for identity theft purposes. These illegal pyramid schemes often encourage users to invite friends and family, expanding the scam's reach across social networks. To protect yourself, avoid participating in these posts, and instead report them directly to the BBB scam tracker and your social media platform.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-02
# Phishing Scam Summary
Scammers are using real Apple Support tickets to conduct a sophisticated phishing scam that tricks users into surrendering their Apple accounts. The scheme exploits a flaw in Apple's support system that allows anyone to create legitimate support tickets without verification, which then triggers official Apple emails that appear trustworthy; victims receive fake security alerts and convincing calls from impersonators posing as Apple agents who guide them through account reset steps. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected Apple alerts and calls, verify support requests directly through Apple's official channels before taking action, and never share passwords or follow links from unsolicited communications.
wptv.com
· 2025-12-01
# Cyber Monday Scam Summary
During Cyber Monday, cybersecurity experts warn that online shoppers face a surge of scams, particularly through social media ads and fake promotions. One shopper lost hundreds of dollars on a counterfeit FootJoy golf shoe deal on Facebook and never recovered his money, despite disputing the charge. To protect yourself, experts recommend verifying deals through official websites, being skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, and avoiding clicking ads with artificial urgency (limited time or supply claims).
newsday.com
· 2025-12-01
New York State officials warned consumers about the rising threat of AI-powered shopping scams during Cyber Monday, when shoppers spend billions online. Last year, New Yorkers lost over $17 million to online shopping scams and another $41 million to business impostor schemes, with fraudulent websites and counterfeit products being the most common problems. To protect yourself, research sellers before purchasing, be cautious about unfamiliar online shops, and verify website authenticity before entering payment information.
news.ssbcrack.com
· 2025-12-01
# Bitcoin ATM Scam Summary
An Aransas Pass veteran lost thousands of dollars after scammers convinced him his computer had been hacked and directed him to deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM under false pretenses. The scam typically begins with a fake pop-up warning, followed by a phone call from someone impersonating tech support who creates urgency by threatening the victim's financial accounts. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited pop-ups and phone calls, never wire money or use Bitcoin ATMs based on such warnings, and listen to warnings from store employees—legitimate companies will never ask you to deposit cash into cryptocurrency machines.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-01
# FTC Report Summary
The Federal Trade Commission released its annual report showing that scams targeting older adults have intensified significantly, with more seniors reporting losses exceeding $100,000 than ever before. The report emphasizes the vulnerability of older adults to various fraud schemes and highlights the FTC's efforts to combat these crimes. Older adults and their families should remain vigilant by verifying requests for money before sending it, protecting personal information, and reporting suspected scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
investmentnews.com
· 2025-12-01
Major financial industry groups, including the CFP Board, are backing the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act, which would allow mutual fund companies to temporarily delay withdrawals if they suspect elder financial abuse. The legislation addresses a growing problem: one in five Americans over 65 has experienced financial exploitation, with seniors losing $4.88 billion to fraud in 2024 alone—a 43% increase from the previous year. If passed, the bill would give financial institutions a tool to pause suspicious transactions and protect vulnerable seniors' savings from predators.
wabi.tv
· 2025-12-01
# Holiday Scams Target Millions of Americans
Fraud has become a widespread problem affecting 89% of U.S. adults, with scammers increasingly targeting online shopping, digital payments, and charitable donations through sophisticated schemes like fake text messages, phony gift cards, and fraudulent social media ads. To protect yourself, experts recommend avoiding clicks on social media ads, researching charities through legitimate sites like give.org or charitynavigator.org before donating, and sticking with retailers you know and trust. For additional help, AARP offers free resources including a "Watchdog Alert" email or text service and a helpline at 877-908-3360 where trained volunteers can assist with reporting scams.
saltwire.com
· 2025-12-01
Charles Gillen, 25, defrauded over $130,000 from seniors in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, with three victims providing emotional impact statements describing trauma, sleepless nights, financial devastation, and lasting psychological harm. The victims, aged 74-87, lost their savings and spoke of feeling vulnerable, embarrassed, and anxious, with some unable to afford planned trips or recover from recent losses. Anyone suspicious of unsolicited contact offering financial opportunities or requests for personal information should verify the caller's identity through official channels and remember that legitimate organizations never pressure people into immediate decisions or ask for upfront payments.
grandrapidsmn.com
· 2025-12-01
# Fraud Prevention Presentation Offered
Minnesota Aging Pathways is hosting a free online presentation on January 14, 2026, to help people—particularly older adults—recognize and prevent fraud and scams, which are increasing in frequency. The presentation will cover how to detect fraud, report it, and protect personal information, drawing from the Senior Medicare Patrol's federal education program. Interested participants can register online at the provided Eventbrite link or by calling 800-333-2433 by the registration deadline.
bernama.com
· 2025-12-01
International police agencies are warning of a dangerous surge in transnational scam operations across Southeast Asia that are linked to human trafficking, forced labor, and serious crimes including torture and sexual exploitation. Victims are often lured with fake job promises and then forced into compounds where they operate fraud schemes like romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency scams targeting people worldwide. Law enforcement is increasing coordination and information sharing to dismantle these criminal networks, with Myanmar recently destroying hundreds of illegal scam buildings, and regional authorities are emphasizing joint efforts to combat the cross-border crime problem.
cedirates.com
· 2025-12-01
The Woyome brothers, including a former MP from Ghana's South Tongu District, have accused the local police of endorsing a fraudulent protest against them by failing to verify that the letterhead used to request a demonstration permit was forged. The protesters allegedly used a fake "Wing Chiefs Secretariat" letterhead that doesn't exist in official Agave Traditional Council records to gain police clearance for a November 24, 2025 protest. The brothers are calling for proper due diligence from police and warning that using forged documents to obtain permits constitutes fraud and forgery under Ghanaian law.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-01
During the Cyber Monday shopping season, scammers are flooding inboxes with fraudulent emails impersonating major retailers like Walmart and Target, with phishing emails surging over 2,000% last year. Non-payment and non-delivery scams cost consumers more than $785 million in 2024, prompting FBI warnings to shoppers. To protect yourself, avoid wiring money directly to sellers, never share pre-paid gift card information, and verify sellers through the Better Business Bureau before making purchases.
gbtribune.com
· 2025-12-01
# Holiday Shopping Scams Summary
AI-generated phishing emails are making holiday scams increasingly difficult to detect, as fraudsters now create convincing fake messages and websites that closely mimic legitimate retailers like Amazon and Walmart. To protect yourself, experts recommend never clicking links in unsolicited emails—instead, go directly to the retailer's website or app to verify any alerts, research sellers before purchasing, and pay with credit cards when possible so you can dispute fraudulent charges. If a seller insists on payment via gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, it's likely a scam, so trust your instincts and report suspicious activity to the FTC.
kiro7.com
· 2025-12-01
# Charity Scam Prevention Summary
Washington state officials have launched a "Pause. Check the Cause." campaign to help residents avoid holiday donation scams, which commonly include impostor charities mimicking legitimate organizations, phishing emails with fraudulent links, and fake organizations created on social media after disasters. Before donating, pause to research the charity's legitimacy by verifying its tax-exempt status with the Secretary of State, requesting its employer identification number (EIN), and visiting the organization's official website directly rather than clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts. Consumers should search for the charity's exact name along with terms like "scam" or "fraud" to spot red flags and donate only through official channels.
eastidahonews.com
· 2025-11-30
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador is warning residents about scams using fake jury duty notices sent via text, phone, and email to pressure people into paying fines or facing arrest—a scheme particularly targeting seniors. The scammers use spoofed caller IDs and official-looking documents to appear legitimate, but legitimate courts never demand payment through links or threaten arrest by phone. To protect yourself, ignore these messages, hang up immediately, and report suspected scams to ReportScamsIdaho.com rather than clicking any links or providing personal information.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-11-30
Cybercriminals in Bhopal are using terror-related threats to scam elderly people, falsely claiming their bank accounts funded terrorist attacks and demanding money to avoid legal consequences. The scam has already caused at least one suicide and defrauded several victims of significant sums, with incidents increasing rapidly over recent weeks. Authorities advise citizens—especially families with elderly members—to verify caller identities through official channels, report suspicious calls to police immediately, and educate older adults about these digital scams.
standardspeaker.com
· 2025-11-30
Americans lost a record $16.6 billion to scams in 2024, with 73% of people having experienced online fraud, and losses are expected to spike during the holiday shopping season as scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics like fake websites, phishing emails, and counterfeit delivery notifications. The most vulnerable populations need to be especially vigilant, as they're often the primary targets of these schemes. To protect yourself, verify website URLs for security (HTTPS), check for spelling errors on sites, and be cautious of unsolicited payment requests from supposed delivery services.
mychesco.com
· 2025-11-30
iberkshires.com
· 2025-11-30
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is warning residents about text message scams claiming they owe money for traffic violations and threatening license suspension if payment isn't made immediately. The RMV never contacts people via text about payment and only accepts payments in person or through its official website at mass.gov/RMV. Anyone receiving such texts should delete them immediately, avoid clicking any links, never share personal information, and report the scam to warn others.
ppc.land
· 2025-11-30
Internal documents reviewed by Reuters revealed that Meta's platforms display approximately 15 billion higher-risk scam advertisements daily, with projections suggesting 3-4% of the company's $200 billion 2024 advertising revenue came from fraudulent ads. Users of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other Meta platforms are exposed to these scams, which include banned goods and deceptive schemes that Meta only removes when it reaches 95% certainty of fraud. While experts debate whether stricter detection could help, the challenge remains balancing fraud prevention with protecting legitimate small businesses from being wrongly blocked by automated systems.
nbcsandiego.com
· 2025-11-30
The FBI San Diego Field Office is warning holiday shoppers about common scams that increase during the season, including non-delivery scams, fake charities, gift card fraud, and auction fraud that cost thousands of people money each year. To protect yourself, the FBI recommends being skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, avoiding suspicious links and payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers, verifying websites use secure "https://" connections, and researching charities before donating. By staying vigilant and doing research before shopping or donating online, consumers can help prevent scammers from taking advantage of holiday season spending.
wnegradio.com
· 2025-11-30
# Holiday Scam Warning Summary
The FBI is warning holiday shoppers in 2025 to be cautious of scams targeting both online purchases and charitable donations, as criminals increasingly use fraudulent deals and fake charity organizations to steal money and personal information. Consumers should verify websites before making purchases or donations, remember that deals that seem too good to be true usually are, and research sellers and charities before engaging with them. If you fall victim to a scam, report it to the FBI through their dedicated holiday scams resource at fbi.gov/holidayscams.
abc7chicago.com
· 2025-11-30
During Cyber Monday shopping, scammers are using artificial intelligence to create convincing fake deals and impersonate legitimate brands through fraudulent ads and giveaways, potentially tricking shoppers into giving away money or personal information. To protect yourself, always type website addresses directly into your browser rather than clicking links from ads or social media, and verify any delivery issues by visiting the official vendor or carrier website instead of responding to text messages. These simple steps can help you avoid common scams and shop safely online.
timesfreepress.com
· 2025-11-30
Scammers are targeting gift cards through a scheme called "gift card draining," which is becoming an increasingly popular fraud tactic that threatens gift-givers and recipients alike. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be cautious when purchasing and using gift cards, as criminals can drain their value. To protect yourself, shop carefully when buying gift cards, purchase from reputable retailers, and be aware of suspicious activity on your account.
mashable.com
· 2025-11-30
# Amazon Black Friday Impersonation Scam Alert
Amazon is warning its 300+ million users about a widespread holiday scam using fake notifications and malicious websites to steal financial information and account credentials, with cybercriminals registering over 700 fraudulent domains using keywords like "Black Friday" and "Christmas" to deceive shoppers. The scam uses fake delivery messages, too-good-to-be-true deals on social media, and requests for payment information through unofficial channels to target unsuspecting holiday shoppers. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unsolicited notifications, verify you're on Amazon's official website before entering account details, and be skeptical of deals advertised outside official channels.
abcnews.go.com
· 2025-11-30
The article discusses cybersecurity expert Leeza Garber providing tips on how to avoid scams during Cyber Monday shopping. While the piece doesn't detail specific scams or victims, the focus is on educating consumers about protection strategies during the popular online shopping event. To stay safe, shoppers should follow expert guidance on recognizing and avoiding fraudulent deals and suspicious websites during Cyber Monday.
newsnationnow.com
· 2025-11-30
"Pig butchering" scams—sophisticated fraud schemes run by international criminal networks primarily based in Malaysia and the Philippines—are targeting elderly people, entrepreneurs, and cryptocurrency investors by using social engineering to trick victims into sending money, cryptocurrency, or gift card codes. Experts have launched Operation Shamrock, a nonprofit dedicated to educating bankers and at-risk individuals about these billion-dollar scams that often involve trafficked workers forced to participate. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited contact urging you to invest or send money, verify requests through independent channels, and never send cryptocurrency or gift cards to unknown parties, especially if you're being pressured to act quickly.
fox9.com
· 2025-11-30
# Holiday Shopping Fraud Warning
U.S. consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes and fake websites to impersonate trusted brands during the holiday shopping season, affecting one in three Americans. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts, verify URLs directly on official retailer websites, use credit cards instead of debit cards, and be skeptical of urgent "limited-time offers"—especially from unfamiliar sellers on social platforms.
atg.wa.gov
· 2025-11-30
As Washington State enters the giving season and Giving Tuesday approaches, residents are being warned about charity fraud and scams that could divert donations from legitimate organizations. The Washington State Attorney General's Office is promoting a "Pause. Check the Cause" campaign that advises donors to verify charities before giving by checking their tax-exempt status, asking for an employer identification number (EIN), and verifying registration with the Secretary of State or IRS databases. To protect themselves, donors should avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts, navigate directly to charity websites, and be cautious of unfamiliar organizations or those requesting donations through unexpected channels.
▶ VIDEO
FOX 32 Chicago
· 2025-10-14
The FTC warns of increasingly sophisticated scams targeting older Americans, with criminals impersonating officials like IRS agents and stealing thousands via phone calls and online fraud. In response, AARP launched a program called Senior Planet to teach seniors how to recognize red flags and avoid scams, exemplified by one case where a victim lost over $2,500 in gift cards to a grandparent impersonation scam.
▶ VIDEO
KGW News
· 2025-10-10
Oregon is experiencing a growing crisis affecting its expanding senior population, with scams and housing insecurity among the pressing issues. AARP estimates that within five years, one in five Oregonians will be 65 or older, and seniors already outnumber those 18 and younger in the state. The discussion highlights how many elders are overlooked, isolated, and in need of community support and solutions to help them thrive safely.
▶ VIDEO
CBC News
· 2025-10-10
**Scam Type:** Romance/Investment Fraud
**Victim:** Marcel Desan (Ontario, Canada)
**Perpetrator:** Mariam Chan (operating under fake identity "Mary")
**Amount Lost:** $3,500
A scammer using a fake identity and stolen photos defrauded Marcel Desan of $3,500 through an online romance scheme. When Desan discovered the fraud and confronted the perpetrator (identified as Mariam Chan on social media), recorded calls captured the scammer's abusive responses and threats. The investigation traced the stolen funds being used by the fraudster to finance a lavish lifestyle while the
▶ VIDEO
WFXR NEWS
· 2025-10-08
The Better Business Bureau warned of increased scam activity during government shutdowns, particularly government impersonation scams where criminals pose as federal agencies to steal money or personal information. Common shutdown-related scams include fake passport expedited services, fraudulent messages claiming benefits are at risk unless payment is made, and impersonation of the IRS, Social Security, or law enforcement. The shutdown makes these scams more effective because confusion about which services remain open allows criminals to exploit victims, and official fraud reporting websites like the FTC's are offline, preventing victims from easily reporting incidents.