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in Identity Theft
ahmedabadmirror.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common online scams targeting consumers during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, including romance scams (which prey on isolated individuals over extended periods), job scams (impersonating recruiters to steal money or personal information), investment scams (get-rich-quick schemes often involving cryptocurrency), and quiz scams (harvesting personal data for account breaches). The article provides warning signs and protective measures for each scam type, such as reverse-image searching suspicious photos, verifying job offers directly with companies, researching investment opportunities independently, and avoiding online quizzes that collect personal information.
abnnewswire.net
· 2025-12-08
Research from 2024 found that approximately 30% of U.S. consumers lost money to scams between 2020-2024, with nearly 80 million Americans affected and average losses of $545 per victim. Identity theft was the most common scam type (24% of victims), while romance scams caused the highest financial impact with average losses of nearly $2,000 and longer victim engagement. Nearly 70% of victims recovered some losses through their banks, though 54% considered switching financial institutions following the incident, with 59% identifying enhanced fraud detection technology as the most important fraud safeguard.
einpresswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Nearly 80 million U.S. consumers (30% of the population) lost an average of $545 to scams between 2020-2024, with identity theft being the most common type and romance scams causing the largest financial impact at nearly $2,000 per victim. While 69-74% of victims recovered some losses through their banks or credit card issuers, over half considered switching financial institutions, and consumers identified advanced fraud detection and AI-based monitoring technologies as the most important safeguard against future scams.
newsaegis.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines cybersecurity best practices for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, emphasizing three core strategies: staying suspicious, stopping to think, and staying protected. The article identifies common scam tactics targeting all consumers—particularly elderly, lonely, and disabled individuals—including fear-based language, artificial urgency, and false promises of money, and recommends protective measures such as using password managers, enabling multi-factor verification, avoiding personal information requests in online quizzes, and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC or free resources like the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
valleybreeze.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud complaints rose 14 percent nationally in 2023, resulting in $3.4 billion in losses, with Rhode Islanders over 60 losing $7.4 million to scams. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, AARP Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island State Police held an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit to educate older adults on detecting and reporting fraud, emphasizing that tech support, romance, and investment scams are among the most common schemes targeting seniors. Experts stressed that victims should report incidents immediately and stay informed about evolving scams, noting that sophisticated criminals use artificial intelligence and psychological manipulation rather than targeting inherent vulnerabilities in older adults.
wthr.com
· 2025-12-08
Two New Castle correctional officers, Martins Chidiobi and Lawrence Onyesonwu, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft after stealing personally identifiable information from at least five inmates and using their identities to open nine fraudulent bank accounts, through which $331,282 was deposited—most withdrawn as cash or transferred to Nigerian accounts originating from romance scams and other fraud schemes. Both men were sentenced to three years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release and $5,000 fines each.
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
Charles Schwab is facing a federal lawsuit filed by an 84-year-old man and his 76-year-old wife who allege the financial firm failed to prevent scammers from stealing $18.5 million of their retirement savings. The fraud involved hackers posing as Schwab and law enforcement representatives who manipulated the couple into transferring nearly $30 million to a cryptocurrency exchange, with $18.5 million ultimately converted to crypto and sent to the scammers. This is the third similar lawsuit against Schwab in less than two months, highlighting a broader elder fraud crisis affecting seniors nationwide.
nbcmiami.com
· 2025-12-08
Wanda Tima, who operated "The Haitian American" Facebook page with over 460,000 followers, fell victim to a phishing scam when she clicked a malicious email link during a fake podcast interview request, allowing a hacker to take control of her account and post political content. Cybersecurity experts note that phishing attacks are increasingly difficult to detect because scammers exploit publicly available personal information from multiple sources, and recommend using two-factor authentication, strong passwords, and avoiding suspicious links to prevent such attacks. Tima regained control of her page after nearly two weeks and reported the incident to Meta.
scamwatch.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are sending emails falsely claiming to have hacked victims' computers or webcams and threatening to release compromising sexual images unless cryptocurrency is paid, using personal details from public data breaches to increase credibility. There is no evidence these scammers actually have access to victims' devices; recipients should delete emails, not pay, and report to authorities if they believe their information has been compromised. Hundreds of people have been targeted with this sextortion scam, and support services are available for those affected.
coosavalleynews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 27-year-old Rome woman was arrested for fraudulently using a 75-year-old man's debit card without permission to make ten purchases totaling $600.68 at local restaurants and online retailers between September 16-30. Allie Nicole Mull faces ten counts of financial transaction card fraud, identity fraud, and exploitation of an elderly person.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
A married senior couple lost $30 million in a coordinated fraud scheme involving impersonation, cryptocurrency transfers, and alleged negligence by Charles Schwab, Bank of America, and Unchained Trading. Scammers used confidential information from Schwab's 2023 data breach to convince the victims their investment accounts were compromised, then directed them to liquidate assets and convert funds to cryptocurrency. The lawsuit alleges that all three institutions failed to implement proper Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols despite clear red flags of elder financial abuse and identity theft, and instead attempted to upsell additional services rather than halt the fraudulent transactions
thealpenanews.com
· 2025-12-08
A caller impersonating "Jack Jones" from Dish Network convinced the author's wife to provide her debit card information by claiming a mandatory $149.99 software update fee was required within 24 hours to maintain service, with a promised $15/month credit over 36 months. The author discovered the scam after returning home, confirmed it with Dish Network customer service, and took immediate protective measures including moving funds and canceling the debit card, noting that the scam's sophisticated nature—mimicking legitimate service procedures—would be particularly dangerous for elderly or cognitively declining seniors.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Credit card fraud affects approximately 60% of US credit card holders, with 52 million Americans experiencing fraudulent charges totaling over $5 billion last year, particularly during high-spending periods like Black Friday. Common scams include gift card fraud (where criminals pose as officials demanding payment via gift cards), fake charity websites, cloned shopping sites with nearly identical URLs, phone scams requesting card information, and credit card skimmers on unattended payment terminals. To protect themselves, consumers should monitor credit reports weekly through annualcreditreport.com, only shop on secure encrypted sites (https://), verify charity legitimacy through the IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Search tool, and be suspicious of unsolic
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending sextortion emails that include photos of victims' houses obtained from Google Street View, claiming to have compromising videos and demanding Bitcoin ransom while threatening to expose the content to contacts. The scams exploit data from previous breaches to personalize threats and create false credibility, though scammers do not actually possess any videos or camera access. Victims should not pay ransom or respond to emails but instead report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Division, monitor their credit, and check for unauthorized charges.
wccbcharlotte.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending extortion emails that include photos of victims' houses obtained from Google Street View, threatening to expose supposed explicit content videos and demanding Bitcoin payment within a short timeframe. The emails falsely claim the scammers have stolen passwords, installed malware, and recorded victims through their cameras, but these threats are fabricated—the scammers have no actual compromising videos or camera access. Victims should not pay the ransom or respond to emails, and should instead report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Division at IC3.gov.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old man named Dennis Jones was romantically scammed by a woman he met on Facebook who claimed to be a successful cryptocurrency investor named Jessie and offered to teach him how to profit from crypto investments. After developing trust with the scammer and hoping to leave an inheritance for his family, Dennis invested his savings, which turned out to be part of a fraudulent scheme. The devastating financial loss and emotional trauma led to Dennis taking his own life, and his son and daughter now share his story publicly to warn others about romance and cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old San Francisco Bay Area resident lost $50,000 in a cryptocurrency scam after receiving a call from someone impersonating her grandson who claimed to be arrested and needing bail money. The scammers instructed her to deposit cash into Coinstar cryptocurrency ATMs over multiple days, using escalating claims of additional charges and fees to extract more funds. Although her bank flagged suspicious withdrawals and a concerned bystander urged her to verify the story, she only discovered the fraud after directly contacting her grandson, and cryptocurrency's irreversible nature made fund recovery impossible.
koamnewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers are increasingly using text message phishing schemes to impersonate legitimate businesses, exploiting the fact that companies now communicate more via SMS. To protect against these scams, consumers should avoid clicking suspicious links, verify business contact information through official channels, watch for grammar errors and poor English, ignore requests to reply with "STOP," and report suspected scams to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending sextortion emails that include photos of victims' homes (obtained from Google Street View) and falsely claim to have installed malware, recorded compromising videos, and stolen passwords, demanding Bitcoin payment within a short timeframe. The scam exploits personal information from data breaches and uses intimidation tactics, but the threats are not genuine—scammers have no actual videos or camera access. Victims should not pay, report the emails to the FBI's Internet Crime Division at IC3.gov, monitor their credit for fraud, and ignore all communication from the scammers.
theedgemalaysia.com
· 2025-12-08
Traditional Know Your Customer (KYC) methods such as document verification and facial recognition are increasingly insufficient against sophisticated fraud tactics like deepfakes, money mule scams, romance scams, and account takeovers—with 70% of fraud occurring after the initial onboarding process. AI and machine learning technologies can both facilitate fraud through deepfake creation and combat it through real-time behavioral analysis, anomaly detection, and signature/pixel analysis to identify fraudulent documents and account activity across geographic locations. Effective fraud prevention requires a collaborative approach combining advanced technology, robust regulations, public awareness, and information sharing among businesses, governments, and individuals.
kashmirobserver.net
· 2025-12-08
India's CERT-In cyber-security agency issued a public advisory detailing over a dozen online scams targeting citizens, with particular focus on the "digital arrest" scam where fraudsters impersonate government officials via WhatsApp or Skype, threatening victims with arrest to coerce them into transferring money under false pretenses of investigations or security deposits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi simultaneously warned the public about these scams in his radio address, recommending citizens verify agency identity directly, avoid panic-driven money transfers, and report incidents to the national cyber-security helpline (1930) or www.cybercrime.gov.in. The advisory also highlighted other prevalent scams including phishing,
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
As the 2024 presidential election approached, scammers targeted voters through three main schemes: fake voter registration, fraudulent surveys and polls, and fake political donation requests, typically contacting victims by phone or email while impersonating legitimate political or government entities. Red flags include requests for personal financial information, pressure to act quickly, lack of official contact information, and unsolicited demands for Social Security numbers. Voters should verify registration through official state sources and report suspicious communications to the FTC.
businessday.ng
· 2025-12-08
Internet scams are a global concern causing significant financial losses and erosion of trust in digital transactions. India recorded $7.93 million USD in cybercrime losses across 4,850 cases in 2023, while Brazil experienced 1.8 million banking trojan infections the same year; Pakistan reported 32,072 suspicious transactions, and South Africa ranks 7th globally for cyber criminality, with identity theft and phishing attacks being prevalent across all regions. Governments are implementing awareness campaigns and stronger cybersecurity measures, but rapid digital infrastructure growth continues to outpace law enforcement efforts to combat evolving scam tactics.
oregonlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams involving recruiters impersonating legitimate companies have increased significantly, with scammers using online platforms to target job seekers and trick them into providing personal information or money. Tehseen Islam, a 28-year-old job seeker, lost $1,000 after depositing a fraudulent check from scammers posing as a marketing technology company recruiter and was asked to wire funds for equipment. Experts recommend job seekers verify company legitimacy through official websites, avoid clicking links or depositing suspicious checks, and limit personal information sharing until after receiving a legitimate job offer.
apnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams are on the rise as scammers impersonate recruiters and companies on online platforms to steal money and personal information from job seekers. A 28-year-old quality assurance analyst lost $1,000 after depositing a fraudulent check and unknowingly sharing personal details with scammers who posed as a marketing technology company. Experts recommend verifying recruiter identities through official company websites, avoiding clicking links from unsolicited messages, and being wary of unusually high-paying remote positions that request personal information like Social Security numbers early in the hiring process.
legalreader.com
· 2025-12-08
Two correctional officers at an Indiana prison, Martins Tochukwu Chidiobi and Lawrence Onyesonwu, were sentenced to three years in federal prison for stealing the identities of at least five inmates and using them to open fraudulent bank accounts between 2015 and 2019. The defendants deposited at least $331,282 in fraud proceeds—largely from romance scams and other schemes—into these accounts, then withdrew most of the money as cash or transferred it to Nigerian bank accounts. Both men pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and making false statements to financial institutions.
ia.acs.org.au
· 2025-12-08
Former NSW Police detective Kylee Dennis launched Two Face Investigations in August 2023 after discovering her friend's 78-year-old mother was targeted by a romance scammer using stolen photos. Since inception, Dennis has investigated cases involving victims aged 50-86 who lost between $30 and over $500,000 to romance scammers, contributing to Australia's $34.3 million in romance scam losses during 2023.
ag.state.mn.us
· 2025-12-08
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison provides guidance on steps to take after a data breach, warning that stolen personal information (passwords, social security numbers, credit card data, etc.) is frequently used by criminals to open fraudulent accounts or conduct phishing scams that damage victims' credit. Consumers should change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, place a fraud alert with credit bureaus, and consider placing a security freeze on their credit reports to protect themselves from identity theft and unauthorized account creation.
unitedway.org
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are impersonating United Way staff to scam people through unsolicited texts and social media messages, falsely offering cash grants, financial assistance, or employment opportunities while requesting personal information such as banking details and social media passwords. United Way clarifies it never contacts people with unsolicited grant offers or accepts assistance applications via text or social media. Experts recommend being suspicious of unsolicited offers, verifying caller identity through official channels, never sharing personal information in response to such offers, and reporting scams to law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission.
ic3.gov
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned the public that scammers are exploiting the 2024 US General election through multiple fraud schemes, including fake campaign investment pools promising returns, fraudulent Political Action Committees soliciting donations, non-delivery merchandise scams, and fake voter registration pages designed to steal personal information. To protect themselves, victims should avoid unsolicited contacts and unverified links, verify PAC registration through the FEC website, and check voter registration at vote.gov. The FBI urges victims to report suspicious activities to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov, with seniors aged 60+ able to seek assistance through the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline at 1
wsaz.com
· 2025-12-08
"Quishing" attacks—scams using fake QR codes to steal money and personal information—have increased tenfold between 2021 and 2024, with 77% mimicking well-known brands like DocuSign and Microsoft. Common targets include parking meters and payment systems, where scammers overlay fraudulent QR codes on legitimate ones to redirect payments to themselves. Experts recommend consumers inspect QR codes for additional stickers, verify codes before use, and avoid scanning codes from unexpected sources, while businesses should monitor their codes against unauthorized duplication.
madvalleycurrent.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly victim in Ontario lost nearly $10,000 after being contacted by phone and directed to deposit money into a cryptocurrency ATM with promises of high investment returns that never materialized. Fraudsters often create fake cryptocurrency investment companies with convincing websites and fake testimonials to pressure victims into making increasingly large deposits. The OPP advises the public to be wary of abnormally high return promises, verify company legitimacy through business registries, never share cryptocurrency private keys, and report suspected fraud to local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
ncoa.org
· 2025-12-08
AI-powered scams represent an emerging threat to consumers, particularly older adults, utilizing artificial intelligence tools to create highly convincing impersonations and fraudulent messages at scale. Scammers employ four main tactics: voice cloning to impersonate family members or authority figures, deepfake videos to pose as public figures, sophisticated phishing emails that bypass spam filters, and fake websites promoting fraudulent investments. The FBI has warned that as AI technology advances, cybercriminals' ability to execute personalized, authentic-seeming fraud campaigns will continue to increase.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Viraj Patel, a money mule operating in Florida, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for laundering at least $216,000 in proceeds from government-imposter fraud schemes targeting senior citizens. Patel picked up cash and gold from victims who had been deceived by India-based conspirators into believing their identities were compromised, including one victim who was tricked into surrendering $71,000 and later $50,000 in a single scheme. The court ordered Patel to forfeit $145,000 in traceable fraud proceeds.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, older Americans reported $1.9 billion in fraud losses to the FTC, though the actual figure is estimated at $61.5 billion when accounting for underreporting. Adults ages 60 and older experienced higher median losses than younger groups (ranging from $500 for ages 60-69 to $1,450 for ages 80+) and were significantly more vulnerable to tech support scams (5x more likely), sweepstakes scams (3x more likely), and impersonation scams, with investment scams and cryptocurrency payments causing the largest losses.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This educational article advises that scammers increasingly use digital communication (96% of scams) through emails, texts, and social media with sophisticated tactics like fake logos and official-looking addresses to trick people into sharing personal information or money. Key protection strategies include verifying unexpected communications directly with organizations, watching for red flags like spelling errors and urgency tactics, staying informed through Scamwatch, and immediately contacting banks, IDCARE, and cyber.gov.au if victimized.
renfrewtoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
An elderly victim lost nearly $10,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam after a phone caller promised high returns and directed them to deposit money into a cryptocurrency ATM. The Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment warns that scammers use fake companies with professional websites and high-pressure sales tactics to fraudulently solicit investments. To protect against such schemes, individuals should be skeptical of unusually high returns, research company legitimacy, never share cryptocurrency wallet credentials, and report suspected fraud to local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
Synthetic identity fraud reached record levels in the first half of 2024, with fraudsters opening accounts using fake identities across auto loans, credit cards, and personal loans, exposing U.S. lenders to $3.2 billion in potential losses—a 7% increase from the prior year. The report found an 18% year-over-year rise in synthetic identity accounts and identified a growing "credit washing" scam where criminals file false identity fraud claims to erase negative credit history. Auto loans faced the highest exposure, with balances roughly double those of the bankcard sector.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This article presents educational advice from a Scam Jam event in Richmond, Virginia, where experts from organizations including AARP Virginia and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service provided seniors with strategies to protect themselves against fraud. Speakers described various scams targeting older Americans, including durable medical equipment fraud, mail theft, identity theft, phishing, and AI-powered impersonation calls, and advised attendees to avoid unsolicited contacts, protect personal information, and use secure mailing practices. The event emphasized that fraudsters use both low-tech methods like mail theft and high-tech tactics like voice manipulation, and stressed that seniors should be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
themirror.com
· 2025-12-08
Since 2015, US Marine Corps officer Kagan Dunlap has been targeted by romance scammers who steal his photos and impersonate him on dating apps, deceiving thousands of women globally into sending money ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The scammers use various tactics including AI voice imitation and elaborate military deployment stories, and some have even contacted his wife, leaving him to repeatedly verify his identity to victims who discover the fraud through reverse image searches.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This article covers a "Scam Jam" educational event in Richmond, Virginia organized by AARP Virginia where law enforcement and fraud prevention experts educated about 30 seniors on common scams targeting older adults. Presenters from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol discussed various fraud schemes including mail theft, identity theft, durable medical equipment fraud, and AI-powered impersonation scams, while offering practical protective strategies such as mailing checks directly to post offices and shredding personal documents.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Morgan Ortiz, a former New Mexico State Police officer, and Dr. Keith Levitt were indicted on 16 criminal charges for defrauding Medicaid of over $800,000 between March 2019 and April 2021 through a substance abuse recovery program they operated. The scheme involved identity theft of a physician, forgery, falsifying documents, and unlicensed medical practice. The case was investigated by New Mexico's Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Division.
journee-mondiale.com
· 2025-12-08
The United States observes National Slam the Scam Day on March 7th annually, an awareness campaign established by the Federal Trade Commission in 2020 to educate the public about fraud prevention. Common scams include phishing emails, fake charities, tech support schemes, romance scams, and grandparent scams targeting the elderly—such as the case of 78-year-old Martha, who lost $5,000 after receiving a fraudulent call claiming to be from her grandson. The FTC recommends protecting oneself by verifying information, never sharing personal details unsolicited, monitoring credit reports, and reporting suspicious activity to authorities.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Southern California residents are being targeted by a sophisticated email extortion scam that uses personal information—including names, addresses, phone numbers, and photos of homes—obtained from data breaches to threaten victims with exposure of alleged pornography browsing history, typically demanding approximately $2,000 in Bitcoin. The Ventura County District Attorney's Office warns this is a nationwide boilerplate scam perpetrated by scammers often based outside the country, who rely on creating fear and urgency rather than actual device hacking. Authorities recommend ignoring such emails, enabling two-factor authentication, monitoring accounts for suspicious activity, and reporting incidents to local law enforcement or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam uses images of recipients' homes obtained from Google Maps and personal information from past data breaches to threaten victims with fabricated claims of compromising video footage, demanding payment in Bitcoin or cash. To protect yourself, verify house photos against Google Maps street view, examine sender email addresses for authenticity and check SPF/DKIM/DMARC authentication results, and avoid clicking unfamiliar links—scammers typically lack actual compromising material and rely on fear tactics to extort money.
koat.com
· 2025-12-08
A former New Mexico State Police officer, Morgan Ortiz, and doctor, Dr. Keith Levitt, were charged with 16 counts including Medicaid fraud, identity theft, and document falsification for operating an unlicensed substance abuse recovery program in Albuquerque between March 2019 and April 2021. The defendants allegedly billed over $800,000 in fraudulent claims to Medicaid for services they were not credentialed to provide, exploiting vulnerable individuals struggling with substance use disorders.
nbcmiami.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article warns that while QR codes are convenient for payments and menus, scammers exploit them to steal personal information and money through fake codes placed over legitimate ones or by directing users to malicious websites and apps. The article advises users to watch for signs of tampering (such as stickers), verify URLs and apps before using them, use physical payment methods when available, and use free verification tools like the "Genie" app to check QR codes for scams.
abc6.com
· 2025-12-08
Roberto Munoz and Jason Rhodes were indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for operating as "couriers" in grandparent scams targeting seniors across multiple states including Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The scammers impersonated grandchildren in legal trouble, convincing victims to wire money for bail and legal fees, with one Rhode Island couple losing $18,000 before being asked for an additional $40,000; police arrested both men during a sting operation and recovered over $60,000 in cash, with evidence suggesting they targeted victims in at least 14 cities across nine states.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two men were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for operating as couriers in grandparent scams targeting elderly victims across multiple states in early 2024. Roberto Munoz and Jason Rhodes collected approximately $230,000 from victims in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by posing as lawyers or law enforcement officials claiming grandchildren needed bail money, with evidence suggesting victims in at least nine additional states were also targeted. The defendants were apprehended after police set up surveillance at a victim's home where one defendant allegedly came to collect money, and investigators seized over $60,000 in cash from their vehicle and hotel room.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Denise George fell victim to "card not received" fraud when criminals intercepted her replacement credit card and used her personal details—obtained partly from her public Companies House listing as a charity trustee—to access her bank accounts via telephone banking. The fraudsters stole £500 from her credit card and £1,500 from her ISA before Barclays detected the suspicious activity, which the bank later admitted it should have flagged earlier. This incident reflects a broader trend: UK Finance reported £570m in payment fraud losses in the first half of the year, with "card not received" fraud cases increasing 39% in losses to £1.9m, particularly targeting properties with communal letter