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cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Best Buy and Geek Squad were the most impersonated companies in scams, with approximately 52,000 FTC reports, followed by Amazon (34,000 reports) and PayPal (10,000 reports). However, Microsoft and Publishers Clearing House impersonation scams resulted in significantly higher financial losses—$60 million and $49 million respectively—as scammers typically claimed software had expired or computers were infected, then requested payment or personal information through untraceable methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency. Best Buy advised consumers to verify contact through official channels and report suspected fraud to the company and local authorities.
whig.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau received multiple reports in spring 2024 of phishing text messages impersonating toll collection services, claiming recipients owe small amounts (typically $12) with threats of larger late fees ($50) to trick them into clicking malicious links and entering personal or payment information. Scammers exploit the likelihood that travelers won't track tolls closely, using fake URLs and spoofed agency names; consumers should verify any toll balance directly through the legitimate agency website or phone number rather than clicking unsolicited text links.
arabnews.pk
· 2025-12-08
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) launched a new "Account Finder" service to help retail banking customers verify account ownership and reduce risks of unauthorized access, impersonation, and suspicious transactions. The initiative is part of SAMA's broader efforts to combat financial fraud in Saudi Arabia, where a joint study with Interpol identified five major types of fraud affecting Arab countries—including investment scams, business email compromise, romance scams, and sextortion—with fraudulent sites receiving over 137,000 daily visits from potential victims.
sudbury.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud losses in Canada surged from approximately $165 million in 2020 to $569 million in 2023, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, though officials estimate actual losses may be 10-20 times higher since only 5-10% of victims report incidents. Common scams include grandparent schemes and romance fraud, with fraudsters increasingly leveraging generative AI, making phishing attacks a daily threat for Canadians with email and cellphones.
newstalkzb.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
A New Zealand woman lost over $580,000 to an international romance scam spanning 14 months between November 2019 and December 2020, after meeting a scammer posing as a US oil rig worker named "Scott Thomas" on Tinder. The perpetrator convinced her he needed funding for an oil project and claimed access to a $3 million UK bank account that had been hacked, promising to repay her once he regained the funds and traveled to New Zealand to marry her. The victim made 21 international transfers from her own and her elderly father's accounts before the scam was discovered by a family member who found an incriminating email; she
keysnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost consumers $1.3 billion in 2022, with cybercriminals cultivating online relationships for months before requesting money. Experts recommend moving relationships slowly, watching for red flags (requests to move off dating apps, refusal to video call, generic terms of endearment), conducting reverse image searches on profile photos, and avoiding any money transfers or financial exchanges with people you have not met in person.
birminghammail.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
An identity theft victim in Birmingham discovered fraudsters had stolen their personal details to purchase a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra phone (£1,099) from Curry's in London using a fake contract in their name, only realizing the fraud after receiving suspicious emails from Curry's and Vodafone over a 36-hour period. The victim successfully reported the fraud to Vodafone, avoided financial loss, though experienced temporary credit rating damage, and now emphasizes the importance of immediately verifying suspicious communications rather than dismissing them as phishing scams. The incident highlights that identity fraud remains the most common type of fraud in the UK, with Cifas reporting over 237,000
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Two members of an international fraud conspiracy targeting senior citizens were sentenced to federal prison: Jmyla Elaine Sha'Taria White received eight years, one month and was ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution, while McKhaela Katelynn McNamara received four years, three months and $693,073 in restitution. The scheme used fake tech support warnings and fake federal agents to deceive elderly victims into sending money, with one West Michigan resident losing $398,000 and total losses reaching millions of dollars. Victims can report suspected elder fraud at ic3.gov or contact the FBI at 313-965-2323.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in the tri-state area nearly lost $25,000 in an elaborate phishing scam involving fake Geek Squad invoices that escalated when the scammer showed up at her home to collect cash in person. The victim provided her bank account number and computer access after receiving a phishing email, then was pressured to withdraw $20,000 in cash based on a false claim of an accidental $25,000 refund; authorities arrested the scammer during the pickup. The article advises victims to verify subscriptions, track invoice patterns, contact companies through official websites, and watch for unprofessional language or threats from callers requesting sensitive information.
theworldlink.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly Oregonians lost $44 million to internet scams in 2023, with FBI data showing a 14% increase in elder fraud complaints and an 11% rise in associated losses that year. The average victim aged 60 and older lost $33,915, with over $3.4 billion in total losses nationwide, with tech support scams being the most commonly reported type and investment scams causing the greatest financial damage at over $1.2 billion.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Winnipeg and Manitoba experienced a 160% increase in cybercrime reports from 2015 to 2016 (rising from 123 to 321 cases in Winnipeg), significantly exceeding the national average of 34%, though police acknowledge many incidents go unreported due to victim embarrassment. Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and targeting diverse populations—from job seekers and romance scam victims to businesses through "spear phishing" schemes, such as the fraudulent email that cost an Edmonton university $11.8 million. Police advise verifying unusual requests for money or transfers with trusted colleagues and exercising caution when dealing with unknown parties online.
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings, 31, from Sandy Springs, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million stolen through business email compromise (BEC) scams, romance fraud, and healthcare benefits fraud. Mullings opened approximately 20 shell company bank accounts between 2019 and 2021 to launder the proceeds, which he spent on luxury items including a Ferrari purchased with $260,000 fraudulently obtained from an elderly romance scam victim. His criminal network targeted businesses, healthcare programs, and vulnerable elderly individuals across the United States.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings of Sandy Springs was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through romance fraud and business email compromise schemes between 2019 and 2021. Mullings opened 20 fraudulent bank accounts to hide proceeds from scams targeting elderly victims and private companies, using stolen funds to purchase luxury items including a Ferrari bought with $260,000 stolen from an elderly romance fraud victim. He was ordered to pay restitution to victims and serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
columbiatribune.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau has received multiple reports of phishing text messages impersonating toll collection services, demanding payment of small amounts (typically $12) with threats of larger late fees to trick travelers into clicking malicious links and providing personal or payment information. Scammers exploit the fact that road travelers may not track tolls closely, with recent cases including fake messages spoofing the Illinois Tollway and fraudulent "Missouri Toll Services" texts directing payments through SunPass, a Florida-based toll agency that does not operate in Missouri. To avoid these scams, consumers should independently verify outstanding tolls through legitimate agency websites or phone numbers rather than clicking links in unsolicited text messages.
clarksvilleonline.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns military members and veterans to be alert for scams around Memorial Day, which typically include high-priced military loans with hidden fees, fake rental properties using stolen photos, misleading vehicle sales targeting deployed soldiers, and fraudulent charities mimicking legitimate nonprofits. The BBB recommends avoiding wire transfers, protecting computers from phishing, placing active duty alerts on credit reports, researching businesses and charities before engaging, and reporting suspected fraud through BBB.org/Scamtracker.
ballmergroup.org
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are impersonating Ballmer Group and its employees through email, social media, and phone calls to solicit monetary deposits, personal identification, investment opportunities, and registration fees from the public. Ballmer Group does not request payments, personal information, donations, or membership fees, and advises recipients of suspicious communications claiming to be from the organization to report them directly or to the Federal Trade Commission.
kplctv.com
· 2025-12-08
A text scam circulating in Lake Arthur, Louisiana falsely claims recipients must appear in court and directs them to call "Pretrial Services of Acadia Parish" at an out-of-area number, threatening dispatch of local authorities. Lake Arthur Police Department advises residents to discard these messages and report them to Louisiana State Police, as the scam is designed to extract money or personal information from victims.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC identified the 10 companies most impersonated by scammers, including Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, PayPal, and major banks, with scammers using phone calls, emails, and social media to contact victims and requesting payment via gift cards, bank transfers, or Zelle. Gift cards from Apple, Target, eBay, Walmart, and Amazon were the most common payment method used in 2023, with social media scams resulting in the highest financial losses despite email and phone being more frequent contact methods. The FTC recommends verifying requests independently, avoiding unfamiliar links and caller IDs, and refusing to send money through single payment methods, while also suggesting protective
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults, despite 88% using the internet, are increasingly targeted by scammers who exploit fears and lack of technical knowledge to steal identities and money. The author, a 50-year finance professional, fell victim twice to tech support scams that tricked him into providing sensitive information including his Social Security number and credit card details. FBI data shows elder fraud complaints rose 14% recently with victims averaging losses of $33,915, and common scams targeting seniors include fake tech support calls, Medicare/health insurance fraud, internet pop-up viruses, and telemarketing schemes.
securelist.com
· 2025-12-08
Online marketplace scammers increasingly operate under a "Fraud-as-a-Service" model, targeting message board users through two main schemes: impersonating sellers to deceive buyers, or impersonating buyers to trick sellers into entering payment card details on phishing sites. Scammers strategically target sellers with promoted ads and mobile payment preferences, using convincing conversations to build trust before sending fake payment links that harvest financial information and drain bank accounts.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
An Auckland woman in her 50s lost at least $34,000 to a romance scam involving an Instagram user claiming to be "Harry Lugard," who fabricated stories about needing money for travel and later claimed arrest in Dubai. After the scammer stood her up at the airport, she fell victim to a recovery room scam when a fake "private investigator" found on Quora threatened her and her family while attempting to extract further funds. Experts warn that scammers often target people who have already lost money, may use AI to create convincing fake identities, and advise never sending money to people you've only met online.
wsbradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings, a Sandy Springs man, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million stolen from romance fraud schemes and business email compromise scams between 2019 and 2021. Mullings operated 20 fraudulent bank accounts under a fake company name to hide proceeds from schemes targeting elderly victims and healthcare programs, using some stolen funds to purchase luxury items including a Ferrari purchased with $260,000 taken from an elderly romance fraud victim. He was ordered to pay restitution and faces three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Between 2021 and 2023, senior citizens comprised 6.4% of online scam victims in Malaysia but suffered disproportionate losses of RM552.5 million (20% of the RM2.7 billion total), with telecommunication scams accounting for 47.6% of senior citizen victimization. The trend has accelerated in 2024, with 990 senior citizens losing RM130.4 million as of mid-May, representing 27.7% of total online scam losses despite being only 8.3% of cases. Authorities attribute the vulnerability to seniors' lack of internet knowledge and recommend immediately hanging up on calls from unknown
auburnpub.com
· 2025-12-08
A workshop titled "Seniors in the Know" was scheduled for June 14, 2024, in Auburn, New York, to educate seniors on fraud and scam awareness as well as patient rights and healthcare advocacy. The $40 event, presented by the Cayuga County Council of Senior Citizens and the State-Wide Finger Lakes Chapter, included a buffet lunch and required reservations by May 31.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 42-year-old single mother from Cheshire lost her entire £6,000 life savings to a romance scammer on Tinder who posed as "James" and convinced her to invest in cryptocurrency through a fake trading platform. The scammer manipulated her by showing false profits (displaying $86,000 before reducing it to zero) and requesting tax payments, ultimately disappearing after she confronted him about the scheme. She has reported the fraud to Action Fraud and hired a solicitor in hopes of recovering her money.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Go Public investigation found dozens of Facebook account takeovers targeting users, where scammers hijack accounts and impersonate victims to defraud their friends by posing as the account owner selling items (hot tubs, trucks, tractors) on behalf of an elderly parent in long-term care. In one documented case, Lesa Lowery's account was compromised in March after she clicked a phishing email link, and her friends were swindled out of a combined $2,500 before Meta responded, despite multiple reports during the active scam. Cybersecurity experts say Meta's failure to provide customer service or quickly address the widespread scam represents a basic security
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between April 2023 and March 2024, British courier fraud scams targeting elderly people resulted in £28.7 million in losses, with victims averaging £20,000 each. People in their 80s were most vulnerable, accounting for 43% of victims, with approximately 85% of all victims aged 60-90; fraudsters posed as police officers or bank officials to trick targets into handing over money, valuables, or bank cards by claiming to investigate account issues or fraudulent business activity. City of London Police conducted a joint operation across England and Wales in May, making five arrests and receiving over 100 referrals from 26 forces, while recommending call-
fronterasdesk.org
· 2025-12-08
The FBI is hosting an educational seminar in Tucson to help seniors recognize phone and internet scams, following reports that fraud targeting people 60 and older caused over $3 billion in losses nationwide last year—a 10% increase from 2022. Local church members prompted the event after experiencing spam calls and falling victim to increasingly sophisticated scams, including AI-generated voice impersonation and phishing emails. The free public seminar covers scam identification and prevention techniques.
news.ncsu.edu
· 2025-12-08
Researchers analyzed 67,991 SMS phishing messages collected over 396 days and identified 600 distinct phishing operations using 35,128 unique campaigns. The study found that scammers impersonate trusted entities like banks to trick people into sharing sensitive information via text, and surprisingly, many operations use mainstream infrastructure and openly advertise services on platforms like LinkedIn rather than hiding on the dark web. The findings highlight the scale of SMS phishing threats to consumer privacy and security, while identifying avenues for law enforcement to combat these operations.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC released a report identifying the companies most commonly impersonated by scammers, with Best Buy's Geek Squad, Amazon, and PayPal being the most frequently mimicked brands, while Microsoft and Publishers Clearing House impersonation scams generate the highest financial losses. Scammers primarily use email and phone contact, though social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are increasingly being exploited, and emerging threats include text-message phishing ("smishing") targeting highway toll payment systems.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake scams utilizing generative AI have stolen millions from companies globally, with a Hong Kong finance worker defrauded of over $25 million after being deceived by digitally recreated colleagues on a video call. Cybersecurity experts warn that the accessibility of AI tools like ChatGPT has lowered barriers for criminals to execute increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, including voice spoofing, phishing, and impersonation of company executives to authorize fraudulent transfers. Beyond direct theft, deepfakes pose broader risks including stock price manipulation, brand defamation, and misinformation campaigns.
washingtontimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scammers impersonating Best Buy and Geek Squad generated the most reports (52,000) targeting consumers with fake renewal payment prompts, resulting in $15 million in losses, while Microsoft impersonators caused the largest financial damage at $60 million across 7,000+ reports using fake security warnings. Amazon imposters ranked second with 34,000 reports and $19 million in losses, and Publishers Clearing House scammers collected $49 million by falsely claiming prize winnings, with email and phone calls serving as the primary contact methods for all impersonation scams.
choice.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A CHOICE survey of 280 scam victims in Australia found that four out of five victims reported their banks failed to flag suspicious transactions before money was transferred to scammers, and about half received inadequate support afterward. Australians lost $2.7 billion to scams last year, with over half of initial contact occurring on websites or social media platforms, yet banks and tech companies face minimal consequences while victims often suffer shame and financial loss with little recourse for recovery.
groww.in
· 2025-12-08
Lottery scams in India are targeting unsuspecting individuals who receive unsolicited messages claiming they have won prizes, then demanding advance payments for taxes and fees before releasing non-existent winnings. Recent cases include a 45-year-old Bengaluru woman who lost ₹18.4 lakh, a 50-year-old goldsmith defrauded of ₹74,000, and a Kerala woman who lost ₹1 crore after making 263 transfers. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited lottery claims, never pay upfront fees, avoid sharing personal information, and report suspicious activity to authorities immediately.
khaleejtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A WhatsApp-based fake job scam has defrauded an estimated Dh400 million from thousands of victims globally, according to cybersecurity firm CloudSEK. The scheme lures victims with promises of easy money for simple tasks like rating restaurants on Google Maps, then requires increasingly larger upfront payments to complete higher-paying tasks, ultimately preventing withdrawals through additional fees or endless new tasks. A Dubai hotelier lost nearly her entire life savings of Dh66,000 to the scam after paying Dh46,000 in deposits and an additional Dh20,000 in fraudulent "taxes."
97x.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in South Carolina are using AI-generated text messages designed to mimic legitimate bank communications to trick people into clicking malicious links that grant access to their bank accounts. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be vigilant about unsolicited texts from unfamiliar numbers, suspicious URLs with extra characters, and to never click links in messages unless they can verify the source is their actual bank.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Fredericton woman nearly fell victim to a sophisticated Interac e-transfer scam after listing a table for sale on Facebook Marketplace; a scammer used a fake e-transfer interface to attempt stealing $3,000 from her bank account, but she escaped the fraud by exiting the loading page early and her bank caught the suspicious activity. According to a local cybersecurity expert, online organized crime is increasingly sophisticated, with $600 million in fraud reported to Canadian authorities last year (believed to represent only 10% of actual losses), and scammers are using stolen e-transfer email templates while actively harvesting credentials during fake transaction screens.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers are sending phishing emails and texts to streaming service subscribers claiming payment has been declined, with links directing users to lookalike websites designed to steal login credentials and install malware. Victims who enter their user ID and password on these fraudulent sites risk having their streaming accounts and payment information compromised. To protect yourself, verify you are on the official website by carefully checking the URL, and be skeptical of sponsored search results, as scammers use paid ads to make fake sites appear at the top of search results.
herald-review.com
· 2025-12-08
A Mount Zion woman was charged with stealing over $100,000 in cash and property from an elderly female victim between May 2022 and July 2023. Ali L. Fisher, 31, faces two counts including financial exploitation of an elderly person and obtaining control of property through deception, with the alleged theft totaling more than $40,000 in additional cash. Fisher was arrested on May 14 and released on pretrial release pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 24 in Macon County Circuit Court.
richmondmagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Teens are the fastest-growing victims of online scams, with losses to those 20 and younger increasing from $8.2 million in 2017 to $210 million by 2022, according to the FBI. Common scams targeting teens include phishing emails, deceptive pop-up ads, direct message offers, and catfishing schemes on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Parents and educators can reduce risk by teaching teens to verify sources, recognize red flags like poor grammar and suspicious links, adjust privacy settings, and maintain open communication about online dangers.
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Malachi Mullings, 31, of Georgia was sentenced to 10 years in prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through business email compromise (BEC) schemes targeting healthcare programs and companies, as well as romance scams targeting elderly victims, between 2019 and 2021. Mullings opened 20 fraudulent bank accounts under a fake company name to conceal the proceeds and used funds to purchase luxury items, including a Ferrari bought with $260,000 from a romance scam. The case highlights ongoing efforts to prosecute money launderers facilitating cyber fraud schemes.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Privacy Journal study analyzing FBI, CDC, FTC, and Internet Crime Complaint Center data ranked U.S. states by danger levels for online dating users, identifying Nevada, Alaska, Georgia, Florida, and Arizona as the five most risky states. The analysis considered romance scams, identity theft, fraud, violent crime, STD rates, and registered sex offender concentrations, with Arizona having the highest romance scam rate (9.2 per 100,000), Nevada the second-highest (8.1 per 100,000), and Georgia leading in identity theft and fraud victimization rates. The findings highlight that geographic location can predict vulnerability to various threats when using dating apps.
kfvs12.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC reported over 330,000 impersonation scam complaints in 2023, with consumers losing more than $1.1 billion. Fraudsters impersonate legitimate businesses and government agencies to trick victims into providing money and personal information through fake emails and forms. The BBB recommends verifying suspicious emails by examining sender addresses carefully, contacting companies directly to confirm requests, avoiding payment to unknown entities, and reporting suspicious communications to the BBB Scam Tracker.
dailypress.net
· 2025-12-08
Online scammers increasingly use spoofing and phishing tactics to deceive victims by impersonating legitimate businesses through fraudulent emails and websites designed to steal personal and financial information. According to the FTC, social media scams caused the highest total losses at $1.4 billion in recent years, while phone-based scams resulted in the highest per-person losses averaging $1,480; notably, older adults who fell victim to scams lost significantly more money than younger adults. Law enforcement officials emphasize that these scams are preventable and encourage community members to monitor vulnerable elderly individuals.
techxplore.com
· 2025-12-08
Researchers analyzed 67,991 SMS phishing messages collected over 396 days and identified 600 distinct phishing operations using 35,128 unique campaigns. The study found that SMS phishers operate using mainstream infrastructure and services rather than hidden networks, with bulk messaging services openly advertising on platforms like LinkedIn. The research provides law enforcement with new techniques to identify and track phishing operations, addressing a significant gap in data since telecommunications companies have been reluctant to share private message information.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
Based on 2023 FTC data, the five most-impersonated brands in scams are Best Buy's Geek Squad, Amazon, PayPal, Microsoft, and Publishers Clearing House, with Microsoft impersonation scams causing the highest financial losses at $60 million and Publishers Clearing House scams at $49 million. Common scams include fake tech support pop-ups claiming to be from Microsoft that trick victims into calling scammers, and fraudulent calls impersonating Publishers Clearing House claiming victims have won prizes and must pay upfront fees or taxes; some victims have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to these schemes.
webcenterfairbanks.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC reported over 330,000 impersonation scam complaints in 2023, with consumers losing $1.1 billion as fraudsters impersonated businesses and government agencies to steal money and personal information. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to scrutinize email addresses for suspicious characteristics, verify questionable emails directly with companies, avoid providing payment information to unknown entities, and report suspicious communications to the BBB Scam Tracker.
prweb.com
· 2025-12-08
According to an FBI report, Americans over 60 experienced elder fraud crimes at record levels, with victims losing an estimated $3.4 billion in reported losses. Common scams targeting seniors include the grandparent scam (impersonating grandchildren claiming arrest), sweepstakes fraud requiring upfront payment, gift card serial number schemes, and government imposter fraud. Elderwerks, a Palatine, Illinois nonprofit, is hosting free educational presentations on scam prevention and identity theft protection to help seniors and caregivers recognize and avoid these crimes.
kfoxtv.com
· 2025-12-08
El Paso police reported a rise in identity theft scams targeting elderly residents over the past two years, with victims particularly vulnerable to text and phone scams due to high trust levels and limited awareness of technology capabilities. Sgt. Cristina Mendoza of the Financial Crime Unit identified key warning signs including unsolicited contact, pressure to pay in specific ways, and inability to verify the other party's identity.
cgsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center increased 14 percent in 2023, with victims aged 60 and over losing $3.4 billion total and an average of $33,915 per victim. Tech support scams were the most commonly reported type of elder fraud, while investment scams proved the costliest, exceeding $1.2 billion in losses, with over 12,000 victims also targeted through cryptocurrency schemes. Oregon specifically saw elderly residents lose $44 million in 2023, with scammers exploiting older Americans' relative lack of technological proficiency.