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in Scam Awareness
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WKRN News 2
· 2025-02-06
Romance scams rank among the top 10 most perpetrated scams in the U.S., with individual losses increasing dramatically from $1,600 in 2021 to nearly $4,000 in recent years. Scammers create false profiles on dating apps to build emotional connections and exploit victims financially. Red flags include attempts to move communication off the app to unmonitored platforms, which allows scammers greater freedom to manipulate targets.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-02-06
An 82-year-old woman in Boulder City lost $40,000 in a romance scam after being contacted on Facebook involving a scheme to ship gold. Metro Police are hosting scam prevention events to educate the public about recognizing red flags in romance scams and what to do if victimized.
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KPRC 2 Click2Houston
· 2025-02-05
Scammers exploit Valentine's Day shopping—when consumers are expected to spend a record $27.5 billion—through various fraudulent schemes, with fake jewelry websites being a primary concern. These fraudulent sites imitate legitimate jewelry retailers by copying logos and promotional materials while using nearly identical web addresses (differing by just one letter) to trick consumers into purchasing jewelry they never receive. Consumers are advised to carefully verify website addresses and watch for common Valentine's Day scams that exploit the holiday shopping season.
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WPRI
· 2025-02-05
Romance scammers create fake online profiles to build trust with people seeking love on dating apps, then request money while promising long-term relationships. Victims have lost tens of thousands of dollars through these scams, which often involve requests for gift cards or money transfers via PayPal or Venmo. Banks advise never sending money to people you haven't met in person and never sharing personal banking information.
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CBS4 Indy
· 2025-02-04
LinkedIn users face increasing fake job offer scams that impersonate legitimate companies and direct victims to fraudulent websites requesting personal information like Social Security numbers. Common red flags include requests to pay for background checks, training, or equipment upfront, which legitimate employers never require. Users should verify job postings on company websites, use the WHOIS tool to check website legitimacy, and conduct reverse image searches on profile pictures to identify scams.
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KCENNews
· 2025-02-03
This educational piece identifies three key warning signs of tax season scams: promises of large paydays that seem too good to be true, urgent demands for immediate payment with threats, and suspicious unsolicited communications requesting personal information or directing people to misspelled websites. The advice recommends protecting personal information, avoiding unsolicited contacts, filing tax returns early to stay ahead of fraud, and reporting suspected scams to the Better Business Bureau's scam tracker.
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WLKY News Louisville
· 2025-02-02
Jefferson County law enforcement officials warned about a rise in scam calls impersonating government agencies, claiming recipients have missed jury duty or have arrest warrants outstanding. Scammers are using local area codes and official names to appear legitimate, but legitimate agencies contact people by mail first and never request credit card or banking information over the phone. The Kentucky Court of Justice launched a website to help residents identify scams and report them to authorities.
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CBS19
· 2025-01-28
Tax scams involve fraudsters attempting to steal money or personal information through unsolicited calls, texts, emails, and fake websites requesting immediate payment or personal details. Red flags include threats, demands for quick payment, suspicious links, and AI-generated content that appears personalized; the IRS Criminal Investigation division identified over $31 billion in tax and financial crimes in fiscal year 2022. Key prevention strategies include ignoring "too good to be true" offers, verifying communications directly with the IRS, checking for misspelled websites, protecting personal information, and filing taxes early.
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We Are Iowa Local 5 News
· 2025-01-27
**Summary:**
Romance scams, where criminals pose as potential romantic partners online, are currently running rampant according to the Federal Trade Commission and affect people of all ages. AARP's Fraud Watch Network volunteer Neil Schultz advises people to be cautious of suspicious dating app profiles—such as photos that appear too polished, requests to move conversations off the platform, or requests for money—as scammers use these tactics to build trust and defraud victims of significant sums.
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FOX 7 Austin
· 2025-01-27
According to a 2024 Better Business Bureau report, Texans lost over $10 million to scams, with the top five being: cryptocurrency investment scams (averaging $4,600 loss, primarily affecting ages 55-64), employment scams ($1.6 million total loss to ages 25-34), online purchase scams ($1.5 million in losses), phishing scams ($550,000 in losses), and additional unreported scams on social media. The report highlights that different age groups face different fraud risks, with older adults targeted for investment schemes while younger adults are more vulnerable to employment-related fraud.
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Channel 3000 / News 3 Now
· 2025-01-27
A scam targeting parents of University of Wisconsin-Madison students involved fraudsters impersonating UWPD officers, calling at night (between 2-3 a.m.) and claiming their child had been detained, demanding money for release. Madison Police Department received at least three reports of the scam calls, which used real officer names to appear credible, exploiting the fear and disorientation of parents awakened in the middle of the night.
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13WMAZ
· 2025-01-26
This educational segment from the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia provides fraud prevention advice for 2025, emphasizing identity theft as a persistent threat. The key recommendation is to monitor credit reports two to three times per year (utilizing the free weekly access available since COVID-era policy changes) to quickly detect unauthorized accounts and address identity theft before significant damage occurs.
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CBC News
· 2025-01-25
Fake advertisements impersonating CBC News stories are circulating on X (formerly Twitter), claiming Canadian politicians like Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh were sued or arrested, directing users to a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme called "Quantum AI." The scam uses realistic-looking fake news sites and investment platforms to lure victims into depositing money with fake account managers, with documented losses of at least $80,000 from one victim in Australia, and involves infrastructure traced to locations in Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, and Russia.
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WBNS 10TV
· 2025-01-21
"Mule scams" targeting job seekers are rising in central Ohio, with scammers posing as legitimate companies to recruit workers for fake remote positions. A 30-year-old single mother in Toledo lost nearly $5,000 after being hired by a fraudulent company called "Skyline Deliveries" that promised $4,000+ monthly for shipping label work, then failed to pay her after four weeks of labor. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers applying for online remote work to verify company legitimacy before providing personal information or completing unpaid work.
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WHNT News 19
· 2025-01-21
Utility scammers pose as energy companies and create urgency by threatening immediate power shutoffs unless customers pay bills over the phone, a tactic that increases during cold winter months when people fear losing heat. Legitimate utility providers never demand immediate phone payments and will confirm account issues if you call them directly using a number you know; if forced to pay a scammer, use a credit card rather than debit or gift cards to make fraud charges easier to dispute.
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TaiwanPlus News
· 2025-01-15
A Taiwanese man was rescued from a scam ring operating in Myanmar after being lured by a fake job advertisement promising work as a dance instructor in Thailand; he is one of over 1,500 Taiwanese citizens freed from trafficking and scam centers in Southeast Asia over the past three years. Criminal groups use fake job postings to kidnap victims and force them to work in detention centers where they conduct scams against people back home, with rescue efforts often requiring NGO negotiators and sometimes involving ransom payments. These schemes have proliferated across Southeast Asian countries as criminals seek to recoup losses and exploit vulnerable job seekers.
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Firstpost
· 2025-01-15
A 53-year-old French woman lost over $1 million to a romance scam between February 2023 and an unspecified later date, after being approached online by someone impersonating Brad Pitt using AI-generated videos and romantic messages. The victim, going through a divorce, believed she was in a long-distance relationship with the actor and was gradually manipulated into sending money, with the scammer using excuses about Pitt being busy to avoid video calls. This case illustrates how romance scams combined with AI technology and celebrity impersonation can exploit vulnerable individuals seeking emotional connection.
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WETM 18 News
· 2025-01-14
The Steuben County Sheriff's office is warning residents about two active scams in the county: one involving calls from scammers impersonating law enforcement who demand bail or court-related payment via digital transfer services like PayPal, Venmo, or MoneyGram, and another involving door-to-door solicitors offering home improvement services. Sheriff Jim Allard emphasizes that legitimate law enforcement will never call demanding money and will always conduct official business in person.
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WWMT-TV
· 2025-01-14
During wildfire relief efforts on the west coast, the Better Business Bureau warns of scammers using social media to collect donations fraudulently by creating fake websites with URLs nearly identical to legitimate disaster relief organizations. To avoid being victimized, donors should research organizations carefully, verify URLs for subtle misspellings, check for grammar errors, and navigate directly to websites rather than clicking links from emails or texts.
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Irish Independent
· 2025-01-14
Romance scams (also called "pig butchering") are surging in Ireland, primarily targeting middle-aged women through dating apps where scammers build emotional relationships over time before requesting money for bills, fees, and expenses. Detective Superintendent Michael Crry of Ireland's National Economic Crime Bureau explains that these online fraud schemes rely on social engineering, manipulation, and exploitation, with recent arrests highlighting law enforcement efforts to combat the crime, which is particularly prevalent during vulnerable winter months when people seek connection.
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FOX 17 WXMI
· 2025-01-09
Following major disasters like wildfires, scammers exploit people's generosity through imposter and phishing scams, impersonating legitimate organizations, government officials, or trusted contacts on social media to solicit donations and personal information. Red flags include deals that seem too good to be true, overly emotional imagery, vague organizational descriptions, and unclear donation processes; the Better Business Bureau recommends using credit cards for donations, which offer greater fraud protection than debit cards.
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NBC10 Boston
· 2025-01-09
Hundreds of Massachusetts residents received fraudulent text messages impersonating E-ZPass (Easy Drive MA), requesting payment for tolls, in what authorities are investigating as a "smishing" scam with FBI involvement. One victim clicked the malicious link and was directed to a fake payment page; the scam messages originated from a Philippines phone number and contained spelling errors that revealed their fraudulent nature. Cybersecurity experts advise users not to click links in unsolicited text messages and to verify directly with official sources before providing payment information.
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WKBW TV | Buffalo, NY
· 2025-01-09
New York State enacted legislation requiring dating apps to notify users when they interact with fake or scam accounts, following reports that approximately 7,000 Americans fell victim to romance scams in 2022. The law addresses concerns about the prevalence of fraudulent profiles on platforms like Tinder, with some users reporting that roughly one in five profiles may be fake or bot accounts designed to deceive online daters.
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WGN News
· 2025-01-07
The Better Business Bureau released its top 10 local scams of 2024, with online purchases through fake websites ranking as the #1 threat, followed by phishing scams, employment scams, debt collection scams, and social media shopping scams involving counterfeit products. Consumers are advised to verify companies through the BBB before providing personal or financial information, avoid clicking suspicious links in emails or social media ads, be wary of unsolicited urgent requests, and recognize that legitimate debt collectors must notify in writing before taking action.
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ET Now
· 2025-01-06
Digital arrest scams are rapidly proliferating in India, with victims including influencer Ankush Bahuguna (held virtually for 40 hours), a 50-year-old businesswoman (lost 1.6 crore rupees), and a 65-year-old woman (lost 46 lakh rupees). In 2024 alone, Indians lost approximately 120 crore rupees across multiple states, with Karnataka reporting 109 crore rupees in losses from 641 cases. The scam operates through video calls where criminals impersonate authorities and coerce victims into believing they are under digital arrest, demanding payment to resolve fabricated legal issues.
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News4JAX The Local Station
· 2025-01-06
Following the New Orleans New Year's Day attack, scammers created fake charity websites to solicit donations, prompting the Better Business Bureau to issue warnings about charity fraud. To protect yourself, verify charities through the BBB's give.org database, research crowdfunding sites and confirm user verification, and use credit cards or checks rather than cash to enable easier refunds if fraud occurs.
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IRSvideos
· 2025-01-06
This is an educational webinar presented by the IRS and FTC during National Tax Security Awareness Week that covers common identity theft and tax-related scams, methods for identifying and reporting fraud, the IRS Identity Protection PIN program, and resources for protecting against identity thieves. The 75-minute presentation includes technical guidance for participants and a live Q&A session to address audience questions about fraud prevention and recovery.
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PBS NewsHour
· 2025-01-04
Pig-butchering investment scams have cost victims worldwide an estimated $75 billion over the past four years, with Americans alone losing $4.6 billion in 2023, through fake romantic relationships that manipulate targets into investing in cryptocurrency on fraudulent platforms. The scams typically begin with a wrong-number text leading to conversation with a fake attractive persona who builds trust over 90 days before pressuring victims to invest increasingly large sums until they lose their life savings. Beyond the financial victims, the scammers themselves are often human trafficking victims forced by Asian organized crime syndicates (primarily Chinese, but including Yakuza and Korean groups) operating from compound cities built specifically to run these
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We Are Iowa Local 5 News
· 2025-01-04
Iowa Attorney General Brena Bird warned of a rising trend of "grandparent scams" targeting older adults, in which scammers impersonate grandchildren and claim to be in accidents, hospitalized, or jailed, then request money. Bird advised seniors to hang up and verify such claims directly with trusted family members and to report suspected scams to local law enforcement.
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ABC11
· 2025-01-01
**Summary:**
Experts warn that scammers are increasingly using generative AI in 2025 to create more realistic fraudulent websites, deepfake videos and audio, and fake social media content, making scams harder to detect. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, consumers lost over $1 trillion to scams in 2024, and the FBI has issued alerts about criminals exploiting AI to commit fraud at larger scales and increase the believability of their schemes. Consumers are advised to remain vigilant in protecting their money and personal information as scam tactics continue to evolve.
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WCPO 9
· 2024-12-31
In 2025, the most common scams targeting everyone include impostor scams (posing as banks), online shopping fraud, fake job opportunities, and investment schemes, with reported losses reaching $10 billion in the most recent year. A woman lost nearly $10,000 to a banking impostor scam, while others have fallen victim to work-from-home scams involving fraudulent check deposits. Artificial intelligence is making these scams increasingly difficult to detect, and individuals should be more cautious about sharing personally identifiable information like names and addresses.
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WSBT-TV
· 2024-12-27
The Better Business Bureau's Northern Indiana chapter warned holiday shoppers about gift card scams, where fraudsters tamper with cards in stores, steal card information, and return them to shelves undetected. According to the Federal Trade Commission, gift card fraud accounted for $27 million of the $10 billion in scams reported nationwide in 2023. Consumers can protect themselves by inspecting cards for damage, checking for stickers over barcodes, alerting employees to suspicious packaging, and researching store-specific gift card terms and conditions.
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Hawaii News Now
· 2024-12-26
Honolulu police warn that romance scams are increasingly targeting elderly seniors, particularly during the holiday season when isolation increases vulnerability. Scammers create fake dating or social media profiles to build emotional connections with seniors, eventually claiming to be in love while requesting money. The scheme became especially prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic when seniors were homebound and lonely.
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CNN-News18
· 2024-12-26
Cyber crimes in India surged dramatically in 2024, with the tech-driven region of Hyderabad experiencing a 64% rise in overall crime and an 882% increase in digital arrest scams, reaching losses of 80 crores compared to 6.2 crores the previous year. Cyber fraud cases accounted for 11,900 incidents (23% of all crimes in the region), with citizens losing over 700 crores to fraudsters through job scams, trading frauds, and SMS phishing schemes. The segment emphasizes the importance of avoiding calls from unidentified numbers and highlights ongoing efforts to combat the escalating digital crime problem across the nation.
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CBS Mornings
· 2024-12-23
**Summary:**
The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers that scammers can steal gift card numbers and PINs before purchase, with gift cards being the most requested holiday item at 53% of shoppers' wish lists. Shoppers should inspect gift cards for signs of tampering such as removed protective stickers or scratched barcodes, and alert store managers if found, as scammers may tamper with cards in batches and drain funds loaded onto them.
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Scripps News
· 2024-12-22
In 2024, scammers are targeting all demographics with increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, as reported losses reached $10 billion—the highest annual total on record. The most common scams include impostor schemes, online shopping fraud, fake job opportunities, and investment scams, with 80% of investment scam victims losing money. The piece highlights how scammers exploit personal information and worst fears, noting that artificial intelligence is making these schemes even more difficult to detect and avoid.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2024-12-20
Local police departments in Bridgeton and Kirkwood issued warnings about an evolving "brushing scam" that combines unsolicited package shipments with QR codes included in the packaging. In brushing scams, online sellers ship random products to real addresses and post fake positive reviews to boost sales, but this new variation includes QR codes that, when scanned, may direct recipients to malicious websites designed to steal personal and financial information. Authorities advise consumers to avoid scanning QR codes on unsolicited packages, monitor credit annually, and exercise caution with any unexpected shipments requesting online engagement.
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FOX4 News Kansas City
· 2024-12-20
During open enrollment season, scammers are targeting people with unsolicited robocalls and text messages offering free incentives like groceries or housing to enroll in health insurance, then requesting personal and financial information to "confirm eligibility." KC Care warns consumers to avoid these scams by only initiating enrollment themselves and working with licensed, trained insurance navigators rather than responding to unsolicited contacts, with free navigator services available through official channels like GetCovered.org (Kansas) and ShowMeCoverage.org (Missouri).
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WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore
· 2024-12-19
Delivery scams are the most prevalent business impersonation fraud, with over 330,000 cases reported nationwide last year, half involving shipping. Scammers send fraudulent emails and texts impersonating delivery companies like USPS, FedEx, or DHL, claiming package delivery problems and requesting payment or personal information, with tactics becoming more convincing due to AI. To protect yourself, verify communications by visiting carrier websites directly rather than clicking links, watch for urgent language and suspicious email addresses, and if compromised, reset login credentials and place a fraud alert on your credit report.
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13 ON YOUR SIDE
· 2024-12-18
Law enforcement agencies are warning the public about "brushing" scams, where victims receive unexpected packages with QR codes prompting them to scan and discover the sender's identity. While authorities warn that scanning these codes can lead to drained bank accounts, cybersecurity experts clarify that the scams typically involve sellers shipping cheap items to random addresses to post fake positive reviews, with QR codes more commonly directing users to phishing websites that steal personal information rather than directly accessing phone data. Authorities recommend recipients of unsolicited packages verify their existing accounts and change passwords as a precaution.
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KHON2 News
· 2024-12-18
The Better Business Bureau identified 12 common holiday scams, with misleading social media ads and imposter websites being the most prevalent. The list includes phishing emails, fake charities, puppy scams, unsafe holiday apps, and counterfeit product sales. To protect themselves, consumers should avoid interacting with unsolicited messages, only shop from trusted businesses, verify website authenticity, report scams to the BBB and financial institutions, and contact local law enforcement if money is lost.
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wgaltv
· 2024-12-18
Nigeria's anti-fraud agency arrested nearly 800 people, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, in a raid on a Lagos office building as part of a large-scale romance scam operation. The suspects used social media and messaging platforms to contact and deceive victims in North America and Europe, building romantic relationships before offering fraudulent investment opportunities. Investigators seized over 400 SIM cards, mobile phones, and dozens of computers, and are investigating potential connections to organized international fraud networks.
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KTVB
· 2024-12-16
"Don't Click December" is an awareness campaign aimed at protecting consumers from online fraud during the holiday shopping season, when scammers exploit increased internet usage for gift purchases and charitable donations. U.S. Attorney Josh Hert advises consumers to be cautious of suspicious emails, text messages, and popups that use fear tactics to trick people into clicking malicious links or providing personal information.
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FOX31 Denver
· 2024-12-16
Scammers are placing counterfeit QR codes on Denver parking meters and street signs that direct users to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal information or install malware. The Federal Trade Commission warns that these fake codes can capture login credentials, financial data, or automatically compromise devices before users realize the threat. To protect themselves, users should only scan QR codes that are official city-branded and use the authorized Pay by Phone app, avoiding any codes that redirect to websites or third-party applications.
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WTVC NewsChannel 9
· 2024-12-15
A Chattanooga couple lost $800 in an online puppy scam after purchasing a Boston Terrier from a seller they believed was legitimate based on their presence as an admin in a Facebook breed-specific rehoming group. Despite sending payment, the couple never received the puppy and law enforcement confirmed they were victims of a scam. The couple is sharing their experience to warn others to trust their instincts when something feels off during online pet purchases.
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LOCAL 12
· 2024-12-15
Criminals are increasingly using fraudulent QR codes to scam victims through emails, text messages, social media, and physical locations like parking lots and websites. Unlike clickable URLs, QR codes cannot be previewed before scanning, making it difficult for users to identify malicious links that lead to phishing pages, credential theft, money scams, or malware installation. Scammers often disguise QR codes with legitimate branding (such as Microsoft logos) to appear trustworthy and trick users into scanning them.
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FOX 5 New York
· 2024-12-13
Amazon Prime customers are being targeted by increasingly sophisticated lookalike scams during the holiday season, with scammers impersonating Amazon through text messages and emails that are difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications. Over 1,000 Amazon scam sites were registered in just two months, and cybersecurity experts report that one in five adults are clicking on these fraudulent messages. Consumers are advised to be cautious of unsolicited Amazon communications and delete suspicious messages immediately.
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TODAY
· 2024-12-10
During the holiday season, when Americans are expected to spend over $240 billion online, scammers are exploiting increased shopping activity through fraudulent websites and online shopping schemes. Online fraud costs approximately $12 billion annually according to the FBI, with thousands of fake websites appearing during peak shopping periods to steal personal information. Consumers should protect themselves by checking for security padlocks on websites, scrutinizing URLs and website content for typos or errors, and being cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.
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WTVR CBS 6
· 2024-12-10
A Virginia woman nearly lost $22,000 in a holiday-season scam, though the amount was ultimately not transferred after a bank questioned the suspicious withdrawal. The Central Virginia Better Business Bureau warns of prevalent phishing scams during the holidays, including fraudulent messages impersonating delivery services and the IRS that attempt to steal personal information or download malware through malicious links. The BBB advises consumers not to click suspicious links, never pay with Bitcoin or gift cards, and remember that legitimate offers that seem too good to be true probably are.
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ABC11
· 2024-12-09
Fraud experts warn consumers that approximately one-third of online shoppers fall victim to scams during the holiday shopping season, with older adults at particular risk despite being statistically less likely to be defrauded than younger adults—a concern because seniors typically have more assets to lose. Key scam tactics include fraudulent social media ads, fake package delivery texts from carriers like UPS and FedEx that direct users to copycat websites, and tech support scam alerts that appear on computer screens. Experts recommend shopping directly from trusted retailers' websites, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and going directly to carrier websites to check package status rather than clicking notification links.