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in Scam Awareness
dailycardinal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office is warning seniors about the "Grandparents Scam," where callers impersonate grandchildren claiming to be in legal or financial trouble and request cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers, sometimes using AI voice-cloning technology to enhance authenticity. Elderly Americans lose approximately $28.3 billion annually to such financial exploitation, with scammers deliberately targeting victims' emotions to prevent them from questioning the requests. Law enforcement emphasizes the importance of public education about these evolving scams as AI technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and accessible.
santander.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are using fake news on social media to conduct financial fraud by impersonating banks, executives, and well-known individuals with altered images and fabricated investment opportunities. These fraudulent posts mimic legitimate news websites and banking platforms to trick users into clicking links that steal personal and banking information. Recent scams have falsely claimed to offer investment products endorsed by Santander, using an AI-altered image of an executive to appear credible.
wfsb.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting families of high school students preparing for the SAT by impersonating test preparation companies or the College Board itself, often using personal information about the student to appear legitimate and requesting deposits for prep materials that never arrive. Common tactics include claiming the student requested the service, knowing the child's name and test date, and requesting payment over the phone or email—methods the legitimate College Board never uses. Consumers are advised to verify requests directly with their children, pay only by credit card to enable dispute options, and question unsolicited calls about test preparation services.
longisland.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old victim in Saddle Rock was defrauded of $31,000 in a tech support scam after receiving a fake Microsoft notification on his computer claiming his device and bank account were compromised. Two men, Rong Chen, 47, and ZhenSheng Yu, 46, were arrested in April 2024 after collecting the cash withdrawals on behalf of the scammers, with Chen and Yu charged with Grand Larceny. The victim avoided additional loss by refusing a third request and contacting police.
macaudailytimes.com.mo
· 2025-12-08
The Judiciary Police in Macau launched a WeChat-based anti-fraud initiative in response to a sharp 70-120% surge in fraud cases from January to February, which resulted in 69 million patacas in losses across 265 reported incidents, including a concerning 44% increase in student-targeted scams. The interactive program offers fraud risk analysis, reporting channels, and educational resources to help residents identify fraudulent schemes. Two women were victimized by phone scams impersonating public prosecutors and immigration officials, with one losing 41,700 patacas after being coerced into transferring funds based on false money laundering allegations.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2023 UK retail industry study found that 35% of retailers experienced fraudulent activity, cyber-attacks, or data leaches, representing a 37% increase from 2022, with the sector losing £11.3 billion total and retailers averaging £1.4 million in losses each. Payments fraud also surged among consumers, affecting 33% in 2023 compared to 23% in 2022, with victims losing an average of £311 per incident—a 16% increase year-over-year. The findings reveal that fraud concerns are affecting consumer shopping behavior, though retailers are increasingly investing in fraud prevention systems and exploring enhanced security measures and regulatory compliance.
rhyljournal.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
North Wales fans have been targeted by ticket fraud scams, including one woman who lost £250 attempting to purchase Taylor Swift concert tickets from a fraudulent source. In the past 12 months, North Wales Police recorded 59 ticketing fraud cases resulting in approximately £17,500 in losses, with reports increasing 200% between February and March 2024. Police and safety experts are urging the public to only purchase tickets through official sellers, use credit cards or PayPal for transactions, and avoid bank transfers when buying from unknown sellers, particularly as demand surges for Taylor Swift and Euro 24 events.
dominicantoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Police in the Dominican Republic arrested Smaylin Berroa Lorenzo for benefiting from a phishing scam that defrauded a citizen in Cotuí of RD$77,931 (approximately $1,450 USD). The scam involved cybercriminals using fake emails and social engineering to steal the victim's confidential information and identity. The suspect was apprehended on a highway in Pedro Brand and turned over to prosecutors for legal proceedings.
dailydot.com
· 2025-12-08
A TikTok user warned about a potential scam where strangers approach people and ask them to order an Uber using their own account, claiming they have cash to reimburse them. The scammer's true intent remains unclear but could involve using the victim's account to rob or defraud the driver, using counterfeit money, or causing damage to the vehicle that would be charged to the victim's account. The user avoided the scam by trusting her instincts when the strangers' story didn't add up, and similar incidents have been reported by other users on TikTok and Reddit.
odt.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
At least a dozen people reported receiving scam calls impersonating police officers claiming they were victims of fraud and attempting to obtain financial information, with calls primarily targeting landline users. Police warned that they never contact people requesting banking details, card numbers, PINs, or passwords, and advised recipients to hang up and verify any caller's identity by contacting the police directly at 105. A similar email scam has also resurfaced using the same impersonation tactic, with police recommending extreme caution with unsolicited emails and advising recipients not to reply.
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission warns college students about fake job scams where scammers post ads for virtual positions on job sites and social media, then mail unsuspecting applicants checks to deposit before work begins. Once deposited, the scammers request the applicant send a portion of the funds to another account; the check later bounces and applicants are liable for the withdrawn amount while scammers escape with the transferred money. To avoid these scams, job seekers should research companies and individuals online, verify suspicious offers by contacting employers directly, request written job details, consult trusted contacts, and immediately report suspicious offers to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Ellen Hickton, a senior from Ontario, Canada, lost $16,542 CAD ($12,195.84 USD) to a sophisticated phone scam in which a fraudster impersonated a CIBC bank employee and convinced her she was helping investigate fraudulent activity on her account. The scammer instructed Hickton to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, and invest in Bitcoin under the false premise that the bank would reimburse her. CIBC clarified that legitimate banks never ask customers to help investigate fraud, make cryptocurrency transfers, or buy gift cards, and urged customers to verify callers by contacting their bank directly using official phone numbers.
longisland.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting seniors on Long Island increased significantly in 2023, with over 3,000 reported incidents resulting in $73 million stolen in Nassau County and $53 million in Suffolk County, according to AARP data. Authorities warn residents to be suspicious of unsolicited contacts requesting money and have begun training bank tellers to identify and report suspicious withdrawal patterns.
indiatvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines major cybercrime threats targeting smart device users, including phishing, fake online stores, banking scams, impersonation scams, and romance scams. It provides guidance on recognizing red flags—such as unsolicited requests for personal information, suspicious payment methods, and poor grammar—and recommends preventative measures including verifying website legitimacy, avoiding unknown links and attachments, and monitoring financial accounts for unauthorized activity. The article advises reporting suspected scams to authorities like the FTC and contacting financial institutions immediately if fraud is suspected.
newstalkzb.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Police warned the public about phone and email scams in which fraudsters impersonate police officers and request victims' financial details by claiming they are fraud victims. New Zealand Police clarified they never contact people requesting banking information, card numbers, PINs, or passwords, and advised the public to verify any suspicious calls by hanging up and dialing 105 to confirm the officer's identity. The scams, primarily targeting landline users, are believed to be operated overseas.
cpr.org
· 2025-12-08
While younger adults are statistically more likely to fall for fraud, people over 70 lose significantly more money overall. An 80-year-old man in Aurora lost $20,000 after scammers posed as his bank's fraud department over several weeks, convincing him to withdraw cash and convert it to Bitcoin at a gas station ATM. Deputy Ryan Falkner of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office identifies the most prevalent current scams targeting older adults as popup virus warnings and jury duty/arrest warrant phone scams, recommending that victims turn off their computers and never pay via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
timeslive.co.za
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams with combined losses totaling $1.3 billion. The article provides fraud prevention tips including recognizing spelling errors and urgency in messages, verifying sender identities and profiles, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and being cautious when requests are made for sensitive information such as passwords or financial details.
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
Darlington Akporugo, 46, and Jasmin Sood, 35, from Fulshear, Texas, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for operating romance scams targeting elderly victims, particularly widows, through social media and online dating sites between 2015 and 2022. The pair used fake identities to build trust with over a dozen victims nationwide before requesting money, defrauding them of a total of $3.1 million; in at least one case, they approached a victim in person and gained control of her banking access devices. If convicted, both face up to 30 years in prison on wire fraud charges, with
kcra.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS is warning taxpayers about refund scams as tax season approaches, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics including artificial intelligence to impersonate the agency. According to Federal Trade Commission data, approximately 2.6 million people reported being scammed in the past year, losing more than $10 billion total, representing a 14% increase from the previous year. The IRS advises taxpayers that the agency never contacts individuals via email, text, or social media regarding refunds, and recommends verifying any official correspondence and reporting suspected scams to the IRS, local law enforcement, or the Federal Trade Commission.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A business account holder lost £40,000 from their Revolut account in February after being deceived by a fraudster posing as Revolut's anti-fraud team; the scammer used verification codes to set up unauthorized payees and make 38 withdrawals within minutes. Revolut refused to reimburse the victim, did not disclose evidence of account access, and stopped recovery efforts after 10 days, citing the customer's alleged negligence despite Revolut not being signed up to the contingent reimbursement model code. The case highlights growing fraud complaints against Revolut (rising from 567 to 1,086 annually), and the article adv
f-secure.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational resource from F-Secure promoting their scam protection service. It highlights that U.S. citizens lost an estimated $12.5 billion to cybercrime in the previous year (a 12% increase), and provides prevention advice across common scam vectors including phishing emails, SMS "smishing," fake delivery alerts, contact spoofing, and fraudulent online shopping sites. The resource emphasizes that legitimate organizations do not request sensitive information via email or text, and recommends verification through separate trusted channels before responding to suspicious communications.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
IRS impostor scams, which cost consumers $5.8 million in 2023, typically begin with robocalls using spoofed caller IDs and progress to demands for payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency under threats of arrest, or attempts to extract sensitive personal information by falsely claiming a refund is owed. The article advises that the IRS never initiates contact via unsolicited calls and recommends verifying any such claims by contacting the IRS directly using official contact information from trusted sources.
rnz.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Scammers posing as police officers have targeted at least a dozen people in phone and email scams attempting to obtain financial and personal information. Police warn that legitimate officers never solicit banking details, card numbers, PINs, or passwords, and advise recipients to hang up, verify the caller through the official police line (105), and avoid replying to unsolicited emails claiming to be from authorities.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Darlington Akporugo, 46, a Nigerian resident of Fulshear, Texas, was charged with conspiring with Jasmin Sood to defraud over a dozen elderly Americans in a romance scam that operated between 2015 and 2022, resulting in approximately $3.1 million in losses. The perpetrators created fictitious online personas on dating platforms to build trust with elderly, often widowed victims before convincing them to transfer money to fraudster-controlled accounts, and in at least one case, approached a victim in person to drive her to banks and gain control of her banking access devices. Both defendants face up to 30 years imprisonment on wire frau
leaderlive.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
North Wales residents have been targeted by ticket scammers attempting to sell fraudulent Taylor Swift concert tickets, with one woman losing £250 to a fake seller. In North Wales, there have been 59 ticketing fraud cases over the past 12 months totaling £17,500 in losses, with reports increasing 200% between February and March 2024. Police and safety experts are urging ticket buyers to only purchase through official vendors, use credit cards or PayPal for payment, and avoid bank transfers or suspicious social media offers.
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
Joan Salcido of Surprise, Arizona lost nearly $20,000 to an imposter scam in which a fraudster posing as Wells Fargo sent her a text fraud alert, then called using a spoofed bank number to convince her to wire money to a separate account for "protection." The scammer used smooth, convincing tactics and had ready answers for her concerns, eventually persuading her to complete the wire transfer despite her initial hesitation. Experts warn that requests to move money to protect it and pressure to act quickly are major red flags, and that banks typically cannot recover funds lost to imposter scammers.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams target vulnerable individuals, particularly older adults who are lonely, widowed, or divorced, with scammers posing as romantic interests and eventually requesting money through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers for fabricated emergencies like overseas travel or legal fees. A New Hampshire senior experienced this scheme firsthand, enduring months of emotional manipulation before the scammer attempted blackmail, highlighting how perpetrators exploit victims' emotions and are typically difficult to prosecute as they operate from overseas. Law enforcement emphasizes that victims should not blame themselves, as scammers deliberately prey on emotional vulnerability, and success in prevention often depends on family intervention to prevent further financial loss.
beaconjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
A Tallmadge police sergeant investigated a 2019 online dating scam that defrauded a local woman of $60,000 and uncovered a multi-state money-laundering operation involving victims across Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas, including one couple who lost $375,000. The investigation led to the arrest of six people in Rhode Island who were processing fraudulent funds through compromised bank accounts and money orders. The FBI reported 19,000 romance scam complaints nationally in 2022 with losses exceeding $739 million, typically targeting women over 40.
ohioattorneygeneral.gov
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake videos featuring celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift, and Selena Gomez have been circulating on social media to scam consumers into revealing personal or financial information through fake endorsements for products like MacBooks and cookware. To identify these AI-generated scams, consumers should examine the video for unusual movements or facial expressions, distorted backgrounds, suspicious sources, and lack of context, and can use reverse image searches and hover over links before clicking. The general rule remains that if a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is, and suspicious activity should be reported to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
**Gift Card Scams Overview**
Gift card scams are increasingly prevalent, with fraudsters posing as grandchildren, IRS agents, or bank employees to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards and sharing the numbers. Scammers prefer gift cards because they are difficult to track once the card number and PIN are compromised, making them an "easy depletion method" for accessing funds. Common variants include bank investigator scams, IRS impersonation scams, grandparent scams, and lottery scams, all of which exploit urgency, authority, or emotional appeals to manipulate victims into sending money via untraceable gift cards.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS is warning taxpayers about fraudulent letters mimicking official IRS letterhead that request personal information in exchange for unclaimed refunds, with scammers increasingly using sophisticated technologies like AI to deceive victims. The Federal Trade Commission reported a 14% increase in scam losses last year, affecting nearly 3 million people, and the IRS reminds the public that they never initiate contact via email, text, or social media regarding bills or refunds—recipients should verify any correspondence by checking phone numbers against the official IRS website.
nia.nih.gov
· 2025-12-08
An NIA-funded study of 644 older adults (average age 85) simulating government imposter scams found that a significant minority are vulnerable to fraud despite lacking cognitive impairment. When contacted about fake Social Security and Medicare account issues, 68.5% did not engage, but among those who responded, 16.4% engaged without skepticism and 12% provided personal information; vulnerability correlated with lower cognitive ability, financial literacy, and scam awareness. Researchers note that actual scam conversion rates are likely higher in real-world scenarios given participants were predominantly White, highly educated women exposed to less intensive tactics than actual scammers use.
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission identifies four trending online tax season scams: fake tax preparer ads that redirect to phishing websites to steal personal and payment information, fraudsters posing as accountants offering suspiciously high refunds at low prices, scammers spoofing IRS phone numbers to threaten taxpayers about supposed debt, and phishing emails/texts claiming unclaimed funds to harvest personal data or install malware. The FTC reported $1.1 billion in losses from impersonator scams in 2023 and recommends avoiding social media tax prep links, using word-of-mouth referrals for CPAs, and remembering that the IRS only contacts via mail—never by
pressdemocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season sees a surge in fraud schemes targeting taxpayers, with common scams including phishing emails/texts impersonating the IRS, "Offer in Compromise" mills falsely claiming to resolve tax debt cheaply, "ghost preparers" who steal refunds or charge excessive fees, and "new client" scams targeting tax professionals. The IRS never initiates contact by email, text, or social media, never threatens legal action, and never requests personal information like Social Security numbers or credit card details; taxpayers can verify legitimate IRS communications and check their accounts directly at irs.gov. Protection strategies include filing early, enabling two-step authentication, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and using legitimate free
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank manager Andrea Nicole Hopkins stole $328,273 from four elderly customers (ages 80-95) at Commerce Bank in St. Louis between February 2020 and May 2021 by transferring funds into cashier's checks and prepaid cards, forging signatures, and altering account statements to fund her personal expenses and debts. Hopkins pleaded guilty to four counts of bank fraud and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison in May 2023; Commerce Bank returned all stolen funds to the victims.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Solano County launched the Solano Senior Fraud Prevention Center (SolanoScamCenter.org) through its Older & Disabled Adult Services division to help residents prevent financial elder abuse and report scams. The center provides resources and five key prevention tips, including verifying government communications, watching for fake social media identities, being skeptical of prize/investment offers, avoiding suspicious account compromise notices, and monitoring finances and Power of Attorney documents. Victims can call ODAS for assistance filing reports and contacting law enforcement.
waaytv.com
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old Lauderdale County man was scammed out of $3,600 by Jack Lovell, Jr., who accepted payment via two checks for driveway paving work but never completed the job; Lovell was arrested and faces charges of financial exploitation of the elderly and home repair fraud. A geriatric care manager notes that seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams due to their trusting nature, and recommends verifying contractors through the Better Business Bureau, never paying upfront, and obtaining second opinions before trusting unfamiliar service providers.
menafn.com
· 2025-12-08
A hotel owner in Bengaluru lost Rs 48,000 after a man posing as a technician offered to update his Paytm scanner for one rupee; the scammer instead deducted the full amount from the victim's account and fled. The incident underscores a growing "scanner update" fraud targeting shop owners, with authorities warning the public to verify the legitimacy of strangers offering digital services and to avoid granting device access without proper verification.
pembinavalleyonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Winkler Police investigated multiple scams in the region: a couple lost money on a fake Facebook Marketplace vehicle sale using a fraudulent Canada Post QR code payment, a man was victimized by a job scam involving a bad cheque and was instructed to send funds back to the scammer, and a woman purchased prepaid credit cards after being contacted by someone claiming she won Publisher's Clearing House, losing the card values to the scammer. While specific dollar amounts were not disclosed, all three victims suffered financial losses with little recovery prospects.
channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating local banks sent SMS messages to at least 12 victims offering fixed deposit promotions with high interest rates, resulting in losses of at least S$650,000 since January. The fraudsters posed as bank agents, collected personal information, and instructed victims to transfer money into fake accounts created under their names, with some victims receiving forged bank statements and facing delayed discovery through claimed "activation periods." Additional phishing scams targeting bank customers through spoofed SMSes resulted in 103 victims in December and 219 DBS customers losing about S$446,000 in the first two weeks of 2024.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 34-year-old German language teacher in Chennai lost Rs 2.26 lakh in a courier scam when a caller impersonating a Mumbai police officer falsely claimed she had sent a package containing drugs, then manipulated her into transferring money to a fraudulent account and unknowingly authorizing a loan in her name. In a similar incident, a Bengaluru lawyer was defrauded of Rs 15 lakh over 36 hours by scammers posing as courier service representatives, Mumbai police, and a CBI officer who coerced her into a video call under false pretenses and extracted sensitive financial information.
dailydot.com
· 2025-12-08
A Taco Bell worker and TikTok creator named Caleb Lennon shared a story about a customer named Jerry who exploited the restaurant's honor-based delivery pickup system by picking up his own DoorDash order, then allowing the actual DoorDash driver to pick up a duplicate order, effectively getting two meals for the price of one. The viral video, which accumulated over 530,000 views, inadvertently popularized the scam technique, with many commenters praising Jerry's scheme and expressing interest in replicating it, though some viewers debated whether the scam was Jerry's doing or a result of a DoorDash system error.
en.as.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior Medicare Patrol warns that Medicare scams are increasing, with fraudsters exploiting beneficiaries' failure to review account statements by charging for unrequested items like urinary catheters, diabetes supplies, and COVID-19 test kits. To protect themselves, Medicare beneficiaries should carefully review their monthly Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) or Explanations of Benefits (EOB), treat their Medicare card like a credit card, and report suspected fraud to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468 or 855-613-7080. Medicare will never contact beneficiaries unsolicited by phone to issue new cards or other services.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wake County Animal Center warned of a scam targeting owners of lost pets, in which scammers impersonate center employees, call after hours, claim to have found the pet injured, and demand emergency surgery payments via electronic transfer or payment apps. The scammers spoof the animal center's phone number to appear legitimate and exploit desperate pet owners' emotional vulnerability. The genuine animal center never requests immediate phone payments, only accepts in-person payments (cash, check, or credit card), and does not perform medical procedures on private animals.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Uwemedimo Umoren, a Georgia man, was sentenced to three years in prison for laundering over $8 million in proceeds from a Nigeria-based fraud enterprise that operated from 2016 to 2021. The criminal scheme primarily targeted vulnerable elderly Americans through investment, business email compromise, and romance scams, with at least 17 victims suffering significant financial and emotional harm, including one elderly man whose stress-induced stroke contributed to his death. Umoren was ordered to forfeit $8.23 million and pay $1.24 million in restitution for his role in receiving and laundering the fraud proceeds through shell company bank accounts he controlled.
statesman.com
· 2025-12-08
A PrivacyJournal study ranking online dating safety across U.S. states found Nevada, Georgia, and Alaska to be the most dangerous for romance scams and related fraud, while Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine emerged as the safest. Texas ranked 43rd out of 50 states, placing it in the top 10 most dangerous, based on per capita metrics including reported romance scams, identity theft, fraud, sex offenders, and STD cases.
ktar.com
· 2025-12-08
Donald Franklin Huegel, a California man, was sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded two elderly Arizona women of over $481,000 combined. Working with co-conspirators in Africa, Huegel used fake online profiles ("Chad Callahan" and "Michael Williams") to build romantic relationships with his victims, then manipulated them into sending money through various tactics including identity theft threats. A restitution hearing is pending, and Huegel will serve three years of probation following his prison term.
bigfuture.collegeboard.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource advises students and families on recognizing and avoiding financial aid scams. Key recommendations include avoiding hiring consultants (since free advice is available from school counselors and aid officers, and consultants cannot increase aid amounts), protecting personal information from unsolicited phone or email contacts, and being wary of two common scams: fraudulent "grant offers" that request processing fees (which the federal government never charges) and identity theft schemes where scammers pose as government or financial representatives. The piece emphasizes that suspicious activity should be reported to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General.
money.com
· 2025-12-08
From 2019 to 2023, reported cases of employment fraud nearly tripled from 38,000 to 107,000, costing victims $490.7 million in 2023 alone. Scammers use fake job listings to steal personal information for identity theft or credit fraud, and increasingly request upfront payments via email and cryptocurrency for fake training, equipment, or background checks, with victims losing a median of $2,100. Job seekers should be cautious of suspiciously easy or highly-paid positions, research companies thoroughly, and verify job postings directly with employers to avoid these schemes.
da.sonomacounty.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating legitimate student loan debt relief representatives through emails and phone calls, using aggressive language, promises of forgiveness, requests for login credentials, and unofficial contact information to defraud borrowers. The Department of Education emphasizes that legitimate representatives will never request StudentAid.gov passwords and that borrowers can access loan modification services for free through their loan servicers. Victims should contact their loan servicer and bank, change their FSA ID password if compromised, and file complaints with the Department of Education, FTC, or CFPB.