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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
freemalaysiatoday.com
· 2026-06-21
Online investment scams in Malaysia's Kelantan state have caused the largest financial losses among all fraud cases, with some victims losing over RM1 million each after being lured by promises of unrealistic returns and continuing to deposit money hoping to recover losses. Police report a concerning surge in commercial crime cases and financial losses in the first five months of 2024, with online investment scams accounting for RM5.18 million in losses. To protect yourself, authorities advise being skeptical of investment opportunities promising exceptionally high returns in short timeframes and to think rationally before committing money to any investment scheme.
entertainmentnow.com
· 2026-06-21
Sam Little, a star from the UK version of "The Traitors," lost his entire £40,000 life savings to a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam after receiving fake text messages posing as his bank and then being tricked into allowing scammers to access his online banking. The 35-year-old accounts manager is now warning the public about the scam, which began with fraudulent texts claiming unauthorized account access and ended with the scammers hacking into his banking portal before he could stop them. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited messages claiming to be from your bank, contact your bank directly using a number you know is legitimate rather than numbers provided in suspicious messages, and remember that legitimate banks will never ask you to grant them access to your online accounts.
chronicleonline.com
· 2026-06-20
Florida residents lose approximately $1 billion annually to scams, with seniors being disproportionately targeted, prompting the Florida Attorney General's Office and Florida Bankers Association to launch a joint awareness campaign in June (Elder Abuse Awareness Month) to educate the public about fraud prevention. The state has been designated the "Fraud Capital of the United States," with scams becoming increasingly sophisticated and coordinated, causing elderly victims to suffer long-term financial and emotional consequences. The campaign encourages residents to recognize red flags, report fraud quickly, and work with banks and law enforcement to stop scams before money is transferred.
news.bitcoin.com
· 2026-06-20
FBI Director Kash Patel has declared an intensified crackdown on "pig butchering" scams—sophisticated crypto fraud schemes where criminals build fake online relationships to trick victims into investing money in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. These scams particularly target elderly Americans and teenagers, and the FBI has already achieved significant results, including seizing $8 billion in cryptocurrency and arresting over 300 suspects across Asia and the Middle East in "Operation Blackout." To protect yourself, be skeptical of online investment opportunities and romantic interests asking for cryptocurrency deposits, verify investment platforms independently, and report suspicious activity to the FBI.
bookandfilmglobe.com
· 2026-06-20
Carlos Barragan's book "The Yahoo Boys" explores the Nigerian romance scam industry through interviews with teenage scammers, motivated in part by his own mother falling victim to one of these schemes. The book profiles four young Nigerian men who use online relationships to manipulate victims into sending money, revealing that despite understanding the real harm they cause, these scammers show little genuine interest in stopping. For those vulnerable to romance scams, the key takeaway is to be wary of online relationships that quickly lead to requests for money, especially from people you've never met in person.
kucoin.com
· 2026-06-20
Americans lost $20.9 billion to cybercrime last year, with investment scams—including crypto fraud—accounting for approximately $10.7 billion of those losses, prompting FBI Director Kash Patel to announce intensified efforts to combat crypto scams. Common tactics include fake exchanges, "pig butchering" schemes, and fraudulent DeFi projects that exploit blockchain's anonymity to evade tracking, with elderly Americans being disproportionately targeted and accounting for nearly one-third of total losses. To protect yourself, avoid unsolicited investment opportunities promising high returns, verify the legitimacy of exchanges and platforms before transferring funds, and be cautious of unfamiliar cryptocurrency projects or complex financial terminology used by bad actors.
blog.knowbe4.com
· 2026-06-20
Americans lost approximately $900 million to AI-powered scams in 2025, with total scam losses reaching nearly $21 billion—a 26% increase from the previous year. Criminals are using AI technology like voice cloning, deepfakes, and automated scripts to execute sophisticated fraud schemes including romance scams, impersonation of government officials, fake kidnapping threats, and counterfeit influencer accounts. To protect yourself, the FBI recommends verifying identities through official contact channels rather than responding to unsolicited calls or messages, and being especially cautious of government impersonation attempts that use spoofed caller IDs and AI-generated audio or video.
bitdefender.com
· 2026-06-20
Cybercrime in Asia and the South Pacific has grown so rapidly that it now rivals traditional crime, with organized scam operations accounting for over 30% of all recorded crime in more than half of surveyed countries. The threats are evolving fast—criminals are increasingly using AI, ransomware, sophisticated phishing schemes, and infostealer malware to steal credentials and launch attacks on digital banking and financial platforms. To protect yourself, be wary of phishing emails, use strong unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, and avoid clicking suspicious links or downloading unexpected files.
standard.co.uk
· 2026-06-20
The Traitors star Sam Little lost £40,000 of his life savings in a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam where fraudsters impersonated his crypto platform's customer service, using fake text messages and fear tactics to trick him into calling a fake support number and handing over account access. The scammers drained his account within minutes by creating a convincing fake platform interface and pressuring him to "secure" his account. To protect yourself, verify phone numbers independently through official websites before calling, never provide account access or passwords based on unsolicited communications, and be skeptical of urgent messages claiming unauthorized access attempts.
timeslive.co.za
· 2026-06-19
A 51-year-old South African woman lost over R300,000 in a romance scam orchestrated by a Ugandan man she met and fell in love with, who convinced her to loan money for supposed business ventures and emergencies before disappearing with her funds. The victim ended up hospitalized with depression and burdened her sister and colleague with loans they took out on her behalf, with her colleague now expecting monthly repayments of R6,500. To protect yourself from similar scams, be cautious of online or quickly-developed romantic relationships where partners request money, especially for emergencies or business opportunities, and verify their stories independently rather than relying on photos or claims.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2026-06-19
Scammers are increasingly sending couriers to victims' homes to collect cash in person, bypassing bank fraud detection systems that have become better at blocking suspicious wire transfers. This emerging tactic, which the FBI warned about in June 2025, typically starts with romance or investment scams where fraudsters build trust with victims over time before pressuring them to send money, often framing it as taxes or penalties. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities, never send cash to unknown couriers even if they provide verification codes, and verify any urgent financial requests directly with your bank before acting.
digitalinformationworld.com
· 2026-06-19
Hundreds of thousands of job seekers, particularly those with language skills or vulnerable circumstances, are being trafficked to Southeast Asian countries under false employment promises and forced to run online fraud schemes like "pig-butchering" scams. Scammers control victims through wage withholding, document confiscation, location tracking, and violence, while also extorting ransom from families. Research based on survivor testimonies identifies warning signs of trafficking recruitment, and experts recommend that job seekers verify employment offers through official channels, be cautious of unsolicited job opportunities abroad, and watch for red flags like requests for upfront payments or pressure to move quickly.
bankingdive.com
· 2026-06-19
Banks and credit unions are significantly strengthening their defenses against scams that increasingly target older adults, who reported $7.7 billion in losses in 2024—a 59% increase from the previous year. Major institutions like Fifth Third Bank are expanding their fraud prevention teams, implementing real-time detection systems to intervene during scams rather than after, and training staff to recognize signs of financial exploitation. Customers, particularly seniors, should remain vigilant about unsolicited calls or messages from supposed banks or government agencies, verify requests through official phone numbers, and alert their financial institution immediately if they suspect fraudulent activity.
natlawreview.com
· 2026-06-19
Imposter scams are hitting seniors particularly hard, with elderly people losing about $16 billion to scams in 2025—a significant jump from $12.8 billion the previous year. Scammers impersonate government agencies, banks, or family members through phone, text, or email to trick seniors into revealing personal information or making immediate payments, often using scare tactics like threats of legal consequences. To protect yourself, stay aware of these common tactics, never give out personal or financial information to unsolicited callers, and verify requests by contacting the organization directly through an official number.
aol.com
· 2026-06-19
Older adults lost $7.748 billion to scammers in 2025—a 59% increase from the previous year—according to an IRS warning, with common fraud schemes including investment fraud, government impersonation calls, identity theft, and romance scams. The IRS emphasized that nearly 97% of prosecuted elder fraud cases result in convictions and urged seniors to protect themselves by monitoring accounts, avoiding suspicious links, verifying callers' identities, and never sending money to unknown people. Those who suspect fraud can report it at IRS.gov or contact the Washington D.C. Field Office directly.
rdrnews.com
· 2026-06-19
New Mexico's Adult Protective Services received approximately 18,000 reports of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation in 2026, with scams—including fraudulent phone calls, impersonation schemes, and romance scams—being a significant form of financial exploitation targeting older adults. The state is urging residents to watch for warning signs such as unexplained injuries, sudden behavioral changes, withdrawal from social activities, unusual financial activity, and signs of neglect or poor living conditions. Anyone concerned about an older adult's safety should report suspected abuse and help combat elder abuse through awareness, social connection, and checking in on vulnerable neighbors.
bitdefender.com
· 2026-06-19
The "Muse Scam" targets social media users by posing as artists who offer payment for using victims' photos in art projects. Scammers send fake checks for more than the promised amount, then ask victims to wire back the "overpayment" for supplies or fees—by the time the check bounces, the victim's real money is already gone to the scammer. To protect yourself, never wire money based on a check deposit and verify large payments directly with your bank before transferring funds elsewhere.
asiaone.com
· 2026-06-19
Since April 2026, at least eight seniors in Singapore have lost approximately $69,000 to a malware scam targeting Android devices, where fraudsters use fake ads on social media to lure victims into downloading malicious files that compromise their phones and banking access. The scammers then impersonate government officials and pressure victims to transfer money or hand over valuables for supposed police investigations. To protect yourself, avoid downloading files from unknown sources, install the ScamShield app, verify suspicious claims directly with official authorities, and call the ScamShield helpline at 1799 if you're unsure about any contact or request.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2026-06-19
Ahead of Father's Day, UK banks are warning about a surge in "Hi Dad" scams where fraudsters use AI-generated calls and text messages impersonating children to trick parents into sending money, with Santander reporting £160,000 already stolen using this tactic in 2024. The scams are part of a broader fraud problem, with men losing an average of £100,000 per day to various fraud schemes in the first half of the year. Banks recommend using the "Take Five" protocol—stopping to think before responding to unexpected money requests—and being especially cautious of urgent appeals claiming to involve a child's emergency or temporary phone number.
wishtv.com
· 2026-06-18
Criminals are increasingly using AI technology to conduct sophisticated scams, with the FBI reporting over 22,000 AI-related fraud complaints in 2025 resulting in approximately $893 million in losses, including $632 million from investment scams alone. These scams target everyday people through realistic AI-generated emails, texts, calls, and voice cloning—often impersonating government agencies or officials—making them harder to detect than traditional fraud. To protect yourself, verify unexpected requests by contacting organizations directly using official phone numbers or websites, scrutinize sender email addresses for subtle spoofing (like "USA.com" instead of official government domains), and be skeptical of unsolicited financial requests regardless of how professional they appear.
ny1.com
· 2026-06-18
Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting and Hawaii State Judiciary are warning residents about sophisticated scams involving fake inspection notices, permits, and communications that impersonate government officials. Scammers have sent fraudulent violation notices to evict tenants and fake permit emails requesting wire transfer payments for fake "approval fees"—tactics the real DPP never uses. Residents should verify any government communications directly with the agency by phone or in person, avoid wire transfers for government fees, and never respond to suspicious emails or calls claiming to be from city officials.
time.com
· 2026-06-18
Scammers are using AI to impersonate popular Nashville rock band Sons of Legion on social media, creating convincing fake videos and profiles that trick fans into romantic relationships and sending thousands of dollars to fraudsters posing as the band members. The band reports 50-60 new fake accounts appearing daily, with fans showing up to concerts believing they had been in relationships with the impersonators and had been defrauded of significant money. To protect yourself, verify accounts directly through official band websites or verified social media profiles, be cautious of sudden relationship requests from celebrities or musicians, and never send money to online contacts you haven't met in person—no matter how convincing they appear.
bitdefender.com
· 2026-06-18
In 2025, Americans lost $3.5 billion to imposter scams where criminals pretended to be government agencies, banks, tech support, employers, and romantic partners—a nearly 20% increase from the previous year and the ninth consecutive year this was the most common fraud type. The scams exploit trust rather than technical tricks, with government imposter scams surging 40%, particularly fake toll payment messages that create urgency through threats of penalties. To protect yourself, verify any unexpected requests for payment or personal information by contacting the organization directly using official contact information, never respond to unsolicited messages, and be skeptical of anything demanding immediate action.
953wiki.com
· 2026-06-18
Indiana's Secretary of State is warning residents about a sharp increase in financial scams targeting seniors, with reports nearly doubling from 176 in 2024 to 351 in 2025, resulting in approximately $25 million in losses. The state is encouraging Hoosiers to protect elderly family members by staying informed about common scams—including phone scams, investment fraud, and online schemes—and to report suspicious activity to authorities. Educational programs offered by the Indiana Securities Division are available to seniors, caregivers, and community groups to help identify warning signs of financial exploitation before people become victims.
broadbandbreakfast.com
· 2026-06-18
The Federal Communications Commission is partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services to launch the "Never, Ever" campaign to educate seniors about imposter scams, where fraudsters pose as government agencies or companies to steal money and personal information—a scheme that cost Americans $3.5 billion last year. The FCC clarified that legitimate government agencies will never call asking for payment via untraceable methods like cash apps, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, and will never threaten to suspend benefits or demand money transfers. To protect yourself, hang up on unsolicited callers claiming to be from the government or financial institutions, verify requests by calling the official number on your bill or website, and report suspicious calls to the FCC.
irs.gov
· 2026-06-18
The IRS CEO emphasizes that older adults are frequent targets of scams where fraudsters impersonate tax authorities to steal personal and financial information, and reminds the public that the IRS never initiates contact demanding money or threatening to move funds. He encourages everyone to help protect seniors by recognizing these warning signs and directing vulnerable people to resources like the Federal Elder Justice Coordinating Council's website before responding to suspicious calls or messages. The message highlights the importance of celebrating and protecting older adults, who contribute significantly to society and deserve to live safely in their retirement years.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2026-06-17
Scammers stole over $120 million from Kentuckians last year, with seniors aged 60+ losing more than $60 million, as criminals increasingly use cryptocurrency and AI-powered technology to make scams like romance and emergency schemes more convincing. The FBI warns that these frauds are growing more sophisticated and difficult to trace, particularly through the state's 400+ cryptocurrency ATMs. If you suspect a scam, the FBI advises stopping communication immediately, slowing down, and discussing suspicious interactions with trusted family members or friends before taking any action.
en.sedaily.com
· 2026-06-17
Losses from "new scams" in South Korea—including investment fraud, fake job schemes, and romance scams conducted through social media and apps—dropped 30% in May compared to the previous month, according to police data. The Korean National Police Agency attributes this success to targeted interventions such as blocking fraudulent social media accounts, removing malicious apps from app stores in cooperation with tech companies like Google and Apple, and sending warning notifications to potential victims. The advice for the general public is to be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, job offers, and romantic contacts on social media platforms, and to report suspicious activity to authorities.
morungexpress.com
· 2026-06-17
Sri Lanka has become a major hub for international cybercrime, particularly telecom fraud and "pig-butchering" investment scams, with criminal networks from Southeast Asia relocating there due to economic instability and weak regulatory oversight. Victims worldwide are targeted through fake romance schemes and fraudulent investment platforms, while workers are recruited under false pretenses, have their passports confiscated, and are forced to operate scams from luxury hotels across the country. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited romantic connections offering investment opportunities, verify investment platforms independently, never send money to unknown accounts, and report suspicious job listings that seem unusually lucrative or request upfront payments.
sarkaritel.com
· 2026-06-17
Sri Lanka has become a major hub for international cybercrime, with criminal networks relocating from Southeast Asia to operate sophisticated telecom and pig-butchering scams from luxury hotels and guesthouses across the country. Victims worldwide are targeted through fraudulent investment schemes, fake dating profiles, and mass phishing campaigns using stolen identities and SIM-box equipment that can manage hundreds of phone lines simultaneously. Authorities have intensified raids since mid-2024, arresting hundreds of suspected scammers, but victims can protect themselves by being cautious about unsolicited investment opportunities, verifying identities before sending money, and using strong security practices like enabling two-factor authentication and avoiding clicking links from unknown sources.
channelnewsasia.com
· 2026-06-17
A Singapore man lost S$3,800 after clicking on a fraudulent TikTok ad that led him to share his credit card details in a phishing scam; scammers then used his information to create a digital wallet token to make unauthorized purchases. Although his bank recovered S$355, a tribunal ruled the man was largely responsible for the remaining S$3,455 in losses because he ignored multiple warnings and notifications from the bank, demonstrating gross negligence. The case highlights the importance of staying vigilant about suspicious links and heeding bank alerts, as consumers who ignore security warnings may not be able to recover their losses.
straitstimes.com
· 2026-06-17
A man in Singapore lost $3,456 to a credit card phishing scam after clicking a fake link on TikTok and entering his card details, but a court ruled against his claim to recover the money from his bank. The tribunal found him grossly negligent because he ignored multiple warning alerts from his bank over more than a week about unauthorized activity on his account, rather than taking immediate action to report or stop the transactions. The key lesson for consumers: respond promptly to any suspicious account notifications from your bank—ignoring repeated warnings can cost you the ability to recover fraudulent charges, even if you were initially scammed.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-06-17
Bank of America is launching a "Scaminars" program with 1,000 in-person educational events nationwide through 2026, combined with over 50 AI-powered fraud detection systems, to help older adults identify and avoid financial scams. Elder fraud represents a significant risk to both the bank's customers and its reputation, so the initiative addresses the problem through both technology-based monitoring and consumer education. For seniors and their families, attending these free seminars or staying alert to the warning signs Bank of America promotes through the program can help protect against financial fraud targeting vulnerable populations.
eaglecountryonline.com
· 2026-06-17
Indiana's Secretary of State reported that financial scams targeting seniors have reached record levels, with the state receiving 351 senior fraud reports in 2025—nearly double the previous year—resulting in approximately $25 million in losses. The exploitation includes phone scams, investment fraud, and online schemes, with state officials emphasizing that education and awareness are crucial tools for prevention. Seniors and their families are encouraged to stay informed about warning signs of financial exploitation and report any suspicious activity to authorities.
students.carleton.ca
· 2026-06-17
Job posting scams often lure job seekers by impersonating legitimate employers through spoofed emails and fake application processes, then direct victims to personal messaging platforms to request banking information or personal details. Warning signs include communications from non-official email addresses, lack of a real interview process, requests to share sensitive financial information upfront, and pressure to move conversations off official channels. To protect yourself, verify employer legitimacy through official websites and contact information, never share personal or banking details via email alone, and insist on conducting interviews through live video or phone calls with the organization.
bbc.com
· 2026-06-16
Sextortion scammers contact victims through dating apps, manipulate them into intimate video calls, then threaten to share recordings with family and friends unless paid. A 35-year-old man in the UK named Alan Irwin experienced this scam but refused to comply, blocked the scammer, and reported it to police, ultimately preventing the extortion from working. Experts advise victims not to panic or pay, as scammers have no real leverage once you refuse to engage—reporting the incident to authorities and warning your contacts are the recommended steps.
news.usps.com
· 2026-06-16
Imposter scams—where criminals pose as relatives, romantic interests, or tech support—cost consumers $15.9 billion in 2025 and are becoming increasingly convincing through AI technology. The scams commonly target elderly people and vulnerable individuals by creating urgent situations (medical emergencies, bail money, computer viruses) to pressure victims into sending money. To protect yourself, verify requests through trusted contacts before acting, avoid sharing personal information with strangers online, be wary of urgent money requests, and never grant remote computer access or make payments via gift cards to unsolicited callers.
pcmag.com
· 2026-06-16
Scammers are increasingly using AI to launch sophisticated social engineering attacks through popular messaging apps, SMS, and email, making fraudulent messages nearly indistinguishable from legitimate communications. According to Fraud.org's 2025 report, internet-based scams now surpass phone calls as scammers' primary contact method, with phishing and spoofing attacks nearly doubling year-over-year. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited messages about deliveries or requests from contacts, verify suspicious communications through independent channels, and avoid clicking links or sharing information with unverified senders.
scworld.com
· 2026-06-16
The FBI has warned about a growing "pig butchering" scam where criminals use fake romantic connections and investment promises to defraud victims, now employing couriers to collect cash in person when banks block transfers. Victims are told they've made profits in fake cryptocurrency accounts and then pressured to pay additional "taxes" and "penalties" through these in-person cash exchanges. To protect yourself, research any crypto platform before investing, never meet strangers to exchange money, be cautious of sudden romantic interest combined with investment pitches, and report suspicious activity to the FBI immediately.
siliconcanals.com
· 2026-06-16
In October 2025, the US Justice Department seized 127,271 bitcoin (worth $15 billion) in what it called the largest asset seizure in its history—coins that had sat untouched on the blockchain for five years with no police reports or public filings. The bitcoin is allegedly connected to Chen Zhi, a Cambodian businessman accused of running forced-labor scam operations across Southeast Asia alongside his legitimate business conglomerate, Prince Group. The case is unusual because such a massive theft typically generates immediate police reports and regulatory filings, but this one unfolded in complete silence, making the absence of any public reporting itself a key part of the investigation.
ktvh.com
· 2026-06-16
Scammers are increasingly targeting Montana's elderly residents through phone calls, emails, and text messages to steal personal information and money, with romance and pig butchering scams among the most common schemes. State leaders gathered to raise awareness about elder abuse, urging families to watch for warning signs such as seniors discussing new contacts or unusual financial activity, and to report suspected exploitation. Montana's elder justice unit, established in 2023, has investigated around 110 cases and officials stress the importance of stronger prevention systems and reporting suspected abuse to protect vulnerable seniors.
tennews.in
· 2026-06-16
Sri Lanka has become a major hub for international telecom fraud and "pig-butchering" investment scams, where criminals pose as romantic interests to trick victims into investing in fake platforms. Cybercrime networks from Southeast Asia have relocated operations to Sri Lanka due to economic instability and weak regulations, with recent police raids uncovering large scam centers in luxury hotels and arresting hundreds of foreign nationals who were forcing trafficked workers to operate the schemes. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited romantic advances online that lead to investment opportunities, verify investment platforms independently, enable two-factor authentication on social media accounts, and never send money to strangers or unfamiliar accounts based on requests through messaging apps.
wvmetronews.com
· 2026-06-16
Federal and West Virginia officials are backing a "Never EVER" campaign to combat elder fraud, which costs West Virginia seniors approximately $19 million annually, with government imposter scams accounting for $1.1 million of that. Scammers—often operating from foreign countries using AI technology to mimic trusted voices and create artificial urgency—target vulnerable people by pressuring them to act immediately or face consequences. To protect yourself, never give out personal information to unsolicited callers, and if you suspect fraud, report it to local law enforcement or the U.S. Attorney's office.
asiaone.com
· 2026-06-16
A 70-year-old man in Singapore was targeted by scammers impersonating government officials and a Harvey Norman employee, who convinced him he was involved in money laundering and tricked him into transferring $17,000 as "protection money." He recovered the full amount after quickly reporting the scam to police and contacting his bank to freeze the account, with additional help from local authorities and his MP. The key takeaway: if government officials ask you to transfer money or give bank access over the phone, it's a scam—contact police and your bank immediately rather than complying out of fear.
citizen.co.za
· 2026-06-16
A financial manager in Middelburg was targeted by sophisticated scammers who impersonated her bank (Absa) via WhatsApp and phone calls, tricking her into approving electronic transfers during a nearly four-hour call, resulting in over R21.5 million being drained from business accounts. The money was traced across a network of accounts, and a court has frozen the funds following an investigation by the Financial Intelligence Centre. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited bank alerts, never approve links or transactions based on incoming calls (legitimate banks won't ask you to do this), and contact your bank directly using a known number if you're unsure about suspicious activity claims.
losgatan.com
· 2026-06-15
Scammers are targeting older Americans with increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, with reported losses to people age 60+ skyrocketing from 2020 to 2024—including a nearly 9-fold increase in cases involving losses of $100,000 or more. Seniors are particularly vulnerable because scammers exploit trust, urgency, and unfamiliarity with technology by impersonating legitimate companies, banks, or loved ones through convincing texts, emails, and spoofed caller IDs. To protect yourself and older loved ones, stay informed about common scams, verify unexpected requests before responding, and encourage regular check-ins to discuss potential threats.
bbc.com
· 2026-06-15
Fraud in the UK has surged dramatically, with over 4 million cases reported last year resulting in nearly £1.3 billion in losses, as criminals increasingly use AI and fake social media profiles to manipulate victims—including tactics like romance scams where fraudsters even marry victims to steal more money. The problem affects millions of people across the country and causes significant emotional harm beyond financial loss, with experts warning that many cases go unreported. To protect yourself, be cautious on dating apps and social media, verify identities before developing relationships or sending money, and report suspected fraud to your bank and authorities immediately.
resultsense.com
· 2026-06-15
Artificial intelligence is fueling a dramatic surge in UK fraud, with over 4.1 million cases stealing nearly £1.3 billion last year—up 31% since 2023. Criminals are using AI to create convincing deepfakes of celebrities and loved ones, making romance scams particularly devastating, with investment fraud losses jumping 40% to record highs. Experts urge consumers to be vigilant about unsolicited contact from relatives or celebrities, while calling on tech platforms and financial institutions to strengthen verification systems and remove fraudulent ads rather than relying solely on post-theft refunds.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2026-06-15
Oneida County is hosting two elder abuse awareness and prevention events on Monday to help seniors identify and protect themselves from increasingly complex financial scams. The sessions, organized by the county's Office for the Aging and 50 Forward Mohawk Valley, will take place in Utica and Verona Beach and will educate older adults about recognizing scams and what steps to take if victimized. The county is also promoting a partnership with SilverShield, a scam protection service that helps review suspicious texts, emails, and phone calls.
winchesterstar.com
· 2026-06-15
Virginia State Police is encouraging people of all ages to protect themselves from monetary and identity scams by independently verifying requests before acting on them—slowing down rather than rushing, since scammers rely on urgency and fear. Key preventative measures include changing passwords frequently, using a trusted "buddy system" to discuss suspicious calls or texts, avoiding sharing personal information, and being cautious about what you post on social media. The advice is particularly timely around World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, though these tips apply to anyone vulnerable to fraud.