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A phishing scam text message claiming recipients have outstanding traffic tickets with Saturday payment deadlines and license suspension threats circulated across multiple states including Tennessee, North Carolina, and Minnesota, with scammers including fraudulent payment links. Law enforcement agencies confirmed the scam and clarified that government agencies do not send text messages about traffic fines or suspensions; residents are advised to delete messages, avoid clicking links, and use only verified official phone numbers or websites ending in .gov.

Rob Naylor of AARP Tennessee discusses how elder scams have evolved from traditional mail and door-to-door tactics to primarily email and text message schemes that seek personal information including names, addresses, and social security numbers. He raises awareness about Real ID scams targeting people in states with Real ID campaigns, noting that unsolicited requests for Real ID information are likely fraudulent, especially from non-.gov email addresses or text messages with suspicious formatting; Tennessee has not yet reported Real ID scams.

Multiple law enforcement agencies across Tennessee reported a rise in phone scams where callers impersonated police and sheriff's offices, threatening victims with jail time unless they paid money. Government agencies never call to demand payment or personal information; residents should hang up on suspicious calls and independently verify by contacting the agency directly.

Tennessee is addressing a surge in romance scams targeting seniors through the proposed "Romance Scam Prevention Act," which would require dating apps to implement fraud prevention measures. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Tennessee residents over 60 lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with romance scammers building trust before requesting money or financial access through fabricated stories. Law enforcement recommends contacting local police if suspicious activity seems out of place, as officers can often quickly identify common scam tactics.

Tennessee Secretary of State Trey Harget issued a warning about a deceptive mailer scam targeting business owners around annual business report renewal deadlines. Scammers send official-looking letters from a fraudulent entity called "Tennessee Business Filing Center," threatening businesses with additional fees and dissolution if they don't file reports through the scam service before the April 1st deadline, potentially costing victims several hundred dollars. The complaint rate for this scam has steadily increased statewide.

Ghanaian national Wigbert Bandy was sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to a $2 million romance scam targeting senior citizens on dating sites and social media. The scam defrauded 11 victims, with one East Tennessee resident losing over $280,000, and Bandy was ordered to repay approximately $2.2 million in restitution.

Three Nigerian men in their 40s were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating romance and investment scams that targeted victims across America from 2017 to 2021, including a Western Tennessee resident who lost $400,000. The perpetrators used fake identities on social media and dating sites, posing as romantic partners and repeatedly requesting emergency financial assistance from victims. Law enforcement urges scam victims to report incidents to police, as victims of romance scams often face additional risks including identity theft when they unknowingly share personal information with fraudsters.

The Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments is hosting a Senior Fraud and Scam Summit on Thursday, August 8th at the Bob Harrison Wellness Center in Huntsville to educate seniors about common scams and fraud prevention strategies. The event features speakers from the Alabama Securities Commission, Huntsville Police Department, the Better Business Bureau, and a local attorney, with limited seating for 150 participants available by calling 256-830-0818. This educational initiative addresses the rising prevalence of identity theft and scams targeting seniors in the Tennessee Valley region.

This educational piece warns about cryptocurrency scams targeting consumers in Shelby County, Tennessee. The article highlights that scammers increasingly demand cryptocurrency payments for various schemes, and notes that legitimate businesses never require cryptocurrency as the sole payment method—it may be one option among many. According to the Better Business Bureau, over 180 reports of cryptocurrency scams were filed in the past year, with victims losing more than $180,000 combined to fraudsters demanding crypto payments.

The Tennessee Attorney General's office and Secretary of State warn against celebrity impersonation scams that are increasingly common online, particularly using AI technology. These scams take various forms including fake charities using celebrity likenesses to solicit donations, bogus product endorsements, investment schemes, and phishing scams on social media. To protect yourself, verify charities through tools like Charity Navigator, contact organizations directly using verified contact information, confirm Tennessee charity registration with the Secretary of State, and never send money or personal information to unknown individuals regardless of their claimed celebrity status.

In Tennessee, 1,577 seniors over age 60 lost a combined $43 million to fraud in one year, according to the FBI. A retired insurance salesman fell victim to a sophisticated impersonation scam where fraudsters posing as Amazon and Social Security Administration officials convinced him his identity had been compromised and involved in money laundering. Remarkably, this victim recovered his stolen money—an extremely rare outcome in elder fraud cases.

A sociology class at Elizabethton High School in Tennessee solved a 40-year-old serial killer case after students investigated unsolved murders of red-headed women who were strangled and dumped along the interstate. The students, working under teacher Alex Campbell's guidance, connected the victims and identified a suspect, assisting police in the decades-long investigation. The case demonstrates how high school students exceeded expectations in applying classroom learning to help solve a real cold case.

Romance scams are targeting hundreds of people in Middle Tennessee, with scammers building trust through daily messaging on platforms like LinkedIn before directing victims to invest money in fraudulent schemes involving gold trading, banking, finance, and cryptocurrency. Once victims send money to these scammers, recovery is nearly impossible. The schemes typically involve scammers posing as trustworthy individuals from overseas who gradually shift conversations from personal matters to investment opportunities.

Tennessee has reimbursed over $933,000 to SNAP benefit recipients whose EBT cards were fraudulently used through skimming, cloning, and phishing scams that drained thousands of accounts. Nearly 8,000 people submitted replacement requests since the state began accepting them in fall 2023, with approximately 78% of reviewed claims approved. The USDA reported over 162,000 fraudulent SNAP transactions nationally in fiscal year 2023 totaling $30 million, prompting calls for federal solutions including microchip technology and enhanced security measures on EBT cards.