Explore the Archive

Rebecca Adami from North Carolina lost $60,000 in an employment scam where a romantic interest connected her with a fake recruiter offering a charity finance position. The scammer obtained her banking information, made fraudulent charges on her credit cards, deposited bad checks in her name totaling $67,000, and reversed legitimate payments to trap her in debt. Employment scams surged 118% in 2023, with the FTC reporting $367 million in consumer losses in 2022, and the agency recommends verifying employers independently and never providing financial information or prepaying for legitimate job positions.

A North Carolina woman lost $60,000 after a romantic interest connected her to a fraudulent job opportunity posing as a charity finance position, requiring her to open bank accounts and provide all banking credentials to the scammer. The perpetrator used her accounts to make over $60,000 in unauthorized charges on her credit cards and attempted to deposit fraudulent checks, with payment reversals leaving her liable for mounting debt. The FTC reports nearly 105,000 job opportunity scams in 2023 alone with $450 million in total losses, and advises job seekers to never disclose personal information before formal employment, refuse positions requiring payment, and independently verify company legitimacy.

Age Concern New Zealand and ANZ bank launched an innovative scam prevention campaign featuring a reimagined version of the 1980s TV show "CHiPs" to educate older New Zealanders about fraud risks. The campaign, created by TBWA\NZ, uses nostalgic humor and messaging to empower seniors to recognize and reject common scams, with survey data showing 80% of Kiwis over 65 believe older people are too trusting; the effort includes digital literacy programs, training guides, and educational materials distributed nationwide through community centers and rest homes.

The Wagoner County Sheriff's Office warns of multiple rising scams exploiting social media and artificial intelligence, including fake product listings, romance scams, and deepfake audio/video impersonations that target victims across all ages. Key threats include grandparent scams, charity fraud, peer-to-peer payment app scams, student loan forgiveness schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud, with scammers commonly requesting payment via untraceable methods like cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers. The sheriff's office recommends protecting oneself by adjusting privacy settings, verifying organizations independently, enabling multi-factor authentication, and avoiding unsolicited requests for money or personal information.

Age Concern New Zealand and ANZ Bank launched a scam prevention awareness campaign featuring the iconic 1980s TV show CHiPs to educate seniors about fraud protection. The campaign addresses findings that 80% of New Zealanders over 65 believe older people are too trusting and vulnerable to scams, using nostalgia and humor to encourage older adults to reject unsolicited calls, texts, and emails. The initiative includes TV spots, an ANZ Scam Academy website, and educational toolkits distributed through community centers and rest homes across New Zealand.

Election officials across multiple states warned about voter registration scams ahead of the 2024 presidential election, where scammers posed as get-out-the-vote groups via text messages and other communications to trick victims into clicking malicious links or providing personal information like Social Security numbers. Voter registration fraud is one of the three most common election-cycle scams, and officials recommend verifying communications directly with local election officials and reporting suspicious contacts to the FTC. No specific dollar amounts or victim counts were reported in the warnings.

In 2023, post-disaster fraud cost Americans over $9.3 billion, with scammers impersonating government, utility, and insurance workers to solicit fees and upfront deposits from disaster victims by promising federal grants, priority repairs, or faster claim processing. Legitimate FEMA agents will never request payment and carry government-issued photo badges, and consumers should verify any offers through official channels before providing money or personal information. The AARP Fraud Watch Network provides free resources to help identify and report disaster-related scams.

This article identifies five types of political call and text scams targeting voters: fake polls, donation scams, impersonation scams, questionable petitions, and voter registration scams. Experts advise consumers not to feel pressured to provide personal information, to verify requests by contacting organizations directly, and to delete suspicious messages rather than engage with them.

This educational piece by law enforcement examines modern phone-based scams targeting Americans, highlighting how technology has enabled criminals to defraud victims without in-person contact. The article details six prevalent scams: impersonation of law enforcement demanding payment for fines, fake charity solicitations, fraudulent debt collectors, fake prize offers, and IRS impersonation schemes—emphasizing that government agencies never demand immediate payment via phone, gift cards, or wire transfers, and advising victims to hang up and verify claims directly with legitimate organizations.

This article provides multiple scam alerts and protective measures: residents received fraudulent PayPal invoices via email impersonation, unrealistic job offers via text promising $1,000+ daily pay for minimal work, and a fake donation request to a nonprofit seeking wire transfer details for a $7,000 "donation." A massive data breach exposed 2.7 billion individuals' Social Security numbers and personal information, with experts recommending credit freezes with major bureaus, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and vigilance against phishing exploitation of the breach.

This educational piece identifies six common scams targeting Iowa storm victims: FEMA impersonation scams, contractor fraud (storm chasers), fake charities, insurance claim scams, phishing communications, and identity theft. The article provides preventative measures for each scam type, including verifying credentials, obtaining multiple estimates, researching charities through watchdog organizations, contacting insurance companies directly, and freezing credit. Resources provided include the Iowa Attorney General's Office, Iowa Insurance Division, and FEMA fraud hotline for reporting suspected fraud.

**Summary:** During the 2024 election season, Charlotte residents experienced increased political calls and texts, many of which were scams rather than legitimate campaign communications. Equifax's Identity Theft Protection team identified five types of political scams targeting voters: fake polls/surveys, donation scams, impersonation scams, questionable petitions, and voter registration scams. Experts recommend not providing unsolicited information, avoiding pressure to act immediately, verifying directly with official sources, and deleting suspicious messages.

Taylor Swift Eras Tour ticket scams are proliferating on social media resale groups, with scammers targeting desperate fans willing to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for the limited remaining tour dates. One Missouri fan nearly fell victim after sending $200 via PayPal for a fake ticket to an Indianapolis show, but was protected by PayPal's goods and services feature, which automatically refunded her when fraudulent activity was detected. Cybersecurity experts recommend buyers use PayPal's goods and services option, meet sellers in person at safe public locations, or request venue verification to avoid these high-value ticket scams.

The Tennessee Attorney General's Office warns that QR code scams are rising, including phishing scams that steal personal information, payment scams using fake codes in public places, package scams directing users to malicious websites, cryptocurrency scams, and donation scams impersonating charities. The office recommends verifying QR code sources, inspecting codes for tampering, using secure scanner apps, previewing URLs before clicking, avoiding unsolicited codes from mail/email/text, and keeping device security software updated.

GoFundMe and its sister platform Classy have facilitated over $30 billion in donations globally, but the platforms warn users about scams targeting both fundraisers and donors. Common fraud schemes include scammers offering to run campaigns or share them for a fee, fake donation offers requiring transaction fees, phishing emails/texts impersonating GoFundMe, and automated bot accounts offering fraudulent assistance on social media. The company recommends users avoid posting personal details, verify official communications come from gofundme.com email addresses, report suspicious activity to [email protected], and notes that all donations are protected by a year-long money-back guarantee if a campaign

Election-related scams exploit voters' emotional investment in candidates and causes by mimicking legitimate campaign emails and phone calls to steal personal information, banking details, and donations. The Better Business Bureau advises verifying email links by typing official URLs directly into browsers, avoiding clicking suspicious links, being wary of pressure tactics, and researching organizations before donating or sharing personal information. Common scams include phishing emails with malicious links, fake surveys requesting Social Security numbers or credit card information under the guise of prizes, and fraudulent donation requests that divert funds to scammers rather than campaigns.

Cryptocurrency scams have surged 900 percent since the pandemic began, with over 46,000 Americans losing more than $1 billion to crypto fraud in 2021 alone. Common scams include phishing attacks, Ponzi schemes, fake ICOs, and fraudulent exchanges that exploit crypto's decentralized and hard-to-trace nature. Consumers should exercise caution by only investing what they can afford to lose, verifying information through credible sources, using secure storage methods, and consulting state and federal watchdog organizations like California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI).

Detective Kevin Landers of the Abilene Police Department outlines common scams targeting seniors, including romance, lottery, sweepstakes, and government impersonation schemes where callers demand payment via gift cards or bitcoin. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to be trusting, have savings, own homes, and maintain good credit, though scammers prey on people of all ages. Landers recommends protecting oneself by verifying unsolicited offers online, resisting pressure to act quickly, monitoring credit reports annually, and stopping communication with suspected scammers immediately.

This awareness piece highlights sophisticated investment scams targeting Australians, particularly "pig butchering" schemes where scammers build trust over weeks or months before soliciting cryptocurrency investments. A Queensland victim lost approximately $244,000 AUD after being befriended on Facebook by a scammer who gradually encouraged increasingly larger investments in cryptocurrency, promising substantial returns; when the victim attempted to withdraw funds, the scammer blocked all contact. Recent data from the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre shows Australians lost at least $180 million to cryptocurrency investment scams in 12 months, with nearly half of all investment scam losses involving cryptocurrency and victims now more likely

**Olusegun Samson Adejorin, a Nigerian national, was extradited from Ghana in August 2024 to face federal charges for a $7.5 million business email compromise scheme targeting two charitable organizations—one in Maryland and one in New York. Between June and August 2020, Adejorin gained unauthorized access to employee email accounts, impersonated staff members, and fraudulently requested fund withdrawals, successfully diverting over $7.5 million from Victim 2's investment funds. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison on wire fraud charges, plus additional penalties for identity theft and unauthorized computer access.**

A Concord, California man lost nearly $200,000 in a sophisticated scam where perpetrators impersonated Xfinity and federal agents, claiming his personal information was used for illegal activities and convincing him to transfer funds to a "secure account" for investigation purposes. The victim made multiple cash and gold withdrawals over several weeks, using couriers (possibly rideshare drivers) to transport the money, until a CVS employee in Huntington Beach refused to release a final $8,500 package sent via UPS, which alerted authorities. Beyond the financial loss, the victim now faces over $30,000 in anticipated taxes from cashing out retirement accounts, creating additional financial har

Hancock County Savings Bank held an educational event for seniors to raise awareness about fraud and scam prevention, citing FBI data showing over 100,000 Americans aged 60+ become fraud victims annually. The bank highlighted emerging threats including charity scams, family emergency schemes, and AI-based voice cloning scams used for kidnapping hoaxes, and recommended protective measures such as not answering unknown numbers, avoiding suspicious links, hesitating before sending money, and consulting family members before responding to unexpected requests.

Lise Frappier, a 62-year-old Ottawa resident on disability benefits, lost nearly $70,000 to a romance scam and subsequent recovery scams between 2022 and 2024. A scammer posing as a U.S. Army worker gained her trust via Facebook and manipulated her into sending money through gift cards and Bitcoin; after the initial fraud ended, a second scammer exploited her desperation by offering fake recovery services and extracting an additional $20,000+ before disappearing. The case illustrates a broader trend in Canada where romance scams caused over $59 million in losses in 2022 alone, with vulnerable seniors particularly targeted,

A California man lost nearly $200,000 in a sophisticated impersonation scam where perpetrators posing as Xfinity and Federal Trade Commission agents convinced him his computer had been hacked and used for illegal activities, instructing him to withdraw cash and gold multiple times under the guise of securing his funds. The scam unraveled when a CVS employee in Huntington Beach refused to accept an $8,500 cash package being picked up with fraudulent identification, but the victim was unable to recover that final shipment and now faces an additional $30,000+ in tax liability from the withdrawn retirement accounts. A Concord Police detective noted that the perpetrators' detailed knowledge of the

A Provo family lost over $1,000 in a utility scam when a fraudster impersonating a Provo Power representative called threatening service disconnection and pressured the mother to make an immediate payment via QR code at Walmart, resulting in overdraft fees that depleted their entire bank account. Provo City officials report at least 10 confirmed victims of similar scams and warn residents to verify caller identity, noting that legitimate utility companies never request payment via phone or in-person contact.

Despite increasing sophistication in online fraud, phone scams remain the most common type of financial scam, affecting nearly 49% of scam victims across all age groups according to a GOBankingRates survey of over 1,100 U.S. adults. Common phone scam tactics include business/investment schemes, impersonation of trusted entities, debt relief offers, charity fraud, and prize scams, all designed to extract money or personal information from victims. The article advises consumers to verify callers' identities, use official channels for donations and payments, and be suspicious of unsolicited offers promising quick profits or threatening legal action.

Scammers employ multiple tactics to steal credit card information, particularly capitalizing on economic changes like potential Federal Reserve rate cuts. Common scams include interest rate reduction schemes, student loan forgiveness offers, grandparent emergencies, and fake charity websites—all designed to pressure victims into providing payment information. To protect yourself, contact your lender or issuer directly rather than responding to unsolicited offers, verify website URLs carefully, and be skeptical of guaranteed results and limited-time offers.

Since 2020, investment scams reported to the BBB Scam Tracker exceeded 4,000 reports, with 2023 marking a three-year high, as scammers increasingly blended romance and cryptocurrency schemes to defraud victims of large sums. Median losses surged from $1,000 in 2021 to nearly $6,000 in 2023, with scams often lasting months before detection and primarily originating from organized crime operations in Southeast Asia. The BBB advises victims to watch for red flags including unregistered investments, guaranteed returns, pressure tactics, unknown cryptocurrencies, and unsolicited friendship offers from strangers.

Advice NI warns that thousands of scam victims across Northern Ireland remain unreported, with only an estimated 10% of fraud victims seeking debt support despite suffering average losses of nearly £10,000 per person. Recent police data showed 5,412 fraud reports totaling £23.1 million losses (December 2022–January 2023), though actual figures are believed to be significantly higher; criminals are now using AI-driven tactics to impersonate debt collectors and financial institutions with increasing sophistication. The organization advises victims to verify identities through official channels, watch for spelling errors and urgency tactics, and seek free confidential debt advice from local support services rather than suffer in shame.

A Vietnam veteran and cancer patient from Everett lost $20,000 in a sophisticated scam in which fraudsters impersonated Amazon and trade commission officials, pressuring him to withdraw cash under the pretense of unauthorized purchases made in his name. When the scammers returned demanding an additional $32,000, the victim contacted police instead, leading to the arrest of Hongfei Huang of New York on charges including larceny from an elderly person; authorities are continuing to pursue his accomplices. The victim's cooperation with law enforcement and willingness to speak publicly about the incident helped prevent further victims and served as a cautionary warning about email-based scams targeting older adults.

A grandmother received a deepfake voice call from a scammer impersonating her grandson claiming to be in jail and needing $10,000 for bail, but she verified the call was fake by contacting her grandson directly. The article outlines common scams targeting seniors—including grandparent scams, government impersonation, romance scams, and spoofing—and provides protective strategies such as verifying callers through known phone numbers, establishing family safe words, taking time to think despite pressure tactics, and using unique passwords with one-time passcodes.

This educational article distinguishes between scams (where criminals manipulate victims into sharing information or money) and fraud (where criminals use stolen information without the victim's involvement), and outlines how to identify suspicious messages. The piece advises that red flags include pressure tactics, mismatched sender email addresses, and offers that seem too good to be true, emphasizing that individuals are the first line of defense against scams through reporting and awareness. In 2023, Australians lost $476 million collectively to scams, making vigilance against suspicious communications critical for protecting personal finances and sensitive information.

During election season, scammers exploit voters' emotional investment by creating fake candidate websites and social media accounts, using robocalls with candidates' voices, and sending deceptive donation text messages—all designed to redirect funds from legitimate campaigns to fraudsters. Red flags include poor grammar, pressure for immediate donations, requests for unusual payment methods (wire transfers or prepaid cards), unsolicited personal information requests, and offers of prizes for poll participation. Voters should verify donation authenticity directly through official campaign channels and remain cautious when emotions run high.

Moira Stuart, a 75-year-old BBC News presenter, fell victim to a sophisticated phone scam where fraudsters impersonated her bank and instructed her to transfer money to catch an alleged "inside job" at her branch. A vigilant bank cashier prevented her from losing thousands of pounds by questioning the transaction and alerting the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart publicly shared her experience to combat the shame surrounding fraud victimization and to raise awareness, noting that nearly three million instances of bank fraud costing £1.2 billion were recorded the previous year, with authorized fraud victims losing an average of nearly £2,000.

**Summary:** Moira Stuart, a 75-year-old veteran BBC broadcaster, nearly fell victim to an authorised push payment scam when a fraudster called claiming to be from her bank and instructed her to transfer money to intercept suspected fraud. A vigilant bank cashier intervened at the counter, questioning her activity and alerting the anti-fraud team, which confirmed the scam and prevented her loss. Stuart's experience highlights the sophistication of these scams—which totalled £459.7 million in losses across 232,429 cases in 2023—and inspired her to work with a charity promoting digital safety skills for older people.

Elder financial scams increased 14% in complaints and 11% in financial impact in 2023, with criminals targeting seniors through imposter scams (IRS/Social Security), shopping fraud, grandparent scams, tech support schemes, and sweepstakes fraud. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, emphasizing that seniors should never share personal information unsolicited, verify requests through independent contact with family or organizations, be skeptical of unusual payment methods, and report suspected fraud immediately.

Veteran broadcaster Moira Stuart, 75, was nearly scammed in a phone call where a fraudster claimed money had been stolen from her account and instructed her to transfer funds, though a bank cashier intervened before any loss occurred. Research shows people aged 55-64 face the highest number of scams, with Age UK finding that 41% of people over 50 were scammed in the last five years, losing an average of £2,022, and experiencing significant psychological and social impacts beyond financial loss. Digital skills experts recommend older people verify sender details, confirm whether communications are expected, and be cautious of suspicious pop-ups to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scammers.

This educational guide examines why scam victims face blame and shame, explaining that psychological biases—including the "just world" belief, hindsight bias, and defensive attribution—cause people to wrongly hold victims responsible for being scammed. The article emphasizes that victim blaming is harmful and counterproductive, noting that scams are increasingly common (the FTC reported $76 million lost to government impersonation scams in 2023, up 90% from 2022) and that anyone can fall victim regardless of intelligence or caution.

More than 50 seniors attended a Scam Jam educational seminar in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, presented by state and local officials to teach fraud prevention and recognition of common scams targeting elders. Presenters highlighted increasingly sophisticated scams including voice cloning via AI, fake tech support calls requesting gift card payments, and impersonation schemes, emphasizing that victims should contact police immediately when suspicious and never provide personal information or payment via non-traditional means like gift cards. A recent local case was cited where timely police contact prevented a $30,000 loss to a potential victim.

Following Hurricane Helene, West Virginia's Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau warned residents about charity and disaster scams, in which fraudsters solicit donations for fake charities that redirect funds to personal use rather than relief efforts. To protect themselves, donors should verify charities' legitimacy through established databases, avoid cash or wire transfers, pay by credit card, and research organizations independently before giving. Residents who encounter suspected fraudulent charities can report them to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808.

The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to avoid fraudulent charity scams following Hurricane Helene, as scammers create fake donation websites, social media campaigns, and crowdfunding pages to exploit donors' generosity. The BBB recommends verifying charities through trusted sites like Give.org and Charity Navigator, donating directly through official websites using credit cards, and avoiding unsolicited requests via social media or payment apps. The advisory provides a list of verified national and state-specific relief organizations where donations can be made safely.

Federal officials are warning Hurricane Helene victims of an anticipated surge in fraud schemes, including fake charities, identity theft, and fraudulent contractor scams targeting vulnerable disaster survivors. The National Center for Disaster Fraud has received over 220,000 complaints since 2005, and authorities say criminals exploit disaster victims before, during, and after storms by impersonating government officials, soliciting fake donations, and committing price gouging. Experts advise survivors to verify the identities of helpers, avoid sharing sensitive information, obtain multiple repair estimates, and report suspected scams to FEMA or local authorities.

Following hurricane relief efforts in western North Carolina, scammers are exploiting donors' goodwill through charity fraud schemes including phishing emails, fake websites, and counterfeit crowdfunding campaigns. The article provides guidance on verifying legitimate organizations through resources like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Charity Navigator, avoiding unsolicited donation requests, and donating by credit card or check rather than gift cards. Victims of charity scams are encouraged to report fraud to the North Carolina Consumer Protection Division.

Following Hurricane Helene, scammers targeted disaster victims in Asheville, North Carolina with a tree removal scam charging $280 upfront fees while falsely claiming to be "FEMA-authorized" representatives who would cover 90% of removal costs. Victims were also targeted with charity scams involving fake donations and identity theft schemes. North Carolina's Attorney General advised residents to obtain written estimates, avoid upfront payments, verify company credentials and email domains, and research any business before engaging services.

Following Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, scammers have been targeting disaster victims through multiple schemes including door-to-door fake donation collections, insurance fraud, and contractor scams. Police reported several reports of fraudsters posing as relief workers collecting donations in areas like Patton Avenue in West Asheville, while insurance adjusters may underestimate wind damage to shift liability to federal flood insurance programs, and unqualified contractors overcharge desperate homeowners for substandard repairs. Authorities advise residents to verify the legitimacy of donation solicitors and repair contractors, avoid upfront payments, and check online reviews before hiring services.

Following Hurricane Helene, Ohio's Governor DeWine and the Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions warned residents to research charitable organizations before donating to avoid storm-relief scams. The advisory recommends donating only to established charities like the American Red Cross and United Way, verifying organizations through resources like BBB's Wise Giving Alliance, and using secure payment methods such as credit cards rather than cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

**Summary:** Cybersecurity experts warn that the weeks leading up to the presidential election see a surge in scams targeting voters, including donation fraud (fake campaign solicitations), voter-registration scams seeking personal information, and election survey scams. Experts advise voters to donate directly through official campaign websites, remember that voter registration cannot occur by phone, avoid providing personal information to unsolicited callers, and verify election-related information through multiple credible news sources before accepting it as true.

The Elmira Heights Police Department is hosting a community awareness presentation on November 11th at Village Hall to educate residents about common scams targeting older adults, including impersonator scams, tech support scams, charity scams, virtual kidnapping scams, and romance scams. The event is being organized in partnership with the Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan of Greater Rochester.

During election season, scammers target voters through political donation scams, fake surveys, voter registration scams, and phishing texts and emails designed to steal money or personal information. To protect yourself, verify the sender through official campaign websites rather than responding to unsolicited messages, never click unknown links, and avoid engaging with suspicious calls to prevent voice recording for AI fraud. Voters can enable spam filters on their phones to reduce unwanted political messages and protect themselves from financial loss.

Following Hurricane Helene, federal authorities in Wisconsin warned the public about charity scams targeting both disaster victims and well-intentioned donors nationwide, as fraudsters create fake websites and fraudulent communications to solicit contributions. Officials provided guidance on verifying legitimate charities, avoiding unsolicited communications, donating directly to known organizations, and using non-cash payment methods to prevent fraud. The National Center for Disaster Fraud investigates such scams, and the public can report suspected fraud through their online portal or 24/7 hotline at (866) 720-5721.