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Sextortion scams targeting U.S. residents have surged 137% in 2025, with cybercriminals using AI-generated deepfakes, stolen passwords from data breaches, and personalized information including home addresses and photos obtained via Google Maps to threaten victims into paying ransom. Experts at Avast identified over 15,000 Bitcoin wallets associated with these scams and recommend victims never pay demands, report incidents to the FBI or IC3, enable multi-factor authentication, and use password managers and dark web monitoring services to protect themselves.

Smishing—a phishing scam conducted via text messages—has become increasingly prevalent, with the FBI and multiple U.S. cities issuing warnings about fraudulent campaigns. Scammers impersonating government agencies (parking violations, road tolls) and delivery services have created over 10,000 fake websites to steal personal and financial information from both iPhone and Android users, with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center receiving over 2,000 complaints since March 2024. To protect yourself, verify unsolicited messages by contacting organizations directly rather than clicking links, use strong antivirus software, and manually type URLs into your browser instead of following message links.

Jane received a suspicious text claiming to be from her bank Kinecta notifying her of a $950.44 transfer approval to an unfamiliar person, with a link to cancel the transaction—a classic smishing scam designed to steal login credentials or install malware. The message exhibited multiple red flags including artificial urgency, suspicious links, brand impersonation, and unsolicited contact. The article provides guidance on recognizing such scams and protecting oneself through verification practices, strong antivirus software, and never clicking suspicious links.

In 2023, a Hong Kong employee was tricked into transferring $25 million after joining a video conference with an AI-generated deepfake of his company's CFO. Deepfake attacks—using AI to create fake videos and audio—now occur every five minutes and comprise 40% of all biometric fraud, exploiting victims' trust in familiar faces and voices combined with artificial urgency. The best defense is verification through separate channels: if you receive an unusual request involving money or sensitive information via video, phone, or voicemail, hang up and independently confirm the person's identity before proceeding.

Senior executives across the US received extortion letters impersonating the BianLian ransomware group, demanding $250,000-$500,000 in bitcoin, but the FBI determined these were likely fraudulent and not connected to actual breaches. Red flags included the use of physical mail, QR code payment instructions, and lack of proof of data possession—tactics inconsistent with legitimate BianLian operations or typical ransomware extortion methods.

This educational article warns retired Americans about task scams, a rapidly growing job fraud scheme that cost victims over $220 million in 2024 and accounted for 40% of all job scam reports to the FTC. The scams target economically insecure retirees seeking side income by advertising easy online work but ultimately pressuring victims to invest their own money or use cryptocurrency. The article advises retirees to recognize red flags such as unsolicited job offers via text, vague job descriptions, and requests for personal investment, while recommending data removal services to reduce the risk of scammers obtaining their contact information from public data brokers.

Lafayette College students have been targeted by phishing scams impersonating college officials and offering fraudulent job positions at $700 per week, though most emails are flagged as suspicious and few students report financial losses. College campuses are increasingly vulnerable to phishing attacks due to innovative hacking techniques, AI, and students' frequent email use combined with low cybersecurity awareness. The college addresses the threat through mandatory cybersecurity training for first-year students and recommends that students verify sender information, check for grammar errors, and hover over links before clicking.

Americans receive an average of two scam calls and three scam texts weekly, with reports showing $12.5 billion lost to cybercrime in 2023 alone. AI-powered scams are increasingly sophisticated, including AI-generated fake voice recordings and photos (particularly grandparent scams with fake mugshots), enhanced phishing emails with professional formatting, and counterfeit e-commerce websites using pressure tactics and chatbots to extract personal information. Protection strategies include verifying unexpected requests through independent contact, being skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, and using security software that can detect suspicious websites and content.

Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps to lure at least four older men into meeting her, then drugged them with sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in what authorities called a "romance scam on steroids." Three of the victims died, including one whom Phelps is alleged to have heavily sedated and transported across the U.S.-Mexico border to a Mexico City hotel where he was found dead; a fourth victim awoke from a coma after being given prescription sedatives over a week. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico and facing 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death,

A Tech.co study of 1,036 senior executives found that 98% of US business leaders cannot correctly identify all indicators of phishing emails, with only 1.6% able to spot clear warning signs—a critical gap given that phishing attacks account for 40% of data breaches surveyed. The research also revealed significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities, including 19% of senior leaders unable to define multi-factor authentication and 35% of businesses lacking any security policy for AI chatbot use, leaving organizations increasingly exposed to evolving threats powered by new technology.

Online scammers target people of all ages and backgrounds, not just seniors, with Americans losing $10 billion to fraud in 2023, according to Park View Federal Credit Union officials. Common scam tactics include creating false urgency, impersonating legitimate organizations (banks, the IRS, Norton Antivirus), and using AI to mimic voices in grandparent schemes, though one customer recovered $250 after scammers gained access to her account. Key defenses include pausing before clicking links, recognizing red flags like grammar errors and mismatched email addresses, and remembering that legitimate financial institutions will never request passwords or usernames.

Phishing attacks are increasing in Monaco, with scammers impersonating trusted organizations via email and SMS to steal passwords and personal financial information. Monaco Telecom and the Monegasque Digital Security Agency warn residents to watch for red flags like suspicious sender addresses, urgent language, and suspicious links, and recommend using strong passwords, never clicking unknown links, and contacting the company directly if unsure about a message's authenticity. Monaco Telecom has implemented protective measures including temporarily suspending email account creation and increased password change monitoring to combat the threat.

At least two people in Chatham County fell victim to a kidnapping phone scam in which callers claimed a family member had been kidnapped and demanded ransom payments. Scammers used spoofed numbers appearing to come from family members and enhanced the deception with sounds of crying or threats of violence in the background. Police advise victims to immediately hang up and directly call the family member to verify their safety, and to never provide banking information or agree to deliver cash or gift cards.

Two families in the Peekskill School District in Westchester County received phone calls from scammers claiming to have kidnapped their children and demanding ransom, with perpetrators using AI-generated voice technology to replicate the victims' voices obtained from social media. The FBI has issued a nationwide alert about this emerging scam trend. Experts recommend families establish a verification pause and create a password or phrase to confirm legitimate calls, as the scam's success relies on pressure for immediate action.

Gift card scams remain a prevalent fraud method in which scammers impersonate authority figures (like bosses) via spoofed emails using social engineering tactics, requesting victims purchase gift cards and share the codes. The article highlights that while gift card schemes typically involve smaller amounts (hundreds of dollars), related scams like wire transfer fraud and fake vendor invoices can result in losses reaching hundreds of thousands or millions, with recent examples including a University of Central Florida incident and U.S. Treasury hacking allegedly by Chinese government actors. Protection strategies include verifying requests through independent phone numbers, using two-factor authentication, strong passwords, and advanced threat protection tools.

Texas law enforcement, specifically the Lakeway Police Department, is warning residents about a "virtual kidnapping scam" in which callers falsely claim to have kidnapped a parent's child and demand money for the victim's safe return. The scammers use personal details about the family to increase panic and pressure the parent into meeting at retail locations like Walmart or Target to pay a ransom. Police advise anyone receiving such calls to immediately contact law enforcement rather than complying with the scammer's demands.

The FBI warns that criminals are increasingly using generative AI and deepfakes to exploit victims through 17 common techniques, including voice cloning, fake video calls impersonating authority figures, and phishing emails designed to manipulate people into revealing personal information or transferring funds. These tactics exploit emotional manipulation during crises and use AI-generated content that mimics trusted individuals and public figures. Individuals should remain vigilant by verifying identities through independent contact methods and remaining skeptical of unsolicited urgent requests for money or sensitive information.

Fraudsters increasingly use AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning to impersonate family members in scams demanding urgent money for emergencies like kidnappings or accidents. The FBI and banks now recommend families create secret passphrases to verify identity during suspicious calls or messages, using unique phrases unrelated to publicly available personal information and kept strictly private. While family passphrases offer a useful defense layer, experts caution that victims in genuine emergencies may struggle to remember them due to panic or adrenaline.

Cybercrime has evolved from isolated attacks into a sophisticated, organized industry using social engineering tactics (phishing, romance scams, identity theft) that exploit human psychology rather than technical complexity. Criminal networks operate like businesses with specialized roles and "crime-as-a-service" models, often employing lower-skilled workers—some coerced through human trafficking—while higher-tier operators profit substantially. Law enforcement faces significant challenges in tracing and prosecuting cybercriminals due to anonymity tools and cross-border operations, as demonstrated by Interpol's Operation Storm Makers II targeting Southeast Asian fraud networks in 2023.

An 82-year-old woman lost her entire life savings to an elaborate scam involving impersonation, psychological manipulation, and coercion that drove her to withdraw funds via Bitcoin and max out credit cards, after which scammers posed as FBI agents claiming to "protect" her and later extracted an additional $20,000. The article outlines common elder fraud tactics—including impersonation, prize scams, tech support fraud, romance scams, and emergency schemes—and provides red flags such as unsolicited requests for sensitive information, urgent payment demands, and requests for untraceable payment methods like cryptocurrency or gift cards.

This educational guide defines scams as illegal schemes designed to steal money or personal information, and describes current fraud methods including "quishing" (fake QR codes at parking meters), fraudulent text messages impersonating government energy credit schemes, and spoofed business emails requesting payment. The article provides protective measures such as avoiding QR code payments, using multi-factor authentication, verifying websites through cybersecurity tools, recognizing warning signs (unsolicited contacts, pressure to act quickly, grammatical errors), and safeguarding personal information by only sharing details in initiated communications and checking website security features.

**Summary:** INTERPOL has advocated replacing the term "pig butchering" with "romance baiting" to describe scams where fraudsters emotionally manipulate victims into transferring money, often for fake cryptocurrency investments, before abandoning them with substantial financial losses. The organization argues that the new terminology is less stigmatizing and dehumanizing, encouraging victims to report crimes and seek support rather than remaining silent out of shame. This language shift is part of INTERPOL's broader Think Twice campaign to raise awareness about online scams and foster a justice system centered on victim dignity.

AI-enabled scams are projected to cause $40 billion in losses by 2027, up from $12.3 billion in 2023, as fraudsters increasingly adopt deepfake technology, voice cloning, and AI chatbots for romance scams and business email compromise attacks. Criminal activity on fraud-focused channels surged 644% between 2023 and 2024, with scammers now offering "fraud-as-a-service" tools and recruiting workers to create deepfake content. The FBI and fraud experts warn that 2025 will see AI scams become mainstream, particularly in targeted business fraud (like the $30 million Hong Kong Zoom imperson

Blockchain and cryptocurrency scams are increasingly common and exploit victims through deceptive schemes such as "Pump and Dump" price manipulation, fraudulent Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), phishing attacks, fake giveaways, and cloned platforms. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact promising easy returns, pressure to act quickly, requests for upfront payment, and suspicious links designed to steal credentials. Understanding these red flags and recognizing common scam tactics can help individuals protect themselves from losing money or digital assets to cryptocurrency fraud.

Tech support scammers are targeting users with unsolicited calls and pop-up warnings claiming their computers have been hacked, exploiting fears by impersonating legitimate companies like Microsoft and demanding immediate payment via non-reversible methods. A Florida resident named Tammy contacted authorities after receiving a fraudulent Microsoft call warning her not to touch her computer. To protect yourself, immediately disengage from suspicious contacts, disconnect from the internet, avoid granting remote access, run antivirus scans, change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity.

"Malvertising" (malicious digital advertisements) is rapidly increasing as a scam vector, with a 42% month-over-month increase in US cases in 2023 and 41% growth from July-September 2024, primarily originating from Vietnam and Pakistan. Scammers use these deceptive ads in search results to distribute malware, conduct investment scams, credit card fraud, phishing attacks, and romance scams, with ads disguised as legitimate businesses that steal victim information when clicked. Internet users across all websites are at risk, as malvertising is difficult to detect and remove; Google blocked 5.5 billion ads in 2023 but sc

INTERPOL launched the "Think Twice" awareness campaign to combat five rising cyber and financial threats: ransomware attacks (up 70%), malware attacks (up 30%), phishing, generative AI scams, and romance baiting scams. The two-week campaign running December 3-19 emphasizes vigilance through social media, urging individuals to verify identities, pause before clicking suspicious links, and avoid online relationships involving money requests. The campaign is supported by funding from the UK and Japan to strengthen cybersecurity awareness globally.

This article is an educational resource warning North Carolinians about common holiday scams targeting vulnerable populations, particularly older adults. It covers four main fraud categories: holiday mail scams (phishing emails and porch theft), holiday shopping scams (fraudulent retailers and gift card schemes), and charity/investment scams, providing practical prevention tips such as verifying sender information, using secure networks for purchases, and researching charities before donating. The article emphasizes that consumers should be cautious during the high-spending season and recommends using resources like the BBB Scam Tracker and AARP Fraud Watch Network for protection and verification.

Gauteng police reported a 22% increase in commercial crimes, with over 12,600 cases documented between July and September 2024, driven by rising fraud, forgery, and uttering cases. Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni warned the public about escalating romance scams, online shopping scams, and job scams occurring primarily through online platforms. The department committed to increasing public awareness campaigns regarding these prevalent fraud schemes.

Scammers are exploiting Spotify's public playlists and podcasts by embedding keywords like "free download" and "crack" to appear in search results, directing users to malicious external links that distribute malware, steal personal information through phishing, and generate revenue via fake ads and affiliate links. The scam targets users searching for pirated software, ebooks, audiobooks, and game cheats, with some podcasts using synthesized speech to drive clicks to unsafe sites. Users should avoid suspicious links, download only from official sources, use antivirus software, and verify content legitimacy through trusted channels to protect themselves.

This article outlines six common gift card scams that surge during the holiday season, including display rack tampering (where scammers record activation codes or swap barcodes to drain cards before use), impersonation schemes (where fraudsters pose as trusted contacts requesting gift card purchases), resale fraud (fake or empty cards sold on online platforms), and phishing attacks. The piece provides practical prevention advice for each scam type, such as checking packaging for tampering, verifying caller identity through independent contact, using reputable retailers only, and avoiding unsolicited requests for gift card information or payment.

A UK woman in her 60s lost approximately $25,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder, using hyperrealistic AI-generated videos and messages to build trust before requesting money for a fake life insurance payout scheme. The scammer sent convincing video messages personalized with the victim's name and details from their conversations, along with physical gifts, before ultimately delivering an empty briefcase filled with blank paper. This case represents an emerging threat as fraudsters increasingly leverage sophisticated AI technology to create deepfakes that are difficult for victims—especially those unfamiliar with AI—to distinguish from authentic communications.

US consumers lost a record $10 billion to fraud in the past year (a 14% increase), with scammers increasingly targeting older adults via phone—over two-thirds of UK residents over 75 surveyed reported experiencing at least one fraud attempt in six months. In response, UK mobile operator Virgin Media O2 created "Daisy," an AI-powered grandmother chatbot that wastes scammers' time by providing false information and engaging in lengthy, meandering conversations, with some interactions lasting over 40 minutes. While Daisy aims to reduce real victim targeting, scammers are simultaneously deploying AI voice-cloning technology to perpetrate new frauds including imp

This educational article explains the rising threat of phishing scams that impersonate legitimate help desk and support teams, often creating false urgency (such as claiming account expiration) to trick victims into clicking malicious links or revealing personal information. The article provides guidance on identifying phishing emails by checking sender domain addresses for inconsistencies, and recommends protective steps including avoiding clicks on links or attachments, not engaging with scammers, reporting suspicious emails, and using antivirus software to detect threats.

North Korean state-sponsored actors have infiltrated over 300 U.S. companies by posing as remote IT workers, with thousands believed involved in the operation directed at the highest levels of the North Korean regime. These fraudsters create fake identities using forged documents and stolen information, use VPNs to mask their locations, and once hired, redirect company laptops to offshore "laptop farms" where handlers provide remote access to North Korean hackers for theft, surveillance, and ransomware deployment. Organizations can mitigate risks through updated hiring policies, face-to-face verification when possible, and enhanced security protocols for remote workers.

Deivy Jose Rodriguez Delgado, a 30-year-old Venezuelan national, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for operating romance scams on online dating platforms that escalated into kidnappings and hostage-takings of three American citizens in the Dominican Republic between July-September 2022. Working with accomplices, Delgado lured victims via dating apps, then held them at knifepoint and forced them to contact family for ransom payments directed to CashApp accounts before releasing them after robbing their belongings. The case underscores the importance of meeting online dates in public places and informing trusted contacts of plans, as seemingly safe online interactions can lead to serious real

Hong Kong police arrested 126 people in a 12-day operation targeting a rising trend of fake official scams that primarily victimized mainland Chinese students. The scams involved impersonators posing as police officers to extort money through fake kidnapping schemes, including one case where an 18-year-old student was told to record videos of himself begging for ransom to secure HK$6 million from his father. The operation uncovered 110 scam cases affecting 325 victims aged 18-86, who lost a combined HK$570 million.

This educational piece provides guidance on responding to phishing attacks and malware infections. It advises users who suspect malware exposure to run antivirus scans and quarantine suspicious files, and those with compromised login credentials to immediately change passwords on critical accounts (starting with banking) using a separate device and contact their bank if credit card information was exposed. The article emphasizes prevention strategies including maintaining skepticism toward emails, avoiding clicking links, and manually verifying URLs before visiting websites.

This article identifies the five most common scams affecting Australians: investment scams (where fake ads lead to fraudulent investment offers), remote access scams (where scammers gain device access via phone impersonation), romance scams (involving fake online identities and requests for money), phishing (fraudulent emails/texts impersonating legitimate sources), and payment redirection scams (using fake email addresses to redirect business payments to fraudulent accounts). The article provides descriptions of how each scam operates and warning signs to watch for, serving as an educational guide for consumers to recognize and avoid these fraud schemes.

The Elmira Heights Police Department is hosting a free scam prevention educational class on November 11 at Village Hall, presented by the Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan of Greater Rochester. The presentation will teach seniors how to recognize and avoid common scams targeting older adults, including impersonation, romance, tech support, virtual kidnapping, military, charity, and check scams.

AI-powered scams represent an emerging threat to consumers, particularly older adults, utilizing artificial intelligence tools to create highly convincing impersonations and fraudulent messages at scale. Scammers employ four main tactics: voice cloning to impersonate family members or authority figures, deepfake videos to pose as public figures, sophisticated phishing emails that bypass spam filters, and fake websites promoting fraudulent investments. The FBI has warned that as AI technology advances, cybercriminals' ability to execute personalized, authentic-seeming fraud campaigns will continue to increase.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned citizens against a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonate government officials via video call, falsely accusing victims of serious crimes like money laundering or drug trafficking, then extort large sums under threat of arrest. Two elderly victims from Hyderabad lost substantial amounts—a 79-year-old retired consultant transferred Rs 2 crore and an 85-year-old woman lost Rs 5.9 crore—after scammers used fake official documents and maintained intimidating video surveillance to prevent victims from seeking help. The article advises that legitimate law enforcement never conducts arrests or demands payments via video calls and recommends reporting

Americans lost an estimated $12.5 billion to online scams in the past year, with the FBI reporting that 39% of victims were targeted through AI-generated "deepfake" videos used in investment schemes, romance scams, and other frauds. Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to duplicate voices, create convincing fake videos of business leaders and celebrities, and attempt account breaches, making these crimes harder to detect and recover from, as 96% of reported losses are never recovered. The article recommends using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and watching for telltale signs of deepfakes such as unnatural facial movements, inconsistent lighting, and audio irreg

The BBC is launching "Scam Safe Week" (November 23-29, 2024), a multi-platform educational initiative featuring TV, radio, and online content designed to help the public recognize and prevent scams. With fraud now comprising over 40% of all crime in the UK, the week will include the TV-BAFTA winning series "Scam Interceptors," live roadshow events across the country, and expert advice from fraud specialists, in partnership with organizations including Age UK and Stop Scams UK.

Scammers attempted to defraud a Florida title company by using an AI-generated deepfake video to impersonate a missing woman and fraudulently sell a vacant property. The scheme was caught before completion, but property appraiser Marty Kiar warns that AI-enabled title fraud will likely increase as criminals leverage automated tools to synthesize public property records and create sophisticated impersonations faster than ever before.

Scammers are sending sextortion emails that include photos of victims' homes (obtained from Google Street View) and falsely claim to have installed malware, recorded compromising videos, and stolen passwords, demanding Bitcoin payment within a short timeframe. The scam exploits personal information from data breaches and uses intimidation tactics, but the threats are not genuine—scammers have no actual videos or camera access. Victims should not pay, report the emails to the FBI's Internet Crime Division at IC3.gov, monitor their credit for fraud, and ignore all communication from the scammers.

Scammers are sending extortion emails that include photos of victims' houses obtained from Google Street View, threatening to expose supposed explicit content videos and demanding Bitcoin payment within a short timeframe. The emails falsely claim the scammers have stolen passwords, installed malware, and recorded victims through their cameras, but these threats are fabricated—the scammers have no actual compromising videos or camera access. Victims should not pay the ransom or respond to emails, and should instead report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Division at IC3.gov.

Scammers are sending sextortion emails that include photos of victims' houses obtained from Google Street View, claiming to have compromising videos and demanding Bitcoin ransom while threatening to expose the content to contacts. The scams exploit data from previous breaches to personalize threats and create false credibility, though scammers do not actually possess any videos or camera access. Victims should not pay ransom or respond to emails but instead report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Division, monitor their credit, and check for unauthorized charges.

Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters employing impersonation, voice-changing technology, and emotional manipulation to steal money and personal information from victims. Common schemes include "nude video call" blackmail on WhatsApp, voice-mimicking scams impersonating distressed family members, fake customs fees for parcels, lottery winnings requiring upfront payments, and romance scams. The article advises verifying caller identities through callbacks, avoiding unsolicited video calls from unknown numbers, confirming with legitimate companies before payments, and exercising caution when sharing personal information with people met only online.

This educational piece warns that AI-powered misinformation poses significant cybersecurity risks during elections, with bad actors using generative AI to rapidly create fake news, deepfakes, phishing emails, and coordinated social media campaigns. A Trend Micro study found a critical gap in consumer awareness: while 79% of U.S. respondents felt confident identifying online scams, 62% actually failed to recognize a specific scam example, suggesting people underestimate the sophistication of AI-generated election-related misinformation. The article advises readers to recognize that election-related scams and misinformation have become increasingly difficult to spot without proper awareness and skepticism of suspicious content.