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CBS Chicago
· 2025-04-18
The Better Business Bureau warns of a surge in Real ID scams targeting consumers rushing to meet the May 7th federal deadline. Scammers impersonate government officials through fraudulent alerts and emails, claiming problems with applicants' Real IDs or warning about the deadline to steal personal information, a tactic previously seen during the 2021 deadline extension.
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Kim Komando
· 2025-04-26
I cannot provide a summary of this content as requested. The text provided appears to be a casual radio show transcript discussing Melinda Gates' memoir, but it does not contain any information about a psychiatrist, a $500K pig butchering scam, or elder fraud.
The title references a scam story, but the actual transcript content does not match the title. Could you please provide the correct article or transcript about the psychiatrist and pig butchering scam?
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CBS 13 News
· 2025-04-27
Maine residents lost $31 million to cybercrime and scams in 2024, a 65% increase from $19 million in 2023, according to FBI data. Adults aged 60 and older accounted for $13 million (40%) of these losses, with tech support scams, government impersonation, and investment fraud being the primary threats to this age group. The FBI recommends reporting wire transfer fraud within 72 hours through IC3.gov to trigger a financial fraud response.
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CBS4 Indy
· 2025-05-05
A Full Stack Academy survey ranks Indiana second nationally for phishing scam victims, with 40% of Hoosiers reporting they've been targeted and 69% lacking confidence in spotting phishing attempts. The most common scam tactic in the state involves impersonating major delivery services (Amazon, USPS, UPS) and payment platforms (PayPal, FedEx) to lure victims into clicking malicious links through fake delivery delay notifications, with email remaining the primary attack vector. Experts recommend independently verifying suspicious messages by navigating directly to company websites or looking up official phone numbers rather than clicking links in unsolicited communications.
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Dayton 24/7 Now
· 2025-05-13
Millions of elderly Americans fall victim to financial scams annually, with the most common targeting seniors being investment/cryptocurrency scams, home improvement scams, romance scams, and online purchase scams. Phone fraud is also prevalent, where scammers impersonate government agencies or bank officials, using either polite or threatening tactics to manipulate victims into sending money. To protect seniors, awareness of these common scam types and verification tactics is essential.
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KOAT
· 2025-05-18
As the Department of Education resumed collections on defaulted student loans for the first time in five years, experts warn that scammers may exploit borrowers during this period. To protect yourself, verify any debt collector's legitimacy directly with your loan servicer, request a written validation notice of the debt, and be aware that legitimate collectors cannot charge fees for assistance—if asked to pay for help managing loans, it is a scam.
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therhodeshow
· 2025-05-20
This educational segment discusses common senior scams affecting millions of Americans annually, including identity theft schemes, grandparent scams (falsely claiming a relative needs bail money), tech support scams, and romance scams. Key prevention strategies include educating seniors about scam tactics, maintaining regular involvement in their financial affairs, and reporting suspected fraud to state police or adult services, while noting that many scams go unreported due to victim embarrassment.
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CBS Evening News
· 2025-06-01
A 26-year-old U.S. Navy electrician named Thomas Xiao admitted to passing sensitive military documents to a Chinese intelligence officer who posed as an investor and researcher on the Chinese social media app WeChat between 2021 and 2023. Chinese intelligence operatives are increasingly using social media and virtual contact to recruit U.S. military personnel and extract classified information, as traditional in-person espionage has become more difficult.
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KPRC 2 Click2Houston
· 2025-06-10
A 65-year-old Vietnamese American man in Houston lost his entire life savings of $500,000 in an elaborate elder fraud scheme that began with a legitimate IRS identity theft letter. Scammers posing as Vietnamese embassy officials then contacted him via phone calls in Vietnamese, claiming his identity was being used to launder money overseas, and convinced him over nearly five months to send money by using AI-generated videos and fake documents impersonating government officials. The victim, now forced to continue working past retirement age, is seeking assistance to recover from the fraud.
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WJZ
· 2025-06-16
Maryland state leaders and AARP launched "Protect Week," a public education campaign coinciding with World Elder Abuse Day, to help older adults and families avoid financial exploitation and scams. In Maryland alone, over 3,200 people aged 60+ lost approximately $80 million to scams in the previous year, with fraud often originating from both strangers online and trusted individuals. The campaign emphasizes that scammers exploit elders' vulnerability and trusting nature through increasingly sophisticated schemes that create artificial urgency.
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NewsX Live
· 2025-06-19
Two Indian nationals studying in the United States were sentenced to federal prison for phishing scams impersonating US government officials to defraud elderly Americans. Kishan Rajkumar Patel, age 20, targeted at least 25 elderly victims and caused $94,156 in losses, while another Indian student named Muhammad was sentenced to 8 years in prison for a similar scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of nearly $6 million.
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CBS19
· 2025-06-25
Summer scammers exploit seasonal urgency with fake vacation rentals, utility shut-off threats, and online marketplace deals that appear legitimate but result in financial loss or property disputes. Red flags include unsolicited door-to-door visits from utility workers, deals that seem too good to be true, and requests for payment before verifying legitimacy. Experts recommend awareness of common scam tactics and verification of offers through official channels to prevent falling victim.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2025-06-27
A new Better Business Bureau report examines sophisticated business scams where fraudsters impersonate vendors, access computer systems, and obtain sensitive data through breaches. The FBI reports $1.4 billion in losses from data breaches over three years, with IBM estimating average breach costs of nearly $5 million per business in 2024. The BBB recommends businesses implement multi-factor authentication, conduct cybersecurity training for employees, and establish unique passwords across all devices to protect against these increasingly complex attacks.
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Newsmax
· 2025-06-30
Scam artists, including foreign nationals living in the country illegally, are impersonating federal agents to defraud senior citizens by threatening them with false fraud investigations. In Spanish Fort, Alabama, a Chinese national posing as a federal agent swindled a retired educator out of over $400,000 through weeks of coercion involving cash withdrawals, gold purchases, and psychological intimidation about wire fraud cases. Law enforcement reports this is an organized, deliberate scheme targeting retirees' life savings and extends beyond Alabama.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2025-07-16
Military families should watch out for three scams: job scams targeting military spouses with promises of remote work and easy money (red flags include unsolicited checks and requests for personal information before interviews), identity theft during military moves when financial documents are vulnerable (freezing credit or placing an active duty fraud alert is recommended), and fraudulent VA benefit overpayment letters claiming money is owed. The VA offers free repayment assistance, so individuals should verify claims directly through VA.gov rather than responding to suspicious letters.
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NBC4 Columbus
· 2025-07-16
A woman in central Ohio fell victim to a Publishers Clearing House imposter scam after receiving a TikTok message claiming she had won a truck and $1 million. Scammers contacted her posing as PCH representatives, requesting payment for prize delivery, and the scheme escalated when they obtained her phone number and sent fraudulent badges and documentation. The victim shared her story to warn others about this widespread sweepstakes scam affecting people across the United States.
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CBS 13 News
· 2025-08-03
The FBI warned of an uptick in scams where fraudsters impersonate government agencies and law enforcement, using threatening language and demanding payment via money, gift cards, or Bitcoin while threatening arrest. In 2024, New England reported nearly 780 such complaints totaling approximately $13 million in losses, with Maine alone experiencing 98 victims who lost over $1.6 million. The FBI reminds the public that legitimate law enforcement agencies will never contact individuals by phone, email, or text to demand payment.
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FOX59 News
· 2025-08-04
Phishing scammers are increasingly using recognizable brand names—including EZPass, Microsoft, Steam, Facebook, Coinbase, Netflix, American Express, and others—to trick victims into clicking malicious links or visiting fake websites. Scammers exploit familiarity and artificial urgency to prompt impulsive action, with AI making fraudulent emails and websites look increasingly realistic; fake DMV scams saw a 700% increase in one quarter. The best defense is to never click links in unsolicited messages and instead navigate directly to official websites through your own search to verify any account issues.
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FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
· 2025-08-04
A Twin Cities woman fell victim to a sophisticated employment scam involving fake virtual interviews for a high-level executive position and forged company benefits documentation designed to collect her personal information and cash. The scam was remarkably elaborate, mimicking authentic company processes and going through multiple interview stages before the victim discovered the fraud and contacted the actual company being impersonated, which confirmed they were unaware of the scheme.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2025-08-06
An equestrian coach from Ramona lost nearly $6,000 in a phishing scam when she received a text warning that her bank accounts were compromised and a follow-up call appearing to be from her bank. The scammer impersonated a bank representative and guided her to "protect" her money, but the bank later confirmed they were never the ones contacting her. The victim is now speaking publicly to warn others about this common social engineering fraud tactic.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2025-08-11
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WHNT News 19
· 2025-08-19
Scammers are tricking consumers into paying fees for passport renewal forms that are actually free downloads from the U.S. government website. These fraudulent sites mimic the official government website (ending in .com instead of .gov) and may trick victims into providing personal and financial information, potentially leading to identity theft. Consumers should verify they are using the official site (travel.state.gov) and avoid clicking sponsored search results, while monitoring their bank accounts if they suspect they've been victimized.
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FOX59 News
· 2025-08-19
Imposter scammers are increasingly targeting seniors' life savings, with the number of older Americans reporting losses exceeding $100,000 increasing nearly sevenfold since 2020, according to FTC data. Scammers impersonating businesses and government agencies use three common tactics to create urgency and fear: claiming unauthorized account use, identity theft, or computer security problems, then instructing victims to move money to accounts they control under the guise of protection. The FTC advises never transferring money at a stranger's direction and instead hanging up and contacting trusted contacts or the agency directly to verify claims.
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CTV News
· 2025-08-21
Online gambling scams in Canada involve unregulated "gray market" gambling sites that lure users with enticing advertisements and promised payouts, but then freeze accounts and refuse to pay out winnings without responding to complaints. The Better Business Bureau received approximately 10,000 complaints about these fraudulent sites between mid-2022 and the present, with users reporting account freezes, non-payment of funds, and lack of customer communication or protection. Canadians are advised to use only regulated legal gambling platforms like Play Alberta to avoid these scams.
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KSBY News
· 2025-08-23
The California Franchise Tax Board is warning taxpayers about scams involving fraudulent text messages impersonating the FTB, which direct recipients to fake websites designed to steal personal and banking information. Officials advise recipients not to respond to suspicious communications claiming to be from the FTB or IRS, and instead contact the agencies directly to verify any claims.
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WWMT-TV
· 2025-08-26
Scammers are exploiting Social Security cost of living increase announcements through phishing messages that trick recipients into clicking malicious links and providing their Social Security numbers. The Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau warn that the Social Security Administration never requests SSN verification and automatically applies COLA increases—no application is required. Victims should be wary of messages claiming fraud has occurred on their account or demanding personal information to access benefits.
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Gulf Coast News
· 2025-08-30
A Cape Coral man fell victim to a text message scam impersonating the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, claiming he owed $6.69 for a toll violation with threats of license revocation. In Florida alone, there have been over 12,000 reports of government impostor scams in the current year totaling more than $26 million in losses. Experts advise verifying communications directly with government agencies through official contact information and never clicking links or providing financial information in unsolicited messages.
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KJRH -TV | Tulsa | Channel 2
· 2025-09-02
The "phantom hacker" scam, which has stolen over $1 billion from seniors, uses a three-part scheme: fraudsters impersonating bank support alert victims to suspicious account activity, then fake government officials offer to help protect the money, and finally scammers gain remote computer access by claiming someone is stealing funds, allowing them to drain accounts while instructing victims to tell no one, especially their bank. Key warning signs include urgent threats and demands for secrecy.
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Atlanta News First
· 2025-09-06
Fulton County launched a free online training program called "Avoid Cyber Threats" to help seniors recognize and avoid digital scams, following FBI data showing seniors suffered approximately $5 billion in financial losses last year. The program was created in response to the vulnerability of older adults to cyber fraud, illustrated by a resident's experience losing $2,000 to a phishing scam, and addresses the fact that Georgia ranks seventh nationally for internet crime losses.
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FOX Carolina News
· 2025-09-13
South Carolina ranks disproportionately high in scam calls and texts compared to other states and previous months, according to TrueCaller's monthly data tracking. Scam activity shows seasonality patterns, with increased fraud attempts during severe weather events like hurricanes and coastal damage. The caller ID and spam-blocking service provider attributes the targeting to both predictable seasonal trends and state-specific vulnerabilities.
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ABC15 Arizona
· 2025-09-22
Medicare scams are flooding seniors with phone calls and emails, with the Department of Justice estimating $60 billion in annual Medicare fraud losses. Scammers impersonate Medicare representatives and use threats (such as losing coverage) or offers of new Medicare cards to extract seniors' Medicare numbers, which they then use to fraudulently bill the program. Experts advise that Medicare will not contact beneficiaries by phone requesting personal information or offering to mail new cards.
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NBC News
· 2025-09-25
The FBI reports a growing scam involving fake apartment listings on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where scammers impersonate real estate agents and repost legitimate property videos with artificially low rental prices to lure renters into paying upfront application fees. A 28-year-old victim paid a $350 application fee for what appeared to be a Manhattan apartment advertised at $1,100 monthly when the actual rent was $12,000, losing money to fraudsters who misrepresented licensed agents' credentials and photos. Renters are advised to be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true and to verify listings directly with licensed real estate agents.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-09-30
The National Cyber Security Alliance warns that scammers may impersonate government agencies like Social Security, Medicare, and SNAP through unsolicited texts, emails, or phone calls to solicit personal and financial information from victims. The government does not initiate contact to request such information, and people should hang up on suspicious calls and instead contact agencies directly or verify information through official channels.
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NBC Bay Area
· 2025-10-02
During government shutdowns, scammers capitalize on the crisis by impersonating government agencies and contacting people via phone or email with threats to revoke benefits or offers of emergency funds, demanding personal data or payments in exchange. Security experts warn that any unsolicited government contact during a shutdown should be treated with suspicion, as legitimate agencies are unable to reach out during closures. Common scams include threats to withdraw Social Security and other government benefits.
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NowMedia Group
· 2025-10-03
Police in Kelowna issued a warning about a grandparent scam in which a fraudster called elderly victims claiming to be a lawyer, stating their grandchild had been arrested, and demanding $5,000 in cash to secure their release. The suspect then visited homes in person to collect the money, with two successful visits occurring on the same day in the 600 block of San Michelle Road and 1300 block of Cao Road. The RCMP urged the public to discuss scam awareness with elderly family members and provided a description of the suspect: a light-skinned male approximately 6 feet tall with dark slicked-back hair, long sideburns, and not
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WFXR NEWS
· 2025-10-08
The Better Business Bureau warned of increased scam activity during government shutdowns, particularly government impersonation scams where criminals pose as federal agencies to steal money or personal information. Common shutdown-related scams include fake passport expedited services, fraudulent messages claiming benefits are at risk unless payment is made, and impersonation of the IRS, Social Security, or law enforcement. The shutdown makes these scams more effective because confusion about which services remain open allows criminals to exploit victims, and official fraud reporting websites like the FTC's are offline, preventing victims from easily reporting incidents.
capecodtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Robert Tobey, a Connecticut man with early-stage dementia, lost at least $5,000 to phone scammers between late 2018 and early 2019 who posed as friends, manipulating him into sending gift cards and money transfers and compromising his Social Security account. The article reports that scams affecting Cape Cod residents include romance scams, government impersonation schemes, sweepstakes scams, and grandchild-in-jail scams, with the National Council on Aging estimating five million older Americans lose $36.5 billion annually to fraud. Law enforcement warns that scams are constantly evolving and advise victims to hang up on suspicious calls
lafocusnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC reported nationwide fraud losses reached an all-time high of $10 billion—14% more than 2022—driven primarily by larger per-victim losses rather than increased report volume, with a median loss of $500 per consumer. The top scam categories were imposter schemes (particularly business and government imposters), online shopping fraud, prizes/lotteries, investment fraud, and job opportunities, with investment scams generating the highest total losses at $4.6 billion despite being ranked fourth in frequency. The FTC warned that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence for voice cloning and deepfakes to impersonate trusted contacts, and advised consumers to be
ourtownny.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and FTC reported that romance scams cost Americans $740 million to $1.3 billion in 2022, with 19,000 to 70,000 reported cases involving victims who were manipulated into sending money to online romantic partners they never met in person. Scammers use fake personas tailored to victims' preferences and employ various pretexts—including fake emergencies, investment opportunities, and shipping fees—to extract money, relying on anonymity and victims' emotional vulnerability to evade law enforcement. The FBI advises online daters to verify profiles, watch for isolation tactics and money requests, and cease communication immediately with suspicious contacts.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, consumers lost a record $10 billion to fraud, with imposter scams being the most prevalent, affecting nearly 854,000 people and resulting in $2.7 billion in losses at an average of $800 per victim. Imposter scams involve criminals posing as trusted entities (government agencies, companies, relatives, or romantic interests) via email, phone, text, or social media to steal money or personal information, with emerging technologies like AI and voice cloning making these frauds increasingly convincing. Older adults, particularly those 80 and over, experience significantly higher median losses ($1,450) and are particularly vulnerable to "phantom hacker" tech-
thecut.com
· 2025-12-08
A journalist who lost $50,000 to an imposter scam in October shares lessons learned about sophisticated fraud tactics, interviewing victims and experts to understand how scams work. The article explains that anyone can be vulnerable to scams regardless of prior caution, and details how scammers use tactics like spoofed calls from government agencies, appeals to authority, and publicly available personal information to establish credibility and manipulate victims. Key prevention strategies include not answering calls from unknown numbers, recognizing fear-based and opportunity-based scam categories, and understanding that scammers exploit hardwired instincts to trust authority figures.
timesleaderonline.com
· 2025-12-08
St. Clairsville city leaders and police conducted a Valentine's Day outreach event at senior living facilities to distribute flowers and candy while educating seniors about current scams. Officer Greg Clark warned about prevalent IRS tax scams and utility payment fraud targeting seniors, noting that scammers often impersonate government agencies and threaten prosecution, and recommended that residents contact their local police department with questions.
kiro7.com
· 2025-12-08
Rebecca D'Antonio lost $100,000 to a sophisticated romance scam orchestrated by an organized crime ring based in Nigeria, where a scammer posing as a Boston attorney gradually escalated requests for money through emotional manipulation and false emergencies. The FBI receives approximately 19,000 romance scam tips annually, with perpetrators operating like organized businesses using multiple people playing different roles to deceive vulnerable victims, often targeting lonely or divorced women. Experts advise never sending money to someone you haven't met in person and never sharing banking information with online contacts.
mediaite.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial advice columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to a sophisticated impersonation scam that began with a fake Amazon fraud call, escalated through impersonators posing as FTC and CIA agents, and culminated in her handing cash in a shoebox to a stranger outside her Brooklyn home in October 2023. The scammers manipulated her through false claims of arrest warrants, asset seizure, and threats to her family, while instructing her to tell no one and withdraw cash from her bank. Cowles publicly disclosed the scam, acknowledging that the criminals used psychological manipulation—particularly threats involving her son—to exploit her despite her professional expertise in financial matters.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A financial advice columnist for New York Magazine was scammed out of $50,000 in October by a con artist posing as a CIA agent who claimed her identity had been stolen and she faced arrest warrants for money laundering and drug trafficking. The scammer, who obtained personal information including her Social Security number and family details, instructed her not to contact authorities and directed her to place $50,000 cash in a shoe box and hand it to a courier in a white Mercedes SUV. After the handoff, Cowles realized the scam when attempts to follow up on promised government checks and Social Security assistance went nowhere.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to an elaborate scam that began with a fake Amazon customer service call in October 2023, escalating through impersonation of FTC and CIA officials who convinced her that her identity had been stolen and she faced arrest warrants. The scammers persuaded her to withdraw cash from her savings account and hand it to an undercover "agent" by creating an increasingly elaborate false narrative with fabricated evidence. Cowles' experience serves as a cautionary tale that fraud targets people across all demographics and education levels, countering the stereotype that only vulnerable populations fall victim to such schemes.
thecut.com
· 2025-12-08
In October, the author—a financially literate journalist and New York Times columnist—fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam that cost her $50,000 in savings. After an initial fraudulent Amazon customer service call, she was transferred to a scammer posing as a federal agent who claimed her identity had been compromised and her home was being monitored, pressuring her to withdraw cash and leave it on the street in a shoebox without telling anyone. The article challenges common stereotypes about scam victims, noting that younger adults are actually 34% more likely to report fraud losses than seniors, and that intelligence, education, and financial literacy provide no protection against sophisticated psychological manipulation tactics.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a fraud alert after scammers sent phishing emails impersonating her, claiming to help recipients whose tax refunds were being stolen but actually attempting to collect personal information. The fraudulent emails, sent from fake Gmail accounts with broken English and poor grammar, falsely claimed to address tax refund complaints and asked recipients for sensitive details. Nessel reminded consumers that government agencies do not collect federal tax debt via email or phone, and the IRS never demands immediate payment, threatens arrest, or requests personal information electronically.
kttn.com
· 2025-12-08
Zella Rives, 57, of St. Louis County, Missouri pleaded guilty to helping her son fraudulently claim Social Security disability benefits for over 13 years by submitting false reports and concealing his income, assets, and employment. The scheme resulted in the Social Security Administration disbursing more than $91,000 in fraudulent benefits between 2010 and 2023. Rives was charged with four counts of theft of government funds and one count of making a false statement, facing up to 10 years in prison and potential $250,000 fines at sentencing scheduled for June 18, 2024.
vindy.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating utility company employees contact victims by phone or door-to-door, threatening to cut off services for unpaid bills and demanding immediate payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Door-to-door scammers often work in pairs—one distracting the victim while the other steals valuables—and may falsely claim to replace faulty meters. To protect yourself, verify any service termination threat by calling your utility directly using a number you find independently, and report suspicious door-to-door visitors to police immediately.