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qchron.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023-2024, New York City's Department for the Aging assisted over 43,000 elder abuse victims through its Elderly Crime Victims Resource Center and Elder Justice Network, which provide counseling, crisis intervention, and criminal justice support. Elder abuse takes multiple forms—including physical, sexual, emotional abuse, fraud, and financial exploitation—and can affect older adults across all demographics, prompting NYC authorities to expand police training, assign liaison officers to precincts, and hold awareness summits to help victims access resources and support.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 21-year-old Boston man was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud after serving as a courier in a tech support scam that defrauded a 75-year-old Massachusetts man of approximately $420,000 between June and October 2024. The victim was lured by a fake Microsoft pop-up message, then convinced by a scammer posing as a federal Treasury agent that his identity was involved in money laundering and instructed to withdraw cash in installments and hand it to couriers at his home. The defendant was arrested on October 7, 2024, when he arrived to collect a package from an undercover officer, and admitted to collecting packages for payment at the
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
Four federal agencies (CISA, FTC, DOJ, and CFPB) warned consumers about post-hurricane scams following Hurricanes Milton and Helene, including fraudulent charities, impersonators offering fake disaster relief for fees or personal information, and price gouging. The agencies advised verifying information through trusted sources like FEMA and Ready.gov, avoiding wire transfers and cash payments, never paying for FEMA assistance, and getting multiple contractor estimates before signing repair contracts.
nbcbayarea.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned that cryptocurrency has become a major target for fraud, with California losing over $1 billion to stolen cryptocurrency in 2023, including $260 million in the Bay Area alone. Scammers specifically target elderly and retired investors by pitching fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities and then using intimidation tactics to extract additional funds, with investment fraud identified as the leading cause of crypto-related financial losses. The agency advises investors to be suspicious of unsolicited calls or texts promoting cryptocurrency investments or schemes that seem too good to be true.
reed.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senator Jack Reed partnered with AARP Rhode Island and the Rhode Island State Police to hold an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit addressing the rising threat of scams targeting older adults. According to the FBI, elder fraud complaints rose 14 percent in 2023 with losses exceeding $3.4 billion nationally, including $7.4 million lost by Rhode Islanders over age sixty. The summit emphasized public education, awareness of common scam tactics (tech support, romance, investment, and data breach scams), and the importance of reporting fraud to authorities rather than remaining silent out of embarrassment.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime issued a report warning that digital scamming in Southeast Asia is rapidly expanding and becoming more sophisticated through the integration of generative AI, deepfakes, and cryptocurrency theft tools. Criminal networks have trafficked approximately 200,000 people into compounds across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos over the past five years to operate scams, with "pig butchering" investment schemes alone defrauding victims of around $75 billion, while organized crime groups in the region earned an estimated $37 billion last year. These criminal operations are increasingly using AI-generated content, deepfake videos, and automated tools to overcome language barriers and scale their scams globally, low
dailybreeze.com
· 2025-12-08
A Santa Monica software developer lost $740,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam, where a scammer cultivated trust over two months through daily communication before pitching fake cryptocurrency investments. This sophisticated long-con scheme, which originated in China in 2019 and expanded globally during the pandemic, has devastated hundreds or thousands of Californians—some victims have died by suicide after losing family fortunes—with Americans losing $4 billion to cryptocurrency investment scams in 2023, including $1.1 billion from California residents alone.
dailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Santa Monica software developer lost $740,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam in which a scammer spent two months building trust and romantic connection before pitching a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme. The scam, which originated in China in 2019 and expanded globally during the pandemic, involves networks of scammers posing as romantic partners to exploit victims over weeks or months, with California residents losing over $1.1 billion to cryptocurrency investment scams in 2023 alone, and some victims driven to suicide after devastating financial losses.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This alert describes 10 common scams targeting middle-aged and elderly people, including digital arrest threats, fake family member arrests, fraudulent stock trading schemes promising 30-40% returns, easy money offers, customs parcel interception claims, unauthorized credit card issuance, fake money transfer notifications, expired KYC update requests, and bogus tax refund calls. Each scam is accompanied by protective notes advising victims to verify claims directly with family members or institutions, avoid clicking suspicious links, check bank accounts independently, and recognize that schemes offering unusually high returns or easy money are typically fraudulent.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are employing AI and sophisticated tactics to target victims across age groups in India, including fresh graduates (fake job offers), middle-aged parents (police threat scams), and retirees (KYC update phishing). From January to May 2024, Indian citizens filed approximately 9.5 lakh cybercrime complaints and lost around Rs 1,750 crore to various scams including TRAI impersonation, fake digital arrests, fraudulent stock trading schemes, and easy money-for-tasks schemes.
corporate-adviser.com
· 2025-12-08
Research from WEALTH at Work found that 13% of UK adults fell victim to pension scams in the past year, part of a total 6.2 million people affected by financial fraud overall, with victims losing an average of £1,000. Pension scams typically involved fake promises of guaranteed returns or early access to pensions, while other prevalent scams included purchase scams (27%), investment scams (19%), romance scams (14%), and tax refund scams (10%). The research emphasizes that fraudsters use professional-looking materials and multiple contact methods to appear legitimate, and recommends that people verify company registration with the Financial Conduct Authority, never rush financial decisions, and follow the
finextra.com
· 2025-12-08
Social media platforms, particularly Meta, face increasing pressure to combat fraud after a new UK Authorized Push Payment reimbursement scheme took effect in October, with Revolut reporting that over 60% of APP fraud victims in the first half of 2024 originated on Meta platforms. The article outlines six prevalent social media scams: romance scams (building trust before requesting money), job scams (fake postings requesting upfront fees or personal information, with finance roles most targeted at 35.45%), marketplace scams (rental and ticket fraud), phishing links, cryptocurrency/investment scams, and celebrity impersonation schemes. Payment service providers and social media companies are debating responsibility, with critics arguing
beincrypto.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 perpetrators (21 men and 6 women, mostly university graduates in digital media) operating a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded approximately $46 million from men across Asia between October 2023 and September 2024. The scammers used deepfake AI technology to create fake female personas who engaged victims in romantic conversations, building trust before convincing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms from which funds could not be withdrawn. This case exemplifies the growing trend of AI-enabled romance scams (also called "pig-butchering" schemes), which have caused over $75 billion in global losses since 2020, with deepfake-specific sc
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 people involved in a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded victims from multiple countries of $46 million between October 2023 and the investigation's conclusion. The syndicate used AI-generated photos and deepfake technology to pose as attractive women in online relationships, convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms while showing fabricated transaction records and discussing false future plans. The operation was highly organized with specialized roles in scamming, technical support, and accounting, with individual fraudsters earning tens of thousands of dollars monthly.
firstpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police dismantled a deepfake romance scam that defrauded victims across multiple countries of $46 million, arresting 27 suspects including college graduates who used AI-generated images of attractive women to build romantic relationships with victims before luring them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. The organized syndicate operated from an industrial unit in Hong Kong for approximately one year, using a detailed manual to manipulate victims' emotions and present fake profit records until victims discovered they could not withdraw funds. Police recovered over 100 cell phones, $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches during the raid, with the investigation ongoing.
decrypt.co
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police dismantled a deepfake romance scam that defrauded victims across Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China of approximately $46 million between October 2023 and the investigation's conclusion. The multinational fraud syndicate used AI-generated images and deepfake technology to pose as women in online relationships, eventually convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms with falsified transaction records showing profits, then preventing withdrawals. Authorities arrested 27 individuals, including university graduates and suspected triad members, who operated specialized roles in the scheme and earned tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars monthly.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 members of a sophisticated romance scam ring that used deepfake AI technology to defraud victims across Asia of more than $46 million. The well-organized gang, composed of young university graduates, posed as attractive women to lure victims into fake romantic relationships, then coerced them to invest in a bogus cryptocurrency platform, using a detailed training manual to manipulate victims' emotions and trust. The scam operated for approximately one year before police raids in August recovered over 100 cell phones, nearly $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Susan Figuerido, a 73-year-old bookkeeper in Falmouth, pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $1.3 million from her flooring company employer between June 2015 and February 2023 by writing checks to herself and concealing them from the accounting system. She also failed to report the stolen funds on her federal income tax returns, resulting in a tax loss of approximately $353,000, and faces sentencing on January 15, 2025 on wire fraud and false tax return charges.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 29-year-old Bengaluru businessman lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and CBI, falsely claiming his phone number was linked to money laundering and threatening legal consequences. The scammers pressured the victim to transfer 80% of his bank balance to a supposedly secure RBI account for "verification" after having him download Signal to record a fake video statement. The article advises victims to verify caller claims directly with organizations, avoid sharing personal information or transferring funds in response to unsolicited calls, be cautious of urgency-inducing tactics
tribuneindia.com
· 2025-12-08
Four residents of Sirsa lost a combined Rs 25 lakh to various online scams: a government employee transferred Rs 5.84 lakh after being promised easy money on Telegram, a dermatologist lost Rs 1.9 lakh to a fake Army officer posing as a medical contractor, a cement store owner was defrauded of Rs 15.23 lakh through a fraudulent stock trading app, and another man lost Rs 2.31 lakh in a fake job scam. Police have launched investigations into all four cases.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Carlton Rembert, 70, was sentenced to 66 months in prison for his role in a guardianship fraud scheme that stole over $1 million from at least 120 incapacitated elderly people in Pennsylvania between 2012 and 2018. Working with his sister Gloria Byars, a court-appointed guardian, and co-conspirator Alesha Mitchell, Rembert deposited over $695,000 in fraudulent checks into shell company accounts and spent the stolen funds on personal expenses including vacations and vehicles. Rembert was ordered to pay $534,335 in restitution to victims.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 individuals, primarily tech and digital media graduates aged 21-34, for operating a sophisticated deepfake romance scam that defrauded victims across Asia of over $46 million. The organized criminal ring used AI-generated deepfake personas of attractive women to initiate romantic relationships with male victims in Singapore, India, Taiwan, and elsewhere, then manipulated them into investing in fake cryptocurrency platforms through a structured operation with training manuals and specialized departments. The scam operated for approximately one year before law enforcement dismantled the operation in a raid that seized over 100 cell phones, nearly $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches.
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
Tolulope Samuel Bodunde, a 33-year-old Nigerian citizen, was sentenced to two years in prison for participating in a multi-country business email compromise scheme that defrauded multiple victims including Connecticut, Colorado, Alaska, and New York-based companies. Bodunde specifically exploited elderly women through romance scams to serve as unwitting money mules and was ordered to pay $494,939 in restitution to three victims. The criminal network, led by co-conspirator Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, operated over several years by impersonating legitimate entities in electronic communications to trick victims into transferring money to accounts controlled by the conspirators.
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
A vigilant bank teller in Australia prevented a 70-year-old woman from losing millions in a dating scam by asking probing questions about her decision to sell her home, ultimately discovering the woman was being manipulated by an online boyfriend who claimed to need money for overseas prison bail—a classic romance scam tactic that was confirmed through a reverse image search. The article also describes a similar incident where a Scottish postal employee protected an elderly woman from a bank impersonation scam, highlighting how alert employees can serve as critical safeguards against fraud that cost consumers approximately $8.8 billion in 2022.
lokmattimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 31-year-old woman from Thane, India lost ₹17 lakhs (₹1.7 million) in a sophisticated impersonation scam where fraudsters posing as police and narcotics officials claimed she had sent illegal drugs to Taiwan and pressured her into taking a bank loan under threat of legal action. The scammers initiated contact via phone call, used video calls on Skype to appear legitimate, and directed the victim to transfer the funds online. Kapurbawdi Police have registered a case and warn citizens to avoid sharing personal or banking information with unknown callers claiming authority regarding suspicious courier packages.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A man in Mangaluru lost Rs 1.12 crore in an online trading scam after accepting a friend request from a woman on the Happn dating app in June. The scammer lured him to invest in a fake forex trading platform (Wavegptexa/Admiral Market) via Telegram, then repeatedly extracted money through false claims of taxes, fees, and account holds, continuously moving the goalposts to demand additional deposits until September. The victim realized the fraud only after becoming suspicious and consulting friends, leading to a police complaint at CEN Crime Police Station.
indiatvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A surge in online scams targeting senior citizens has resulted in significant financial losses, exemplified by a woman in her 60s from Noida who lost Rs 50,000 after a caller impersonated a client of her husband and convinced her to transfer funds under false pretenses. Scammers exploit urgency, false familiarity, and social engineering across multiple channels including phone calls, phishing messages, fake e-commerce sites, and investment schemes. To protect themselves, seniors should verify caller identities through official channels, never share OTPs or passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and report suspicious activities immediately to their bank or cybercrime authorities.
interpol.int
· 2025-12-08
**Operation SOGA X (June-July 2024):** An international law enforcement operation involving INTERPOL and 28 countries made over 5,100 arrests and recovered USD 59 million in illicit proceeds from illegal gambling networks. The operation rescued more than 650 human trafficking victims in the Philippines who had been lured with false employment promises and forced into running cyber scams including romance scams and cryptocurrency fraud, while also dismantling major illegal betting operations in Vietnam, Thailand, and Greece that generated hundreds of millions in illegal transactions through money laundering schemes.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
A global law enforcement operation called SOGA X conducted in June and July across 28 countries arrested over 5,100 people and shut down tens of thousands of illegal gambling websites, recovering more than $59 million in illicit proceeds during the UEFA 2024 European Football Championship. The crackdown exposed links between illegal gambling operations and organized cybercrime centers involved in human trafficking, romance scams, and "pig butchering" fraud schemes, with one Philippine raid rescuing over 650 trafficking victims who had been forced to conduct online fraud. Notable takedowns included dismantling a Vietnamese gambling ring generating $800,000 daily and disrupting organized crime operations in Thailand, Greece, an
bitcoinist.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong authorities dismantled a HK$360 million ($46.3 million) cryptocurrency romance fraud scheme operating over approximately one year, arresting 27 suspects who lured victims from Hong Kong, India, Singapore, and Malaysia into fake online relationships and cryptocurrency investment scams. Police seized over HK$200,000 in cash and luxury goods, and authorities emphasized the need for victims to verify cryptocurrency platforms and investment opportunities before participating.
odishabytes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using deepfake technology and artificial intelligence to perpetrate fraud, employing tactics including romance scams (where victims are lured into fake relationships and defrauded of millions), "digital arrest" schemes (where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to coerce victims into extended video calls and payments), and investment scams using deepfake videos of celebrities like Virat Kohli and Ratan Tata to promote fraudulent apps. Notable victims include men across Taiwan, Singapore, and India who lost over $46 million to romance scams, and Indian textile baron SP Oswal who was defrauded of $833,000 after being
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 people in October for operating a crypto romance investment scam that used AI deepfakes to defraud victims of $46.3 million. The scammers, mostly targeting men from mainland China, Taiwan, India, and Singapore, posed as women using deepfake technology to lure victims into fake cryptocurrency investment schemes operated from an industrial building in Hung Hom. The operation employed university graduates in digital media and overseas IT professionals to build the fraudulent platform and develop training materials for the deepfake scams.
mychesco.com
· 2025-12-08
Carlton Rembert, age 70, was sentenced to 66 months in prison for his role in a guardianship fraud scheme that exploited over 100 incapacitated elderly individuals between 2012 and 2018, resulting in losses exceeding $1 million. Working with court-appointed guardian Gloria Byars and accomplice Alesha Mitchell, Rembert deposited over $695,000 in stolen funds into shell company accounts and distributed the money among conspirators while disguising the thefts as medical expenses. Rembert was ordered to pay $534,335 in restitution and five years of supervised release following his conviction.
wusa9.com
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old woman in Washington, D.C. lost approximately $109,000 in a government impersonation scam after receiving a phone call claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. The scammer sent fraudulent documents (including a fake "U.S. Supreme Court" certificate with numerous grammatical errors) and text instructions directing her to transfer funds and mail cash to multiple accounts. This case illustrates a growing trend: the FBI reported elder fraud targeting those 60 and older exceeded $3.4 billion in losses last year, a significant increase from 2022, and authorities advise that legitimate government agencies contact people by mail only, never by phone, email
cupe.ca
· 2025-12-08
Canada's Public Pension Investment Board lost over $500 million on investments in Orpea, a major European for-profit long-term care company that collapsed amid allegations of systemic elder abuse, financial mismanagement, fraud, and embezzlement by executives (including a former CEO and CFO who were jailed). Despite holding two board seats, the CPPIB failed to prevent or address the criminal conduct affecting vulnerable residents and ultimately impacting the retirement savings of 22 million Canadian workers. The report and subsequent recommendations advocate for prohibiting pension funds from investing in for-profit long-term care and returning such facilities to public sector control.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI operates the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) website to help the public report cybercrime, receiving over 880,000 complaints in 2023 with estimated losses exceeding $12.5 billion. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams including investment fraud, ransomware, phishing, and tech support schemes, with nearly 60 percent of call center scam losses coming from people over 60, and Americans over 60 losing over $1.1 billion to cryptocurrency scammers alone. The FBI emphasizes prevention through awareness and due diligence rather than investigation alone, and successfully prosecuted a tech support scam ring originating from an IC3 complaint that affected over
yourmoney.com
· 2025-12-08
UK Finance's Half Year Fraud Report 2024 revealed a 16% rise in fraud cases compared to 2023, though total losses decreased 1.5% to approximately £1.5 billion. Authorized push payment (APP) fraud cases dropped 16% to 97,344 with losses falling 11% to £213.7 million, while romance scams, investment scams, and impersonation scams also declined; however, unauthorized fraud on cards, cheques, and remote banking surged 19% to 1.5 million cases totaling £358 million. Only 59% of fraud losses were returned to victims, though banks prevented £710.
thepaypers.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first half of 2024, criminals stole £571.7 million through unauthorized and authorised fraud in the UK, a 1.5% decrease from 2023, though unauthorized fraud cases rose 19% to over 1.5 million incidents with card-not-present fraud increasing 26%. Authorised push payment (APP) fraud losses declined 11% to £213.7 million, with notable decreases in romance scams, investment scams, and impersonation fraud, and 59% of APP losses were recovered and returned to victims. Banks prevented £710.9 million in unauthorized fraud through security systems, with 98% of unauthorized fraud victims fully
livebitcoinnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 individuals operating a "pig butchering" romance scam ring that stole $46.3 million from victims across Mainland China, India, and Singapore. The scammers posed as romantic partners online and used AI deepfake technology and fake cryptocurrency investment platforms to deceive primarily male victims into transferring digital assets, which they never recovered. The operation was run from an industrial complex in Hong Kong's Hung Hom neighborhood and employed trained staff and contracted developers to execute the scheme.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission's 2023-2024 report on protecting older adults reveals that seniors reported losing over $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023, though the actual total is estimated at $61.5 billion when accounting for unreported cases. Older adults face disproportionate vulnerability to investment scams ($538 million in losses), tech support scams (5x more likely than younger adults), and romance scams, with cryptocurrency and bank transfers being the most costly payment methods used by fraudsters. The FTC's Scams Against Older Adults Advisory Group, created under the Stop Senior Scams Act, has implemented consumer education programs and developed industry training guidance to combat these
news.sky.com
· 2025-12-08
A Thai teenager named Poom-Jai was lured to Cambodia under false employment promises and forced to work in a "fraud factory" conducting "pig butcher" romance scams, where he manipulated lonely victims into investing money in fraudulent schemes before stealing it all. Across Southeast Asia, an estimated 300,000 scammers operating in heavily guarded compounds controlled by Chinese mafia have stolen at least £34 billion worldwide, with workers often trafficked, tortured, and imprisoned when they fail to meet targets or attempt escape. Poom-Jai eventually suffered beatings with electric batons when accused of theft and attempted a desperate escape from the compound.
chroniclelive.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are placing fake QR codes on UK car park parking machines to redirect drivers to fraudulent websites where they steal credit card details—a phishing tactic known as "quishing." To avoid falling victim, drivers should inspect QR codes for signs of tampering, verify URLs before clicking them, check for website security features and legitimate design, avoid sites requesting excessive personal information, and use official parking apps instead of scanning codes. The article provides five protective measures as QR code scams become an increasingly common threat at parking facilities across the UK.
financialplanningtoday.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
In the first half of 2024, investment scams in the UK fell 29% to 3,647 cases, yet losses decreased by only 1% to £56.4 million, indicating that remaining scams are targeting larger sums, with investment fraud accounting for 26% of all authorized push payment scam losses. Overall APP fraud losses dropped 11% to £213 million across 97,344 cases, though only 53% of investment scam losses were recovered by payment service providers. Separate research revealed that 12% of UK adults lost money to financial scams in the past year, with victims losing an average of £1,111.21, and one-
shinemycrown.com
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old Maryland woman, Gladys Baxley, lost nearly $100,000 to a social security impersonation scam in which fraudsters posed as the Social Security Administration and sent a fake Supreme Court certificate to convince her to transfer funds to shell companies. Over several transactions, Baxley transferred $36,000 to Yongri Trading Inc., $58,000 to Shengya WS Inc., and $15,000 in cash before her son discovered the scam contained numerous grammatical errors. The fraud has left Baxley unable to afford her 30-year family home, though her bank is attempting recovery efforts.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022, with over 69,000 complaints filed to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. People aged 60 and older were disproportionately affected, reporting over $1.6 billion in losses across 16,806 complaints, primarily through investment fraud schemes and relationship-building scams that use fake websites and recovery schemes. Common tactics include scammers promising unrealistic returns via unsolicited contact, building trust through dating apps and social media before pushing crypto investment, and impersonating recovery specialists to steal additional funds from victims.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Truong My Lan was sentenced to life in prison for masterminding Vietnam's biggest-ever scam, a US$27 billion fraud at Saigon Commercial Bank that defrauded approximately 36,000 people and equaled about 6% of Vietnam's 2023 GDP. Victims including diapers seller Nguyen Thi Huong (who lost US$20,000) and fish sauce seller Hoang Thi Cuc (who lost US$140,000) have expressed deep anger and lost trust in authorities, as the court ordered compensation with no details on payment timeline or implementation.
abc17news.com
· 2025-12-08
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and experts advise consumers to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams by remembering the "three S's": stay suspicious, stop and think, and stay protected. Common scam tactics exploit fear, urgency, and money; frequent targets include seniors and vulnerable populations through robocalls, phishing emails, impersonation of authorities, and romance scams—with one 70-year-old woman losing tens of thousands over several months to a romance scammer. Experts recommend hanging up on unsolicited calls and texts, calling official numbers to verify requests, and asking trusted younger relatives to reverse-image search suspicious photos.
ironmountaindailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Computer scams continue to evolve with increasing sophistication, affecting even experienced and intelligent computer users. This educational piece outlines eight prevalent scam types: imposter/impersonation scams, pig butchering scams (fake investment schemes), romance scams, payment app scams, online shopping scams, delivery scams, lottery scams, charity scams, and robocalls—each employing psychological tactics like creating false urgency, building trust, or exploiting guilt to manipulate victims into surrendering money or personal information. The article advises readers to remain vigilant and informed about these tactics regardless of their computer experience level.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and security experts outline key scam prevention strategies as sophisticated fraud tactics continue to evolve. Scammers commonly exploit fear, urgency, and money as bait through phishing emails, spoofed caller IDs, robocalls, romance scams, and impersonation schemes targeting vulnerable populations including seniors and isolated individuals. The article recommends staying suspicious, stopping to think before acting, and staying protected by verifying requests through official channels and using tools like reverse image searches to identify potential fraud.
azcentral.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost an estimated $12.5 billion to online scams in the past year, with artificial intelligence-generated "deepfake" videos making investment frauds increasingly difficult to detect—the FBI estimates 39% of victims fell for deepfake-based schemes involving fabricated videos of business leaders, celebrities, or romantic interests. Scammers exploit AI to duplicate voices, crack passwords, and process large volumes of data, while most stolen money goes unrecovered, particularly when criminals demand payment in cryptocurrency and operate from overseas. Common defenses include using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and scrutinizing videos for unnatural movements, inconsistent lighting, and mismatched lip movements