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boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
Eight individuals with ties to China have been indicted for operating a transnational elder fraud scheme that victimized approximately 300 seniors across at least 37 states and Canada, with confirmed losses exceeding $5 million and suspected laundered funds totaling around $16 million. The scammers used fake pop-up messages impersonating technology companies and government agencies to trick elderly victims into transferring funds via wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash purchases of gold bars to accounts controlled by the fraudsters. Fangzheng Wang, a 24-year-old Chinese national in Massachusetts, was among the eight defendants arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and related offenses.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
A college student lost $5,050 in life savings to scammers who impersonated Bank of America employees via text and phone call, convincing her to authorize a wire transfer. Bank of America refused to reimburse the victim, citing federal law that limits reimbursement to unauthorized transactions, though the victim had authorized the payment under false pretenses. The bank stated that recovery attempts from the receiving bank were unsuccessful as the funds had already been moved.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers targeting senior citizens on Long Island impersonated banks to convince victims their accounts were compromised, then fraudulently obtained their debit and credit cards and PINs before stealing money from ATMs. Suffolk County police advised seniors to avoid answering unknown calls, never provide personal information or PINs to callers, and to independently verify any account security claims by calling the number on the back of their card.
wsoctv.com
· 2025-12-08
Social engineering and AI-powered fraud are among the top cybersecurity threats of 2025, with scammers now using deepfakes, hyper-personalized phishing, and AI automation to make deception more convincing and targeted than ever. Adults aged 60 and older reported the highest losses in 2024 at over $4.8 billion (up 43% from 2023), with phishing/spoofing and tech support scams hitting this demographic hardest, while investment fraud alone caused $6.57 billion in losses and cryptocurrency fraud reached $9.3 billion. To protect against these evolving threats, individuals and organizations should employ straightforward defense strategies including
wgauradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Social engineering and AI-powered fraud are recognized as major cybersecurity threats in 2025, with scammers increasingly using deepfakes, hyper-personalized phishing, and automation to deceive victims at scale. Adults 60 and older reported the highest losses in 2024 at over $4.8 billion (up 43% from 2023), particularly falling victim to phishing/spoofing and tech support scams, while investment fraud caused $6.57 billion and cryptocurrency fraud reached $9.3 billion in total losses. The article emphasizes that while classic scam methods like phishing and business email compromise remain dominant, AI technology is making
wtap.com
· 2025-12-08
The Parkersburg Police Department reported a significant rise in bitcoin scams using tactics such as phishing, romance scams, and fake law enforcement threats claiming outstanding warrants. Once victims send money to bitcoin machines, the funds are transferred overseas to criminals with no possibility of recovery. The department advises against sharing financial information with unknown contacts, investing based on online advice, and emphasizes that legitimate law enforcement will never request bitcoin payments for fines.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how to identify common personal finance scams by describing warning signs in simple terms. Key red flags include scammers using high-pressure tactics to rush decisions, making unrealistic offers that seem too good to be true, and requesting payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency—methods legitimate companies never use.
blog.google
· 2025-12-08
Google's threat advisory identifies four evolving scam trends in 2024: customer support scams using fake phone numbers and social engineering, malvertising targeting sophisticated users with valuable assets like crypto wallets, fake travel websites exploiting vacation bookings with counterfeit hotel sites, and package tracking scams impersonating delivery companies to collect fraudulent fees. The advisory comes as global fraud losses reached $1 trillion in 2024 and U.S. fraud reports increased 25% year-over-year, highlighting scammers' ability to evolve tactics and exploit user vulnerabilities despite growing awareness.
moneyweek.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, fraudsters stole £144.4 million through investment fraud in the UK—a 34% increase from 2023—despite a 24% reduction in the number of cases, indicating victims are losing larger amounts per scam. Investment fraud involves criminals convincing victims to invest in fictitious funds or fake opportunities (cryptocurrencies, property, commodities, etc.), often amplified through AI deepfaking on social media. Overall UK fraud losses reached £1.17 billion across 3.31 million confirmed cases in 2024, with unauthorised fraud (particularly card fraud and remote purchase fraud) being the most prevalent type.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, the UK experienced £12,332 crore in reported fraud losses, with banks blocking even greater unauthorized attempts, yet emerging threats like remote access scams, social engineering, and platform-enabled fraud continue to outpace defenses. Seventy percent of authorized push payment scams originated online, while investment fraud and romance scams increasingly target victims through social media and polished digital ads, often exploiting emotional manipulation or false financial promises. Experts warn that fraud now represents 40% of all UK crime, yet the fragmented regulatory approach places disproportionate responsibility on banks rather than holding tech platforms, telcos, and other enablers accountable, necessitating a unified national strategy
ibsintelligence.com
· 2025-12-08
UK fraud losses remained at £1.17 billion in 2024, with 70% of authorised push payment fraud cases originating online through social media and messaging platforms. Investment and romance scams are surging despite fewer reported cases, with victims often losing life savings to sophisticated social engineering tactics that bypass bank warnings. Experts warn that fraudsters are evolving tactics—particularly toward remote purchase fraud—and call for a unified national strategy involving banks, law enforcement, and technology providers to address fraud, which now represents 40% of all UK crime.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors are increasingly targeted in cryptocurrency scams because scammers view them as wealthy, trusting, and less technologically savvy, exploiting the irreversible nature of crypto transactions and victims' reluctance to report fraud. The FTC reports growing losses from crypto investment fraud, romance scams, and government impersonation, with seniors in Beaufort County, South Carolina alone losing over $3.1 million in 2024, while sophisticated schemes using AI voice cloning and fake websites are becoming more prevalent. Examples include British pensioners losing hundreds of thousands to romance fraud operations in Cambodia, Minnesota crypto ATM scams that cost over $189 million in 2023, and government impersonation
okcfox.com
· 2025-12-08
This editorial discusses the evolution and pervasiveness of fraud from ancient times to 2024, noting that the FBI received 859,532 online crime complaints in 2024 with losses exceeding $16 billion—a 33% increase from the prior year. The article highlights emerging threats including cryptocurrency fraud ($24.2 billion in illicit transfers in 2023), AI-powered deepfakes (which surged 1,740% in North America between 2022-2023, with one incident targeting a Hong Kong firm for $25 million), and voice-cloning scams targeting individuals through fake calls from loved ones. Williams emphasizes that fraud affects all demographics—not just the
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Funnull, a Philippines-based company run by Chinese national Liu Lizhi, for providing infrastructure to cybercriminals operating "pig butchering" crypto investment scams that defrauded American victims of approximately $200 million, with an average loss of $150,000 per victim. Funnull generated fraudulent domain names and website templates to help scammers impersonate legitimate brands, and also conducted the Polyfill supply chain attack to redirect website visitors to malicious gambling and scam sites. These services enabled criminals to quickly evade detection by switching domains and IP addresses when legitimate providers attempted to shut down their operations.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common cryptocurrency scams and protection strategies. According to the FBI, crypto fraud losses surged 45% year-over-year to $5.6 billion in 2023 based on 69,000 complaints, with scams ranging from phishing attacks to fake ICOs and rug pulls. The article advises crypto investors to verify website URLs, enable two-factor authentication, and remain vigilant about suspicious links and messages to protect their digital assets.
oprahdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting consumers are rising dramatically, with phishing, deepfakes, tech-support scams, and spoofing becoming increasingly common. Readers shared varied experiences including fraudulent tax and loan collection calls, fake rental listings, phishing texts posing as delivery services and financial institutions, and sextortion emails with personal information. The advice emphasized by victims includes not answering unknown numbers, immediately deleting suspicious messages, verifying requests independently, and never providing personal information or upfront payments to unverified sources.
whio.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how to identify fake social media profiles used by scammers on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tinder. Key warning signs include fake or AI-generated profile pictures (verify with reverse image search), brand-new accounts with unusual activity patterns, generic or automated posting behavior, and follower lists consisting of random unconnected accounts. The article advises online users to maintain skepticism about profiles they encounter and check for these indicators before engaging with unfamiliar accounts.
moneysense.ca
· 2025-12-08
Relationship fraud and romance scams are increasing in Canada, typically beginning when scammers contact victims on social media, dating apps, or email, then gradually build trust over months before requesting money or promoting fraudulent investment schemes, often involving cryptocurrency. Victims suffer not only financial losses but also emotional trauma from the betrayal, and scammers may use harvested personal information for identity theft. Key warning signs include pressure and urgency in requests, and protection strategies include verifying requests with trusted individuals and being cautious of AI-generated personas.
govinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Philippine-based Funnull Technology and its administrator Liu Lizhi for operating as a content delivery network that powered romance scam websites, using trafficked workers to deceive victims into fake investments. The FBI identified over 332,000 domains linked to Funnull infrastructure, which caused an estimated $200 million in losses to U.S. victims (averaging $150,000 per person), with global romance scam losses reaching $4.4 billion. The company supplied bulk IP addresses, website templates, and algorithmically-generated domain names to scammers, enabling them to rapidly create resilient scam networks difficult to take down.
law.georgia.gov
· 2025-12-08
During May 2025's Older Americans Month, Georgia's Attorney General Consumer Protection Division reached over 1,300 seniors to educate them on recognizing, preventing, and reporting financial abuse and exploitation. The division highlighted common scams targeting older adults—including government imposter schemes, investment/cryptocurrency fraud, and romance scams—and provided resources such as their free "Georgia Consumer Protection Guide for Older Adults" (available in English, Spanish, and Korean) along with reporting contacts for suspected financial abuse.
whio.com
· 2025-12-08
This article explores the legal landscape of scams and fraud, explaining that while scamming is generally illegal, some deceptive practices exist in legal gray areas by technically offering a service or relying on consumer awareness. The article discusses how scammers exploit loopholes—such as with carnival games and deceptive solicitations (like fake domain renewal notices)—by staying vague about their offerings and not explicitly making false promises, allowing them to operate despite feeling fraudulent to consumers. The key takeaway is that scamming tactics are increasingly sophisticated and difficult to distinguish from legitimate services, making consumer vigilance essential.
commercialappeal.com
· 2025-12-08
The "Mystery Shopper" scam is resurfacing, targeting job seekers with offers to earn hundreds of dollars weekly by evaluating retail experiences. Victims receive official-looking checks and are instructed to purchase money cards, photograph them, and send the images to scammers, who then drain the funds after the check bounces, leaving victims thousands of dollars in loss. The BBB and FTC advise avoiding job offers promising high guaranteed pay, requiring upfront payments, or involving depositing checks and sending money elsewhere, and recommend researching companies online and consulting trusted contacts before accepting any job offer.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
A 46-year-old MBA graduate in India lost ₹11 crore (approximately $1.3 million USD) over three months in a sophisticated online job scam, reported as one of India's largest cyber frauds. Fraudsters created a fake website impersonating an international consultancy firm and convinced the victim he was hired for an executive position, then extracted money through fake onboarding fees, documentation charges, and purported investment plans before disappearing with funds transferred to crypto wallets and offshore accounts. Authorities suspect this may be part of a larger fraud operation and are urging the public to verify online job offers and avoid upfront payments.
crowdfundinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, cryptocurrency scams generated a record $12.4 billion in fraudulent revenue, with "pig butchering" romance and investment scams accounting for 33% of that total. Artificial intelligence has enabled scammers to operate at unprecedented scale through deepfakes, voice cloning, and automated phishing, with AI service vendors on illicit marketplaces earning $18 million alone. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Philippines-based Funnull Technology Inc. in May 2025 for facilitating scams that defrauded American victims of over $200 million by providing infrastructure to cybercriminals.
someecards.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in her early 30s was targeted by a romance scam in which her online boyfriend of six months, claiming to work on an offshore oil rig in Dubai, requested $10,000 to cover a family emergency and asked her to borrow the money from coworkers and relatives. The victim's coworker recognized the classic scam indicators and warned her, eventually discovering that the victim had already sent the scammer $50-500 in smaller amounts over six months before the relationship ended when she couldn't provide the larger sum. The victim eventually acknowledged the scam after the "boyfriend" ghosted her when she proved unable to obtain the money.
afp.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
From January 2024 to January 2025, Australian authorities received 150 reports of cryptocurrency ATM scams resulting in $3.1 million in losses, with an average loss of $20,000 per victim; however, officials warn this likely represents significant under-reporting, as approximately $275 million moves through crypto ATMs annually in Australia. The victims were predominantly women (68%) and people over 51 years old (48%), who were targeted through investment scams, extortion emails, and romance scams that pressured them to deposit cash into crypto ATMs. Australian authorities are implementing educational campaigns near crypto ATMs to warn the public about common warning signs, including unsolicited deposit
wisbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment and cryptocurrency scams remain the riskiest threat for adults 55+, followed by online purchase scams and romance scams for specific age groups, according to the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report. The article provides practical prevention strategies including: avoiding unsolicited callers (especially those claiming to be government agents or bank employees), recognizing red flags like pressure to act or unusual payment requests, hiring only licensed contractors through verified sources, remaining alert to emergency/grandchild scams, and hanging up on calls about "free" medical equipment or government impersonations. Key advice emphasizes registering with the National Do-Not-Call Registry, verifying unexpected claims through official sources, and maintaining healthy
expressvpn.com
· 2025-12-08
The Nigerian prince scam (also called a 419 scam) is an advance-fee fraud where scammers pose as foreign royalty or wealthy individuals and convince victims to pay upfront "processing fees" or "taxes" for access to promised large sums of money. Originating from 19th-century Spanish prisoner schemes and proliferating via email in the 1990s, the scam continues to victimize people daily despite widespread awareness, sometimes escalating to using victims as money mules for stolen funds. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact from strangers claiming to need financial help, verify identities through official channels, never send money upfront, and avoi
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A cryptocurrency investment scam targeting two victims resulted in approximately $563,000 in stolen funds, which the U.S. Attorney's Office for Northern District of Ohio is seeking to forfeit as 679,981.22 USDT tokens. A victim in Solon, Ohio lost roughly $500,000 after being contacted by someone posing as "Kristina Tian" on LinkedIn who gained his trust and directed him to transfer cryptocurrency to a fraudulent investment platform; an Arizona woman lost $63,000 (including $15,000 from her 401(k) and $48,000 from a home equity loan her daughter obtained) through a similar scheme initiated on a
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian authorities are tightening regulations on cryptocurrency ATMs after discovering widespread use in scams targeting elderly citizens, with the anti-money laundering regulator AUSTRAC refusing to renew one operator's license and implementing transaction limits and stricter requirements. Analysis of crypto ATM usage found that 79% of users were over 50 years old, with those aged 60-70 significantly overrepresented as scam victims, and the Australian Federal Police reported 150 scam cases linked to crypto ATMs in 2024 resulting in over $3.1 million in losses, though experts believe actual losses are substantially higher due to underreporting. The measures address a critical vulnerability in which elderly
9news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australia's financial crime watchdog (AUSTRAC) announced a crackdown on cryptocurrency ATM scams, which have cost victims an estimated $3.1 million in reported losses over 12 months, with the actual figure likely much higher. Criminals exploit the machines to pressure victims—predominantly women over 50—into sending cryptocurrency through investment swindles, extortion, and romance scams; once sent, the crypto is nearly impossible to recover. New industry-wide controls are being implemented, and authorities warn people to be suspicious of urgent requests to use crypto ATMs, promises of guaranteed high returns, or any unsolicited pressure to deposit cash.
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
The US Treasury Department sanctioned Philippine tech firm Funnull Technology Inc. and Chinese administrator Liu Lizhi for providing infrastructure that supported over 332,000 domains used in "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scams that defrauded victims of approximately $200 million total, with individual losses averaging $150,000 each. The scams used fake cryptocurrency platforms to systematically target vulnerable individuals, with internal documents showing the company deliberately distributed domains to cybercriminals for fraudulent schemes including phishing and online gambling.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes in real-time video calls to conduct romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and other schemes, with experts reporting a dramatic rise from approximately 4-5 cases monthly in 2023 to hundreds per month currently. Notable victims include a Hong Kong finance worker who lost $25 million to a deepfaked CFO impersonation and a New Zealand retiree defrauded of $133,000 through a cryptocurrency scam using a deepfaked government official. As AI tools become more accessible and capable of creating realistic faces and voices, deepfake fraud is expanding to encompass job interview scams, identity theft for banking and housing
blog.google
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 survey conducted with Morning Consult reveals that U.S. consumers are increasingly aware of rising online scams, with over 60% perceiving an increase in scam attempts and one-third having experienced a data breach, while the FBI reported online scams reached a record $16.6 billion in losses the previous year (up 33% annually). The study found that security practices vary significantly by generation, with older Americans (Gen X and Baby Boomers) relying on traditional passwords and two-factor authentication, while Gen Z is adopting more modern authentication methods like passkeys and social sign-ins that offer better protection against phishing and data breaches.
newscop.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Women aged 50 and older account for the majority of crypto ATM scam victims in Australia, with 150 reports received over 12 months (January 2024-2025) totaling $3.1 million in losses, averaging over $20,000 per report. The most common scams involved investments (63 cases), extortion emails (35), and romance scams (24), with authorities warning that actual losses are likely significantly underreported due to victim embarrassment or lack of awareness. The AFP recommends vigilance against common warning signs including unsolicited requests to use crypto ATMs, promises of guaranteed high returns, and pressure from new romantic partners or strangers to invest
ia.acs.org.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian police warned of a surge in cryptocurrency ATM scams, with 150 reported incidents in 2024 resulting in approximately $3.1 million in losses, averaging over $20,000 per scam. Investment scams were the most common type, with 72 victims aged over 51, and one elderly man lost $1.4 million in a romance scam involving crypto ATMs. In response, financial watchdog AUSTRAC implemented new regulations including $5,000 transaction limits, mandatory scam warnings, and enhanced customer due diligence requirements for crypto ATM operators.
theaustraliatoday.com.au
· 2025-12-08
The Australian Federal Police reported a sharp rise in cryptocurrency ATM scams between January 2024 and January 2025, with 150 reported cases resulting in losses exceeding $3.1 million (averaging over $20,000 per victim), though authorities suspect significant under-reporting. Investment scams were most common, followed by extortion and romance scams, predominantly affecting women and people over 51. The AFP, AUSTRAC, and JPC3 have launched a joint taskforce and are placing warning materials at crypto ATM locations, urging the public to avoid sending cryptocurrency to strangers and to report suspicious activity.
news.wfsu.org
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old man lost over $800,000 in a cryptocurrency and Bitcoin scam operated by Florida prison inmates who used smuggled phones and drones to contact seniors and solicit money. Nearly $13 million has been stolen from multiple victims through these schemes, with only $1.4 million recovered, prompting law enforcement officials to call for legislation to block drone signals and eliminate contraband communications in prisons.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission warned of investment scams on social media where hackers compromise victims' accounts to post bank account screenshots and fake investment opportunities promising quick returns with little risk, typically requesting a few hundred dollars via cryptocurrency or payment apps before blocking the victim. The FTC advises consumers to resist pressure to act immediately, research companies using terms like "scam" or "fraud," and remember that no legitimate investment guarantees returns. Victims should alert their compromised contacts directly in case their accounts have been hacked.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message job scams have surged dramatically, with reported losses reaching $470 million in 2024—five times the 2020 amount—making job offers the second most common scam after fake package delivery. Scammers pose as recruiters from well-known companies, using increasingly sophisticated AI-crafted messages to lure vulnerable job seekers with unrealistic offers, then steal personal information (Social Security numbers, IDs, bank details) or trick victims into sending money for supposed work equipment. The problem is expected to worsen as economic uncertainty and remote work demand increase, making people more susceptible to these plausible-seeming frauds.
theindependent.sg
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Funnull Technology Inc., a Philippine-based tech firm, for supplying infrastructure to host over 332,000 fraudulent cryptocurrency investment domains used in "pig butchering" scams. These elaborate romance-based schemes victimized thousands of people, causing average losses of $150,000 per victim with total damages exceeding $200 million. The company, registered in the Philippines in 2021, purchased bulk IP addresses from cloud providers and sold them to scammers to evade detection, while also compromising a widely-used JavaScript library to redirect users to malicious sites.
bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bengaluru pre-owned motorcycle dealer lost Rs.38.85 lakh in a "pig butchering" scam that combined romance fraud with cryptocurrency investment schemes. A woman posing as "Lakshmi Priya" connected with him on a matrimonial site, built emotional trust through video calls with fake family members, and convinced him to invest in a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform called "Bost Base," showing fake returns that eventually reached Rs.1.4 crore. When he attempted to withdraw his funds, he was told he needed to pay Rs.21 lakh in "UK taxes" and, after borrowing money from friends and family to complete this payment
kttc.com
· 2025-12-08
A U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report identifies significant gaps in federal anti-fraud coordination, finding that 13 agencies lack a unified strategy, clear definitions of scams, government-wide loss estimates, and risk assessments needed to combat fraud proactively. The report recommends establishing a government-wide coordinated approach led by the FBI, improving consumer education and awareness, and urging the public to report scams rather than remain silent, while noting inconsistent fraud warnings across retailers like gift card sellers demonstrate the need for standardized consumer outreach.
wusf.org
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old Florida man lost over $800,000 in a cryptocurrency and romance scam operated by inmates using smuggled cellphones, representing one of several victims in a scheme orchestrated from within state prisons. Florida law enforcement officials reported that nearly $13 million has been stolen through these coordinated scams with only $1.4 million recovered, and are calling for legislation to block drone signals and eliminate contraband communications in prisons.
wwnytv.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a 116-page report urging the creation of a government-wide strategy to combat fraud and scams, identifying critical weaknesses including no centralized estimate of scam-related losses, no uniform definition of scams, and fragmented inter-agency coordination. The report found that federal agencies lack risk assessments and adequate consumer education efforts, and recommended that the FBI lead a unified initiative to define scams, develop countermeasures, and establish consistent fraud prevention messaging—including prominent warnings at retailers like gift card locations. The GAO director emphasized the importance of consumer reporting, stating that filing scam reports helps agencies identify patterns and take preventive action before fraud becomes widesprea
journal-news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 67-year-old Ohio woman was victimized by a cryptocurrency scam where she was instructed to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM via QR code—one of hundreds of similar cases targeting seniors in Ohio in 2024, often impersonating companies like Amazon, FedEx, or federal agencies. Americans aged 60+ lost nearly $4.89 billion to internet fraud in 2024 (a 46% increase from 2023), with cryptocurrency scams being particularly difficult to reverse once funds are transferred through digital wallets and mixers that obscure transaction origins. Law enforcement emphasizes that quick reporting is critical to recovering funds, and legitimate companies never request payments
nwestiowa.com
· 2025-12-08
Four Sioux Center banks—American State Bank, Northwest Bank, Peoples Bank, and Primebank—are partnering with local police to present a free fraud awareness education event on June 11, aimed at helping community members recognize and prevent scams. While the presentation targets the 55+ demographic, organizers emphasize that all age groups are vulnerable to fraud, with data showing adults 18-59 are actually 34 percent more likely to report fraud losses than older adults. The event will address common scam tactics including impostor scams, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, teaching attendees to recognize red flags like urgency, unnerving pressure, and unexpected contact.
silversurfers.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes seven prevalent scams on social media targeting users: fake shop accounts, phishing scams with malicious links, fake giveaways, investment scams promising high returns, romance scams, impersonation scams, and charity scams exploiting crises. The article advises users to verify sources, avoid clicking unsolicited links, use strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and stay educated about evolving fraud tactics to protect themselves and report suspicious activity to platforms.
gvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Bitcoin ATMs are increasingly being exploited as tools to facilitate scams targeting older adults, according the R.O.S.E. (Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly) organization and law enforcement officials. While Bitcoin ATMs themselves are legal, scammers leverage victims' confusion about cryptocurrency to direct them to these machines to transfer money, making them effective "scam facilitation" devices. The article warns seniors to be suspicious if anyone—particularly in romance, tech support, or investment scams—instructs them to use Bitcoin ATMs.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a profile of comedian Alex Falcone and his popular TikTok series "Is it a scam? Yep," which exposes various frauds and deceptive business practices to over half a million followers. Falcone, inspired by his family's carnival background and early exposure to con artists, creates fast-paced educational content that reveals how people and companies manipulate consumers. The piece reflects on society's growing awareness of scams in the digital age and people's fascination with understanding the mechanics behind fraud.