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U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins warned the public about charity scams following Hurricane Helene's September 2024 landfall, noting that fraudsters exploit disasters by creating fake charities and phishing communications to solicit donations. The advisory recommends donating directly to verified organizations, avoiding unsolicited communications and suspicious links, paying by credit card or check rather than cash, and reporting fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721 or online.

During election season, scammers target voters through political donation scams, fake surveys, and voter registration text messages that attempt to steal money or personal information. To protect yourself, verify the source of any political communication by calling official campaign numbers directly from their websites rather than responding to unsolicited texts or emails, avoid clicking unfamiliar links, and use spam filters or message blockers to reduce unwanted messages.

Following Hurricane Helene's September 2026 landfall, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison issued a public safety alert warning against disaster relief fraud schemes targeting hurricane victims and charitable donors through fraudulent emails, social media, websites, phone calls, texts, and door-to-door solicitations. The Justice Department's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) advises the public to exercise caution before donating and offers a hotline (866-720-5721) and online complaint form for reporting suspected fraudulent activity related to hurricane relief.

Three federal agencies (Justice Department, FTC, and CFPB) warned consumers about potential fraud and price gouging schemes that exploit natural disasters and hurricanes. Common scams include fraudulent charities imitating legitimate relief organizations, scammers impersonating government officials demanding personal information or payment, fake disaster recovery businesses, and price gouging on essential goods and services. Consumers are advised to avoid wire transfers, gift cards, payment apps, and cash payments for disaster services, never pay fees to obtain relief, and research contractors thoroughly before hiring.

As elections approach, Secretaries of State nationwide are warning voters about election-related scams including political donation fraud, fake surveys and polls, and fraudulent voter registration schemes. Experts advise voters to verify campaigns by contacting local election officials or the Secretary of State's office before donating, and to contact their bank immediately if they believe they've been scammed or their financial information was compromised.

As election day approaches, Secretaries of State are warning of increased voter scams targeting the public, including political donation fraud, fake surveys and polls, and fake voter registration schemes. Scammers falsely claim voters must pay to register or receive registration certificates, when these services are available free online. Experts recommend verifying campaign legitimacy by contacting local election officials or the Secretary of State's office, and advise victims to contact their bank immediately if they've shared financial information or made fraudulent donations.

**Disaster Relief Donation Fraud Prevention** Following natural disasters like Hurricane Helene, scammers exploit donor generosity by creating fraudulent charities and fake donation campaigns. To donate safely, use official websites of established organizations (American Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse, The Salvation Army), verify charity legitimacy through Give.org or Charity Navigator, avoid debit cards and unsolicited solicitations, and use credit cards or checks for better fraud protection. When using crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe, verify campaigns are reviewed by the platform and conduct reverse image searches to confirm legitimacy.

Federal agencies (FTC, DOJ, and CFPB) warned consumers about hurricane-related scams and price gouging, including fraudulent charities, fake government officials offering relief for fees, fake disaster recovery businesses, and inflated prices for essentials. The agencies cautioned against wire transfers, gift cards, and cryptocurrency payments, emphasized that FEMA never charges fees for disaster relief, and advised consumers to research contractors, obtain multiple estimates, and get written contracts before signing.

In 2023, Iowa residents lost $42.6 million to various scams, with romance scams alone accounting for over $4 million in losses and representing nearly 30% of senior financial exploitation reports filed with the Iowa Insurance Division. Common scams affecting Iowans include identity theft, investment fraud, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and compromised business email schemes. The FBI's "Take A Beat" initiative recommends protecting against scams by being cautious of unsolicited contact, verifying senders, enabling two-factor authentication, avoiding sharing personal information, being wary of cryptocurrency or gift card payment requests, and reporting suspected fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center

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.

During the 2024 election cycle, scammers are exploiting the popularity of political fundraising text messages to defraud donors, with fraudulent messages appearing for both major parties. Red flags for scam texts include pushy tones, missing "Paid for By" disclaimers, unregistered committees (verifiable at fec.gov), and unsecured URLs (http instead of https). Donors should verify legitimacy through official campaign committee names and registration before responding to or donating through political text messages.

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.

In 2023, Florida residents reported 151,152 fraud cases resulting in $654.5 million in losses, with imposter scams, online shopping fraud, and prize/sweepstakes scams ranking as the top three most common schemes. Common examples include IRS and grandparent imposter scams, fake retail websites, and false Publishers Clearing House notifications, with the first half of 2024 already showing 71,351 reports and $388.6 million in losses. Multiple state and federal resources are available to help victims and prevent fraud, including the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) and the National Elder Frau

Over 100,000 elderly Americans fell victim to fraud last year, losing more than $3.4 billion, with Rhode Island seniors alone losing approximately $7.4 million. U.S. Senator Jack Reed and partners hosted an awareness event highlighting common elder scams—including tech support, grandparent, government impersonation, sweepstakes, home repair, romance, and family scams—and recommended strategies to avoid them: never volunteer personal information, be skeptical of urgent claims, avoid payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and don't hesitate to hang up on suspicious callers. Victims should report scams to local police or the FTC, and seniors can access

Following Hurricane Milton, the Better Business Bureau warns that charity scams are increasingly prevalent, with fraudsters operating fake charities or impersonating legitimate organizations through slightly altered websites and contacting victims via phone, email, text, and social media. Red flags include pressure to donate immediately, requests for untraceable payment methods like wire transfers or Cash App, and unverified crowdfunding campaigns. Donors should verify charities through the BBB's Wise Giving Alliance, use credit cards for donations, and report suspected fraud to the IRS and Federal Trade Commission.

In 2023, Florida experienced 151,152 fraud reports resulting in $654.5 million in losses, with imposter scams, online shopping fraud, and prize/sweepstakes scams being the most prevalent. Common examples include IRS and grandparent imposter schemes, fake retail websites, and fraudulent lottery notifications, with victims encouraged to report incidents to local law enforcement, the Florida Attorney General, or national resources like the FBI and FTC.

This educational piece warns seniors and voters about election-themed scams targeting people during the 2024 election cycle, including fake candidate merchandise requiring upfront shipping fees, fraudulent political surveys designed to harvest personal information for future exploitation, and bogus donation websites impersonating legitimate political action committees. The article advises protecting oneself by verifying websites through the Federal Election Commission, using credit cards for donations, avoiding unsolicited communications, and remembering that legitimate pollsters never request sensitive information like Social Security numbers or birth dates.

During the 2024 election cycle, scammers are impersonating political campaigns through fraudulent fundraising text messages, exploiting voters' desire to support candidates. Red flags for donation scams include pushy language, missing "Paid for By" disclaimers, unregistered committees, and unsecured website URLs (http instead of https). Voters can verify legitimacy by checking committee registration with the Federal Election Commission and ensuring donation pages display proper disclosures and security features.

Following Hurricane Milton's devastation across Florida, scammers are targeting vulnerable survivors through multiple fraud schemes including fake FEMA officials requesting personal information, unlicensed contractors demanding upfront payment, and fraudulent charities and crowdfunding campaigns. Authorities warn victims to verify legitimacy directly with agencies like FEMA (1-800-621-3362), research charities before donating, and avoid contractors who pressure immediate payment or provide evasive answers. The Better Business Bureau and FEMA emphasize that official disaster assistance contacts victims proactively, never solicits sensitive financial data unsolicited, and offers multiple forms of aid beyond the initial $750 emergency assistance.

**Disaster Relief Fraud Alert:** As Hurricanes Milton and Helene impacted the Southeast, the National Center for Disaster Fraud warned of scammers impersonating legitimate charities through fraudulent emails, social media, texts, websites, and door-to-door solicitations targeting both disaster victims and well-intentioned donors. This pattern repeats after major hurricanes, exploiting public generosity and lack of source verification to steal money and personal information.

Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in September-October 2024, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado issued a public alert warning of charity scams targeting disaster relief donations. Fraudsters exploit disasters by creating fake charities and deceptive websites through email, social media, and unsolicited communications to steal money and personal information from well-intentioned donors. The alert advises the public to donate directly to verified established charities, avoid clicking unsolicited links, use credit cards or checks instead of cash, and report suspected fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at (866) 720-5721.

**Summary:** Following Hurricanes Milton and Helene, the IRS warned taxpayers about scammers operating fake charities to steal money and personal information from donors seeking to help disaster survivors. The agency advises donors to verify charities using the Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) tool before giving, and to avoid payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers, never share sensitive personal information, and resist pressure to donate immediately. Only donations to IRS-qualified tax-exempt organizations are tax-deductible.

Scammers are using AI deepfakes, fraudulent websites, and fake donation links to target voters ahead of Election Day, with schemes ranging from charging fees to register to vote (which is always free) to installing malware through phishing emails and texts. Voters should verify voter registration deadlines and polling locations through official Illinois election boards, cross-reference suspicious images and videos with trusted news sources, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited political fundraising messages, as AI-generated content and emails now closely mimic legitimate communications.

On September 30, Taeli Kim, owner of Sonbul Café in Brooklyn, lost over $5,000 to utility impostor scammers who claimed to represent his electric company, threatened service disconnection, and used personal information to appear legitimate. The scammers used a guest payment system to intercept funds before they reached his account, jeopardizing his ability to make payroll for his newly opened restaurant. Kim launched a GoFundMe that raised nearly the full amount within three days, supported by over 100 local donors.

Elderly women in Chinese communities across the UK, US, Australia, and Canada have been targeted by "blessing scam" gangs who use elaborate street theater to trick victims into surrendering cash and valuables. The scammers, typically working in groups of three, convince victims that their relatives are in mortal danger and require a spiritual blessing, persuading them to hand over jewelry and savings (one victim lost £4,000 plus family heirlooms) before swapping the valuables for worthless items like bricks and water bottles. Police in multiple countries are investigating these cases, which exploit victims' spiritual beliefs and cultural trust in traditional healers.

This article explains Zelle, a peer-to-peer payment service vulnerable to fraud because transfers are often irreversible. According to a congressional investigation, customers at Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo disputed $166 million in Zelle fraud in 2023, but only 38% was reimbursed; from 2021-2023, the three banks rejected approximately $560 million in scam disputes. The article outlines seven common Zelle scams including account takeover, employment schemes, charity fraud, marketplace and rental scams, and impersonation scams, providing awareness and protective guidance for users.

A widow in Scotland discovered that scammers created a fake Facebook page called "David Rodger Funeral Service Live Stream" the day after her husband's funeral in October, attempting to trick mourners into paying to watch a livestream of the service; over 100 people had joined the page before it was discovered and removed by Meta. Although no one fell victim to this particular scam, the funeral director confirmed multiple clients had experienced the same issue, indicating this is a widespread fraud targeting grieving families during vulnerable moments.

November and December's charitable giving season attracts scammers who impersonate legitimate charities through fake websites and social media accounts, use high-pressure sales tactics with payment deadlines, send fake donation thank-yous to encourage repeat giving, and exploit cryptocurrency donations to redirect funds to private wallets. Donors can protect themselves by verifying charity contact information through trusted resources like Charity Navigator, avoiding urgent payment demands or cash-only requests, maintaining donation records, and conducting online searches to confirm cryptocurrency wallet addresses before giving.

**Summary:** A Los Angeles man was defrauded of $25,000 by scammers who used artificial intelligence to replicate his son's voice, then posed as attorneys claiming his son needed bail money for a hit-and-accident case. The victim made two separate wire transfers via Uber drivers before realizing the scam, after which police confirmed that AI voice cloning technology is becoming an increasingly sophisticated tool in fraud schemes. Law enforcement notes that scammers need only brief audio samples from social media or voicemails to clone someone's voice convincingly.

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.

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.

Kirat Assi, a 44-year-old London woman, was victimized by a nine-year catfishing scam perpetrated by her cousin Simran Bhogal, who created a fake online romance using the false identity of "Bobby Jandu," a cardiologist, and fabricated elaborate excuses to prevent in-person meetings. While Assi's case was unusual in involving no financial loss, charities report a 189-200 percent increase in catfishing cases overall, where perpetrators typically use emotional manipulation to extort money from victims, with some engaging in "sextortion" targeting teenagers. Assi won a civil settlement in 2

An Australian couple lost $1,000 from their Centrelink payments after scammers impersonating a charity deceived them into providing sensitive information including their driver's license and myGov details. The National Anti-Scam Centre warns that criminals are increasingly targeting financially vulnerable Australians by posing as legitimate charities and government assistance programs to steal personal information and divert payments. People should independently verify organizations offering financial assistance and never share personal identifying information through social media or unsolicited contacts.

Extortion, particularly sextortion scams, ranked among the top five internet crimes in the FBI's 2023 report with over 48,000 cases, according to a Better Business Bureau warning. Sextortion scams operate through two primary methods: phishing (claiming to have hacked victims' devices and recorded compromising material) and romance schemes (building trust through fake relationships before blackmailing victims for money). Victims have reported losses ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, with the scams exploiting fear of public embarrassment and loneliness to pressure victims into paying via bitcoin, gift cards, or wire transfers.

Over half of Americans have been targeted by election-related scams, with younger voters particularly vulnerable to fake polls, political donation scams, and disinformation. Common tactics include fraudulent donation schemes where money doesn't reach intended campaigns or involves unauthorized recurring charges, survey scams that harvest personal information for phishing attacks, impersonation scams, and robocalls spreading misinformation. Voters should verify sources before donating, research organizations thoroughly, avoid clicking suspicious links, and report suspected scams to authorities.

Hundreds of pensioners lost their life savings to pension scammers in recent years, with 559 reported cases in the last year resulting in £17.75 million in losses and an average loss of £46,959 per victim. Pension scams take various forms—including fake pension reviews, unauthorized early withdrawals, and fraudulent transfer schemes—and have proliferated through social media and online advertising, exacerbated by economic uncertainty and the cost-of-living crisis. Experts argue the UK's pension fraud reporting system is inadequate and call for greater preventative measures and bank protections for vulnerable older customers.

During election season, scammers are exploiting heightened emotions to target donors through unsolicited political donation emails, calls, and social media pop-ups that request money and personal information. Local residents have reported receiving 10-20 fraudulent political emails daily from impostors posing as campaigns, with the Better Business Bureau identifying pushy donation requests, unsolicited links, and reward offers as common red flags. Experts advise researching campaigns before donating, avoiding clicking unsolicited links, and verifying requests directly with official campaign channels rather than responding to incoming communications.

Citizens Advice research found that approximately 9 million people in the UK (18% of the population) fell victim to financial scams in the past year, with over three-quarters of victims exposed through social media. The most common scams included fake debt advice (3 million affected), friend-in-need scams (2.5 million), pension scams (2.5 million), investment scams (2.5 million), and parking QR code fraud (2.5 million), with one cryptocurrency trading scam victim losing his savings, home, and health after being pressured into a fake trading platform.

Hundreds of elderly Americans, including those with dementia, have been victimized by deceptive political fundraising tactics from both Republican and Democratic campaigns, with vulnerable donors unknowingly giving away millions of dollars through relentless text messages and emails that automatically enrolled them in recurring donations. A CNN investigation identified over 1,000 government complaints and found that elderly donors lost more than $6 million in a small sample alone, with some individuals giving away six-figure sums from their life savings, predominantly to Republican candidates and former President Donald Trump. The predatory practices exploit cognitive decline by making false urgent pleas for money appear to come directly from major candidates, draining bank accounts without donors' knowledge or consent

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

The IRS announced tax relief for Florida residents affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, extending filing deadlines to May 1, 2025, for most individual and business returns, with automatic penalty relief for those with addresses in disaster areas. The IRS also warned taxpayers to be vigilant against charity scams that often follow disasters, recommending they verify charities through the Tax Exempt Organization Search tool and avoid donating via gift cards, wire transfers, or to solicitors requesting personal financial information.

Elder fraud complaints rose 14 percent nationally in 2023, resulting in $3.4 billion in losses, with Rhode Islanders over 60 losing $7.4 million to scams. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, AARP Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island State Police held an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit to educate older adults on detecting and reporting fraud, emphasizing that tech support, romance, and investment scams are among the most common schemes targeting seniors. Experts stressed that victims should report incidents immediately and stay informed about evolving scams, noting that sophisticated criminals use artificial intelligence and psychological manipulation rather than targeting inherent vulnerabilities in older adults.

Credit card fraud affects approximately 60% of US credit card holders, with 52 million Americans experiencing fraudulent charges totaling over $5 billion last year, particularly during high-spending periods like Black Friday. Common scams include gift card fraud (where criminals pose as officials demanding payment via gift cards), fake charity websites, cloned shopping sites with nearly identical URLs, phone scams requesting card information, and credit card skimmers on unattended payment terminals. To protect themselves, consumers should monitor credit reports weekly through annualcreditreport.com, only shop on secure encrypted sites (https://), verify charity legitimacy through the IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Search tool, and be suspicious of unsolic

India's CERT-In cyber-security agency issued a public advisory detailing over a dozen online scams targeting citizens, with particular focus on the "digital arrest" scam where fraudsters impersonate government officials via WhatsApp or Skype, threatening victims with arrest to coerce them into transferring money under false pretenses of investigations or security deposits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi simultaneously warned the public about these scams in his radio address, recommending citizens verify agency identity directly, avoid panic-driven money transfers, and report incidents to the national cyber-security helpline (1930) or www.cybercrime.gov.in. The advisory also highlighted other prevalent scams including phishing,

As the 2024 presidential election approached, scammers targeted voters through three main schemes: fake voter registration, fraudulent surveys and polls, and fake political donation requests, typically contacting victims by phone or email while impersonating legitimate political or government entities. Red flags include requests for personal financial information, pressure to act quickly, lack of official contact information, and unsolicited demands for Social Security numbers. Voters should verify registration through official state sources and report suspicious communications to the FTC.

During election season, scammers exploit heightened political emotions through donation fraud via emails, phone calls, and social media. A west Kentucky resident reported receiving 10-20 fraudulent political donation emails daily from imposters posing as campaigns, though she avoided falling victim. The Better Business Bureau warns voters to avoid unsolicited links, pushy requests for personal information, phony donation calls offering rewards, and pop-up donations on social media—and advises researching campaigns, avoiding rushing donations, and never sharing sensitive data like Social Security numbers or birth dates with survey takers.

**Election-Related Scams Targeting Elderly Donors:** Elderly Americans are being targeted in political donation scams using payment apps like Zelle, with one survey finding 50 elderly donors scammed out of $6 million during the 2024 election cycle. The AARP reports that retirees who are victims of scams lose an average of $120,000, and payment processors including Zelle, PayPal, and Cash App are implementing additional safeguards and education campaigns to alert users—particularly those over 50—about fraudulent solicitations from fake political action committees.

As the 2024 election approaches, the CEO of Zelle warned elderly Americans to remain on "heightened alert" against scams, noting that older political donors are being targeted with fraudulent solicitations and fake political action committee donations. According to recent reports, approximately 50 elderly political donors were scammed out of $6 million, and AARP data shows retirees lose an average of $120,000 per scam victim, costing financial institutions $1 billion annually. Payment processors like Zelle, PayPal, and Cash App have implemented friction-adding features to prompt users to verify unusual transactions, though experts recommend using these apps only for known contacts.

Cybercriminals increasingly use phishing emails, text messages, and spoofed delivery notifications to steal personal and financial information from victims of all ages during the holiday season and year-round. The Federal Trade Commission advises avoiding urgency-driven scams by verifying sender identities, researching suspicious messages, not clicking unexpected links, never paying for prizes, and hanging up on callers requesting sensitive information like Social Security numbers or banking details. Taking time to verify legitimacy rather than acting on panic is the most effective protection against financial fraud.

The United States observes National Slam the Scam Day on March 7th annually, an awareness campaign established by the Federal Trade Commission in 2020 to educate the public about fraud prevention. Common scams include phishing emails, fake charities, tech support schemes, romance scams, and grandparent scams targeting the elderly—such as the case of 78-year-old Martha, who lost $5,000 after receiving a fraudulent call claiming to be from her grandson. The FTC recommends protecting oneself by verifying information, never sharing personal details unsolicited, monitoring credit reports, and reporting suspicious activity to authorities.