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This article is an educational Q&A on tax deductions, not an elder fraud case. The relevant content addresses whether victims of internet fraud can claim tax deductions: depending on circumstances, victims of certain scams (investment and account-compromise scams) may deduct theft losses on Schedule A if they itemize, while victims of romance and kidnapping scams cannot deduct personal losses. The IRS provides guidance through Publication 547 and a legal memorandum analyzing common internet scam scenarios.

Two Ghanaian women, Evelyn Serwaa Konadu (39) and Anastasia Baidoo, were kidnapped in Nigeria after being lured through a romance scam orchestrated by Nigerian suspects who posed as White men seeking marriage on Facebook and convinced them to travel to Port Harcourt. The suspects demanded GH¢500,000 in ransom per victim, with families paying GH¢18,000 total after the kidnappers sent videos of violence inflicted on the victims, including physical assault and death threats. Both victims were rescued through joint operations by Ghanaian and Nigerian police, with eight suspects arrested and the victims awaiting return to Ghana to assist

A sextortion scam is circulating via email where cybercriminals claim to have recorded victims viewing adult content using Pegasus spyware and demand payment of around $1,450 in cryptocurrency within 48 hours, threatening to share the videos with contacts. The scam exploits emotional manipulation and may include previously compromised passwords to appear credible, though scammers are actually guessing and have no actual footage. Victims should not respond or pay, instead reporting the email to [email protected], updating passwords, enabling two-step verification, and contacting local police or support services if money was lost.

A North Carolina resident received a terrifying scam call spoofing her mother's phone number in which a man claimed to be holding her mother hostage and demanded immediate payment via PayPal. The victim became suspicious when the scammer demanded she not call police and couldn't provide proof of her mother's location, ultimately refusing to send money and calling 911 to confirm her mother's safety. The incident highlights how scammers exploit emotional connections and personal data to manipulate victims, and authorities recommend hanging up immediately, verifying the person's safety through direct contact, and reporting such calls to police.

SuperCard X is an Android malware distributed via fake bank text messages that uses NFC relay technology to remotely copy card data and conduct unauthorized contactless payments or ATM withdrawals without requiring the physical card or PIN. Victims are tricked into installing a fraudulent security app through social engineering, where attackers impersonate bank representatives and instruct them to tap their card against the infected phone. The malware operates as a Malware-as-a-Service model, targets any cardholder regardless of bank, and remains difficult to detect due to minimal permissions and stealthy design.

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

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.

A 34-year-old woman and her 60-year-old boyfriend were arrested in Limpopo, South Africa for orchestrating a fake kidnapping and extortion scheme against her husband in May. The couple staged the woman's disappearance and made ransom calls demanding R5,000 while playing recordings of crying in the background, but police investigation revealed no actual kidnapping had occurred. The case highlighted the emotional trauma and wasted police resources caused by such criminal deception.

Online scammers use fake login alert emails impersonating legitimate companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook to create urgency and fear, tricking victims into clicking malicious links that lead to fake login pages where attackers steal credentials and personal information. The scam is effective because it mimics genuine security notifications that these companies actually send, though scammers increasingly use AI to write professional-sounding phishing emails that lack the grammar errors once considered a red flag. To protect yourself, verify alerts come from official company addresses, avoid clicking suspicious links, and check your account directly through the company's official website rather than through email links.

Nearly half of mobile users encounter scams daily, with younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials) disproportionately targeted across calls, texts, emails, and apps. Social engineering scams are prevalent, affecting one in three users, while 74% have encountered phishing, smishing, or vishing attempts, with extortion scams rising due to AI sophistication. Despite these risks, fewer than one in five users employ protective measures like antivirus software or VPNs, and 75% of victims report serious emotional consequences including anxiety, depression, and lost trust.

Investment scams cost Americans over $6.5 billion in 2024, with phishing emails and tech support scams adding another $4.1 billion in losses, according to FBI data. This article provides ten expert strategies for protecting investments, including verifying platform legitimacy, recognizing phishing and impersonation tactics, avoiding Ponzi schemes, being cautious of social media/romance scams, conducting thorough research, and identifying fake tech support and recovery scams. The advice emphasizes that as digital fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated, investors must stay vigilant by checking security certifications, verifying credentials directly, and remaining skeptical of unsolicited investment offers promising guaranteed high returns.

Pamela nearly fell victim to a tech support scam after receiving a pop-up warning claiming her computer was locked and her IP was being used on pornographic sites. The scammer impersonated both a Microsoft employee and an FTC official, using fake credentials and pressure tactics to try to extract her full credit card numbers, but Pamela avoided the fraud by verifying the FTC official's identity and refusing to share sensitive information. The article warns against pop-up scams impersonating legitimate companies or government agencies and recommends contacting organizations directly through official channels, using strong unique passwords, and enabling two-factor authentication to protect against such schemes.

Malwarebytes research surveying 1,300 people across the US and Europe found that 78% encounter scams on their smartphones at least weekly, with 44% encountering them daily, primarily through email (65%), phone calls/voicemails (53%), text messages (50%), malicious websites (49%), and social media (47%). Despite the high frequency of scam encounters, only 15% of respondents strongly agreed they could confidently identify a scam, highlighting the need for caution when receiving messages from unknown senders or urgent requests for money or personal information.

Scammers are increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes to create fake romantic identities on dating apps, establishing emotional connections with victims before requesting money for emergencies or investments. Incidents have risen from dozens to hundreds per month globally in 2024, with reported losses ranging from ₹3.6 lakh to over ₹20 lakhs in India and £93 million in the UK in 2023, including a notable case where a French woman lost €830,000 to someone posing as Brad Pitt. Detection relies on identifying technical inconsistencies (fuzzy edges, unnatural eye movements, poor lip-syncing) and behavioral red flags (pressure to move

In 2025, scammers are expected to leverage AI-driven tactics to conduct increasingly sophisticated fraud, building on the $1.03 trillion stolen in 2024. The article identifies five emerging scams including AI-powered robocalls with cloned voices, SIM swap attacks targeting two-factor authentication weaknesses, and OTP bot attacks, while noting common warning signs such as unsolicited urgent communications, requests for money transfers or app downloads, and suspicious video or audio inconsistencies. Consumers are advised to recognize these red flags and use enhanced security tools to protect themselves against evolving fraud schemes.

This educational resource presents a chart detailing common scams targeting consumers, including AI scams (deepfake impersonations), bank text scams (phishing for account information), billing/invoice scams (fake invoices demanding payment), brushing scams (unsolicited items to boost reviews), and charity scams. The guide identifies shared scammer tactics such as impersonation, creating urgency, and pressuring victims to share personal information, while offering specific identification and prevention strategies for each scam type. The material encourages sharing this information with friends and family as a primary defense against fraud.

This article is a product description and educational piece about Trend Micro ScamCheck, an AI-powered anti-scam tool designed to protect users from modern identity theft and fraud. The tool offers features including scam call/text blocking, deepfake detection, suspicious content analysis, and real-time alerts to help users identify and avoid scams across multiple platforms (SMS, email, social media, video calls, and websites). The piece emphasizes that scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics and that anyone can be targeted, making dedicated anti-scam protection necessary alongside traditional antivirus software.

A woman in Jensen Beach, Florida, lost $800 to a Facebook scam in which a fraudster impersonating Elon Musk promised her a Tesla and $250,000 in cash, then repeatedly requested Apple Gift Card payments for supposed delivery fees. The scammer used a fake profile with copied images and AI-generated content, moved the conversation to WhatsApp, and exploited urgency and flattery to manipulate the victim into sending multiple payments before she recognized the pattern. Gift cards are favored by scammers because they are untraceable, fast, and nearly impossible to recover once redeemed.

Scammers posing as Chinese police targeted young adults in Bellevue through phone calls, messages, and social media, claiming victims were involved in crimes like fraud or identity theft and demanding money under threat of arrest or asset freezing. Four victims in late 2024 and early 2025 wired a combined total of approximately $2.57 million after being coerced to provide sensitive personal information including Social Security numbers, passports, and fingerprint scans. Bellevue Police emphasize that legitimate law enforcement never demands payment to avoid arrest and urge victims to contact the FBI or local police.

A sophisticated PayPal phishing scam is exploiting PayPal's own email system to send fraudulent alerts that appear completely legitimate, bypassing security filters by originating from PayPal's official servers. The scam uses urgency tactics (claiming unauthorized address changes or payments) and may include phone numbers directing victims to fake PayPal representatives who trick them into downloading remote access malware that compromises their devices. This attack is particularly dangerous because it weaponizes PayPal's legitimate infrastructure to establish trust, making it difficult for even security-conscious users to detect, and reportedly affects numerous users across Reddit and cybersecurity forums.

Scammers impersonating Chinese authorities have defrauded international students in Australia of over $5.1 million in the first five months of 2025, with nearly 680 reported cases targeting predominantly 18-24 year-old victims through threats of arrest, deportation, criminal accusations, and "24-hour surveillance." The scams employ increasingly aggressive intimidation tactics, including fake "virtual kidnapping" scenarios, with an average loss per victim of $138,018. Australian authorities advise victims to hang up, not engage with callers, contact local police or university support services, and never provide money or personal information when credentials are in doubt.

A woman from Hampton, Virginia fell victim to a sophisticated Facebook account takeover scam in which a scammer impersonated her friend, used fake video calls and personal details to gain her trust, and tricked her into sending a recovery code that gave them access to her account. The scammer changed her email and password, locked her out, compromised three Facebook groups she administered, and attempted to purchase $17,000 in bitcoins on her account before she recognized a follow-up scam demanding money. The article provides recovery steps for compromised Facebook accounts and advises victims to report incidents to IC3.gov and Facebook's official support channels rather than third-party support numbers.

Cybercriminals have created over 120,000 fake Amazon websites ahead of Amazon Prime Day (July 8-11) designed to steal shoppers' information through phishing traps, malware, and fraudulent listings. While Amazon removed 55,000 phishing sites and 12,000 fraudulent phone numbers in 2024 and partners with law enforcement, consumers should protect themselves by shopping only through official Amazon channels, verifying URLs, avoiding gift card payment requests, and enabling two-factor authentication.

The U.S. Secret Service's Global Investigative Operations Center (GIOC) has seized nearly $400 million in digital assets over the past decade by investigating cryptocurrency investment scams and related digital crimes. The team uses open-source tools and blockchain analysis to trace fraudulent activities across borders, such as fake investment platforms that lure victims with small initial profits before disappearing with their money, as well as extortion schemes involving cryptocurrency payments. The Secret Service has expanded its efforts globally, conducting training workshops in over 60 countries to help local law enforcement and prosecutors identify and combat digital financial crimes.

Fake agent phone scams are sweeping across the United States, with scammers impersonating federal agencies like the FBI and US Marshals using caller ID spoofing to demand immediate payment via untraceable methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency, claiming victims have frozen Social Security numbers, jailed relatives, or missed jury duty summons. Victims across numerous states have lost thousands of dollars, with some scammers even appearing in person, and the threat is escalating as text-based "smishing" attacks surge and experts warn of potential AI voice cloning tactics. To protect yourself, hang up immediately on such calls, never pay via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and remember that legitimate government agencies never demand payment

Microsoft 365 and Outlook users are being targeted by a phishing scam that injects fake billing alerts directly into calendars via meeting invites, bypassing traditional email filters. The scam uses official-looking payment failure or account suspension notices, sometimes with malicious attachments, and exploits default calendar settings to appear without user interaction, creating urgency and panic. Users should avoid interacting with suspicious calendar events and verify their subscription status independently rather than responding to or deleting invites, as these actions may confirm their email is active to scammers.

Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, a 41-year-old illegal immigrant, was arrested for staging a fake ICE "kidnapping" at a Los Angeles fast-food restaurant and creating a fraudulent GoFundMe campaign claiming her family needed $4,500 to help her. Surveillance footage and phone records exposed the hoax, revealing that Calderon voluntarily left the restaurant and that fabricated photos of her alleged "rescue" were created to support the false narrative. She faces up to five years in federal prison on charges of conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers, while the fundraiser collected only $80 before being shut down.

At a July 2 Retired Men's Association meeting, computer expert Aaron Woodin presented "Don't Fall for It! Recognizing and Avoiding Scams," detailing how scammers exploit trust through tactics like false urgency, emotional manipulation, and enforced isolation. He identified common digital threats including fake event invitations and invoices, scam pop-ups, social media impersonations, phone-based impersonations of tech companies and government agencies, grandparent/romance scams, and SIM Swap attacks. Woodin advised victims to verify contact information independently, shut down suspicious screens, avoid calling numbers on suspicious invoices, add cyber fraud insurance riders, and contact mobile

A scammer hijacked a woman's Facebook account and impersonated her to target her friends with a fake $150,000 government grant scheme, nearly deceiving a retired tech worker into sending $2,500 in upfront fees. The scam involved the imposter posing as a "Global Empowerment" agent who requested personal information and payment for "approval and shipping," even fabricating photos of cash-filled FedEx boxes. The potential victim avoided financial loss by recognizing inconsistencies in the pitch and continuing the conversation to expose the scam tactics.

Amazon sent warning emails to hundreds of millions of customers alerting them to phishing scams that use fake renewal notices and fake login pages to steal account credentials and personal information. Scammers use scare tactics and real personal details from previous data breaches to make the emails appear legitimate, then harvest login credentials, credit card information, and other data that can be used for unauthorized purchases or sold to other criminals. Amazon has shut down tens of thousands of phishing websites and phone numbers, and recommends customers verify account status directly through Amazon's website or app, enable two-factor authentication, use unique passwords, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails.

A phishing scam impersonates Microsoft security alerts by sending emails with links that appear to point to legitimate platforms like Google Docs or SharePoint but actually redirect users to fake Microsoft login pages designed to steal credentials. The scam uses urgent language, vague threats about account compromise, and sometimes modifies support contact information to deceive victims into providing sensitive information. Users can protect themselves by verifying sender addresses, hovering over links before clicking, only approving two-factor authentication requests they initiated, and reporting suspicious emails to Microsoft.

Scammers are impersonating artists and messaging people on social media asking to use their photos for "art projects," then requesting personal information like full names and email addresses under the pretense of sending e-checks for commissions. The scheme is a variant of the common fake check scam, where fraudsters send counterfeit checks that appear legitimate, ask victims to wire back excess funds, and use the collected personal information for future fraud. The Federal Trade Commission warns this tactic is widespread and advises victims to report incidents to the FTC or Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker.

A TikTok user warned of a scam in which fraudsters pose as artists requesting permission to use people's photos for art projects, only to later request personal information (full name and email) under the pretense of sending an e-check commission. The scheme is a variant of the common fake check scam, where fraudsters send fraudulent checks that include excess funds and instruct victims to wire the overage back, allowing scammers to access victims' personal information for future fraud while the victim ultimately loses money.

Rosemary Grogan, an 82-year-old Pennsylvania resident, discovered $50,000 missing from her bank account due to fraud in 2024, a experience shared by growing numbers of elderly victims targeted by sophisticated scammers. U.S. cybercrime losses have surged from $4.2 billion in 2020 to $16.6 billion in 2024, yet small police departments lack resources to pursue international criminal networks, leaving most victims unable to recover stolen funds. Community leaders are calling for a coordinated federal response, including better data sharing and a national cybercrime task force, as current state-level and FBI resources address only large-scale patterns

PayPal and Venmo have launched AI-powered scam alerts for Friends and Family payments that use machine learning to detect fraud risks in real time and escalate warnings based on transaction likelihood of fraud, with the system now live globally on PayPal and across the United States on Venmo. The dynamic alerts adapt to current scam patterns and recipient behavior rather than using generic warnings, and may automatically block high-risk payments. Beyond these new protections, users should strengthen security by using unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, monitoring accounts regularly, keeping devices updated, avoiding public Wi-Fi for financial transactions, and staying vigilant against phishing attempts.

Ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals face increasingly sophisticated scams that exploit publicly available data, AI technology, and deep social engineering to target them with highly personalized fraud schemes. The article identifies seven major scam types affecting wealthy Americans: whaling (executive phishing), deepfake-driven impersonation and family emergency scams, synthetic identity fraud, tax and authority impersonation scams, and romance scams—each using tailored personal details and urgent requests to extract sensitive information, authorize fraudulent transfers, or manipulate victims into fake investments. Wealth managers and advisors are advised to educate clients on red flags including unusual communication changes, urgent financial requests from trusted sources, and demands

An 82-year-old Ocala woman lost $7,300 in cryptocurrency and nearly lost $160,000 in cash converted to gold in a multi-stage scam involving a fake computer hack, fraudulent bank officer call, and an accomplice attempting to pick up the gold at her home—the plot was foiled by law enforcement and a gold exchange company alert, resulting in the arrest of Jiann Cao. Local agencies report approximately $1 million stolen monthly from elder fraud victims in Marion County, with common scams including tech support fraud, romance scams, and investment schemes; officials recommend verifying the authenticity of unsolicited communications and emphasize education and reporting as key prevention strategies.

Online scams and internet crimes reached a record $16.6 billion in losses reported to the FBI in 2024, with 73% of U.S. adults reporting they have experienced at least one type of online scam or attack. The most common scams involve fraudulent credit card charges (48%), counterfeit or undelivered online purchases (36%), and hacked personal accounts (29%), with a majority of Americans receiving scam communications via phone calls, emails, and text messages at least weekly. While older adults are perceived as more vulnerable, significant portions of both younger and older adults have been victimized, with Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults reporting higher rates of experiencing multiple types of frau

A sophisticated malvertising campaign on Facebook has been deceiving users with fake ads impersonating popular cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance and MetaMask, using celebrity faces such as Elon Musk to appear legitimate. When users click these ads, they are directed to counterfeit websites that trick them into downloading malware disguised as desktop applications, which then installs a silent server capable of receiving malicious instructions while evading detection. The campaign, which has been running for several months and involves hundreds of fake Facebook accounts posting thousands of ads daily, primarily targets men interested in technology and finance, particularly in Bulgaria and Slovakia.

This is an educational podcast episode featuring cybersecurity expert Steve Weisman discussing scam prevention and identification strategies. The episode covers various scam types (including VA imposter and "free piano" scams), the role of AI in modern fraud schemes, and protective measures such as a "zero trust" verification approach where all transactions—particularly checks—must be independently confirmed before trusting them.

This article discusses various scams and questionable spending habits that millennials fall victim to, including multilevel marketing schemes, online sports betting, rage bait engagement, fake detox products, and premium food delivery services. The piece compiles Reddit comments from millennials admitting to these scams, though commenters debate whether some items (like detox products and food delivery) are actual scams or simply poor financial decisions and that similar issues affected previous generations.

Vietnamese authorities are warning of a surge in "virtual kidnapping" scams targeting students and young people living away from home, where criminals impersonate police or prosecutors, isolate victims, and extort money from families. Between late July and early August, police in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other provinces rescued at least five victims who had been coerced into fake kidnapping scenarios, with scammers demanding ransoms ranging from 250 million to 600 million dong (approximately $12,200-$29,200 USD). Experts attribute the scams' success to gaps in family relationships and lack of digital literacy education, recommending schools integrate cybersecurity awareness into

American seniors lose over $28 billion annually to fraud, with only a fraction reported, according to AARP. Scammers target older adults with convincing "pre-qualified" retirement and annuity offers using personal data purchased from brokers, then request sensitive financial information or direct fund transfers; the FBI reported seniors lost a record $4.8 billion to scams in 2024, with losses often unrecoverable even when fraud is proven. Key protection strategies include verifying credentials through state regulators, being skeptical of unsolicited offers with pressure tactics or guaranteed returns, and never sharing sensitive information via unsolicited communications.

In the first half of 2025, WhatsApp removed 6.8 million accounts linked to global scam networks, including operations run by criminal groups and forced labor camps in Southeast Asia. Scammers increasingly use multiple platforms (text, dating apps, WhatsApp, Telegram, crypto exchanges) to execute schemes, with a recent operation using ChatGPT to generate fake job offers that ultimately solicited cryptocurrency deposits. WhatsApp is countering these threats with new safety features including group safety overviews for unknown contacts and alerts for messages from non-contacts, while experts recommend a three-step prevention approach: pause before responding to unknown contacts, question suspicious requests for money or personal

This article describes a sophisticated phishing scam impersonating banks like Chase, where deceptive emails warning of unauthorized login attempts trick users into clicking malicious links that install malware (HTA and DLL files) capable of keystroke monitoring, credential theft, and system backdoor access. The article provides guidance on identifying phishing emails by checking sender addresses, spotting grammar errors, recognizing generic greetings, and avoiding suspicious links, while recommending protective measures including antivirus software, two-factor authentication, and manually navigating to official websites rather than clicking email links.

A sophisticated "online kidnapping" scam has targeted young people across Vietnam, particularly university students, where scammers impersonating police officers threaten victims with false money laundering accusations and instruct them to obtain money from family members under pretexts like study abroad applications, isolate themselves in hotels, and cut off contact with loved ones. Since March, approximately five such scams occur monthly in Ho Chi Minh City alone involving billions of Vietnamese đồng, with victims falling prey due to lack of awareness about current scam trends and the scammers' use of authentic personal information to create credibility. The scam exploits young people's limited life experience combined with their cyber-savviness,

AI voice cloning scams involve criminals using short audio clips to replicate voices and make fake emergency calls to family members, with elderly individuals frequently targeted into transferring large sums of money before discovering the deception. Warning signs include robotic-sounding voices, long pauses, avoided personal details, and pressure for quick payments; protective measures include using family code words, avoiding posting voice messages online, verifying calls through alternate contact methods, and staying calm to resist manipulation. Cybersecurity experts recommend families discuss these risks in advance, as all age groups—including students, professionals, and seniors—face targeting from scammers exploiting increasingly convincing AI technology.

The Government of Pará launched the "Protect+ the Elderly and Disabled Person in the Virtual Environment" project to educate seniors and disabled individuals about cyber scams and digital safety through discussion circles, lectures, and informational materials. The initiative addresses increasingly common scams on WhatsApp, social media, email, and phone calls—including extortion schemes and financial fraud—while providing information about reporting channels and victims' rights. Participants shared experiences including a successful scam avoidance and cases where prior education could have prevented financial losses, highlighting the project's focus on digital empowerment and harm prevention.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and the Better Business Bureau issued a public awareness campaign alerting residents to cryptocurrency scams, where criminals use Bitcoin and other digital currencies to defraud victims through investment schemes, romance scams, impersonation fraud, and ransomware demands because crypto lacks protections and is difficult to trace. The campaign recommends verifying caller information independently, being skeptical of unsolicited financial requests, recognizing that legitimate businesses never demand cryptocurrency payment upfront, and consulting trusted individuals before making digital currency transactions.

Task scams are fraudulent employment schemes advertised through social media and text messages that promise easy remote work (like liking videos or writing reviews) with attractive compensation and benefits. Scammers use social engineering and psychological manipulation—including fake professional websites and initial small payouts—to build trust before escalating financial demands, ultimately trapping victims in a cycle of deposits to access their claimed earnings. The Federal Trade Commission reported increased task and employment scam complaints in 2024, with victims targeting a range of demographics but most commonly those seeking easy online income from home.