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in Government Impersonation
staysafeonline.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common election-related scams and fraud tactics targeting voters, including phishing emails impersonating campaigns or election authorities, spoofed government websites designed to steal data or collect fraudulent donations, voter suppression schemes spreading misinformation about polling locations and voting dates, fake voter registration drives collecting personal information, and robocalls spreading false election information or soliciting unauthorized donations. The article provides protective measures such as verifying sender legitimacy, using only official government websites with secure connections, consulting federal resources for voter registration and election information, and reporting suspicious activities to election authorities.
statescoop.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule prohibiting the use of artificial intelligence to impersonate governments and businesses, giving the agency stronger enforcement tools including the ability to directly file federal court cases and force scammers to return fraudulently obtained money. The FTC simultaneously proposed extending this rule to cover AI impersonation of individuals, citing the rising threat of voice cloning and deepfake scams being deployed at scale to defraud consumers. The new government and business impersonation rule takes effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
ncdoj.gov
· 2025-12-08
Imposter scams, where criminals pose as government agencies, law enforcement, or companies to threaten victims with arrest or legal consequences, cost Americans $2.7 billion last year. The article provides protective measures against these scams, emphasizing that legitimate government officials never contact people via phone or text demanding money or personal information, and warns that requests for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency are clear red flags indicating fraud.
kens5.com
· 2025-12-08
Business impersonation scams have surged since the pandemic, with scammers creating fake customer service numbers that appear at the top of Google search results, costing consumers $670 million in reported losses between 2022-2023 (a 48% increase). The author's 90-year-old mother nearly became a victim when the author called what they thought was her cable provider's legitimate customer service number found through Google and provided a credit card number to a scammer posing as a representative. To protect yourself, go directly to a company's official website to find verified contact information rather than relying on internet search results, and report any fraud to your bank, the FTC, the BBB
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A British widow named Lyn lost $63,000 to a romance scammer who contacted her through a Facebook grief support group in 2020, posing as a widower named "Derek" who claimed to own a mineral company in Dubai. Over four months, the fraudster manipulated her into sending money for fabricated emergencies (employee injuries, hospital bills, hotel costs) and cryptocurrency transfers, using edited photos to create a false sense of intimacy despite never meeting in person. Police intervened in January 2021, and Lyn ultimately recovered her money; she now warns others about romance scammers who exploit vulnerable people through social media by building trust over time before requesting financial assistance
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
A Troy grocery store manager was charged with embezzling at least $750,000 from Fresh Thyme Market between July 2022 and November 2023 by manipulating newly installed self-checkout kiosks to which he had access. Trevor Beaver, 31, of Roseville, admitted to the theft after an audit system implemented in October 2023 revealed significant discrepancies in cash deposits, with Beaver having strategically scheduled himself as the sole manager responsible for daily cash handling. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years to life imprisonment.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A New York Magazine financial advice columnist lost $50,000 to a vishing scam in which a fraudster impersonated an FTC investigator, falsely claiming she was wanted for arrest and needed to pay cash to restore her identity. Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan used the incident to warn the public that Americans lost $2.7 billion last year to voice phishing scams, emphasizing that legitimate government officials never request personal information, badge numbers, or cash transfers via phone.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
A freelance finance writer fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam in which scammers posing as an Amazon employee, FTC official, and CIA agent convinced her to withdraw and hand over $50,000 in cash to a stranger, using threats of arrest warrants and asset freezes to manipulate her into isolation and compliance. Security experts note that professional scammers use sophisticated social engineering tactics—including fear for family safety, appeals to emotion, and knowledge of personal details like Social Security numbers—to override victims' skepticism, and that anyone, regardless of sophistication, can be targeted by such schemes.
gulfcoastmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
The North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau are hosting a free "Protect Yourself Against Scammers Summit" on March 7 for senior citizens in Bay Minette, Alabama. The educational event will cover major fraud schemes including government impostor scams, romance scams, identity theft, investment fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and Medicare fraud to help seniors recognize and avoid becoming victims.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
Imposter scams are rising sharply, with people losing $2.7 billion to this fraud type in 2022 (up 14% overall from the previous year), as exemplified by financial columnist Charlotte Cowles who was scammed out of $50,000 by imposters posing as Amazon and CIA officials. The FTC has proposed new protections against impersonation fraud and warned that AI-generated deepfakes are making these scams increasingly sophisticated and convincing. Consumers are advised to monitor accounts regularly, never confirm personal information over unsolicited calls, and report suspected scams to the FTC.
dailydot.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman fell victim to a jury duty scam in which a caller impersonating a sheriff's deputy claimed she had missed jury duty and owed $750 in fines ($375 per misdemeanor), threatening arrest if she didn't pay immediately by phone. The victim stayed on the line for three hours while the scammer answered all her verification questions using information about a real local police station, ultimately pressuring her into nearly paying before she recognized the fraud. Court officials warn that legitimate jury summonses are sent only by U.S. Mail and courts never demand payment by phone, credit card, or wire transfer.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-08
Online dating platforms are increasingly vulnerable to AI-driven romance scams, with cybercriminals using generative AI to create ultra-realistic fake personas with convincing messages, images, and audio to deceive users and steal money and personal information. Research from Darktrace shows a 135% increase in novel social engineering attacks, particularly around Valentine's Day when online dating activity peaks. Both individual users and dating platforms should implement protective measures, including limiting personal information sharing, recognizing signs of AI-generated content, refusing money requests from online contacts, and utilizing identity verification and fraud detection tools.
seattletimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Charlotte Cowles, a finance advice columnist at New York Magazine, fell victim to a $50,000 scam involving fraudsters impersonating Amazon, the Federal Trade Commission, and the CIA who convinced her to withdraw money for "safekeeping" due to alleged identity theft and fraudulent accounts. The article debunks the scammers' tactics by confirming that Amazon never transfers customers to the FTC, the FTC never provides badge numbers or asks for financial information, and the CIA does not conduct domestic fraud investigations. The piece serves as an educational guide highlighting red flags and advising consumers to hang up on suspicious calls and contact companies directly through official channels.
ago.mo.gov
· 2025-12-08
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a tax season fraud warning, advising residents to protect their personal information from scammers posing as the IRS through unsolicited calls, emails, and phishing schemes. The advisory emphasizes that the IRS never initiates contact via phone or email requesting personal data, and recommends filing taxes early, using credentialed preparers, and securely handling sensitive information to prevent identity theft. Consumers who believe they are victims of scams can contact the Missouri Attorney General's consumer hotline at 800-392-8222 or ago.mo.gov.
ottawa.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
The Bar of Montreal warned of a dramatic surge in fake immigration lawyers targeting vulnerable newcomers, with complaints about fraudulent practitioners tripling from 13% to 39% of all complaints between 2018 and 2022. Victims—ranging from wealthy investors to asylum seekers—reported being charged exorbitant fees for poor-quality assistance or abandonment by fraudsters, many of whom are disbarred lawyers or individuals not certified to practice in Quebec. The Bar launched a public awareness campaign encouraging immigrants to verify lawyer credentials through Quebec's official registry and to watch for red flags such as informal meeting locations, promises of fast results, and lack of formal contracts.
yaledailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Yale Law School's Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy hosted a panel discussion on February 16 addressing elder fraud and abuse in America, where one in ten Americans over 60 have experienced some form of exploitation. The event featured lawyers, medical experts, and Senator Richard Blumenthal discussing innovative prevention mechanisms, including screening tools, domestic violence initiatives, and financial monitoring apps, while emphasizing the need for bipartisan federal action, stronger nursing home oversight, and AI regulation to protect seniors from online exploitation.
kttn.com
· 2025-12-08
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a warning to residents about tax season scams, advising vigilance against fraudsters attempting to steal personal information, particularly Social Security numbers. The advisory highlights that scammers impersonate the IRS through fake phone calls and phishing emails, and recommends consumers file taxes early, use reputable preparers, protect sensitive documents, and verify credentials to prevent identity theft. Those who suspect fraud can contact the Missouri Attorney General's consumer hotline at 800-392-8222 or visit the office's website for assistance.
krcgtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a warning to residents about tax season scams, where fraudsters impersonate the IRS via phone calls, emails, and phishing schemes to steal personal information and social security numbers. The advisory provides protective measures including filing taxes early, using reputable preparers, being suspicious of unsolicited IRS contact, and securing personal documents. Consumers who suspect they are victims of scams are encouraged to contact the Missouri Attorney General's consumer hotline at 800-392-8222 or ago.mo.gov.
vice.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a general awareness piece about the prevalence of scams in modern life, featuring personal anecdotes and statistics illustrating how fraud affects people across different contexts. The piece highlights that scams range from small-scale schemes (like a fake job application requiring a £20 fee) to investment fraud on social media (where victims are promised returns and pressured to send additional money to "unlock" winnings), and notes that fraud in the UK more than doubled to £2.3 billion in 2023. The key takeaway is that scams are common and can target anyone, regardless of sophistication or privilege.
wtop.com
· 2025-12-08
A financial planner in Prince George's County, Maryland, warned about tax season fraud scams, noting that scammers impersonate the IRS by phone to steal money, and that the IRS flagged over one million tax returns for identity fraud last year with 12,617 confirmed identity theft cases. Key advice includes protecting Social Security numbers and sensitive information, filing taxes early to prevent identity theft, organizing tax forms in advance, and verifying dependent eligibility before filing to avoid losing credits.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, consumers reported losing a record $10 billion to fraud and scams—a 14% increase from 2022—according to FTC data, with 2.6 million fraud reports filed nationwide and approximately 700,000 people reporting financial losses. Common scams included romance fraud, fake bank and tech support calls, and impersonation schemes, with criminals exploiting digital payment methods including bank transfers ($1.86 billion) and cryptocurrency ($1.41 billion). Michigan consumers alone lost $151.7 million to fraud in 2023, with a median loss of $410 per victim.
wftv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A central Florida woman's elderly mother lost approximately $600,000 in a romance scam that began on social media, where a scammer impersonated Elon Musk and convinced her she was engaged and investing money with him. The victim made large wire transfers exceeding $100,000 and daily $3,000 ATM withdrawals for gift cards before her daughter discovered the fraud in early 2023. The FTC reported $1.3 billion in romance scam losses nationally in 2022, with experts noting such scams disproportionately target older, divorced women seeking companionship.
mynews13.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Florida ranked fifth nationally for fraud losses, with residents losing $451.8 million across 288,263 fraud reports—an average of $1,567 per report and representing a 5.2% increase from 2022. Nationwide, consumers filed 1.8 million fraud reports in the first nine months of 2023, totaling $7 billion in losses, with investment-related fraud and imposter scams being among the most reported fraud types, and social media scams causing $1 billion in losses.
abc7chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
A Joliet family lost access to a $10,000 federal tax refund after scammers gained access to their H&R Block online account and filed a fraudulent tax return in their names, using the family's personal information and their children's Social Security numbers. The scammers filed early online after obtaining credentials from a previous year's tax filing, and despite the family reporting suspicious access attempts to H&R Block, the company failed to prevent the fraudulent filing. The IRS instructed the family to file a paper return to resolve the issue, but the process is lengthy, forcing the family to take out personal loans to cover expenses they expected the refund to cover.
6abc.com
· 2025-12-08
A Brooklyn-based financial advice columnist for New York Magazine lost $50,000 to an elaborate phone scam in October in which fraudsters impersonated Amazon, the FTC, and a CIA agent over a five-hour call, ultimately convincing her to withdraw cash and hand it to a stranger. The scammers used personal details about her and her family to build credibility and pressure her into believing she faced arrest and identity fraud. According to the FTC, such government impersonation scams are widespread, with Americans losing $2.7 billion annually to these schemes.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Charlotte Cowles, a financial columnist for New York Magazine's The Cut, lost $50,000 in a sophisticated phone scam that began with a fraudulent Amazon customer service call on October 31, 2023. The scammers used personal details about her family and threats of surveillance to manipulate her over five hours, employing the tactic of "blocking the exits" to prevent her from reaching out to trusted contacts. Cowles publicly defended her story by emphasizing that scam victims come from all walks of life—including financial professionals, doctors, and lawyers—and advised others to identify trusted people to contact and create exit strategies when feeling pressured.
wesh.com
· 2025-12-08
Katie Little of Orlando received a call from someone impersonating an Orange County Sheriff's deputy threatening arrest, but she refused to comply with demands for a money order. However, approximately one hour later, $900 disappeared from her bank account, which Little believes the scammer obtained through voice verification used for fraudulent transfers. The Orange County Sheriff's Office warns that law enforcement and courts never demand money over the phone and advise residents to protect their personal information.
news.caloes.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
California emergency officials warn that disaster survivors should remain vigilant against common post-disaster fraud schemes, including fake repair contractors, fraudulent aid offers, and price gouging on essential goods. Key protective measures include using only licensed contractors with written guarantees, never paying money to anyone claiming to offer federal or state disaster aid, and verifying charities before donating. Residents should report suspected fraud to local law enforcement, FEMA's fraud division, or the Department of Justice hotline.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers successfully defraud victims despite widespread awareness and resources because they employ sophisticated psychological manipulation tactics that bypass rational thinking and exploit human vulnerabilities. Key techniques include establishing commitment through small initial requests, creating artificial urgency to prevent logical assessment, building rapport through extended conversation to create cognitive fatigue and isolation, creating "social debt" by appearing to solve problems they caused, and impersonating authority figures to exploit obedience instincts. Understanding these psychological manipulation strategies can help people defend themselves against fraud.
skepchick.org
· 2025-12-08
Charlotte Cowles, a financial advice columnist for The Cut, lost $50,000 to a government impersonation scam in which she received a phone call spoofed to appear from Amazon, was transferred through fake FTC and CIA contacts, and was instructed to withdraw cash, place it in a shoebox, and hand it to an "undercover agent." The scam succeeded despite being transparently fraudulent—involving obvious red flags like being told not to inform her husband and to conduct the handoff immediately—partly due to Cowles' lack of financial literacy despite her advice columnist role and her apparent overconfidence that she was not a typical scam victim.
tryondailybulletin.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old woman named Donna lost $34,000 in a romance scam after seven months of communication with someone she met on a dating site who promised to buy a house with her but disappeared after receiving her money. The article highlights that the FTC reported over $10 billion in losses from scams last year, with elderly individuals particularly vulnerable to sweetheart scams, fake prize winnings, grandparent scams, contractor fraud, and phishing emails. The article recommends protective measures including frequent password changes, two-factor authentication, monthly credit monitoring, antivirus software, limiting personal information on social media, and recognizing red flags like pressure to send money immediately.
observernews.net
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, Americans lost nearly $9 billion to scams and fraud, with seniors being particularly vulnerable targets, according to FTC reports. The Community Foundation Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Men's Club of Sun City Center partnered to present a free educational seminar on March 5 featuring speakers who covered common scams including charity fraud, lottery schemes, romance scams, and grandparent scams, while providing prevention strategies and resources to protect older adults from financial exploitation.
okcfox.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Piedmont, Oklahoma woman lost approximately $52,000 in a phone scam where callers impersonated Social Security Administration officials and a local police officer, claiming her accounts were compromised and convincing her to withdraw cash for a man who collected it in person. The victim is now facing financial hardship including potential inability to pay rent and nursing home expenses for her husband, and authorities are investigating the case while she seeks public assistance through a GoFundMe page.
cavazossentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Military personnel, veterans, and their families can protect themselves from scams by using strong passwords, password managers, two-factor authentication, and separating work and personal accounts. The most rapidly growing scams targeting this population are confidence and romance scams, along with online impersonation accounts (often impersonating high-ranking officials), credit repair schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, social media account takeovers, and extortion attempts involving compromised photos. Awareness of common tactics—such as requests for gift cards or money from supposed military officials via text, fake investment opportunities posted from hacked accounts, and suspicious website URLs—can help individuals avoid becoming victims.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A major telemarketing scam targeting American timeshare owners, operated by Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has defrauded thousands of victims—many elderly—of hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade. The scheme, which began in Puerto Vallarta and expanded to Cancún and other resort areas, uses fake offers to buy timeshares at inflated prices, then extracts fees for taxes and other costs that are never refunded; one victim lost nearly $1.8 million across multiple transactions. U.S. government officials believe the cartel now profits more from timeshare fraud than drug trafficking, though the operation remains difficult to prosecut
coshoctontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, consumers lost a record $10 billion to scams—$1 billion more than the previous year—with approximately 2.6 million reports filed to the FTC, including one in four people experiencing losses with a median of $500 each. The top three scam types were imposter scams ($2.7 billion in losses), investment scams (with median losses rising from $5,000 to $7,700), and social media scams ($1.4 billion total losses). Consumer protection agencies like the FTC and Ohio Attorney General's Office educate the public on recognizing scams targeting specific groups—such as older adults, college students, an
inews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Chris Pitt, head of First Direct bank, fell victim to fraud five years ago when £250 in unauthorized betting transactions appeared on his account, illustrating how fraud affects people across all backgrounds despite awareness. UK Finance data shows fraud remains prevalent with £580m stolen in the first half of 2023, while average losses per case have increased to £3,589 at HSBC, with romance scams averaging £69,164 and investment scams averaging £27,680. The article emphasizes common scam types (phone, online, mobile, APP fraud, and romance scams) and advises consumers to question uninvited contact, never share personal information or passwords, an
acamstoday.org
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN issued an advisory in June 2022 highlighting the rising trend of elder financial exploitation (EFE), noting that at least 10% of older adults in the U.S. are affected annually, with losses exceeding $3 billion as of 2019. Common EFE schemes include government imposter scams, romance scams, emergency scams, lottery scams, and tech support scams, though most cases go unreported due to fear, embarrassment, and lack of resources. Financial institutions and analysts are encouraged to identify red flag indicators of suspicious activity and report potential cases of elder financial exploitation.
valdostatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Georgia residents lost $234.3 million to fraud in 2023 across 65,825 reported incidents to the FTC, ranking the state 15th most defrauded nationally. The three most common scam types were Credit Bureaus/Information Furnishers (25% of reports), Identity Theft (23%), and Imposter Scams (9%), with victims advised to monitor credit reports, avoid sharing personal information unsolicited, and never send money to unknown parties.
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Connecticut is launching a new educational series to address the growing complexity of scams targeting older adults, with 400 different scam types reported in 2022. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to have more financial resources, and losses can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with emotional and psychological impacts extending beyond financial harm. The free online series will cover topics including artificial intelligence and voice cloning scams, with a Connecticut man recently indicted for defrauding Wisconsin seniors of $200,000 through grandparent impersonation scams.
midmichigannow.com
· 2025-12-08
State Representative Jasper R. Martus and Attorney General Dana Nessel will present "Senior Scams Awareness" at the Krapohl Senior Center in Mt. Morris Township to educate seniors about common scams targeting older adults, including grandparent scams, IRS scams, and sweepstakes scams, as well as prevention strategies. The presentation aims to teach seniors how to recognize these frauds and what steps to take if they encounter a scam.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office partnered with Winchester and Waltham Police Departments to host financial fraud awareness seminars for older adults, featuring presentations from federal prosecutors, the IRS, and U.S. Postal Service on common scams and protective measures. According to FBI data, victims over 60 experienced an 84% increase in losses from 2021 to 2022, totaling over $3 billion, with nearly 5,500 victims losing more than $100,000 each to schemes including tech support, romance, and sweepstakes scams.
marketplace.org
· 2025-12-08
Financial advice columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to an elaborate scam in which fraudsters impersonated Federal Trade Commission and CIA officials; she withdrew the cash from her Bank of America account before realizing the scheme later that day. Banks have limited tools to prevent such scams, with policies varying by institution—some tellers may offer alternatives like cashier's checks or wire transfers, while others simply warn customers—and the FTC reported consumers lost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022, a 30% increase from the previous year.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reissued a tax identity theft alert in February 2024, urging residents to file taxes early to prevent criminals from using stolen personal information to claim fraudulent refunds. The alert provides guidance on protecting Social Security numbers, using secure filing methods, and recognizing IRS scams, while advising victims of tax-related identity theft to contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit and file an FTC complaint.
citizensadvice.org.uk
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide describes common scams affecting people in Scotland, including phishing emails and texts impersonating TV Licensing, HMRC, PayPal, banks, and Ofcom, as well as dating and romance scams. The advice emphasizes verifying sender information, avoiding clicking suspicious links, never providing personal or financial details to unsolicited contacts, and immediately contacting your bank and police (101) if details have been compromised. Key prevention strategies include checking official websites for legitimate communication, using trusted contact methods, and consulting trusted friends or relatives when suspicious of a scam.
fijitimes.com.fj
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022, with scammers creating fake online identities through social media to exploit victims emotionally and financially. Perpetrators gradually build trust with targets before requesting money under various pretexts (medical emergencies, travel costs, promised packages), and they commonly avoid video calls or in-person meetings. The scam affects people of all ages and backgrounds globally, with women reported as particularly vulnerable, though many cases remain underreported.
www3.erie.gov
· 2025-12-08
National "Slam the Scam" Day on March 7, 2024, is a Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General awareness campaign designed to combat government imposter scams that are spreading across the United States. The event is part of National Consumer Protection Week (March 3-9, 2024) and directs the public to the SSA website for resources and information on protecting themselves from Social Security-related fraud.
wesh.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are exploiting the confusion surrounding multiple medical bills from different providers following hospital visits, using counterfeit letterheads and logos to target victims with fraudulent invoices. Experts recommend verifying bills match insurance claims and explanation of benefits, obtaining prior authorizations and cost estimates upfront, and never paying bills without verification, as scammers often target small amounts to avoid detection and frequently operate offshore where prosecution is costly.
muskogeephoenix.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing is a phishing scam conducted through text messages, where scammers impersonate government agencies or companies to trick recipients into providing personal or financial information. The United States Postal Inspection Service advises that if you receive an unsolicited text about a package, do not click any links; instead, report it to USPS.com and note that USPS will not send text messages or emails without a customer's prior tracking request and will never include links in such messages.
donegaldaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Gardáí in Donegal warned the public about a postal delivery scam in which fraudsters send text messages claiming a package cannot be delivered and requesting address information via a malicious link designed to steal personal data. The scam exploits increased online shopping and package deliveries, with authorities urging recipients to delete such messages, avoid clicking links, and report incidents to police.