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today.com
· 2026-01-29
# Romance Scams: What You Need to Know
In 2024, Americans lost over $642 million to romance scams—schemes where fraudsters build fake online relationships to steal money—with victims primarily over age 40, though younger people are increasingly targeted through dating sites, social media, and text messages. Beyond financial loss, victims can face devastating consequences including lost life savings, debt, and serious mental health impacts like depression and PTSD-like symptoms. To protect yourself, verify the identities of people you meet online, watch for red flags in early requests for money, and report any suspicious activity to authorities rather than feeling ashamed, as many victims don't come forward.
attorneygeneral.gov
· 2026-01-29
Pennsylvania residents lost over $76 million to scammers in 2025, with older residents particularly vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes enhanced by artificial intelligence. The most common scams were phishing and government imposter schemes, with victims typically losing money through wire transfers and cryptocurrency payments. Attorney General Dave Sunday advises people to report scams immediately, as quick reporting increases the chances of fund recovery, and recommends staying educated about current scam tactics as the best defense.
abc7news.com
· 2026-01-29
A Santa Cruz mother fell victim to a tech support scam where criminals convinced her that her identity had been stolen and used for illegal activities, pressuring her to buy gift cards to "resolve" the situation. Her partner interrupted the scam and helped her take quick action, allowing her to recover most of her money with assistance from local authorities and media intervention. The incident highlights how scammers use fake computer warnings and threats of legal trouble to manipulate victims, but acting quickly and getting help from authorities or trusted contacts can increase chances of recovering stolen funds.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-01-29
# Romance Scams Cost Americans Millions
A Michigan woman lost over $20,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a French man named Richard on Tinder, quickly building trust through daily communication and promises of engagement before claiming he needed money while traveling for work. According to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report, romance scams cost Americans $672 million in reported losses, with seniors aged 60 and over losing the most at $389 million. To protect yourself, be cautious of people who move relationships very quickly, avoid sending money to anyone you haven't met in person, and verify the identity of new contacts through video calls or meeting face-to-face before developing emotional or financial connections.
yahoo.com
· 2026-01-28
Pennsylvania's Attorney General Dave Sunday highlighted the growing threat of senior scams during identity theft awareness week, noting that the state received over 4,000 fraud complaints last year totaling $76 million, with phishing, government impersonation, and loan modification being the most common schemes. Sunday advised residents to be extremely cautious of unexpected contacts and to hang up or close the door if someone pressures them to act immediately. Anyone who falls victim to a scam should report it to authorities rather than staying silent.
abcnews.go.com
· 2026-01-28
Scammers are using stolen identities to create fake "ghost student" accounts at colleges nationwide, enrolling in online classes and fraudulently obtaining federal student loans and Pell grants before disappearing with the money. The scheme has affected thousands of victims like Murat Mayor, whose identity was stolen along with his high school senior son's, and has cost the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars while leaving innocent people saddled with debt they never incurred. To protect yourself, regularly monitor your credit reports and FAFSA accounts, use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and immediately report any suspicious financial aid activity to the Federal Student Aid office and your state's attorney general.
wgal.com
· 2026-01-28
Pennsylvania's Attorney General Dave Sunday met with older residents to address the growing problem of scams in the state, highlighting that thousands of fraud complaints are reported annually. The meeting focused on educating vulnerable populations about the most common scam tactics and warning signs they should watch for. To protect yourself, stay skeptical of unsolicited job offers and financial requests, verify caller identities before sharing personal information, and report suspicious activity to local authorities or the Attorney General's office.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-01-28
Romance scams cost Americans $672 million in 2024, with seniors aged 60+ losing the most money, and scammers are increasingly using dating apps like Tinder to target vulnerable people. A Michigan woman named Beth Hyland lost over $20,000 to a scammer posing as "Richard" who quickly built an emotional connection, professed love, and then asked for money under the pretense of needing help while traveling for work. To protect yourself, be wary of dating app matches who move very quickly into declarations of love, ask for money, claim to be unable to access their bank accounts, or avoid meeting in person with excuses about travel or emergencies.
bitdefender.com
· 2026-01-28
Instagram scammers use social engineering tactics like fake urgency messages, impersonation, and phishing links to trick users into revealing login credentials or personal information, with victims often being redirected to fraudulent sites before realizing the deception. Common scams range from quick phishing schemes to long-running romance and financial fraud, exploiting Instagram's informal messaging style and the platform's scale to create a sense of trust and plausible deniability. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected urgent messages requesting account verification or personal favors, verify requests through official channels before responding, and never click links or enter credentials on unfamiliar pages.
abc7chicago.com
· 2026-01-28
Scammers known as "ghost students" are stealing identities to enroll in community colleges, take out federal student loans, and disappear with the money, leaving victims unknowingly burdened with debt they never incurred. Community colleges with open enrollment policies are particularly vulnerable, with some reporting over a third of recent applicants being fraudulent, and scammers sometimes enrolling the same stolen identity in multiple schools simultaneously. To protect yourself, monitor your credit report for unrecognized accounts at annualcreditreport.com and consider freezing your credit online for free to prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name.
townofpittsford.org
· 2026-01-28
During Identity Theft Awareness Week (Jan. 26-30), the Town of Pittsford reminded residents that scams and identity theft can happen to anyone, with criminals increasingly targeting personal, financial, and property records through tactics like fraudulent property transfers, impersonating government officials, phishing messages, and unauthorized credit accounts. To protect yourself, stay alert to suspicious communications claiming you owe money or need to verify information, be cautious of messages that seem legitimate, and monitor your financial accounts and credit for unauthorized activity. Residents should verify requests directly with official sources and consider freezing their credit to prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened in their name.
dailynorthwestern.com
· 2026-01-28
# Tap-to-Pay Scams Target Evanston Residents
Since early November, scammers in Evanston have conducted at least 14 tap-to-pay fraud schemes, costing individual residents thousands of dollars by posing as charity workers and requesting contactless card payments to access victims' financial information. Four suspects were arrested in December after police identified them engaging with victims on Chicago Avenue, though another incident occurred in January. To protect themselves, residents should avoid handing payment devices to strangers, verify charities before donating, monitor bank statements closely, and enable fraud alerts on their accounts.
whiznews.com
· 2026-01-27
Romance scammers pose as potential love interests on dating apps and social media, quickly building trust before asking victims for money through fake investment opportunities or hardship stories. These scams particularly surge around Valentine's Day, targeting people seeking romantic connections. To protect yourself, the Better Business Bureau advises never sending money or personal information to someone you haven't met in person, refusing requests for credit card or banking details, and immediately cutting off contact if someone pressures you for financial help or won't meet you in person after repeated promises.
pcmag.com
· 2026-01-26
Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread in 2026, with scammers targeting vulnerable populations including laid-off workers, lonely people on dating apps, immigrants seeking legal help, and taxpayers through impersonation schemes. New threats include AI-generated deepfake videos and audio clips designed to trick people into sending money to criminals who pose as loved ones, immigration officers, or government agents. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact requests money transfers, verify identities through official channels before sharing personal information or funds, and remember that anyone—regardless of financial status—can become a victim of these evolving scams.
cnn.com
· 2026-01-26
# Article Summary
A South Korean man named Dex was tricked into working for a Chinese-run scam operation in Cambodia, where he and hundreds of other Korean speakers were forced to conduct romance and investment fraud against victims in their home country, stealing tens of millions of dollars and devastating families' finances. After escaping, Dex has partnered with victims of the same scam network to help prosecutors build cases against the ringleaders, two of whom were recently extradited to South Korea. For people targeted by such scams, authorities recommend verifying job offers through official channels, being skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities, and reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement and financial institutions immediately.
fox23.com
· 2026-01-26
# Brushing Scam Alert
The Better Business Bureau is warning about an updated version of the "brushing scam," where scammers send unsolicited packages to people's homes containing QR codes that link to fake retailer return portals designed to steal credit card information. If you receive an unexpected package, the BBB advises you not to scan any QR codes, as scammers use these to trick victims into entering their payment details under the guise of processing a refund. If you've already entered your credit card information on a suspicious site, immediately cancel your card and contact your credit card company to prevent fraudulent charges.
mychesco.com
· 2026-01-25
AARP Pennsylvania is warning older residents about five major scams expected to surge in 2026—including employment fraud, recovery scams, digital arrests, blackmail schemes, and romance scams—as criminals use advancing technology and AI to make deceptive tactics more convincing. Losses from impostor scams targeting seniors aged 60+ have skyrocketed from $55 million in 2020 to $445 million in 2024, with individual cases now reaching $100,000 or more. To protect yourself, pause before responding to urgent demands or suspicious offers, verify claims independently, and report any scams to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360.
au.pcmag.com
· 2026-01-25
Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread, with scammers targeting vulnerable populations including laid-off workers, lonely people on dating apps, immigrants seeking legal help, and anyone receiving unsolicited calls or texts. A major emerging threat is the use of generative AI to create deepfake videos and audio to impersonate loved ones and trick people into sending money. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact, verify requests through independent means (calling organizations directly), never send money via untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards, and remember that scammers cast a wide net—anyone can be a victim regardless of income or credit score.
mexicoledger.com
· 2026-01-25
# Fraud-Free Summary
The Better Business Bureau's 2025 report reveals that investment, cryptocurrency, employment, and romance scams were the costliest fraud schemes, with online scams accounting for over 61% of all reports and 78% of financial losses. Social media has become a primary hunting ground for scammers, with over 36% of BBB reports involving social media platforms, often starting when users respond to ads or posts from unknown contacts. To stay safe in 2026, consumers should be cautious about investment opportunities and job offers from online strangers, avoid clicking suspicious links on social media, and verify the legitimacy of contacts before sharing personal or financial information.
losalamosreporter.com
· 2026-01-25
A former New Mexico State Police officer, Morgan Ortiz, was sentenced to the maximum three years in prison for his role in a fraudulent substance abuse recovery program scheme that defrauded Medicaid of hundreds of thousands of dollars through identity theft, document falsification, and unlicensed medical practice. The defendants were ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution to compensate taxpayers and patients who were harmed by the scheme. This case serves as a reminder that healthcare fraud targeting public programs carries serious criminal penalties, and patients should verify that recovery program providers are legitimate and properly licensed.
nypost.com
· 2026-01-24
A new survey ranks Nevada as America's most deceitful state, with nearly one in five residents admitting to frequent lying and the second-highest rate of romance scams, while Florida leads in overall fraud and identity theft, and Arizona suffered the largest losses to romance scams at $53.7 million in 2024. The study highlights serious threats including a notorious "romance scam on steroids" in Nevada where a woman targeted elderly men through dating apps, as well as increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled voice cloning scams in Florida. Experts advise residents to be cautious with online dating profiles, protect personal information carefully, verify urgent requests from loved ones through direct contact, and report suspicious activity to authorities.
the-sun.com
· 2026-01-24
Patients of Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates can claim up to $1,000 from a data breach settlement that occurred in September 2024, but they have until February 2, 2026 to submit their claim forms. To receive compensation, claimants must provide documented proof of losses such as receipts, bank statements, or credit card statements showing identity theft or fraud costs resulting from the breach. All eligible class members also receive two years of free credit and medical identity monitoring services, regardless of whether they claim the monetary settlement.
theijf.org
· 2026-01-23
I appreciate you sharing this, but I notice there's a mismatch between the title (about romance scammers in Quebec) and the article text (about a gun licensing data breach). Based on the headline you provided, the article appears to discuss how romance scammers established operations in Quebec, though the actual content shown focuses on a separate 2021 federal data breach affecting over 2.2 million people through a gun licensing program hack—making it the largest federal breach in five years. To give you an accurate summary with actionable advice, I'd need the complete article text that matches the romance scammer title, or clarification on which story you'd like summarized.
wcax.com
· 2026-01-23
A Charlotte man lost over $1 million in cryptocurrency after scammers impersonating a Ledger company representative convinced him to enter his seed phrase (secret recovery code) on a fake website, using a multi-step trust-building approach with security codes and multiple callers. This incident is part of a larger trend—the FBI received nearly 150,000 cryptocurrency fraud complaints in 2024 totaling $9.3 billion in losses. To protect yourself, never share your seed phrase with anyone, verify company contact information independently before responding to unsolicited calls, and be wary of urgency tactics claiming your funds are "in danger."
1440wrok.com
· 2026-01-23
# Tax Scam Summary
As tax season opens in January, the Rockford Better Business Bureau warns that scammers impersonating IRS agents are expected to be especially aggressive this year, using fear-based tactics via phone, email, and text to trick people into providing sensitive information or money. Taxpayers lost $5.5 billion to tax scams in 2023 alone, with identity theft being a growing concern—scammers can file fraudulent returns using stolen Social Security numbers obtained through phishing or data breaches. To protect yourself, verify your tax preparer's credentials on BBB.org, avoid anyone promising unusually large refunds, and file your return early to reduce the window for identity theft.
oconnellfuneralhomes.com
· 2026-01-22
Scammers are increasingly targeting seniors through schemes like grandparent scams, fake tech support calls, government impersonation, and gift card fraud, exploiting their kindness, trust, and fear. In this podcast episode, St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knutson discusses why these crimes are difficult to track and why victims often don't report them, emphasizing that awareness and family communication are key to protection. To help protect elderly loved ones, families should stay informed about common scam tactics, maintain open conversations about suspicious contacts, and encourage reporting of fraud attempts to authorities.
valleybreeze.com
· 2026-01-22
# Elder Fraud Presentation Summary
Hope Library in Scituate is hosting a free presentation on Tuesday, January 27th at 2 p.m. led by the Office of the Attorney General's Elder Abuse Unit, aimed at educating older adults about fraud schemes, scams, identity theft, and abuse they commonly face. The event will cover current scam trends and provide information about resources to help protect seniors from becoming victims. Interested attendees can visit hopelibraryri.org or call 401-821-7910 for more details.
fox35orlando.com
· 2026-01-21
# Tax Scam Warning
The Better Business Bureau is warning Americans that tax scammers will be especially active during the upcoming 2024 tax season, with fraudsters expected to exploit confusion around new tax deductions and take advantage of stressed taxpayers. Common scams include identity theft through phishing emails and fake tax preparers, IRS impersonation calls demanding immediate payment, and fraudulent websites mimicking official IRS portals—with taxpayers losing $5.5 billion to tax fraud in 2023 alone. To protect yourself, verify any tax preparation services before hiring them, never click links or call numbers in unsolicited emails claiming to be from the IRS, and remember that the real IRS will never demand immediate payment via wire transfer or prepaid debit cards.
fox5atlanta.com
· 2026-01-21
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that tax scammers are expected to be especially active this year, with taxpayers losing $5.5 billion to tax fraud in 2023 alone. Common scams include identity theft through phishing emails, fake IRS calls demanding immediate payment, impersonation of tax officials, and fraudulent tax preparation services that promise unusually large refunds. To protect yourself, verify that emails actually come from the IRS (never click suspicious links), remember that the real IRS won't demand immediate wire transfer payments, and research any tax preparation company before hiring them.
kaspersky.com
· 2026-01-21
Artificial intelligence has made phishing scams significantly more dangerous by enabling scammers to create personalized, grammatically correct messages at scale that closely mimic legitimate communications from trusted companies and colleagues. Unlike older phishing attempts riddled with spelling errors, AI-powered scams are harder to detect because they sound natural, reference real events, and can incorporate personal information from social media or data breaches to appear more convincing. To protect yourself, focus on behavioral warning signs like unexpected requests or pressure to act quickly rather than looking for obvious spelling mistakes, and remain skeptical of messages urging immediate action—especially those requesting sensitive information or financial details.
fox29.com
· 2026-01-21
# Tax Scam Summary
During tax season, scammers impersonate the IRS to steal money and personal information from taxpayers by making false promises of refunds, threatening arrest, or creating fake official-looking messages designed to pressure quick action. To protect yourself, remember that the IRS typically contacts people first by mail through the postal service—not by unsolicited phone calls, emails, or texts—and watch out for red flags like promises of large refunds, urgent payment demands, threats of arrest, and suspicious website links with misspelled addresses. If you receive a suspicious tax message, verify it by checking the IRS website directly or searching for the specific notice rather than clicking any links provided.
eset.com
· 2026-01-21
Social engineering attacks exploit human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities, with scammers impersonating authority figures or creating artificial urgency to trick people into sharing credentials or installing malware. These attacks are increasingly effective and cheaper to execute than traditional hacking, especially with AI tools now enhancing attackers' capabilities. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited requests for personal information, verify requests through official channels before responding, and avoid making quick decisions under pressure—legitimate organizations won't demand immediate action or threaten account deactivation.
wrangellsentinel.com
· 2026-01-20
A 25-year-old man was sentenced to a year in jail for his role in an elaborate phone scam that defrauded a Petersburg elderly resident of $129,000, with a third suspect still at large. The scammer impersonated a government agent and convinced the victim that her identity had been stolen, persuading her to wire money in multiple transfers. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited calls from people claiming to be government officials asking for money, never wire funds based on such calls, and verify any claims by contacting official agencies directly through known phone numbers.
livenowfox.com
· 2026-01-20
# Tax Season Fraud Warning
The Better Business Bureau is warning taxpayers about scammers targeting people during tax season, particularly with new tax deduction rules expected to increase fraud activity. In 2023, taxpayers lost $5.5 billion to tax scams and fraud, with common schemes including identity theft through phishing emails, fake IRS calls demanding immediate payment, and untrustworthy tax preparers promising unusually large refunds. To protect yourself, verify that communications are from official IRS sources, never click links in unsolicited emails or call numbers provided in them, and research any tax preparation business before hiring them.
prnewswire.com
· 2026-01-20
In Q4 2025, fake advertisements and online shops became the leading cyberthreat, with over 45 million fake shop attacks blocked during the holiday season—a 62% increase from the previous year. Cybercriminals increasingly relied on social media, video feeds, and messaging apps to trick people into completing simple actions like clicking links, scanning QR codes, or entering verification codes, rather than using sophisticated technical exploits. To protect yourself, remain cautious when shopping online or clicking ads on social media, verify shop legitimacy before entering payment information, avoid scanning unfamiliar QR codes, and be suspicious of unsolicited requests for verification codes or device pairing approvals.
wrdw.com
· 2026-01-19
# Scams Rising Across the U.S.
Americans receive approximately 2.5 million scam and robocalls monthly, with scammers increasingly impersonating law enforcement to threaten arrest or demand payment via gift cards and wire transfers. In the Augusta area alone, ten of 22 counties have reported rising scam activity since November, including impersonations of local agencies like North Augusta Public Safety and major companies like Amazon and Georgia Power. To protect yourself, never provide personal information or payment to callers claiming to be law enforcement, verify suspicious calls by contacting the agency directly, and register your phone number on the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call list to reduce scam call volume.
rvtravel.com
· 2026-01-18
RVers are particularly vulnerable to scams because they frequently travel between states, use public Wi-Fi, and are isolated while traveling, making them targets for increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes including fake job offers, recovery scams targeting previous victims, government impersonation scams, and romance scams. To protect themselves, RVers should avoid unsolicited job offers requesting upfront payments or gift cards, never pay fees to recover stolen funds (legitimate agencies don't charge upfront), hang up on callers claiming to be government officials demanding immediate payment, and be cautious of online relationships that eventually request money. The key advice is to verify any unexpected contact through official channels, never send money to unknown parties, and remain skeptical of urgent payment demands regardless of who claims to be calling.
savingadvice.com
· 2026-01-18
Scammers are targeting seniors with fake "urgent" messages claiming they'll lose federal tax credits by January 20th, using artificial time pressure to trick people into revealing personal information or paying bogus fees. The actual IRS filing deadline isn't until April 15, 2026, and legitimate tax credits don't vanish from missing a random mid-January cutoff. To protect yourself, ignore pressure to act immediately—contact the IRS directly through their official website or phone number, verify claims with trusted family members, and remember that the IRS typically initiates contact by mail, not unsolicited calls or emails.
wavy.com
· 2026-01-17
A Virginia Beach man, Dion Lamont Camp, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for defrauding romantic partners—particularly Navy servicemembers with good credit—through an identity theft and auto loan scheme that netted over $1.7 million in fraudulent loans for luxury cars between 2020 and 2022. Victims were manipulated into romantic relationships, then had their identities stolen and credit used without consent, leaving them to spend years rebuilding their financial lives while Camp defaulted on over $100,000 in child support for his 22 children. If you have good credit and are dating someone new, be cautious about sharing personal financial information, monitor your credit reports regularly, and watch for unexpected loan applications or credit inquiries in your name.
inkl.com
· 2026-01-17
Fraud detection systems flag certain online purchases as "risky," particularly for people over 50, because scammers frequently target this age group—common red flags include buying expensive electronics, cryptocurrency, or luxury items from unfamiliar websites or in unusual quantities. To avoid these delays and protect yourself from actual scams, use verified retailers and trusted payment platforms like PayPal or Apple Pay, and verify investment platforms through official sources like FINRA before depositing money.
yahoo.com
· 2026-01-17
# Top Scams to Watch for in 2026
According to the Better Business Bureau, online shopping scams (particularly fake websites selling pets or hard-to-find items), phishing emails and texts impersonating banks or government agencies, and fake job offers—including AI-powered interviews—are among the most common fraud schemes affecting consumers this year. These scams target anyone making online purchases or responding to unsolicited communications, and scammers often use urgency and impersonation tactics to trick victims into giving up money or personal information. To protect yourself, take time to verify websites and companies independently before providing any information or making payments, as scammers rely on rushed decisions.
abc7chicago.com
· 2026-01-17
According to the Better Business Bureau, the top scams in 2026 include online shopping fraud (fake websites), phishing emails and texts impersonating banks or government agencies, and employment scams offering fake work-from-home jobs. These scams affect anyone shopping online or using email and can result in stolen money, personal information, or identity theft. To protect yourself, the BBB advises taking time to verify websites independently and avoiding clicking links in unsolicited messages, since scammers rely on creating urgency to trick victims.
13newsnow.com
· 2026-01-16
# Virginia Beach Man Sentenced for $1.7M Fraud Scheme
A Virginia Beach man, Dion Lamont Camp, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for orchestrating a scheme that defrauded over $1.7 million from romantic partners, credit unions, auto dealers, and other victims through identity theft and fraudulent loans. Camp targeted women with good credit and jobs, manipulating them into romantic relationships to obtain fraudulent auto loans and credit cards, while also stealing personal information from strangers to apply for loans and rentals. To protect yourself, be cautious about sharing personal information early in relationships, monitor your credit reports regularly, and verify any unexpected loan or credit card applications in your name.
pcmag.com
· 2026-01-16
Cybercrime has evolved into a sophisticated, organized industry where criminals operate in teams to deploy large-scale attacks like phishing emails with malicious QR codes, ransomware, and deceptive texts targeting everyday users. Anyone online is vulnerable, but you can protect yourself by ignoring suspicious emails and password reset requests, enabling two-factor authentication, using a password manager, and avoiding clicking links when emotional or distracted. The key takeaway: be skeptical of unexpected communications, keep your passwords strong and unique, and enable extra security layers on important accounts.
techlicious.com
· 2026-01-16
A tech writer nearly fell victim to a sophisticated DocuSign phishing scam that used personalized details like his name and company to appear legitimate, but was ultimately sent from a fake nifty.com email address designed to look like an internal sender. The scam attempted to steal credentials by redirecting users to a fake login page requesting Google credentials, which legitimate DocuSign documents never do. To protect yourself, watch for red flags like requests to log in through unexpected channels, verify URLs match official domains, and use a password manager that won't autofill credentials on suspicious sites—a key safeguard that helped the author catch the scam.
whnt.com
· 2026-01-15
# Tax Scam Summary
Scammers are impersonating the IRS during tax season, either demanding immediate payment for supposed back taxes via wire transfer or prepaid debit card (threatening arrest if you don't comply), or requesting personal information under the guise of issuing refunds—tactics that can lead to identity theft and particularly target college students. These fraudsters use sophisticated tactics like fake badge numbers, spoofed caller IDs showing Washington D.C., and official-looking emails to appear legitimate, but the real IRS always initiates contact by mail first and allows time for questions. To protect yourself, be suspicious of any urgent pressure to pay immediately or share personal information, and remember that legitimate IRS agents won't demand payment by wire transfer or prepaid debit card.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2026-01-15
Microsoft disrupted RedVDS, a criminal subscription service that cost as little as $24 per month but caused over $40 million in losses to US victims alone since March 2025, affecting nearly 190,000 organizations worldwide—including a pharmaceutical company that lost $7.3 million and a Florida homeowners association that lost $500,000. The platform provided cybercriminals with virtual computers and infrastructure to launch phishing attacks and business email compromise scams, often enhanced with AI tools to identify targets and create convincing fake emails. To protect yourself, remain vigilant about verifying wire transfer requests through independent contact methods, be suspicious of phishing emails asking for sensitive information, and enable multi-factor authentication on business accounts.
eldoradospringsmo.com
· 2026-01-14
The Better Business Bureau reports that investment, cryptocurrency, employment, and romance scams were the biggest threats to consumers in 2025, with online scams accounting for over 61% of reports and 78% of financial losses. Scammers increasingly use social media to target victims, with nearly 36% of scam reports involving social media contacts who lure people through ads or posts. To protect yourself in 2026, the BBB recommends trusting your instincts if something feels suspicious, avoiding sending money to strangers (especially via payment apps or cryptocurrency), and researching retailers before making online purchases.
thesun.co.uk
· 2026-01-14
Steve, a 39-year-old Army veteran, became a victim of identity fraud when scammers stole his photo from the internet and used it in romance scams globally, leading his girlfriend Jennifer to receive approximately ten messages weekly from people worldwide—including jealous threats and accusations—who believed they were in relationships with him and some of whom had lost significant money to the scammers. The scammers exploited Steve's public appearances on survival shows like Bear Grylls Wild Reckoning and Discovery's Naked & Afraid to make their fake profiles seem more credible. To protect yourself, be cautious of online romantic interests, especially if they avoid video calls, ask for money, or their stories seem inconsistent—and verify someone's identity through multiple channels before developing an emotional or financial connection.
asiatimes.com
· 2026-01-14
# Crypto Scams Surge to $14 Billion in 2025 with AI-Powered Tactics
Cryptocurrency scams reached at least $14 billion in 2025, more than doubling from $12 billion in 2024, with scammers using artificial intelligence, impersonation tactics, and sophisticated phishing to target victims more effectively than ever before. The average scam payment jumped dramatically from $782 to $2,764, while impersonation scams—where fraudsters pose as government agencies or legitimate organizations—grew by 1,400% year-over-year. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited cryptocurrency investment opportunities, verify the authenticity of official communications through independent channels before responding, and never transfer funds based on messages or calls claiming to be from government agencies or authority figures.