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in Identity Theft
sunburymacedonranges.starweekly.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australia's National Council on Aging reported that people aged over 60 lost $3.4 billion worldwide to financial elder abuse in 2023, with victims often unable to recoup their losses. To raise awareness on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), Macedon Ranges Council and the Kindness to Elders Institute screened the film "Thelma"—about a grandmother scammed out of $10,000—followed by a discussion with actor Ian Rooney and finance expert Bob Nixon on protecting finances against fraud.
wktn.com
· 2025-12-08
One in four North American households are scammed annually, with Central Ohio consumers reporting $6,218 in losses to scams in June 2024, including nine cases involving fraudsters falsely claiming issues with Social Security Numbers. The Better Business Bureau advises residents to never provide personal information to unsolicited callers and to remember that the Social Security Administration will never contact you requesting your SSN, demanding payment, or threatening benefits, and that SSNs cannot be revoked or frozen. Residents are encouraged to report scam experiences to BBB's Scam Tracker to protect others.
sportskeeda.com
· 2025-12-08
"Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" is a Hulu documentary series following three women from Connecticut, Ontario, and Frankfurt who were defrauded by the same anonymous romance scammer using stolen photos and multiple fake identities (Scott Donald Hall, James Richards, Michael Silver). The scammer exploited each woman's emotional vulnerability through social media and private messaging, eventually extracting thousands of dollars under false pretenses, with one victim losing over $30,000 and another compromising her Social Security information. Despite the victims' collaborative investigation, the scammer's true identity remains unknown, illustrating how AI technology and deepfakes enable modern romance fraud, which resulted in $16.6
fox5vegas.com
· 2025-12-08
This FOX5 investigative piece provides guidance for identity theft victims, noting that an estimated 18 million Americans fell victim to identity theft last year. The article recommends immediate steps including reporting to the FTC and local police, contacting your bank to secure accounts, freezing credit reports, placing fraud alerts, and continuously monitoring accounts and credit reports for unauthorized activity.
wgmd.com
· 2025-12-08
A 36-year-old Flushing, New York man pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in an elder fraud scam that defrauded elderly victims of at least $2.15 million between May 2023 and May 2024. The scheme involved fraudsters posing as federal agents who convinced victims their identities had been compromised, then instructed them to liquidate life savings and convert funds to cash or gold bars, which couriers like the defendant collected from victims' homes. The defendant faces more than five years in federal prison at sentencing.
fingerlakes1.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly targeting low-income renters across the U.S. with fraudulent Section 8 housing voucher schemes, using fake websites, phishing emails, social media ads, and "expedited processing" offers to steal personal information and application fees. Victims should only apply through official .gov websites verified through HUD's directory, never pay application fees, and report suspected scams to the FTC, HUD's Office of Inspector General, or local law enforcement.
ladailypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing email scam targeting Social Security recipients claims to offer new Social Security statements but actually installs remote access software (ScreenConnect) that gives cybercriminals full control of victims' computers to steal banking details, personal information, and commit identity theft or financial fraud. The emails appear legitimate by using compromised domains and embedding content as images to evade email filters, making them difficult to detect. Users are advised to verify unsolicited emails independently, avoid clicking links, and use updated antivirus software to protect themselves.
dfpi.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers increasingly target older adults through technology-based fraud schemes, exploiting their perceived financial stability, trusting nature, and potential unfamiliarity with digital threats. Common scams include phishing/smishing/vishing (deceptive emails, texts, and calls), skimming and shimming (card data theft at terminals), tech support scams (fake computer virus alerts), and grandparent scams (impersonation of family members). Protection strategies include ignoring unsolicited contacts, enabling spam filters, inspecting payment terminals for tampering, using contactless payments, and never granting remote computer access to unknown parties.
dfpi.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
Mail fraud through the USPS takes several forms—imposter scams (posing as government agencies or banks), sweepstakes/lottery schemes (claiming unearned prizes), unsolicited offers (unusually low prices or phony inheritances), and mail theft—all using sophisticated tactics to extract money or personal information. Red flags include unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, requests for payment before receiving benefits, and offers that seem too good to be true. To protect yourself, verify communications directly with official sources, never send cash through mail, use tracking services like Informed Delivery, and report suspected mail fraud to the United States Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.
sportskeeda.com
· 2025-12-08
"Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" is a three-part docuseries released on Hulu in May 2025 that follows three women—Annette, Roxy, and Gabby—who were defrauded by the same man posing as their online romantic partner. The series explores how scammers exploit emotional vulnerability through psychological manipulation, examines common warning signs and patterns of online romance fraud, and documents the victims' journey from discovering the deception to confronting their perpetrator and seeking accountability.
nationalseniors.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting older Australians with "sextortion" scams, which now account for over 30% of personal scams, where perpetrators threaten to release compromising sexual images or videos unless victims pay ransoms in cryptocurrency. These emotionally manipulative schemes use artificial intelligence and personal information from data breaches to personalize threats and appear credible, with victims including seniors who were traditionally not targeted and who often experience profound shame and fear that prevents them from seeking help. Experts recommend protecting oneself by avoiding sharing intimate photos online, being skeptical of unsolicited emails with demands, verifying whether personal details actually indicate device compromise, and reporting incidents to the Australian Cyber Security
liherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 80 seniors attended an educational seminar in West Hempstead to learn scam prevention strategies, as the FBI reported that people aged 60 and older suffered the largest losses in 2024's $16 billion in online scams and cybercrimes. Nassau County Police Officer Eugene Messmer presented the SCAM framework (Stop, Check, Alert, Mention) and detailed common scams including phone/email fraud, IRS imposters, sweepstakes schemes, and identity theft, emphasizing that scammers use professional tactics and recommending verification steps like calling back through official numbers. Key prevention advice includes never clicking suspicious links, refusing to pay via wire transfer or gift cards, protecting personal
crowdfundinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Greenlight launched Family Shield, a subscription plan that helps caregivers protect seniors from financial fraud and physical safety risks through features including financial account monitoring, fraud/identity theft insurance (up to $100,000 for deceptive transfer fraud and $1 million for identity theft), real-time location tracking, and crash detection. The service addresses a significant problem: financial exploitation costs adults 60+ an estimated $62 billion annually, while seniors face rising digital threats including scams and money management errors. The plan includes educational resources and a monitored debit card to help caregivers oversee their senior loved ones' finances and safety comprehensively.
democratandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
digitalinformationworld.com
· 2025-12-08
**Cybercrimes targeting seniors reached record levels in 2024, with 147,000 victims reporting losses of $4.9 billion to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center—a 45% and 43% increase respectively.** Senior citizens are targeted because they have substantial savings, may take longer to detect fraud, and often don't report scams due to embarrassment, making them "low-risk" for criminals. Research shows that 72% of elder fraud cases involved exposed personal information available through data brokers, search engines, and people-finder websites, with accessible data enabling $4.2 billion (86% of total losses), and investment scams proving
thereporterethiopia.com
· 2025-12-08
Hundreds of thousands of people, particularly Ethiopians seeking employment, have been trafficked to Myanmar's rebel-controlled territories through fake job offers in IT and hospitality, where they are forced to participate in online fraud schemes (cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, identity theft) under threat of violence and torture. One victim, 27-year-old IT graduate Yosef Atirsaw, was held captive for months posing as a female model to lure victims into pyramid schemes, witnessing brutal abuse including lashings and forced labor. As of December, an estimated 3,000 Ethiopians were reported trapped in these scam centers, though diplomatic efforts have secured the release of
cryptopolitan.com
· 2025-12-08
Dennis Nguyen, an Australian banker, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after stealing AUD 489,000 from customers across multiple banks between 2021 and 2022. After losing AUD 20,000 to a crypto scam himself, Nguyen used his banking knowledge to execute sophisticated fraud schemes, including stealing customer data to create fake accounts, impersonating a bank manager online, and deliberately targeting vulnerable customers including one with multiple sclerosis. He pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and three counts of theft, with banks reimbursing most victims during investigation.
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns of scams targeting military members and veterans, particularly around Memorial Day, including a case where a veteran small business owner lost $166,515 to a fraudster impersonating a Minority Business Development Agency procurement director. Common scams include high-interest military loans, fake rental properties, PCS moving fraud, phishing emails, misleading vehicle sales, and fake military discounts. The BBB recommends researching businesses before payment, avoiding wire transfers, protecting computers from phishing, and verifying military discounts directly with official sources.
the-independent.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity experts are recommending that people establish secret codes or passwords with family and close contacts to verify their identity and combat increasingly sophisticated AI deepfake impersonation scams. The advice comes as AI technology makes it easier for fraudsters to create convincing fake videos and messages impersonating loved ones to request money, with particular concern for vulnerable elderly and young users who lack strong digital literacy skills. This recommendation follows recent major data breaches at UK retailers like Marks and Spencer and the Co-op, which have compromised personal information that criminals can exploit to target victims with realistic-looking scams.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost an estimated $47 billion to scams in 2024, with investment fraud accounting for at least $5.7 billion of those losses. Contrary to common assumptions, younger adults are 34% more likely than older adults to fall victim to fraud, which takes multiple forms including impostor scams using AI voice cloning, lottery/prize schemes, and phishing attempts. To protect yourself, watch for red flags such as unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, promises of guaranteed returns, unusual payment requests, and demands for login credentials—and always independently verify investment opportunities through official resources like the SEC's EDGAR database before committing funds.
moneysense.ca
· 2025-12-08
Older adults in Canada are particularly vulnerable to fraud and identity theft due to their politeness and trust, making them targets for emergency scams, grandparent scams, and deepfake impersonations that create urgency and fear. Common tactics include fake bank calls claiming accounts will be closed, messages from supposed relatives in distress requesting money, fake obituaries with donation links, and attempts to harvest personal information like social insurance numbers. Experts recommend seniors understand they have the right to end conversations, verify requests independently through official channels, and recognize that fraudsters constantly evolve their tactics using new technologies.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The digital arrest scam is a sophisticated fraud tactic where scammers impersonate police officers via spoofed phone numbers to accuse victims of crimes and demand immediate payment or banking information under threat of arrest. The scam exploits psychological manipulation through fear, urgency, and perceived authority, and has successfully targeted thousands of people including tech-savvy and educated individuals who fall victim due to panic and confusion created by high-pressure tactics and fake police station backdrops. Authorities recommend victims verify caller identity independently and never share personal or financial information over unsolicited calls.
pennwatch.org
· 2025-12-08
The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities is conducting educational outreach events throughout June 2024 to help seniors, service providers, and the general public recognize and avoid scams, fraud, and identity theft. The programs include interactive presentations such as "Fraud BINGO," "$camJam" (featuring law enforcement and state agency experts), senior expos, and sessions on common scam tactics, offered at various locations across Pennsylvania at no cost to attendees.
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
Docusign, a widely-used digital document signing platform with over 1 billion users, has become a target for cybercriminals who send phishing emails impersonating the service to steal login credentials and financial information. These scams typically trick victims into clicking on fake "review document" buttons or scanning QR codes that lead to spoofed login pages, with recent incidents including fake invoice schemes, refund scams, and impersonation of suppliers and government agencies. To protect against Docusign phishing, users should verify destination URLs, look for security codes in legitimate emails, avoid clicking attachments in initial emails, and watch for spelling errors and mismatched sender information.
democratandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York State DMV is warning residents of phishing text scams where fraudsters impersonate the agency to steal personal information, often claiming victims have outstanding traffic tickets that must be paid by a deadline or face license suspension. Over 170 such phishing scams were reported across upstate New York regions in 2024, with red flags including poor grammar, threatening language, and suspicious URLs. Victims should avoid clicking links or sharing personal information and can report suspected phishing to the DMV or Federal Trade Commission.
moneyweek.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, fraudsters stole £144.4 million through investment fraud in the UK—a 34% increase from 2023—despite a 24% reduction in the number of cases, indicating victims are losing larger amounts per scam. Investment fraud involves criminals convincing victims to invest in fictitious funds or fake opportunities (cryptocurrencies, property, commodities, etc.), often amplified through AI deepfaking on social media. Overall UK fraud losses reached £1.17 billion across 3.31 million confirmed cases in 2024, with unauthorised fraud (particularly card fraud and remote purchase fraud) being the most prevalent type.
pa.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities is hosting multiple free educational events throughout June 2024 aimed at seniors, service providers, and the general public to help them avoid scams, detect fraud, and prevent identity theft. Events include interactive presentations such as "Fraud BINGO" and "$camJam" held at senior centers and community locations across Pennsylvania, with Pennsylvanians encouraged to report scams via 1-866-PACOMPLAINT or pa.gov/consumer.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending unsolicited text messages impersonating legitimate job websites like Indeed, offering unrealistic wages ($300-$900 per day for minimal work) to lure victims into providing personal information including Social Security numbers for identity theft. These fraudulent messages direct recipients to untraceable messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram and lack legitimate company details, making them easily identifiable as scams. Consumers should recognize that legitimate employers never initiate job contact via text and offers that sound too good to be true are red flags for fraud.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how large language models like ChatGPT can be exploited to gather personal information about individuals, since these AI tools pull from publicly available online sources including people-search sites, social media, and public databases. The article provides guidance on protecting privacy by opting out of people-search sites individually or using automated data removal services, emphasizing that personal information is already widely exposed online and requires proactive steps to limit access.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, the UK experienced £12,332 crore in reported fraud losses, with banks blocking even greater unauthorized attempts, yet emerging threats like remote access scams, social engineering, and platform-enabled fraud continue to outpace defenses. Seventy percent of authorized push payment scams originated online, while investment fraud and romance scams increasingly target victims through social media and polished digital ads, often exploiting emotional manipulation or false financial promises. Experts warn that fraud now represents 40% of all UK crime, yet the fragmented regulatory approach places disproportionate responsibility on banks rather than holding tech platforms, telcos, and other enablers accountable, necessitating a unified national strategy
okcfox.com
· 2025-12-08
This editorial discusses the evolution and pervasiveness of fraud from ancient times to 2024, noting that the FBI received 859,532 online crime complaints in 2024 with losses exceeding $16 billion—a 33% increase from the prior year. The article highlights emerging threats including cryptocurrency fraud ($24.2 billion in illicit transfers in 2023), AI-powered deepfakes (which surged 1,740% in North America between 2022-2023, with one incident targeting a Hong Kong firm for $25 million), and voice-cloning scams targeting individuals through fake calls from loved ones. Williams emphasizes that fraud affects all demographics—not just the
wxii12.com
· 2025-12-08
Government impersonation scams stole $789 million in 2024, with scammers now using fake FTC agent credentials and badges to target victims through urgent alerts about viruses, compromised accounts, or identity theft, then pressuring them to transfer money. The FTC warns it has no agents and never requests money transfers, advising victims to verify claims by contacting their banks directly using official numbers and to report suspected scams at ReportFraud.FTC.gov.
oprahdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting consumers are rising dramatically, with phishing, deepfakes, tech-support scams, and spoofing becoming increasingly common. Readers shared varied experiences including fraudulent tax and loan collection calls, fake rental listings, phishing texts posing as delivery services and financial institutions, and sextortion emails with personal information. The advice emphasized by victims includes not answering unknown numbers, immediately deleting suspicious messages, verifying requests independently, and never providing personal information or upfront payments to unverified sources.
moneysense.ca
· 2025-12-08
Relationship fraud and romance scams are increasing in Canada, typically beginning when scammers contact victims on social media, dating apps, or email, then gradually build trust over months before requesting money or promoting fraudulent investment schemes, often involving cryptocurrency. Victims suffer not only financial losses but also emotional trauma from the betrayal, and scammers may use harvested personal information for identity theft. Key warning signs include pressure and urgency in requests, and protection strategies include verifying requests with trusted individuals and being cautious of AI-generated personas.
massretirees.com
· 2025-12-08
law.georgia.gov
· 2025-12-08
During May 2025's Older Americans Month, Georgia's Attorney General Consumer Protection Division reached over 1,300 seniors to educate them on recognizing, preventing, and reporting financial abuse and exploitation. The division highlighted common scams targeting older adults—including government imposter schemes, investment/cryptocurrency fraud, and romance scams—and provided resources such as their free "Georgia Consumer Protection Guide for Older Adults" (available in English, Spanish, and Korean) along with reporting contacts for suspected financial abuse.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines six common scams targeting users of peer-to-peer payment platforms like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle, including impersonation of trusted contacts, fake "accidental" payments designed to exploit goodwill, fraudulent sellers and buyers using stolen payment methods, fake contest winnings, and impersonation of customer support teams. According to Pew Research, 13% of P2P payment app users have sent money to scammers, affecting millions of users across platforms with 92 million active users on Venmo alone. The key prevention strategies are to verify recipient identity before sending money, report unexpected payments from strangers immediately without cashing out
komonews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are conducting door-to-door solar installation fraud across the U.S., promising "free" systems funded by tax credits and rebates while tricking homeowners into signing complex financing agreements worth tens of thousands of dollars—often without fully understanding the terms. Victims report losses of $30,000 to $85,000+, with many receiving poor-quality installations, defective products, or no solar equipment at all, while contracts with forced arbitration clauses prevent them from seeking legal recourse. Consumers should be wary of aggressive sales tactics, pressure to sign digital contracts quickly, and unverified claims about government programs and tax rebates.
e.vnexpress.net
· 2025-12-08
Sixteen foreign nationals (eleven Filipinos, two Chinese, one Malaysian, and one Indonesian) were sentenced in Lagos to one year in prison and fines of one million naira (US$629.50) each after pleading guilty to recruiting young Nigerians for identity theft and impersonation schemes. The international cybercrime syndicate used Nigerian accomplices to conduct phishing scams targeting victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, with confiscated devices forfeited to the Nigerian government.
asiaone.com
· 2025-12-08
A 36-year-old doctor in Singapore nearly fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam when fraudsters posing as Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and police officers convinced her to transfer nearly $4 million for a fake anti-money laundering operation. Bank employees flagged a $29,999 transfer to a suspicious account and alerted real police, who intervened with an SMS from an official government account, helping the doctor recognize the scam and avoid financial loss. The incident highlights the sophistication of such schemes, which use fake credentials, video calls with official backdrops, and psychological manipulation to gain victim trust.
hccommunityjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
A Kerrville Police Department sergeant conducted an internet safety presentation outlining major threats including identity theft, phishing, and romance/grandchild scams, which criminals use to steal sensitive information and money from victims. Key safety recommendations include verifying secure websites (https and lock icons), using strong passwords, enabling stricter social media settings, installing malware protection, and never responding to unsolicited requests for personal information from official agencies.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida law enforcement launched a coordinated crackdown on scams perpetrated by incarcerated individuals using contraband technology to defraud seniors. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that recent correctional facility inspections confiscated "dozens and dozens of devices" and revealed victims have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, including one 92-year-old who lost over $800,000 over two years. Law enforcement urged seniors to monitor their finances closely and avoid trusting unsolicited callers, while pledging to work with the Department of Corrections to prevent criminal activity from continuing behind bars.
metrophiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
A 36-year-old fiscal liaison at Community Options Inc., a nonprofit serving people with disabilities, stole over $103,000 from 15 Philadelphia seniors over a six-year period by issuing unauthorized checks, forging signatures, and withdrawing funds from clients' accounts. The fraud was discovered during an audit after the employee, Quay Fetherson of Bensalem, left the organization in 2023, and he was arrested and charged with 15 counts of financial exploitation of a care-dependent person, identity theft, theft, and forgery.
whyy.org
· 2025-12-08
A Delaware woman lost $701,529 in gold bars between August 2023 and February 2024 after scammers posing as federal agents claimed her identity had been stolen and she was under investigation; they told her the Treasury would safeguard gold bars she purchased to resolve the matter. When authorities caught the scheme, they arrested Rakeshkumar Patel, an Indian national illegally residing in New York, who pleaded guilty after attempting to collect an additional $300,000 in gold in May 2024. The scam was part of a larger fraud operation targeting older affluent adults across Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with a combined loss of $2.1
wtvr.com
· 2025-12-08
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles warned residents of a text message scam in which fraudsters impersonating the DMV demand payment for fines and threaten license suspension, with links designed to steal personal information. The DMV emphasized it never sends unsolicited text messages requesting payment and advised residents to report and delete suspicious messages using their phone's junk reporting feature.
wdbj7.com
· 2025-12-08
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles warned customers about a text scam in which fraudsters impersonate the DMV and falsely claim money is owed for unpaid fines, directing recipients to click links that steal personal information. The DMV emphasized it never sends text messages demanding payment and advised customers to verify communications through official channels, avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, and report suspicious messages to authorities or the FTC.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals have evolved phishing tactics to create sophisticated subscription scam campaigns, with over 200 convincing fake online stores promoting products via Facebook ads to trick users into recurring credit card charges. These scams use tactics like mystery boxes, hidden fine print subscription terms, and layered add-ons (loyalty programs, VIP memberships) to confuse victims, with many sites traced back to a single Cyprus address linked to offshore entities. The fraudsters continuously rotate brands and product types—from counterfeit goods to fake supplements and investment schemes—while employing evasion techniques like rotating ad versions and image swaps to avoid detection.
expressvpn.com
· 2025-12-08
The Nigerian prince scam (also called a 419 scam) is an advance-fee fraud where scammers pose as foreign royalty or wealthy individuals and convince victims to pay upfront "processing fees" or "taxes" for access to promised large sums of money. Originating from 19th-century Spanish prisoner schemes and proliferating via email in the 1990s, the scam continues to victimize people daily despite widespread awareness, sometimes escalating to using victims as money mules for stolen funds. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact from strangers claiming to need financial help, verify identities through official channels, never send money upfront, and avoi
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Nirav B. Patel, a 44-year-old illegal immigrant from India, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in an imposter scam that defrauded elderly victims across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana of over $400,000. Patel served as a cash collector for the scheme, which involved fraudsters posing as federal agents and convincing elderly victims that their accounts were compromised, then pressuring them to withdraw life savings into fake government trust accounts; in one instance, he collected $177,000 in gold bars from an elderly woman using a walker at an assisted living facility. The scammers, based in India, use
sandiegouniontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Digital thieves increasingly exploit phishing tactics through three emerging methods: HTML email attachments that trigger fake login pages designed to steal credentials, manipulation of multifactor authentication systems, and deceptive calendar invites. Experts recommend users avoid clicking links or opening unfamiliar HTML attachments, verify requests directly with organizations through official phone numbers or in-person visits, and remain cautious even when using security tools like multifactor authentication, which scammers are learning to circumvent.