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silive.com
· 2025-12-08
A 32-year-old man from Queens was convicted of grand larceny for defrauding a senior woman on Staten Island of $35,000 in August 2023. The scam involved a fake phone call claiming the victim's bank account was compromised, after which a person (the defendant) posed as a bank employee and collected cash from her home. Om Parkash pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in October to one to three years in prison with a restitution order to repay the victim.
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
Reno Police issued a warning about email scams in which fraudsters claim to have monitored victims' online activity and demand payment under threat of releasing that activity. The scam uses intimidation tactics to coerce victims into paying money to keep their alleged online behavior private.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
The Johnson County Board of Education in Tennessee lost $3.36 million in April when a finance director was deceived by a fraudster impersonating a Pearson curriculum vendor using a spoofed email address (pearson.quest instead of .com). The stolen funds were laundered through multiple accounts operated by "money mules"—individuals who were themselves deceived into opening accounts, including a 76-year-old Texan who believed he was helping his online fiancée with an inheritance. As of September, approximately $742,000 of the stolen funds had been recovered, with this business email compromise (BEC) scam exemplifying a common threat to school districts nationwide.
foxsportsradionewjersey.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman working in cybersecurity fell victim to an elaborate phone scam impersonating a Homeland Security officer who claimed she was involved in drug smuggling and threatened her with up to 9 years in prison, though she avoided revealing personal identifying information. The scammer obtained her phone number, home address, thirty-year address history, and banking information, leaving her vulnerable to follow-up fraud attempts; the article also warns that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and commonly target seniors and other vulnerable populations through impersonating government agencies like the IRS and Homeland Security.
wrex.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau is warning families about fake emergency scams where scammers use advanced voice-cloning technology to impersonate relatives and convince victims to wire money. To combat this threat, the BBB recommends families establish a private code word to verify callers' identities and secure their social media accounts to prevent scammers from obtaining voice samples. Victims or potential targets of this scam are encouraged to report incidents to the BBB Scam Tracker.
businessday.ng
· 2025-12-08
Remote job scams have increased alongside the growing popularity of work-from-home opportunities, with scammers using fake job postings to steal personal information or upfront payments from job seekers. Red flags include upfront payment requests, unrealistic salaries for simple work, poor job descriptions, lack of interviews, requests for sensitive personal data, suspicious email domains, pressure to decide quickly, minimal company information, unspecified pay, and unusual payment systems. Job seekers should verify company legitimacy, conduct thorough research before applying, and only use established payment platforms to protect themselves.
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP warns that peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App are vulnerable to multiple scam tactics, including impersonation scams (fake emergencies), marketplace discounts requiring P2P payment, and spoofed payment reversals where scammers request refunds that leave victims short funds. Unlike credit cards, P2P transactions lack consumer protections and are typically irreversible, making it critical to only use these apps with trusted contacts and to report unexpected payments to the app provider.
ireland-live.ie
· 2025-12-08
Advice NI warns that thousands of scam victims across Northern Ireland remain unreported, with only an estimated 10% of fraud victims seeking debt support despite suffering average losses of nearly £10,000 per person. Recent police data showed 5,412 fraud reports totaling £23.1 million losses (December 2022–January 2023), though actual figures are believed to be significantly higher; criminals are now using AI-driven tactics to impersonate debt collectors and financial institutions with increasing sophistication. The organization advises victims to verify identities through official channels, watch for spelling errors and urgency tactics, and seek free confidential debt advice from local support services rather than suffer in shame.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first half of 2024, 580 Singapore residents fell victim to government official impersonation scams, a 58 percent increase from 367 cases in the same period the previous year, with each victim losing an average of $116,534—the highest loss amount among all scam types. Scammers impersonate police officers, bank staff, and government officials (including China government officials) to accuse victims of money laundering or other crimes, using psychological manipulation, time pressure, and fake credentials to coerce victims into transferring money to designated accounts. Authorities recommend verifying caller identity before complying with requests and looking for legitimate government sender IDs (gov.sg)
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022, with people over 60 suffering the most damage at $1.6 billion in losses across more than 16,000 reports. Investment fraud scams accounted for the majority of losses at $3.9 billion, and seniors were particularly vulnerable to crypto ATM scams, losing over $124 million through that method alone. The FBI recommends verifying caller phone numbers, scrutinizing website domains and emails, remembering that no legitimate government agency demands crypto payments, and seeking licensed financial advice before investing.
news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022, with crypto investment fraud accounting for $3.9 billion of those losses according to the FBI's 2023 report. Seniors over 60 were hit hardest, reporting over $1.6 billion in losses and making up the vast majority of victims using crypto ATMs, losing over $124 million through that method alone. The FBI recommends verifying caller phone numbers, checking for website inconsistencies, and remembering that legitimate agencies will never demand payment via cryptocurrency.
advantagenews.com
· 2025-12-08
Bait-and-switch scams proliferate on Facebook buy-and-sell and community yard sale groups, where scammers post legitimate-seeming listings with comments disabled, then edit the post after it gains traction to redirect users to malicious sites that harvest personal information or facilitate fraud. These scams exploit emotional appeals and rely on victims trusting posts shared by friends, with perpetrators ultimately disappearing after obtaining money or data. Victims can report incidents to the Better Business Bureau at BBB.org.
theprint.in
· 2025-12-08
"Hustle kingdoms" are informal training academies in West Africa (particularly Ghana and Nigeria) that teach individuals digital fraud techniques, including romance scams and business email compromise schemes, with graduates exporting these skills globally and contributing to an estimated $50 billion in online scam losses in the United States in 2023 alone. These operations evolved from 1980s-90s "business centres" and function as hierarchical knowledge hubs where novices learn sophisticated fraud tactics from experienced scammers. Some perpetrators justify their crimes as restitution for historical colonial exploitation, while employing both psychological manipulation and supernatural tactics like "juju magic" to defraud victims worldwide.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
A car buying scam ring operating across California and involving at least three suspects—Michael Tanase, Constantin Mustata, and Florin Tanase—sabotaged vehicles listed for sale by pouring oil into radiators to simulate engine failure, then made lowball offers to purchase the damaged cars at a fraction of their value. Michael Tanase was arrested in Oklahoma in July 2024 on an outstanding felony warrant for vandalism and theft by false pretense filed by the Placer County District Attorney's Office, while his two co-suspects remain at large; the scam had been reported to multiple law enforcement agencies across California beginning in early 2024.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022, with crypto investment fraud accounting for $3.9 billion of those losses according to the FBI's 2023 report. Adults over 60 were disproportionately affected, reporting over 16,000 complaints totaling $1.6 billion in losses, and were particularly vulnerable to crypto ATM scams, losing $124 million through that method alone. The FBI recommends verifying caller information, scrutinizing website domains, avoiding crypto kiosk payments for purported law enforcement or government demands, and consulting licensed financial advisors before investing.
yespunjab.com
· 2025-12-08
A Pune-based company, Vips Group of Companies, defrauded nine Surat residents of Rs 2.86 crore by promising 3% monthly returns and luxury international tours; the Enforcement Directorate uncovered that the company had illegally transferred Rs 125 crore abroad via hawala channels disguised as forex trading. In a related case, a Surat textile trader was arrested for facilitating cyber scammers by allowing them to launder Rs 2.45 crore through his bank account using cryptocurrency and hawala networks, with his account linked to 56 cybercrime cases across India. Both investigations highlight coordinated international fraud schemes targeting Indian investors
pcpatriot.com
· 2025-12-08
Virginia State Police report an uptick in financial scams targeting older adults and vulnerable individuals, including anti-virus software scams (one victim lost $36,000), "grandparent scams" using AI voices to impersonate grandchildren in distress, and cryptocurrency fraud (one woman scammed out of $160,000 in Bitcoin). Police recommend independently verifying requests before responding, establishing a trusted "buddy system," and remembering that legitimate organizations never pressure payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
lifehacker.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers increasingly target utility customers by impersonating utility company representatives via phone, email, or in-person visits, demanding immediate payment under threat of service disconnection using untraceable payment methods like prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. To avoid these scams, consumers should independently verify any payment demands by calling their utility company using contact information from their bill or secure account, remember that legitimate utilities send multiple notices before disconnection and offer flexible payment plans, and only use traceable payment methods with fraud protection. Utility scams are particularly effective during extreme weather when customers are desperate to maintain service.
pcworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals employ increasingly sophisticated phishing and social engineering scams targeting bank customers, causing psychological stress and financial loss with difficult recovery processes. Common schemes include phishing emails mimicking banks to steal login credentials and transaction authorization numbers, and fraudulent phone calls impersonating bank employees or authorities claiming to detect suspicious account activity to extract personal data. Protection strategies include accessing banking services through official channels rather than email links, verifying messages directly with banks, and refusing to provide personal information during unsolicited calls, particularly those claiming to be from authority figures.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are conducting evolved sextortion scams that use fear tactics and images of victims' homes (obtained from data breaches or public listings) to extort money via email, claiming to have compromising videos and demanding Bitcoin payments of around $2,000. The scams falsely reference advanced spyware like "Pegasus" to appear credible, though legitimate cybersecurity experts note these threats are bluffs since actual spyware installation would make ransom demands unnecessary. Protection strategies include blurring your home on Google Maps, avoiding sharing personal information online, and recognizing common red flags in scammer communications.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
Australia's federal government released a draft scam prevention framework to combat scams that cost Australians A$2.7 billion in 2023, with over 600,000 reported cases. The framework requires banks, social media platforms, and telecommunications companies to identify and stop scam-related content and transactions, with penalties up to A$50 million for non-compliance. However, the framework does not mandate bank reimbursement for victims and must be broader in scope to address the increasing sophistication of AI-enabled scams and the multiple ways criminals obtain personal contact information.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office warned residents of an impersonation scam in which a caller claiming to be "Sergeant Eric Roberts" from the department contacted victims demanding payment via cryptocurrency machines to resolve a "failure to appear" warrant and avoid arrest. The sheriff's office emphasized that it never solicits payment by phone and advised residents that requests for payment via cryptocurrency or gift cards are major red flags for scams.
bostonherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A Vietnam veteran and cancer patient from Everett lost $20,000 in a sophisticated scam in which fraudsters impersonated Amazon and trade commission officials, pressuring him to withdraw cash under the pretense of unauthorized purchases made in his name. When the scammers returned demanding an additional $32,000, the victim contacted police instead, leading to the arrest of Hongfei Huang of New York on charges including larceny from an elderly person; authorities are continuing to pursue his accomplices. The victim's cooperation with law enforcement and willingness to speak publicly about the incident helped prevent further victims and served as a cautionary warning about email-based scams targeting older adults.
macombgov.org
· 2025-12-08
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has established a dedicated senior crime unit and launched an educational initiative to protect seniors from rising scams in the area. The office distributes an informational booklet titled "S.C.A.M.S. – Stopping Crimes Against Macomb Seniors" that covers common fraud schemes including identity theft, telemarketing fraud, internet fraud, home improvement fraud, and caregiver fraud, along with free presentations scheduled throughout the county. The initiative advises seniors to never share personal information over the phone or email with unfamiliar individuals and encourages community participation in anti-fraud awareness events.
techbullion.com
· 2025-12-08
Documentary Plus Stories is seeking victims of cyber fraud—including investment scams, romance scams, and cryptocurrency scams—to participate in a groundbreaking documentary film aimed at raising public awareness and preventing future crimes. Participants will receive compensation including a one-time payment and potential future royalties, and their authentic stories will be featured in a documentary expected to reach millions of viewers worldwide.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
According to multiple surveys, Gen Zers lost more money to online scams than baby boomers in 2023, with romance scams being particularly prevalent among younger users (15% of Gen Z fell for romance scams compared to 4% of baby boomers). Their vulnerability stems from pandemic-related social isolation during formative years, overconfidence in their ability to spot AI-generated fraud despite falling for it at higher rates (31% vs. 11% for baby boomers), and increased comfort meeting strangers online where scammers use deepfakes and sophisticated image-enhancing tools to create convincing fake identities.
effinghamradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias issued a warning that scammers are using sophisticated AI technology, including voice cloning and deepfake videos, to fraudulently access personal information and financial accounts from Illinois residents. The alert highlights four prevalent scam types—deepfakes, romance scams, Ponzi schemes, and affinity scams—and recommends that prospective investors validate identities, verify licenses through BrokerCheck or Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, and avoid suspicious links and attachments.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. This is a cookie consent notice from Yahoo explaining how the company uses cookies and personal data for website functionality, security, analytics, and advertising purposes. It does not contain information relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database.
wibx950.com
· 2025-12-08
Herkimer police are warning residents about multiple scams circulating in the area, including blackmail schemes where fraudsters claim to have installed spyware and threaten to release compromising information unless victims pay (such as $2,000 in bitcoin), and police impersonation scams where criminals falsely claim that Herkimer Police are searching for the victim. The article also highlights emerging AI-enabled threats including romance scams ("pig butchering") and virtual kidnapping ransom schemes where criminals use cloned voices to impersonate loved ones, urging residents to verify requests directly with police rather than through third parties.
almanacnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Atherton Police Department warned residents of a widespread extortion email scam in which fraudsters claim to have malware access to victims' computers and threaten to release sensitive information and photos unless paid in Bitcoin; the scam includes fabricated images of victims' homes sourced from Google Maps and other public sources to appear credible. Multiple Atherton residents reported receiving these "sextortion" emails, which exploit publicly available personal data harvested from previous data breaches, though police confirm the threats are false and victims should delete the emails immediately without responding or paying.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
A grandmother received a deepfake voice call from a scammer impersonating her grandson claiming to be in jail and needing $10,000 for bail, but she verified the call was fake by contacting her grandson directly. The article outlines common scams targeting seniors—including grandparent scams, government impersonation, romance scams, and spoofing—and provides protective strategies such as verifying callers through known phone numbers, establishing family safe words, taking time to think despite pressure tactics, and using unique passwords with one-time passcodes.
columbiagorgenews.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple online scams were reported in The Dalles in early September, with losses totaling over $105,000 across four separate incidents, including one victim who lost more than $100,000 in cash, gift cards, and Bitcoin to a scammer impersonating someone from Texas since April 2023. Common scam tactics included impersonating law enforcement demanding payment for warrants, fake celebrity fan sites, fake security companies, and requesting payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency. Police warn that legitimate law enforcement will never request payment by phone, and that scammers typically operate from outside the U.S. using obscured technology, making recovery of funds difficult.
hyperallergic.com
· 2025-12-08
Art dealer Wendy Halsted Beard was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for defrauding 43 elderly collectors of approximately $1.6 million through a fine art photography consignment scheme at her Birmingham, Michigan gallery between 2017 and 2022. Beard sold consigned artworks without paying owners their share of proceeds, failed to deliver works to buyers after payment, and returned counterfeit pieces when victims demanded returns—including an original Ansel Adams photograph valued at $625,000 that she sold for $440,000 and kept the difference. A judge ordered Beard to pay over $2 million in restitution, with investigators unable to
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide examines the psychology behind why people fall for scams, emphasizing that susceptibility is not a matter of intelligence but rather how scammers exploit psychological vulnerabilities. Key findings include that adults aged 35-44 are most likely to be deceived (though older adults remain targeted), those 18-24 lose the most money, and online fraud causes an estimated $2.7 billion in annual losses while also impacting victims' mental health. The article outlines how scammers build trust through impersonation and social engineering, and notes that common scams include phone fraud, phishing, fake job offers, and emergency schemes—increasingly enhanced by AI technology.
whitehallledger.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes a voice-cloning scam where scammers impersonated a grandfather by mimicking his voice to request bank account information from family members, highlighting how scammers use increasingly sophisticated technology to target victims. The piece reports that Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023 and emphasizes that elderly people are frequently targeted, recommending protective measures such as slowing down before responding to urgent requests, being selective about who accesses financial information, and seeking help from certified financial planners to monitor accounts and recover from fraud.
catholicstand.com
· 2025-12-08
A Comcast email account was hijacked by a hacker for 24 hours, who used it to send scam messages to the account owner's contacts requesting they purchase Amazon gift cards as a supposed emergency gift purchase. The hacker changed the password and added secondary verification methods, making recovery difficult; it took six hours of customer service calls across multiple offshore representatives before the account was restored. The incident mirrors a similar scam the account owner had previously experienced, highlighting vulnerabilities in Comcast's email security and the challenges users face in regaining control of compromised accounts.
toronto.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
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anz.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This educational article distinguishes between scams (where criminals manipulate victims into sharing information or money) and fraud (where criminals use stolen information without the victim's involvement), and outlines how to identify suspicious messages. The piece advises that red flags include pressure tactics, mismatched sender email addresses, and offers that seem too good to be true, emphasizing that individuals are the first line of defense against scams through reporting and awareness. In 2023, Australians lost $476 million collectively to scams, making vigilance against suspicious communications critical for protecting personal finances and sensitive information.
anz.com.au
· 2025-12-08
ANZ bank provides fraud protection guidelines advising customers to avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or SMS messages claiming to be from ANZ, and to report suspicious communications directly through the ANZ App or official phone numbers. The guidance emphasizes that legitimate ANZ communications will never request sensitive information like passwords or PINs, and offers multiple channels for customers to report phishing attempts and fraudulent activity 24/7.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using AI to clone voices from social media videos—requiring only a few seconds of audio—then impersonating victims to deceive their families into sending money. A 2024 Starling Bank survey found that 28% of people had been targeted by AI voice cloning scams in the past year, though 46% were unaware such scams existed, and 8% would likely comply with urgent money requests even if suspicious. Experts recommend establishing safe phrases with loved ones and verifying unexpected calls through independent contact to protect against this increasingly sophisticated fraud.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are conducting sextortion attacks that now include Google Street View images of victims' addresses to intimidate them into paying cryptocurrency fees. The attackers claim to have pornographic evidence and access to Pegasus spyware, using personalized emails with victims' addresses, phone numbers, and automatically-generated street images to imply they have visited or surveilled the target's location. Security researchers warn these attacks are difficult to detect because they use random Gmail addresses and avoid malicious attachments or URLs.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Starling Bank warns that fraudsters are using AI technology to clone people's voices from brief audio clips found online, then impersonating them to call friends and family members to request money. A survey of over 3,000 adults found that more than 25% had been targeted by such scams in the past year, with 46% previously unaware the scam existed. The bank recommends establishing a "safe phrase" with loved ones to verify identity during phone calls as a protective measure.
news.abplive.com
· 2025-12-08
Kaspersky reported that over 132,000 young gamers fell victim to cyberattacks in the first half of 2024, a 30 percent increase from the previous six months, with Minecraft, Roblox, and Among Us being the most targeted games due to attacks exploiting mods and unofficial downloads. Common scams included phishing schemes offering exclusive in-game character skins or currency in exchange for login credentials, with attackers increasingly using AI-powered personalized phishing and sophisticated tactics that impersonate legitimate gaming platforms. Kaspersky recommends that parents implement cyber hygiene education, establish clear online safety guidelines, encourage unique passwords, use parental monitoring tools,
etedge-insights.com
· 2025-12-08
India Post impersonation scams are targeting non-tech-savvy citizens in India, with fraudsters posing as postal representatives via SMS and calls to trick victims into sharing personal financial information. A 75-year-old retired person in Hyderabad lost Rs 23.26 lakh after fraudsters claiming to be from India Post and impersonating police officers convinced him to transfer money to a fake RBI account for an alleged undelivered parcel. Authorities warn citizens to verify delivery notifications independently, avoid clicking suspicious links, and report fraudulent communications to protect themselves from these social engineering schemes.
wbaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
Maryland State Police warned residents of an active scam targeting Gmail accounts in which fraudsters send photos of victims' homes obtained from Google Maps and demand Bitcoin payments, threatening to release personal information if payment is not made. Authorities advised residents to avoid clicking suspicious links, refrain from sharing personal information, and avoid making hasty decisions under pressure from scammers.
upstatetoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Oconee County Sheriff's Office warned residents of two active scams: a cryptocurrency extortion scheme where scammers claim to have installed spyware and threaten to release personal information unless Bitcoin is paid, and an impersonation scam where fraudsters pose as FBI agents claiming victims' information has been compromised and demanding $15,000 in cash. One resident targeted by the FBI impersonation scam avoided financial loss by requesting law enforcement accompaniment to the bank, which the scammer refused.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
During election season, scammers exploit voters' emotional investment by creating fake candidate websites and social media accounts, using robocalls with candidates' voices, and sending deceptive donation text messages—all designed to redirect funds from legitimate campaigns to fraudsters. Red flags include poor grammar, pressure for immediate donations, requests for unusual payment methods (wire transfers or prepaid cards), unsolicited personal information requests, and offers of prizes for poll participation. Voters should verify donation authenticity directly through official campaign channels and remain cautious when emotions run high.
news.gulfbreezenews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers targeted Santa Rosa County residents by sending emails containing photographs of their homes obtained from publicly available online mapping services, attempting to extort money through intimidation. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office issued a warning to alert citizens to this scam tactic that exploits freely accessible street-view imagery to create a false sense of vulnerability.
smh.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational guide identifying 25 travel scams that target tourists worldwide. It explains common schemes such as the "pigeon strike" distraction theft, commission-based shop scams involving tour guides, and fake found-item plots where con artists demand rewards for "returning" worthless items. The article advises travelers to be alert but not alarmed, recommends obtaining police reports for expensive losses and filing insurance claims, and suggests that guided tours may offer some protection against scams.