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nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
Maryland State Police warned residents about a sextortion scam in which victims receive threatening emails containing their names, Google Street View photos of their homes, and false claims of spyware installation and pornography viewing, demanding $2,000 in Bitcoin within 24 hours or threatening to expose them to contacts. The scam uses publicly available information to intimidate victims; authorities recommend deleting suspicious emails without clicking links and reporting to local police or the FBI rather than paying.
theglobeandmail.com
· 2025-12-08
A March 2024 Interac survey found that nine in 10 Canadians experienced at least one fraud attempt in the past year, with experts warning that AI-enabled scams and upcoming real-time payment systems will increase risks. The most common digital scams targeting Canadians are investment fraud (particularly cryptocurrency schemes responsible for over half of the $309 million in investment fraud losses), imposter fraud targeting financial institutions, and job fraud—often using sophisticated tactics including AI voice mimicry and fake social media profiles. Experts recommend prevention through Interac's "3-S" approach: stop, scrutinize, and speak up.
farmers-exchange.net
· 2025-12-08
A 45-year law enforcement investigator specializing in financial crimes against seniors presented fraud prevention advice at an Elkhart County event, identifying seniors as prime targets due to their wealth ($35 trillion combined net worth for those 70+), isolation, and politeness. He outlined common scams including romance, grandparent impersonation, lottery fraud, and computer/payment account schemes, recommending seniors avoid clicking suspicious links, never trust unsolicited callers, watch for red flags like upfront payment demands, and verify references before hiring services. Dietz emphasized that billions of dollars are lost annually to scammers in the region, advising families to establish secret codes and remain vigilant against caller ID
liherald.com
· 2025-12-08
The Town of Oyster Bay partnered with the Nassau County District Attorney's office to combat scams targeting seniors, offering two educational seminars in September 2024 to teach residents about online threats and reporting procedures. According to the Federal Trade Commission, over $230 million was stolen from New Yorkers by scammers in 2024 alone, with seniors being particularly vulnerable to phone and email scams impersonating government agents, banks, or family members, as well as physical theft and technologically sophisticated attacks. The seminars address growing concerns about increasingly complex fraud schemes, including those using artificial intelligence to mimic voices, with some victims losing their entire life savings.
washingtontimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Bill Whitaker, a 75-year-old, fell victim to a tech support scam that began with a fake software upgrade email; after following the scammer's instructions, approximately $28,000 was drained from his and his wife Susan's accounts, with only $8,000 recovered. The incident illustrates the broader "tsunami of fraud" targeting older Americans, with the FTC reporting over $10 billion in consumer fraud losses in 2023 (actual losses far higher due to underreporting), predominantly perpetrated by overseas criminal syndicates using tactics ranging from fake tech support to AI-cloned voices and romance scams. Experts testifying before Congress
krebsonsecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
GitHub users received phishing emails spoofed from GitHub's security team directing them to a fake website (github-scanner[.]com) where a malicious CAPTCHA prompt instructed visitors to press keyboard combinations that automatically downloaded Lumma Stealer malware designed to steal stored credentials. While tech-savvy programmers were unlikely to fall for the scam, security researchers warn the same technique could easily deceive less tech-savvy users unfamiliar with Windows command functions like PowerShell.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wheat Ridge Police Department warned of a cryptocurrency extortion scam circulating through the community in which victims receive emails containing personal information (addresses, photos from Google Maps) and threats of blackmail involving fabricated malware and compromising videos, demanding cryptocurrency payment via Bitcoin QR code. None of the Wheat Ridge residents who received these emails fell victim to the scam, though police emphasized the importance of reporting such attempts to raise community awareness. The scam exploits urgency and fear through false claims, reflecting a broader national problem—Americans lost over $5.5 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with Colorado reporting more than 1,300 fraud cases costing residents $81 million
helsinkitimes.fi
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams in Finland increased significantly in the first half of 2024, with losses totaling 27.5 million euros—nearly 8 million more than the same period in 2023. Phishing scams caused the largest losses at 11.7 million euros, while investment scams more than doubled to 10.9 million euros, though banks managed to block an additional 18.2 million euros in fraudulent transactions. Experts advise caution against scams using urgency tactics and impersonation of officials, and recommend being skeptical of offers that sound too good to be true.
courierpostonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Martins Inalegwu and Steincy Mathieu, a Burlington County couple, were sentenced to prison (80 months and 16 months respectively) for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 100 victims of approximately $4.5 million between 2016 and 2020. The scammers posed as romantic interests on dating websites, targeting vulnerable older adults and others, with one victim—a tourism board finance director—embezzling $2.8 million from her employer to send to the couple. Both defendants were ordered to pay millions in restitution and unpaid taxes.
fox2detroit.com
· 2025-12-08
Facebook scams for mobile car detailing services are proliferating, typically posted by new group members offering discounts with promises of payment after service and vague contact information to avoid. Red flags include new or backdated profiles, identical wording across multiple posts, no pricing listed, and requests to message directly; similar scams also target consumers through air duct cleaning and false missing person posts that later redirect to phishing links. Users should verify legitimate businesses independently, report suspicious posts to Facebook and the BBB, and check local law enforcement sources before sharing missing person alerts.
livingsnoqualmie.com
· 2025-12-08
The Snoqualmie Police Department is warning residents about a "Pegasus" sextortion scam variation where attackers send threatening emails claiming to possess explicit photos or videos and include personal details like Google Maps photos of victims' homes, demanding ransom payment within 24 hours. Law enforcement advises residents not to respond to or pay these scams and to delete the emails immediately, as the threats are false and information often comes from public sources or past data breaches. The FBI recommends avoiding compromising photos, suspicious email attachments, and leaving webcams exposed to prevent victimization.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Since May 2024, Pune cyber police have documented 16 cases of senior citizens defrauded through WhatsApp messages impersonating Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd (MNGL), resulting in total losses of Rs 1.06 crore. The scam involves fake bill payment notifications that prompt victims to contact a number, where fraudsters manipulate them into downloading remote access applications and sharing banking credentials, ultimately siphoning funds from their accounts. Police classify these as social engineering frauds exploiting elderly people's fears about service disconnection, and have advised MNGL to issue consumer warnings.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
On September 20, hackers compromised the Supreme Court of India's official YouTube channel (217,000+ followers) and rebranded it to promote a Ripple/XRP cryptocurrency scam, featuring a fake livestream with deepfake or impersonated CEO Brad Garlinghouse and phishing links designed to steal cryptocurrency wallet access. YouTube removed the compromised channel for violating Community Guidelines, though the scammers' phishing approach—directing victims to connect wallets and granting hackers full fund access—mirrors similar attacks on high-profile accounts like DidYouKnowGaming and Ben&Ben throughout 2024. These incidents reflect a rising trend of YouTube account breaches used to
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-08
Vista resident Jan Hoops lost approximately $24,000 in a gift card scam after a pop-up alert directed her to call a fake Microsoft number; the scammer convinced her that her accounts had been hacked, instructed her to withdraw cash from her credit union and purchase Lowes gift cards, then obtained the card numbers by having her read them aloud. Employees at both the credit union and store warned Hoops about the scam, but the fraudster kept her on the phone and instructed her not to trust them, ultimately deceiving her into providing the gift card information needed to cash them in. The recommended defense is to hang up on unsolicited calls about account breaches and independently verify concerns
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
**Credit Card Debt Forgiveness Scams**
As Americans carry record credit card debt (averaging $7,951 per household), scammers are increasingly targeting consumers with fraudulent "debt forgiveness" offers through mail, email, and text messages. Legitimate warning signs of scams include upfront payment demands, use of the word "forgiveness," unsolicited outreach, requests for personal financial information without assessing overall debt, pressure to stop making payments, and high-pressure sales tactics with artificial deadlines. Consumers should be wary of any company promising complete debt elimination, as reputable credit counseling organizations do not charge upfront fees and will work with those unable
cadillacnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel met with over 70 senior citizens in Cadillac to educate them about emerging scams, including phishing, smishing, identity theft, grandparent scams, and "pig butchering" scams—a long-term fraud where perpetrators build false relationships with victims via social apps before stealing money or personal information. Nessel highlighted how artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by scammers to create personalized, convincing fraud schemes, including deepfake audio and video to impersonate family members, and directed residents to the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection website for scam information and alerts.
pandasecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
As Amazon Prime Day approaches on October 8-9, scammers are preparing to exploit the shopping rush by targeting consumers through phishing emails, fake Amazon websites, and stolen credential misuse. Common tactics include fraudulent messages claiming Prime subscriptions have been canceled to steal login information, as well as package theft by "porch pirates" taking advantage of increased deliveries. Consumers can protect themselves by using antivirus software, verifying account information directly through Amazon, and using Amazon Lockers for package delivery to avoid theft.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Tennessee man's wife fell victim to a sophisticated scam where thieves posed as bank representatives following a legitimate fraud alert text, tricking her into revealing the answer to her account's security question. Using this information, the scammers disabled notifications, transferred funds between accounts, and set up an ACH withdrawal—though the victim's daily account monitoring allowed her to catch the fraud quickly and recover most funds through her bank and IC3 reporting. The incident illustrates how scammers exploit trust and use security question answers to bypass account protections, and highlights the importance of verifying caller identity and being cautious about sharing personal information even when requests seem legitimate.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
David Checkley, a romance fraudster, was jailed again after previously defrauding Sharon Shearer, 70, of over £200,000 during a three-year relationship that left her bankrupt and homeless. The article also reports a significant rise in various fraud schemes in the UK, including an 43% increase in banking complaints about denied refunds (8,700 cases between April-June), a 34% surge in purchase scams totaling £85.9 million in 2023, and a 31% increase in romance scam payments reaching £36.5 million—the highest ever recorded. Common scams highlighted include marketplace fraud, fake ticketing schemes,
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A buyer lost £615 to a Facebook Marketplace scam when purchasing a second-hand bicycle; the seller requested payment via PayPal's friends and family option (which lacks buyer protection) and never delivered the item or responded to messages. After intervention, PayPal refunded the full amount, and the article warns that scammers increasingly exploit the friends and family payment method to avoid refunds, with Facebook scam losses rising 366% from £7 million in 2020 to £32.6 million in 2022. The advice recommends paying by cash in person when possible, or using protected payment methods like PayPal's standard goods and services option rather than bank
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam text message circulated in York, Pennsylvania, claiming recipients owed parking violation fees (ranging from $4.15 to $35) and directing them to click a malicious link. York City officials warned residents via Facebook that the text was fraudulent and advised anyone receiving suspicious parking-related communications to contact the York City Parking Bureau directly at 717-849-2230 rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
lawrencekstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister conducted a community presentation warning residents about common scams after a local family lost $90,000, noting that scammers typically operate outside U.S. jurisdiction making fund recovery nearly impossible. Scammers use emails, phone calls, social media, and mail to target victims by spoofing phone numbers, impersonating government agencies or financial institutions, and creating emotional urgency through threats or too-good-to-be-true offers. Armbrister recommends verifying suspicious calls by hanging up and calling trusted numbers, watching for red flags like immediate threats and AI-enhanced voice spoofing, and never providing personal or banking information to unsolicited callers
oneidadispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York State Police warned the public about a nationwide automated sextortion scam in which fraudsters use illegally obtained email addresses and personal information purchased on the dark web to contact victims, threatening to release compromising material unless victims pay extortion fees. The scammers employ intimidation and threats of embarrassment to coerce payments from targets.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans received over 4.4 billion robocalls in April, with scam calls surging 73% to 710 million, primarily featuring fraudulent tax relief schemes promising to eliminate or make tax debt "non-collectible." These scams target people with tax obligations by requesting upfront fees and personal information while delivering nothing in return. The article recommends protecting oneself through data removal services, screening unknown calls, verifying caller identity, and reporting suspicious calls to authorities.
6abc.com
· 2025-12-08
Fake job offer scams are among the fastest-growing frauds in the U.S., with reports jumping 118% in 2023, and scammers use these schemes to steal identities or money by requesting pre-payment for job expenses or using stolen identities to deceive employers. To protect themselves, job applicants should research positions directly through company websites, be cautious of requests for sensitive information like Social Security numbers, and verify job postings independently, while employers should conduct thorough background checks and conduct face-to-face interviews.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Afeez Akinloye, a Nigerian citizen, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on September 19, 2024, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud targeting U.S. real estate businesses. Between fall 2016 and summer 2017, Akinloye and co-conspirators hacked email accounts related to real estate transactions and impersonated sellers to request fraudulent wire transfers, using accounts obtained through romance scams; eleven total victims lost $1.85 million with an additional $4.6 million in attempted losses, including two Nebraska victims who lost $52,000. Akinloye was arrested in South Africa in 2022
lanarkleedstoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Smiths Falls law firm fell victim to a phishing scam in July when an employee clicked a malicious email link, allowing scammers to breach the firm's servers and impersonate them to clients. The scammers successfully obtained an undisclosed payment from a client who believed they were paying legitimate legal fees. Smiths Falls Police Service is investigating the incident and has not yet determined whether the perpetrators were local or international.
wfmj.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI arrested 24-year-old Indian national Shreyas Baldevbhai Chaudhary in Georgia for his role in a $4.8 million nationwide elder fraud scheme targeting at least six victims across multiple states using fake tech support scams. Chaudhary allegedly defrauded a 77-year-old Salem man of approximately $61,000 by convincing him his computer was hacked and pressuring him to send cash to couriers posing as Microsoft or financial institution representatives. The investigation, which also identified co-conspirator Trusha Chaudhary and is ongoing with additional arrests expected, revealed a sophisticated operation that victimized elderly Americans in Ohio, California
wfmj.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI arrested 24-year-old Shreyas Baldevbhai Chaudhary in Georgia for his role in a $4.8 million nationwide elder fraud scheme targeting at least six victims across multiple states, including a 77-year-old Salem man who lost approximately $61,000. The scam involved fake tech support pop-ups claiming victims' computers were hacked, followed by pressure to send cash or gold to couriers posing as Microsoft or financial institution representatives. A co-conspirator, Trusha Chaudhary, was also apprehended, and authorities indicate the investigation is ongoing with additional arrests expected.
candgnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office is holding educational events in October to help seniors recognize and prevent fraud, including scams involving impersonation of police officers, fake technical support invoices, and AI-generated voice calls from supposed relatives. Free presentations and "S.C.A.M.S." prevention booklets will be available at events on October 9 at Macomb Community College and October 17 at the Sterling Heights Fall Senior Expo, with the office advising seniors to avoid sharing personal information with unknown callers or emailers.
wkbw.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau reports a record surge in phishing scams in 2024, with scam reports doubling between 2022 and 2023, targeting people through text messages (such as fake toll payment demands), extortion emails involving threats to release compromising images unless Bitcoin payment is made, and stolen event tickets from major data breaches like the Ticketmaster hack affecting 500 million users. Experts recommend not engaging with scammers, using app-based authentication with two-factor verification, and reporting suspected scams, noting that cryptocurrency payments are nearly impossible to recover once sent.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Spanish police arrested five scammers who posed as Brad Pitt and defrauded two women of €325,000 (₹3 crore) through emails and WhatsApp by promising romantic relationships and fake investment opportunities. The criminals identified vulnerable, emotionally fragile victims through social media analysis, building false trust before extracting money; authorities recovered €85,000 and seized evidence including phones, computers, and a diary of deceptive phrases used in the scam. This case reflects a broader trend of celebrity impersonation scams targeting lonely, vulnerable individuals online.
psychologytoday.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article examines how scammers use fear and psychological manipulation to exploit victims through sophisticated online extortion scams. The author explains that scammers deliberately trigger fight-or-flight responses to bypass critical thinking, and notes that the FTC reported $10 billion in fraud losses nationally in 2023, with success rates dependent on sending mass emails to hundreds of millions of people. The article advocates for corporate accountability while recommending awareness-building, FTC resources, and educational content from fraud educators as tools to counter these tactics.
montclairlocal.news
· 2025-12-08
Montclair Police warn residents of sextortion scams where fraudsters email victims claiming to have installed malware and threatening to release compromising videos unless payment is made in Bitcoin, using publicly available information like phone numbers and home addresses to appear credible. Police advise residents to never provide personal information, financial details, or payments via Bitcoin, wire transfer, or gift cards, and to be aware that caller ID can be spoofed; victims should contact Montclair Police at (973) 744-1234 if targeted.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
West African "Yahoo boys" operating from Ghana conduct large-scale romance and computer repair scams, targeting vulnerable Americans (particularly widowers and elderly victims) and stealing billions in fraudulent wire transfers and gold purchase schemes. A 92-year-old retired nurse lost significant portions of her life savings to a gold scam despite repeated warnings, leading to lawsuits against banks like Charles Schwab for allegedly ignoring red flags on suspicious transactions. U.S. consumers reported over $10 billion in fraud losses in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022—as overseas-based scams exploit weak bank safeguards and psychological manipulation to drain American accounts.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director warned the public to be cautious of love scams, citing a case where a 58-year-old female lawyer lost RM1.7 million to a scammer who posed as an American marine geologist and requested loans. The CCID also reported dismantling a Pantheon Ventures investment scam involving 17 suspects that defrauded 66 victims of RM32.9 million since January, using fake investment packages promising unrealistic returns of 6-400% daily through Facebook and WhatsApp advertisements.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Isaiah Okere, a 42-year-old Nigerian citizen, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after being extradited from South Africa for his role in an international scam operation targeting at least 15 victims. From 2015 to 2019, Okere and co-conspirators orchestrated romance scams, lottery scams, and business email compromise schemes that resulted in over $1 million in losses, with vulnerable and elderly victims losing their entire retirement savings, and one victim reporting suicidal ideation. Okere used false identities and foreign bank accounts to facilitate the fraud and money laundering scheme, and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Users on TikTok and other platforms are receiving fraudulent text messages claiming to be from TikTok's HR department, offering £200-£500 daily salaries for easy remote work. These messages are part of a "task scam" variant where victims download an app, complete limited free tasks, then are pressured to pay upgrade fees to continue earning, with no ability to actually withdraw any winnings. TikTok has issued an official warning urging users to be vigilant and verify the authenticity of job opportunities before sharing personal information or sending money.
bristolpost.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Journalist Moira Stuart fell victim to a sophisticated bank impersonation scam approximately three years ago in which a caller claimed to be from her bank, alleging fraudulent activity and instructing her to withdraw cash from an alternative branch while remaining on the phone. The scam was thwarted when a vigilant bank teller questioned her actions and advised her it "doesn't sound right," prompting her to report the incident to the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart has since partnered with BT Group and AbilityNet to educate older adults about common scams including delivery fraud, family impersonation schemes, and bank/email fraud, emphasizing that scammers are sophisticated enough to target
fox5atlanta.com
· 2025-12-08
A Gwinnett County woman fell victim to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam in December 2022 when a fraudster impersonated her real estate closing attorney and instructed her to wire $131,092.55 to purchase her home. With assistance from Gwinnett County Police detectives and JP Morgan Chase, authorities recovered over $100,000 of the stolen funds—$45,092.55 was returned after the suspect, Edina Winter of Glen Cove, New York, was charged, and the remaining $86,000 was seized from the fraudulent account.
wdtn.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warned of a "card declined" scam where fraudsters create fake retail websites that display false payment decline messages to trick shoppers into entering multiple credit card numbers, which the scammers then harvest for unauthorized charges. To protect yourself, verify website URLs and security features (https://), avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, research businesses before purchasing, use credit cards for extra fraud protection, and never retry payments with different cards on suspicious sites. The BBB recommends checking for legitimate business accreditation and monitoring your accounts for unauthorized charges.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational language lesson, not a news article about an actual scam or fraud case. The material teaches intermediate English learners about online scams through vocabulary, grammar (passive voice), and a dialogue example involving a phishing email impersonating the Australian Taxation Office. The lesson provides practical phrases for discussing scams and emphasizes how to recognize suspicious messages, verify sender identity, and report incidents to authorities.
northwichguardian.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Age UK Cheshire is hosting free educational events in October titled "Scam Proof? Protect Yourself and Others from Fraud" to help elderly residents and community members recognize and prevent scams. Expert speakers from local authorities, police, and the Crown Prosecution Service, along with scam survivors sharing their stories, will cover warning signs and tactics used by fraudsters across phone, online, and doorstep scams. The sessions are designed to equip participants with practical strategies to protect their personal and financial information.
oaklandcounty115.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned seniors at a Southfield Senior Summit about "pig butchering" scams and other fraud targeting older adults. Pig butchering is a romance scam variant where criminals build trust with victims online over days or weeks before soliciting money for emergencies or investment opportunities, with victims sometimes losing their life savings. Nessel identified three common scam tactics: creating urgency, obtaining personal information, and requesting money, and advised seniors to verify the identity of callers and warn loved ones about suspicious online relationships with distant strangers.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Texas seniors fell victim to sophisticated financial scams: 71-year-old Phyllis Lopez lost $3,500 after a caller impersonating a Chase Bank representative convinced her to wire her savings, and 77-year-old Shirley Ison-Newsome lost over $50,000 in a scam involving a fraudulent wire transfer to China. Texas's 2017 Protection of Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act allows banks to freeze accounts suspected of fraud, resulting in increased reporting to Adult Protective Services (from 3,600 to 6,400 reports between 2017-2023), though consumer advocates argue more protection is needed and lawmakers
news.ufl.edu
· 2025-12-08
Researchers at the University of Florida found that older adults who are more attuned to their own heartbeat are 15-20% better at detecting phishing emails and identifying liars, suggesting that "gut instinct" or bodily awareness could be trained to help protect seniors against fraud. The study tested over 100 participants across age groups and found that enhanced bodily awareness specifically benefited older adults in spotting deception in both email and video scenarios, which is significant given that seniors lose more than $28 billion annually to financial scams.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Spanish police arrested five members of a criminal organization who operated a romance scam impersonating actor Brad Pitt, defrauding two Spanish women of over €350,000 by convincing them they were in a romantic relationship with the actor and requesting money for fake investment projects. The scammers targeted victims through a fan page, profiled them via social media to identify vulnerable individuals, and laundered funds through money mules in West African countries; authorities recovered €85,000 of the stolen amount. The case highlights the prevalence of romance scams, which caused over $50 million in reported losses across Canada alone in 2023.
wlos.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder financial scams increased 14% in complaints and 11% in financial impact in 2023, with criminals targeting seniors through imposter scams (IRS/Social Security), shopping fraud, grandparent scams, tech support schemes, and sweepstakes fraud. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, emphasizing that seniors should never share personal information unsolicited, verify requests through independent contact with family or organizations, be skeptical of unusual payment methods, and report suspected fraud immediately.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Malwarebytes research reveals that romance scams affected over 66% of survey respondents, with 10% losing more than $10,000 and 3% losing $100,000 or more—yet 94% of victims recovered none of their money. The scams disproportionately target people over 55 (74% of victims), often through social media (38%) and dating platforms (31%), with 26% of victims engaged with scammers for extended periods, including 5% in year-long relationships. The study emphasizes the need for awareness, identity verification, and reporting to law enforcement, as stigma and shame prevent many victims from seeking
wdsu.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are creating fake shopping websites that display "card declined" messages to trick customers into entering multiple payment methods, giving fraudsters access to their financial information. The Better Business Bureau has received reports of fraudulent charges following these incidents. To protect yourself, verify website URLs carefully, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and ensure you're shopping on legitimate sites.