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icrt.com.tw
A survey of nearly 25,000 Asian respondents found that approximately 30% of Taiwanese scam victims fell for scams within one hour of encountering them, with over 50% reporting weekly scam encounters. Identity theft was the most prevalent scam type in Taiwan at 24%, followed by shopping, investment, and business impersonation schemes, with Facebook (63% of users) and LINE (47% of users) being the primary platforms for fake investment ads and phishing links. Nearly 40% of Taiwanese respondents reported receiving AI-generated scam messages, reflecting a regional trend across Asia.
prnewswire.com
A global survey by Chubb found that 61% of respondents have reduced their use of digital payment platforms due to cyber scam concerns, despite 46% mistakenly believing their payments are already protected. The study across eight countries revealed that 63% have been cyber scam victims or know someone who has, with phishing, impersonation, and fake purchase scams being the most common threats. Results show that 75% of respondents would increase their trust and adoption of digital payments if transaction insurance were available.
aol.com
This editorial contrasts traditional scams like Long Leaf Trading Group's $1.2 million commodity fraud scheme with modern consumer fraud that leverages artificial intelligence, voice cloning, and personal data harvesting to create highly convincing imposter scams. Consumer fraud reached a record $10 billion in losses last year according to the FTC, with imposter scams representing the fastest-growing category as criminals exploit social isolation, political divisiveness, and technological sophistication to target vulnerable Americans. Law enforcement efforts have increased but remain outpaced by evolving fraud tactics, though a new generation of tech-savvy anti-scammers on platforms like YouTube are gaining traction in exposing these criminals.
chicagotribune.com
Long Leaf Trading Group, a Chicago-based boiler-room operation, cold-called victims to pitch a fraudulent commodity-trading scheme between 2020 and its prosecution, resulting in customer losses while company traders collected $1.2 million in commissions. The article uses this case to illustrate how consumer fraud has evolved dramatically, with modern scammers now employing AI voice cloning, personal data harvesting, and impersonation tactics that make scams increasingly difficult to detect, contributing to record losses of $10 billion in U.S. consumer fraud in the previous year.
latintimes.com
A 79-year-old Narragansett man lost $35,000 in cash and $135,000 in gold bars to an online scam in which fraudsters falsely claimed he was under investigation for child pornography and money laundering, then physically collected the assets from his home. Two men—Jirui Liu of Canada and Kush J. Patel of Connecticut—were arrested and charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy; Liu was caught attempting to collect a final $160,000 payment when police intervened, while Patel separately defrauded a 72-year-old victim of nearly $300,000 in gold bars
newportdispatch.com
Two young adults—Jirui Liu, 22, of Canada and Kush J. Patel, 22, of Connecticut—were arrested on federal charges for operating separate online fraud schemes targeting elderly Rhode Island residents. Liu defrauded a 79-year-old victim of $35,000 in cash and $130,000 in gold bars through a fake child pornography investigation pop-up, while Patel scammed a 72-year-old victim of nearly $200,000 using false claims about computer viruses and identity theft; both cases involved impersonation of federal agents and prompted law enforcement intervention to recover assets. Authorities encourage elder fraud reporting via the
indeonline.com
Scammers are using fake "card declined" messages on fraudulent websites and in phishing emails to trick consumers into entering payment information and personal details, then charging their accounts without authorization. The BBB and AAA have received multiple reports of consumers being charged unexpectedly despite receiving error messages suggesting their transactions failed. To protect yourself, verify website URLs and security features, research businesses before purchasing, avoid unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true, use credit cards for added fraud protection, and monitor your accounts for unauthorized charges.
justice.gov
William J. White, a 63-year-old Arizona resident, was sentenced to 15 months in prison on September 25, 2024, for attempting to cash a forged check at a local bank using false identification. White was also ordered to pay a $100 mandatory assessment fee and will serve two years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
ksfr.org
As the 2023-24 election cycle approaches record spending of over $10 billion, scammers are exploiting the climate to defraud citizens through various election-related schemes. Common scams include fraudulent Political Action Committees posing as candidate fundraisers, illegal robocalls using AI-generated voices, impersonation calls claiming to be from county clerk offices requesting personal information, and fake pollster calls offering payment in exchange for personal data. Experts advise verifying legitimacy through proper PAC procedures, refusing unsolicited calls requesting contributions, never providing personal information to unverified callers, and reporting suspicious election-related communications to authorities.
thevalleyledger.com
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie partnered with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General to host a free educational seminar on identity theft targeting older residents in the 187th Legislative District. The October 10 event, led by senior protection director Dave Shallcross, covered how to recognize scams, protect personal information, and respond to identity theft.
aol.com
A 39-year-old UK resident, Robert Westbrook, was charged with fraud after allegedly using genealogy websites to answer security questions and hack the email accounts of senior executives at five U.S. companies, then trading on nonpublic earnings information to make millions in illicit profits. Westbrook employed multiple concealment tactics including VPNs, Bitcoin payments, and fake email aliases to access the executives' Microsoft Outlook accounts and read confidential financial data before company announcements. The SEC successfully traced his activities through advanced data analytics and cryptocurrency tracking, with his insider trades generating hundreds of thousands to over $1 million in illegal gains.
thestar.com
A Toronto resident fell victim to a fake taxi scam where a driver with a taxi-style dome light used a rigged payment machine to steal the victim's debit card information and PIN, resulting in $1,471 in fraudulent charges. Toronto police report 493 similar taxi scam incidents in the year with total losses of $914,000, and the scam typically targets young people rather than seniors; detection methods include verifying taxi license plates and never relinquishing control of payment cards. Key prevention tips include checking that cabs have proper taxi identification and remaining vigilant about card security throughout transactions.
eff.org
This article addresses a widespread "sextortion" phishing scam in which recipients receive threatening emails claiming hackers have compromised their computers and possess embarrassing photos or browsing history, demanding payment in bitcoin to prevent the information from being shared with contacts. The scammers use publicly available personal information (names, addresses, house photos from Google Street View) obtained from data breaches to create a false appearance of authenticity, but they have not actually hacked the recipients. The article advises recipients not to pay the ransom and recommends changing passwords, freezing credit, and monitoring for identity theft to protect against future scams using leaked personal data.
thecourierexpress.com
More than 50 seniors attended a Scam Jam educational seminar in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, presented by state and local officials to teach fraud prevention and recognition of common scams targeting elders. Presenters highlighted increasingly sophisticated scams including voice cloning via AI, fake tech support calls requesting gift card payments, and impersonation schemes, emphasizing that victims should contact police immediately when suspicious and never provide personal information or payment via non-traditional means like gift cards. A recent local case was cited where timely police contact prevented a $30,000 loss to a potential victim.
verywellmind.com
This educational guide examines why scam victims face blame and shame, explaining that psychological biases—including the "just world" belief, hindsight bias, and defensive attribution—cause people to wrongly hold victims responsible for being scammed. The article emphasizes that victim blaming is harmful and counterproductive, noting that scams are increasingly common (the FTC reported $76 million lost to government impersonation scams in 2023, up 90% from 2022) and that anyone can fall victim regardless of intelligence or caution.
louisianaradionetwork.com
Kenner Police shut down a phishing scam website (geauxpass.info) that mimicked Louisiana's legitimate toll payment site (geauxpass.com) and targeted residents with text messages demanding $3.75 toll payments. The scammers, operating from a Russian server, were primarily seeking personal and credit card information rather than the toll amount itself. Police advised that government agencies never request payment or personal information via text messages or online links, and legitimate toll payments are only processed through official U.S. Mail communications.
aol.com
A 39-year-old Florida woman, Tanya Aboseada, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to 12 counts of wire fraud for scamming her elderly grandmother in Illinois out of $317,049 between November 2021 and August 2022. Aboseada fabricated elaborate stories—including claims about owing IRS money, paying attorney fees, and needing to pay a family after a fatal accident—to convince her grandmother to wire money into her bank account on multiple occasions. She was ordered to pay full restitution of $317,049 and serve three years of supervised release.
cleveland19.com
The Federal Trade Commission held a roundtable in Cleveland where community leaders shared personal scam experiences to raise awareness, with Ohioans reporting 30,000 fraud cases and nearly $100 million in losses so far that year. Discussed scams included gas station card skimming, targeting of refugee communities via fraudulent Zoom meetings, EBT card hacking, and imposter scams demanding payment through cryptocurrency, cash, wire transfers, or gift cards—none of which legitimate businesses or government agencies use for payment requests.
cbsnews.com
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.
psychologytoday.com
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.
wkbw.com
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.
medicalnewstoday.com
Medicare scam calls are fraudulent attempts to steal seniors' Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, bank account information, and other personal data by impersonating government agencies or Medicare representatives. Scammers use pressure tactics such as threatening benefit cancellation, promising free services, or offering plan upgrades to manipulate victims into disclosing sensitive information. Medicare and Social Security never make unsolicited calls requesting personal information; recipients should hang up immediately and contact Medicare directly at 800-633-4227 to report suspicious calls.
6abc.com
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.
kiro7.com
A middle-aged woman lost $120,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam despite conducting thorough research, including verifying the broker's credentials through FINRA and confirming their association with Fidelity. The scammer had stolen the identity of a legitimate broker and used social engineering tactics, including fake tax demands and international permit fees, to manipulate the victim into transferring money through Crypto.com. Security experts note that sophisticated scams like this create convincing illusions and recommend meeting investment advisors face-to-face to verify their legitimacy, as the FBI reports cryptocurrency scams resulted in over $12 billion in losses.
newsnationnow.com
An Austin woman lost thousands of dollars in a warrant scam when a caller impersonating a sheriff's deputy claimed she had missed jury duty and needed to send money via Bitcoin to avoid arrest; a bank manager intervened and prevented further losses. The FBI reports that Texans over 60 lost more than $278 billion in elder fraud last year, with common schemes including investment fraud (using fake cryptocurrency accounts and withdrawal fees) and tech support scams (pop-ups claiming virus infections to trick victims into sending money for gold, cash, or crypto). Law enforcement advises victims to pause and independently verify requests before acting, and recommends reporting fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
elderlawanswers.com
This educational article discusses the growing threat of data breaches and internet scams, citing FBI statistics showing global losses from internet scams increased from $3.5 billion in 2019 to $12.5 billion in 2023, with notable recent breaches at National Public Data and a CMS contractor affecting millions of consumers' personal information. The article provides cybersecurity awareness advice for Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October), recommending that internet users strengthen their passwords, consider using password managers, and monitor their financial accounts to reduce their vulnerability to fraud and identity theft.
macombgov.org
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office conducted outreach at a Senior Expo to educate seniors about common scams including identity theft, telemarketing fraud, internet scams, home improvement fraud, and caregiver fraud. Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido distributed "S.C.A.M.S." (Stopping Crimes Against Macomb Seniors) booklets and offers presentations to community groups to help seniors protect themselves from fraud. The office has scheduled another free Senior Expo for October 17, 2024, in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
foxnews.com
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.
thetimes.com
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
citynewsokc.com
Tech support scams involve fraudsters posing as representatives from Microsoft, Dell, or other legitimate companies, calling consumers unsolicited and claiming their computers have been hacked or infected with viruses. The scammers use remote access to take control of victims' computers and pressure them to provide credit card information, resulting in losses of $50-500 per victim plus potential data theft and computer lockouts. These operations, primarily based in India, use telemarketing boiler rooms and deceptive advertising to target English-speaking consumers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and other countries, though the FTC has pursued enforcement action against multiple scam operations.
foxnews.com
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.
pandasecurity.com
**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.
cbs8.com
According to a 2024 Truecaller/Harris Poll report, Americans lost $25.4 billion to communication fraud and robocalls annually, with Hispanic communities facing disproportionate targeting and twice the victimization rate compared to other groups. Fraudsters exploit Hispanic populations through immigration scams, identity theft, and jury duty schemes, highlighting the need for enhanced vigilance and protective measures like call-filtering apps to combat these threats.
cadillacnews.com
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.
mcknightsseniorliving.com
In 2023, the FTC reported $10 billion in total consumer fraud losses (up $1 billion from 2022), with older adults losing $3.4 billion according to FBI data, driven primarily by imposter scams, investment fraud (up 400% since 2021), and tech support scams despite scam types remaining largely consistent with previous years. The Senate Special Committee on Aging released its ninth annual fraud book highlighting that common scams targeting seniors include imposter, sweepstakes, lottery, cryptocurrency, and AI-enabled schemes, with tech support scams causing nearly $590 million in losses and investment scams topping $1.2 billion. Between June
washingtontimes.com
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
foxnews.com
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.
postregister.com
In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams—an 11% increase from 2022—prompting a unanimously passed Senate Resolution to combat elder fraud. Common scams include romance fraud, tech support scams, cryptocurrency schemes, and investment fraud, with warning signs including unexpected contact, pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, and demands for untraceable payments. Victims are encouraged to end contact with scammers, report incidents to local police, the FTC, FBI, or postal inspection services, and take protective measures such as updating security software and monitoring financial accounts.
sevendaysvt.com
In 2021, 67-year-old Jeanette Voss of Vermont lost her entire life savings of $950,000 to a tech-support scam that began with a fake Microsoft alert on her computer. Scammers convinced her over six months of daily calls that her Social Security number had been compromised and instructed her to transfer her retirement funds, stocks, and certificates of deposit into accounts they controlled before vanishing with the money. The case illustrates a growing threat: Americans aged 60 and older lost nearly $3.5 billion to scams in the past year, with older adults targeted for their savings, perceived lack of tech knowledge, and isolation.
baltimoresun.com
Baltimore State's Attorney Ivan Bates announced multiple convictions and indictments targeting crimes against older adults and vulnerable people, including theft schemes, financial exploitation, and home improvement fraud. Notable cases include James Rickey Dupree convicted of stealing approximately $200,000 in vehicles using falsified documents; Bryan Oneal Jones accused of defrauding 15 victims of $309,299 through fake home improvement contracts; David Coleman charged with defrauding a 72-year-old disabled veteran of $105,700; and several defendants charged with exploiting elderly relatives through undue influence, identity theft, and physical abuse. The announcement coincided with a resource fair by the
anz.com.au
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.
anz.com.au
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.
whitehallledger.com
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.
verywellmind.com
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.
yahoo.com
Tanya Alahmad, a Cleveland woman, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $46,000 in restitution for forging a power of attorney and stealing from an elderly victim between November 2019 and February 2022. While posing as a caregiver in the victim's home, Alahmad fraudulently obtained credit and debit cards in the victim's name and wrote unauthorized checks, particularly during periods when the victim was hospitalized. She pleaded guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
hometownstations.com
**Summary:**
Tanya Alahmad, 46, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $46,064.30 in restitution for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. From November 2019 to February 2022, Alahmad gained the trust of an elderly victim by providing household assistance, then forged a power of attorney in her name and used it to fraudulently obtain credit and debit cards, making unauthorized purchases and withdrawals totaling over $46,000, including while the victim was hospitalized.
iredellfreenews.com
Joshua David Mayberry, 39, was arrested and charged with nine felonies after stealing more than $100,000 from an elderly relative in western Iredell County, North Carolina. The fraud began in April 2018 when Mayberry fraudulently accessed and used the victim's bank accounts and credit cards for unauthorized purchases, with the theft discovered in April 2024 following a report from a financial institution. Mayberry faces seven counts of identity theft, one count of elder exploitation from a position of trust, and one count of obtaining property by false pretense.
forbes.com
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.
almanacnews.com
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.
businessinsider.com
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.