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americanbanker.com
· 2026-04-21
Iran's plan to collect cryptocurrency tolls from ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz uses the same financial infrastructure—including Tether stablecoin and U.S. correspondent banks—that criminals exploit to launder proceeds from major cryptocurrency scams affecting Americans. Americans lost $7.2 billion to crypto fraud in 2025, with older adults (aged 50+) accounting for over $4 billion of those losses through schemes like "pig butchering," where scammers build false trust before stealing funds. Banks and regulators face compliance challenges in distinguishing between legitimate cryptocurrency transactions and illicit flows used by both foreign governments and criminal networks operating through the same digital channels.
foxnews.com
· 2026-04-21
Cryptocurrency scammers are using increasingly sophisticated scripts to trick victims into sending money through crypto transactions, which are fast, irreversible, and hard to trace. The scams typically use psychology, urgency, and emotional appeals delivered through social media, email, or text messages to pressure people—especially seniors—into making quick decisions to send money. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment offers promising quick returns, verify contacts through official channels, and remember that legitimate investments don't pressure you for immediate cryptocurrency payments.
theguardian.com
· 2026-04-21
Fraudsters are using AI-powered fake job listings to deceive job-seekers into sending money or personal information, making scams increasingly difficult to spot. The author fell victim to an elaborate scheme where a convincing fake recruiter used personalized details from her LinkedIn profile and CV to create a tailored job offer that seemed almost too perfect. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited job opportunities with suspicious red flags like unusually high salaries, requests for personal information upfront, and offers that align too perfectly with your experience—verify recruiter credentials independently on LinkedIn, research the company directly, and never share sensitive information until you've confirmed legitimacy through official company channels.
wfmz.com
· 2026-04-21
Older Americans, who control $53 trillion in wealth, lost $2.4 billion to scams last year, prompting researchers to study what actually makes people vulnerable to fraud. A new study found that vulnerability to scams isn't just about intelligence or cognitive ability—even highly educated seniors like an 82-year-old lawyer thought to be scam-proof can fall victim when social and emotional factors like loneliness, time pressure, and difficulty reading emotions come into play. To protect yourself, be aware that scammers exploit emotional vulnerabilities and time pressure, not just logical gaps, so take time to verify requests and maintain strong social connections.
attorneygeneral.gov
· 2026-04-21
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is warning residents about a cash scam where criminals pose as authority figures or claim a family emergency to pressure victims into paying money in person to a third party, with two recent cases resulting in over $30,000 in losses. Scammers exploit the untraceable nature of cash and create artificial urgency to prevent victims from verifying the claims. To protect yourself, never pay cash to unknown individuals, and hang up or ignore any communication demanding immediate payment—if you suspect you've been scammed, contact the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555.
wgal.com
· 2026-04-21
State attorneys general are warning about cash collection scams where scammers create false emergencies—such as fraudulent charges on your accounts or hacking threats—to trick victims into withdrawing large amounts of cash for a supposed "government agent" to pick up. These scams have affected numerous victims who lost untraceable cash to criminals. To protect yourself, watch for red flags like pressure to act quickly, demands that you stay on the phone while withdrawing money, and requests to hand cash to strangers—if someone insists on any of these, you're likely being scammed and should hang up and contact local authorities.
yahoo.com
· 2026-04-21
Scammers are using AI-generated videos and deepfakes to impersonate General Hospital actor Steve Burton in increasingly sophisticated romance and money scams, with one victim reportedly losing $40,000 believing she was in a relationship with him. Michelle Lundstrom, Burton's wife, posted a public warning on Instagram explaining that the problem has spiraled out of control, clarifying that her husband does not privately message fans or ask for money and does not use platforms like Zangy or WhatsApp. Anyone contacted by someone claiming to be a celebrity should verify through official accounts and be extremely skeptical of requests for money or intimate conversations, especially as AI-generated impersonations become harder to distinguish from real content.
thred.com
· 2026-04-21
Dating app users have discovered that suspicious AI-generated photos are appearing on profiles, where third-party images (paintings, billboards, celebrity photos) are being altered with faces that don't match the profile owner. These fake or manipulated photos appear to be the result of facial verification systems malfunctioning, potentially created by AI to generate attractive profiles and boost user engagement. Users should be cautious about profile authenticity on dating apps and verify matches through video calls or reverse image searches before meeting in person.
natlawreview.com
· 2026-04-21
Maryland officials and non-profits launched "PROTECT Week," a statewide campaign to combat financial exploitation of older adults, which has become one of the fastest-growing forms of elder abuse. Seniors are being targeted at alarming rates—reports show one in 20 older adults experience financial abuse, with victims over 60 losing $4.885 billion in 2024 alone, a 43 percent increase from the previous year. To protect yourself, experts advise: if someone tells you to keep money transfers secret or claims authority and urgency, slow down and tell a trusted friend or family member before acting, and take advantage of free community resources like webinars and workshops being offered during PROTECT Week to learn how to spot and prevent fraud.
newsarenaindia.com
· 2026-04-21
Digital arrest scams—where fraudsters impersonate police officers or judges to extort money through threatening video calls—are defrauding well-educated Indians, including a woman known to India's Chief Justice who lost her entire retirement savings. The scams have collectively swindled approximately ₹3,000 crore, and experts are recommending that banks and tech companies implement automatic transaction blocks and alert systems to prevent victims from making irreversible financial transfers when confronted with these threatening calls. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected calls claiming to be from authorities, verify through official channels before sharing personal or financial information, and consider setting up transaction alerts with your bank.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-04-20
An 82-year-old retired journalist lost his entire life savings of nearly $300,000 in a "pig-butchering" scam, where a scammer posing as an attractive woman named "Daisy Miller" built a romantic relationship with him over text before convincing him to invest in a fraudulent gold-trading scheme. The scam exploited his trust by gradually escalating from casual conversation to financial requests, demonstrating how sophisticated romance scams can target vulnerable people, particularly seniors. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited online romantic connections, never invest money based on advice from people you've only met online, and verify investment opportunities through independent research before sending any funds.
capitalfm.co.ke
· 2026-04-20
Romance scams have surged dramatically, with Kirsty's case exemplifying how sophisticated modern fraudsters operate—she lost £80,000 after being deceived by a Nigerian scammer posing as a British businessman on a dating app, who used fake banking websites and voice disguisers to build trust before requesting money. Reports show romance scams rose 20% year-over-year between 2024-2025, with victims in the UK losing £106 million in 2024 alone, while global fraud losses now exceed half a trillion dollars annually. To protect yourself, be cautious of dating app matches who quickly request money, verify identities independently rather than trusting shared photos or banking screenshots, and never send money or expensive items to people you haven't met in person.
ahwatukee.com
· 2026-04-20
An Ahwatukee resident named Joyce Petrowski founded R.O.S.E. (Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly) in 2021 after a loved one fell victim to a romance scam, and now she runs a weekly YouTube radio show and nonprofit dedicated to educating people—especially seniors—about fraud prevention. While scammers target people of all ages, they often exploit emotional vulnerabilities to prey on the elderly, making awareness and education critical. Petrowski's key advice is to seek recurring scam prevention education, pause when contacted by unknown parties, consult trusted people before engaging, and verify legitimacy rather than responding immediately to potential scammers.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-04-20
An 82-year-old retired journalist lost his entire life savings of nearly $300,000 in a "pig-butchering" scam—a sophisticated fraud scheme where a stranger posing as an attractive woman named "Daisy Miller" built a romantic relationship with him over text before convincing him to invest in a fake gold-trading platform. The scam unfolded over just 10 weeks, starting with an innocent text about a cookout and gradually escalating into financial manipulation once trust was established. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited romantic connections online, especially those that quickly pivot to investment opportunities, and verify any investment platform independently before sending money.
forbes.com
· 2026-04-20
Senator Maggie Hassan has pressured four AI voice-cloning companies—ElevenLabs, LOVO, Speechify, and VEED—to explain how they prevent scammers from impersonating people's voices, after the FBI reported $893 million in losses from AI-related scams in 2025. Consumer Reports testing found that four of six voice-cloning products had minimal safeguards against cloning voices without consent, raising serious concerns about identity theft and fraud. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected calls asking for money or sensitive information, verify caller identity through independent contact methods, and report suspected voice-cloning scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
nypost.com
· 2026-04-19
Senior citizens are increasingly falling victim to sophisticated scams, including the "phantom hacker/courier scheme" that costs Americans over $500 million annually, exemplified by a 76-year-old New Jersey man who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars after calling a number in a fake Norton antivirus email. These scams take various forms—from Medicare fraud and "grandparent" schemes to romance and IRS impersonation scams—and often go unreported because victims are embarrassed, making the true financial impact likely far greater than estimated. Banks and businesses need to take responsibility for enabling these schemes, and seniors should be cautious about unsolicited emails and calls requesting personal information or urgent wire transfers.
kvoa.com
· 2026-04-19
Romance scammers in Arizona stole $155,000 from three victims who were tricked by fake online personas—including imposters claiming to be a surgeon, army general, and engineer—who quickly built emotional connections before requesting money. These scams are particularly lucrative and devastating because they exploit people seeking companionship, with victims often unaware they've been defrauded until significant money has been lost. To protect yourself, be cautious of strangers who contact you unexpectedly on social media or dating apps and immediately ask for money, especially those claiming to be overseas or in dangerous situations, and report any suspicious activity to authorities.
bbc.com
· 2026-04-19
Romance scams have surged dramatically, with a woman named Kirsty losing £80,000 after being deceived by someone posing as a wealthy British businessman on a dating website who was actually a Nigerian scammer using sophisticated fake banking websites and voice disguisers. Romance scam reports rose 20% year-over-year in early 2025, with UK victims losing £106 million in 2024 alone, as scammers operate internationally across multiple countries and use money transfer services to hide stolen funds. To protect yourself, be cautious of online dating matches who quickly ask for money, verify financial claims independently, avoid sending money to people you haven't met in person, and report suspicious activity to local police and your bank immediately.
sumnercountysource.com
· 2026-04-19
Scammers are exploiting the Iran conflict to conduct fraud through imposter calls pretending to be banks or government agencies, romance scams involving military personnel supposedly deployed to Iran, and fake charities soliciting donations. These scams aim to steal money and personal information from victims by creating false urgency and credibility. To protect yourself, remember that government agencies never ask for financial information over the phone, be suspicious of online contacts asking for money, verify charities through ftc.gov/charity before donating, and report any suspected scams immediately to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
kanivatonga.co.nz
· 2026-04-19
Tonga's central bank has warned the public about a rising wave of romance scams targeting vulnerable people through social media and messaging apps, where scammers use fake identities to build emotional connections before manipulating victims into sending money or financial information. Common warning signs include declarations of love within days, requests for money tied to fabricated emergencies or travel costs, avoidance of video calls with excuses about working overseas, and pressure to move conversations to private encrypted apps. The bank advises people to remain vigilant and watch for red flags like requests for untraceable payments via cryptocurrency or gift cards, unusual investment offers, or requests for fees to claim supposed gifts.
foxnews.com
· 2026-04-19
Scammers don't need to hack into secure systems—instead, they exploit publicly available personal information sold by data brokers, including your address, phone number, age, and income details gathered from public records and voter registrations. A major 2024 case involved a Montreal-based scam operation that defrauded elderly Americans of over $21 million using simple spreadsheets of victim information purchased from commercial databases to identify targets for grandparent scams. To protect yourself, you should take steps to remove your personal information from data broker websites and be cautious of unsolicited calls asking for money, especially ones claiming urgency or family emergencies.
wisn.com
· 2026-04-18
Scammers are increasingly using AI technology to create fake videos, voices, and impersonations to trick people into sending money, with consumers losing over $5 billion to investment scams and $750 million to job scams in recent years. Common schemes include fake bank calls, IRS emails, cryptocurrency promotions using deepfake videos, and fraudulent job listings where scammers ask for upfront equipment payments. To protect yourself, avoid responding to unsolicited communications via email, text, or phone calls, and verify requests directly with the organization using official contact information.
foxnews.com
· 2026-04-18
Scammers are targeting vulnerable people—particularly older and recently widowed players—through casual online games like Words With Friends by building fake friendships that eventually turn into requests for money and gift cards. These romance scams cost victims billions annually and are among the most expensive fraud categories reported to the FTC. To protect yourself or loved ones, be cautious of new online game contacts who quickly become personal, avoid sharing personal details or sending money to game acquaintances, and report suspicious behavior to local police and the FTC.
wxyz.com
· 2026-04-18
A Ypsilanti woman nearly lost $80,000 to a fake Microsoft pop-up scam that appeared on her laptop, but escaped after a bank teller recognized the scammers' attempt to transfer funds through PayPal. The scammers used remote access software to take control of her computer, a common tactic affecting 73% of U.S. adults according to Pew Research. To protect yourself, experts advise shutting down your computer immediately if you see suspicious pop-ups with phone numbers, keeping your system updated, and calling a trusted friend or official support instead of numbers displayed on suspicious screens.
latimes.com
· 2026-04-18
California hospice providers have been systematically defrauding Medicare and vulnerable elderly patients by billing for end-of-life care for people who weren't actually terminally ill, a problem that was exposed in 2020 but has persisted despite promised reforms and a licensing moratorium. Despite years of pledges to strengthen oversight and enact new regulations, state officials have failed to implement meaningful protections, allowing the scams to continue and allegedly costing taxpayers over $260 million. Patients and their families should be cautious about hospice recommendations, verify a patient's actual medical condition before enrollment, and report suspicious billing practices to state health authorities or Medicare.
azag.gov
· 2026-04-18
Arizona's Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau are warning residents about romance scams, a type of fraud that costs victims more money than nearly any other scam. Scammers pose as attractive strangers on dating apps and social media, build emotional connections, then request money under false pretenses—three recent Arizona victims lost a combined $155,000 to these schemes. If someone you've never met asks for money online, authorities advise stopping contact immediately and reporting it to the Attorney General's office at (602) 542-5763.
azfamily.com
· 2026-04-18
Arizona authorities are warning residents about romance scams that have cost victims thousands of dollars, with one recent case involving a Scottsdale woman who lost $55,000 after meeting someone on Facebook who claimed to be living overseas. These scams typically begin with strangers contacting people through social media or dating apps, building an intimate relationship, and then requesting money under false pretenses—with three Arizona residents losing a combined $155,000 recently. To protect yourself, authorities advise stopping any communication if someone you've never met in person asks for money, and reporting suspected scams to the BBB's Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker.
wyff4.com
· 2026-04-18
Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime in 2025, with cryptocurrency scams accounting for about half of those losses and older adults (60+) losing over $7.7 billion. The FBI identified artificial intelligence as a rapidly growing threat, with over 22,000 AI-related complaints totaling $893 million in losses, as criminals use AI to create convincing deepfakes, cloned voices, and fake profiles for business email compromises, romance scams, employment fraud, and investment schemes. To protect yourself, verify requests for money through independent channels, be skeptical of unsolicited job offers or investment opportunities, and watch for signs of AI-generated content like unnatural speech patterns or video inconsistencies.
ksltv.com
· 2026-04-18
Utahns lost over $2.5 million to scams in 2025, with romance scams, identity theft, and impostor business schemes being the most common threats targeting the community. Scammers typically build false trust by impersonating businesses, government agencies, or romantic interests, then use fear tactics to pressure victims into sending money. To protect yourself, experts recommend preparing a "rehearsal script" in advance and staying vigilant about verifying the identity of anyone requesting money or personal information before engaging further.
azag.gov
· 2026-04-18
Attorney General Mayes and 23 other state attorneys general are opposing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's plan to drastically cut staff and reduce oversight of financial institutions, arguing it would weaken protections for consumers from fraud and predatory lending. The CFPB, which was created after the 2008 financial crisis to protect consumers, has already distributed over $21 billion in relief to affected Americans, but the proposed staffing cuts—including reducing a supervision team from 72 people to just one—would severely limit the agency's ability to monitor and enforce rules against financial companies. Consumers concerned about protecting themselves should stay vigilant about financial dealings and report suspected fraud to state attorneys general or the CFPB directly.
ksltv.com
· 2026-04-17
Utahns lost over $2.5 million to scams in 2025, with romance scams, identity theft, and impostor business schemes being the most common threats, particularly targeting older adults. Scammers use psychological manipulation—building trust, creating fear, or impersonating businesses and government agencies—to convince victims to send money or share personal information. To protect yourself, experts recommend preparing a "rehearsal script" in advance, verifying requests through official channels before responding, and being cautious of anyone pressuring you for immediate action or asking for personal financial information.
fox13news.com
· 2026-04-17
A new scam uses fake CAPTCHA screens to trick people into running hidden commands on their computers, giving hackers full access to personal information like passwords and banking details. Scammers exploit people's automatic behavior by asking them to press Windows Key + R followed by Ctrl + V, which pastes a malicious command into the computer. To protect yourself, experts recommend staying alert and questioning unexpected CAPTCHA requests, especially those that ask you to run keyboard commands rather than complete standard verification tasks.
koat.com
· 2026-04-17
As people spring clean and sell items online through platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Craigslist, scammers are targeting sellers with fake profiles, overpayment schemes using bad checks, and attempts to move transactions off-app. To protect yourself, Consumer Reports recommends meeting buyers in public places with a friend, using cash instead of payment apps, avoiding oversized checks, and limiting personal information shared with buyers. If you fall victim to a scam, report it to your state Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission to help protect others, even if you're unlikely to recover your money.
governor.hawaii.gov
· 2026-04-17
Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has warned residents about investment scams spreading on Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), where scammers use deceptive ads and deepfake technology to trick people into fraudulent schemes like pump-and-dump scams, confidence scams, and cryptocurrency fraud. Victims are losing their savings to these increasingly sophisticated schemes that promise guaranteed returns. Consumers should be skeptical of investment advice on social media, verify opportunities before investing, and report any suspected scams to consumercomplaint.hawaii.gov.
wesh.com
· 2026-04-17
Scammers are increasingly using AI technology to impersonate people through fake videos, voices, and photos in order to trick victims into sending money, with Americans losing a record $12.5 billion to fraud schemes in recent years. The most common scams involve investment fraud (costing over $5 billion), job scams ($750 million), and impersonation of banks and government agencies. To protect yourself, avoid responding to unsolicited communications, hang up and independently call companies/agencies to verify requests, and never send money or personal information to unknown contacts—especially when they pressure you to act immediately.
wdrb.com
· 2026-04-17
A scam called "check washing" is hitting southern Indiana and Louisville, where thieves steal checks from the mail, chemically remove the ink to erase payment details while keeping the signature, then cash them for different amounts. Local business owner Jennifer Brummett lost nearly $30,000 when her mailed check was altered this way, forcing her to close her entire bank account. To protect yourself, law enforcement recommends using gel ink pens (harder to wash off), avoiding mailing checks when possible, and monitoring your bank statements closely—thieves can also use stolen account information to print additional fraudulent checks.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-04-17
Americans lost approximately $21 billion to online scams in 2025, with seniors over 60 particularly vulnerable, losing $7.7 billion combined, according to FBI data. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated by using AI tools to create convincing deepfakes and personalized messages, with the average American receiving 14 scam messages daily, making it difficult even for cautious people to spot fraud. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unexpected messages even from seemingly trusted sources, verify requests through direct contact with the organization, and be aware that one-third of people struggle to distinguish deepfakes from legitimate videos.
yonkerstimes.com
· 2026-04-17
A 75-year-old Larchmont resident nearly lost $25,000 in a targeted phone scam where a fraudster impersonated a Bank of America representative and convinced her that her phone had been hacked. Police arrested two men who arrived to collect the cash in a "money mule" scheme, with both suspects facing felony charges including grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Authorities advise that banks never ask customers to withdraw cash and hand it to representatives, and anyone receiving such calls should hang up immediately and contact local police.
jdsupra.com
· 2026-04-17
Americans lost over $20 billion to cybercrime in 2025, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, with criminals increasingly using cryptocurrency for money laundering and generative AI tools to create sophisticated scams like deepfakes and voice cloning. Older adults were hit particularly hard, experiencing dramatic increases in romance scams (up 30%), phishing attacks (up over 100%), and government impersonation schemes (nearly doubled). To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contacts requesting money or personal information, verify requests through official channels before responding, and be especially wary of AI-generated audio or video that seems suspicious.
aol.com
· 2026-04-17
Emuobosan Emanuella Hall, a 45-year-old Nigerian love scammer, fled before starting her eight-year prison sentence in March 2025 after defrauding mostly elderly women of nearly $1 million. Hall and her accomplice posed as wealthy generals and entrepreneurs on social media, building trust with victims before requesting money through encrypted messaging apps. Federal authorities have issued a warrant for her arrest, with her last confirmed location being Atlanta's airport before she disappeared; residents should be cautious of romance scams on social media and verify the identity of online contacts before sharing personal information or sending money.
azcapitoltimes.com
· 2026-04-17
Americans lost over $11 billion to cryptocurrency fraud between 2024 and 2025, with complaints rising 21%, according to FBI data showing California residents were hit hardest, followed by Texas, Florida, and New York. Seniors aged 60 and older were particularly vulnerable, accounting for more than $4.4 billion in losses. To protect themselves, consumers should be cautious with cryptocurrency investments and digital asset transfers, and residents can look to new state regulations—23 states have now enacted crypto ATM laws to help prevent these scams.
foxbusiness.com
· 2026-04-16
# Summary
Three Los Angeles-area residents were convicted of insurance fraud for staging fake bear attacks on luxury vehicles using a person in a bear costume to collect insurance payouts. The scheme, which targeted at least three high-end vehicles (a Rolls-Royce Ghost, Mercedes G63 AMG, and Mercedes E350) on January 28, 2024, resulted in $141,839 in losses to insurance companies. The perpetrators were sentenced to 180 days in jail and two years of supervised probation, with a fourth suspect awaiting trial.
attorneygeneral.gov
· 2026-04-16
Pennsylvania's Attorney General is warning sports fans about ticket and merchandise scams as the Philadelphia 76ers, Flyers, and Penguins enter the playoffs, when scammers typically exploit high demand by selling fake tickets and counterfeit gear. Fans should only purchase from official sources, verify seller legitimacy, and use secure payment methods. If scammed, victims should dispute charges with their credit card company and file a complaint with the state's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-04-16
Cyberscammers operating from money-laundering centers are using illicit hacking tools sold on Telegram to bypass banks' facial recognition security checks, allowing them to open fraudulent accounts and launder money by replacing live camera feeds with static images or deepfakes. Researchers identified dozens of Telegram channels selling these "bypass kits" and stolen biometric data designed to circumvent Know Your Customer (KYC) safeguards at major banks and crypto platforms worldwide. To protect yourself, use strong authentication beyond facial recognition where available, monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity, and be cautious about sharing identity documents online—report any suspicious account access attempts to your bank immediately.
panewslab.com
· 2026-04-16
Authorities in Florida and Massachusetts recovered $5.4 million stolen through "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, where victims across multiple states were defrauded with amounts ranging from thousands to over $450,000 per person. The recovered funds have been distributed back to victims, with $700,000 returned to Florida residents and $1.3 million to Massachusetts residents. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, especially those involving cryptocurrency or promises of quick returns, and verify any investment offers through official channels before sending money.
dailyhodl.com
· 2026-04-16
An international law enforcement operation called "Operation Atlantic" involving agencies from the UK, US, and Canada has frozen over $12 million in cryptocurrency tied to approval phishing scams and identified more than 20,000 victims across these countries. Approval phishing is a fraud tactic where scammers trick victims into signing blockchain transactions that grant them access to steal funds from wallets, often after weeks of grooming through fake investment schemes. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, verify requests through official channels before signing any blockchain transactions, and never grant wallet access to unknown parties.
gazette.com
· 2026-04-16
Millions of elderly Americans lose over $7 billion annually to financial scams including romance, lottery, and sweepstakes schemes, with seniors being targeted because they are often trusting, have savings, and own homes. Criminals use multiple communication channels—online, phone, mail, TV, and radio—to gain trust and exploit victims. To protect yourself, stay cautious of unsolicited contact offering money or romance, verify requests through official channels, and consult resources like the FBI's fraud prevention guidance or local senior protection services.
themercury.co.za
· 2026-04-15
Online romance scams are costing South Africans millions of rands, with scammers using fake dating profiles and emotional manipulation to build trust before asking victims for money under false pretexts like emergencies or business opportunities. People active on dating platforms and social media are particularly vulnerable, and warning signs include overly perfect profiles, pressure to keep communications secret, excuses to avoid meeting in person, and requests that start small but escalate to larger amounts. To protect yourself, be cautious of rapid emotional connections with people you've never met, verify identities before sharing personal information, and never send money to online connections regardless of the circumstances they describe.
forbes.com
· 2026-04-15
AI-generated scams are rapidly increasing, with the FBI receiving over 22,000 complaints in 2025 reporting AI fraud losses exceeding $893 million, though experts believe the actual number is much higher since many victims don't report due to shame. Common scams include romance/confidence schemes, banking fraud, sextortion targeting teenagers, and deepfake job interview scams, with vulnerable populations like seniors, isolated individuals, and young adults being particularly targeted. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact from people you know, verify requests through alternative channels before sharing personal information or funds, and report any suspected AI scams to authorities rather than staying silent out of embarrassment.
wgal.com
· 2026-04-15
Scammers are leaving threatening voicemails claiming to be hitmen targeting victims, demanding thousands of dollars to "spare their lives" in an extortion scheme. The victims affected are anyone who receives these intimidating messages, though the threats are not genuine. If you receive such a voicemail, do not respond or pay—instead block the number, delete it, report it to your phone carrier and local police, and understand that these are empty threats from foreign scammers.