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insurancejournal.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Hackers conducted an extensive phishing campaign in July and August impersonating the progressive group MoveOn, using partisan political messaging to trick Americans into clicking malicious links that deployed the SocGholish malware. Researchers also discovered over 500 fraudulent duplicate websites mimicking political campaign pages, some soliciting cryptocurrency from victims, with the notorious Russian cybercrime group Evil Corp. linked to the malware distribution. While no customer accounts were compromised, the campaign demonstrates hackers' ongoing exploitation of election-related partisan tensions to deceive voters.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
news.chubb.com
· 2025-12-08
A global survey of 2,600 respondents across eight countries found that 61% have reduced their use of digital payment platforms due to cyber scam fears, while 46% mistakenly believe their payments are already protected. The survey revealed that 63% have experienced or know victims of cyber scams, with phishing, impersonation, and fake purchase scams being the most common concerns; 75% of respondents indicated that transaction insurance would increase their trust and adoption of digital payments.
newpittsburghcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides guidance on protecting oneself from common scams and fraud. Key advice includes recognizing red flags (urgency, unrealistic offers, suspicious communications), safeguarding personal and account information, and taking preventive steps such as ignoring unrecognized contacts, calling banks directly using verified numbers, avoiding suspicious links, and verifying legitimacy before financial transactions. The article covers major scam types including impersonation of financial institutions, fake retailer accounts, rental fraud, fraudulent tech support, malvertising, and AI-generated "deepfake" impersonations.
icrt.com.tw
· 2025-12-08
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.
bet.com
· 2025-12-08
A CBS investigation uncovered a network of Ghanaian romance scammers operating from "boiler rooms" in Accra who target lonely Americans through online dating sites, with victims losing over $10 billion according to the Federal Trade Commission. The scammers, like an operative named Abdullah, are supplied by syndicate bosses who take 60% of profits, and they deliberately study American culture and time zones to impersonate potential romantic partners and extract money from victims. These schemes represent an evolution from earlier Nigerian Prince emails, employing more sophisticated tactics that are difficult to detect.
futurescot.com
· 2025-12-08
Research in Scotland revealed that 400,000 older people have been targeted by online scams, prompting the Cyber and Fraud Centre to relaunch a safety guide addressing cryptocurrency scams, fake calls/emails, and text message fraud. The Cyber and Fraud Hub has handled approximately £250,000 in cryptocurrency fraud cases across all age groups while preventing around £60,000 from reaching scammers, with older adults identified as particularly vulnerable due to lower technology familiarity and greater trust in unsolicited contacts. The guide recommends that seniors remain cautious of unexpected communications, protect personal information, be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, and discuss finances with trusted individuals.
kkam.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has issued a warning about five scams rising in Texas, including check washing (where criminals alter stolen checks and remove ink to change payee names and amounts), swatting and doxxing (making false emergency calls and stealing/threatening to publish personal information), and phishing (fraudulent emails impersonating banks to steal login credentials). The article advises Texans to avoid mailing checks, verify unexpected financial emails directly with their bank, and be cautious of unsolicited links and requests for personal information.
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. consumers lost $10.3 billion to fraud in 2023, with seniors (ages 60+) among the most vulnerable populations targeted through tech support scams, romance scams, investment scams, and credential stuffing attacks. OnPoint Credit Union released a 2024 cybersecurity eBook highlighting emerging threats including deepfake phishing, AI-enhanced scams, and smart device vulnerabilities, recommending consumers verify sender information, monitor accounts closely, and remain vigilant against unsolicited communications.
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
Marylanders lost approximately $69 million in cryptocurrency investment scams, where fraudsters contact victims randomly, build trust, and convince them to invest savings or retirement funds into fake trading accounts showing false returns before blocking withdrawals. Scammers typically encourage victims to liquidate retirement accounts and take loans for larger investments, with some victims losing over $1 million while being charged hundreds of thousands in fees to access their funds; cryptocurrency-related fraud comprises about half of all reported fraud cases, and FBI officials warn that peer-to-peer crypto transactions cannot be reversed once completed.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first six months of 2024, Americans lost $65 million to Bitcoin ATM scams, with losses increasing nearly 10-fold since 2023. Scammers use various tactics—such as impersonating law enforcement and threatening arrest—to manipulate victims into depositing cash at Bitcoin ATMs; one Houston man lost nearly $60,000 after being told he had an active warrant. The median loss across all ages is $10,000, though consumers over 60 are more frequently targeted, and the FTC warns that if anyone directs you to use a Bitcoin ATM, it is a scam.
710keel.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has issued a warning about five rising scams affecting Texans: check washing (where criminals alter stolen checks and deposit them fraudulently), swatting (making false emergency calls to send police to victims' addresses), doxxing (stealing personal information to extort victims), phishing (fraudulent emails impersonating banks to steal credentials), and other common fraud schemes. These scams affect people of all ages, though doxxing is increasingly targeting teens, and victims are advised to verify communications directly with institutions and avoid mailing checks.
lawyer-monthly.com
· 2025-12-08
Wire transfer scams cost Americans $343.7 million in 2023, with fraudsters impersonating trusted contacts to redirect payments to their accounts through compromised emails, fake documents, or intercepted communications. Wire transfers are nearly impossible to reverse once processed, making them the scammer's preferred method; one victim lost his entire $900,000 life savings intended for a home down payment when scammers hijacked his email conversation with his real estate agent. Common wire transfer scams include real estate fraud, advance-fee loan schemes, fake checks, family emergency impersonations, rental fraud, tech support scams, and business email compromise attacks.
7news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An Australian woman lost $813,000 to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam when she transferred funds intended for a home purchase to a fraudulent account created by criminals using a fake email address nearly identical to a legitimate conveyancer's. Australian Federal Police and international partners recovered $777,000 (96%) of the stolen funds through coordinated efforts involving cryptocurrency exchange freezes and bank account recovery. The AFP advises Australians to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated BEC scams by enabling multi-factor authentication and carefully verifying email addresses, noting that such scams accounted for nearly $80 million in reported losses during 2022-2023.
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
As Election Day approaches, scammers are impersonating political campaigns and organizations through text messages to steal personal information and money using three main tactics: fake voter registration alerts with malicious links, fraudulent polling requests, and donation solicitation scams. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links from unknown senders, verify voter registration through official state websites only, and never respond to unsolicited political texts; additionally, enable spam filtering on your phone by using built-in settings like "Filter Unknown Senders" on iPhones or spam protection features on Android devices.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two Ontario women—Gabriel Edith Marie Paradis, 27, and Vanessa Fatima Alves Dasilva, 20—were sentenced to house arrest (one year and 18 months respectively) for their role as "money mules" in a grandparent scam that defrauded nine elderly Manitoba seniors of nearly $90,000 in summer 2022. The scheme involved unknown scammers calling victims posing as grandchildren in legal trouble and requesting bail money, which the women would pick up from victims' homes; while most victims recovered their money, the emotional impact included loss of trust and embarrassment.
elmoreautauganews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to avoid fraudulent charity scams following Hurricane Helene, as scammers create fake donation websites, social media campaigns, and crowdfunding pages to exploit donors' generosity. The BBB recommends verifying charities through trusted sites like Give.org and Charity Navigator, donating directly through official websites using credit cards, and avoiding unsolicited requests via social media or payment apps. The advisory provides a list of verified national and state-specific relief organizations where donations can be made safely.
wdsu.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational alert warns consumers about three common online shopping scams to watch for during major retail sales events (Target Circle Week, Amazon Prime Day, and Walmart's shopping holiday). The scams include: phishing emails/texts falsely claiming account issues and requesting payment updates; fake social media ads directing users to fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate retailers; and untrustworthy third-party sellers who attempt to move transactions off official platforms. Consumers are advised to access company websites directly, verify HTTPS security in URLs, research sellers, and never make payments outside official retail sites.
bitdefender.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Global online scams resulted in $1.026 trillion in losses in 2023, affecting approximately one in four people worldwide. Bitdefender launched an AI-powered Scam Protection platform featuring real-time threat detection, a scam identification chatbot, regional scam wave alerts, and enhanced SMS protection across all devices to help users identify and defend against evolving scam tactics including phishing, malicious texts, and fraudulent websites.
metro.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Co-operative Bank experienced a widespread outage of its mobile app and online banking services beginning around 1:30pm, preventing customers from accessing their accounts and prompting complaints on social media; the bank apologized and stated it was working to resolve the issue. The article also covers unrelated banking news including proposed government measures to extend fraud investigation time for suspicious transactions to 72 hours to better protect consumers from scams like romance fraud.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse—it is an English language learning resource from SBS Learn English that uses online scams as the topic to teach English vocabulary, grammar (passive voice), and conversational phrases to non-native speakers in Australia. While it includes educational dialogue about recognizing phishing emails and reporting scams to authorities, it is pedagogical material rather than news reporting or fraud research content suitable for the Elderus database.
liteonline.com
· 2025-12-08
This article warns Idaho shoppers about five common Amazon-related scams to watch out for during Prime Big Deal Days (October 8-9). Amazon is the second most impersonated brand in America, with the FTC reporting 34,000 Amazon scam complaints resulting in $19 million in losses last year. The article explains phishing tactics (via email, text, phone) and other scams scammers use to steal passwords, credit card numbers, and banking information from unsuspecting shoppers during peak shopping seasons.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A retired Brigadier from Panchkula, Haryana, lost Rs 4.2 crore after downloading a phishing app from a WhatsApp link promising stock market investment opportunities; he and his wife were deceived into transferring funds across multiple accounts before being asked to pay an additional Rs 65 lakh commission to withdraw their money. The investigation revealed the scam was orchestrated by an international network based in the United States and United Kingdom, which used Indian bank accounts from rural border villages to launder the stolen funds, compensating account holders with small commissions.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two Ontario women were sentenced to house arrest for their roles as "money mules" in a grandparent scam that defrauded nine elderly Manitoba residents of nearly $90,000 in summer 2022. Gabriel Edith Marie Paradis received a one-year conditional sentence, while Vanessa Fatima Alves Dasilva received an 18-month conditional sentence, after they pleaded guilty to fraud charges for picking up cash from victims who were deceived by phone calls claiming their grandchildren needed bail money. While most victims recovered their funds, the court noted lasting emotional impacts including embarrassment, loss of trust, and shattered confidence among the seniors targeted.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans over age 60 lost more than $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, with 101,000 complaints filed—a 14.5% increase from 2022. Tech support scams were the most common fraud type, while data brokers' sale of personal information increasingly enables criminals to target seniors. The article recommends protective measures including monitoring financial accounts, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, limiting personal information sharing, and considering data removal services.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
Contrary to the stereotype of elderly victims, research shows younger people report losing money to scams more frequently than older adults, with those under 21 experiencing the largest surge in online fraud losses and 18-24 year-olds losing a median of $200 per scam. However, older adults suffer larger individual losses, with those aged 70-79 losing a median of $800 and those 80+ losing $1,500, reflecting how scams are tailored to different generations—younger people are targeted primarily on social media (40% of cases for ages 18-29) while older adults are targeted via phone (40% for those 80+). Different age groups face distinct
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
INTERPOL arrested eight individuals in Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria under Operation Contender 2.0, targeting phishing and romance cyber fraud in West Africa. A large-scale phishing scheme targeting Swiss citizens resulted in over $1.4 million in losses, with criminals using fake buyer profiles and QR codes to direct victims to fraudulent payment websites; the main suspect confessed to making $1.9 million illicitly. In a separate case, two suspects were apprehended in Nigeria for a romance scam that defrauded a Finnish victim of a substantial amount of money.
techradar.com
· 2025-12-08
Travel booking scams have surged dramatically, with Booking.com reporting a 500-900% increase in travel scams over 18 months and Lloyds Bank noting a 7% spike in holiday purchase scams, where victims lost an average of £765. Scammers use social engineering tactics including vishing (voice phishing), smishing (SMS phishing), and AI-powered impersonation to trick travelers into revealing sensitive personal information such as payment details, passport numbers, and one-time passwords. Security experts recommend two-factor authentication and call for travel brands to prioritize mobile app security, as nearly 70% of working adults have encountered vishing attacks that exploit human psychology an
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre data shows fraud losses exceeded $554 million last year, a 40% increase from 2021, with underreporting masking the true scale of the problem. Fraudsters are increasingly using sophisticated technologies, including AI-generated deepfakes and impersonations, to deceive victims across multiple scam types including job scams, which typically involve unsolicited job offers followed by requests for upfront payment for training or uniforms. Financial institutions and individuals can reduce risk through cyber literacy training, skepticism toward offers that sound too good to be true, and verification of job opportunities through official company channels.
wjhg.com
· 2025-12-08
The Bay County Sheriff's Office issued a scam alert after receiving multiple reports of a jury duty scam targeting residents. Victims received phone calls claiming they missed jury duty and had arrest warrants, followed by fraudulent emails with fake warrants demanding thousands of dollars to avoid arrest. The sheriff's office emphasized that law enforcement never calls about warrants or requests payment to avoid arrest, and urged residents to hang up and contact the BCSO directly at 850-747-4700 to verify any such claims.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman named Jane fell victim to a phishing scam when, while emotionally distressed, she received a fraudulent email appearing to be from her bank and unknowingly granted scammers remote access to her smartphone. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, adults over 60 have lost more to tech support scams than all other age groups combined, with some victims remortgaging homes or depleting retirement accounts to cover losses. Wise & Healthy Aging offers a free support group called "Seniors Against Scammers" to help scam victims and provides educational resources and workshops on recognizing and preventing elder fraud and abuse throughout Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.
ncdoj.gov
· 2025-12-08
Following hurricane relief efforts in western North Carolina, scammers are exploiting donors' goodwill through charity fraud schemes including phishing emails, fake websites, and counterfeit crowdfunding campaigns. The article provides guidance on verifying legitimate organizations through resources like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Charity Navigator, avoiding unsolicited donation requests, and donating by credit card or check rather than gift cards. Victims of charity scams are encouraged to report fraud to the North Carolina Consumer Protection Division.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Following Hurricane Helene, scammers targeted disaster victims in Asheville, North Carolina with a tree removal scam charging $280 upfront fees while falsely claiming to be "FEMA-authorized" representatives who would cover 90% of removal costs. Victims were also targeted with charity scams involving fake donations and identity theft schemes. North Carolina's Attorney General advised residents to obtain written estimates, avoid upfront payments, verify company credentials and email domains, and research any business before engaging services.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
During major retail shopping events like Amazon Prime Day and Target Circle Week, scams targeting consumers surge dramatically, with impersonation scams (phishing), fake customer service calls, and fraudulent shipping notifications being the most common types used to steal personal and financial information. Scammers exploit these busy shopping periods through deceptive emails, sophisticated AI-powered phone calls impersonating Amazon and Apple support, fake package delivery notices, and social media ads promoting products that never arrive, with phishing attempts tripling around Prime Day compared to normal periods. Consumers are advised to verify phone numbers independently, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and report suspected scams to retailers and law enforcement.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about elder fraud or scams—it is an English language learning lesson from SBS Learn English that uses scam-related vocabulary and scenarios as teaching material. The lesson teaches intermediate English speakers about phishing emails, scam terminology, and passive voice grammar through a dialogue about Gloria, who nearly fell for a fake Australian Taxation Office message but recognized it as suspicious and did not click the link. The educational content includes definitions of scam-related terms, colloquial expressions, and grammar explanations focused on discussing fraud experiences.
gigazine.net
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity researchers discovered fraudulent apps disguised as calculators and financial news apps on Google Play and the App Store that facilitated "pig butchering" scams, where victims were tricked into depositing funds on fake trading platforms after providing personal and identification documents. The malicious apps, which evaded store review mechanisms by displaying legitimate-looking screens during testing, were downloaded thousands of times primarily in the Asia-Pacific region before being removed, though scammers have since shifted to using phishing sites instead. Experts recommend that financial institutions implement fraud monitoring systems and educate users to verify links and research investments thoroughly.
grandforksherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Long Leaf Trading Group, a Chicago-based boiler-room operation announced in 2020, cold-called victims to promote a commodity-trading scheme that promised 6%-12% annual returns; nearly all customers lost money while the company collected $1.2 million in commissions. The article contextualizes this case within a broader fraud epidemic, noting that consumer fraud cost Americans a record $10 billion in the previous year, with AI-enhanced scams using voice cloning, personalized data, and imposter tactics now replacing older low-tech fraud schemes and making it increasingly difficult for law enforcement to combat modern scammers.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
Employment scams ranked among the top five most common fraud schemes in 2023, with median losses exceeding $2,000 per victim, often targeting job seekers through fake job listings via text, email, or phone calls that request personal information like Social Security numbers or bank account details. Common tactics include fraudsters impersonating real companies, sending fraudulent checks for "supplies" then requesting refunds, and pressuring victims into communication on unmonitored platforms like WhatsApp. Job seekers can protect themselves by verifying company contact information, watching for unrealistic job offers, maintaining records of applications, and avoiding sharing personal information until directly confirming employment with the actual company.
nbcsandiego.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Cybersecurity experts warn that the weeks leading up to the presidential election see a surge in scams targeting voters, including donation fraud (fake campaign solicitations), voter-registration scams seeking personal information, and election survey scams. Experts advise voters to donate directly through official campaign websites, remember that voter registration cannot occur by phone, avoid providing personal information to unsolicited callers, and verify election-related information through multiple credible news sources before accepting it as true.
union-bulletin.com
· 2025-12-08
Long Leaf Trading Group, a Chicago-based boiler-room operation announced in 2020, cold-called unsuspecting customers to promote a fraudulent commodity-trading scheme promising 6%-12% annual returns, resulting in nearly all customers losing money while insiders collected $1.2 million in commissions. The article contextualizes this relatively straightforward scam within the broader modern fraud epidemic, where AI-enhanced voice cloning, personalized targeting using social media and data breach information, and imposter schemes have driven consumer fraud losses to a record $10 billion annually, with law enforcement struggling to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated technology-enabled cons.
etvbharat.com
· 2025-12-08
During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, cybersecurity expert Mohit Yadav shared key strategies to protect against evolving cyber threats, including "digital arrest" scams where fraudsters pose as law enforcement to extract sensitive information like Aadhaar numbers. Common threats include fake telecom company calls promoting malware-infected apps, deepfake extortion schemes (one case resulting in losses exceeding one crore rupees), and phishing emails with deceptive links and misspelled sender addresses. Key protective measures include using strong passwords with eight+ characters and mixed case/numbers/symbols, enabling two-factor authentication, carefully verifying email sources, and avoiding clicking unsolicited links
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
A scam text message circulating in Pennsylvania falsely claims to be from the Pennsylvania Turnpike and asks recipients to click a link to pay tolls or avoid late fees, with the actual intent of stealing financial information. Officials warn drivers not to click these links and instead verify toll balances directly through their E-ZPass account online, and recommend reporting suspicious messages to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
wdrb.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam targeting thousands of drivers impersonated AAA, offering a free emergency car kit via email to collect personal and credit card information for supposed postage fees. Henry Dorfman fell victim after receiving the fraudulent email, attempting to pay with two different credit cards before realizing the scam when he received error messages. AAA officials have issued alerts warning customers to verify unexpected emails before providing personal information, as similar scams have also targeted customers of companies like Aldi and Amazon.
dtnext.in
· 2025-12-08
A Tamil Nadu businessman lost Rs 2 crore ($238,500) in an email spoofing scam in September when he received a fraudulent email impersonating his legitimate supplier and transferred funds via SWIFT to a fake bank account in the US. Thanks to quick reporting through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and coordinated efforts between Tamil Nadu Police, the Union Home Ministry's I4C, and Regions Bank, the full amount was recovered and returned to the victim. Police advise verifying email authenticity, checking for spelling errors or urgency tactics, and reporting suspected fraud immediately through the Cyber Crime Toll-Free Helpline or official portal.
nowtoronto.com
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto renter was warned after being asked to pay nearly $11,000 upfront—covering six months of rent beyond the legally permitted first and last month's deposit—in what appears to be a rental scam targeting newcomers unfamiliar with Canadian tenancy laws. Landlords in Ontario are only permitted by law to collect first and last month's rent, and rental scams commonly exploit tight housing markets by requesting excessive advance payments, unusually low rent, or refusing to meet in person. Tenants are advised to familiarize themselves with the Residential Tenancies Act, use reputable realtors, and recognize red flags such as deposit requests without signed agreements.
irishnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A new AI-powered scam detection tool called Ask Silver has been launched in the UK, allowing users to upload screenshots of suspicious texts, emails, or websites through WhatsApp to verify their safety. Developed in partnership with Get Safe Online, the tool provides instant analysis and recommended next steps, including scam reporting options. The launch coincides with new UK banking regulations requiring banks and payment providers to jointly refund consumers who lose up to £85,000 to scams.
wcpo.com
· 2025-12-08
During election season, scammers target voters through political donation scams, fake surveys, voter registration scams, and phishing texts and emails designed to steal money or personal information. To protect yourself, verify the sender through official campaign websites rather than responding to unsolicited messages, never click unknown links, and avoid engaging with suspicious calls to prevent voice recording for AI fraud. Voters can enable spam filters on their phones to reduce unwanted political messages and protect themselves from financial loss.
sg.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A new email extortion scam uses photos of victims' homes obtained from Google Maps and data breaches to threaten exposure of alleged compromising videos, demanding Bitcoin payment to prevent release. The scam exploits personal information to create fear and urgency, though scammers typically have no actual footage or access to victims' computers. Victims can protect themselves by verifying images against Google Maps street view, checking email authentication details (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), examining sender addresses for legitimacy, and avoiding clicking unfamiliar links.
fox10phoenix.com
· 2025-12-08
According to an IPX1031 study, 30% of Americans were scammed in the last 12 months, with victims losing an average of $2,647 over their lifetime. The most common scams are credit card fraud (37%), identity theft (34%), and online shopping scams (32%), though only 56% of victims report incidents to authorities. While 80% of Americans take preventive measures like self-education and stronger passwords, significant gaps remain—including 10% who don't use two-factor authentication and 22% unfamiliar with credit freezes—and 76% express concern about AI advancing fraud tactics.
sfist.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam artists in San Francisco placed fraudulent QR-code stickers on parking meters near Fisherman's Wharf, Beale Street, and the Embarcadero, directing users to fake websites designed to steal parking fee payments. The SFMTA discovered at least five affected meters and disabled the fraudulent URLs, warning the public that the city's actual parking meters do not use QR codes or external websites. It remains unclear how many people were defrauded by this sophisticated scam.