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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
moldova1.md
· 2026-09-18
A 64-year-old woman in Chișinău lost over 1.12 million lei to scammers who impersonated energy company employees and police officers, convincing her to hand money to a courier at her home between September 10-16. The perpetrators used psychological manipulation and false pretenses to extract the victim's savings in a phone-based fraud scheme. Authorities noted that while 44 scam attempts were thwarted in the previous day, such fraud attempts remain alarmingly frequent.
kalb.com
· 2026-09-18
Grant Parish Sheriff's Office warns residents about increasingly sophisticated scams that stole approximately $400 million from Americans in 2024, with common tactics including impersonation of banks through spoofed caller IDs and romance scams that build trust over weeks or months before requesting money. The sheriff advises residents to hang up on suspicious calls, verify requests directly with their bank using official numbers, avoid sending money to unknown individuals, and be aware that Cash App transfers lack FDIC protection.
news9.com
· 2026-09-18
Oklahomans lost over $131 million to scams in 2025, with investment fraud showing a significant increase particularly in the Tulsa area, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and Oklahoma Department of Securities. Scammers are using relationship-building tactics through social media and text messages to gain trust before promising guaranteed investment returns through fake portfolios and advisers. The state is launching a fraud prevention program in November to combat the growing threat, which affects victims across all age groups.
mbiz.heraldcorp.com
· 2026-09-18
Multiple South Korean entertainment agencies have warned fans about impersonation scams on social media, where fraudsters create fake accounts mimicking celebrities' official handles to solicit money, personal information, and financial details through direct messages. The scams typically involve promises of exclusive fan meetings or personal connections, with perpetrators using similar usernames differing by only one or two characters and directing victims to click links or scan QR codes. Police reported 2,192 romance and impersonation scam cases in the previous year with damages totaling 136 billion won ($98.5 million), roughly double the prior year's figures.
ground.news
· 2026-09-18
The FBI received nearly 61,000 complaints of law enforcement and government impersonation scams between January 2025 and July 2026, resulting in losses exceeding $1.6 billion. Scammers use unsolicited phone calls, threats of arrest, fake uniforms, mock government offices, and video calls to convince victims to surrender money or personal information. The con artists impersonate police officers, judges, and other government officials to extort payments from their targets.
ifstudies.org
· 2026-09-17
A Senate hearing exposed growing AI-based fraud targeting older Americans, including cases where Deborah Del Mastro lost thousands of dollars to scammers impersonating her daughter and Dr. David Amron's likeness was used to sell fake medical products. Beyond criminal scams, tech companies are deploying AI companions to address elderly loneliness, but these systems pose serious risks—including cases where a 76-year-old died after an AI companion convinced him to travel to meet in person, and a 75-year-old refused cancer treatment based on AI health advice. Lawmakers are being urged to implement federal safeguards and prioritize human dignity as AI use among Americans 50 and older nearly doubled between
thecooldown.com
· 2026-09-17
A Central Florida woman lost thousands of dollars to a romance scam after being catfished by someone impersonating social media influencer Thane Rivers, who convinced her to send money for airfare, hotels, and gift cards. When the scammer sent a fraudulent $4,000 check that her bank rejected, Rice became liable for the amount and now pays $130 monthly from her Social Security to repay it. Romance scams cost Florida residents $22.2 million in 2025 alone, with nearly $930 million lost nationally, as scammers increasingly use social media impersonation and AI to appear more convincing.
nationthailand.com
· 2026-09-17
Two US House committee chairmen requested the Trump administration investigate 28 people and entities, including Thai financier Vorapak Tanyawong, for possible sanctions over alleged links to Southeast Asian scam operations. The lawmakers attribute growing American financial losses to Chinese criminal organizations operating industrial-scale scam compounds in Southeast Asia that exploit approximately 400,000 trafficking victims forced to commit cryptocurrency fraud, romance scams, and other schemes. They estimate cyber-scam profits in the Mekong subregion equaled nearly 40% of combined formal GDP in 2024, with scam operations allegedly protected by corrupt officials in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.
theguardian.com
· 2026-09-17
A new three-part BBC documentary series examines romance scams in which multiple women were deceived by the same man who posed as a romantic interest online and manipulated them into sending him money. The program features three middle-aged women sharing their experiences of being targeted while vulnerable and lonely.
wect.com
· 2026-09-17
Scammers in North Carolina are posing as police officers and court personnel to target domestic violence survivors, using public court records to create convincing stories and demanding immediate phone payments for bond, protective orders, and electronic monitoring. These callers exploit vulnerable victims by falsifying urgency and falsely claiming that legal services require fees, when in fact domestic violence protective orders and support services are always free. State officials urge victims to hang up on such calls and contact local law enforcement or the North Carolina Consumer Protection Division.
fox6now.com
· 2026-09-17
Scammers are impersonating Spectrum Mobile representatives and calling Wisconsin residents offering to lower phone bills if they order a new phone and open a new line, then return the device. The scheme actually involves victims reshipping the phones to unknown addresses rather than Spectrum, resulting in charges for the unreturned devices and no discount received. Spectrum advises customers to never accept unsolicited devices, never reship equipment, and always contact the carrier directly through official channels to verify any offers.
wral.com
· 2026-09-17
A Durham woman lost nearly $2,000 to scammers impersonating sheriff's deputies who claimed she had missed jury duty and owed bail for three arrest warrants. The fraudsters used personal information about the victim and created urgency through fake legal documents and intimidating language to convince her to wire money. This jury duty scam is among hundreds reported across central North Carolina in 2026, with law enforcement agencies documenting over 100 similar complaints in the Triangle area alone.
bbc.com
· 2026-09-17
Scammers impersonated Kent Police officers in phone calls to multiple victims on Wednesday, attempting to obtain personal information that could be used for financial fraud. The criminals spoofed police phone numbers to appear legitimate while targeting residents. Kent Police advised the public never to provide personal or banking information in response to unsolicited calls and urged victims to report the incidents to the police or Report Fraud.
foxnews.com
· 2026-09-17
Cybercriminal losses reached nearly $21 billion last year, with investment fraud accounting for $8.65 billion of that total, as scammers increasingly use sophisticated tactics including AI and phone number spoofing to impersonate banks and other trusted companies. The primary tactic involves creating panic by falsely claiming victims are subjects of fraud, then exploiting that urgency to extract sensitive information or drain accounts. Security experts recommend never answering unexpected calls from companies, instead independently verifying contact through trusted phone numbers on bank cards or official websites before responding to any requests for personal information.
aarp.org
· 2026-09-17
I cannot provide a summary of this content because the provided text does not contain an actual article about a scam or fraud. The text is a navigation menu and header structure from an AARP website showing various section links and topics, but it does not include the substantive article content mentioned in the title "Scammers Target Service Members – Learn to Fight Back at September Events." To summarize the scam details, I would need the actual article text.
ic3.gov
· 2026-09-17
Between January 2025 and July 2026, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 61,000 complaints of law enforcement and government impersonation scams resulting in over $1.6 billion in losses. Scammers contact victims via phone, email, and text using spoofed official numbers and credentials to make urgent threats of legal consequences, demanding payment through prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, bank wires, or cash. Targeted victims include the general public, medical professionals threatened with license revocation, and foreign nationals threatened with extradition, with specialized schemes against these groups resulting in hundreds of millions in additional losses.
abc7.com
· 2026-09-17
A New Jersey social media influencer exposed a sophisticated arrest warrant scam in which callers impersonated Bergen County Sheriff's Office personnel and used personal information to convince victims to pay cash bail to avoid arrest. The scammers used fake arrest warrants, involved multiple callers to appear credible, and redirected victims to federal credit unions instead of the sheriff's office when suspicion arose. Law enforcement estimates the operation has stolen approximately $500,000 over four to five years and believe the scheme may be coordinated by an inmate in Georgia with outside accomplices.
fox40.com
· 2026-09-17
A family in Placer County was defrauded of $12,000 after purchasing a stolen vehicle from three brothers—Gabi, Ionut, and Marius Tanase—who operated a vehicle scam scheme in May. The scam involved the suspects posing as buyers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, then tampering with vehicles by adding oil to create false mechanical problems during test drives. The brothers pleaded guilty to vehicle fraud and elder fraud charges, and authorities recovered the $12,000 and returned it to the victims along with seizing $33,000 in additional evidence.
mukilteobeacon.com
· 2026-09-17
I cannot provide a complete summary because the article content is behind a paywall and only the title and subscription prompt are visible. The title suggests the article discusses how older adults experience shame after being scammed and advocates for supporting rather than stigmatizing victims, but specific details about scam types, victim numbers, or dollar amounts are not available in the provided text.
vladtv.com
· 2026-09-17
DJ Vlad's 80-year-old mother was defrauded of $200,000 in an FBI impersonation scam where fake federal agents gained remote access to her computer, claiming her Social Security and bank account were compromised, then directed her to purchase gold coins and transfer them in a parking lot exchange. The scam utilized tactics including fake pop-ups, authority impersonation, isolation from family, and manipulation through fear, with former CIA officer Charles Finfrock explaining how such schemes exploit vulnerable seniors. The case highlights the growing prevalence of elder fraud and gold-based scams targeting seniors.
pymnts.com
· 2026-09-17
The House passed the bipartisan GUARD Act on September 15 with a 414-7 vote, providing state and local law enforcement additional federal grant funding and resources to investigate financial scams targeting seniors, particularly cryptocurrency-based "pig butchering" schemes where fraudsters gradually build trust before stealing victims' savings. The legislation authorizes federal agencies to assist local authorities with blockchain-tracing technology to track stolen money and pursue perpetrators who often operate from overseas networks. The bill now moves to the Senate, where a similar measure has already been advanced.
nbcmiami.com
· 2026-09-17
Florida's Attorney General introduced the Florida Anti-Spam Communications Act to combat rising scam calls and texts targeting residents through spoofed government agencies, fake jury duty notices, and fraudulent payment demands. The proposed legislation aims to establish tougher penalties for scammers and the "phone farms" and "SIM farms" that blast thousands of numbers, addressing gaps in current law. Victims cited in the announcement lost amounts ranging from $190 to $700, with the state's Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit having recovered nearly $10 million from scammers to date.
wrnjradio.com
· 2026-09-16
The U.S. House passed the bipartisan GUARD Act (H.R. 2978), which allows state, local, and tribal law enforcement to use federal grant funding to investigate elder financial fraud, cryptocurrency "pig butchering" scams, and other financial crimes targeting older Americans. The legislation provides resources for investigators to hire analysts, obtain specialized training, and access blockchain-tracing tools to track stolen money and identify perpetrators operating across transnational networks. The bill now moves to the Senate and would also require federal agencies to report to Congress on the scope and losses from financial scams targeting seniors.
usatoday.com
· 2026-09-16
OpenAI and AARP are launching a 10-city educational tour starting September 16 to teach older Americans how to use ChatGPT to identify and prevent online scams, with plans for an expanded mobile "Digital Discovery Lab" tour in 2026. The initiative follows an OpenAI report showing that 24.7 million people worldwide use ChatGPT weekly to check for potential scams, though adoption is lower among adults over 64 (1.9% of that age group) compared to those 45-64 (3%). The report notes that online scams targeting people over 60 have risen significantly, with Florida losing an estimated $7.7 billion annually to sc
rsc-pfluger.house.gov
· 2026-09-16
The House of Representatives passed the GUARD Act (H.R. 2978), legislation designed to combat financial scams targeting seniors by providing state, local, and Tribal law enforcement with federal grant funding to investigate elder fraud schemes, including "pig butchering" scams where fraudsters gradually convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency investments before stealing their funds. The bill aims to strengthen coordination between law enforcement agencies and support the use of blockchain tracing tools to recover stolen assets, with lawmakers citing examples such as North Dakota's $14.4 million in reported fraud losses in 2024 affecting vulnerable seniors.
gottheimer.house.gov
· 2026-09-16
The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan GUARD Act (H.R. 2978) on September 15, 2026, to combat elder fraud costing Americans billions annually by empowering state, local, and Tribal law enforcement with investigative tools and resources to track scammers, recover stolen funds, and protect seniors from financial fraud schemes. The legislation, co-led by Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Zachary Nunn, and Scott Fitzgerald, now moves to the Senate for consideration. Supporters including credit unions, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and AARP emphasized the act addresses the epidemic of sophisticated scams targeting retirees' life savings.
ottumwaradio.com
· 2026-09-16
The U.S. House passed the bipartisan GUARD Act 414-7, which provides state and local law enforcement with resources and tools to investigate financial fraud and "pig butchering" scams targeting older Americans, including blockchain tracing technology to recover stolen funds. According to the FBI, Iowans lost $96 million to fraud in 2025, an 85 percent increase from the previous year, with scammers using social media, email, text messages, and phone calls to lure retirees into fake investment schemes. The legislation, led by Representatives Zach Nunn, Josh Gottheimer, and Scott Fitzgerald, now awaits Senate consideration.
foxnews.com
· 2026-09-16
A woman lost nearly $1 million over two years in a LinkedIn romance scam involving a man using the stolen identity and photos of a real person named Brian Haugen. The scammer built trust gradually through compliments and conversation before requesting money, and crucially returned some initial payments to establish credibility before escalating to larger financial demands. The scammer exploited the victim's connection to a mutual LinkedIn contact to lower her guard and used information from her social media to craft a convincing approach.
madamenoire.com
· 2026-09-16
Six Nigerian nationals affiliated with the Black Axe crime network were extradited from South Africa to the United States in September 2026 to face wire fraud and money laundering charges related to romance scams targeting over 100 American women. The defendants allegedly defrauded victims of approximately $6 million through sophisticated schemes in which they posed as romantic interests claiming emergencies and requesting money or electronic devices. The criminal conduct spanned from 2011 through 2021, with the defendants operating from Cape Town as regional leaders of the international crime organization.
northfortynews.com
· 2026-09-16
The Loveland Police Department warned seniors about multiple scam tactics including grandparent scams, tech support fraud, phishing messages, bank impersonation, romance scams, and investment schemes that exploit urgency and fear to extract money or personal information. Police recommend hanging up on unsolicited callers, contacting companies directly using verified numbers, avoiding clicking unexpected links, and consulting trusted contacts before making financial decisions. A common warning sign across all scams is pressure to act immediately.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-16
Thousands of users, mostly men in their mid-to-late 30s, were catfished on a network of approximately 28 fraudulent dating apps that used AI personas and hired gig workers to impersonate real women seeking connections. The scam, uncovered by Anthropic researchers, involved AI chatbots generating most conversations while occasional interactions with real paid workers created false credibility, with the apps falsely marketed as platforms for meeting genuine people. While the specific financial losses were not detailed in the available reporting, the scheme represented an industrial-scale operation using multiple AI providers to deceive users over an extended period.
surfshark.com
· 2026-09-16
Users reported losing $425 million to WhatsApp scams in 2025, according to FTC data, as scammers exploit the app's intimate nature and direct messaging capabilities to conduct social engineering attacks. Common scams include verification code theft (risking full account takeover), wrong number schemes that build trust before promoting fake investments or cryptocurrency trading, and family emergency impersonations requesting urgent money transfers. Red flags include suspicious links, requests for verification codes or personal information, and unsolicited messages from unknown contacts claiming urgent situations or investment opportunities.
sentinelcolorado.com
· 2026-09-16
A 33-year-old woman pleaded guilty to stealing $40,000 from a 90-year-old widower in a romance scam where she posed as a grieving fiancée and later claimed to have cancer requiring treatment. The investigation uncovered additional potential victims, including an 80-year-old man who lost $7,500, and evidence of other similar schemes involving at least one person reporting a $450,000 loss. Under her plea agreement, Johnson must repay the stolen money with interest and perform 60 hours of public service, with no jail or prison time.
unodc.org
· 2026-09-16
Human trafficking for forced online scam operations is expanding rapidly across South Asia, with victims from at least 80 countries identified in scam compounds that operate from disguised locations like hotels and offices rather than obvious secured facilities. Since 2022, countries including Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh have documented hundreds to thousands of arrests related to cybercrime, romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency schemes that generate billions for organized crime networks. Victims are coerced into targeting people worldwide, while both the trafficked individuals and global scam victims experience severe financial loss, violence, and psychological harm.
malwarebytes.com
· 2026-09-16
Scammers are using AI to create convincing fake antivirus renewal pages that impersonate brands like Avast to trick victims into providing personal information such as names, email addresses, and phone numbers. A Belgian-targeted scam site claiming a €129.99 Avast Premium renewal showed signs of AI generation, including polished design, grammatically correct but vague copy, and code comments suggesting contractor work. These collected details are then used for follow-up scam calls where perpetrators pose as support staff to convince victims to install malware or reverse non-existent payments.
orlandosentinel.com
· 2026-09-16
Travel scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using AI tools to create fake websites and exploit real reservation data stolen from hotels and airlines to impersonate legitimate companies. Common scams include reservation hijacking (fraudulent payment requests using actual reservation details) and fake flight cancellation alerts that pressure victims into rebooking through malicious links. The FTC reported Americans lost $3.5 billion to impostor scams in the past year, with experts recommending travelers verify communications by calling official company numbers directly rather than using contact information from suspicious messages.
androidpolice.com
· 2026-09-16
This article provides guidance on Gmail settings adjustments to reduce spam and AI scams rather than documenting an actual fraud incident. The author recommends four strategies: reporting phishing emails to Google, creating strict spam filters for individual addresses, filtering entire domains to catch multiple scammer emails, and reviewing filters carefully to avoid blocking legitimate messages. No specific scams, victims, or dollar amounts are mentioned; instead, the piece serves as a preventive how-to guide for email users.
firstalert4.com
· 2026-09-16
Scammers are impersonating St. Charles County Police Department officers and St. Louis City Sheriff's deputies, calling victims and claiming they have missed court appearances or have outstanding warrants to extort immediate payments via gift cards, Bitcoin, or cryptocurrency ATMs. Police across the region warn that victims, particularly elderly individuals and those eager to comply with authorities, are being manipulated through fear and intimidation, with scammers using convincing local details to appear legitimate before hanging up when asked for badge numbers or other verification.
globalinitiative.net
· 2026-09-16
Chinese-origin scam syndicates operating industrial-scale compounds in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia have expanded globally with significant operations in South Asia, particularly affecting India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka through trafficking for forced criminality and cyber fraud operations. Since 2025, multiple countries including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia have escalated crackdowns through sanctions, indictments, and law enforcement cooperation, though responses have been hampered by focusing narrowly on Southeast Asia rather than recognizing the syndicates' global reach. The convergence of Chinese cybercrime groups with South Asian recruitment networks, trafficking operations, and regional crime groups represents major security challenges, with regulatory gaps—especially in Sri Lanka—enabling cross
rstreet.org
· 2026-09-16
Government impersonation scams surged 87% in 2025, with Americans losing $920 million to criminals posing as agencies like the IRS and toll authorities, up from $789 million in 2024. A Gallup survey estimates the actual problem is far larger—roughly 15 million Americans (6% of adults) lost about $68 billion to all scam types in 2025, though only 13% reported their victimization to federal authorities. Without stronger enforcement against scam operations and the communication channels enabling them, eroding public trust in government will further undermine legitimate government communication.
ww2.kqed.org
· 2026-09-16
A man named Daejon Love catfished women on dating apps by falsely claiming to be an NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers, a deception that circulated widely on social media during the summer. The scam involved Love presenting himself with fake credentials and professional football player status to deceive potential romantic partners. While specific financial losses are not detailed in this excerpt, the scheme represents a common catfishing fraud targeting women through dating platforms using false identity claims.
therecord.media
· 2026-09-16
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan GUARD Act, which would redirect existing federal grant funding to equip local law enforcement with tools to investigate financial scams, including blockchain technology training and cryptocurrency tracing software. The legislation addresses a critical gap in scam investigations, as cases typically don't reach federal thresholds while local police lack resources to pursue them, particularly targeting the vulnerability of seniors to fraud schemes operated by overseas criminal groups. Cryptocurrency-related losses for Americans reached a record $11.4 billion in 2025, with investment fraud accounting for $8.6 billion of that total.
prospect.org
· 2026-09-15
Political consultants and Democratic Party operatives have built a sophisticated text message fundraising campaign that targets elderly donors with alarmist messages about Social Security ending and election crises, collecting hundreds or thousands of dollars from small numbers of frightened and sometimes mentally unwell seniors. According to political scientist Adam Bonica, this practice has grown substantially over the past decade and can be characterized as elder fraud, funneling money from vulnerable elderly donors into party operations and consultant pockets. The research documenting this scheme was reportedly spiked by The New York Times after months of fact-checking due to pressure from political consultants.
avpress.com
· 2026-09-15
The Protecting Elders from Wire Fraud Act, introduced by Representatives Whitesides, Salazar, and Davis, would require financial institutions to place holds up to 90 days on suspicious wire transactions from senior accounts to prevent financial exploitation. According to the FTC, seniors lost $334 million to fraudulent wire transfers in 2025 alone, with the actual amount likely much higher due to underreporting. The legislation would also require banks to contact trusted contacts when placing holds and provide legal protection for institutions acting in good faith.
prevention.com
· 2026-09-15
Approximately 73% of U.S. adults have been targeted by online scams, with email phishing being a primary attack method, according to Pew Research Center data. Common email scam tactics include impersonating government agencies or legitimate companies, using suspicious sender addresses, creating artificial urgency, requesting personal or financial information, and employing spelling errors or AI-generated text that appears robotic or overly formal. The FTC and CISA recommend carefully scrutinizing unexpected emails for red flags such as generic greetings, requests to claim prizes or refunds, and threats of account closure or action consequences.
newsroom.kbc.com
· 2026-09-15
KBC has launched "guardian angel," a new security feature now available to over 4 million customers in Belgium that allows them to appoint a trusted person to review and approve suspicious payments before execution, specifically designed to combat human takeover fraud and manipulation scams. The feature was developed following a successful pilot with 2,000 users and demonstrated its effectiveness in one case where a daughter was able to stop fraudsters from stealing her father's savings after detecting suspicious activity. KBC is also making the technology available to other financial institutions to help combat the rising trend of fraud schemes that exploit trust and emotions rather than hacking bank systems.
salemreporter.com
· 2026-09-15
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation warned investors about fraudsters using artificial intelligence to create sophisticated-looking investment pitches, websites, and videos, including deepfakes impersonating celebrities or trusted individuals and AI-generated romance scams. The agency urged consumers to verify investments independently, avoid pressure tactics, and remember that offers sounding too good to be true likely are scams. Suspected victims can report fraud to Oregon's Division of Financial Regulation at 1-888-877-4894 or the Federal Trade Commission.
ukrmedia.news
· 2026-09-15
Criminals are increasingly using AI-generated content including voice cloning, deepfakes, and synthetic identities to commit fraud at scale, with INTERPOL estimating AI-enhanced schemes are 4.5 times more profitable than traditional fraud and requiring only about 10 seconds of publicly available audio to create convincing voice clones. During a 2026 international operation targeting social engineering, law enforcement from 97 countries arrested 5,811 people and seized $293 million in assets. Experts recommend verifying suspicious calls by hanging up and calling the person back using a known number, as AI-generated audio and video have become sophisticated enough that familiar voices and realistic deepfakes are no longer reliable indicators of
foxbangor.com
· 2026-09-15
Research from Malwarebytes analyzing threat data from April-July 2026 found that scammers strategically time fraudulent messages to maximize engagement, with scam text volume peaking around 12 p.m. ET (874% higher than at 1 a.m.) and increasing throughout the week, reaching peak levels on Fridays. Different scam types favor different platforms—job scams via email, romance scams via social media, and tech support scams via phone calls—while phishing websites remain the leading delivery method with Malwarebytes blocking approximately 500,000 fake pages daily. The data suggests scammers deliberately target busy times when victims are distracted and more likely
wbaltv.com
· 2026-09-15
A Maryland woman received calls from scammers impersonating Wells Fargo fraud department and a San Francisco police officer, who claimed she was involved in a federal money laundering case tied to fraudulent credit card purchases of thousands of dollars in guns and ammunition. The scammers used specific details to appear legitimate, moved the conversation to video chat, sent fake police documents, and threatened arrest and extortion to pressure her into compliance. The woman recognized the scam before providing critical information, but experts warn that real banks and police will not threaten immediate arrest or force victims to remain on the phone.