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justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Dennis Latour, 41, a convicted felon, pleaded guilty to illegally possessing firearms, conspiracy to purchase guns for a felon, and 13 counts of wire fraud, while his accomplice Jennifer Keegan, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the firearms scheme. Latour defrauded two investors of $830,000 total ($718,271 and $112,340) by falsely claiming successful cannabis industry investments, using the proceeds to purchase 29 firearms, vehicles, and jet skis that were discovered during an ATF search in September 2023. Both face sentencing in March 2025, with potential sentences up to 20
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 66-year-old Punxsutawney woman pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges for embezzling approximately $91,300 in Social Security benefits between May 2016 and January 2022. Merlo knowingly received benefits to which she was not entitled and converted the funds for her own use. She faces sentencing on March 26, 2025, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
nationalpost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., was arrested and charged with grand theft for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook to scam a 74-year-old Texas woman out of $250,000 (with her husband reporting the actual total may reach $600,000) by convincing her to invest in fake business opportunities. Moynihan established rapport with the victim over several months in 2023 by referencing real Musk social media posts, eventually persuading her that she had legitimately invested with the tech billionaire; police also discovered evidence he used false identities of actors Johnny Depp and Lionel Richie, an
en.cibercuba.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Florida man was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook to defraud a 74-year-old Texas woman of approximately $600,000 through a fake investment scheme promising returns of $55 million on a $500,000 investment. The perpetrator, Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., built trust over months by synchronizing messages with public events and news, and used his painting company as a front to conceal the stolen funds. He was arrested in November by the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit and faces charges of grand theft and identity theft.
advocacy.consumerreports.org
· 2025-12-08
Consumer Reports investigation found that wire transfer scams targeting bank customers are increasingly common, with victims rarely reimbursed—major banks like JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America reimbursed customers at rates of only 2-24 percent in 2023. The scams exploit banks' security gaps using readily available "phishing-as-a-service" kits sold on Telegram and the Dark Web for as little as $150 monthly, with phishing complaints to the FBI more than doubling since 2019 to nearly 300,000 reports annually. Consumer Reports is calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to investigate these scams and support reforms including stronger account authentication, security
consumerreports.org
· 2025-12-08
Bank imposter fraud targeting customers is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using phishing schemes, hacked personal data, and affordable "phishing-as-a-service" cybercrime kits (costing as little as $150/month) to steal billions from Americans' bank accounts. Major banks like Wells Fargo have faced multiple class-action lawsuits, with documented losses exceeding $700,000 in individual cases, yet banks frequently deny reimbursement claims citing the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which does not require them to reimburse customers who are tricked into authorizing fraudulent transfers. Key advice includes being skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from banks,
fincen.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has joined a multi-sector national task force convened by the Aspen Institute to develop a comprehensive strategy for preventing fraud and scams. FinCEN will participate in working groups alongside financial services, technology companies, consumer advocacy groups, and federal agencies to create cross-sector recommendations for combating fraud. This initiative expands FinCEN's public-private partnerships in addressing fraud, cybercrime, and illicit finance risks.
ogletree.com
· 2025-12-08
Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams involve criminals spoofing legitimate email addresses to trick victims into sending wire transfers, with Real Estate Wire Fraud (REWF) targeting property buyers into wiring funds to fraudulent accounts. Between 2013 and 2022, the FBI documented over 211,000 BEC complaints totaling approximately $30.4 billion in losses, with REWF complaints surging 27% from 2020 to 2022 and losses jumping 72% to $446.1 million. The FBI recommends verifying payment requests independently through known contact information, avoiding unsolicited links, and confirming any account or procedural changes directly
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, two Nigerian nationals living in the Chicago suburbs, were sentenced to a combined 30 years in federal prison for defrauding US citizens of at least $3.5 million through inheritance scams, romance scams, and business email compromise schemes. Ibekie received 20 years and Aniukwu received 10 years after being convicted on multiple counts including wire fraud, money laundering, and passport fraud. A third accomplice, US citizen Jennifer Gosha, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges and is scheduled for sentencing on December 18, 2024.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
An American woman over 50 fell victim to romance scams perpetrated by two Nigerian "Yahoo boys" (internet fraudsters) over separate incidents spanning roughly a decade, losing significant sums of money in both cases. In the first scam (2020), a man posed as an American on TikTok for ten months before she discovered his true identity and Nigerian girlfriend; in the second, a scammer claimed to need money for his sick mother's medical bills. Despite these experiences, the victim expressed continued affection for Nigerian men while authorities note that youth involvement in internet fraud remains a persistent problem despite Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission securing 3,175 convictions and recovering over N156 billion between 2
afp.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) partnered with Philippine authorities in October 2024 to dismantle a romance and cryptocurrency scam operation in Manila, resulting in the arrest of over 250 suspected cyber criminals and the seizure of hundreds of computers and thousands of mobile phones. The scammers targeted Australian men over 35 through dating apps and social media, building trust before directing victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms while operating shifts aligned with Australian time zones. The AFP gathered intelligence on victim targeting methodologies and financial structures to help identify Australian victims and disrupt similar scam centers globally under Operation Firestorm.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Raymond McDonald, a 51-year-old serial romance fraudster from County Durham, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of fraud by deception and is now appealing his sentence through the Court of Appeal. Police believe McDonald has scammed over 100 people out of thousands of pounds through dating sites, causing victims to report lasting emotional trauma, and he has been repeatedly jailed for fraud and romance scams over the past two decades. McDonald's legal team filed an appeal application while he awaits Court of Appeal consideration of his case.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Six individuals were indicted in St. Louis for installing ATM skimming devices to steal bank account information and PINs from customers between January and May 2024, with the conspiracy involving multiple attempted and successful fraudulent withdrawals at banks in Frontenac, Clayton, and other St. Louis-area locations. Five defendants have pleaded not guilty, one remains at large, and all face charges including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Authorities recommend regularly reviewing bank statements and avoiding card insertion at ATMs by conducting transactions directly with merchants or tellers to prevent hidden skimmer fraud.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
An Ohio man lost his entire life savings of $425,000 in a cryptocurrency fraud scam that began in October 2023 when he was contacted via a pop-up claiming a tech issue and told his retirement account had been compromised. The scammer convinced the victim to grant remote computer access and wire money to stop fraudulent transactions, then stole and converted the funds to Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency. Federal authorities seized approximately $947,883 in USDT tokens in July 2024 and filed a forfeiture complaint in November 2024, seeking to return recovered funds to the victim as compensation.
mytexasdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
A Collin College student, Mark Aiseosa Kadiri, was arrested on November 21, 2024, for operating a financial fraud scheme targeting elderly victims across multiple states, including Virginia and Texas. Investigators found approximately $61,000 in fraudulent funds deposited into his bank account and executed a search warrant at his campus residence to gather additional evidence. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify additional victims and file further charges.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Collin College student, Mark Aiseosa Kadiri, was arrested for allegedly operating an elder financial fraud scheme that exploited elderly victims across multiple states, resulting in approximately $61,000 in unauthorized deposits into his account. Kadiri was apprehended during class, and a subsequent search of his campus residence yielded additional evidence; authorities are continuing their investigation to identify more victims and determine if additional charges are warranted.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old retiree in Penang lost approximately RM1 million after being deceived by a phone scam syndicate that impersonated Tabung Haji officials and police officers, claiming his account was involved in money laundering and directing him to transfer his savings to a new account. In a separate case, a 55-year-old factory manager lost RM1.1 million to a similar scam in which fraudsters posing as NFCC and Sarawak police officers threatened detention and ordered her to transfer funds across nine accounts. Both victims only discovered the fraud after discussing the incidents with family members, and authorities are investigating the cases under Section
barbadostoday.bb
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece discusses the vulnerability of elderly adults to digital scams and fraud, particularly in the Caribbean context. The author highlights that seniors aged 60 and older lost over US$3.4 billion to scams in 2023 according to FBI data, with the average victim losing US$33,915, and notes that older adults are targeted due to their trusting nature, substantial savings, technological inexperience, and emotional vulnerabilities exploited through tactics like grandparent scams and romance fraud. The article emphasizes that data breaches exposing personal information increase seniors' risk, and that most cannot recover financially from these losses due to their inability to re-enter the workforce.
stimson.org
· 2025-12-08
Cyber scams targeting Americans represent a significant national security threat, with nearly a quarter of Americans victimized in 2023 and collective losses reaching $159 billion. Criminal networks operating from scam compounds in Indo-Pacific countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines) coordinate these operations while also engaging in modern slavery, with global annual profits from scams and fraud exceeding $3 trillion. The U.S. lacks coordinated government efforts to counter these operations and requires a whole-of-government approach including a national command center, improved interagency collaboration, and international partnerships to address this growing threat.
9news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian federal police are working with Philippine authorities to identify Australian victims of romance scams following the arrest of 250 cybercriminals (190 foreign nationals and 68 Filipino nationals) at a scam compound in Manila in October. The scammers targeted Australian men over 35 on social media and dating apps, building trust before directing victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms while working in shifts to match Australian time zones. The operation, conducted under Operation Firestorm, resulted in seizures of over 300 computer towers, 1,000 mobile phones, and thousands of SIM cards, providing law enforcement with intelligence on the structure and targeting methods of offshore romance and investment scam call
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Australian federal police shut down an alleged scam call centre in the Philippines that targeted Australian men over 35 through dating apps and social media, resulting in the arrest of over 250 people (190 foreign nationals and 68 Filipino nationals). The scammers built trust with victims before directing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms, with at least 50 Australians confirmed as targets, though authorities believe thousands may have been affected. The operation seized over 300 computer towers, 1,000+ mobile phones, and thousands of SIM cards, and provided law enforcement with critical intelligence on romance and investment scam operations.
wvlt.tv
· 2025-12-08
Wigbert Bandie, a 34-year-old from Ghana, was sentenced to over five years in prison for operating a romance scam that defrauded 11 elderly victims of $2.18 million total. The scheme involved establishing fake online relationships and friendships before requesting emergency money or fake investment opportunities, with one East Tennessee victim losing over $280,000; Bandie must repay the stolen funds and serve three years of probation following his sentence.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Elizabeth Morse, a former office manager at Bedford Women's Care Associates in New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud for manipulating payroll systems between 2020 and 2023 to increase her own pay, fraudulently obtaining approximately $168,366.66. Morse, now residing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, exploited her position of trust to access third-party payroll services and alter her compensation rate without authorization. She faces sentencing on February 26, 2025, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and has agreed to pay full restitution to the medical practice.
themirror.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Moynihan Jr., allegedly impersonated tech billionaire Elon Musk on Facebook beginning in 2023 and defrauded a 74-year-old Texas woman of approximately $600,000 by convincing her that investing in Musk's business ventures would yield returns up to $55 million. The victim transferred funds to accounts actually owned by Moynihan and his businesses, and police arrested him on grand theft charges in November 2023, though none of the victim's money has been recovered. The case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals to investment scams involving celebrity impersonation on social media.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
Local law enforcement agencies across the Tampa Bay area are warning that elderly fraud has reached epidemic levels, particularly during the holiday season when seniors are vulnerable to scams involving romance, fake investments, and impersonation schemes. The Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit has investigated cases resulting in nearly $3 million in losses this year, including a case where a 56-year-old man scammed a Texas woman of approximately $600,000 by impersonating billionaire Elon Musk via Facebook over several months. Authorities advise seniors to verify identities by calling contacts directly, hang up on suspicious calls, and recommend family members stay involved in elderly relatives' financial and digital activities.
barbadostoday.bb
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece examines the escalating problem of elder fraud in the digital age, highlighting how seniors are disproportionately targeted by scammers who exploit their trusting nature, financial assets, and technological vulnerabilities. The 2023 FBI report revealed that seniors aged 60 and older lost over $3.4 billion to fraud, with individuals losing an average of $33,915, while data breaches exposing personal information make them prime targets for sophisticated, personalized attacks. The article emphasizes that common scams include tech support fraud, romance scams, and emergency/grandparent scams, and stresses the urgent need for awareness and protective measures given seniors' limited ability to recover
rlsmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
An Elizabeth man, Elijah Ray, 25, was arrested for defrauding a senior citizen of over $1.6 million between January 2022 and August 2024 through an elaborate scheme involving forged documents, impersonation of a driving school representative, and over 1,600 fraudulent transactions including unauthorized ATM withdrawals and checks. Ray targeted an elderly family friend and was charged with second-degree theft by deception, impersonation, forgery, and third-degree theft. He was arrested on November 25, 2024, and remains in Union County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 35-year-old Oakland man, Zhongqiang Chen, was arrested on November 14 after scamming an elderly Stanislaus County woman out of $30,000 through a fake McAfee antivirus email that gave him remote access to her computer. Chen transferred $60,000 from her money market account, convinced her she owed him that amount, and collected an initial $30,000 payment before being arrested in an undercover operation when he arrived to collect the remaining $30,000. The case remains under investigation to determine if there are additional victims.
lockhaven.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common holiday scams targeting seniors, including fake online stores, gift card fraud, phishing emails, government impersonation, grandparent scams, lottery schemes, and romance scams (which caused $652 million in losses to Americans in 2023). The article provides practical prevention advice such as verifying legitimate websites, not clicking suspicious links, and remembering that the IRS never calls by phone. It also lists warning signs of financial exploitation, including unusual bank visits, large cash withdrawals, unpaid bills, and sudden changes in financial habits or relationships.
interpol.int
· 2025-12-08
A five-month global law enforcement operation (July-November 2024) involving 40 countries arrested over 5,500 financial crime suspects and seized more than USD 400 million in assets across seven types of cyber-enabled frauds including voice phishing, romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency scams. Notable outcomes included Korean and Chinese authorities dismantling a voice phishing syndicate that defrauded 1,900 victims of USD 1.1 billion, and the recovery of USD 39.3 million in a Singapore business email compromise case affecting a commodity firm that lost USD 42.3 million.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Nigerian nationals and a U.S. citizen were sentenced to federal prison for conducting inheritance scams, romance scams, and business email compromise schemes that defrauded victims of at least $3.5 million. Anthony Emeka Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, received 20 years in prison after conviction on 14 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering, while his co-conspirator Samuel Aniukwu, 50, was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges. The schemes involved using aliases to convince victims they had inheritances or build romantic relationships through social media before soliciting money transfers.
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
A Korean-Chinese crime syndicate was arrested for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded 84 victims of US$92 million over eight months. The gang impersonated Korean-heritage foreign women on social media to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency and gold trading platforms, with individual losses ranging from 1 million to 20 billion won. Police arrested 12 members, including recruiters and managers, who had trained South Korean operatives in Cambodia and Laos to execute the scheme.
ia.acs.org.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian and Philippine authorities raided a Manila scam centre in October, arresting over 250 people (190 foreign nationals and 68 Filipino nationals) involved in a transnational romance scam operation targeting Australian men over 35. Australians lost $34.3 million to romance scams in 2023, with the operation using over 300 computer systems and 1,000 mobile phones to conduct "pig-butchering" scams where victims were gradually convinced to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. The raid, part of Operation Firestorm, yielded valuable intelligence on scam centre structures and money laundering methods to help identify and assist Australian victims.
au.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Proofpoint cybersecurity study found that 66% of Australian banks failed to implement the highest level of email authentication protection (DMARC), leaving customers vulnerable to spoofing and phishing scams—a significant gap compared to 42% of U.S. banks that lack such protections. In 2024, over 66,000 Australians reported falling victim to email scams, resulting in losses exceeding $224 million, prompting the government's new Scam Prevention Framework to impose mandatory fraud prevention obligations on financial institutions with potential fines up to $50 million.
klaq.com
· 2025-12-08
A con man named Matt Thrash defrauded victims across multiple states, including Texas, from 2012 to 2024 using investment scams that posed as a successful businessman offering lucrative opportunities through fake ventures including a sports management company, sports memorabilia store, and cannabis dispensary stock. The FBI has apprehended Thrash and is seeking additional Texas victims who may not yet realize they were defrauded or are too embarrassed to come forward.
thehindu.com
· 2025-12-08
SBI staff in Hyderabad prevented a 78-year-old doctor from losing ₹30 lakh when they grew suspicious during his request to close his Senior Citizen Savings Scheme account. The branch manager discovered the customer was being pressured by scammers impersonating Delhi Customs and Crime Police officers who falsely claimed his identity was linked to money laundering and that his wife required emergency hospital treatment. Police confirmed no such patient existed at the hospital, revealing the elaborate digital fraud scheme.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A 25-year-old IIT Bombay student lost Rs 7.28 lakh in July after receiving a call from fraudsters impersonating Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) officials, who claimed 17 complaints of illegal activities were registered against his mobile number and threatened "digital arrest" if he didn't comply. The victim transferred the money across multiple transactions out of fear of legal consequences. Digital arrest scams exploit urgency and fear to manipulate victims—including educated professionals and seniors—into sending money by falsely claiming investigation for serious crimes; protection involves verifying caller identity through official channels, never sharing sensitive information with callers, and reporting suspected scams to
bitcoinist.com
· 2025-12-08
An Ohio man lost his $425,000 life savings to a cryptocurrency scam that began with a fake pop-up warning about a "technical issue" in October 2023; after granting remote access to his computer, scammers transferred the funds into crypto wallets and converted them to approximately 947,883 Tether tokens. Federal authorities used blockchain analysis to trace and recover the stolen cryptocurrency on July 31, 2024, with the US Attorney's Office filing a civil forfeiture complaint to return the funds to the victim. This case illustrates how malicious actors exploit inexperienced investors in the cryptocurrency market through social engineering and remote access tactics.
digit.in
· 2025-12-08
A 61-year-old child specialist in Hyderabad was targeted by scammers using a digital arrest scam who convinced him to withdraw over Rs 13 lakhs to settle a supposed legal dispute, but alert SBI employees Surya Swathi and Kumar Gaud recognized his distressed behavior and continuous incoming calls, educating him about the scam with newspaper evidence before he lost his money. The scammers used fear-mongering tactics common in digital arrest schemes, which prey on elderly and less digitally aware individuals, but the victim severed contact with the fraudsters after realizing the deception.
republicworld.com
· 2025-12-08
An SBI bank officer in Hyderabad prevented a 61-year-old doctor from losing Rs 13 lakh in a digital arrest scam by recognizing suspicious behavior and educating the victim about the fraud scheme. The article documents several recent digital arrest scams in India where fraudsters impersonate government officials and threaten victims with virtual arrest to extort money, including cases involving a 77-year-old woman (Rs 3.8 crore lost), an IIT student (Rs 7.29 lakh lost), and a business chairman (Rs 7 crore lost). Key protection measures include never sharing banking details or OTPs with callers claiming to be
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 61-year-old doctor in Hyderabad was targeted by scammers using a "digital arrest" fraud scheme that pressured him to withdraw Rs 13 lakh from his bank accounts, but alert SBI employee Surya Swathi recognized his anxious behavior and inconsistent story during multiple branch visits, ultimately preventing the loss. Through persistent intervention and sharing educational materials about the scam, Swathi and branch manager Kumar Gaud helped the senior citizen recognize he was being defrauded and disconnect from the criminals. The incident highlights the importance of verifying caller identity, protecting financial information, and remaining suspicious of urgent withdrawal demands.
edmonton.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
An Edmonton woman was charged with fraud for systematically defrauding an 88-year-old senior of at least $1.6 million over approximately a decade by befriending him and exploiting his kindness and generosity. The 60-year-old accused, Tina "Phoeut" Soeung, was charged in September 2024 with fraud over $5,000, and police suspect there may be additional victims and are encouraging anyone with information to contact authorities.
dailyexcelsior.com
· 2025-12-08
Three individuals were arrested in Srinagar for operating a "digital arrest" scam that defrauded a senior citizen of Rs 21 lakh (approximately $25,000 USD). The fraudsters impersonated TRAI and CBI officials, fabricating money laundering allegations and arrest warrants to psychologically manipulate the victim into withdrawing fixed deposits and transferring funds to a fraudulent account. Police recovered Rs 4.13 lakhs for the victim and seized multiple phones, SIM cards, debit cards, and other materials; authorities emphasized that legitimate government agencies never conduct arrests or demand payments via video calls.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Dale Lake of Hanford, California, agreed to a consent decree resolving federal allegations that he operated as a "money mule" in a mail and wire fraud scheme targeting senior citizens. Victims were deceived into believing they had won lotteries or sweepstakes and sent money to Lake, who then transmitted the funds to accomplices in Jamaica; the decree permanently prohibits Lake from participating in prize promotion fraud or money transmitting businesses and authorizes postal inspection monitoring of his mail.
zikoko.com
· 2025-12-08
Adeoti recounts falling victim to multiple scams throughout her life, including a recharge card scheme in secondary school, a rigged ring-toss game that cost her ₦2,000, a fake currency exchange scam that drained ₦20,000 from her account, and a romance scam where she paid ₦35,000 for non-existent goods. She also invested in Ponzi schemes after hearing success stories from others and was deceived by a fabricated sob story about hospital bills, reflecting on her tendency to see good in people as a vulnerability that scammers exploit.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
A 35-year-old Oakland man, Zhongqiang Chen, was arrested after scamming an elderly California woman out of $30,000 in a tech support fraud scheme. On November 12, 2024, Chen posed as McAfee Customer Service via email, gained remote access to the victim's computer, transferred $60,000 between her accounts, and falsely convinced her she owed him money, resulting in her initial payment of $30,000 before law enforcement intervened. Chen was arrested on November 14 when he arrived to collect a second $30,000 payment and faces charges including elder abuse, grand theft, and identity fraud.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Boston police have issued a holiday season fraud alert identifying six common scams: online shopping fraud using fake websites and social media ads, temporary job scams impersonating legitimate employers, phishing emails mimicking major retailers and banks, mail delivery scams requesting personal information via fake links, and gift card schemes involving PIN theft or manipulation. Police advise consumers to verify websites and employers directly, avoid clicking suspicious links, purchase gift cards from counters or legitimate online retailers, and report incidents to local police, the FTC, or the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
davidsonlocal.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational resource warning North Carolinians about common holiday scams targeting vulnerable populations, particularly older adults. It covers four main fraud categories: holiday mail scams (phishing emails and porch theft), holiday shopping scams (fraudulent retailers and gift card schemes), and charity/investment scams, providing practical prevention tips such as verifying sender information, using secure networks for purchases, and researching charities before donating. The article emphasizes that consumers should be cautious during the high-spending season and recommends using resources like the BBB Scam Tracker and AARP Fraud Watch Network for protection and verification.
regtechtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Dale Lake of Hanford, California, agreed to a consent decree with the U.S. government after being accused of serving as a "money mule" in a lottery prize fraud scheme targeting senior citizens; he received money and gift cards from victims and transferred them to accomplices in Jamaica. Under the consent decree, Lake is permanently banned from participating in prize promotion fraud or any money transmission business, with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service monitoring his mail for compliance. The case represents a collaborative effort between federal authorities to dismantle fraud networks that exploit vulnerable elderly populations.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired Navy Commodore in Bhopal lost Rs 68.49 lakh (approximately $82,000 USD) to a sophisticated "digital arrest" cyber-scam in January 2024, making him the first reported victim of this scam in the city. The fraudsters, operating from Southeast Asia, impersonated Indian government officials and used fake documents, RBI-stamped letters, and Skype communications to convince the officer that his Aadhaar ID was linked to drug trafficking and money laundering, coercing him to transfer funds in three installments as "security verification" before cutting off contact. The victim emphasized that the criminals conducted extensive research on him an