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in Identity Theft
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-07
According to a 2025 report by KHOU, Generation Z and young adults aged 20-29 in Texas are losing more money to scams than seniors aged 70-79, driven by their high daily online activity and vulnerability to phishing, fake job, and rental scams when facing time pressure. The Federal Trade Commission findings highlight that young people's desperation during job or housing searches makes them susceptible to sophisticated scams, including those using AI. The article advises Texans of all ages to avoid sharing personal information online, verify trusted retailers and contractors, and research charitable organizations before donating to prevent falling victim to common scams circulating in the state.
ca.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are exploiting discarded airline baggage tags containing travelers' names, flight numbers, destinations, and booking references to commit identity theft and file fraudulent missing-item claims with airlines like Delta. The fraud occurs when scammers retrieve tags from airport and hotel trash, then impersonate travelers to claim reimbursement, complicating legitimate claims for actual passengers. Experts recommend shredding baggage tags and boarding passes at home after travel, as boarding passes also contain personal data vulnerable to barcode scanning and account hijacking.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
A man named Kent encountered a web injection scam when a fake bank login pop-up appeared during an online financial transaction, successfully tricking him into providing his email and phone number before he recognized the "Credit Donkey" redirect as suspicious and closed his browser. Web injection scams hijack browser sessions to overlay fraudulent verification screens that feel authentic because they appear while users are already logged in, with the goal of capturing login credentials or two-factor authentication codes. To protect against such scams, individuals should monitor accounts daily with login alerts enabled, change passwords using a password manager, check for personal data exposure in breaches, and consider using data removal services to limit scammers' access to personal information.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-07
The Placer County Sheriff's Office warned local businesses about a credit card fraud scheme where scammers purchase items using fraudulent or stolen credit cards, have them picked up by couriers, and then initiate chargebacks weeks later—leaving businesses without product or payment. Businesses are advised to scrutinize large or unusual purchases from new customers, verify the identity of pickup persons, and trust their instincts when transactions seem suspicious.
richmondsunsetnews.com
· 2025-12-07
This is an educational awareness piece in which California Assemblymember Catherine Stefani announces two free "Senior Scam Stopper" workshops designed to help seniors and their families recognize and prevent fraud. The events, held in partnership with the California Department of Consumer Affairs and featuring experts from state agencies and law enforcement, will cover common scams including fraudulent contractors, identity theft, Medicare fraud, lottery schemes, and mail fraud.
afp.gov.au
· 2025-12-07
More than 40 percent of Australian cybercrime victims experience multiple types of cybercrime within a single year, with fraud and scam victims being the most vulnerable—80 percent likely to experience another type of cybercrime. Victims who experience three or more cybercrime types are at least three times more likely to report health, financial, and legal impacts compared to single-type victims, with social impacts rising from 20 percent for single-type victims to nearly 50 percent for those experiencing all four types. The Australian Federal Police and Australian Institute of Criminology recommend prevention measures including multi-factor authentication, software updates, and reporting suspicious activity to ReportCyber, while noting that sc
cantonrep.com
· 2025-12-07
**Title:** As Medicare open enrollment starts, beware health care cons coming your way
During Medicare open enrollment periods (Oct. 15-Dec. 7 for Medicare; Nov. 1-Jan. 15 for Healthcare.gov), scammers make unsolicited calls and texts impersonating Medicare or healthcare brokers, pressuring callers to provide Social Security numbers and Medicare ID numbers under the guise of enrolling them in cheaper plans with better coverage. The article advises consumers to avoid unsolicited contacts, never share government-issued numbers with unknown callers, access plans only through official websites (Medicare.gov or Healthcare.gov), and report suspected fraud to
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-07
Multiple seniors have fallen victim to catfishing scams at Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, with airport staff observing approximately six cases in one month. Victims, primarily elderly individuals, arrived at the airport expecting to meet romantic partners who did not exist, often with fabricated flight itineraries and waiting hours before realizing the deception; these scams typically involve financial transactions and exploit vulnerable individuals seeking love and connection. The airport CEO issued a public warning about the widespread issue, noting that similar incidents are being reported at airports across Canada and characterizing catfishing as a major cybercrime epidemic targeting vulnerable populations.
cutoday.info
· 2025-12-07
Criminals stole a record $1.03 trillion worldwide in 2024, prompting fintech company Velera to launch a new Risk Mitigation Ecosystem designed to help credit unions combat increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics including card-not-present scams, synthetic ID fraud, account takeovers, and authorized push payment (APP) scams. The cloud-based solution uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze multi-channel consumer data and detect fraudulent patterns in real time, addressing both traditional fraud and emerging threats like consumer-engaged fraud that exploit social engineering.
boomlive.in
· 2025-12-07
This article explains how scammers use fake Facebook accounts to perpetrate various frauds, including romance scams, investment schemes, phishing, and catfishing, by using stolen photos and fabricated profiles that appear legitimate. The piece provides detection methods such as reverse image searching profile pictures, checking posting history authenticity, and verifying mutual connections, along with protective steps including reporting suspicious accounts and blocking profiles. Key warning signs include vague bios, sparse activity, rapid profession of affection, and suspicious links or urgent requests for money.
enlacelatinonc.org
· 2025-12-07
A Privacy Journal study ranks North Carolina 35th out of 50 states for online dating safety, citing high rates of romance scams, identity theft, fraud, violent crime, STDs, and registered sex offenders. Romance scammers typically use fake identities on dating platforms, requesting money for emergencies or travel while avoiding in-person meetings, and the North Carolina Department of Justice warns vulnerable individuals to never send money to online contacts they haven't met and to report suspected scams to 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
stimson.org
· 2025-12-07
Southeast Asia faces a rapidly escalating scam epidemic, with 79% of adults exposed to scams in the past year and global scam losses exceeding $1 trillion annually, threatening the region's digital economy projected to reach $1 trillion in five years. Scammers are leveraging advanced technologies like AI, instant payments, and encrypted messaging to conduct sophisticated cross-border fraud schemes including fake job offers, romance scams, and investment fraud. The article recommends that governments, companies, and civil society organizations collaborate through strengthened institutions, cross-border data-sharing, regional working groups, and partnerships to combat this transnational criminal activity.
nivervillecitizen.com
· 2025-12-07
Phone scams targeting Canadians have become increasingly prevalent, with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reporting 15,941 fraud victims and $284 million in losses between January-June 2024. Common scams include phishing attempts, fake job offers via text, and spoofed calls impersonating legitimate companies like banks and airlines, often exploiting personal data obtained through data breaches. Experts emphasize that scammers target individuals across all demographics, including those who believe they are too savvy to fall victim, and stress the importance of organizations better protecting personal information to prevent these crimes.
acronis.com
· 2025-12-07
The Acronis Cyber Foundation and Digital Literacy Project are hosting a free cyber safety workshop for seniors on October 11, 2025, in Stoughton, Massachusetts, to address the vulnerability of older adults to online fraud. According to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report, seniors aged 60+ experienced the highest monetary losses from cyberattacks at $4.8 billion, with personal data breaches and investment scams being leading threats. The workshop will educate participants on recognizing AI-enabled deepfake scams, creating strong passwords, identifying phishing attempts, and protecting personal information.
morningstar.com
· 2025-12-07
Quotient Wealth Partners partnered with Carefull, an AI-powered financial safety platform, to help protect clients from fraud, scams, and financial exploitation through continuous monitoring of suspicious transactions and spending patterns. The partnership provides Quotient clients with $1 million in identity theft insurance, a ScamCheck tool to verify suspicious messages, a live Care team for real-time support during scam attempts, and LegacyKit for secure digital asset management. The collaboration reflects growing concerns about sophisticated fraud schemes targeting clients, including remote access tool attacks and impersonation attempts, while also enabling early detection of health changes through unusual spending patterns.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Quotient Wealth Partners partnered with Carefull, an AI-powered financial safety platform, to help protect clients from fraud, scams, and financial exploitation through continuous monitoring of transactions and accounts. The partnership provides Quotient clients with $1 million in identity theft insurance, a scam verification tool, and digital legacy planning services, addressing the growing threat of sophisticated scams targeting wealthy families and older adults.
wdrb.com
· 2025-12-07
A Louisville nonprofit called ElderServe held a community workshop to educate seniors on recognizing and preventing scams, as the organization responds to a rise in local fraud targeting older adults, including cases involving home theft, grandparent scams, and credit card fraud. The workshop taught seniors practical defense strategies such as avoiding unknown callers, never saying "yes" on recorded lines, and being cautious of in-person approaches, with participants reporting increased awareness and intention to change their behaviors. ElderServe plans to continue its educational series, emphasizing that awareness is the primary defense against scammers who specifically target seniors.
wsaw.com
· 2025-12-07
A "brushing scam" involves scammers sending unsolicited inexpensive items to your address, then requesting that you call a number, scan a QR code, or leave a review—steps designed to collect your personal information. Scammers use this information to make fraudulent purchases and post fake positive reviews on online marketplaces, potentially exposing victims to identity theft and financial fraud. Experts recommend not responding to requests, not scanning QR codes, reporting the package to the retailer and FTC, and monitoring financial accounts for suspicious activity.
taiwannews.com.tw
· 2025-12-07
U.S. companies lost an average of 9.8% of their annual revenue to fraud in the past year—a 46% increase from 2024 and 27% higher than the global average of 7.7%, representing approximately $114 billion in losses among surveyed U.S. business leaders. Account takeover fraud emerged as the most damaging fraud type in the U.S. (31% of losses), followed by synthetic identity fraud (24%) and scam/authorized fraud (23%), with account takeover fraud volume growing 141% globally between H1 2021 and H1 2025.
deloitte.com
· 2025-12-07
The FBI has highlighted "phantom hacker scams," where fraudsters impersonate tech support, banks, and government agents to manipulate victims—particularly seniors—into voluntarily transferring money directly to scammers' accounts. These scams are part of a broader category called authorized push payment (APP) fraud, which is rapidly growing; the Deloitte Center for Financial Services estimates APP fraud losses in the U.S. could reach $14.9 billion by 2028 (up from $8.3 billion in 2024), with investment scams like "pig butchering" driving the majority of growth, fueled by increasingly sophisticated AI-generated deepfakes and social engineering
aetv.com
· 2025-12-07
Catfishing—creating false online identities to deceive others—affects an estimated 23% of social media users and resulted in $1.14 billion in reported romance scams in 2024, though experts believe the actual figure is much higher. While catfishing itself is largely legal in the United States due to First Amendment protections, related crimes like fraud and identity theft can be prosecuted, though most police departments lack resources to pursue perpetrators effectively. Red flags include reluctance to video chat or phone call, requests for cash, and fabricated personal details; victims typically must pursue civil claims for recourse.
ohioattorneygeneral.gov
· 2025-12-07
Job scams promise high pay for minimal work but actually harvest personal information, financial access, or money through tactics like fake checks, reshipping schemes, and bogus employment agencies. Common red flags include vague job descriptions, communication from free email accounts, hiring without interviews, and requests to wire money or purchase prepaid cards. Consumers should research companies thoroughly before applying and report suspected scams to the Ohio Attorney General's Office or similar state authorities.
abcnews.go.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost nearly $250 million to scams using Bitcoin ATMs in 2024, with the FBI reporting this figure more than doubled from the previous year. An 85-year-old Texas woman, Fran Bates, was defrauded of over $40,000 after a scammer posing as her bank convinced her to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM kiosk, with the criminal directing her actions remotely. Experts warn that Bitcoin ATMs have become scammers' preferred method due to the speed and irreversibility of transactions, prompting calls for stricter regulations and leading to lawsuits against major ATM operators like Athena Bitcoin.
oig.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-07
The U.S. Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General is warning the public about a government imposter scam using forged U.S. Supreme Court letterhead and fake signatures of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sonia Sotomayor to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information. The scam letter falsely claims the recipient is a criminal suspect whose Social Security number has been compromised, that their assets have been frozen by the Supreme Court, and that they cannot maintain over $10,000 in bank accounts or $80,000-$100,000 in investments, with follow-up contact typically made via text or phone. Recipients are advised to disregard the letter
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Cybercriminals are increasingly using sophisticated phishing emails impersonating trusted coworkers and employers to trick recipients into opening malicious attachments or clicking fraudulent links, with AI-generated content making these scams harder to detect. A Texas resident nearly fell victim to such a scam when she received a suspicious email appearing to come from her employer but containing an unopened attachment; she protected herself by changing her password, running virus scans, and enrolling in identity theft protection. To fully protect against these workplace email scams, individuals should review login histories for unauthorized access, enable two-factor authentication on critical accounts, alert their IT department of suspicious emails, and keep all software updated to prevent malware exploitation.
abcnews.go.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Americans lost nearly $250 million to scams involving Bitcoin ATMs, more than double the previous year, with victims including 85-year-old Fran Bates who lost over $40,000 after being manipulated by scammers impersonating her bank. Bitcoin ATMs have become scammers' preferred method because transactions are irreversible and funds can be transferred worldwide within minutes, making recovery nearly impossible. The FBI and AARP have warned of the growing threat, and authorities have begun taking action, including a lawsuit against major Bitcoin ATM operator Athena Bitcoin, though the company denies responsibility and argues it maintains fraud safeguards.
troopers.ny.gov
· 2025-12-07
New York State Police warn of a phone scam targeting senior citizens in which callers falsely claim identity theft has occurred and pressure victims to withdraw large sums of money or purchase gold bars for "safekeeping," with scammers then sending couriers to collect the funds. In one documented case in Tompkins County, victim(s) lost $500,000 in gold bars across two incidents in 2024, leading to the indictment of Akash B. Thakkar, age 41, on Grand Larceny charges after investigators identified him as a courier who picked up the gold bars. Authorities advise victims to hang up and contact trusted family members rather than comply with such demands
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
**Scam Jam Educational Event - October 16, 2025**
AARP Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Elder Justice Coalition hosted a Scam Jam awareness event at UW-Green Bay to educate attendees about current scams and connect them with fraud-fighting professionals. The event featured a resource fair with multiple Wisconsin organizations including AARP's Fraud Watch Network, the Better Business Bureau, state consumer protection agencies, and local support services, all offering free fraud prevention information, complaint filing assistance, and community presentations.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
Consumer watchdogs warn that scammers are exploiting federal government shutdown uncertainty by impersonating government agencies via text, phone, and email to target federal employees and benefit recipients, requesting personal information or payment fees under false pretenses. The shutdown simultaneously weakens consumer protections by halting FTC fraud complaint intake, FDA food inspections, and other regulatory functions, leaving vulnerable populations more exposed to exploitation during an economically uncertain period.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-07
The Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General issued an alert about a government imposter scam using forged Supreme Court letterhead and signatures of justices John Roberts and Sonia Sotomayor to target seniors receiving retirement benefits. The fraudulent letters falsely claim recipients are suspects in criminal proceedings, allege identity theft of their Social Security numbers, and pressure victims to send money and share personal information under threat of frozen assets and account balance restrictions. Victims are advised to ignore the communications, report them to the FTC or SSA OIG, and take immediate steps to freeze accounts and monitor credit if they have already provided information or funds.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational piece outlines how to identify and respond to social media scams targeting users. Common scams include fake celebrity accounts, phishing links, romance scams, fraudulent job offers, giveaway schemes, and investment fraud—all designed to steal personal information, credentials, or money through deceptive friend requests and messages. The article recommends verifying profiles for authenticity, reporting suspicious accounts, blocking scammers, and maintaining strong privacy settings to protect against these threats.
bioengineer.org
· 2025-12-07
Fraudsters are increasingly employing artificial intelligence to create more convincing scams targeting vulnerable populations, particularly the Latino community and those with limited technology knowledge. Assistant Professor Gabriel Aguilar, who himself fell victim to a fake job offer scam involving a fraudulent check as a college student, advocates for enhanced AI literacy education to help students and communities recognize and combat AI-enabled deceptions such as deepfakes and voice-cloning technology. Aguilar proposes that educators integrate critical thinking about AI scams into technical writing and communication curricula to equip learners with tools to identify fraud and protect themselves and their communities.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
This 2025 awareness article outlines emerging identity theft tactics enhanced by generative AI, including AI-powered phishing emails, voice cloning scams (which affect 1 in 4 people according to McAfee), deepfake videos, and synthetic identity creation. The article describes how criminals use these technologies to make fraudulent communications and fake identities increasingly difficult to detect, and advises readers to watch for warning signs such as unfamiliar account charges, unexpected credit accounts, credit score drops, and suspicious mail patterns.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Internet scams have evolved from crude 1990s email cons like Nigerian prince schemes to sophisticated AI-powered deepfakes that can convincingly impersonate voices and faces, with phishing attacks emerging in the early 2000s as online banking adoption grew. Despite technological advances making fraud more convincing and difficult to detect, successful scams continue to rely on exploiting fundamental human emotions—greed, fear, compassion, and loneliness—through predictable psychological manipulation patterns that create urgency and isolate victims from support systems. Understanding how scam tactics have evolved reveals that technological complexity often masks simple psychological manipulation, and recognizing consistent underlying patterns can help potential victims identify manipulation attempts regardless of delivery method.
themirror.com
· 2025-12-07
Social Security Administration officials warned of a scam targeting seniors that uses forged letters with fake U.S. Supreme Court letterhead claiming recipients are subjects of legal proceedings and have had their Social Security numbers compromised. The scam solicits personal information and money by falsely claiming the Supreme Court has frozen the recipient's assets and imposed limits on bank balances and investments. The OIG advised seniors to disregard such communications, verify information with others before responding, and report suspicious letters, texts, and calls to ssa.gov/scam.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
On October 16, 2025, AARP Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Elder Justice Coalition hosted a Scam Jam educational event at UW-Green Bay to inform attendees about current fraud schemes and connect them with anti-fraud professionals. The event featured a resource fair with multiple Wisconsin organizations dedicated to combating elder fraud, including AARP's Fraud Watch Network, the Better Business Bureau, state consumer protection agencies, and victim support services, all providing free educational materials, complaint filing assistance, and community presentations.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are sending fake letters with forged U.S. Supreme Court letterhead to Social Security recipients, impersonating government officials and falsely claiming recipients are involved in criminal proceedings to coerce them into providing personal information and money. The letters, often followed by text messages and phone calls, threaten to freeze bank accounts and warn against holding more than $10,000 in savings. Seniors should disregard such communications, report them to authorities, and verify any Social Security-related claims through official channels or trusted contacts.
cnhi.com
· 2025-12-07
Older adults aged 60-plus lost $3.4 billion globally to financial scammers in 2023, with fraudsters targeting this population because they believe older adults have substantial savings and are less likely to report crimes. The article describes five common scams targeting seniors: grandparent scams (emotional manipulation using impersonation), financial services scams (impersonating banks or debt collectors), tech support scams (the most frequently reported type), government impersonation scams (IRS/Social Security threats), and romance scams, all of which exploit trust, fear, or emotion to extract money or personal information.
click2houston.com
· 2025-12-07
Multiple viewers reported receiving Medicare mail addressed to other people, raising identity theft concerns during the annual Medicare open enrollment period (October 15-December 7), when scams typically increase. The Better Business Bureau's Texas Senior Medicare Patrol recommends not opening misaddressed mail, contacting Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE to verify personal information, and monitoring accounts for unauthorized charges, as mail mix-ups may indicate identity theft or other fraudulent activity such as unauthorized medical equipment charges or impersonation calls.
betanews.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, cybercrime complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reached 859,532 with reported losses of $16.6 billion—a 51-fold increase in complaints and 2,400-fold increase in losses since 2000. Seniors were disproportionately affected, filing 147,127 complaints and losing $4.8 billion, while investment scams caused the highest financial losses at $6.6 billion despite phishing generating more complaints overall. Corporations have faced even larger aggregate losses exceeding $128 billion from major incidents over the past 37 years, with ransomware attacks causing the greatest corporate damage at over $6
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are impersonating the New York State Tax Department via calls, texts, and emails to trick residents into providing personal information under the false premise that they need to submit payment details to receive legitimate inflation refund checks. The phishing campaigns use urgency tactics and fake websites to steal sensitive data like Social Security numbers and banking information for identity theft, though eligible residents are automatically sent refunds without needing to provide any information or take action.
detroitnews.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article provides guidance on recovering emotionally and practically from financial scams. It advises victims to document what happened, immediately contact their financial institution to dispute charges and change passwords, file police reports with local and federal agencies (FBI, FTC, state attorney general), and consider credit monitoring or freezes to prevent further fraud. Experts emphasize that scam victims should not feel shame, as anyone can be targeted, and that sharing experiences with others can help prevent future scams in their community.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
**Scam Type:** Fake settlement claim websites and phishing emails
Scammers are creating fraudulent websites and sending deceptive emails impersonating legitimate data breach settlement payouts (such as Facebook's $725 million and AT&T's $177 million settlements) to steal victims' Social Security numbers, banking information, and other personal data. To protect yourself, verify settlements through the FTC's official ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds site, watch for red flags like requests for complete SSNs, processing fees, urgent language, misspelled URLs, and grammar errors, and consider mailing claims directly rather than using links in emails.
patch.com
· 2025-12-07
The City of Temecula and Assemblymember Kate Sanchez are hosting a free "Senior Scam Symposium" on November 20 to educate older adults on identifying and preventing scams, including internet fraud, phishing, identity theft, and fraudulent phone calls. The event will feature keynote speakers from law enforcement, the FBI, and county officials who will discuss scam prevention strategies, legislative updates, and available resources to protect seniors and their families.