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in Scam Awareness
wanderer.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not about elder fraud but rather a general opinion piece about vehicle-related scams and towing issues. The author describes several incidents including a woman who received a speeding ticket while her car was being towed (not her driving), a tow company that attempted to tow an occupied vehicle, and a Facebook car sale scam where a buyer lost a $25,000 Porsche to repossession after unknowingly purchasing a vehicle with financing issues. While these situations affect consumers generally, they do not specifically target or involve elder abuse or fraud targeting seniors.
montgomeryadvertiser.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security scammers commonly impersonate federal agents and law enforcement officials, threatening arrest or benefit suspension to coerce victims into providing personal information or payments. To protect yourself, hang up immediately on suspicious calls, never share personal information or make payments, and report scams to the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov. The SSA will never threaten legal action, demand payment via gift cards or wire transfers, require secrecy, or send official documents with personal information via email.
indeonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating U.S. passport renewal websites to trick consumers into paying fees to fill out forms that are actually free downloads on the government website, then requesting additional payment for the actual renewal. Victims unknowingly provide personal information like Social Security numbers and payment details to fraudsters, with reported losses of at least $68 per incident. To avoid these scams, consumers should verify they are on the official state.gov website (not .com or similar variants), allow sufficient time for legitimate renewal processes, and confirm websites are secure before entering sensitive information.
nowhabersham.com
· 2025-12-08
Sheriff's offices in Hart and Stephens counties warned residents of two resurgent scams: a fake warrant telephone scheme where callers impersonate deputies and demand cryptocurrency payments for arrest warrants, and a door-to-door asphalt sealing scam targeting homeowners with artificially low prices. Authorities emphasized that legitimate law enforcement never solicits payment by phone and advised residents to hang up on suspicious calls, refuse door-to-door service offers, and contact local reputable contractors for actual home services.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
McAfee identified five U.S. cities—Fort Myers Beach, Sandusky, Pocono Manor, Waimea, and Chicago—as hotspots for travel booking scams, including phishing fraud, rental scams, and ticketing scams targeting families and travelers. The company recommends booking only through official channels, using credit cards with fraud protection rather than debit cards, and avoiding requests to complete transactions off-platform or on suspicious websites to prevent identity theft.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Employment scams surged 118% in 2023, with criminals using AI to create convincing fake job listings on legitimate platforms like LinkedIn to steal personal information and money from job seekers. The typical victim lost $2,000, with total losses reaching $367 million in 2022; scammers pose as recruiters, request upfront payments for equipment or training, and solicit sensitive data like Social Security numbers under the guise of employment paperwork. The rise of remote work and AI-generated recruitment messages that appear legitimate have made these scams an "emerging threat," particularly targeting recent graduates, immigrants, and others unfamiliar with standard hiring practices.
shawlocal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau launched "Your Home HQ," an educational nonprofit to help consumers avoid common household scams, particularly home improvement and security system fraud targeting homeowners of all ages. Home improvement scams were identified as the riskiest fraud type for consumers 55 and older in 2023, with scammers using tactics such as falsely claiming alarm providers are out of business or offering fake upgrades and driveway paving services with large upfront payments. The BBB recommends obtaining multiple estimates, verifying contractor credentials and licensing, signing written contracts, avoiding urgency tactics, and using staggered payments to prevent falling victim to these scams.
hellorayo.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Following the collapse of Flybe airline into administration, Citizens Advice warned stranded passengers seeking refunds to be alert for scams, as fraudsters typically exploit such situations to offer fake recovery services. The article advises affected customers to check their ticket purchase method (direct vs. travel agent), payment type (credit card may offer protections), and accommodation terms, while several rail and coach operators offered free alternative travel to help passengers reach their destinations.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with the vast majority of perpetrators escaping prosecution as law enforcement agencies become overwhelmed by the exponential growth in cases. Victims, particularly older adults targeted by romance, grandparent, and technical support scams, rarely recover their losses, and some cases result in tragic secondary consequences when victims become desperate or violent. The combination of low investigation priority at local police departments, difficulty tracking funds moved to cryptocurrency or foreign accounts, and federal prosecution thresholds means that scammers operate with minimal risk of being caught or held accountable.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with projections worsening as the population ages and AI technology advances fraud capabilities. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded to investigate these crimes, resulting in few convictions and minimal recovery of stolen funds, while victims—particularly older adults—lose life savings to romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud. A tragic Ohio case illustrates the crisis: an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after a scammer manipulated him into believing she was involved in a $12,000 bond extraction scheme, while the actual perpetrator remains
mb.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
Scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with sophisticated overseas criminals exploiting an aging population and increasingly using AI to evade detection and prosecution. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by the exponential growth in scams, with most perpetrators escaping capture and victims rarely recovering their money, while some police departments treat financial fraud as lower priority than other crimes. The article illustrates the crisis through cases including an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being targeted by a bond scam, and highlights how stolen funds are quickly converted to cryptocurrency or moved to foreign accounts, making recovery and investigation nearly impossible.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from elderly Americans through internet and telephone fraud schemes including romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, with perpetrators rarely caught or convicted due to law enforcement resource limitations and overseas origins making investigations difficult. The crime wave is projected to worsen as the population ages and AI technology advances, while victims—who rarely recover lost funds—are often discouraged from reporting due to police skepticism about voluntarily-sent money and the vast majority of cases going unreported.
apnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated international scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans, with law enforcement catching and convicting relatively few perpetrators due to resource limitations and investigation challenges, particularly for overseas crimes involving cryptocurrency and foreign accounts. Older Americans are especially vulnerable to romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, rarely recovering lost funds including life savings, while some police departments deprioritize financial fraud cases and victims often remain unreported. As the U.S. population ages and AI technology advances, experts warn the crime wave is projected to worsen, with scammers facing minimal consequences for crimes that are increasingly easy to commit and difficult to prosecute.
nbcnewyork.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted despite the exponential growth of such crimes. Victims—particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud—rarely recover their money, and law enforcement agencies lack sufficient resources to investigate cases, especially those involving cryptocurrency or foreign bank accounts. The article highlights a tragic Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being defrauded of $12,000, illustrating how scams can escalate to violence while the original scammers remain at large.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Smishing attacks in South Korea have surged dramatically, with scammers impersonating financial institutions, investment firms, and government agencies through fake promotional text messages containing malicious URLs. These sophisticated schemes trick victims into visiting counterfeit websites or downloading malware-laden apps that steal personal information, enable remote device control, or lock data with ransomware demands; spam texts increased nearly 10-fold from 31.12 million in 2019 to over 168 million cases by mid-2023, with projections exceeding 400 million annually. The attacks exploit improved spam reporting visibility, regulatory changes affecting investment advisory services, and compromised text reseller companies to distribute fraudulent messages imp
ibj.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted, according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network director. Victims—particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud—rarely recover their money, and law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and under-resourced to investigate cases, especially those involving cryptocurrency or foreign bank accounts. The article illustrates the crisis through an Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer into believing she was involved in a $12,000 bond fraud, while the actual
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and phone fraud, with the crime wave expected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology create easier opportunities for perpetrators while law enforcement struggles to investigate and prosecute due to limited resources and cases originating overseas. Victims, particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, rarely recover their money, and many cases go unreported as victims feel discouraged by police who often mischaracterize fraud as "consensual transactions" and prioritize cases with higher dollar amounts or multiple victims.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams and online fraud operations, predominantly run by Chinese criminal organizations based in Southeast Asia (particularly Myanmar and Cambodia), have caused an estimated $1.26 trillion in global damage annually through impersonation schemes, investment fraud, and phishing. Approximately 220,000 people are mobilized across Myanmar and Cambodia for these crimes, with victims including those abducted from 35 countries who are coerced to impersonate others via social media, email, and phone calls. In response, China has blocked over $157 billion in fraudulent transactions since 2021, and Myanmar authorities rescued 19 kidnapped South Koreans in the previous year as international law enforcement intensifies crack
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted, according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network director. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by the exponential growth of scams targeting older adults, who rarely recover lost funds from romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, while victims are often discouraged from reporting due to misconceptions that voluntary money transfers constitute consensual transactions. The challenge is compounded by the use of cryptocurrency and foreign bank accounts, low federal prosecution thresholds, and the ease with which criminals operate with minimal consequences, with one Ohio case illustrating how fraud can
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, 2.6 million Americans fell victim to fraud with reported losses of $9 billion, though the Justice Department estimates true losses could exceed $137 billion annually since only 15 percent of victims report crimes. The surge in fraud—particularly investment scams and cryptocurrency schemes like "Pig Butchering" which increased 2,000 percent from 2019 to 2022—is driven by enforcement gaps, with federal agencies typically only investigating cases exceeding $1 million, leaving devastating losses to seniors in the tens of thousands unaddressed. Experts argue that the U.S. needs a coordinated national anti-fraud strategy similar to the UK's approach
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 23-year-old man in Hyderabad lost ₹12 lakh after receiving a spoofed call claiming to be from FedEx stating his Aadhaar was being misused for illegal courier shipments; the scammers then impersonated Mumbai Cyber Crime officials and coerced him into transferring funds under the guise of an "investigation" via Skype video call. A case has been registered with Hyderabad Cyber Crimes police, and FedEx issued a warning that they never request personal information through unsolicited calls or emails.
techstory.in
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost over $10 billion to scams in 2023, a 14% increase from the previous year, with investment scams ($4.6 billion) and imposter scams ($2.7 billion) leading the way. Older adults are disproportionately targeted, and the FTC estimates seniors lose $28.3 billion annually to fraud, with common schemes including romance fraud, grandparent scams, and technical support hoaxes. Law enforcement faces significant challenges combating overseas scammers who exploit cryptocurrency and other untraceable payment methods, highlighting the need for enhanced collaboration between government agencies and private industry to strengthen fraud prevention and victim support.
itechpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud in the U.S. is surging exponentially, driven by advancing AI technology and the technological gap exploiting older adults, with common schemes including romance scams and technical support fraud that often result in victims losing their life savings. Law enforcement faces significant challenges investigating these crimes—particularly when perpetrators operate overseas and convert funds to cryptocurrency—and many cases go unreported because victims hesitate to come forward or police dismiss financial fraud as consensual transactions. The FBI recorded a 14% increase in elder fraud cases in 2023, prompting experts to declare the situation a "crisis level" problem in society.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Amazon impostor scams resulted in 44,000 reports and $19 million in losses to consumers last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Criminals employ two primary tactics: complex multi-layered scams involving fake Amazon, bank, and law enforcement personas to increase perceived legitimacy, and fraudulent membership renewal messages with counterfeit websites designed to collect payment information. Consumers should verify transactions directly through official websites and customer service lines rather than clicking links or calling numbers from unsolicited emails or texts.
jamaica-star.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans, with losses to adults over 60 ranging from $3.4 billion to $137 billion depending on the source, as law enforcement agencies lack resources to investigate the exponentially growing crime wave. Common schemes include romance scams, grandparent scams, pig butchering, and technical support fraud, with victims rarely recovering their money and often reluctant to report due to shame and self-blame. The problem is expected to worsen as the U.S. population ages and criminals increasingly use AI and cryptocurrency to evade detection, requiring coordinated action from technology, banking, retail, and telecommunications sectors to make fraud harder to execute
newsandsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, with the crime wave projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology make fraud easier to perpetrate and harder to prosecute. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded to handle the exponential growth of scams—including romance, grandparent, and technical support fraud—with victims rarely recovering their stolen money and perpetrators rarely facing consequences. A notable case involved an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being defrauded by scammers attempting to extract $12,000, highlighting how these crimes can have devastating downstream effects even as the perpetrators remain
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Eileen Leeks, 63, from Felixstowe, Suffolk, lost £200 to fraudsters impersonating actor Kevin Costner and his management on Facebook, who initially demanded £100 vouchers for fan membership and later claimed she needed a £1,000+ VIP card to meet him in person. After reporting the scam, the fraudsters contacted her again via private messaging, offering her a job and apartment in America to further exploit her, demonstrating a multi-layered romance/celebrity impersonation scheme targeting a vulnerable victim.
kvoa.com
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to provide a summary of this article because the text provided only contains website header/footer information and weather data, not the actual article content about avoiding romance scams. Please share the full article text so I can create an accurate summary for the Elderus database.
miaminewtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Rosanna Lisa Stanley (48) and Gina Guy (37) were arrested for operating a 15-year romance scam targeting at least 16 elderly and vulnerable victims, defrauding them of over $7 million through fake romantic relationships and fabricated business opportunities. Stanley and Guy lured victims via dating platforms and in-person meetings, then solicited money for nonexistent organ transplants, businesses, and fake psychic services, using the funds for personal luxury purchases and debt payments. Both face federal charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, each carrying up to 20 years in prison.
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona ranked fifth nationally for online romance scams in 2023, with more than 800 victims losing over $22 million, averaging $27,000 per victim—significantly higher than the national average of $2,000. The most dangerous emerging scams involve deepfake video calls, cryptocurrency investment schemes, and fake celebrity profiles using artificial intelligence technology. To protect themselves, potential victims should verify identities through reverse image searches, watch for signs of deepfakes like unnatural blinking and mismatched mouth movements, and never send money or cryptocurrency to unknown online contacts.
kpq.com
· 2025-12-08
Remote job scams are targeting college students through fake job postings on legitimate sites and email, where scammers send fraudulent checks as "advance payments" and instruct victims to wire portions of the funds to other accounts. When the checks bounce days later, victims are held liable for the full amount by their banks while the money sent to scammers becomes unrecoverable, leaving students with significant financial losses.
king5.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam is targeting Washington drivers by sending text messages impersonating the Good To Go tolling service, directing recipients to a fake website (mygoodtogotoll.com) to pay a purported unpaid toll of $6.67 with threats of additional $66.70 charges. The Washington State Department of Transportation warned drivers not to click the malicious link and reminded them the legitimate payment website is MyGoodToGo.com without the word "toll" in the URL. The Better Business Bureau recommends avoiding unsolicited messages, verifying website URLs carefully, and never replying to suspected scam texts.
koaa.com
· 2025-12-08
A new wave of text message scams (smishing) is targeting toll road users in Denver, impersonating services like ExpressToll and E-470 to collect sensitive personal and financial data. The FBI advises recipients to report the scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, verify accounts through official websites, contact legitimate customer service numbers, and secure their information if they clicked links or shared data.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old retired man lost approximately $256,470 to an investment scam after being referred by a friend to what appeared to be a legitimate financial company; the scammers posed as investment professionals, encouraged him to take out lines of credit and invest in bitcoin, and charged steep commissions before he discovered forged emails and other red flags. Despite enlisting a lawyer and private investigator (who traced scammers to Bulgaria and the US), Bank of America cleared fraudulent checks despite being alerted to the fraud, leaving him with only $20,000 remaining after legal fees. The victim emphasizes that the lack of government oversight and institutional safeguards—noting his local police department ha
wvua23.com
· 2025-12-08
Online vehicle purchase scams are increasing, where fraudsters post fake listings with photos and addresses to trick buyers into wiring deposits for vehicles that don't exist or are never delivered. Recent victims in Alabama, Utah, and Missouri lost between $25,000 and $36,000 each after transferring funds based on fraudulent contracts and dealer credentials. To protect themselves, buyers should verify the vehicle's VIN through services like CarFax, inspect the car in person, and avoid electronic transfers in favor of cashier's checks.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scam reports surged 118% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, with artificial intelligence enabling scammers to create increasingly convincing fake job postings, profiles, and company websites. Victims were typically lured through legitimate job platforms, moved to private communication channels, and then asked to provide sensitive personal information like driver's licenses and Social Security numbers under the guise of standard onboarding procedures. The ITRC recommends directly contacting companies by phone using verified contact information to confirm job opportunities and protect against these AI-enhanced scams.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. What you've shared appears to be a navigation menu or site map from the AARP website rather than an actual article or transcript about a specific scam, fraud case, or elder abuse incident.
To create an Elderus summary, please provide the actual article text or transcript that discusses a particular fraud case, scam scheme, or elder abuse situation.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP New Jersey hosted a Fraud Prevention Summit on August 21, 2024, featuring keynote speakers including New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and AARP's Director of Fraud Prevention Programs Kathy Stokes, who discussed evolving fraud tactics and protective strategies. The free event included presentations on prevalent and emerging scams affecting New Jersey residents, panel discussions with law enforcement experts from the IRS, Middlesex Prosecutor's Office, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and resources for individuals to protect themselves and their loved ones from fraud.
edhat.com
· 2025-12-08
Senator Monique Limón hosted a Senior Scam Prevention Seminar on July 9 at the Goleta Community Center, presented by multiple California state departments including Insurance, Financial Protection & Innovation, Consumer Affairs, and the Department of Justice. The educational event featured expert panelists discussing how to detect scams and protect against fraud using the latest scam tactics.
ky3.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary as requested. The content provided appears to be a news headline listing from a local news website rather than a detailed article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. While one headline mentions home security during the holidays, there are no specific details about a scam, fraud case, or elder abuse incident to summarize. To create an appropriate Elderus database summary, please provide the full article text with details about what happened, who was affected, and the nature of any fraudulent activity.
knoe.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Feeding America and other legitimate senior food assistance programs through phishing calls and texts, claiming to offer free food to seniors. The Better Business Bureau warns recipients to verify that calls are from credited organizations before providing personal information. Legitimate senior food programs include Commodity Supplemental Food Programs, senior food box programs, and SNAP; anyone who suspects they've been scammed should contact the BBB at (318)-387-4600.
engadget.com
· 2025-12-08
Bumble added a reporting option for AI-generated photos and videos to combat fake profiles and catfishing on its dating platform. The move responds to user concerns, with 71% of Gen Z and Millennial users viewing AI-generated content as deceptive and wanting limits on its use, particularly given that romance scams resulted in $1.3 billion in losses to nearly 70,000 victims in 2022.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Eileen Leeks, 63, from Suffolk, lost £200 to scammers impersonating actor Kevin Costner and his management team on Facebook, who initially demanded £100 vouchers for a chance to meet him in person, then escalated the scam with deepfake video calls and demands for a £1,000+ VIP membership card. After reporting the fraud, the scammers contacted her again via private messaging with false promises of a job and apartment in America, demonstrating how romance and celebrity impersonation scams can evolve into multi-layered schemes targeting vulnerable victims.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
A concerned family member suspects their cousin is a victim of a romance scam involving an online relationship with a foreign woman he has never met and plans to marry after relocating. The advice columnist recommends verifying the woman's identity through reverse image searches, discussing the cousin's family obligations and financial implications (particularly concerning property ownership laws in the foreign country), and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC or FBI if necessary, while emphasizing that romance scams affected over 64,000 people in 2023, resulting in $1.14 billion in losses.
canoncitydailyrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
This advice column addresses two workplace and personal safety issues: (1) a 50-year-old technology worker experiencing age discrimination from her boss, with guidance to document instances, report to HR, and reference the Age Discrimination in Employment Act protecting workers 40+; and (2) a cautionary response to a man planning to marry a foreign woman he's never met, warning of common romance scam indicators and advising the concerned cousin to use reverse image searches, ask probing questions about family plans, and approach the conversation with kindness while emphasizing the victim would not be at fault if scammed.
journal-advocate.com
· 2025-12-08
This advice column contains two unrelated letters. The first addresses workplace ageism in the tech industry, where a 50-year-old worker fears job loss due to her boss's comments about older employees; the response advises documenting instances and reporting to HR or the EEOC, as age discrimination against those 40+ is illegal. The second letter warns about a potential romance scam targeting the writer's cousin, who plans to marry a foreign woman he's never met and relocate; the response recommends verifying the woman's identity through reverse image searches and probing the cousin's plans while emphasizing this may be a common scam tactic.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
The IRS and Security Summit partners launched their annual "Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself" awareness campaign warning tax professionals about evolving scams targeting their businesses and client data. Identity thieves are using multiple schemes including posing as new clients, phishing emails requesting Central Authorization File information, and phone/text campaigns to trick tax professionals into revealing sensitive information that could be used to file fraudulent tax returns. Tax professionals are advised to remain vigilant year-round against these threats, with the IRS offering educational forums and resources to help the tax professional community strengthen their security defenses.
walb.com
· 2025-12-08
Summer is peak season for fraud, with consumers reporting over $10 billion in losses to scams annually. The FTC warns of common summer schemes including fake vacation rentals, hotel payment scams, counterfeit concert tickets, fraudulent cruise offers, and smishing texts about unpaid tolls—all designed to steal money and personal information from travelers. Consumers should use reputable booking sites, verify listings, call businesses directly rather than responding to unsolicited contacts, and monitor financial accounts regularly for signs of identity theft.
wset.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP's Fraud Watch Network provides resources to help seniors understand why they are targeted by scammers and offers protective strategies against fraud. The guide emphasizes awareness of current scams and provides guidance on steps to take if fraud occurs, featuring expert advice on protecting oneself and loved ones from becoming victims.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
During Amazon Prime Day 2024 (July 16-17) and concurrent summer sales events at other retailers, scammers target deal-seeking consumers through fake websites and fraudulent schemes to steal money and personal information. In 2023, online shopping fraud resulted in 376,460 FTC complaints with median losses of $126 per victim and total losses exceeding $397 million, highlighting the risks consumers face during peak shopping events.