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in Robocall / Phone Scam
cracked.com
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines five common tourist scams: the free bracelet/trinket scheme where vendors forcibly give items then demand payment; the broken taxi meter scam where drivers quote inflated fares without meter verification; the spill-and-stain distraction where accomplices create chaos while pickpockets steal; the elderly person fall scam that diverts attention from theft; and implied additional schemes. The article advises tourists to verify prices in advance, avoid accepting unsolicited items, and remain vigilant about personal belongings in crowded areas.
turnto23.com
· 2025-12-08
A survey reveals that 48% of Americans feel less "scam-savvy" due to rising AI technology, with 69% concerned that AI will significantly increase financial scams. Experts warn that AI-generated scams are becoming harder to detect, as the technology enables more convincing impersonations, persuasive emails, and grammatically flawless phishing messages, though one in three respondents admitted difficulty identifying AI-based scams impersonating someone they know. While consumers express fear and distrust about AI's potential for fraud, particularly during the election year, experts acknowledge both the genuine risks and the beneficial applications of AI technology in everyday life.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
This article warns about a gift card scam targeting students and young workers, in which scammers impersonate employers via text or email to request victims purchase gift cards and share the card numbers and PINs under false pretenses of reimbursement or workplace rewards. Red flags include urgency, specific instructions on which cards to buy, and requests for card details; victims should never share this information and should report any suspected scams to the relevant gift card company and the FTC.
kcra.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Southern California placed fake QR code stickers on legitimate parking meter signs, with 150 meters affected in Redondo Beach, directing users to fraudulent websites to harvest payment information; ParkMobile and PayByPhone recommend verifying QR codes are part of the original signage rather than stickers, checking that URLs match their official websites (app.parkmobile.io and paybyphone.com), and reporting suspicious codes to local authorities. No cases have been reported yet in Sacramento, though both companies operate parking services throughout California, and a related scam involving fake parking tickets with QR codes has also surfaced in San Francisco and Southern California.
fox23maine.com
· 2025-12-08
A new brochure created by the U.S. Attorney's Office and non-profit partners will be distributed at Maine pharmacies to help prevent elder fraud, following reports that 397 Maine residents aged 60+ lost over $7.1 million to scams in the previous year. The brochure educates seniors about common fraud tactics—including gift card/wire transfer demands, urgency pressure, and fake computer infection pop-ups—and provides victim support resources. Officials note that the reported losses likely represent only a fraction of actual fraud cases, as many incidents go unreported.
rcrwireless.com
· 2025-12-08
Gen Z is more than four times as likely to fall for online scams than Baby Boomers, making them prime targets for fraudsters who exploit their heavy reliance on mobile devices and the critical importance of digital identity to their social and professional lives. Scammers use tactics including fake profiles and impersonation, phishing, social engineering, and deceptive websites to steal personal information, financial details, and identities for unauthorized purchases, account takeovers, and blackmail. The consequences of identity compromise are particularly severe for Gen Z due to the interconnected nature of their digital and real-world identities.
bentonspiritnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines four emerging fraud schemes targeting seniors: check cooking (digitally altering stolen checks), voiceprinting (using deepfake voice technology to impersonate victims and access financial accounts), celebrity impersonation (scammers posing as celebrities or their agents on social media to solicit loans), and multistage grandparent scams (organized call centers with young operatives posing as grandchildren in distress). The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including using electronic bill payments, avoiding phone conversations with non-family members, being skeptical of celebrity direct messages, and verifying caller information through independent contact methods.
lovemoney.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial fraud complaints reached a record high in Q1 2024, with the Financial Ombudsman Service receiving 8,734 complaints (up 2,000 from the previous year), predominantly involving authorized push payment (APP) scams and romance fraud schemes. UK fraud losses totaled £1.2 billion in 2023, yet regulators are simultaneously scaling back victim compensation by reducing the reimbursement threshold from £415,000 to £85,000, leaving high-value fraud victims with significantly reduced protection. The article recommends six protective measures including hanging up on unsolicited calls, avoiding advance payment schemes, and being skeptical of pressure tactics and offers that sound too good to
ministers.treasury.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones discusses the government's efforts to combat scams that cost Australians $2.75 billion in losses last year, down from a peak of $3 billion but still a significant problem. He explains that scams have become increasingly sophisticated, involving overseas call centers and data operations, and outlines new legislation requiring banks, telecommunications companies, and social media platforms to implement stronger safeguards such as detecting out-of-character transactions and adding friction to payment systems. The government has also established a National Anti-Scam Centre to coordinate defensive efforts against these criminal operations.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article examines how financial fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated through advanced tools like AI, with seniors (ages 60+) being particularly vulnerable targets due to larger savings and lower tech awareness. The piece details common fraud methods including phishing scams, tech support/customer service impersonations, social media investment schemes, and romance scams, noting that the FTC reported $8.8 billion in fraud losses in 2022, with seniors accounting for over $3 billion despite filing fewer reports than younger victims. The article emphasizes that anyone—regardless of age or financial literacy—can fall victim to these schemes and advises vigilance against unsolicited communications, suspicious links, and impersonations of
belfasttelegraph.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This educational article emphasizes that alertness and caution are the best defenses against scams, which target people across all age groups and technical skill levels. Key preventive measures include avoiding clicking unknown links, never sharing banking details when uncertain, and being skeptical of callers who reference personal information gleaned from social media, as scammers exploit publicly available details to build false credibility. The article notes that embarrassment often prevents victims from reporting incidents and calls for stronger government action against perpetrators, while highlighting that information-sharing and reporting are essential community defenses until stricter enforcement is implemented.
crosstimbersgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank of America outlines six common types of elder fraud targeting older Americans—including investment scams, unscrupulous billing practices, internet/phone fraud, high-pressure sales tactics, and fraudulent friendships—and notes that elder fraud remains vastly underreported due to victims' reluctance to admit they've been deceived. The article provides protective strategies for family members, such as verifying references, requiring written documentation, avoiding unsolicited financial transactions, and monitoring accounts for suspicious activity like unusual checks or ATM withdrawals. Bank of America recommends establishing open communication about finances and utilizing tools like designated trusted contact persons to help detect fraud early.
ssnewstelegram.com
· 2025-12-08
The Hopkins County Sheriff's Office identified two active scams targeting county residents: a driveway paving scam where unsolicited individuals claim to be in the area with extra materials and offer services, and a fake officer phone scam. Officials warn residents to be skeptical of unsolicited service offers and to verify caller identities before providing personal information or payment.
post-journal.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a brief notices section announcing local community events. Relevant to elder fraud awareness: The Ellington Farman Library and Center for Elder Law and Justice will host a free educational program titled "Top Senior Scams and How to Avoid Them" on Tuesday at 11 a.m., featuring presentations by a paralegal and social worker covering common scams targeting seniors and identification strategies.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A USC Dornsife study published in Cerebral Cortex found a correlation between vulnerability to financial scams and early-stage Alzheimer's disease, specifically linking poor financial decision-making to thinning of the entorhinal cortex—a brain region that shows early signs of Alzheimer's. Researchers examined adults aged 70 and older with no clinical cognitive impairments using MRI scans and financial vulnerability assessments, finding that those susceptible to financial exploitation had measurably thinner entorhinal cortexes. The study suggests that assessing financial decision-making skills in older adults may help identify early cognitive decline, though financial vulnerability alone should not be considered a definitive indicator
newpittsburghcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud losses reached $3.4 billion in 2023 (a 14% increase from 2022), with January-May 2024 showing $1.6 billion in losses—a double-digit increase—according to FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data. In Houston, Keith Jones was indicted for allegedly defrauding a 92-year-old dementia patient out of his home by falsely claiming property tax obligations and coercing him to sign deed documents worth approximately $30,000. Experts emphasize that reporting fraud, community awareness, and education are critical to protecting vulnerable seniors from increasingly sophisticated scams targeting the elderly, particularly in communities of color
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are sending fraudulent text messages impersonating highway authorities and transponder companies like E-ZPass to deceive drivers into paying fake tolls through malicious links. Victims who click these links risk exposing their credit card information to criminals and potentially installing malware on their devices. To protect yourself, do not respond to unsolicited toll payment messages; instead, contact the toll road authority directly if you have concerns about legitimacy.
oregonlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Portland-area residents are being targeted by an increased wave of blackmail cyber scams in which fraudsters threaten to expose internet browsing history or sensitive personal information unless victims pay in cryptocurrency, using tactics like including the target's address and photos of their home to appear credible. Police advise recipients to simply delete such emails without opening attachments, as there are rarely follow-ups and no confirmed cases of Portland residents losing money to the scam. Suspicious emails should be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Penny Mashburn signed up for magazine subscriptions thinking she was supporting a school fundraiser, but the scam led to years of telemarketer harassment and charges that escalated from $39 to $199 per subscription across multiple companies, ultimately costing her much of her savings. Penny and her sister Nancy's investigation into the fraud helped expose a 20-year conspiracy that defrauded over 150,000 victims nationwide of millions of dollars, ultimately leading them to testify in federal court to help shut down the operation.
decripto.org
· 2025-12-08
SMS and WhatsApp scams have increased 22% year-on-year, with fraudsters impersonating legitimate companies like PayPal and banks through text messages containing suspicious links and alarmist language designed to steal personal and banking information. Common tactics include fake payment alerts, package delivery notifications, and requests to verify credentials, with the banking sector accounting for 36% of scam attempts. Protection measures include enabling two-factor authentication, verifying sender numbers through official channels, avoiding suspicious links, and reporting fraudulent messages to authorities.
heraldextra.com
· 2025-12-08
A Provo family lost over $1,000 in a utility scam when a fraudster impersonating a Provo Power representative called threatening service disconnection and pressured the mother to make an immediate payment via QR code at Walmart, resulting in overdraft fees that depleted their entire bank account. Provo City officials report at least 10 confirmed victims of similar scams and warn residents to verify caller identity, noting that legitimate utility companies never request payment via phone or in-person contact.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Chester Frilich of Concord, California lost over $200,000 to scammers posing as Xfinity and FTC agents who claimed he was under investigation for wire fraud and convinced him to transfer funds through couriers and UPS. By withdrawing money from Certificate of Deposit and IRA accounts to pay the scammers, Frilich incurred approximately $30,000 in early withdrawal penalties and taxes, which the IRS now threatens to collect through a lien on his home. The article explains how early withdrawals from tax-advantaged accounts can create additional financial liability beyond the fraud itself.
ketv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Publishers Clearing House Scam / Elder Fraud
**Victim:** Monty Thompson, Iowa resident
**Outcome:** Monty lost over $8,000 in two months and died by suicide on July 24th after being scammed.
Monty Thompson was targeted by offshore scammers claiming he had won millions of dollars and a Ford F-150 from Publishers Clearing House, but was required to pay taxes and fees upfront before receiving his prize. After losing over $8,000 and facing continued contact from the scammers (who called over 20 times), Monty took his own life. The Iowa Attorney
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
A 20-year-old Thai man recruited into a Chinese-led scam syndicate in Myanmar described how he was trained to create fake social media profiles and identify victims for romance and investment fraud schemes. Thailand has reported 78.8 million scam incidents since last year with $2 billion in losses, while U.S. authorities have warned of Americans being trafficked into these operations, with the DOJ indicting four individuals in 2023 for laundering over $80 million in scam profits. Elderly victims like a 60-year-old woman who lost $163,642 over an 18-month romance scam face particularly devastating financial consequences compared to younger victims.
flaglerlive.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old Maryland woman named Mae fell victim to tech support fraud when she clicked on a fake Safari warning, which led scammers to manipulate her into purchasing gift cards worth thousands of dollars over 10 hours. The case illustrates a broader problem: an estimated $8 billion is stolen annually from seniors age 60 and older through stranger fraud, with gift cards becoming an increasingly common payment method for criminals because they lack consumer protections similar to credit and debit cards. The article reveals systemic failures in federal regulation, inadequate retailer safeguards, and the profitable role that technology companies and retailers play in the gift card fraud ecosystem, where "everybody but the victim makes money."
yubanet.com
· 2025-12-08
A 14-year-old Girl Scout created an awareness campaign for her Silver Award project after observing family members, friends, and community members fall victim to scams. She developed the SAVE tool (STOP, ASK, VERIFY, EXIT) to help people recognize and respond to scam attempts, along with educational materials like magnets, stickers, and a video demonstrating the technique.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Massachusetts police across five towns (Needham, Foxboro, Marion, Sandwich, and Sharon) are warning about an extortion scam in which criminals email victims pictures of their homes along with personal information and threatening messages demanding payment of thousands of dollars via cryptocurrency, claiming to possess compromising videos. The scammers use publicly available information such as Google Street View images and breached passwords to create a false sense of threat, and experts recommend victims ignore the emails, avoid responding or paying, and report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Stephen, a retired former solicitor, lost £70,000 to fraudsters posing as bank representatives who convinced him to invest in a fake high-interest savings bond offering 11% returns; Andrew White lost £240,000 in a similar scam when criminals intercepted his house purchase email communications and redirected his deposit to a fraudulent account. Both victims experienced significant emotional trauma, though they were eventually refunded—raising concerns after the UK regulator announced it would cut maximum fraud victim compensation by 80% (from £415,000 to approximately £85,000), potentially leaving high-value fraud victims without adequate protection. These cases highlight the sophistication of authorised push payment (APP) sc
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman lost over $278,000 between February and April to scammers posing as government agents who convinced her they were protecting her from fraud, including handing over nearly $80,000 in gold bars to a "runner." Her daughter repeatedly asked Schwab to permanently freeze her account, but Schwab temporarily blocked and then repeatedly unblocked it five separate times, allowing the fraudulent transactions to proceed; Schwab is now being sued for negligence and materially contributing to the scheme by failing to adequately investigate suspicious activity and refusing to permanently lock the account without the victim's own request.
lifehacker.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies seven grammatical red flags commonly found in scam communications, including poor grammar, use of the word "kindly" (suggesting overseas origin), misplaced punctuation and capitalization, and generic salutations like "dear" instead of actual names. The piece notes that 15% of Americans report household members falling for scams and 8% admit personal victimization, emphasizing that scammers often replicate official communications but frequently reveal themselves through language patterns and writing errors.
thepaypers.com
· 2025-12-08
UK scammers defrauded numerous individuals through fake e-commerce websites displaying counterfeit products, netting approximately USD 8 million last year, with ecommerce fraud surging 211% over the past year. Fraudsters use social media to promote counterfeit sites with steep discounts, fake brand names, countdown timers, and suspicious domain extensions (.net, .org) to pressure buyers into purchasing items never delivered. Additionally, romance scams increased 22% in 2023, with victims losing an average of GBP 6,937 after fraudsters build trust through fake profiles on dating apps before requesting money for travel, medical, or family emergencies.
unionrecorder.com
· 2025-12-08
Since 2020, the Better Business Bureau has received over 4,000 reports of investment scams, with median losses rising from $1,000 in 2021 to nearly $6,000 in 2024. These scams frequently employ romance or relationship-building tactics combined with cryptocurrency investment schemes, often orchestrated by organized crime groups based in Southeast Asia, with victims losing anywhere from thousands to over $84,000. The BBB advises consumers to be wary of guaranteed returns, pressure to invest quickly, requests to share cryptocurrency wallets, and strangers offering friendship or investment opportunities.
decripto.org
· 2025-12-08
Thailand reported 78.8 million phone scam and phishing cases since 2023, with international criminal gangs—often Chinese-coordinated—operating call centres primarily targeting people over 30, young adults aged 20-25, and online shoppers through romance scams and fake e-commerce schemes. Thai and Cambodian authorities have launched operations to dismantle these networks, with 165 arrest warrants issued, though gangs are relocating to neighboring countries; notably, a 60-year-old Thai woman lost over $160,000 in a year-long scam involving a fake Malaysian pipeline investment. U.S. authorities indicted four people in 2023 for
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice distributed $18.5 million from forfeited Western Union funds to approximately 3,000 fraud victims, representing the sixth distribution under the Western Union Remission Fund. Through two phases, the fund has now distributed over $420 million to more than 175,000 victims who received full compensation for losses caused by fraud schemes that Western Union aided and abetted, including grandparent scams and lottery/sweepstakes schemes targeting seniors. Western Union agreed to forfeit $586 million total following a 2017 deferred prosecution agreement for violations including the Bank Secrecy Act and wire fraud facilitation.
coindesk.com
· 2025-12-08
Investors lost a record $5.6 billion to crypto scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022, with investment fraud schemes accounting for $4 billion of losses, according to FBI data. While crypto complaints represented only 10% of total fraud reports, they comprised nearly half of all financial losses; victims over age 60 reported the highest losses at $1.24 billion. The FBI warned that many scammers operating these "pig butchering" schemes are human trafficking victims forced to conduct fraud operations from compounds in Southeast Asia.
nj.com
· 2025-12-08
New Jersey's ANCHOR property tax benefit program, which distributed over $2.2 billion to homeowners and renters last year, has become a target for scammers impersonating tax officials and collection agencies. Fraudsters are using text messages, spoofed phone calls, and identity theft tactics to steal personal information from residents, with scammers falsely claiming to represent the program or posing as police officers demanding payment. The state Treasury Department advises residents to never share personal information via unsolicited contact and to independently verify any calls by hanging up and calling official agency numbers directly.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Employment scams targeting remote job seekers exploit ambitions by offering high income with minimal qualifications or experience, often requiring upfront payments for training or equipment. Key red flags include guaranteed quick returns, fake testimonials on work-from-home sites, and suspicious postings even on legitimate job boards; verify opportunities carefully and consult AARP's Fraud Watch Network (877-908-3360) for guidance.
bankinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, cryptocurrency scams surged dramatically in the United States, with victims reporting $5.6 billion in losses—a 45% increase from 2022—across more than 69,000 complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. While seniors over 60 were most frequently targeted, people aged 30-39 also experienced significant losses, with investment scams involving bitcoin and other virtual currencies accounting for nearly 71% of total losses; fraudsters typically built rapport with victims through social media and email before moving conversations to encrypted platforms. Cryptocurrency kiosks were increasingly exploited in fraud schemes, with over 5,500 complaints involving $189 million in losses
thethaiger.com
· 2025-12-08
A 54-year-old medical technician in Buriram lost 20,497 baht in a call centre scam when someone posing as a Provincial Electricity Authority officer convinced him to download a fake application under the guise of a Covid-19 refund scheme. The scammer had accessed detailed personal information and used social engineering tactics, including verification from a village head, to gain the victim's trust before emptying his bank account. The victim publicly warned others that scammers' access to detailed information makes these schemes difficult to detect, regardless of a person's caution or education level.
amp.scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Hong Kong accountant was defrauded of HK$16 million (US$2 million) after scammers impersonating mainland government investigators convinced him to stay in hotels for a week, isolating him from outside contact while they accessed his bank accounts. Police arrested a 19-year-old suspect accused of arranging the hotel stays, who himself may be a fraud victim coerced by a syndicate into participating in the scheme.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Lethbridge, Alberta used AI voice-changing software to impersonate grandchildren in fraud calls, convincing victims to send money for emergencies; two men were arrested after allegedly collecting funds as local couriers for the scheme. The technology requires only a three-second audio clip from social media to recreate a victim's loved one's voice, making the scam more convincing and harder to detect than traditional grandparent schemes. Police note that organized criminals quickly adopt new technologies, and law enforcement struggles to keep pace with rapidly evolving cyber tools, though tracking financial transfers remains an effective investigative approach.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article advises readers on identifying fraudulent political text messages, which often impersonate legitimate voter registration campaigns or solicit donations. To verify authenticity, individuals should visit official state websites (.gov or .us domains) directly rather than clicking unsolicited links, as third-party groups may use outdated data or send bogus messages designed to scam recipients.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Despite increasing sophistication in online fraud, phone scams remain the most common type of financial scam, affecting nearly 49% of scam victims across all age groups according to a GOBankingRates survey of over 1,100 U.S. adults. Common phone scam tactics include business/investment schemes, impersonation of trusted entities, debt relief offers, charity fraud, and prize scams, all designed to extract money or personal information from victims. The article advises consumers to verify callers' identities, use official channels for donations and payments, and be suspicious of unsolicited offers promising quick profits or threatening legal action.
vice.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost more than $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, representing 45 percent increase from 2022 and nearly half of all financial fraud losses that year, according to an FBI report. Investment scams accounted for nearly 71 percent of crypto losses ($4 billion), with fraudsters also using call centers, government impersonation, and dating sites to target victims; notably, people over 60 filed nearly 17,000 complaints and lost $1.6 billion, making them the most victimized age group despite crypto's popularity with younger generations. The FBI attributes crypto scams' prevalence to the technology's decentralized nature, irrevers
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
Bitcoin ATM scams have surged dramatically, with reported losses increasing nearly tenfold to over $110 million in 2023 according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers typically contact victims claiming suspicious activity on accounts like Amazon or banking services, then convince them to withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin ATMs where the money is transferred to the scammer's wallet. Consumers should never trust anyone—legitimate businesses and government agencies will never request Bitcoin ATM transfers to resolve account issues or protect funds.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Google Voice verification scam targets online sellers on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace by posing as potential buyers and requesting Google Voice verification codes, which scammers then use to create a virtual number linked to the seller's phone number. Once obtained, scammers can intercept bank verification codes, commit identity theft, open fraudulent accounts in the victim's name, and conduct additional scams while appearing to use a legitimate U.S. number. Sellers should be wary of buyers requesting codes before discussing items and verify unusual requests, as one New York seller, Allen C., avoided falling victim by recognizing suspicious behavior such as spelling errors and pressure tactics.
news.slashdot.org
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency fraud schemes in 2023, with the FBI receiving nearly 70,000 complaints involving bitcoin, ether, and other digital currencies. Investment fraud was the most prevalent scheme, accounting for $3.96 billion of the total losses, and the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency combined with irreversible transactions makes recovery of stolen funds extremely challenging.
healthday.com
· 2025-12-08
A University of Southern California study of 97 seniors found a correlation between thinning of the entorhinal cortex (a brain region affected by early Alzheimer's disease) and higher vulnerability to financial scams, as measured by the Perceived Financial Exploitation Vulnerability Scale. The research suggests that financial vulnerability assessments could potentially help identify individuals in early stages of cognitive impairment or dementia before symptoms become apparent, though the study only established an association rather than proving causation.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, U.S. victims reported $5.6 billion in losses to cryptocurrency scams, with people aged 60 and older filing over 16,000 complaints accounting for $1.6 billion of those losses. The majority of losses ($4 billion, a 53% increase from 2022) came from "pig butchering" investment scams, where fraudsters build fake romantic or friendship relationships with victims before convincing them to invest in bogus cryptocurrency platforms, often using crypto ATMs. Older adults are disproportionately targeted because they typically hold more wealth and are less familiar with cryptocurrency technology, according to the FBI and AARP.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Real estate scams are increasing in prevalence, including home-flipping investment schemes, fraudulent mortgage relief operations, fake property listings, and foreclosure bailout schemes that target both homebuyers and renters. The FTC has issued over $20 million in refunds to victims in 2024, including $222,000 to those harmed by the deceptive Lanier Law mortgage relief operation. Experts advise consumers to verify wiring instructions directly with title companies, be cautious of unsolicited communications from debt counselors, and avoid dealing with unfamiliar parties claiming to help with financial hardships.