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in Crypto Investment Scams
birminghammail.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A woman identified as Lisa lost £40,000 after falling victim to a cryptocurrency investment scam on social media that impersonated money-saving expert Martin Lewis, a case featured on ITV This Morning. Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley warned viewers that any endorsements of cryptocurrency or get-rich-quick schemes appearing to come from television personalities or financial experts are fraudulent, as cryptocurrency fraud rose 23 percent the previous year. Lisa worked with Trading Standards to address the scam and appeared on the show alongside a scams officer to help raise awareness about protecting against such schemes.
abcactionnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Online scams are growing rapidly across multiple channels (text, email, phone, social media), with cryptocurrency/investment, employment, and online purchase scams ranking as the top three types reported to the Better Business Bureau, while debt relief and romance scams are also rising significantly. Red flags include demands for upfront payment, guaranteed outcomes, and unsolicited contact from scammers who may possess personal information to appear legitimate. Experts warn that consumers should never share personal information or click unknown links, as AI technology will likely make scams increasingly difficult to detect in the future.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission reported that fraud losses exceeded $10 billion for the first time, a 14% increase from 2022, with investment scams accounting for $4.6 billion and cryptocurrency fraud totaling $1.4 billion. Impostor scams were the most frequently reported fraud type, with victims losing an average of $7,000 each, and email became the primary method criminals used to contact victims, surpassing text and phone calls. The report notes that actual fraud losses likely far exceed reported figures, as most fraud goes unreported.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Filipino police rescued 875 workers—including 504 foreigners from Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Rwanda, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Kyrgyzstan—from a forced labor operation disguised as an online gaming company that trafficked enslaved people to conduct romance scams. The victims were lured with false job promises, had their passports confiscated, and were forced to adopt fake identities to extract money from romance scam targets through schemes involving cryptocurrency wins and business investment promises; those who failed to meet quotas faced physical abuse, sleep deprivation, and confinement. Nine individuals were arrested and charged with anti-trafficking violations, with the operation run by Zun Yuan Technology
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
New Canadians face heightened vulnerability to financial fraud, with 90% of surveyed newcomers worried about becoming victims and 73% feeling particularly susceptible. Common scams targeting this population include phishing (stealing personal/financial information via fake emails or texts), job scams (fraudsters posing as employers to extract money for fake training or supplies), and romance scams, with 28% of affected new Canadians unsure how to respond if victimized. The best defense is awareness of warning signs, understanding common fraud tactics, and knowing how to report fraudulent activity.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Justice Department and law enforcement officials attended the United Kingdom's first Global Fraud Summit in March, joining over 200 leaders from 11 countries and international organizations to address global fraud threats. The U.S. delegation participated in discussions on law enforcement collaboration, coordinated with international partners to enhance intelligence sharing and disrupt fraud networks at the source, and held bilateral meetings with Singapore and UK officials to strengthen transnational fraud-fighting efforts.
timeslive.co.za
· 2025-12-08
Former SABC radio DJ Sebasa Mogale and his wife Dora were arrested for their alleged involvement in the "Mining City" bitcoin scam, in which Mogale promoted fraudulent mining investment packages ranging from R6,500 to R253,000 on his radio show in 2020, promising returns after six months. At least 10 victims deposited money into a provided bank account but found their login credentials blocked after six months and were unable to withdraw funds; Mogale later blamed the scam's collapse on inflation and subsequently disappeared. Both were granted R10,000 bail each and the case was scheduled to return to court on May 20.
ntd.com
· 2025-12-08
Syretta Scherer, a 42-year-old Georgia woman, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison in March for her role in a romance scam conspiracy that defrauded at least 28 seniors across multiple states of $5.8 million between February 2018 and November 2019. The scheme involved cultivating fake online relationships through dating apps, then pressuring victims to send money for fabricated emergencies; Scherer laundered approximately $1.1 million through bank accounts created under a sham company called Precise Carriers. Multiple co-conspirators were also prosecuted, with one receiving 78 months in prison and ordered to pay over $
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
International scammers drain hundreds of millions of dollars annually from New Zealand victims, with fraud cases nearly doubling between 2020-2022 and now representing the most common crime type in the country. Only 15 percent of victims recover their lost funds, and a significant majority of fraud occurs online or by phone, yet only 6.5 percent of fraud crimes are reported to police. The Independent Police Conduct Authority found major deficiencies in police responses to scam complaints, with authorities failing to prioritize fraud investigations and adequately support victims.
todayonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Police in the Philippines rescued 875 people from a human trafficking and online scam operation during a raid on March 14, with eight suspects arrested. The compound north of Manila, posing as an internet gaming company, forced victims into love scams, romance scams, and cryptocurrency schemes under threat of physical harm and by confiscating their passports, affecting Chinese nationals, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and citizens from other Southeast Asian countries. This operation reflects a broader problem across Southeast Asia where crime syndicates generate billions of dollars annually by coercing workers into predatory online scams.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Police in the Philippines raided a scam centre north of Manila on Thursday and rescued 658 people (383 Filipinos, 202 Chinese, and 73 other foreign nationals) who were being forced to operate "love scams" or "pig butchering" schemes. The victims were trafficked under false job promises and coerced into posing as romantic partners online to manipulate targets into financial fraud, with the raid triggered by a tip from a Vietnamese man who escaped by climbing a wall and crossing a river, bearing signs of torture and electrocution.
placer.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
A victim lost $23,000 in a Bitcoin scam after receiving calls claiming their email and bank account were compromised; the scammer initially posed as a bank representative and convinced the victim to transfer $15,000 to Bitcoin, then a second caller posing as the FBI persuaded them to transfer an additional $8,000 before the victim grew suspicious. The Sheriff's Office warns that legitimate banks and law enforcement never request transfers to Bitcoin or gift cards, and residents should immediately contact authorities if they receive urgent calls or emails demanding money transfers.
wltx.com
· 2025-12-08
A New York Magazine financial columnist lost $50,000 to an elaborate con scheme, prompting the Federal Trade Commission to publicize ten common lies fraudsters use to manipulate victims into sending money, including creating false urgency, isolating victims from trusted advisors, making arrest threats, and directing victims to move funds via gift cards, cryptocurrency, precious metals, or cash transfers. The FTC warns that any pressure to act quickly, secrecy, threats of legal consequences, or instructions from strangers regarding financial transfers are reliable indicators of fraud, and recommends victims hang up, delete communications, and report suspected scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
glasgowcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen warned residents during National Consumer Protection Week (March 3-9) about three rising scams: law enforcement impersonation scams where fraudsters call claiming victims have arrest warrants and demand immediate payment via wire transfer or gift cards; cryptocurrency investment scams that use threats of arrest to convince people to deposit money into crypto ATMs, which cannot be recovered; and tech support scams involving fake pop-up alerts that trick users into calling scammers who then take control of computers and demand payment. The state's Office of Consumer Protection advises Montanans to avoid third-party payment apps and cryptocurrency ATMs, verify business information, and consult trusted contacts before sending money.
arabianbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" romance scams, where criminals build fake romantic relationships to defraud victims of money and cryptocurrency, have surged 85-fold in revenue since 2020, generating approximately $75 billion in illicit gains with victims losing roughly $1 billion to related approval phishing scams since May 2021. These scams exploit loneliness by using messaging apps and social media to establish trust before directing victims toward fraudulent investment schemes, while a single scam address stole an estimated $44.3 million and a U.S. bank CEO lost $47 million to such a scam. The scam ecosystem is compounded by a humanitarian crisis, as many
protos.com
· 2025-12-08
Philippine authorities rescued over 600 workers (383 Filipinos, 202 Chinese, and 73 other foreign nationals) from a compound in Bamban on Thursday after a Vietnamese man escaped and alerted police to the operation. The victims had been trapped and forced to conduct "pig-butchering" romance and cryptocurrency scams, where they used deception to lure victims into investing in bogus crypto platforms, often working long hours under threat and torture. The escaped individual showed signs of electrocution, and similar compounds have been discovered across Asia, with pig-butchering scams generating billions in losses globally—the FBI reported $3.3 billion in losses in the US alone,
businessjournaldaily.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, fraud losses nationwide reached a record $10 billion (a 14% increase from 2022), with Ohio residents alone losing over $154 million to scammers. Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using artificial intelligence and psychological manipulation, with common tactics including imposter schemes (posing as government agencies, banks, or family members), romance-crypto scam hybrids, and employment scams; cryptocurrency investment scams averaged losses of over $3,000 per victim, while employment scams affected young adults (ages 18-44) with average losses of $2,000. Consumers can report suspected fraud to the FTC online or by calling 877-382
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
On March 14, Philippine police rescued 875 people from a sprawling scam operation in Bamban, north of Manila, after acting on a tip from a Vietnamese escapee; the compound, disguised as an internet gaming company, employed victims of human trafficking who were forced to conduct love scams, cryptocurrency scams, and other schemes under threat of physical harm and with confiscated passports. Eight suspects were arrested on charges of illegal detention and human trafficking, and the rescued workers included 432 Chinese nationals, 371 Filipinos, 57 Vietnamese, and others from multiple countries. The operation reflects a regional crisis where scam centers across Southeast Asia have generated billions of dollars while exploiting
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston filed a civil forfeiture action to recover approximately $2.3 million in cryptocurrency from a "pig butchering" romance scam that defrauded a Massachusetts resident of over $400,000 in spring 2023. The seized cryptocurrency from two Binance accounts was traced to fraud affecting 37 victims across the United States, with the scammer using manipulative online tactics to build trust before luring the victim into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
markets.businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts filed a civil forfeiture action to return $2.3 million in cryptocurrency to 37 victims of online scams, including a "pig butchering" scam where one Massachusetts resident lost $400,000. The cryptocurrencies were seized from two Binance accounts in January following an investigation that traced funds from multiple victims to the same scammers. This action follows a similar recovery by the Chicago U.S. Attorney's Office, which seized $1.4 million in cryptocurrency tied to tech support scams targeting elderly victims.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
Organized "pig butchering" scam operations in Southeast Asia force tens of thousands of trafficked individuals to conduct romance and cryptocurrency investment fraud targeting foreign nationals, with scammers building trust over weeks before stealing victims' money through fake investment websites and deepfake technology. Federal authorities seized nearly $9 million in one such scheme, and financial institutions are increasingly deploying AI and machine learning solutions to combat these evolving threats, with nearly 70% of large banks now using these technologies to detect fraud.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission identifies 10 common lies scammers use to defraud victims, including creating false urgency, isolating targets from trusted advisors, making arrest threats, and instructing victims to move money, buy gift cards or cryptocurrency, or withdraw cash. These tactics are increasingly sophisticated and sometimes aided by artificial intelligence, as exemplified by a recent $50,000 scam targeting a New York Magazine columnist. The FTC advises people to hang up, delete messages, and report suspicious contact to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
au.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Australian losses to social media scams tripled to $95 million in 2023, a 249% increase from 2020, with people aged 65 and over accounting for nearly one-third of all social media scam losses and experiencing a 57% increase from the previous quarter. Scammers primarily targeted older Australians through fake advertisements impersonating retailers, romance scams, and investment schemes, with over 16,000 victims reporting they never received ordered goods. While overall Australian scam losses reached $477 million in 2023, social media scams emerged as the fastest-growing fraud category particularly affecting elderly residents.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
A Truecaller survey of 2,000 Americans found that Gen Z and millennials (ages 18-44) are three times more likely to fall victim to phone scams than Baby Boomers, with Americans losing $25 billion to phone scams in 2023 and scam victims losing an average of $450 each. Latino and Black Americans were twice as likely as white Americans to be scammed, and younger adults lost proportionally more money—three times the amount older adults lost—partly due to their higher risk-taking behavior with emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and their less developed skepticism about offers that seem too good to be true. Experts warn that advancing AI technology will enable
keysnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost a record $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, a 14% increase from 2022, with investment scams causing the largest losses at $4.6 billion followed by imposter scams at $2.7 billion, according to FTC data from 2.6 million consumer complaints. Fraudsters increasingly used cryptocurrency and bank transfers, while imposter schemes targeting vulnerable populations through government and business impersonation saw significant growth, with Florida ranking among the top states for per capita fraud complaints at 1,563 per 100,000 residents.
fox7austin.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Better Business Bureau's 2023 Scam Tracker Risk Report, investment scams (including cryptocurrency) were identified as the riskiest scam type, with over 80% of targets losing money and a median loss of $3,800. Employment-related scams ranked second and more than doubled from 2022, while online purchase scams dropped to third place despite representing roughly 40% of all reported scams. Young adults ages 18-24 reported the highest median dollar losses among all age groups for the second consecutive year.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance and investment scams caused over $10 billion in reported losses in 2023, with 64,000 romance scams ($1.1 billion) and 108,000 investment scams ($4.6 billion), though actual losses are estimated at $10-80+ billion annually due to significant underreporting. Scammers use researched targeting and manipulation to build trust with victims through text messages, social media, and dating sites, increasingly leveraging generative AI to create convincing deepfakes and multilingual communications that enhance credibility. Effective prevention requires cross-industry coordination to identify and block scams at their initiation points, particularly on messaging platforms like Telegram an
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Naperville police reported over $750,000 in cryptocurrency losses since February, with four cases involving residents aged 43-83 in March alone. Scammers employed various tactics including hacking, romance scams, arrest scams, and sextortion to manipulate victims into sending funds. Police advise residents to avoid sharing personal information, resist pressure to act immediately, consult trusted individuals before responding, and refuse requests for payment via cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers.
interpol.int
· 2025-12-08
INTERPOL's Global Financial Fraud Assessment reveals that organized crime groups are increasingly using AI, large language models, cryptocurrencies, and phishing-as-a-service models to conduct sophisticated fraud campaigns targeting vulnerable people worldwide at relatively low cost. Key fraud trends include investment fraud, romance baiting (which combines romance and investment schemes), advance payment fraud, and business email compromise, with human trafficking networks increasingly forced into call centers to execute these schemes. The report emphasizes the urgent need for international law enforcement cooperation, data sharing, and public-private partnerships to combat this escalating global threat; since 2022, INTERPOL's I-GRIP mechanism has helped intercept over $500 million in criminal proceeds
financemagnates.com
· 2025-12-08
**Not applicable for Elderus database.**
This article is about trading infrastructure, fintech platforms, and broker technology—not elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It does not contain information relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database.
ottawa.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to provide a summary of this article as the text provided does not contain the actual article content—only a title and a list of unrelated shopping and product recommendation articles. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text about the Ottawa man intercepting a bitcoin scam targeting an elderly woman.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
Prince Oduro, a 34-year-old former JPMorgan Chase employee in Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 8.5 years in federal prison for stealing $1.8 million from bank customers through wire fraud and money laundering, while simultaneously operating an online romance scam where he posed as a soldier, medical patient, or gold dealer to manipulate victims into sending money. One victim alone lost approximately $400,000 after Oduro convinced her that her deceased husband had stolen valuable artwork. Oduro was initially arrested in 2022, rearrested in November 2023 for continuing his scams, and has been ordered to repay all stolen funds.
cryptodaily.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the United States experienced a 53% increase in cryptocurrency investment fraud, with losses jumping from $2.57 billion in 2022 to $3.94 billion—accounting for 86% of all investment fraud losses. Scammers primarily used romance scams (causing $374 million in losses) and phishing attacks (causing $295 million in losses) to trick victims into transferring cryptocurrency by promising high returns or building fake relationships, with the problem affecting investors globally.
thestarphoenix.com
· 2025-12-08
Saskatoon Police Service partnered with the Electronic Recycling Association to offer free secure destruction of electronics and confidential documents on March 14 as part of Fraud Prevention Month awareness efforts. The initiative comes as Canadian fraud losses reached $567 million in 2023, with investment scams, spear phishing, and romance scams causing the most financial damage, while fraud methods have evolved to include cryptocurrency schemes and sophisticated phishing techniques targeting both individuals and institutions.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania residents lost more than $158 million to scams in the first nine months of 2023, a 22% increase from the previous year, with over 126,000 fraud reports filed averaging $1,250 per incident. While people ages 30-39 reported the most fraud cases, those ages 60-69 lost the most money at $744 million, and one in seven fraud victims experienced losses exceeding $10,000. The FTC advises consumers to avoid unsolicited requests for personal information, resist pressure to act quickly, and be wary of scammers demanding cryptocurrency or gift card payments.
abc27.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Better Business Bureau's 2023 Scam Tracker report, investment and cryptocurrency scams are the riskiest fraud type, with a median loss of $3,800, exploiting victims' lack of understanding about digital assets by promising unrealistic returns before demanding hidden fees to access nonexistent earnings. Employment scams and romance scams are also growing threats, targeting younger adults and those over 65 respectively, with victims losing not only money but also time and personal information. The BBB recommends avoiding quick financial decisions, being cautious with unknown contacts, and ignoring unsolicited links to protect against these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, cryptocurrency-related investment fraud caused $3.94 billion in losses in the United States—a 53% increase from 2022 and representing 86% of all investment fraud losses—with victims lured by promises of high returns. Common crypto scams include romance scams (which resulted in $374 million in stolen crypto) and phishing attacks (affecting over 324,000 users and causing $295 million in losses), with similar fraud trends occurring globally.
cryptotvplus.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams generated at least $4.6 billion in 2023, a decrease from the previous year, though actual totals may be higher according to Chainalysis. Approval phishing and romance scams (also called "pig butchering" scams) are increasingly prevalent, with scammers using private communication channels to build fake relationships and extract money while remaining difficult to trace. Despite these challenges, progress has been made in combating crypto fraud, including a joint effort by Tether and OKX with the U.S. Department of Justice that froze $225 million linked to human trafficking, and an Interpol operation that apprehended 3,500 cyb
cryptodaily.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's 2023 Internet Crime Complaint Center report revealed a 53% increase in cryptocurrency-related fraud losses, which rose from $2.57 billion in 2022 to $3.94 billion in 2023, with scams targeting victims across all age groups (particularly ages 30-60) through increasingly sophisticated investment schemes promising high returns. Common tactics include romance scams (resulting in $370 million in losses), business email compromise schemes, and ransomware attacks, with criminals using cryptocurrency to quickly transfer stolen funds. The FBI recommends users employ two-factor authentication and verify payment requests to reduce fraud risk, though some analysts argue reported scam revenues have declined since 2
wral.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FBI reported record losses of $12.5 billion from online scams, a $2 billion increase from 2022, with investment fraud accounting for $4.5 billion of that total—much of it involving romance scams luring victims into fake cryptocurrency schemes. Ransomware attacks also surged, with reported losses jumping from $34 million in 2022 to $59 million in 2023, though the total financial impact is significantly higher when including ransom payments and recovery costs. The report underscores that these figures represent only a partial picture, as many victims do not report scams to authorities.
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
This AARP alert warns consumers to watch for spring break travel scams, which use artificially low prices and spoofed websites to lure victims into fraudulent bookings. The advisory recommends verifying the legitimacy of online travel sites by examining web addresses carefully, avoiding deals significantly cheaper than competitors, and refusing payment methods like wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards that criminals prefer. The guidance applies broadly to anyone booking spring travel and directs victims or those with questions to contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
rutherfordsource.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
In March 2024, scammers posing as sheriff's deputies extorted over $10,500 from victims by claiming they had outstanding arrest warrants and demanding payment via cryptocurrency kiosks or ATMs. The criminals used recordings of actual deputies' voicemails and spoofed phone numbers to appear legitimate, exploiting victims' fear of arrest. Authorities warned that legitimate law enforcement never accepts cryptocurrency or payment for warrants, and urged people to hang up on such calls.
longmontleader.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, U.S. consumers lost $4.6 billion to investment scams—a 21% increase from 2022, with $1.4 billion lost on social media platforms alone. The most common schemes include cryptocurrency investment scams (featuring fake websites and fabricated profit statements), romance scams ("pig butchering" where scammers build relationships before soliciting money), and real estate scams (fraudulent property developments). The Colorado Division of Securities urges consumers of all ages to verify investment opportunities and report suspected fraud to protect themselves from these increasingly prevalent online schemes.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans aged 30-49 reported the most investment fraud complaints to the FBI in 2023, with over 13,000 cases, contradicting the assumption that older adults are most susceptible to investment scams. Total losses from investment fraud reached $4.57 billion in 2023—a 38% increase from the previous year—with cryptocurrency scams accounting for $3.94 billion of that total. Scammers typically lure victims through social media and online ads by promising high returns with minimal risk, using fake investment strategies, phony training products, and impersonation of public figures.
9news.com
· 2025-12-08
Diane Peltier fell victim to the phantom hacker scam when a pop-up falsely claiming her computer was hacked prompted her to call a fake Microsoft number; the scammer then posed as a bank fraud department employee and convinced her to withdraw money and deposit it into a cryptocurrency machine, resulting in total financial loss. The FBI reports this scam affected over 51,000 Americans and cost them more than $1.3 billion in 2023, with more than half of victims over age 60, including one victim in El Paso County who lost $99,000. The FBI recommends never clicking unsolicited pop-ups, downloading software from unknown contacts, or sending money via cryptocurrency or gift
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
A woman in B.C.'s Southern Interior lost $10,000 in Bitcoin after a scammer called her pretending to be a fraud investigator, claiming her cellphone payment failed and providing instructions to send money via ATM. The incident reflects a broader trend of phone and cryptocurrency fraud in Canada, with Surrey RCMP reporting 229 fraud cases in 2023 totaling over $12 million in losses, and police recommending that people hang up on unknown callers requesting money and instead verify claims by contacting businesses directly using official contact information.
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
An unidentified cryptocurrency trader lost over $674,000 in USDC through a phishing scam, with attackers draining the victim's wallet and converting stolen funds to Ethereum through decentralized exchanges. The perpetrators have continued exploiting the victim's compromised wallet since March 1, executing over 400 transactions and stealing additional assets including ASTRA and NOIA tokens, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars more. This incident reflects a broader trend of increasingly sophisticated phishing scams in the crypto space, which resulted in over $300 million in losses affecting approximately 320,000 users in the previous year.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines major fraud trends affecting consumers in 2024, noting that fraud losses exceeded $10 billion in 2023 with a 14% increase year-over-year. It describes five prevalent scam types targeting older adults: grandparent scams (impersonating distressed relatives), romance scams (building false relationships to extract money), SIM swap scams (hijacking phone numbers to access financial accounts), investment scams (promoting unrealistic opportunities with high-pressure tactics), and mail theft scams (stealing personal information from physical mail). The article provides practical prevention strategies including using family code words, conducting background checks, enabling voice authentication with banks, avoiding unsolicite
doj.state.or.us
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the Oregon Department of Justice received more complaints about imposter scams than any other type of fraud, with government imposter scams being particularly common—especially those falsely claiming to be from the Social Security Administration or Office of the Inspector General. These scammers use sophisticated tactics including fake credentials and contact through multiple channels to deceive victims into revealing personal information or paying fees for suspended benefits, cost-of-living adjustments, or alleged debts. The article provides guidance on recognizing these scams and recommends protecting oneself by never sharing personal information with unsolicited callers, monitoring credit reports, and reporting incidents to the Oregon Department of Justice.
krtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen warned the public during National Consumer Protection Week about three prevalent scams: law enforcement impersonation (using spoofed phone numbers to demand immediate payment for fake arrest warrants), cryptocurrency investment and ATM scams (where fraudsters show fake gains to convince victims to deposit large sums, then steal the funds), and technical support scams (where pop-up alerts trick users into calling numbers that give scammers computer access). Knudsen advised avoiding third-party payment apps, wire transfers, gift cards, and cryptocurrency ATMs, and urged Montanans to verify suspicious requests with trusted contacts before sending money.