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Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
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in Robocall / Phone Scam
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
An investigation uncovered thousands of AI-generated photos of fake wounded soldiers, veterans, and military families posted on Facebook pages with patriotic names like "Proudly American," which are actually managed by users in Morocco and other foreign countries. Scammers use these fake images to lure patriotic comments from older Americans, who are then targeted by imposters posing as U.S. military generals requesting private messages, a scheme the Army reports receiving hundreds of complaints about monthly. The fake photos contain obvious AI errors such as soldiers with six fingers, extra hands, garbled name tapes, and uniforms with incorrect flags, yet Facebook has not labeled them as AI-generated content.
wlbt.com
· 2025-12-08
Foreign scammers operating from countries like Morocco use AI-generated photos of fake wounded soldiers and military personnel on patriotic Facebook pages to lure American commenters, particularly older women and widows. When victims engage with the posts, imposters posing as U.S. military generals contact them in private messages and solicit money, with the Army reporting hundreds of fake imposter accounts monthly. The scam exploits patriotic sentiment through obviously flawed AI images (soldiers with six fingers, flags with wrong star counts, garbled name tapes) that nonetheless generate thousands of followers and engagement.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Moira Stuart, a 75-year-old BBC News presenter, fell victim to a sophisticated phone scam where fraudsters impersonated her bank and instructed her to transfer money to catch an alleged "inside job" at her branch. A vigilant bank cashier prevented her from losing thousands of pounds by questioning the transaction and alerting the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart publicly shared her experience to combat the shame surrounding fraud victimization and to raise awareness, noting that nearly three million instances of bank fraud costing £1.2 billion were recorded the previous year, with authorized fraud victims losing an average of nearly £2,000.
thehindu.com
· 2025-12-08
A 45-year-old businessman in Hyderabad lost ₹28.5 lakh in an online investment scam orchestrated through a WhatsApp group that impersonated ABML stocks & securities and used a fake investment app. The scammers lured the victim with promises of high returns on stocks and IPOs, then coerced him into taking a loan and deposited the funds into a fraudulent account showing fabricated profits, ultimately preventing any withdrawals. The Hyderabad cyber crime unit filed a case after the victim reported the fraud.
kpbs.org
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational event hosted by Osher at SDSU featuring Assistant U.S. Attorney Oleksandra Johnson, who specializes in elder fraud prosecution. The presentation covers methods criminals use to perpetrate elder financial abuse (mail, phone, computer, in-person, and media), current trending scams in Southern California including grandparent scams, romance scams, and investment scams, and warning signs of financial abuse with prevention strategies.
kelly.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
During a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly discussed the escalating threat of sophisticated fraud targeting seniors, including AI-generated voice cloning, cryptocurrency schemes, and "pig butchering" scams orchestrated by organized crime networks operating internationally, with reported losses totaling $100 billion. Law enforcement and consumer advocates emphasized the need for increased investigative resources, industry engagement, and a comprehensive national strategy to combat these crimes. Kelly highlighted his legislative efforts to protect seniors, including the Stop Senior Scams Act (2022) and the EdCOPS Act (2024), while discussing successful collaborative models like San Diego's Elder Justice Task Force.
candgnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office is holding educational events in October to help seniors recognize and prevent fraud, including scams involving impersonation of police officers, fake technical support invoices, and AI-generated voice calls from supposed relatives. Free presentations and "S.C.A.M.S." prevention booklets will be available at events on October 9 at Macomb Community College and October 17 at the Sterling Heights Fall Senior Expo, with the office advising seniors to avoid sharing personal information with unknown callers or emailers.
psychologytoday.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article examines how scammers use fear and psychological manipulation to exploit victims through sophisticated online extortion scams. The author explains that scammers deliberately trigger fight-or-flight responses to bypass critical thinking, and notes that the FTC reported $10 billion in fraud losses nationally in 2023, with success rates dependent on sending mass emails to hundreds of millions of people. The article advocates for corporate accountability while recommending awareness-building, FTC resources, and educational content from fraud educators as tools to counter these tactics.
montclairlocal.news
· 2025-12-08
Montclair Police warn residents of sextortion scams where fraudsters email victims claiming to have installed malware and threatening to release compromising videos unless payment is made in Bitcoin, using publicly available information like phone numbers and home addresses to appear credible. Police advise residents to never provide personal information, financial details, or payments via Bitcoin, wire transfer, or gift cards, and to be aware that caller ID can be spoofed; victims should contact Montclair Police at (973) 744-1234 if targeted.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
West African "Yahoo boys" operating from Ghana conduct large-scale romance and computer repair scams, targeting vulnerable Americans (particularly widowers and elderly victims) and stealing billions in fraudulent wire transfers and gold purchase schemes. A 92-year-old retired nurse lost significant portions of her life savings to a gold scam despite repeated warnings, leading to lawsuits against banks like Charles Schwab for allegedly ignoring red flags on suspicious transactions. U.S. consumers reported over $10 billion in fraud losses in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022—as overseas-based scams exploit weak bank safeguards and psychological manipulation to drain American accounts.
uppermichiganssource.com
· 2025-12-08
Delta County retirees attended an AARP-sponsored fraud awareness workshop where law enforcement identified romance scams and IRS impersonation scams as the top threats targeting Upper Peninsula residents. Scammers use emotional manipulation—such as fake online dating profiles or threatening calls about back taxes—with artificial urgency to pressure victims into sending money, though the IRS does not initiate contact by phone. Authorities advised residents to hang up on suspicious callers, limit personal information on social media, avoid stranger friend requests, and contact local law enforcement if money is involved.
foxcarolina.com
· 2025-12-08
Foreign scammers operating from countries like Morocco create fake patriotic Facebook pages featuring AI-generated images of wounded soldiers and military personnel to lure American engagement, particularly from older women. When victims comment on these posts, imposters posing as U.S. military generals initiate private messages and eventually request money, with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division reporting hundreds of fake impersonator accounts monthly. The scam exploits patriotic sentiment and leverages AI-generated content with telltale errors (extra fingers, garbled text, impossible scenes) to build trust before extracting financial information from vulnerable Americans.
moroccoworldnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Spanish police arrested five suspects who scammed two women out of €325,000 by impersonating actor Brad Pitt on social media and messaging apps, convincing them they were in romantic relationships and had investment opportunities. The perpetrators targeted vulnerable women experiencing depression, conducted psychological profiling through social networks, and maintained the deception through WhatsApp and email. Police recovered €85,000 of the stolen funds and seized evidence including phones, computers, and records of fraudulent phrases used in the scheme.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Users on TikTok and other platforms are receiving fraudulent text messages claiming to be from TikTok's HR department, offering £200-£500 daily salaries for easy remote work. These messages are part of a "task scam" variant where victims download an app, complete limited free tasks, then are pressured to pay upgrade fees to continue earning, with no ability to actually withdraw any winnings. TikTok has issued an official warning urging users to be vigilant and verify the authenticity of job opportunities before sharing personal information or sending money.
bristolpost.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Journalist Moira Stuart fell victim to a sophisticated bank impersonation scam approximately three years ago in which a caller claimed to be from her bank, alleging fraudulent activity and instructing her to withdraw cash from an alternative branch while remaining on the phone. The scam was thwarted when a vigilant bank teller questioned her actions and advised her it "doesn't sound right," prompting her to report the incident to the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart has since partnered with BT Group and AbilityNet to educate older adults about common scams including delivery fraud, family impersonation schemes, and bank/email fraud, emphasizing that scammers are sophisticated enough to target
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission held a roundtable in Cleveland where community leaders shared personal scam experiences to raise awareness, with Ohioans reporting 30,000 fraud cases and nearly $100 million in losses so far that year. Discussed scams included gas station card skimming, targeting of refugee communities via fraudulent Zoom meetings, EBT card hacking, and imposter scams demanding payment through cryptocurrency, cash, wire transfers, or gift cards—none of which legitimate businesses or government agencies use for payment requests.
nbcmontana.com
· 2025-12-08
Missoula Aging Services reported a surge in phone scams where callers impersonate Medicare, government agencies, banks, and tech support to extract victims' personal information including Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, and bank account details using high-pressure tactics. The organization urges consumers to be suspicious of unsolicited calls requesting personal information and recommends verifying caller identity by independently contacting the organization, then reporting suspicious calls to Montana Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-551-3191 or the Federal Trade Commission.
oaklandcounty115.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned seniors at a Southfield Senior Summit about "pig butchering" scams and other fraud targeting older adults. Pig butchering is a romance scam variant where criminals build trust with victims online over days or weeks before soliciting money for emergencies or investment opportunities, with victims sometimes losing their life savings. Nessel identified three common scam tactics: creating urgency, obtaining personal information, and requesting money, and advised seniors to verify the identity of callers and warn loved ones about suspicious online relationships with distant strangers.
clreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in grandparent scams targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claim a relative has been arrested and demand cash for bail. Victims were duped into handing over cash to couriers who arrived at their homes, with suspects identified as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark SUV with possible Minnesota plates, sometimes accompanied by an unknown female. Law enforcement advises seniors never to provide personal information or cash to unknown callers and to report such incidents immediately.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Texas seniors fell victim to sophisticated financial scams: 71-year-old Phyllis Lopez lost $3,500 after a caller impersonating a Chase Bank representative convinced her to wire her savings, and 77-year-old Shirley Ison-Newsome lost over $50,000 in a scam involving a fraudulent wire transfer to China. Texas's 2017 Protection of Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act allows banks to freeze accounts suspected of fraud, resulting in increased reporting to Adult Protective Services (from 3,600 to 6,400 reports between 2017-2023), though consumer advocates argue more protection is needed and lawmakers
wlos.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder financial scams increased 14% in complaints and 11% in financial impact in 2023, with criminals targeting seniors through imposter scams (IRS/Social Security), shopping fraud, grandparent scams, tech support schemes, and sweepstakes fraud. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, emphasizing that seniors should never share personal information unsolicited, verify requests through independent contact with family or organizations, be skeptical of unusual payment methods, and report suspected fraud immediately.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering crypto scams involve fraudsters building trust with victims through fake identities and relationships on social media platforms like WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Instagram before directing them to fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms and stealing their money. The SEC filed its first enforcement actions against these scams in September 2024, charging eight defendants in connection with fake platforms NanoBit and CoinW6, while the CFTC and other federal agencies have partnered to distribute educational materials warning consumers that these scams cost Americans billions annually. Victims are advised to ignore unsolicited messages from strangers and report suspicious contacts to prevent becoming targets of this rapidly growing fraud scheme.
10news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers used caller ID spoofing to impersonate Christy Taylor's bank and convinced her to transfer nearly $10,000 onto a prepaid debit card by claiming fraudulent activity on her account; the funds were quickly depleted and the bank could not reverse the transfer since Taylor had withdrawn the money herself. Security experts advise never acting on unexpected bank calls or texts, and instead to independently verify alerts by calling your bank directly using the number on your debit card. These sophisticated scams are increasingly common and equally convincing as legitimate communications.
irishnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Veteran broadcaster Moira Stuart, 75, was nearly scammed in a phone call where a fraudster claimed money had been stolen from her account and instructed her to transfer funds, though a bank cashier intervened before any loss occurred. Research shows people aged 55-64 face the highest number of scams, with Age UK finding that 41% of people over 50 were scammed in the last five years, losing an average of £2,022, and experiencing significant psychological and social impacts beyond financial loss. Digital skills experts recommend older people verify sender details, confirm whether communications are expected, and be cautious of suspicious pop-ups to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scammers.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide examines why scam victims face blame and shame, explaining that psychological biases—including the "just world" belief, hindsight bias, and defensive attribution—cause people to wrongly hold victims responsible for being scammed. The article emphasizes that victim blaming is harmful and counterproductive, noting that scams are increasingly common (the FTC reported $76 million lost to government impersonation scams in 2023, up 90% from 2022) and that anyone can fall victim regardless of intelligence or caution.
massapequapost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Town of Oyster Bay partnered with the Nassau County District Attorney's office to combat an escalating wave of scams targeting seniors, with over $230 million stolen from New Yorkers in 2024 alone. Scammers exploit seniors through telephone and email schemes impersonating government agents, bank officials, or family members to gain access to retirement accounts and savings, while also using methods ranging from mailbox theft to sophisticated malware attacks. The partnership is hosting educational seminars to inform seniors and their families about recognizing and reporting these threats, which have grown increasingly sophisticated, including the use of AI voice-mimicking technology.
boston.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Brooklyn men, Shaoquin Liu, 27, and Shiwang Ning, 33, were arrested in Quincy for allegedly stealing over $120,000 from a senior citizen through a tech support scam involving fake emails and calls impersonating the victim's banks and the FDIC. The suspects remotely accessed the victim's computer, obtained financial information, and convinced the victim to withdraw large cash amounts that were picked up from their home multiple times before the victim grew suspicious and contacted police. Both men were charged with one count of larceny and two counts of fraud.
thecourierexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 50 seniors attended a Scam Jam educational seminar in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, presented by state and local officials to teach fraud prevention and recognition of common scams targeting elders. Presenters highlighted increasingly sophisticated scams including voice cloning via AI, fake tech support calls requesting gift card payments, and impersonation schemes, emphasizing that victims should contact police immediately when suspicious and never provide personal information or payment via non-traditional means like gift cards. A recent local case was cited where timely police contact prevented a $30,000 loss to a potential victim.
koco.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud in Oklahoma increased 15% from 2022 to 2023, with nearly 1,000 seniors over age 60 falling victim to scams and losing over $22 million in total. The most common fraud schemes targeting seniors are fake tech support and romance scams, with criminals exploiting seniors' accumulated wealth; the FBI advises victims and potential victims to hang up, log off, and walk away from any pressure to conduct financial transactions.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers continue to impersonate Medicare representatives via unsolicited phone calls to steal Medicare account numbers, which they use to commit fraud such as ordering medical devices. Medicare never contacts beneficiaries by phone and is not issuing new cards, making these calls a reliable indicator of scam activity. Medicare fraud costs the government between $60 billion to $100 billion annually.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Laura Kankaala, head of threat intelligence at Finnish cybersecurity firm F-Secure, explains how online scams and ransomware attacks have evolved dramatically during her nearly 10-year career—from rare incidents to daily occurrences. Hackers increasingly use sophisticated tactics including fake profiles, phishing sites, and malware to steal data and money from victims, exploiting the expanded digital exposure created by smartphones, remote work, and social media. Cybercriminals monetize stolen data through ransomware attacks, account compromises, and data sales, with new scams emerging constantly as technology becomes more integrated into daily life.
wcvb.com
· 2025-12-08
A Massachusetts senior was defrauded of $120,000 after receiving a fake Microsoft notification directing her to call a number where scammers impersonated FDIC and FBI officials, convincing her to withdraw cash and wrap it in foil for "safekeeping." Two Brooklyn men, Shaoquin Liu and Shiwang Ning, were arrested after attempting to pick up the money and were charged with larceny and conspiracy. The scammers had gained computer access to create fraudulent correspondence from the victim's bank, SSA, and FDIC to support the scheme.
cincinnati.com
· 2025-12-08
The "brushing" scam has reached Ohio, involving unsolicited packages delivered to residents that contain inexpensive items like face masks or speakers and feature QR codes that, when scanned, expose personal and financial information to scammers. Scammers use this technique either to steal data or to create fake positive reviews for third-party sellers, and authorities warn residents never to scan QR codes on unexpected packages and instead report suspicious deliveries to Amazon or local law enforcement. Protection measures include avoiding randomly found QR codes, being wary of sites requesting passwords after scanning, and confirming the legitimacy of QR codes in emails or texts by calling the sender directly.
heritagefl.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors have risen sharply, with fraudsters impersonating federal agents and falsely claiming victims' bank accounts are compromised, then pressuring them to deposit money into cryptocurrency ATMs for purported "government protection." The article provides four key preventative measures: verify communications through official government channels, educate yourself on common scammer tactics, use only reputable cryptocurrency exchanges with security features, and exercise caution with cryptocurrency ATMs. Resources like the Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) are available to help seniors and families identify potential fraud.
businesstoday.in
· 2025-12-08
India's digital transformation has increased online scam targeting, with cybercriminals particularly exploiting elderly pensioners through impersonation schemes. The Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) warned that fraudsters are impersonating government officials and contacting pensioners via WhatsApp, email, and SMS, falsely claiming pension payments will be stopped unless they complete forms and share personal information like PPO numbers and bank details. Authorities advise pensioners to verify communications directly with relevant agencies, resist artificial urgency tactics, and report suspicious activity to prevent financial fraud.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams are increasingly common and take multiple forms, including romance scams where perpetrators build relationships then direct victims to fraudulent investment sites, tech support scams with fake pop-ups, and schemes impersonating authorities demanding payment in cryptocurrency. According to South Dakota's Attorney General and digital forensics experts, consumers should only use reputable cryptocurrency platforms independently, never send cryptocurrency or payment information to unsolicited requestors, and report suspected scams to protect others and aid law enforcement investigation.
newportdispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
Martha's Vineyard Bank reported a series of scams targeting elderly customers in which fraudsters impersonated bank representatives and pressured victims to withdraw large sums of money while instructing them not to discuss the transactions with anyone, including bank staff. The scammers created false urgency by claiming customers' funds were in jeopardy, exploiting seniors' vulnerability to financial fraud. The bank coordinated with the Dukes County Sheriff's Office to alert the community and urged residents to report suspicious activity.
bookriot.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a book review for "Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts, and Schemes" by comedian and podcaster Laci Mosley, which is an essay memoir exploring various types of scams including religious, housing, job, romance, and body scams through both her personal experiences and stories of other scammers. The review highlights Mosley's key insight that scammers succeed because people care about things, and recommends the audiobook format to best enjoy her comedic delivery. The article is promotional content for entertainment purposes rather than a report on specific fraud incidents or elder abuse cases.
cyberdaily.au
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old American radiologist was defrauded of $700,000 in a romance scam orchestrated by Ghanaian scam boss Alfred Kwame Ayivor, who posed online as an Australian woman named Grace Erskine and eventually hired Australian national Rebecca Jade Silk to meet the victim in person and pose as Erskine. The scam involved the fake Erskine claiming she had inherited a Ghanaian gold mine and offering the victim a stake in it, with in-person meetings arranged in both the United States and Ghana to build credibility. Ayivor died in custody in 2019 before
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide explains romance scams, a type of fraud where criminals build fake romantic relationships to extract money from victims. The article outlines common tactics (including catfishing), warning signs, and vulnerable populations targeted by scammers, while noting that the FTC reported $304 million in losses from romance scams in 2020—a 50% increase from 2019. The guide provides advice on protecting oneself and recovering from romance fraud, emphasizing that victims should not be blamed for falling for such schemes.
wkyc.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A phishing scam impersonated Spectrum, using a voicemail claiming to remove a 40% discount unless customers called back immediately using the caller ID number provided. Spectrum confirmed this is fraudulent and advised customers to call their service provider using the number on their official bill rather than numbers provided by unsolicited callers before sharing any personal information.
marketplace.org
· 2025-12-08
This podcast episode features threat researcher Selena Larson discussing common online scams targeting teenagers, including sextortion/blackmail, job and scholarship scams, malware-laden game advertisements, shopping imposter scams, phishing attacks, and payment app fraud. Larson explains that scammers use social engineering techniques to manipulate teens emotionally—posing as authority figures, attractive individuals, or legitimate businesses—to trick them into sending money, compromising photos, or sensitive information. Key red flags include unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true, requests for payment upfront, and pressure to act quickly.
eff.org
· 2025-12-08
This article addresses a widespread "sextortion" phishing scam in which recipients receive threatening emails claiming hackers have compromised their computers and possess embarrassing photos or browsing history, demanding payment in bitcoin to prevent the information from being shared with contacts. The scammers use publicly available personal information (names, addresses, house photos from Google Street View) obtained from data breaches to create a false appearance of authenticity, but they have not actually hacked the recipients. The article advises recipients not to pay the ransom and recommends changing passwords, freezing credit, and monitoring for identity theft to protect against future scams using leaked personal data.
news.harvard.edu
· 2025-12-08
Online scams cost American consumers $12.5 billion last year, a 22 percent increase, with cybercriminals using sophisticated psychological tactics that can affect anyone regardless of age, intelligence, or education. According to cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier, scammers' methods are fundamentally unchanged from historical cons, but technology has dramatically increased the scale and speed of attacks through fake social media ads, phishing emails, and AI-generated content. Cryptocurrency has made scams more profitable and harder to prevent because transactions cannot be reversed or monitored by traditional banking safeguards.
boomlive.in
· 2025-12-08
Following the crash of BookMyShow's website during ticket sales for Coldplay's January 2025 Mumbai concerts, scammers targeted desperate fans seeking tickets on social media platforms, with fraudsters posing as overseas residents and using fake purchase receipts from legitimate ticketing sites like Ticketmaster. One victim, Sonakshi, lost Rs 38,000 after a scammer named Sonia Bosco used convincing fake Gmail screenshots, WhatsApp numbers with U.S. area codes, and forged BookMyShow invoices to extract advance payments before disappearing; another potential victim, Rohan, avoided similar fraud through skepticism and PayPal's protective measures. The
cybersecurityconnect.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An Australian woman named Rebecca Jade Silk was identified as an alleged physical stand-in in a sophisticated romance scam operated from Ghana that defrauded a 75-year-old American radiologist of $700,000. Scam ring leader Alfred Kwame Ayivor posed online as an Australian woman named "Grace Erskine" to romance the victim, and hired Silk to impersonate Erskine during in-person meetings in the United States and Ghana, where she posed as someone offering him a stake in a gold mine. Ayivor died in custody before trial in 2019, while Silk was located in Australia in 2024 but refused to
gantnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Henderson Township, Jefferson County, lost $5,000 in a phone scam on September 23. Pennsylvania State Police are seeking information about the incident, which occurred at a residence along Route 410 around 3:56 p.m.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A young mother of Indian origin lost $225,000 to a work-from-home job scam after being recruited through a Facebook messenger group to review hotels online; she was instructed to book hotels with her own money using a fake platform and make cryptocurrency payments that were never reimbursed despite promises of commission. Victoria police report dozens of similar victims have lost over $1 million in 2023, with people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities accounting for 12.7 percent of targeted scam losses, and authorities warn against any online arrangement requiring upfront payments in digital currency or via bank transfer.
thestar.com
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto resident fell victim to a fake taxi scam where a driver with a taxi-style dome light used a rigged payment machine to steal the victim's debit card information and PIN, resulting in $1,471 in fraudulent charges. Toronto police report 493 similar taxi scam incidents in the year with total losses of $914,000, and the scam typically targets young people rather than seniors; detection methods include verifying taxi license plates and never relinquishing control of payment cards. Key prevention tips include checking that cabs have proper taxi identification and remaining vigilant about card security throughout transactions.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Rancho Cordova woman lost $9,000 to a scam after being deceived by a fake bank alert on her computer directing her to call a fraudulent number; the scammers kept her on the phone while she withdrew cash and deposited it into a Bitcoin machine. A Call Kurtis volunteer discovered the woman's bank failed to follow its own fraud-prevention protocol of questioning customers before allowing such transactions, and the bank issued a full refund after this oversight was identified.