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97x.com
Scammers are exploiting JOANN Fabric's legitimate store closures by creating fake websites advertising bankruptcy sales with discounts up to 90% off, targeting North Carolina shoppers through Facebook, Pinterest, and Nextdoor ads. Victims who purchase from these fraudulent sites receive confirmation emails from unrelated businesses and never receive their items, with unauthorized charges appearing on their bank statements. The article advises consumers to verify sales directly through JOANN's official website, be wary of unrealistic discounts, use credit cards for better fraud protection, and report scams to the FTC, noting that legitimate JOANN clearance sales only occur in physical stores.
mirror.co.uk
The DVLA warned drivers not to share photos of their V5C vehicle logbooks on social media or selling sites, as scammers can use the personal information contained in these documents (such as registered keeper addresses and reference numbers) for identity theft. The alert emphasized that drivers should avoid sharing private information online and report suspicious communications to Action Fraud or Police Scotland, with additional guidance provided for those who have already compromised their details, including notifying their banks and changing passwords. The warning was part of a broader government effort to alert the public about various online scams, including a separate bogus "Energy Support Scheme" text message scam from the Department for Work and Pensions.
justice.gov
A 42-year-old Chinese national, Zhigang Lian, was indicted for allegedly orchestrating an imposter scam that defrauded a 76-year-old Belleville, Illinois resident of over $70,000. The scheme began with a fake Apple text message, then escalated when scammers posing as federal agents convinced the victim their identity had been stolen and they needed to withdraw all their bank funds for protection; the victim handed over $25,000 on June 17 and $45,000 on July 1 before Lian's arrest by Illinois State Police. Lian faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, each carrying
oswegocountytoday.com
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a press conference to protest proposed federal budget cuts to agencies protecting seniors from fraud, noting that seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams in the previous year. Gillibrand called on the Trump administration to maintain funding for agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that investigate fraud complaints and requested the Government Accountability Office examine how staffing cuts would impact senior fraud protection efforts.
windsorstar.com
Windsor police are investigating two contractor scams targeting senior homeowners in July, in which elderly victims were driven to banks and pressured to withdraw large sums of money under false pretenses for alleged roofing and repair work. In the first incident, a woman withdrew $13,000 and attempted to withdraw another $13,000 after being driven by a suspect claiming to be Mark Bignam; in the second, a man was lured into withdrawing $10,000 (with an attempted additional $5,000 withdrawal declined) after work allegedly began on his roof. Police are seeking public assistance in identifying the suspects and determining whether the incidents are connected.
tillamookheadlightherald.com
An Eastern Oregon woman lost $600,000 in life savings to a "gold bar scam" in which scammers impersonated federal agents, claimed her accounts were at risk, and convinced her to purchase gold bars for "safekeeping"; local law enforcement prevented an additional $300,000 loss after her sister reported the scheme to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Hotline. The scam typically involves fraudsters creating false urgency about compromised finances, instructing victims to convert assets into gold, and dispatching couriers to collect the valuables before disappearing. The Oregon DOJ warns that no legitimate government agency requests gold purchases or home visits for money collection, and urges victims to hang up
therealdeal.com
Plano couple Sidhartha "Sammy" and Sunita Mukherjee face first-degree felony theft charges for allegedly defrauding over 100 people of more than $4 million through multiple schemes including fake real estate deals affiliated with the Dallas Housing Authority, a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan, and elder scams using spoofed law enforcement emails. The investigation, which began in 2023, revealed an elaborate multi-year fraud operation with one victim losing $325,000; both defendants were arrested and posted $500,000 bonds, though Sammy Mukherjee was subsequently detained by ICE. Investigators believe most of the
texasattorneygeneral.gov
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into fraudulent charity scams where bad actors impersonated payment processors to collect flood relief donations intended for the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department under false pretenses. The scammers exploited the Texas Hill Country flooding tragedy to deceive donors, diverting money for personal gain while the fire department itself suffered significant losses. The Attorney General's office advises donors to verify charities through resources like CharityWatch and GuideStar, avoid wiring money or sharing personal information, and report suspected fraud to the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
cbc.ca
"Quishing" (QR code phishing) is an emerging scam where fraudsters place fake QR codes on public surfaces like parking meters, signs, and emails to direct unsuspecting users to malicious websites that steal personal information or money. While QR code fraud remains relatively uncommon in Canada with only 10 reported cases since 2024, experts warn the threat is growing as QR code usage becomes ubiquitous and users scan them without verifying their source. To protect yourself, verify the legitimacy of QR codes before scanning, check URLs before entering personal information, and use security tools to scan codes safely.
fox5dc.com
The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration warned residents about a text message scam falsely claiming traffic violations, suspended licenses, and demanding immediate payment under threat of legal action. The scam attempted to trick recipients into sharing personal information and making payments for bogus penalties. The MVA clarified that it never contacts drivers via text to request personal information or payment and advised recipients to delete such messages and report them to the Federal Trade Commission.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
**Online Job Fraud:** A man in Mangaluru lost Rs 4.66 lakh after downloading an app via a WhatsApp link that promised Rs 1,000 daily income; the app hacked his phone, allowing fraudsters to access his and his parents' bank accounts and siphon funds. Four suspects were identified and a case was registered at Surathkal police station.
**Investment Scam:** A 33-year-old woman in Udupi transferred Rs 1.12 lakh to unknown fraudsters between July 7-14 after receiving anonymous calls promising to double her investment. A case was filed at Hiriyadka police station under Section
anz.com.au
Australian bank ANZ reports measurable improvements in scam detection through its partnership with BioCatch Trust, an inter-bank fraud intelligence network that uses behavioral biometrics and real-time risk scoring to identify sophisticated scams including impersonation, investment, romance, and business email compromise schemes. In 2024-2025, Australians lost over $2.03 billion to scams, with romance scams averaging AU$15,000 per victim and investment scams causing AU$59 million in losses; the BioCatch integration has enhanced detection of complex fraud while reducing false positives that inconvenience legitimate customers.
wjournalpr.com
In 2024, older adults aged 60 and over suffered $4.9 billion in fraud losses nationally—a 43% increase from 2023—with Puerto Rico experiencing a dramatic 618% surge to $21.1 million in losses for the same demographic. The most financially damaging scams targeting seniors include investment fraud ($1.8 billion), tech support scams ($982 million), and romance scams ($389 million), with experts noting that perpetrators operate as sophisticated, organized call centers using psychological manipulation rather than amateur schemes. Seniors remain vulnerable due to a combination of limited digital literacy, available financial resources, social isolation, and reluctance to report crimes, particularly when perpet
yellowhammernews.com
Americans over 60 reported over $3.4 billion in fraud losses in 2023, with scammers increasingly exploiting technology to target older adults through fake calls, phishing emails, and data collection via smart home devices. The article identifies five red flags: unsolicited contact, pressure to act immediately, requests for untraceable payments (wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency), demands for sensitive information, and promises that seem too good to be true. Key protective measures include verifying unexpected requests with trusted contacts, using strong unique passwords for smart devices, keeping software updated, securing Wi-Fi networks, and reviewing smart device privacy settings to understand what data is being collected.
crescentavalleyweekly.com
The FBI and FTC are warning the public about evolving scams that exploit advancing technology, including AI-generated voice impersonations of law enforcement and government officials. Elderly Americans are particularly vulnerable to romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation scams, sweepstakes scams, and home repair scams, with millions falling victim annually. The agencies also warn against business email compromise, charity fraud (especially after disasters), cryptocurrency job scams, VA benefits overpayment scams, and card skimmers, recommending victims verify charitable organizations through trusted databases and use credit cards rather than cash, gift cards, or wire transfers for donations.
theweeklyjournal.com
In 2024, older adults aged 60 and above reported $4.9 billion in fraud losses nationally—a 43% increase from 2023—with Puerto Rico experiencing a particularly sharp 618% rise to $21.1 million. The most costly schemes targeting seniors include investment fraud ($1.8 billion), tech support scams ($982 million), and romance scams ($389 million), which are considered especially dangerous due to their psychological manipulation tactics and emotional impact on victims. Experts attribute seniors' vulnerability to a combination of factors including the digital divide, lack of technical knowledge, availability of financial resources, social isolation, and the highly sophisticated, professional nature of modern fraud operations that use
bpi.com
In 2024, consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud—a 25 percent increase from the prior year—with phone/text scams accounting for $1.5 billion and social media scams for $1.9 billion in losses. Criminals use AI, spoofed calls, and hijacked social media accounts to target victims, with operations often based in Southeast Asia, while telecom and tech companies have financial incentives to monetize rather than prevent fraud. Banks and regulators are calling for stricter collaboration and regulation among tech giants and telecom providers to proactively combat scams at their source.
consumer.ftc.gov
This educational piece warns about gold bar and cash transfer scams targeting potential victims through unexpected contact claiming to be government agents. Scammers falsely claim the victim's bank account, computer, or identity has been compromised and pressure them to purchase gold bars, transfer funds, or withdraw cash to hand to a courier as "protection." The article advises that legitimate government agencies never request these actions and provides warning signs to recognize and report such scams to the FTC.
whec.com
PPL, the company managing New York's Medicaid homecare program (CDPAP), experienced multiple security and operational failures including phishing scams affecting fewer than 100 of 225,000 caregivers, fraudulent bank account redirections by a terminated staffing agency employee, and failure to pay promised $100 bonuses to many transitioning caregivers. Affected caregivers like Lisa Robinson had personal information exposed and wages diverted, though PPL committed to full reimbursement and additional security training. The program's troubled rollout prompted the state to establish a separate help line and triggered the resignation of PPL's president.
govtech.com
Broken Bow Public Schools in Nebraska lost $1.8 million in spring 2024 when staff members were deceived by a sophisticated phishing email containing false payment instructions that appeared to come from a trusted vendor, causing a contractor payment to be redirected to a fraudulent account. Federal law enforcement agencies (FBI, Nebraska State Patrol, and U.S. Secret Service) assisted in recovering approximately $700,000, with the district pursuing recovery of the remaining $1.1 million through insurance and ongoing investigations. Since the incident, the district has implemented new financial transaction protocols and safeguards, with no plans for a tax increase to cover the shortfall.
idahocountyfreepress.com
Romance and confidence fraud caused $601 million in damages to 16,504 victims across the United States in 2023, with an average loss of $36,459 per victim. Idaho was hit hardest, with 112 victims losing $6.9 million ($61,784 per person), while scammers posing as online pen pals or relatives in distress targeted victims primarily through email and social media. Elderly victims aged 60 and older comprised approximately 40% of victims and suffered $365.9 million in losses.
sequimgazette.com
This educational piece from a county sheriff outlines common scam tactics affecting communities nationwide, including phishing, imposter scams, investment fraud, romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and payment transfer schemes. The sheriff advises residents to verify sources independently, avoid urgent pressure to act, be cautious with untraceable payment methods, and report suspected fraud to the FTC, emphasizing that scammers exploit new technologies and crises to target vulnerable victims across all demographics.
malwarebytes.com
A retired US Army colonel pleaded guilty to conspiracy after disclosing classified national defense information to someone posing as a Ukrainian woman on a foreign dating app between February and April 2022, exploiting emotional manipulation typical of romance scams. Slater, who worked as a civilian at US Strategic Command, provided details about military targets and Russian capabilities, and faces five to seven years in prison under his plea deal. The case illustrates how romance scammers exploit loneliness and the desire for human connection to manipulate even experienced, security-cleared individuals into compromising sensitive information.
theglobalfilipinomagazine.com
Filipino nationals are being trafficked into scam operations in Cambodia after being lured with false job promises abroad. A 24-year-old victim was rescued after being forced to operate fake romantic profiles on dating apps to defraud foreigners, enduring 15-hour shifts and physical abuse for failing to meet quotas; at least four additional Filipinos aged 27-46 were repatriated in July with similar accounts of trafficking and coercion into phishing and romance scam schemes. The Bureau of Immigration and Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking are working to dismantle the recruitment networks responsible for these human trafficking operations.
dallasnews.com
In 2024, seniors aged 65 and older reported nearly $4.9 billion in losses to financial scams—a 43% increase from the previous year—with Texas seniors alone filing over 9,473 complaints averaging $489,000 in losses each. Seniors are targeted because they control significant national wealth and often struggle to keep pace with technology, making them vulnerable to romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation, and investment fraud. Family members and caregivers can help protect seniors by monitoring account activity, maintaining open communication about financial matters, and encouraging consultation before large transactions, while laws like the 2017 Elder Abuse Prevention
pennlive.com
A 44-year-old man from Brooklyn was charged with theft, impersonation of a federal employee, and conspiracy after stealing over $555,000 in gold bars from an elderly Lancaster County woman in April. The scammers accessed her computer, convinced her to convert investments to gold, then posed as federal employees to collect the bars under the guise of securing them in a Philadelphia Federal Reserve vault. This case reflects a national trend of gold bar scams targeting seniors, which cost Americans $219 million in 2024, with authorities advising victims to hang up immediately on any requests to buy gold or withdraw money and to verify claims directly with official sources.
bitdefender.com
Summer 2025 presents heightened fraud risks as scammers target vacationing individuals through fake rental listings, spoofed travel notifications, refund scams, fraudulent social media sales, and emergency impersonation schemes (including AI deepfake calls). The article advises consumers to book through official channels, verify communications directly with companies, avoid clicking suspicious links, be skeptical of unsolicited refund offers, research online sellers, and refrain from posting real-time location information on social media.
dallasnews.com
Texas ranks second nationally for internet crime losses, with residents experiencing $1.35 billion in losses in 2024—a $328 million increase from the previous year, according to the FBI. People over 60 experienced the highest financial losses, while Hispanic and Black communities are particularly vulnerable to targeted scams such as family impersonation, phishing, and fraudulent investment schemes. The article provides guidance on recognizing scams (offers that seem too good to be true, pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, unusual payment methods) and prevention strategies (verifying identities through official channels, using strong passwords, registering with the Do Not Call Registry, and limiting personal information shared online).
it.ucsf.edu
This educational article warns students, faculty, and staff about the surge in cyber scams during the back-to-school season, including scholarship fraud, fake tuition processors, IRS impersonation, phishing emails, and fake login pages. The piece provides protective measures such as skepticism toward unsolicited messages, strong password practices, multi-factor authentication, and reporting suspicious emails through institutional channels. The article emphasizes that heightened vigilance is needed during this period when hackers exploit academic community confusion, particularly around student debt relief issues.
irs.gov
The IRS and Security Summit partners warn tax professionals about evolving phishing and data theft schemes, including spear phishing, clone phishing, whaling, and "new client" scams designed to steal sensitive taxpayer information. Tax pros should be alert for warning signs such as unexpected emails from trusted sources, duplicate messages with new attachments, urgent pressure tactics, and slightly misspelled email addresses or URLs. The guidance is part of the second installment of a five-part summer educational series aimed at protecting the tax system and taxpayers from identity theft and fraud.
deccanchronicle.com
A 68-year-old resident of Hyderabad was scammed out of Rs. 1.46 lakh after responding to a YouTube advertisement falsely promising to buy an old Rs. 20 coin for Rs. 50 lakh; a fraudster posing as "Raj Gyani" extracted the money through multiple requests for payments under various pretexts before demanding an additional Rs. 1 lakh. Police advised the public to avoid transferring money to unknown individuals for extraordinary offers on social media and video platforms, and to verify all communications and preserve transaction records before engaging in online transactions.
lfpress.com
A Tillsonburg woman lost $5,000 in an online romance scam after sending money to someone she believed was her romantic partner to cover travel costs. Ontario Provincial Police warn that requests for money from online romantic interests—regardless of relationship duration—are a major red flag, and victims should consult trusted family or friends before sending funds. The police encourage vigilance when meeting people online and note that fraudsters are skilled manipulators, urging victims not to feel embarrassed about reporting suspected fraud.
philstar.com
Romance scam hubs in Cambodia have been recruiting Filipinos through false job promises, forcing them to manage fake dating profiles and conduct love scams targeting foreigners while enduring physical abuse and intimidation. At least five Filipino trafficking victims have been repatriated from Cambodia after being lured with offers of high-paying jobs in Thailand, only to be taken to scam operations where they faced 15-hour shifts, violence, and coercion. The Bureau of Immigration is investigating the recruitment networks and coordinating with anti-trafficking agencies to dismantle these operations.
heartfm.ca
**Summary:**
An Oxford County resident lost $5,000 in a romance scam after developing an online relationship with a stranger who requested money for a flight home. Police warn that romance scams commonly target single individuals through deception, and advise the public to avoid sending money to unknown online contacts, verify dating website legitimacy, and refrain from sharing personal information online.
local.aarp.org
North Carolina's Attorney General, Secretary of State, and AARP released an educational video called "Summer Scam Jam" to help residents identify and avoid seasonal scams including toll road cons, travel fraud, ticket schemes, and disaster relief scams. The initiative addresses the $12.5 billion in documented fraud losses reported in 2024, noting that for every reported senior scam case, 44 go unreported, and encourages victims to report fraud through the state's hotline and website.
catholicsun.org
Fraudulent emails and texts impersonating trusted figures like pastors, bosses, and family members—often requesting money or gift cards—are increasingly common scams. Detective Mark DiBone from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office provided awareness and protection strategies during a podcast appearance to help people recognize and defend against these frauds.
dos.ny.gov
The Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection warns that the military community lost $584 million to fraud in 2024 across 99,443 reported incidents, with service members, veterans, and their families targeted at higher rates than the general population due to their steady income, benefits, and frequent relocation. Common scams include imposter fraud, online shopping scams, and investment-related schemes, though protection strategies such as placing "Active-Duty Alerts" on credit reports, using free FTC credit monitoring, and researching purchases before completing transactions can reduce vulnerability.
floridarealtors.org
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lifehacker.com
**Callback phishing scams** impersonate trusted companies (Microsoft, Adobe, PayPal, Norton LifeLock, DocuSign, Geek Squad) via fraudulent emails with auto-loading PDFs containing company logos and phone numbers, directing recipients to call fake tech support. Once on the phone, scammers pose as customer service representatives and extract personal information or direct victims to malicious links and downloads that steal data or install malware. These scams exploit urgency and emotion to bypass critical thinking; recipients should verify requests by contacting companies directly through official channels and be wary of unsolicited emails with attachments, links, or QR codes.
ksnblocal4.com
Broken Bow Public Schools in Nebraska fell victim to a sophisticated phishing scam in spring 2025, resulting in a fraudulent $1.8 million ACH transfer intended for a construction contractor to an illegitimate account. The district has recovered approximately $700,000 with assistance from the FBI, Nebraska State Patrol, and U.S. Secret Service, and has implemented new financial safeguards to prevent future incidents. The construction project will continue without interruption or tax increases, and the district remains in a strong financial position.
prweb.com
A July 2025 survey of 2,034 U.S. adults found that 39% have received fake job offer texts, with 14% engaging with the scams—particularly younger men, among whom up to 31% of millennials interacted with fraudulent offers. Of those who engaged, victims lost money through direct payments to scammers (22%), unauthorized bank or credit card charges (30%), or by sharing personal information leading to identity theft (29%), with 12% losing over $1,000 each. The scams have created widespread distrust, causing 45% of recipients to become skeptical of recruiter outreach and 25% to delay responding to legitimate job
uk.finance.yahoo.com
This is not an article about fraud, scams, or elder abuse. This is a cookie consent and privacy notice from Yahoo's website. It does not contain information relevant to the Elderus fraud research database and therefore cannot be summarized for that purpose.
tnp.sg
A 64-year-old Singaporean retiree discovered that $459 of his $800 in printed SG60 vouchers had been fraudulently used by an unknown person on July 3, 2024, one day after he collected them from a community club, with only $42 legitimately spent by him and his wife. Upon filing a police report and checking his Singpass account, Mr. Lee found that nearly half his vouchers had been redeemed without his knowledge despite the physical vouchers remaining in his possession. Police have warned the public to be vigilant against phishing scams related to SG60 voucher claims.
the420.in
Sophisticated fraudsters in Kerala are targeting elderly pensioners through phone scams impersonating government officials, using stolen personal data (pension details, Aadhaar numbers, nominee information) to build trust before requesting OTPs to access bank accounts. Kerala's Cyber Operations Division reports 2,000-2,500 daily fraud complaints with approximately 125 resulting in cases, causing an estimated loss of ₹1-1.5 crore daily, though 90% of losses are under ₹1 lakh per victim. The Pension Directorate has warned pensioners that legitimate government officials never contact them by phone or online to update life certificates, and victims should report frau
staysafeonline.org
Smishing is a text message-based scam where cybercriminals impersonate banks, delivery services, government agencies, or other trusted entities to trick recipients into clicking malicious links, sharing personal information, or downloading malware. Common smishing tactics include fake delivery updates, account alerts, prize giveaways, government impersonations, and job offers that create artificial urgency to bypass critical thinking. To avoid smishing scams, recipients should pause before clicking unfamiliar links, verify unexpected messages directly with the claimed sender, and look for suspicious domain names or grammatical errors in the text.
consumer.ftc.gov
Scammers impersonate FEMA officials after natural disasters, calling, texting, or visiting people to solicit cash upfront for fake disaster grants, home inspections, or assistance services. FEMA never charges for disaster assistance or requests money, banking information, or personal data, so anyone making such requests is fraudulent. To protect yourself, verify identity through official FEMA badges, avoid responding to unsolicited communications, and contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-3362 if uncertain about a representative's legitimacy.
wgal.com
PayPal issued a warning about increasingly sophisticated AI-driven phishing scams that use generic greetings, false urgency, and fake support phone numbers to trick users into downloading malware or divulging personal information. The scams impersonate PayPal with emails claiming unauthorized charges (e.g., $700 iPhone purchases, $599 Bitcoin transactions) and direct victims to call numbers where scammers pose as PayPal representatives and request downloads that grant full device access. PayPal recommends verifying alerts by logging directly into PayPal.com and never entering personal information through email links or calling numbers provided in unsolicited messages.
dallasnews.com
This article reflects on how scams have evolved over the past 20 years, using a 2006 book called "Scamorama" as a reference point. The classic Nigerian 419 scam—featuring poorly written letters promising large sums of money in exchange for small fees—was relatively easy to identify and became the subject of "scam baiting," where victims would intentionally waste scammers' time with absurd requests. Today's scams are far more sophisticated, utilizing artificial intelligence to eliminate grammatical errors and leveraging modern technologies like text messaging, social media, and cryptocurrency, making them significantly more difficult to detect and more effective at defrauding victims.
nar.realtor
More than 60 real estate agents nationwide have lost a combined $15 million in "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, where fraudsters build trust with agents through social media or text, pose as clients or financial advisors, and gradually coax them into investing on fraudulent crypto platforms before disappearing with the funds. The scams often exploit agents' access to MLS databases and their familiarity with large financial transactions, with victims like Tennessee agent Teri Radcliff losing over $200,000 and a North Carolina agent's family losing $815,000. The perpetrators frequently use deepfakes or video impersonation and withdraw victims' money through fake platforms before requesting additional security
ainvest.com
Two high-ranking executives from crypto payment company MoonPay were defrauded of $250,000 through a sophisticated scam impersonating a fake Trump inauguration fund, with the perpetrators using political symbolism and a fraudulent email posing as a Trump associate named Steve Witkoff to gain trust. The incident, disclosed by the Department of Justice, demonstrates that even experienced crypto industry professionals are vulnerable to social engineering tactics that exploit familiarity with political figures and well-crafted deceptive communication.