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WBNS 10TV
· 2025-03-09
A Central Ohio man lost over $42,000 in a romance scam involving cryptocurrency investments after meeting a woman on Facebook who convinced him to invest in her crypto business. The scammer used fake investment screenshots showing growth to encourage continued payments before disappearing with his money, personal information, and Social Security number. The Better Business Bureau reports that crypto investment scams facilitated through online relationships are increasingly common in the Central Ohio area.
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Denver7
· 2025-03-10
According to FBI data, elder scams cost Americans $3.4 billion annually, with reports increasing yearly. Older adults are targeted due to cognitive decline, loneliness, trustfulness, and perceived savings, with scammers exploiting these vulnerabilities through text messages, emails, social media, and impersonation (including AI-generated voices). Families can help prevent fraud by maintaining open conversations about finances, encouraging early financial safeguards, and offering supportive monitoring of transactions.
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WTVC NewsChannel 9
· 2025-03-10
Tennessee is addressing a surge in romance scams targeting seniors through the proposed "Romance Scam Prevention Act," which would require dating apps to implement fraud prevention measures. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Tennessee residents over 60 lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with romance scammers building trust before requesting money or financial access through fabricated stories. Law enforcement recommends contacting local police if suspicious activity seems out of place, as officers can often quickly identify common scam tactics.
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Eyewitness News ABC7NY
· 2025-03-12
SMS phishing scams ("smishing"), along with related voice phishing ("vishing"), remain prevalent threats that consumers regularly receive via text messages and calls. The FBI warns consumers to delete these deceptive messages rather than clicking links, as leaving them on devices can allow scammers to access personal information; scammers typically exploit current news trends and seasonal events like tax season to lure victims.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2025-03-12
The IRS is warning consumers about multiple tax scams active this season, including fraudulent preparers who disappear after filing, phishing emails and texts impersonating the IRS or tax software companies that threaten account holds or offer fake refunds, and unreliable social media advice urging people to misuse W-2s. Consumers should only work with tax preparers who sign returns and never deposit refunds into preparers' accounts, and should verify tax information through official IRS channels rather than social media or unsolicited communications.
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23ABC News | KERO
· 2025-03-12
Bay Area Toll Authorities warned Bakersfield residents of a scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid toll violations and threatening license suspension or legal action if payment is not made via a suspicious link. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission spokesperson confirmed that legitimate toll agencies never request payment through text messages or website links, and the scam has cycled through waves of high activity over the past year with periodic mutations to evade detection.
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FOX23 News Tulsa
· 2025-03-17
The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Scam Tracker Risk Report identifies the five riskiest scams targeting consumers. Cryptocurrency investment scams rank first, with 80% of victims losing an average of $5,000 through pressure to trade or store funds on fake exchanges; other high-risk scams include employment fraud (fake job offers requesting personal information and payment for training), romance scams (where victims send money to fabricated relationships), and scams using fake checks or overpayment schemes. Scammers continually adapt traditional fraud methods with new twists to exploit victims.
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CBS Pittsburgh
· 2025-03-17
U.S. Postal Inspectors warn of multiple text message scams, including fake delivery notifications requesting zip code updates and impostor messages claiming emergencies or offering deals. Postal inspectors note that elderly citizens and isolated individuals are particularly vulnerable targets, and advise consumers to never respond to unsolicited messages claiming to be from USPS or other entities.
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12 News
· 2025-03-17
Scammers are targeting Arizona vacationers with existing travel reservations by creating fake websites and customer service numbers that appear in online search results for legitimate airlines and cruise lines like American, United, and Royal Caribbean. One couple lost $2,500 to this customer service scam, which the Better Business Bureau reports has been growing in popularity over recent months as criminals make fake sites increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate ones.
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FOX59 News
· 2025-03-18
Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from $10 billion in 2023, according to the FTC's annual report. While the number of fraud reports remained stable at 3.7 million, the percentage of reports resulting in actual financial loss increased from 27% to 38%, and median losses per victim rose significantly since 2020. The rise in fraud losses is attributed partly to AI-enabled scams, with government imposter scams, online shopping fraud, and email-based schemes being particularly prevalent, though notably young people are now losing more money than senior citizens.
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WHNT News 19
· 2025-03-19
The Colbert County Sheriff's Office held a scam awareness presentation at the East Colbert Senior Center to educate seniors about fraud prevention. Sheriff Eric Valentine warned attendees to be cautious of suspicious calls, texts, and emails, and emphasized never sharing banking information over the phone, noting that scam victims in the area have lost between $4,000 and $10,000, with recovery being nearly impossible once funds are sent.
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WHNT News 19
· 2025-03-19
The Colbert County Sheriff's Office reported a recent surge in phone and text scams targeting senior citizens in the area, with reported losses reaching approximately $60,000. Common scams include impersonation of grandchildren claiming emergency money is needed and fraudsters posing as law enforcement demanding payment; the sheriff emphasized that legitimate law enforcement will never call requesting money and advised seniors to use common sense and contact the sheriff's department if uncertain about a call's legitimacy. The office hosted scam prevention presentations at senior centers to educate residents on recognizing and avoiding these schemes.
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WWLP-22News
· 2025-03-21
Beverly police recovered $21,000 for three senior residents (ages 80, 83, and 90) who were victims of Bitcoin ATM scams, after obtaining warrants to seize the machines used in the fraud. Police Chief John Leecher emphasized that quick reporting was critical to the recovery, as these machines are typically emptied daily, and noted that another officer recently prevented an elderly man from losing $4,000 in a similar scheme.
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CBC News
· 2025-03-21
Three prominent online fraud fighters—Jim Browning, Kitboga, and Pleasant Green—collaborated to infiltrate and disrupt scammer call centers targeting North American victims. Through real-time interception, they successfully prevented multiple fraud attempts including one targeting a woman threatened with legal trouble, coordinating with banks and law enforcement to protect victims from losing thousands of dollars. The operation demonstrated tactics used by scammers and highlighted how these vigilantes have collectively disrupted hundreds of scam centers and prevented hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses over nearly a decade.
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WKBW TV | Buffalo, NY
· 2025-03-20
Scammers steal approximately $23,000 per hour from New Yorkers, with older adults over 60 losing more than $200 million annually to fraud schemes in New York alone. One victim, Torchy Massie, was convinced by an online acquaintance to invest all her savings into a fake investment opportunity. Advocacy groups are pushing for state funding to combat these increasingly sophisticated scams, while noting that many victims remain unreported due to embarrassment.
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60 Minutes
· 2025-03-23
This 60 Minutes segment examines why investment fraud and Ponzi schemes continue to thrive despite public awareness of high-profile cases like Bernie Madoff's multi-billion dollar fraud. The piece features expert Ricky Jay discussing how con artists exploit human psychology—including greed and excessive trust—and identifies key warning signs such as dealings with well-established figures who rely on exclusive affiliations to build credibility. The segment highlights that despite financial disasters and skepticism, investors remain vulnerable to sophisticated scams, a phenomenon regulators refer to as "ponzi-monium."
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NewsWatch 12
· 2025-03-24
Officials are warning flood victims to be alert for scams involving fake fundraisers on platforms like GoFundMe, fraudulent contractors offering repairs, and imposters posing as government workers. To protect themselves, victims should verify charities before donating, never pay contractors in cash, check licenses and obtain multiple written estimates, and remember that legitimate government workers will never request money.
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FOX 4 Now
· 2025-03-24
The IRS is warning Americans about tax scams increasing as the filing deadline approaches, with $5.5 billion lost to such scams in 2023 and one in four Americans targeted. Scammers are using text messages falsely claiming to be from the IRS and offering stimulus payments of up to $1,400, with older Americans being particularly vulnerable targets. Experts advise that the IRS typically communicates by mail and only contacts via phone or text if prior permission was given, so unsolicited messages should be distrusted.
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CBS Philadelphia
· 2025-03-27
Washington Township Police Department in New Jersey partnered with the FBI to host an educational seminar teaching seniors and families how to recognize and avoid scams, prompted by recent major fraud cases in their community. Scammers commonly use fear, urgency, and confusion to target seniors through IRS scams, grandparent scams, tax support scams, online banking scams, and EasyPass billing scams, with recent local cases involving losses of $100,000 or more. Police emphasize that recognizing red flags through education is the most effective way to prevent seniors from losing their savings to fraud.
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Mid-Michigan now on FOX66 & NBC25
· 2025-03-27
Scammers are increasingly targeting older adults, particularly those over 75, using sweepstakes, impersonation, and text message scams to steal money and personal information. Law enforcement agencies recommend treating all unsolicited communications as potential scams and emphasize that education and skepticism are the best defenses against these frauds, with experts advising never to trust unexpected offers or requests for personal information.
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11Alive
· 2025-03-27
A woman named Chandler Rogers lent her phone to a stranger claiming he was stranded and needed to contact friends, but the man used the unsecured device to steal nearly $7,000 total from her Venmo and Cash App accounts. The phone borrowing scam, which typically occurs in public places where scammers claim emergencies like dead batteries, also allows criminals access to emails, personal data, and authentication codes; experts warn never to lend phones to strangers and recommend using app security protections.
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11Alive
· 2025-03-28
A woman named Chandler Rogers lost nearly $7,000 after lending her phone to a stranger who claimed to be stranded without a phone; the scammer used the brief access to transfer funds via Venmo and Cash App before she discovered the theft. This phone borrowing scam, where thieves pose as people in emergency situations to gain temporary phone access, has been flagged as an ongoing threat by organizations including the American Bankers Association and Microsoft, particularly in public places.
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WIRED
· 2025-03-28
A WIRED article examines romance scams through the story of a victim who lost $300,000 after meeting someone on the dating app Hinge who posed as a cryptocurrency entrepreneur and convinced her to invest her savings and IRA funds. The piece explores how scammers use dating platforms to build trust over weeks or months before exploiting victims financially, and notes that romance scams are among the most personally and financially damaging online fraud schemes, with perpetrators constantly evolving their tactics.
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NewsWatch 12
· 2025-03-29
**Summary:**
Most scams share a common element: creating artificial urgency to pressure victims into immediate payment or action. To protect yourself, hang up or avoid clicking links when contacted by unknown callers, emailers, or texters requesting money, and take time to independently verify the legitimacy of the business or person through online research before responding.
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NEWS CENTER Maine
· 2025-03-30
A woman in Atlanta lost nearly $7,000 after lending her phone to a stranger who claimed to need it for an emergency after losing his phone in an Uber. The scammer used the borrowed phone to transfer funds via Venmo and Cash App without the victim's knowledge. Police departments, the American Bankers Association, and Microsoft warn that phone borrowing scams are ongoing, with scammers typically claiming emergencies like dead batteries or lost devices in public places to gain access to victims' phones and financial accounts.
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13 ON YOUR SIDE
· 2025-03-31
The Better Business Bureau warns that storm damage creates opportunities for scams and fraud, as homeowners in urgent need of repair and cleanup services become vulnerable to unscrupulous contractors with poor intentions. Consumers should exercise caution when hiring services after severe weather events to avoid being taken advantage of by fraudulent service providers.
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CNN-News18
· 2025-04-02
The Delhi High Court ruled that mandatory service charges imposed by restaurants and hotels are illegal and constitute deceptive trade practices. The court clarified that service charges cannot be automatically added to bills, disguised as tips or voluntary contributions, or bundled with GST—they must be entirely left to the consumer's discretion. Establishments violating this ruling face enforcement action, and consumers have the right to refuse payment of these charges without penalty.
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ABC News (Australia)
· 2025-04-04
Cyber criminals targeted multiple Australian superannuation funds using stolen usernames and passwords obtained from the dark web, successfully stealing at least half a million dollars from four members of Australian Super after compromising 600 passwords. Other funds including Rest Host Plus, Insignia, and Australian Retirement say they stopped the attacks before funds were taken, though the incident highlighted security vulnerabilities in retirement savings systems protecting Australia's $4.2 trillion in superannuation assets.
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4 News Now
· 2025-04-04
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office and Spokane Valley Police Department warned of a scam in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials and contact family members of recently arrested individuals, claiming they can secure early jail release in exchange for immediate payment. Authorities advise recipients of such calls to verify the caller's identity independently by hanging up and calling the agency directly before providing any payment.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-04-05
Scammers send fraudulent text messages impersonating the U.S. Postal Service, claiming recipients have undeliverable packages and requesting they click a link to verify their address; the link directs victims to a fake website that steals personal and financial information. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, do not reply to suspicious messages, and contact the postal service or retailer directly if unsure about a package delivery.
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wpsu
· 2025-04-05
This educational piece outlines two major categories of scams that affect consumers: illegal scams that attempt to steal personal information (like social security numbers and credit card details) to access accounts and money, and predatory scams that are typically legal but equally deceptive and financially damaging. The article advises that legitimate companies never request account information via unsolicited texts, emails, or calls, and viewers should be cautious of suspicious communications and fraudulent links.
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Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV
· 2025-04-08
A Macomb County senior citizen lost over $30,000 in a Bitcoin internet service scam after receiving an email about home internet security protection she did not sign up for. When she called to cancel, scammers posing as customer service representatives gained access to her personal and banking information, ultimately tricking her into sending money via Bitcoin. The scam targeted seniors looking to save money and appears to have affected multiple victims in the local area.
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News Channel 3-12
· 2025-04-08
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department held a community presentation in Carpinteria to warn residents about a dramatic increase in scams, including prize/giveaway scams, romance fraud, and other schemes designed to extract money or personal information from victims. While scams affect people across all demographics, seniors are disproportionately targeted, and attendees learned to recognize red flags and protect themselves from various fraud tactics.
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THV11
· 2025-04-08
Modern scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics that are difficult to distinguish from legitimate contacts, including impersonating law enforcement and court officials through voicemails claiming victims have missed court dates or been served papers. These emotionally manipulative scams attempt to pressure victims into providing sensitive information or money by creating a false sense of urgency and legal jeopardy. Authorities recommend vigilance in verifying the legitimacy of unexpected calls and texts before responding with personal or financial information.
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KJRH -TV | Tulsa | Channel 2
· 2025-04-10
Phony toll bill scams have surged dramatically, increasing 600% in the first quarter of the year and 98% in a single week in March, according to Guardio's scam report. These fraudulent messages, sent via email and text, falsely claim unpaid tolls are due and threaten license suspension, court action, and credit damage; they also attempt to steal personal information through malicious links. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in suspicious messages, delete and report them as junk, and report any incidents to the FTC.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-04-11
Scammers are increasingly impersonating government agencies—particularly the Social Security Administration, Health and Human Services, Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Postal Service—to steal personal information and money through unsolicited calls. Losses from government impersonation scams rose from $618 million in 2023 to $789 million in 2024, with over 265,000 reports filed, and victims should know that legitimate government agencies never demand money, make threats, or ask people to move funds over the phone.
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8 News Now — Las Vegas
· 2025-04-12
Experts and law enforcement in Nevada are warning seniors about a surge in scams targeting the state's 480,000 Social Security recipients, with seniors losing a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024. Key protective measures include ignoring unsolicited calls, texts, and emails requesting personal information; changing passwords regularly; and verifying links before clicking. One senior shared her experience with an email impersonation scam attempting to solicit Apple gift cards, highlighting the importance of verifying sender information.
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CTV News
· 2025-04-14
Police in Ontario are warning of a fake gold investment scheme that has defrauded at least three elderly residents of approximately $1.3 million. Scammers impersonate bank or security officials, claiming victims' bank accounts have been compromised, then convince them to purchase large quantities of gold as a security measure—gold that is never actually picked up. Police emphasize that legitimate banks never ask customers to withdraw funds and buy gold, nor do they request customer participation in investigations.
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CTV News
· 2025-04-14
Identity theft is increasing due to advanced AI tools and dark web activities, with the Canadian Anti-fraud Task Force receiving over 40,000 reports of attempted identity theft over the past three years. Stolen personal information is being extracted using AI and screen-scraping technology, then sold on the dark web. Red flags include unsolicited emails and texts from unknown numbers requesting personal information or account access.
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News4JAX The Local Station
· 2025-04-14
This article warns pet owners about counterfeit pet product scams flooding online markets, where scammers sell low-quality or unsafe items like collars, toys, and treats at suspiciously discounted prices on unfamiliar websites. The Better Business Bureau reports a significant spike in these scams targeting pet parents, with some customers never receiving ordered items despite being told they were shipped. To avoid fraud, consumers should purchase only from reputable retailers with secure websites, physical addresses, verified reviews, and be skeptical of deals that seem too cheap compared to prices elsewhere.
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FOX 4 Now
· 2025-04-14
According to a Better Business Bureau report, scams in the U.S. have dramatically increased since 2021, with over 16,600 scams reported to the BBB scam tracker, costing Americans millions of dollars and increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence. Nearly all scams involve personal information theft, and many victims are unaware their data has been compromised. Experts recommend monitoring accounts for unauthorized activity and placing credit freezes to prevent fraudsters from opening accounts in victims' names.
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CTV News
· 2025-04-15
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled a proposed crackdown on senior fraud, noting that Canadian seniors are 33% more likely to lose money in scams than other age groups. His proposed measures include requiring banks and telecom providers to detect and block fraud in real-time, implementing 24-hour delays on high-risk transactions from senior accounts, creating new criminal offenses for executives who enable senior scams, and imposing harsher penalties for fraudsters. The proposal responds to thousands of Canadian seniors losing millions to scams in recent years, including phishing texts and robocalls targeting those over 65.
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Al Jazeera English
· 2025-04-18
Romance scams are rising significantly, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting that approximately 70,000 people across the US fell victim to fake virtual romances in 2022 alone, resulting in $1.3 billion in losses. Scammers use fake profiles with AI-generated images to pose as attractive individuals on social media platforms like Facebook, targeting victims emotionally before requesting money. Gen Z is among the biggest targets of these scams, yet victims are often blamed and reluctant to speak openly about their experiences.
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CNA Insider
· 2025-04-19
Chinese exchange students studying abroad have become targets of a "cyber kidnapping" scam in which scammers send fake images of tied-up or injured victims to families and demand ransom payments—sometimes exceeding $1 million—while threatening to harm or sell the student's organs. The scam uses internet-based psychological manipulation rather than physical abduction, and has affected multiple Chinese international students globally, including cases like 17-year-old Kai Chuang who went missing in Utah in December 2023. Law enforcement warns that these crimes are difficult to prevent or resolve, as scammers operate with little accountability and families face impossible decisions when unable to verify their loved one's actual location or safety
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CBS Chicago
· 2025-04-18
The Better Business Bureau warns of a surge in Real ID scams targeting consumers rushing to meet the May 7th federal deadline. Scammers impersonate government officials through fraudulent alerts and emails, claiming problems with applicants' Real IDs or warning about the deadline to steal personal information, a tactic previously seen during the 2021 deadline extension.
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WBNS 10TV
· 2025-04-20
**Summary:**
Ohio seniors received scam prevention training as scammers become increasingly sophisticated, particularly targeting older adults over 65 who are less digitally savvy. According to the National Council on Aging, seniors aged 60 and over lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with attorney Carlos Crawford advising people to watch for red flags like misspelled words, suspicious email addresses (such as Gmail addresses impersonating government agencies), and to trust their instincts when something feels off.
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WATE 6 On Your Side
· 2025-04-20
Multiple law enforcement agencies across Tennessee reported a rise in phone scams where callers impersonated police and sheriff's offices, threatening victims with jail time unless they paid money. Government agencies never call to demand payment or personal information; residents should hang up on suspicious calls and independently verify by contacting the agency directly.
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ABC News
· 2025-04-23
The FBI reported that Americans lost a record $16.6 billion to scams last year, a 33% increase from the previous year, with seniors aged 60 and older being disproportionately targeted and losing nearly $5 billion. Scams targeting seniors included impersonation schemes (fake coworkers, tech support), with criminals posing as tech support claiming to remove viruses for a fee. The FBI urged consumers to "check, call, and wait"—verify email addresses and phone numbers, confirm authenticity by calling, and wait before sending money to verify legitimacy.
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KPRC 2 Click2Houston
· 2025-04-29
**Article Type:** Educational/Protective Advice
Seniors aged 60 and older lost nearly $3.5 billion to scams in 2023, with impersonation fraud (such as fake bank calls and text messages) being the most common type. The article recommends three protective measures: set up bank alerts for transactions over a certain amount, avoid writing checks and verify check images online if necessary, and establish direct contact information with your bank before a problem occurs.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2025-05-02
**Summary:**
A 92-year-old Tampa Bay-area man was defrauded of $800,000 in an elaborate romance scam involving 37-year-old Otis Swinton Jr., who posed as a woman online to gain the victim's trust before manipulating him into transferring funds to accounts under the scammer's control. The stolen funds were accessed through forged checks, ATM withdrawals, credit cards, cryptocurrency, and identity theft. Swinton Jr., a career criminal recently released from prison in March after serving seven years for similar crimes targeting over 50 people, was arrested in Orlando and now faces fraud charges; authorities indicate there may be additional victims.