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in Government Impersonation
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
"Slam the Scam Day," designated by the Social Security Administration for March 7, aims to raise awareness among seniors and families about the wide variety of online frauds targeting older Americans, including romance, investment, phishing, and fake government agency scams. According to the FBI's Internet Elder Fraud Report, seniors lost over $3.1 billion to scammers in 2022—an 84 percent increase from 2021—though this represents only a fraction of actual losses since most victims do not report incidents. The article emphasizes that seniors are particularly vulnerable due to limited online literacy, social isolation, substantial savings, and good credit scores, and provides key warning signs and protective measures such
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, seniors over 60 reported $3.1 billion in cybercrime losses to the FBI across 88,262 incidents, representing an 82% year-on-year increase, though many cases remain unreported. Digital fraudsters increasingly target senior citizens, believing they have more savings but less digital awareness to recognize scams. Common schemes include phishing, romance scams ($734 million in 2022), Medicare impersonation, tech support fraud, online shopping scams, robocalls, government impersonation ($1 billion in combined losses in 2022), and lottery fraud.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Government imposter scams caused consumers to lose nearly $2.7 billion in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with scammers posing as government employees via phone, email, text, or social media. These scams follow a consistent pattern using the "5 P's"—pretend, problem, pressure, pay, and prize—to manipulate victims into sending money via gift cards or wire transfers. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited contact from purported government agencies, avoid clicking links or attachments, and report suspected scams to the FTC or Social Security Administration.
rocketcitynow.com
· 2025-12-08
Decatur Utilities issued a warning about scams targeting residents, including impersonation schemes threatening utility disconnection, and fraudulent calls about taxes, social security, and charities. Red flags include threats of service disconnection or arrest, requests for personal information, caller ID spoofing, and unrealistic offers. Customers are advised to hang up on suspicious calls and verify directly with Decatur Utilities at 256-552-1400, as the company will never request payment via credit or debit cards over the phone.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Fairfax County police reported over a dozen cryptocurrency ATM scams since early 2024, with victims losing between $3,000 and $31,100 per incident. Scammers impersonated law enforcement, banks, and government agencies via phone calls to pressure victims into depositing money into Bitcoin ATMs or purchasing gift cards. The Fairfax County Police Department advises seniors to hang up on unsolicited calls, verify caller identities through official contact information, and consult trusted family members before making financial decisions involving unfamiliar technologies or large sums.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Texas resident Hector Medina Jr., 39, was arrested for operating a wire fraud scheme targeting high-profile defendants including former congressman George Santos and actor Danny Masterson, posing as a prosecutor who claimed he could dismiss their criminal cases in exchange for cash. Medina allegedly solicited $900,000 from Santos and contacted Masterson and two other public figures before being apprehended; he admitted the fraud scheme was motivated by over $100,000 in gambling debts and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
kaaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
An Austin couple nearly fell victim to a Medicare impersonation scam when a caller falsely claimed to be issuing them a new Medicare card and requested their card numbers. Barbara Ruzek avoided the scam by refusing to provide any personal information and hanging up when the caller persisted. Experts advise potential victims to hang up on suspicious callers, independently verify claims by contacting agencies directly, and report suspected fraud to the Social Security Fraud & Prevention hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a new Welfare Fraud Pretrial Diversion Program in March 2024, created jointly with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to allow first-time welfare fraud offenders to avoid criminal prosecution by paying full restitution instead. The program is available only to those with no prior welfare fraud convictions who defrauded the system for less than $10,000, allowing participants to repay stolen benefits on a negotiated payment plan while avoiding criminal convictions that could impact employment and housing prospects. The program received 31 cases within its first week of launch.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Cleveland are warning about a sophisticated scam targeting Northeast Ohio residents where fraudsters send fake court documents via email, mail, text, or pop-ups claiming victims are being investigated for PPP fraud and must pay cryptocurrency to lift an arrest warrant. The scam combines government impersonation with tech-support fraud tactics, with criminals also posing as law enforcement or federal agencies to pressure victims into sending money, and authorities urge the public to verify communications directly with official agency phone numbers and report suspected scams to the FBI at ic3.gov or the National Elder Fraud Hotline.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
National "Slam the Scam" Day highlights government imposter scams, the most prevalent consumer fraud type in 2023, which caused $2.7 billion in losses. Scammers impersonate Social Security officials via phone, text, and email to pressure victims into sending cash or gift cards by threatening arrest or promising benefit increases. Real government officials never threaten arrest for payment or request money transfers, and suspicious activity should be reported to the Social Security Administration or Federal Trade Commission.
elkhornmediagroup.com
· 2025-12-08
Eastern Oregon is experiencing an uptick in scams targeting older adults and tech-illiterate individuals, with scammers increasingly impersonating law enforcement, the IRS, banks, and retailers to create panic and pressure victims into sending money or revealing personal information. According to Kai Nichols, an Older Adult Behavioral Specialist, these scams are becoming more sophisticated and widespread, with common tactics including phone calls claiming legal action, account compromises, or utility shutoffs, as well as fraudulent links and voice-sampling schemes. Residents are advised never to rely on caller ID, to resist being rushed, and to remember that legitimate law enforcement and the IRS do not demand immediate payment over the phone
abc15.com
· 2025-12-08
During National Consumer Protection Week, authorities highlighted impostor scams as one of the most prevalent fraud schemes affecting Americans, who lost $10 billion to scammers in 2023. Impostor scams take multiple forms—including fraudsters posing as law enforcement demanding payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency to avoid arrest, and romance scams that exploit emotional connections to persuade victims to invest in cryptocurrency, often resulting in losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Key prevention advice includes: never send money to unknown callers, hang up and verify identities independently, and avoid gift cards or cryptocurrency transfers, as legitimate agencies and organizations will never request payment through these non-traditional methods.
blog.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration and its Office of Inspector General held their fifth annual "Slam the Scam" Day on March 7 to raise awareness about Social Security imposter scams, which remain among the most commonly reported government fraud schemes. Scammers use sophisticated tactics including spoofed caller IDs, fake documents, and threats of arrest to trick victims into sending cash, gift cards, or wire transfers or disclosing personal information. The agencies emphasized that Social Security will never demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or request credit card numbers, and urged the public to report scam attempts to oig.ssa.gov.
ladailypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration promotes "Slam the Scam Day" and offers resources to help people recognize and report government imposter scams targeting Social Security beneficiaries. Key recommendations include educating communities about these scams, encouraging prompt reporting without shame, and sharing official fact sheets; victims can report incidents to the SSA Office of the Inspector General via www.ssa.gov/scam and follow SSA OIG on social media for updates on emerging scam tactics.
doj.state.or.us
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the Oregon Department of Justice received more complaints about imposter scams than any other type of fraud, with government imposter scams being particularly common—especially those falsely claiming to be from the Social Security Administration or Office of the Inspector General. These scammers use sophisticated tactics including fake credentials and contact through multiple channels to deceive victims into revealing personal information or paying fees for suspended benefits, cost-of-living adjustments, or alleged debts. The article provides guidance on recognizing these scams and recommends protecting oneself by never sharing personal information with unsolicited callers, monitoring credit reports, and reporting incidents to the Oregon Department of Justice.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines major fraud trends affecting consumers in 2024, noting that fraud losses exceeded $10 billion in 2023 with a 14% increase year-over-year. It describes five prevalent scam types targeting older adults: grandparent scams (impersonating distressed relatives), romance scams (building false relationships to extract money), SIM swap scams (hijacking phone numbers to access financial accounts), investment scams (promoting unrealistic opportunities with high-pressure tactics), and mail theft scams (stealing personal information from physical mail). The article provides practical prevention strategies including using family code words, conducting background checks, enabling voice authentication with banks, avoiding unsolicite
ksltv.com
· 2025-12-08
Phil Keeve lost several hundred dollars to an imposter scam when he attempted to purchase a laptop from a seller in a private college fraternity online group; the seller never delivered the item and subsequently disappeared. According to FTC data, imposter fraud—where scammers pose as banks, government agencies, relatives, businesses, or tech support—was the top fraud category in 2024 with $2.7 billion in reported losses, a significant increase from the previous year. Experts emphasize that raising awareness about these scams through public disclosure is critical to prevention, and Zelle's parent company recently implemented a reimbursement policy for certain imposter scam victims.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" has stolen millions from elderly Americans by impersonating a grandchild's lawyer or bail bondsman, falsely claiming the grandchild is in legal trouble or an accident out of state and demanding urgent payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. In 2021, over 92,000 older fraud victims lost $1.7 billion, with scammers exploiting fear and urgency by calling at odd hours. Law enforcement recommends not answering calls from unknown numbers, hanging up without engaging, and calling family members directly to verify—while noting that emerging AI voice-cloning technology makes these scams increasingly difficult to detect.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank imposter scams, ranked by the FTC as the top scam of 2022, involve fraudsters posing as banks via unsolicited calls or texts to request personal and banking information, with a median reported loss of $3,000 from 2019-2022. The Fairfax County Police Department advises against sharing financial information with unsolicited callers, recommends independently verifying bank contact information through official channels, and warns that legitimate institutions never request payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or remote computer access.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration warned of a 61.7 percent increase in reported scams between 2022 and 2023, with fraudsters using sophisticated tactics like impersonation, threats of benefit suspension, and demands for immediate payment to steal personal information and benefits from recipients. Scammers employ the "five P's" strategy (Pretend, Prize or Problem, Pressure, Payment) and falsely claim to represent the SSA through fake letterhead, badge numbers, and social media imposter pages. Seniors aged 70-84 lost the highest average amounts ($14,459 per victim in Q3 2023), though those under 50 were statistically more likely to
democratandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
Online purchase scams were the top fraud affecting upstate New York residents in 2023, with nearly 30,000 reported cases resulting in over $525 million in losses, according to the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York. Overall, scams cost Rochester-area residents and those in Albany, Buffalo, and Syracuse a combined $653 million in 2023, with employment scams, phishing schemes, sweepstakes/lottery scams, and tech support scams among the other major fraud types reported. The scams employed various tactics including fake checks, impersonation of trusted entities and government agencies, and promises of unearned prizes or loans.
bbb.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines common tax scams targeting U.S. taxpayers, primarily involving scammers impersonating the IRS through phone calls, emails, and mail. Common tactics include demanding immediate payment via untraceable methods (wire transfers, prepaid debit cards) for alleged back taxes, offering fake refunds in exchange for personal information, and committing tax identity theft using Social Security numbers to file fraudulent returns. Key protective measures include recognizing red flags such as pressure for immediate payment, unsolicited phone/email contact, and knowing that the legitimate IRS initiates contact by mail and never demands specific payment methods or personal financial information over the phone.
kfoxtv.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old man in Walton County, Florida was defrauded of nearly $20,000 in February after scammers posing as Publishers Clearing House representatives convinced him he had won millions in prizes and then demanded prepayment of taxes to an "IRS agent." Terrence Owens, 38, of Orlando, was arrested after law enforcement set up a sting operation at a McDonald's parking lot where he attempted to collect an additional $30,000 payment; he faces charges including grand theft, impersonating a federal agent, exploiting the elderly, and scheme to defraud.
midmichigannow.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan state health and insurance officials warned seniors about Medicare scams coinciding with the December 7 Open Enrollment deadline, where fraudsters impersonate Medicare representatives to steal personal information like Medicare ID numbers and Social Security numbers to make unauthorized plan changes. The agencies advised seniors never to share personal information with unsolicited callers, visitors, or online contacts, and to contact Medicare directly at 1-800-633-4227 or Medicare.gov for legitimate coverage questions, noting that Medicare never calls or visits homes requesting personal information.
gridinsoft.com
· 2025-12-08
**Phantom Hacker Scams Target Seniors**
Phantom hacker scams, a variant of tech support fraud, have increased 40% year-over-year and resulted in over $542 million in losses from nearly 19,000 victims during the first half of 2023, with seniors over 60 accounting for 66% of financial losses. Scammers use a three-stage social engineering approach: posing as tech support to claim malware threats, then impersonating financial institutions or government officials to convince victims to transfer funds to "safe accounts" that the criminals control. To protect against these scams, seniors should avoid unsolicited calls,
southcoasttoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The "grandparent scam" has stolen millions from elderly Americans by impersonating lawyers, bail bondsmen, or family members to claim a grandchild is in legal trouble or distress and urgently needs cash sent via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The FBI reported over 92,000 older fraud victims lost $1.7 billion in 2021, with scammers exploiting psychological tactics—calling at odd hours and inducing fear—and now increasingly using AI voice cloning to impersonate relatives. Law enforcement recommends not answering unknown callers, hanging up on urgent money requests, and independently verifying any family emergency by calling the relative directly rather than engaging with the
elkhornmediagroup.com
· 2025-12-08
An uptick in phone and online scams targeting older adults in Eastern Oregon uses sophisticated impersonation tactics—including fraudulent claims from law enforcement, the IRS, banks, and retailers—to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information. According to Kai Nichols, an Older Adult Behavioral Specialist, scammers exploit elderly individuals' unfamiliarity with technology and bureaucracy by creating panic through threats of legal action or account compromise. Key protections include never trusting caller ID, refusing to be rushed, and remembering that legitimate law enforcement and the IRS do not demand phone payments or threaten immediate action.
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
On National Slam the Scam Day, Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon highlighted that scams remain a significant crime driver in the borough, with senior citizens losing over $2.6 million to fraud in 2023 alone. Common scams include impersonation schemes (government officials, police, IRS, family members), marketplace fraud, and payment requests via gift cards and digital platforms, with scammers using threats and pressure tactics to manipulate victims. McMahon emphasized that prevention and immediate reporting to the District Attorney's Scams Hotline (718-556-7226) are critical to investigating incidents and securing restitution for victims.
boothbayregister.com
· 2025-12-08
This AARP alert warns consumers to watch for spring break travel scams, which use artificially low prices and spoofed websites to lure victims into fraudulent bookings. The advisory recommends verifying the legitimacy of online travel sites by examining web addresses carefully, avoiding deals significantly cheaper than competitors, and refusing payment methods like wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards that criminals prefer. The guidance applies broadly to anyone booking spring travel and directs victims or those with questions to contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
brunswicktimes-gazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Government impostor scams cost victims nearly $509 million in 2022, with Social Security scams being a particularly common threat. The article advises recipients to be wary of unexpected communications claiming problems with Social Security numbers, remember that the Social Security Administration only calls existing account holders, and verify account status directly through ssa.gov/myaccount rather than responding to unsolicited contact.
thechronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz held a press conference at the Newington Senior & Disabled Center to alert residents about potential scams during National "Slam the Scam" Day. The awareness initiative, part of National Consumer Protection Week, is designated by Social Security's Office of the Inspector General to educate the public about government imposter scams prevalent across the United States.
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 96-year-old woman, Violet Evelyn Alberts, was murdered in Montecito, California in May 2022 as part of a murder-for-hire plot initiated by Pauline Macareno, who had been defrauding the victim using fraudulent real estate documents to access her house and money. Macareno was arrested in June 2022 and sentenced to six years in prison for elder abuse and fraud, while three accomplices (Harry Basmadjian, Henry Rostomyan, and Ricardo MartinDelCampo) were arrested in connection with the murder-for-hire scheme after Macareno decide
chroniclet.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a meaningful summary of this content. The text appears to be a collection of website interface elements (error messages, navigation prompts, and article headlines) rather than a complete article or transcript about a specific fraud case or scam. To summarize properly for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text or transcript with substantive details about the scam, victims, amounts, and outcomes.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania residents lost more than $158 million to scams in the first nine months of 2023, a 22% increase from the previous year, with over 126,000 fraud reports filed averaging $1,250 per incident. While people ages 30-39 reported the most fraud cases, those ages 60-69 lost the most money at $744 million, and one in seven fraud victims experienced losses exceeding $10,000. The FTC advises consumers to avoid unsolicited requests for personal information, resist pressure to act quickly, and be wary of scammers demanding cryptocurrency or gift card payments.
thestarphoenix.com
· 2025-12-08
Saskatoon Police Service partnered with the Electronic Recycling Association to offer free secure destruction of electronics and confidential documents on March 14 as part of Fraud Prevention Month awareness efforts. The initiative comes as Canadian fraud losses reached $567 million in 2023, with investment scams, spear phishing, and romance scams causing the most financial damage, while fraud methods have evolved to include cryptocurrency schemes and sophisticated phishing techniques targeting both individuals and institutions.
fox7austin.com
· 2025-12-08
The Round Rock Police Department warned residents about scammers impersonating law enforcement officers and IRS representatives who contact victims via phone, email, or text to create urgency and extract personal or financial information using tactics like caller ID spoofing and threats of arrest. Police advised verifying caller identity through official agency numbers, never sharing personal information unsolicited, resisting intimidation tactics, and reporting suspected incidents to the Federal Trade Commission, while noting that legitimate government agencies never demand payment over the phone or via gift cards.
lohud.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the Hudson Valley region experienced over $2 million in losses from online purchase scams alone, where fraudsters used fake checks and refund requests, with over 1,000 cases reported. The region also faced nine other major scam types including employment scams ($692,389 lost), investment scams ($1.2 million lost), advance fee loan scams ($281,474 lost), and various imposter schemes targeting government agencies and healthcare programs, collectively affecting thousands of residents across the Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island.
ottplay.com
· 2025-12-08
**"Bogus Phone Operators" Documentary**
A 44-minute documentary investigates call center scams operating from India (particularly Thane, Ahmedabad, and Gujarat) that target elderly people in the United States by impersonating government officials and IRS agents. In 2022 alone, these scams defrauded approximately 15,000 US citizens of $800 million, with perpetrators using various payment methods including cryptocurrency, gift cards, NFTs, and Hawala transfers to extract funds and inflict severe psychological harm on victims, including cases leading to suicide.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
Prince Oduro of Westerville was sentenced to 102 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering schemes spanning multiple years, including stealing bank customer information while employed at JPMorgan Chase Bank and operating online romance scams that defrauded victims of over $1.8 million. Oduro continued committing romance fraud even after his initial arrest, causing an additional $709,500 in losses, and was ordered to pay approximately $1.8 million in restitution. Victims were deceived by elaborate stories involving medical emergencies, military service, overseas construction projects, and inherited assets, with one victim alone losing $390,300.
wsmv.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans lost $10 billion to scams, with imposter scams being the leading fraud category at $2.7 billion in reported losses, followed by social media scams ($1.4 billion) and investment scams (with median losses rising to $7,700). Tennessee ranked 16th nationally for fraud reports, with email being the scammers' primary contact method and bank transfers and cryptocurrency the most common payment methods exploited.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating legitimate recruitment companies by posting fake job advertisements on sites like Indeed.com and contacting job seekers via WhatsApp to steal personal information such as passports, bank details, and national insurance numbers. Multiple UK recruitment firms including 2i Recruit, Nolan Recruitment, and HR Heads reported being targeted, with 2i Recruit alone receiving calls from 25 victims; one victim, Bella Betterton (18), lost £3,000 to the scam. Reports of recruitment fraud to Action Fraud are rising, with scammers exploiting reputable job websites and damaging the reputations of the legitimate companies whose names they
keysnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost a record $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, a 14% increase from 2022, with investment scams causing the largest losses at $4.6 billion followed by imposter scams at $2.7 billion, according to FTC data from 2.6 million consumer complaints. Fraudsters increasingly used cryptocurrency and bank transfers, while imposter schemes targeting vulnerable populations through government and business impersonation saw significant growth, with Florida ranking among the top states for per capita fraud complaints at 1,563 per 100,000 residents.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-08
The Titusville Police Department held an educational scam seminar at the public library to warn seniors about common frauds including IRS scams, utility fraud, fake prizes, tech support scams, and impersonation schemes. The city's Criminal Investigations Division receives approximately 15 new fraud cases per week involving thousands of dollars, with seniors being the primary targets; police emphasized that scammers exploit vulnerabilities and continuously update their tactics, and advised seniors to safeguard personal information and verify callers' identities before engaging further.
marionrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud targeting area seniors involves billing schemes for medical items not received, particularly urinary catheters; in recent cases documented by county aging officials, one senior's fraudulent claim involved 2,000 catheters with Medicare paying $14,613.80 to a fraudulent supplier while the senior's out-of-pocket cost reached $3,728. Similar scams originating from companies in New York, Texas, and Illinois have also targeted seniors with false claims for back braces and other medical supplies. Authorities urge seniors to review Medicare correspondence carefully and report fraudulent activity to Medicare at (800) 633-4227 or Kansas Senior Medicare Patrol at (800) 432-
brooklyn.news12.com
· 2025-12-08
New York City seniors attended an educational session at the Brooklyn Public Library where NYPD's Crime Prevention Division provided information on recognizing common scams targeting older adults, including jewelry scams, purse snatching, ATM fraud, and phone/email schemes that evolve with technology. Officers warned seniors to watch for red flags such as urgent demands, spelling errors, suspicious attachments in emails, and callers impersonating law enforcement or the IRS requesting payment via apps, wire transfers, or gift cards. The department emphasized that tech-enabled scams cause significant financial harm to seniors' life savings and recommended contacting 311 for assistance if victims suspect fraud.
wcvb.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines five common tax scams affecting taxpayers, with $5.5 billion stolen in tax fraud last year. The scams include phishing emails and texts, imposters posing as IRS agents, fraudulent tax preparers, phishing attacks targeting tax preparation businesses, and "Offer in Compromise" schemes that falsely promise to settle IRS debts. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, such as verifying communications directly with companies, never clicking unsolicited links, using legitimate tax preparers with IRS credentials, and contacting the IRS directly regarding tax debts.
itweb.africa
· 2025-12-08
Online romance scams are increasingly prevalent in South Africa, particularly targeting middle-aged and elderly women seeking companionship through social media and dating sites, with organized criminals now operating these schemes at larger scale and sophistication. Fraudsters exploit emotional connections to convince victims to send money for fabricated emergencies, and victims often refuse to accept warnings even from financial institutions detecting fraudulent transactions. The article advises potential victims to be suspicious of online romantic interests requesting money, to consult trusted advisors before any financial transactions, and to recognize red flags such as refusal to meet in person or on video.
extra.ie
· 2025-12-08
John Farrelly lost €800 from his bank account after responding to a customs delivery scam text claiming a €3.60 fee was needed to reattempt delivery of a book he had ordered. When he provided his bank details and confirmed payment through his bank, scammers gained access to his account and made two unauthorized withdrawals (€300 and €500) before he could stop them. Farrelly issued a public warning about the scam and expressed concern that victims who willingly provide bank access may struggle to recover their funds.
bigcountrynewsconnection.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Amazon through spoofed phone calls and text messages claiming suspicious account activity, then using fabricated identity theft threats to pressure victims into transferring money from their bank and retirement accounts. The scam relies on psychological manipulation—creating urgency through false arrest threats and claims that someone opened fraudulent accounts using the victim's Social Security number. Victims should verify account issues directly through Amazon's website or app, never call back suspicious numbers, check their credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com, and remember that legitimate organizations will never demand secrecy or immediate money transfers.
businessjournaldaily.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, fraud losses nationwide reached a record $10 billion (a 14% increase from 2022), with Ohio residents alone losing over $154 million to scammers. Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using artificial intelligence and psychological manipulation, with common tactics including imposter schemes (posing as government agencies, banks, or family members), romance-crypto scam hybrids, and employment scams; cryptocurrency investment scams averaged losses of over $3,000 per victim, while employment scams affected young adults (ages 18-44) with average losses of $2,000. Consumers can report suspected fraud to the FTC online or by calling 877-382