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in Tech Support Scams
odishabytes.com
Scammers are increasingly using deepfake technology and artificial intelligence to perpetrate fraud, employing tactics including romance scams (where victims are lured into fake relationships and defrauded of millions), "digital arrest" schemes (where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to coerce victims into extended video calls and payments), and investment scams using deepfake videos of celebrities like Virat Kohli and Ratan Tata to promote fraudulent apps. Notable victims include men across Taiwan, Singapore, and India who lost over $46 million to romance scams, and Indian textile baron SP Oswal who was defrauded of $833,000 after being
therecord.media
A global law enforcement operation called SOGA X conducted in June and July across 28 countries arrested over 5,100 people and shut down tens of thousands of illegal gambling websites, recovering more than $59 million in illicit proceeds during the UEFA 2024 European Football Championship. The crackdown exposed links between illegal gambling operations and organized cybercrime centers involved in human trafficking, romance scams, and "pig butchering" fraud schemes, with one Philippine raid rescuing over 650 trafficking victims who had been forced to conduct online fraud. Notable takedowns included dismantling a Vietnamese gambling ring generating $800,000 daily and disrupting organized crime operations in Thailand, Greece, an
pcworld.com
A Hong Kong-based scam ring of 27 people used romance-fraud schemes combined with real-time deepfake video technology to steal approximately $46 million from victims across China, Taiwan, India, and Singapore. The scammers created fake profiles with AI-generated photos, built romantic relationships through messaging, and when victims requested video verification, used deepfake software to convincingly impersonate the attractive women in their profiles before convincing targets to "invest" in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. This "pig butchering" technique, which has reportedly stolen as much as $75 billion globally, is expanding internationally with increasing sophistication as AI tools make it easier for organized crime rings to create convincing
digit.in
A 29-year-old Bengaluru businessman lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a digital arrest scam in September 2024 after receiving calls from fraudsters impersonating TRAI and CBI officials who accused him of money laundering and threatened "digital arrest." The scammers pressured him to transfer nearly 80% of his bank balance to purportedly secure RBI accounts for verification over the course of a week before he filed a complaint on October 3. The article advises protecting against such scams by never sharing personal information based on unsolicited calls, verifying claims directly with official organizations, avoiding responses to urgency tactics, and reporting suspicious contact to authorities
indiatvnews.com
A surge in online scams targeting senior citizens has resulted in significant financial losses, exemplified by a woman in her 60s from Noida who lost Rs 50,000 after a caller impersonated a client of her husband and convinced her to transfer funds under false pretenses. Scammers exploit urgency, false familiarity, and social engineering across multiple channels including phone calls, phishing messages, fake e-commerce sites, and investment schemes. To protect themselves, seniors should verify caller identities through official channels, never share OTPs or passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and report suspicious activities immediately to their bank or cybercrime authorities.
foxnews.com
A sophisticated AI-powered phishing scam targeting Gmail users uses fake account recovery notifications, spoofed Google phone numbers, AI-generated voice calls, and email spoofing via Salesforce CRM to impersonate Google support and trick victims into confirming passwords or account access. The scam is harder to detect than traditional phishing because it combines multiple deceptive tactics including legitimate-appearing caller IDs, professional-sounding AI voices, and emails spoofed from Google domains. Users should verify requests by checking email addresses for non-Google domains, remembering that Google does not call users proactively unless they have a Business Profile, and avoiding clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails.
fox5atlanta.com
The FBI has alerted the public to a rising trend of AI-assisted scams using deepfake videos of celebrities and organizations to defraud victims of thousands of dollars. A tech-savvy individual named Austin Ennis lost $4,000 after scanning a QR code from a fake Elon Musk video promoting a cryptocurrency giveaway, which directed him to a fraudulent website. The FBI recommends verifying website legitimacy through WHOIS domain lookups and remaining vigilant about suspicious phishing emails, noting that scammers typically operate from overseas.
foxnews.com
Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages claiming recipients are not registered to vote, directing them to fake websites like all-vote.com and votewin.org to harvest personal information including names, addresses, emails, dates of birth, and phone numbers. Election officials in Michigan and Pennsylvania warned voters to be cautious of these messages, which can be identified as scams by their unsolicited nature, suspicious domains, requests for unnecessary personal data, and grammatical errors. To verify voter registration safely, Americans should use the official government website vote.gov rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
americanbanker.com
This article discusses how banks can better protect senior customers from financial scams while maintaining efficient service. It explains that elder fraud differs from traditional fraud because victims willingly initiate transactions, making detection difficult, and recommends that banks implement targeted intervention strategies—such as requiring personal conversations with fraud specialists when suspicious transactions are detected—rather than generic alerts, while also leveraging data analytics and technology to identify and stop scams before completion.
securitybrief.com.au
Bitdefender launched Scam Copilot, an AI-powered platform designed to detect and prevent online scams across multiple communication channels and devices. The platform addresses a critical need—the Global Anti-Scam Alliance reported over $1 trillion in global scam losses in 2023, with 78% of surveyed individuals experiencing at least one scam—by offering real-time monitoring, geo-specific alerts, and tailored protections for vulnerable populations including seniors. Scam Copilot integrates AI and threat intelligence to counter increasingly sophisticated scams, including text message and phishing attacks enhanced by Large Language Models, and is now available in Bitdefender's Ultimate and Premium Security packages
ibtimes.co.uk
Hong Kong police arrested 27 individuals, primarily tech and digital media graduates aged 21-34, for operating a sophisticated deepfake romance scam that defrauded victims across Asia of over $46 million. The organized criminal ring used AI-generated deepfake personas of attractive women to initiate romantic relationships with male victims in Singapore, India, Taiwan, and elsewhere, then manipulated them into investing in fake cryptocurrency platforms through a structured operation with training manuals and specialized departments. The scam operated for approximately one year before law enforcement dismantled the operation in a raid that seized over 100 cell phones, nearly $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches.
autogpt.net
AI-enhanced phishing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect, with cybercriminals using AI to create convincing emails, messages, and voice calls that mimic legitimate services like Gmail account recovery requests. Google is combating this threat through initiatives like the Global Signal Exchange—a collaborative platform that detects and blocks scam patterns in real time—and the Advanced Protection Program for high-risk users, which uses passkeys and stronger authentication methods. Users are advised to verify contact information through official channels, remember that Google never initiates account recovery contacts directly, and remain vigilant about suspicious details like unnatural voice patterns that may indicate AI involvement.
timesnownews.com
A 29-year-old Bengaluru businessman lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and CBI, falsely claiming his phone number was linked to money laundering and threatening legal consequences. The scammers pressured the victim to transfer 80% of his bank balance to a supposedly secure RBI account for "verification" after having him download Signal to record a fake video statement. The article advises victims to verify caller claims directly with organizations, avoid sharing personal information or transferring funds in response to unsolicited calls, be cautious of urgency-inducing tactics
therecord.media
Hong Kong police arrested 27 people for operating a romance scam ring that used AI-generated photos and deepfake face-swapping technology to defraud victims of $46 million across Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, India, and Singapore. The syndicate operated from a headquarters in Hung Hom and recruited university graduates to create fake trading platforms and cryptocurrency investment schemes, with scammers using deepfake technology during video calls to impersonate attractive individuals and gain victims' trust. Police seized computers, phones, and approximately $25,750 in suspected proceeds.
cnn.com
Hong Kong police arrested 27 members of a sophisticated romance scam ring that used deepfake AI technology to defraud victims across Asia of more than $46 million. The well-organized gang, composed of young university graduates, posed as attractive women to lure victims into fake romantic relationships, then coerced them to invest in a bogus cryptocurrency platform, using a detailed training manual to manipulate victims' emotions and trust. The scam operated for approximately one year before police raids in August recovered over 100 cell phones, nearly $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches.
decrypt.co
Hong Kong police dismantled a deepfake romance scam that defrauded victims across Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China of approximately $46 million between October 2023 and the investigation's conclusion. The multinational fraud syndicate used AI-generated images and deepfake technology to pose as women in online relationships, eventually convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms with falsified transaction records showing profits, then preventing withdrawals. Authorities arrested 27 individuals, including university graduates and suspected triad members, who operated specialized roles in the scheme and earned tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars monthly.
firstpost.com
Hong Kong police dismantled a deepfake romance scam that defrauded victims across multiple countries of $46 million, arresting 27 suspects including college graduates who used AI-generated images of attractive women to build romantic relationships with victims before luring them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. The organized syndicate operated from an industrial unit in Hong Kong for approximately one year, using a detailed manual to manipulate victims' emotions and present fake profit records until victims discovered they could not withdraw funds. Police recovered over 100 cell phones, $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches during the raid, with the investigation ongoing.
crypto.news
Hong Kong police arrested 27 people involved in a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded victims from multiple countries of $46 million between October 2023 and the investigation's conclusion. The syndicate used AI-generated photos and deepfake technology to pose as attractive women in online relationships, convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms while showing fabricated transaction records and discussing false future plans. The operation was highly organized with specialized roles in scamming, technical support, and accounting, with individual fraudsters earning tens of thousands of dollars monthly.
beincrypto.com
Hong Kong police arrested 27 perpetrators (21 men and 6 women, mostly university graduates in digital media) operating a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded approximately $46 million from men across Asia between October 2023 and September 2024. The scammers used deepfake AI technology to create fake female personas who engaged victims in romantic conversations, building trust before convincing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms from which funds could not be withdrawn. This case exemplifies the growing trend of AI-enabled romance scams (also called "pig-butchering" schemes), which have caused over $75 billion in global losses since 2020, with deepfake-specific sc
zdnet.com
A Microsoft consultant received a sophisticated AI-powered scam targeting Gmail users that combined fake account recovery notifications, spoofed Google phone numbers and email addresses, and an AI voice impersonating a Google employee to trick users into revealing account recovery codes or visiting fake login portals. The scam was detected when the AI voice repeated "Hello" identically, prompting the victim to hang up, though red flags included unsolicited account recovery notifications, Google's policy of not calling personal users, and inconsistencies in email headers and recipient fields. Users can protect themselves by verifying suspicious communications through their account security settings, checking for recent unauthorized logins, and remembering that legitimate tech support will never contact users unprompte
cnet.com
Security experts are warning that AI-driven phishing scams targeting Gmail accounts have become increasingly sophisticated, using fake Google notifications, convincing AI-generated phone calls, and counterfeit Google pages to deceive users. High-profile targets including Microsoft security experts and tech executives have recently fallen victim to these attacks. Google is addressing the threat through a new Global Signal Exchange launched with partners including Amazon and Meta to track scam URLs and phishing attempts, while recommending users familiarize themselves with anti-phishing policies and consider using Advanced Protection Program features like hardware security keys.
wired.com
This article discusses the growing threat of real-time video deepfakes used for fraud, describing how Reality Defender and other companies are developing detection tools to combat the problem. Recent cases include a US Senate chairman being deceived by a fake Ukrainian official video call and an engineering company losing millions to deepfake video fraud, with romance scams also employing the technique. Multiple approaches are being developed, including Reality Defender's planned Zoom plug-in and academic research on challenge-based authentication, though these detection tools remain unavailable to the general public.
finance.yahoo.com
In 2022, American consumers lost an average of over $1,500 to holiday shopping scams, with half of targeted adults falling victim. Experts recommend protecting against fraud by shopping only with trusted retailers, avoiding public Wi-Fi for purchases, verifying website URLs start with "https://," and being cautious of unsolicited emails and texts, as scammers frequently create fake websites mimicking legitimate retailers.
news5cleveland.com
A senior citizen from Berea, Ohio lost nearly $20,000 to a tech support scam after clicking on a fake Microsoft popup warning. The scammer gained remote access to her computer, then convinced her to withdraw cash from two PNC Bank locations and convert it to Bitcoin at a gas station ATM while staying on the phone with her throughout the process. The Federal Trade Commission advises never calling numbers on popups, shutting down your computer immediately, and reporting such scams to help investigate these widespread criminal networks.
cointelegraph.com
Scammers are targeting Ledger cryptocurrency wallet users with phishing emails falsely claiming that activating a "Ledger Clear Signing" feature is mandatory by October 31 to continue using their devices, with the malicious links directing users to fake websites to steal their login credentials and crypto assets. In September alone, phishing attacks stole approximately $46 million from about 10,800 victims, with the largest single attack draining $32.4 million in digital assets. Ledger's CTO emphasized that the company will never ask users to share account details or seed phrases, and users should avoid clicking suspicious links or providing personal information to unknown sources.
yahoo.com
A sophisticated AI-powered account takeover scam impersonated Google support staff using spoofed phone numbers and fake emails to target users, with multiple victims reporting similar incidents across Reddit and Australian scam forums. The scam involved fake account-recovery notifications followed by convincing calls from AI-generated voices claiming suspicious account activity, designed to trick users into entering credentials on cloned login portals that could bypass two-factor authentication. Security experts recommend vigilance, verification of sender details, and checking account activity logs to avoid falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated phishing schemes.
indiatoday.in
The digital arrest scam is a rising threat in India where scammers impersonate courier service representatives and police officers to threaten victims with arrest for alleged involvement in smuggling, coercing them to share sensitive information like Aadhaar numbers and bank details. The NCR police reported 600 cases within three months with losses exceeding Rs 20 lakh each, with scammers using personal data obtained through breaches and psychological manipulation to keep victims in a constant state of fear and compliance. To protect yourself, never trust unsolicited calls from unknown numbers claiming to represent courier companies or law enforcement, and always verify by contacting official channels directly rather than providing sensitive information or following instructions to isol
asiaone.com
A 73-year-old woman in Singapore lost $197,000 to a technical support scam after clicking a pop-up prompting her to contact "Microsoft," which led scammers to impersonate a Singapore Police Force cybercrime officer and gain access to her bank accounts via screen-sharing software. Singapore and Hong Kong police collaborated to successfully recover the full amount from a Hong Kong-based bank account. The police advised the public to use protective apps like ScamShield, verify suspicious contacts through official sources, and immediately report fraudulent transactions to banks and authorities.
corporate-adviser.com
Research from WEALTH at Work found that 13% of UK adults fell victim to pension scams in the past year, part of a total 6.2 million people affected by financial fraud overall, with victims losing an average of £1,000. Pension scams typically involved fake promises of guaranteed returns or early access to pensions, while other prevalent scams included purchase scams (27%), investment scams (19%), romance scams (14%), and tax refund scams (10%). The research emphasizes that fraudsters use professional-looking materials and multiple contact methods to appear legitimate, and recommends that people verify company registration with the Financial Conduct Authority, never rush financial decisions, and follow the
prameyanews.com
WhatsApp scams in India increased 37% in 2023, with fraudsters using fake job offers, impersonation schemes, and phishing messages to target users. Three case studies illustrate the impact: a 26-year-old lost ₹5,000 to a job offer scam, a 45-year-old bank employee lost ₹1.5 lakh to a KYC update scam, and a 62-year-old grandmother lost ₹50,000 to a grandparent impersonation scam. Experts recommend digital literacy education, immediate reporting through cybercrime.gov.in, preserving evidence, and maintaining
govtech.com
**Disaster Relief Fraud Alert:** As Hurricanes Milton and Helene impacted the Southeast, the National Center for Disaster Fraud warned of scammers impersonating legitimate charities through fraudulent emails, social media, texts, websites, and door-to-door solicitations targeting both disaster victims and well-intentioned donors. This pattern repeats after major hurricanes, exploiting public generosity and lack of source verification to steal money and personal information.
forbes.com
Google has issued warnings about increasingly sophisticated AI-driven phishing scams targeting Gmail users, with attackers impersonating Google support personnel via phone calls following fake account recovery notifications. In one notable case, a Microsoft solutions consultant nearly fell victim to a scam where a caller claimed suspicious activity had accessed his account for 7 days, using realistic details and spoofed phone numbers that appeared legitimate to pressure the victim into revealing credentials. Google has implemented new anti-scam alliance initiatives and recommends users enroll in its Advanced Protection Program to secure high-risk accounts against these evolving threats.
journalpatriot.com
The U.S. Department of Justice's Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force identified four trending elder fraud scams targeting older adults: SSA Impostor Scams (falsely claiming Social Security numbers are suspended), Tech Support Scams (charging for unnecessary computer repairs and fake refunds), Lottery Scams (claiming victims won foreign lotteries requiring upfront fees), and IRS Impostor Scams (impersonating IRS agents demanding payment). These scams often operate internationally using U.S.-based "money mules" to receive payments, and older adults are targeted because they are less likely to report suspected fraud; victims can report scams to the National
mirror.co.uk
Tech experts warn that unsolicited text messages containing phrases like "would you kindly" or "kindly" are common scam indicators, particularly those originating from numbers using non-American English phrasing. Scammers use seemingly innocent messages asking "Did I miss you today?" or claiming to be from legitimate institutions to trick recipients into responding or clicking malicious links; experts advise deleting such texts immediately and independently verifying any institutional contact through official channels rather than using links provided in the message.
redrocknews.com
Detective Justin White of the Sedona Police Department presented on internet and identity safety, emphasizing that gift card and cryptocurrency payment requests are always fraudulent and warning residents about 40 types of scams, particularly warrant and government impersonation scams that target older adults by exploiting fear and emotions. In 2023, the FBI reported 14,190 government impersonation victims with losses exceeding $394 million, while local authorities received 25-30 fraud reports in a 10-week period with no successful losses. White advised residents to stay calm, trust their instincts, verify claims independently, and report scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or local authorities.
wired.com
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime issued a report warning that digital scamming in Southeast Asia is rapidly expanding and becoming more sophisticated through the integration of generative AI, deepfakes, and cryptocurrency theft tools. Criminal networks have trafficked approximately 200,000 people into compounds across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos over the past five years to operate scams, with "pig butchering" investment schemes alone defrauding victims of around $75 billion, while organized crime groups in the region earned an estimated $37 billion last year. These criminal operations are increasingly using AI-generated content, deepfake videos, and automated tools to overcome language barriers and scale their scams globally, low
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Nashik city police released an educational video warning citizens about "digital arrest" scams, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement and threaten callers with arrest while demanding personal information like Aadhaar numbers and bank details, often claiming a drug parcel was found in the victim's name. The police emphasized that digital arrests do not exist and advised recipients to verify caller credentials and contact local police stations or the cybercrime helpline (1939) rather than providing information or transferring money. The alert noted that senior citizens and those less familiar with technology are primary targets of these increasingly common online fraud schemes.
technologydecisions.com.au
Research commissioned by MasterCard found that one in eight Australian businesses fell victim to deepfake scams in the past 12 months, with attackers commonly impersonating customer service representatives (44%), clients (38%), and suppliers (34%). Australian citizens also faced significant losses, with 36% targeted by deepfake scams and 22% of those targeted losing money, contributing to tens of millions of dollars in total Australian losses. Despite the financial motivations behind 86% of attacks, only 29% of businesses implemented payment request protocols and only 30% of businesses are confident employees can detect deepfakes, indicating a critical gap in preparedness and awareness.
gbnews.com
Ask Silver, an AI-powered scam detection tool accessible through WhatsApp, allows users to submit suspicious messages, emails, and links for real-time verification and receive alerts about emerging scams. The tool's launch coincides with new UK regulations requiring banks and payment providers to jointly refund scam victims up to £85,000, and was created after one founder's family member lost £150,000 to scams.
aol.com
Over 100,000 elderly Americans fell victim to fraud last year, losing more than $3.4 billion, with Rhode Island seniors alone losing approximately $7.4 million. U.S. Senator Jack Reed and partners hosted an awareness event highlighting common elder scams—including tech support, grandparent, government impersonation, sweepstakes, home repair, romance, and family scams—and recommended strategies to avoid them: never volunteer personal information, be skeptical of urgent claims, avoid payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and don't hesitate to hang up on suspicious callers. Victims should report scams to local police or the FTC, and seniors can access
agrinews-pubs.com
This educational piece reviews common scams targeting seniors, noting that scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics. The article outlines five prevalent scam types—romance scams, computer repair fraud, grandparent scams, government impersonation, and bank account fraud—and provides protective strategies such as establishing family code words, avoiding unsolicited callers, and independently verifying contact from financial institutions or authorities.
reed.senate.gov
U.S. Senator Jack Reed partnered with AARP Rhode Island and the Rhode Island State Police to hold an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit addressing the rising threat of scams targeting older adults. According to the FBI, elder fraud complaints rose 14 percent in 2023 with losses exceeding $3.4 billion nationally, including $7.4 million lost by Rhode Islanders over age sixty. The summit emphasized public education, awareness of common scam tactics (tech support, romance, investment, and data breach scams), and the importance of reporting fraud to authorities rather than remaining silent out of embarrassment.
ktvq.com
A Billings woman lost several hundred dollars in a "grandparent scam" that used AI voice technology to impersonate her daughter in distress, claiming she had been in a car accident and was being held hostage, and demanded payment via wire transfer to Mexico. The scammers manipulated her through multiple coordinated phone calls, threatening her to keep the phone to her face and directing her to withdraw and transfer money through a local business. She discovered the scam when her other children called her back while she was in traffic, revealing her daughter was safe, and authorities confirmed that AI voice synthesis technology is increasingly being used to make these traditional scams more convincing and effective.
turnto10.com
AARP partnered with Rhode Island State Police and U.S. Senator Jack Reed to host an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit addressing the growing threat of scams targeting older adults. Rhode Islanders over 60 lost approximately $7.4 million to fraud in the previous year, prompting officials to share detection and prevention tips, including staying informed, maintaining open communication with trusted sources, and using AARP's free Fraud Watch Network alerts to learn about trending scams.
khak.com
In 2023, Iowa residents lost $42.6 million to various scams, with romance scams alone accounting for over $4 million in losses and representing nearly 30% of senior financial exploitation reports filed with the Iowa Insurance Division. Common scams affecting Iowans include identity theft, investment fraud, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and compromised business email schemes. The FBI's "Take A Beat" initiative recommends protecting against scams by being cautious of unsolicited contact, verifying senders, enabling two-factor authentication, avoiding sharing personal information, being wary of cryptocurrency or gift card payment requests, and reporting suspected fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A 65-year-old homemaker from south Mumbai was defrauded of Rs 1.3 crore over more than a year through an elaborate romance scam initiated on a dating app, in which scammers posed as an American engineer, then impersonated officials from the Reserve Bank of India, Bank of America, the International Monetary Fund, and other financial institutions to extract money under false pretenses of funds transfers and customs clearance fees. The victim, who began sending bitcoins in April 2023 after meeting the scammer on International Cupid, continued paying despite receiving calls from multiple fake officials promising refunds and converting $2 million into Indian rupees, until she filed a police complaint
abc6.com
Rhode Island authorities, including AARP and state police, warned senior citizens about escalating phone and online scams using artificial intelligence technology to impersonate family members or create false emergencies. In 2023, over 100,000 seniors nationally lost $3.4 billion to fraud, with Rhode Islanders over 60 losing $7.4 million that year. The advisory recommends never sharing personal information with unknown callers, ignoring urgent claims about compromised accounts, and reporting fraud to local police and the FTC.
thenewportbuzz.com
Over 100,000 seniors nationwide reported losing more than $3.4 billion to fraud last year, with Rhode Island residents over 60 losing $7.4 million, increasingly victimized by AI-enabled scams including voice replication and tech support fraud. U.S. Senator Jack Reed partnered with AARP Rhode Island and state police to host a fraud prevention education event offering seniors practical advice: never share personal information with unknown callers, beware of urgent notices, designate trusted contacts, and hang up on suspicious calls demanding immediate payment. Investment scams posed the greatest financial risk to seniors, while tech support scams were the most commonly reported fraud type.
kgw.com
Scammers posing as FBI and government agents are conducting an international fraud scheme where they trick seniors into liquidating assets into cash or gold, then arrange in-person pickups by couriers at victims' homes. An 83-year-old Salem man lost $90,000 after being contacted through a computer pop-up, threatened with arrest, and instructed to hand over cash to couriers in his driveway; in the past six months, Oregon victims lost over $3.3 million in at least three documented cases, with law enforcement making arrests through sting operations. The FBI reports this organized scheme involves hundreds of millions of dollars being funneled internationally, with couriers operating across multiple
blog.google
Google announced the launch of the Global Signal Exchange (GSE), a partnership with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and DNS Research Federation to create a centralized platform for sharing online fraud and scam signals across organizations and platforms. The initiative leverages Google's fraud detection expertise, GASA's stakeholder network, and the DNS Research Federation's data platform containing over 40 million signals, with Google sharing over 100,000 URLs of fraudulent merchants in an initial pilot. Additionally, Google announced that its Cross-Account Protection tool is now actively protecting 3.2 billion users by enabling privacy-preserving security notifications across platforms where users sign in with their Google Account.