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in Robocall / Phone Scam
womansworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Five individuals were arrested and charged with wire fraud conspiracy after stealing at least $8 million from older victims across ten states through a tech support scam that included gold bar purchases. The scammers contacted elderly victims claiming their financial accounts were compromised and directed them to transfer funds, open new accounts, and purchase gold bars that couriers then collected; one 82-year-old Missouri woman lost approximately $250,000 in the scheme. To protect against such scams, authorities advise victims and their families to report suspicious activity immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
spotlightnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration warns that Section 1140 of the Social Security Act imposes severe penalties against anyone who engages in misleading Social Security-related advertising, imposter communications, fraudulent websites, or unauthorized fees for free services. Common scams include fake solicitations, imposter emails and text messages, spoofed websites and social media accounts, and illegal resale of free Social Security forms. The public is encouraged to report suspicious Social Security-related communications to the OIG at oig.ssa.gov/report, by calling 1-800-269-0271, or via email to [email protected].
thewash.org
· 2025-12-08
A gold bar investment scam in Montgomery County has defrauded approximately 25 seniors, with individual losses ranging from $100,000 to $973,000. Scammers use fake pop-up ads and impersonation of government officials to convince victims to convert assets into gold bars for "safekeeping," then dispatch couriers to collect the gold, with the scheme originating from India and China and targeting women particularly. The State's Attorney's office is conducting public awareness campaigns at senior residences and currently has four criminal cases involving five defendants under investigation.
dundalkeagle.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Police service officer Debby Chenoweth presented on common scams targeting older adults at a community meeting, detailing tactics such as ordering pizzas or cabs to elderly persons' homes to gain entry into conversations, classic computer virus scams, and sophisticated impersonation schemes involving fake bank and credit monitoring representatives. Chenoweth emphasized that scammers will go to extreme lengths to reach victims and that fraud can also come from family members, advising people to be skeptical of unsolicited requests for money or personal information and to report suspected scams to police and the FBI.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A Chennai-based trading firm, Agrigo Trading Private Limited, lost Rs 2 crore ($238,500) after receiving a spoofed email that appeared to come from a legitimate supplier, complete with a forged proforma invoice and fraudulent banking details. The general manager transferred the funds via NEFT before discovering the deception the next day when contacting the actual supplier. Swift action by authorities coordinating with the State Cyber Crime Investigation Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Regions Bank in the USA resulted in recovery of the entire amount, underscoring the need to verify email authenticity and payment details directly with suppliers before processing financial transactions.
cnbctv18.com
· 2025-12-08
**Digital Arrest Scam Advisory**
On October 27, the Prime Minister's office issued an advisory warning the public about "digital arrest" scams, clarifying that no investigative agency—including the CBI, police, customs, or ED—conducts arrests via phone or video call. These scams involve fraudsters impersonating government officials who claim victims are involved in illegal activity and demand payment of fines or penalties to avoid arrest; notable victims include an NBCC official who lost ₹55 lakh and businessman SP Oswal, 82, who lost ₹7 crore after being held in a state of virtual "arrest" for two days
pembinavalleyonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Winkler Police Service received multiple scam reports in mid-September, including a cryptocurrency withdrawal scam where a male lost money after being told to pay fees through "pay now" loans; an immigration fraud case in which a female transferred a large sum to someone posing as an immigration representative who then demanded additional money and threatened deportation; and a sextortion email scam targeting a female with threats to distribute intimate videos unless bitcoin was paid. Victims were advised to contact their banks and monitor accounts, with one victim declining to pursue charges.
firstalert7.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns that cryptocurrency scams are growing as digital currency becomes more mainstream, with Americans losing approximately $4 billion to crypto scams last year and Midland-Odessa residents losing $4.7 million. The most common scheme, called "Pig Butchering," involves scammers building trust with victims before directing them to fake cryptocurrency wallets through QR codes, showing fabricated gains to encourage larger investments that are ultimately stolen. To protect themselves, people should research investments thoroughly, remember that if an opportunity seems too good to be true it likely is, and store cryptocurrency wallets only on secure encrypted hard drives.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Nonso Ekeocha was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment by Lagos State Special Offences Court for an online romance scam in which he used a fake Instagram profile posing as "Ronald Gregory," an American male, to solicit financial assistance from victims. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested him on June 29, 2024, and recovered fraudulent documents from his phones showing he conducted the scam by sending unsolicited romantic messages to members of the public. The court gave him the option of paying a N500,000 fine or completing 50 hours of community service in lieu of imprisonment.
mykootenaynow.com
· 2025-12-08
Trail RCMP warned residents of a romance scam after a local woman lost a significant amount of money on October 4 when a scammer she met online convinced her to purchase and send gift card information. The scammer built trust over time through fake profiles before requesting the gift cards, which were then cashed in and are not recoverable. The alert included common romance scam tactics—such as requests for money, cryptocurrency investments, or claims of emergencies—and red flags to watch for, including declarations of love from strangers, excuses to avoid in-person meetings, and attempts to isolate victims from friends and family.
castlegarsource.com
· 2025-12-08
On October 4, 2024, Trail and Greater District RCMP received a report of a woman who lost a significant amount of money in a romance scam after an online fraudster convinced her to purchase and send gift card information. RCMP warned that romance scams—where scammers build fake relationships to eventually request money—are rising in the area and use sophisticated tactics, advising the public to watch for red flags such as professions of love from strangers, requests to move to private communication, excuses to avoid meeting in person, and pressure to keep the relationship secret from friends and family.
inkl.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost a record $10 billion to scams in 2023, with fraud schemes becoming increasingly sophisticated in their execution. Forensic accounting expert Mike McCall highlights gift card scams as a particularly damaging form of elder fraud, where scammers pose as government officials, law enforcement, or family members to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards to pay fines, debts, or emergency expenses. AARP reports that older Americans lose billions annually to such schemes, and McCall emphasizes that no legitimate agency will ever request payment via gift cards.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Raj Vinodchandra Patel, a 34-year-old New Hampshire resident, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for his role in a wire fraud scheme targeting elderly residents. Patel served as a courier for an operation originating from India that used fake pop-up messages and impersonated federal agents to convince victims their Social Security numbers were compromised, then instructed them to purchase gold bullion for "safekeeping"; he was caught on October 7, 2023, when the FBI conducted a sting operation after an Alexandria, Louisiana victim reported the fraud, resulting in an intended loss of approximately $514,000 across multiple victims.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scams targeting adults 60 and older resulted in $3.4 billion in losses—twice the amount of any other age group—with fraud losses increasing 14% from the previous year. Older adults face heightened vulnerability due to greater accumulated wealth and lower technological literacy, making them targets for common scams including grandparent scams, tech support fraud, sweepstakes/lottery schemes, government impersonation, fake checks, and banking account takeovers. Protective measures include staying informed about common fraud tactics, setting up account alerts, and utilizing resources like the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
macaudailytimes.com.mo
· 2025-12-08
A 23-year-old Hong Kong man was arrested for participating in a "Guess Who I Am" phone scam that defrauded a Macau elderly resident of MOP250,000 in October. The scammer impersonated the victim's son and claimed a serious accident required immediate payment, which the victim handed to an accomplice posing as a lawyer. Police intercepted the suspect at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge checkpoint and recovered over MOP10,500 in cash, while investigators work to identify other members of the scam ring.
abc6.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
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
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters impersonating FedEx courier employees and police officers are conducting an escalating scam across India, wherein victims receive calls claiming a package linked to their Aadhaar number contains illegal drugs, followed by "digital arrest" tactics where victims are coerced into transferring money through fear of legal consequences and threats of leaked videos. FedEx has issued an advisory urging recipients of suspicious calls to avoid sharing personal information and report to authorities, as documented victims have lost substantial sums ranging from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 2.8 crore, with 163 cases registered in Bengaluru alone totaling Rs 5 crore in losses.
securities.io
· 2025-12-08
This article identifies five prevalent cryptocurrency scams targeting victims in 2024, including phishing, fake exchanges, and Ponzi schemes. According to the Better Business Bureau, approximately 80% of Americans targeted in crypto and investment scams lost money, with a median loss of $3,800, while blockchain analysts report that scammers are adapting tactics to conduct shorter-duration, more devastating schemes. The article emphasizes that the complex nature of cryptocurrency and heightened market activity create ideal conditions for fraud, with scammers using text messages, social media, and fake platforms to manipulate victims into transferring funds.
khak.com
· 2025-12-08
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
asaaseradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Nonso Ekeocha was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment by a Lagos court for online romance fraud, where he posed as "Ronald Gregory," an American man, on Instagram to solicit money from victims through fake dating scenarios. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission proved he possessed fraudulent documents used for the scam, which he committed in June 2024; he was given the option to pay a N500,000 fine and complete 50 hours of community service instead of serving the prison term.
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
Charles Cox lost $272,000 to a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam after befriending someone on Facebook who posed as an investor and convinced him to invest in a fake bitcoin website over several months. The scammer used sophisticated tactics including fake account screenshots showing profits and requests to wire increasingly larger amounts, ultimately tricking Cox into sending $185,000 before Adult Protective Services intervention revealed the fraud. Cox's bank was unable to recover the funds, and he warns others to avoid clicking links from online contacts, refuse to meet in person if requested, and be skeptical of investment opportunities from people they've only met online.
turnto10.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
11alive.com
· 2025-12-08
A grandmother in Atlanta was targeted by a "grandchild in distress" scam where a caller impersonated her grandson, claiming he was in a car accident and hospitalized, and requesting $9,000 before she realized it was fraudulent. Scammers are increasingly using AI technology to mimic loved ones' voices by harvesting audio from social media and voicemails, making these scams more sophisticated and convincing. Experts recommend verifying urgent requests by establishing code words with family members, pausing before sending money, and calling the person back directly to confirm their identity.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
Following hurricanes Helene and Milton in the Southeast, authorities including the FCC and state attorneys general warned residents about surge in fraud and price gouging, with scammers targeting disaster victims through home repair, tree service, water treatment, and charity donation schemes. Consumers should avoid unsolicited traders, never share personal information with unverified parties, verify credentials through the Better Business Bureau, and report suspected fraud to their state attorney general or the FTC. Price gouging laws vary by state but typically prohibit selling goods or services at "unconscionable" prices during declared states of emergency.
ktvq.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
kgun9.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare open enrollment (October 15 - December 7), seniors face increased scam threats including fraudulent calls claiming to be from Medicare offering new cards and misleading mail marketing unnecessary items like braces and testing kits. Scammers who obtain a beneficiary's Medicare number can alter coverage and access benefits, costing Medicare billions annually, so seniors are advised to guard their Medicare numbers as carefully as Social Security numbers and report suspicious communications. The Pima Council on Aging offers free, bi-monthly Medicare counseling and workshops to help beneficiaries navigate coverage options and identify fraud.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old California woman was defrauded of $50,000 in a grandparent scam where fraudsters impersonated her grandson, claiming he needed bail money for a drunk driving accident and subsequent legal charges. The scammers directed her to convert cash to cryptocurrency through a Coinstar machine, and despite warnings from the machine and her bank manager, she made multiple transfers totaling $50,000 to a crypto account—funds that are now unrecoverable due to cryptocurrency's decentralized and anonymous nature. The scam exploited emotional manipulation and artificial urgency, tactics that are particularly effective against older adults, who according to FTC data experienced median fraud losses of
reed.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
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.
agrinews-pubs.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
1011now.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A 41-year-old Lincoln woman lost $372 after receiving a phone call from a scammer spoofing a Wells Fargo caller ID, who claimed fraudulent activity on her account and tricked her into providing verification codes. Lincoln Police remind the public to independently verify the legitimacy of callers before sharing personal or financial information, rather than trusting caller ID alone.
click2houston.com
· 2025-12-08
Following Hurricane Milton, the Better Business Bureau warns that charity scams are increasingly prevalent, with fraudsters operating fake charities or impersonating legitimate organizations through slightly altered websites and contacting victims via phone, email, text, and social media. Red flags include pressure to donate immediately, requests for untraceable payment methods like wire transfers or Cash App, and unverified crowdfunding campaigns. Donors should verify charities through the BBB's Wise Giving Alliance, use credit cards for donations, and report suspected fraud to the IRS and Federal Trade Commission.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This AARP educational piece warns of employment scams targeting job seekers, particularly those seeking remote work or side hustles. Red flags include promises of high income with minimal experience required, upfront payments for training or equipment, and guaranteed quick returns or investment doubling. The article advises verifying job sites screen listings carefully, remaining skeptical of fake testimonials, and contacting AARP's Fraud Watch Network (877-908-3360) for assistance identifying or reporting suspicious opportunities.
abc15.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece warns seniors and voters about election-themed scams targeting people during the 2024 election cycle, including fake candidate merchandise requiring upfront shipping fees, fraudulent political surveys designed to harvest personal information for future exploitation, and bogus donation websites impersonating legitimate political action committees. The article advises protecting oneself by verifying websites through the Federal Election Commission, using credit cards for donations, avoiding unsolicited communications, and remembering that legitimate pollsters never request sensitive information like Social Security numbers or birth dates.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 45-year-old clerk in Hutan Melintang, Malaysia lost RM445,000 in a phone scam involving impersonators claiming to represent an online shopping company and police, who accused her of unlicensed business operations and money laundering to trick her into transferring her and her mother's savings. After waiting two months with no return of funds and failing to contact the scammer, the victim filed a police report in October. Authorities advise the public to ignore calls from unknown numbers, never share banking details, and verify suspicious claims directly with relevant agencies or trusted contacts.
independent.ng
· 2025-12-08
The Director-General of Nigeria's National Identity Management Commission commended the Nigeria Police Force's National Cyber Crime Center for efforts in combating identity fraud, phishing websites, email scams, and romance scams across the country. She stated that cybercrime has significantly reduced in Nigeria over the past 18 months and highlighted that Nigeria is becoming a pace-setter in addressing cybercrime threats in Africa through collaborative security efforts and public awareness initiatives like Cybersecurity Week 2024.
guardian.ng
· 2025-12-08
Nigeria's National Identity Management Commission and the Nigeria Police Force's National Cyber Crime Center are collaborating to combat identity fraud, phishing scams, and romance scams, with officials reporting a significant decline in cybercrime activities over the past year and a half. The agencies emphasized the importance of public awareness and clarified their respective roles, with NIMC issuing national identification numbers and telecommunications companies handling SIM card registration under NCC supervision. Law enforcement is also targeting teenage involvement in cybercrime through planned awareness campaigns in universities and higher institutions.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
kulr8.com
· 2025-12-08
Montana residents are being targeted by AI-enhanced "virtual kidnapping" ransom scams, with at least nine reports reaching the Montana Office of Consumer Protection in the current year, where scammers use artificial intelligence to mimic victims' loved ones in distress and demand immediate money transfers. The FBI advises victims to remain calm, verify claims by contacting loved ones directly, establish family passwords for verification, and report suspicious incidents to law enforcement, noting that these scams typically demand quick payouts with escalating pressure tactics.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting consumers by impersonating bank representatives and convincing them to surrender their credit card chips by claiming suspicious account activity requires immediate card collection via courier. After obtaining the chip and sometimes the PIN, criminals use this information to make unauthorized purchases or steal funds from victims' accounts, sometimes waiting months before exploiting the stolen chip to avoid detection. This scam exploits the false sense of security people feel when banks request card collection, and victims may also be instructed to mail cut cards to fake processing centers instead.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
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
redrocknews.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
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.
koreatimes.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
South Korea experienced a surge in mobile spam messages, with 4.128 billion spam texts sent in 2019-2023, including increasing numbers of "smishing" attacks (1,673 reported cases in the most recent year) and romance scams disguised as investment tips and dating opportunities. Losses from smishing jumped 36 times to 14.4 billion won, with scammers using stolen personal information and evolving tactics across text messages, social media platforms like Instagram and Telegram, and messaging apps like Naver Line. Government filtering efforts face practical limitations, and experts recommend users avoid responding to unknown messages while advocating for stronger account authentication processes and regulatory measures to prevent scamm
inews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Sarah and her family in Greater Manchester became victims of a honeytrap scam in which fraudsters used fake online profiles to lure men to their home address after the men paid for promised sexual services, resulting in over 30 unwanted visits by male strangers in two months. Despite providing police with video evidence, car registration plates, and a phone number, Greater Manchester Police stated they had insufficient evidence to pursue the case. According to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, romance and honeytrap scams reported nearly 9,000 cases in 2023 with an 8% year-over-year increase, though experts believe actual cases are significantly underreported due to victim shame.
dailybreeze.com
· 2025-12-08
A Santa Monica software developer lost $740,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam, where a scammer cultivated trust over two months through daily communication before pitching fake cryptocurrency investments. This sophisticated long-con scheme, which originated in China in 2019 and expanded globally during the pandemic, has devastated hundreds or thousands of Californians—some victims have died by suicide after losing family fortunes—with Americans losing $4 billion to cryptocurrency investment scams in 2023, including $1.1 billion from California residents alone.
journalpatriot.com
· 2025-12-08
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
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
govtech.com
· 2025-12-08
**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.
cowboystatedaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Cyber experts are warning Wyoming residents about "brushing" scams, where scammers send unsolicited packages containing QR codes that, when scanned, give criminals access to personal and financial information or install malware on victims' phones. The scam exploits psychological tactics by offering free low-value items and has become increasingly sophisticated since the pandemic, though no cases have been reported in Wyoming yet. Experts advise vigilance, particularly during the holiday season, as scanning QR codes on unlocked phones can expose all personal data stored on the device.