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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-08
Malaysian authorities warned of a surge in cryptocurrency investment scams targeting professionals and seniors, with one 74-year-old victim's family losing tens of millions of ringgit to a fraudulent syndicate. Phone scams impersonating tax officers, banks, and law enforcement remain prevalent, often using AI and deepfake technology to appear legitimate and pressure victims into transferring funds to fake "safe accounts." Malaysian police arrested over 23,000 suspects in financial scams last year and are using AI and blockchain technology to combat these evolving threats.
livebitcoinnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors in Malaysia have resulted in millions of ringgit in losses, with fraudsters impersonating government officials via fake phone calls to convince victims to transfer crypto funds and investments. A 74-year-old investor lost millions after falling victim to these schemes, which promise excessive profits but result in complete loss of deposited funds. Malaysian authorities warn that seniors aged 60 and above should exercise extreme caution with digital asset investments, as scammers increasingly use sophisticated phone tactics and impersonation to target older investors and professional workers.
howtogeek.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece warns about a prevalent TikTok scam offering $750 for completing simple tasks, which actually steals personal information through surveys and free trial sign-ups. Scammers create legitimacy through fake influencer endorsements, FOMO tactics ("limited slots"), bot-generated comments, and sending real payments to initial participants to lure victims. The primary dangers include identity theft and sale of personal data (phone numbers, emails, Social Security numbers, credit card details) to other criminals or advertisers.
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers, believed to be linked to Chinese criminal gangs, have sent millions of fraudulent text messages impersonating E-ZPass toll services, with cybersecurity firms reporting a 900% increase in such texts over three months and identifying over 60,000 associated domains across multiple states. While victims may pay small toll fees ($3), scammers primarily target valuable personal information that can be used for additional fraud, and they have successfully circumvented Apple and Android security features while using AI to generate more convincing messages. Experts advise recipients never to respond to or click links in such texts, as engagement confirms the phone number is active.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
Following a hailstorm in Bryan, Texas, scammers targeted residents with roofing repair schemes, including calls falsely claiming roof evaluations were already scheduled. Local realtor Raylene Lewis warned that victims have been defrauded through incomplete or substandard work, or by paying scammers who then disappear, and advised residents to hire only local, reputable roofers who work directly with insurance companies.
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office warned the public about phone scams impersonating law enforcement demanding money for warrants, fines, or jury duty. The advisory identified red flags including pressure to act quickly or keep calls secret, use of real deputy names, and spoofed caller IDs, and recommended hanging up, blocking numbers, and verifying calls directly with WCSO at (775) 785-9276.
nbcmontana.com
· 2025-12-08
Montana State University graduate student Connor Green was inspired to create anti-fraud educational content after his grandfather received an AI-generated phone call impersonating Green's voice demanding $15,000. Green and fellow graduate students developed a presentation on common scams (family imitation, tech support, government impersonation, and phishing) that was so well-received at the Bozeman Senior Center that attendees extended it from 15 minutes to two hours with questions, leading to a second presentation to the MSU Alumni Foundation Retiree Association with 70 total attendees. The students emphasized the importance of the work given that seniors shared stories of losing thousands of dollars to scammers.
cantonrep.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau outlines five common vacation scams to watch for: vacation rental cons using fake listings and false urgency, "free" vacation offers with hidden fees, third-party booking site scams involving identity theft, hotel scams including fake front desk calls and fake wi-fi networks, and timeshare reselling frauds. Travelers are advised to use caution when booking travel, research companies on BBB.org, avoid sharing personal information over the phone, use secure networks, and work with reputable, accredited businesses to protect themselves during vacation planning and travel.
newsroom.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
The Fraud Film Festival, running in Wellington since 2016, brings together fraud prevention professionals to screen documentaries exploring various types of fraud and deception. A 2023 BNZ survey found that 87 percent of New Zealanders were targeted by scams in the previous 12 months, with New Zealand losing approximately $200 million to fraud annually. Key fraud concerns in New Zealand include cryptocurrency investment scams, fake retail websites, and "pig butchering" romance scams originating from Southeast Asia, where perpetrators are often victims of human trafficking forced to conduct the schemes.
vice.com
· 2025-12-08
Authorities in Massachusetts are warning about a text message scam where criminals claim recipients are under investigation and demand they call back to avoid legal action, often including fake case numbers and malware-laden links. The scam exploits fear and urgency to pressure victims—particularly older and less tech-savvy individuals—into acting without thinking. Law enforcement advises that legitimate agencies never contact people via text or email demanding money or threatening legal action; recipients should delete such messages and report them.
mychesco.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC reported $12.5 billion in consumer fraud losses in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with investment scams ($5.7 billion) and imposter scams ($2.95 billion) leading the categories. The percentage of fraud reporters who lost money jumped from 27% to 38%, indicating scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics, particularly through bank transfers and cryptocurrency payments that are difficult to reverse. Job and employment scams saw explosive growth, tripling in reports and skyrocketing from $90 million to $501 million in losses between 2020 and 2024.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Losses from scams in Canada reached $638 million in 2024, with New Brunswickers reporting $6 million in investment scam losses alone—a fivefold increase from 2023. Scammers are using artificial intelligence and sophisticated tactics, including fake news articles impersonating trusted media outlets and politicians, to deceive victims; recent examples include a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme using Premier Susan Holt's image and AI-generated retail scams designed to exploit emotional responses. Industry experts warn that these evolving tactics make scams increasingly difficult to detect, requiring heightened digital literacy and skepticism when encountering content with recognizable names, logos, or timely headlines.
innisfiltoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
The Ontario Provincial Police warns that residents are increasingly targeted by deceptive phone calls using caller ID spoofing technology—including "neighbouring," "mirroring," and "impersonation" tactics—to impersonate local numbers, government agencies, and financial institutions in order to extract personal information or fraudulent payments. The advisory recommends not trusting caller ID displays, allowing unknown calls to voicemail, never sharing personal or financial information over the phone, and verifying caller identity through official contact information before responding. Suspected fraud should be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through the Fraud Reporting System.
echopress.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the 2024 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, investment and cryptocurrency scams remain the riskiest scam type, with romance and friendship scams rising to number three for the first time. These scams employ "financial grooming"—where perpetrators build trust over weeks or months before encouraging victims to invest, often in fake platforms—resulting in romance/friendship scams having the highest median loss of $6,099 and investment scams at $5,000, with people ages 65 and older reporting the highest median dollar loss. The report found that overall median losses rose 30% from 2023 to 2024, with victims experiencing significant
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Stephen Ratchford, 64, and his wife Karen fell victim to a £25,000 identity fraud while on a cruise holiday in October when scammers "SIM-jacked" their mobile phone numbers, gaining control of their accounts and taking out loans and overdrafts in their names. Although the couple ultimately did not lose money as banks cancelled the fraudulent accounts once identified, they faced significant stress during their holiday; their mobile provider iD Mobile apologized and implemented stronger security measures. Ratchford raised awareness about SIM-swapping attacks, emphasizing that two-factor verification is only effective when criminals cannot control a victim's phone number.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing—a phishing scam conducted via text messages—has become increasingly prevalent, with the FBI and multiple U.S. cities issuing warnings about fraudulent campaigns. Scammers impersonating government agencies (parking violations, road tolls) and delivery services have created over 10,000 fake websites to steal personal and financial information from both iPhone and Android users, with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center receiving over 2,000 complaints since March 2024. To protect yourself, verify unsolicited messages by contacting organizations directly rather than clicking links, use strong antivirus software, and manually type URLs into your browser instead of following message links.
nbclosangeles.com
· 2025-12-08
Smartphone users are being targeted by smishing scams with text messages claiming unpaid tolls or E-ZPass charges are due, with cybercriminals impersonating state toll collection agencies. The scam texts create urgency by demanding immediate payment and requesting sensitive personal information like credit card and driver's license numbers. The FTC and FBI recommend not clicking links, verifying the message directly with the tolling agency, reporting the text as spam, and contacting financial institutions if personal information was already shared.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity experts warn of a surge in tax-related scams, particularly in the weeks before Tax Day, with scammers increasingly using AI to create realistic fake IRS websites, phishing emails, and text messages to steal personal information—the average victim lost $8,199 in 2024. Common scams include phishing texts requesting personal data, fake tax preparation websites, "ghost preparers" who don't provide required credentials, and misleading social media tax advice that leads people to claim ineligible credits. The IRS advises taxpayers to verify legitimate websites end in .gov, ask tax preparers for their PTIN, and avoid unverified tax tips from social media platforms
nbcbayarea.com
· 2025-12-08
Smartphone users are being targeted by a widespread smishing scam in which cybercriminals impersonate state toll collection agencies and send text messages claiming unpaid tolls or E-ZPass charges are due immediately, then request sensitive financial and personal information through fraudulent links. The Federal Trade Commission and Federal Bureau of Investigation have both issued warnings about the scam, which is designed to enable identity theft and financial fraud. Users should avoid clicking links, verify toll agency claims directly through official websites, report suspicious texts, and contact their financial institutions if they have already shared personal information.
lockhaven.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a community announcements section, not an elder fraud case. However, it includes a relevant notice: A free senior scams prevention seminar will be held at the Castanea Township Building on Tuesday, May 20, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., offering education on fraud threats to seniors, prevention strategies, and resources for safety concerns.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season 2025 has become a prime target for AI-powered fraud, with cybercriminals using generative AI, deepfakes, and voice cloning to create highly convincing phishing emails, fake IRS calls, and impersonations of tax professionals and agents. The IRS identified over $37 billion in tax and financial crimes in fiscal year 2023, with fake IRS calls using voice cloning jumping 150% in 2025, affecting individuals, small businesses, tax professionals, and large firms through personalized attacks that bypass traditional security defenses. Criminals are also creating synthetic identities to file fraudulent returns and claim illegitimate refunds, while deepfake videos
hackaday.com
· 2025-12-08
A researcher analyzed romance scam emails using technical investigation methods, tracing stolen Facebook photos and fake profiles back to Russian-based scammers operating on monthly cycles. The scam targets vulnerable individuals by establishing fake romantic relationships and eventually requesting money transfers for fabricated emergencies or relocation assistance. The analysis revealed that while scammers use hacked email accounts and VPNs to hide their location, they often leave clues in image metadata and occasionally fail to activate VPN protection, underscoring that human awareness and critical thinking—rather than technological solutions—remain the most effective defenses against these schemes.
dl-online.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the 2024 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, investment and cryptocurrency scams remain the most prevalent fraud type, with romance and friendship scams climbing to third place. Both often employ "financial grooming" tactics where scammers build trust over weeks or months before encouraging victims to invest in fraudulent platforms, resulting in a median loss of $5,000-$6,099 per victim. People ages 65 and older reported the highest median losses ($160), and overall reported median losses increased 30% from 2023 to 2024, with emotional impacts including anger, loss of trust, and anxiety affecting nearly 30% of victims.
rcmp.ca
· 2025-12-08
Canadian fraud and cybercrime losses exceeded $638 million in 2024, a significant increase from $578 million in 2023, with investment scams accounting for $311 million of losses, according to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre. Beyond financial damage, victims report severe emotional and psychological harm including feelings of betrayal, shame, anxiety, and depression, which can be compounded by victim-blaming from others. Experts emphasize that fraud's impact extends across all demographics and fraud types, and that supportive responses from those victims confide in are critical to their healing.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old Wichita woman lost her entire life savings of $36,000 in a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam when a caller impersonating a Coinbase representative convinced her that her account had been compromised. The scammer used fear-based tactics to pressure her into transferring her funds to a fraudulent wallet controlled by the criminals, from which the money cannot be recovered. The article advises verifying any account security claims by independently calling official customer service numbers rather than responding to unsolicited calls or clicking provided links.
dailyrecord.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Stephen and Karen Ratchford from Grimsby fell victim to a SIM-jacking scam while on a cruise in October, during which fraudsters gained control of their mobile numbers and used two-step verification to access their accounts, resulting in attempted loans totaling £25,000 and unauthorized charges of £150 on their mobile accounts. Although the banks canceled the fraudulent loan and overdraft applications before any money was lost, the couple experienced significant stress and psychological impact from the incident. Their mobile provider, iD Mobile, apologized and strengthened security measures in response.
dfpi.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams, also known as relationship or confidence scams, are among the top five online scams in the U.S., resulting in over $650 million in losses in 2023. Scammers use fake profiles and emotional manipulation through dating apps, social media, and email to build trust before requesting money, personal information, or investments, with common tactics including impersonation ("catfishing"), long-term trust-building schemes, and platonic friendship scams. To protect yourself, avoid sharing personal information with unknown contacts, research and verify all information before making financial decisions, take time before acting on requests, and report suspected scams to authorities.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Chinese-speaking cybercriminals operating on Telegram are distributing phishing kits that enable widespread text message scams claiming victims owe unpaid tolls or E-ZPass fees, with links to fake payment websites designed to steal credit cards and personal information. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has received over 60,000 reports of the scam, which rapidly escalated starting in early February as operators copy each other's tactics and target bulk datasets of hacked phone numbers. The scammers exploit the tactic's effectiveness by requesting small fees that appear reasonable, and victims' stolen information is used to compromise payment methods and digital wallets.
redding.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams that proliferate during tax season, including fake emails and texts impersonating the IRS, misleading tax advice on social media (particularly encouraging fraudulent W-2 forms), scammers posing as helpers to create IRS online accounts to steal personal information, and promotion of non-existent tax credits like bogus self-employment credits claiming payouts up to $32,000. Victims of these scams risk identity theft, unauthorized bank account access, and significant delays to legitimate tax refunds, with those knowingly filing fraudulent returns facing civil and criminal penalties.
dfpi.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies four common types of tax-related fraud and scams: identity theft (where stolen SSNs are used to file fraudulent returns), ghost preparers (unlicensed tax preparers who charge fees but disappear without filing or file inaccurate returns), phishing/smishing attempts (fraudulent emails and texts impersonating the IRS), and social media scams (misinformation about tax laws and services). The article recommends protecting yourself by filing early, using electronic filing through secure channels, employing professional tax services with verified credentials, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.
kbzk.com
· 2025-12-08
Bozeman Police Detective Jake Ahmann reports that scam calls and texts are widespread, with he himself receiving two to three per week, often using emotional manipulation tactics like promises of free items, threats of legal consequences, or appeals for help with family members in trouble. Ahmann advises the public to avoid clicking links from unknown numbers, never share personal or financial information over the phone, request payment via gift cards or bitcoin as red flags, and to contact police and financial institutions immediately if scammed. He also notes that scam reports are likely under-reported due to victim embarrassment, and recommends simply not answering calls from unknown numbers when in doubt.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Daniele Gonsalves lost over $2,500 after meeting "David" on a dating app who posed as a wealthy cryptocurrency investor and convinced her to transfer money to a fraudulent trading platform. This scam tactic, known as "pig butchering," involves scammers building romantic trust with victims before encouraging them to invest in fake cryptocurrency schemes that ultimately disappear. Cybersecurity experts advise verifying the identity of anyone offering investment advice, never investing based on online-only relationships, and reporting suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
mininggazette.com
· 2025-12-08
The Michigan State Police urge residents to recognize and avoid common scams transmitted through phone calls, text messages, and social media, including romance scams that manipulate victims into sending money through fake emergencies, tech support scams offering fake virus solutions, and toll payment scams. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact, artificial urgency, unusual payment demands (cryptocurrency or gift cards), and requests for personal or financial information. Authorities recommend trusting instincts, consulting trusted contacts or law enforcement if something seems suspicious, and not feeling ashamed to report suspected fraud.
wbay.com
· 2025-12-08
A Suamico, Wisconsin woman was targeted by an elaborate phone scam in which scammers impersonating Medicare, pharmacies, and her doctors convinced her that her Medicare benefits had been terminated and coerced her into providing her Medicare number. The scammers then instructed her to accept unnecessary medical equipment (back braces, knee braces, and wrist braces), which were subsequently mailed to her; she refused the packages and obtained a new Medicare number after contacting the real Medicare to verify the fraud. The Wisconsin Senior Medical Patrol warns that Medicare never contacts people unsolicited to request personal information or Medicare numbers and does not terminate benefits in this manner.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadians were arrested in a joint Canadian-American law enforcement operation and charged with operating a grandparent scam from call centers in Montreal that defrauded elderly victims in 45 American states of $21 million between 2021 and 2024. The scammers used voice-over-internet protocol technology to mask their locations and employed a multi-step operation where "openers" called elderly victims claiming a grandchild needed bail money, then passed them to fake attorneys and sent couriers or mail-based collection schemes to retrieve funds, which were laundered through cryptocurrency conversion. The article notes that scammers exploit psychological vulnerabilities in older adults and advises families to
au.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 91-year-old Victorian woman lost $130,000 after receiving a phone call from a scammer impersonating her bank, who claimed fraudulent charges had occurred on her card and arranged to collect it in person. The scammer used the card over 130 times across multiple Melbourne locations over five days before it was cancelled. Bank impersonation scams have surged 25% in Australia's first nine months of 2024, with over 8,200 reports recorded, though the overall losses decreased to $9.35 million compared to $14.98 million the previous year.
bransontrilakesnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Stone County Sheriff's Office is partnering with Branson Bank to offer a free educational presentation on identifying and preventing senior scams, with the first class scheduled for April 9 at the Galena Branch Library. Sheriff Doug Rader will instruct the class on recognizing scam callers and taking preventive action, targeting seniors 65 and older, with plans to bring the presentation to other locations and organizations upon request. This initiative responds to the growing problem of elder fraud in the county—seniors in Stone County have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to scams—and aligns with FBI data showing that people 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2
41nbc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, scams extracted a record $12.5 billion from consumers—a 25% increase from 2023—despite the number of scam reports remaining relatively flat, according to the Better Business Bureau citing FTC data. The BBB highlighted two prevalent scams: cryptocurrency investment scams involving unknown coins and promises of guaranteed returns, and imposter scams where fraudsters pose as government agencies demanding immediate payment via gift cards or crypto while threatening arrest. Consumers should verify agency contact information independently, watch for ".gov" or ".mil" email addresses, and be wary of urgent demands, threats, and requests for unusual payment methods or wallet access.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadians lost $638 million to scams in 2024, with impersonation and investment fraud being the costliest types, as fraudsters increasingly use sophisticated technology including AI to create convincing deepfakes and pose as legitimate organizations or celebrities. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports that while fewer cases were processed in 2024 compared to 2023, authorities estimate 90-95% of fraud cases go unreported, and recommend Canadians verify unexpected calls or messages and be aware of red flags such as requests for personal information or unsolicited payment demands. Key prevention strategies include trusting instincts, questioning suspicious communications, and educating seniors about evolving scam tactics.
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
Smishing (SMS phishing) scams have surged significantly, with Americans receiving 19.2 billion spam texts in February alone, often impersonating toll agencies, utilities, and financial institutions to trick victims into clicking malicious links or providing payment information. Scammers quickly adapt their tactics to current events—such as NYC's congestion pricing launch in January 2025—to exploit confusion and urgency among consumers. To protect themselves, consumers should register with the National Do Not Call Registry, never click links in unsolicited texts, verify requests by independently calling companies, and report scams to the FBI's IC3 or by forwarding messages to 7726.
wxii12.com
· 2025-12-08
A surge of smishing scams impersonating toll road agencies like NC Quick Pass is targeting North Carolina and other states, with the FBI reporting over 2,000 complaints since March of the previous year. The scams use text messages claiming unpaid tolls and threatening fines, license suspension, or legal action to pressure victims into clicking malicious links that can result in losses ranging from $100 to hundreds of thousands of dollars and potential theft of personal information like bank account and Social Security details. Authorities have traced the scams' origin to Canada in early 2024 and believe operations have since moved to the U.S., with NC Quick Pass reporting thousands of daily inquiries about the fraudulent texts
mastercard.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with investor scams causing the most financial damage ($5.7 million) while imposter scams remain most frequently reported, according to the FTC. Cybercriminals increasingly exploit human emotions through social engineering tactics via email, phone, and text, using sophisticated tools like deepfakes and generative AI to create convincing false identities and communications. The article emphasizes that even trained employees can be deceived, citing a $25.6 million loss by a Hong Kong financial firm whose employee was tricked by a computer-generated deepfake video conference
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
As the 2025 tax season begins, cybercriminals are launching a surge of tax-related scams targeting taxpayers, with malicious domains using tax-related terms seeing a 693% traffic increase in the 30 days before the 2024 filing deadline. Common scam tactics include phishing emails impersonating tax software providers like TurboTax, fake charities, unlicensed tax preparers, and misleading fuel tax credit offers (which increased 121% from 2024 to 2025), with fraudulent activity persisting even after the April 15 deadline. Experts advise taxpayers to verify all websites and email requests before
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers, likely Chinese criminal gangs operating overseas, have launched a widespread toll road scam sending threatening text messages to millions of Americans claiming unpaid FastTrak, E-ZPass, or similar tolls with threats of fines and license revocation. The scam is highly effective because it is cheap to execute, targets personal information for further fraud, and exploits security gaps in both Apple and Android phones; cybersecurity researchers have identified 60,000 domains used in the attacks and documented a 900% increase in searches for "toll road scams" in recent months.
seattletimes.com
· 2025-12-08
State officials are warning Americans about a surge of "smishing" scams—SMS text messages impersonating toll collection agencies—that attempt to trick recipients into revealing financial information like credit card or bank account details. A cybersecurity firm identified a threat actor who registered over 10,000 domains to conduct these scams across at least 10 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada, with messages falsely claiming unpaid tolls and threatening fines or suspended driving privileges. Authorities advise recipients not to click suspicious links or reply to these texts and to report them to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Digital payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal are increasingly exploited by scammers, with customers at three banks losing over $870 million to Zelle fraud since 2017 according to a CFPB lawsuit. Common scams include cash flipping schemes, phishing expeditions, fake item sales, counterfeit tickets, software glitch fraud, and security deposit schemes, all of which exploit the irreversible nature of digital transfers. Users should verify requests through official channels, never pay sight unseen, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails to protect themselves from these threats.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 61-year-old personal assistant, Catalina Corona, was indicted on wire fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft charges for stealing approximately $10 million from an elderly New York couple between 2017 and 2024. Corona forged checks made out to cash and impersonated the victims to bank representatives, using the stolen funds to purchase luxury items including over $1 million in Louis Vuitton merchandise, designer goods from Cartier and Gucci, and pay personal expenses. The fraud was discovered in April 2024 when a suspicious $1,500 check prompted a bank representative to contact the victims, who confirmed they had not authorized numerous "
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old woman lost $130,000 of her life savings to a lottery scam operated by Darien Deventon Smith and Sheniece Elaine Smith of Connecticut, who convinced her in March 2024 that she had won a jackpot and car but needed to pay various "taxes" and "processing fees" to claim the prize. Over months of manipulation, the victim opened multiple bank accounts and purchased money orders at the scammers' direction before becoming suspicious and contacting authorities; both suspects were arrested in February 2025 and face charges of obtaining money by false pretenses and conspiracy to commit a felony.
hola.com
· 2025-12-08
A 63-year-old woman from Los Angeles, Guadalupe Cepeda, was defrauded of over $3,000 by a scammer impersonating Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias through a fan group on social media. Over two years, the impostor used romantic manipulation and convinced her to send money via gift cards before her family traced the scammer to Nigeria. The real Enrique Iglesias responded by warning fans to only connect with verified accounts and cautioning against celebrity impersonation scams.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A 91-year-old Victorian woman lost $130,000 in a phone scam on September 19 when a caller impersonating her bank convinced her to surrender her bank card, which was then used 130 times to purchase gift cards before being cancelled. Police identified a suspect through CCTV footage and are appealing for public information to assist with the investigation, while cautioning the community about unsolicited bank calls.