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in Robocall / Phone Scam
huroncountyview.mihomepaper.com
· 2025-12-08
The Huron County Sheriff's Office warned seniors of a political scam where fraudsters impersonated officials from Lansing and Detroit, claiming political memberships had expired and pressuring victims to renew them. Two elderly residents were targeted, with one losing significant money after providing personal information; authorities stated recovery chances are slim. The sheriff's office advised seniors to hang up on suspicious callers, discuss potential scams with family members, and verify caller identities before sharing information or money.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Credit card fraud affects approximately 60% of US credit card holders, with 52 million Americans experiencing fraudulent charges totaling over $5 billion last year, particularly during high-spending periods like Black Friday. Common scams include gift card fraud (where criminals pose as officials demanding payment via gift cards), fake charity websites, cloned shopping sites with nearly identical URLs, phone scams requesting card information, and credit card skimmers on unattended payment terminals. To protect themselves, consumers should monitor credit reports weekly through annualcreditreport.com, only shop on secure encrypted sites (https://), verify charity legitimacy through the IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Search tool, and be suspicious of unsolic
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
This article identifies three active scams: the PayPal invoice scam (fraudsters impersonating "Exceed in Coding LLC" send fake invoices to obtain personal financial information via phone), hotel phishing scams (scammers contact victims through legitimate travel agency chat systems with malicious links to steal credentials), and fake payment scams on marketplace sites (scammers send fraudulent payment confirmations to trick sellers into releasing items without payment). The article advises readers to verify sources, avoid clicking suspicious links, and remain skeptical of unexpected payment requests.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old man named Dennis Jones was romantically scammed by a woman he met on Facebook who claimed to be a successful cryptocurrency investor named Jessie and offered to teach him how to profit from crypto investments. After developing trust with the scammer and hoping to leave an inheritance for his family, Dennis invested his savings, which turned out to be part of a fraudulent scheme. The devastating financial loss and emotional trauma led to Dennis taking his own life, and his son and daughter now share his story publicly to warn others about romance and cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
US Marine Kagan Dunlap, 37, reported that scammers have been using his photographs and voice (mimicked through AI) to catfish thousands of women on dating apps since 2015, coercing victims to send money via gift cards, cash, and cryptocurrency. The fraudsters targeted lonely women globally and used military-related excuses (such as deployment limitations) to avoid video verification, while some victims became aggressive when confronted with the truth and even contacted Dunlap's wife accusing him of infidelity. Dunlap recommends potential victims demand video calls as verification, noting that no legitimate contact should refuse this simple verification method.
shropshirestar.com
· 2025-12-08
A police officer in Telford, PC Robert Hughes, revealed that a family member fell victim to a "Hi Mum/Dad" impersonation scam via text message, where a scammer posed as him claiming to need urgent help and requesting contact on a new number. Although no money was lost after the family realized the scam in time, PC Hughes warns that this tactic exploits people's natural instinct to help relatives and advises verifying requests by calling or texting known phone numbers and using resources like Action Fraud and the "Who called me?" website to identify scammers.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old San Francisco Bay Area resident lost $50,000 in a cryptocurrency scam after receiving a call from someone impersonating her grandson who claimed to be arrested and needing bail money. The scammers instructed her to deposit cash into Coinstar cryptocurrency ATMs over multiple days, using escalating claims of additional charges and fees to extract more funds. Although her bank flagged suspicious withdrawals and a concerned bystander urged her to verify the story, she only discovered the fraud after directly contacting her grandson, and cryptocurrency's irreversible nature made fund recovery impossible.
cnbctv18.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated scam targeting air travelers in India compromised approximately 450 passengers between July and August 2024, causing collective losses exceeding ₹9 lakh (₹900,000). The scheme involved a fake "Lounge Pass" app distributed via WhatsApp that requested facial scans and personal details, then used granted SMS permissions to intercept OTPs and conduct unauthorized credit card transactions, with funds redirected to third-party accounts. Cybersecurity experts recommend travelers download apps only from official stores, avoid unverified QR codes, and limit SMS access permissions to mitigate risks from this social engineering tactic exploiting the popularity of airport lounge services.
timesherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A criminal investigation was launched in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania after election officials flagged approximately 2,500 voter registration forms submitted before the state's deadline, with about 60% found to contain fraudulent elements such as false names, forged signatures, incorrect addresses, or stolen personal information. Two additional Pennsylvania counties received similar suspicious applications, and authorities described the scheme as an organized effort, though the source and scope of the fraud remain under investigation. The fraudulent applications have been segregated and prevented from resulting in ballot issuance while the investigation continues.
mypunepulse.com
· 2025-12-08
A 62-year-old woman from Pune lost ₹25.5 lakh in a sophisticated parcel scam where fraudsters impersonated courier and cybercrime officials, falsely claiming her Aadhaar was used to send illegal items to Thailand and threatening her with jail time. The victim liquidated mutual funds and transferred the money via RTGS after being promised an RBI investigation and reimbursement, after which the scammers ceased contact. Parvati police have launched an investigation into the incident.
uniindia.com
· 2025-12-08
Tamil Nadu police issued a warning about a pension scam targeting senior citizens, in which fraudsters impersonate government officials and trick pensioners into sharing bank details or scanning QR codes under the pretense of facilitating pension benefits like old age or widow pensions. Between January and October 2024, approximately 28 complaints were filed regarding this scam, resulting in financial losses when money is debited from victims' accounts instead of pension payments being received. Police advised pensioners to verify caller identities, avoid sharing personal information over the phone, never scan QR codes from unknown sources, and report suspicious activity to the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Northbrook, Illinois impersonated Cook County Sheriff's Office personnel, calling residents claiming they had an "urgent legal matter" or outstanding warrant for missing jury duty in an attempt to extract personal and financial information. Northbrook Police warned residents not to provide any such information to these callers and encouraged them to share the warning with friends, family, and neighbors.
theprint.in
· 2025-12-08
**Tech Support Scams Targeting Canadian Seniors Surge Amid India-Canada Diplomatic Rift**
Cyber scammers operating from call centers in India and Cambodia are exploiting a breakdown in cooperation between Indian and Canadian authorities to intensify tech support fraud targeting Canadian senior citizens. The scams, worth millions of dollars monthly, involve fraudsters impersonating Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple to convince elderly victims to pay for unnecessary technical support services, with funds being laundered through cryptocurrencies to Hong Kong; a recent CBI operation busted one call center in New Delhi that had defrauded victims across multiple countries for two years.
semissourian.com
· 2025-12-08
Spring weather increases scam activity targeting elderly residents, according to a warning from Seniors and Lawmen Together (SALT) in Cape Girardeau County. Common spring scams involve unsolicited home repair offers—such as roof repairs, driveway paving, and painting—where con artists either use inferior materials and demand higher fees or accept down payments without performing work. Police recommend seniors avoid unsolicited service offers and instead use well-known local companies with verifiable references.
koamnewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers are increasingly using text message phishing schemes to impersonate legitimate businesses, exploiting the fact that companies now communicate more via SMS. To protect against these scams, consumers should avoid clicking suspicious links, verify business contact information through official channels, watch for grammar errors and poor English, ignore requests to reply with "STOP," and report suspected scams to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
kwqc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Rock Island County Sheriff's Office and Bettendorf Police Department warned the public of a phone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement and request personal and financial information. Both departments emphasize they never call to request payments, and advise recipients to hang up immediately and contact local police if they receive such calls.
wgrz.com
· 2025-12-08
School districts in Buffalo are warning parents of a scam in which callers impersonate College Board representatives and request credit card and address information to sell fake SAT prep materials. The Better Business Bureau advises parents to verify requests directly with their child's school before sharing personal information over the phone.
northshoredailypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Two West Vancouver residents fell victim to a phone scam in which a caller impersonated bank staff, claiming suspicious account activity and convincing them to transfer funds to a "safe" account controlled by the scammers. Police urged the public not to share personal information or transfer funds based on unsolicited calls and to report such incidents to authorities.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old man from Pune was defrauded of Rs 45 lakh (approximately $54,000 USD) in a "digital arrest" scam in September, where cyber criminals posing as TRAI and Mumbai Crime Branch officers convinced him he was under investigation for drug trafficking and money laundering, forcing him to remain confined at home without contact with others for four days. The fraudsters used video calls with fake police credentials and Maharashtra police logos to build credibility, then instructed him to transfer his savings to fraudulent "RBI safe accounts," after which the scammers became unreachable. This case exemplifies organized cross-border cyber crimes where fraudsters use
kashmirobserver.net
· 2025-12-08
India's CERT-In cyber-security agency issued a public advisory detailing over a dozen online scams targeting citizens, with particular focus on the "digital arrest" scam where fraudsters impersonate government officials via WhatsApp or Skype, threatening victims with arrest to coerce them into transferring money under false pretenses of investigations or security deposits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi simultaneously warned the public about these scams in his radio address, recommending citizens verify agency identity directly, avoid panic-driven money transfers, and report incidents to the national cyber-security helpline (1930) or www.cybercrime.gov.in. The advisory also highlighted other prevalent scams including phishing,
futurism.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers attempted to defraud a Florida title company by using an AI-generated deepfake video to impersonate a missing woman and fraudulently sell a vacant property. The scheme was caught before completion, but property appraiser Marty Kiar warns that AI-enabled title fraud will likely increase as criminals leverage automated tools to synthesize public property records and create sophisticated impersonations faster than ever before.
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Money mule scams trick victims into receiving funds (via check or transfer) and forwarding them elsewhere under false pretenses such as work-from-home jobs, prize winnings, or romantic relationships. Scammers have recently exploited rideshare services like Uber's package delivery feature to collect money from victims without direct contact, leading to tragic outcomes including at least one delivery driver's death. To protect yourself, avoid unsolicited calls and opportunities that seem too good to be true, let unknown callers go to voicemail, and verify any suspicious offers through consumer protection agencies before engaging.
businessday.ng
· 2025-12-08
Internet scams are a global concern causing significant financial losses and erosion of trust in digital transactions. India recorded $7.93 million USD in cybercrime losses across 4,850 cases in 2023, while Brazil experienced 1.8 million banking trojan infections the same year; Pakistan reported 32,072 suspicious transactions, and South Africa ranks 7th globally for cyber criminality, with identity theft and phishing attacks being prevalent across all regions. Governments are implementing awareness campaigns and stronger cybersecurity measures, but rapid digital infrastructure growth continues to outpace law enforcement efforts to combat evolving scam tactics.
onmanorama.com
· 2025-12-08
Seven young men from Kerala fell victim to an international job scam that lured them with promises of employment in Thailand but diverted them to a cyber-fraud operation in Cambodia, where they were held captive, physically abused, and denied food and water after each paid Rs 1.5 lakh (approximately $1,800 USD). With help from a sympathetic taxi driver, the victims escaped their illegal detention and reached the Indian Embassy, which facilitated their safe return home to India.
viewfromthewing.com
· 2025-12-08
A passenger at Bangalore airport lost over $1,000 when lounge staff directed her to download a malicious "Lounge Pass" app and complete a facial scan, claiming these were required for entry. Scammers used the app to gain access to her phone, redirect calls, intercept one-time passwords, and fraudulently charge her credit card and transfer funds to a PhonePe account. The victim contacted her bank to report the fraud, and security experts recommend downloading apps only through official app stores, never sharing two-factor authentication codes, and being cautious of requests for biometric data at airport lounges.
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Fort Smith Police Department warned of a scam where callers impersonate area judges, specifically claiming to represent Sebastian County District Court Judge Sam Terry's office, and threaten victims with arrest warrants to extort money or personal information. The scam exploits the authority and credibility of judicial officials to pressure victims into complying with fraudulent demands.
foxrgv.tv
· 2025-12-08
Visa's 2024 State of Scams report reveals a surge in cyberattacks targeting payment card customers, including digital pickpocketing via point-of-sale devices, one-time password (OTP) phishing attacks, fake flight cancellation emails, and unauthorized use of stolen card information for purchases and transfers. Visa recommends customers activate real-time purchase alerts, use two-factor authentication, and remain vigilant in crowded situations to protect their accounts.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
This is a survey/awareness piece soliciting feedback from seniors about their experiences with scams and fraud prevention strategies. The article compiles reader responses sharing practical anti-scam tactics—such as not answering unknown numbers, scrutinizing sender email addresses, and avoiding unsolicited calls—along with anecdotes including one commenter's experience helping an elderly mother recover from computer hacking incidents after she clicked on malicious notifications.
abc7chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank account scams are rapidly increasing, with bogus banking fraud warnings via text being the most reported type, according to the FTC. Threats include fake fraud alerts, romance scams, wire transfer schemes, and AI-enabled impersonation of financial institutions and customers. Banks like Fifth Third recommend enabling two-factor authentication and exercising caution before sending money via services like Zelle, noting that customers who actively participate in scams by voluntarily transferring funds or sharing credentials may not be eligible for refunds.
arstechnica.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate police officials in extortion schemes, with recent incidents in Salt Lake City and Tulsa targeting residents with fake videos and calls claiming victims owed money to the federal government. The Salt Lake City Police Department documented a scam featuring AI-generated audio mimicking Police Chief Mike Brown spliced with real footage, while Tulsa experienced similar phone calls impersonating a local officer. Though these AI-generated messages contain detectable flaws such as unnatural speech patterns and odd emphasis, security experts warn that advancing technology could make such scams increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications.
oregonlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams involving recruiters impersonating legitimate companies have increased significantly, with scammers using online platforms to target job seekers and trick them into providing personal information or money. Tehseen Islam, a 28-year-old job seeker, lost $1,000 after depositing a fraudulent check from scammers posing as a marketing technology company recruiter and was asked to wire funds for equipment. Experts recommend job seekers verify company legitimacy through official websites, avoid clicking links or depositing suspicious checks, and limit personal information sharing until after receiving a legitimate job offer.
governor.ny.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Governor Hochul warned New York baseball fans about World Series ticket scams ahead of Games 3 at Yankee Stadium, as high demand for the historic Yankees-Dodgers matchup creates opportunities for fraudsters. The New York Department of Consumer Protection provided tips to avoid scams, including purchasing from official venues, verifying sellers through trusted broker networks, using credit cards for buyer protection, and avoiding suspiciously low prices on secondary marketplaces like Craigslist and social media. New Yorkers can contact the State Department of Consumer Protection at 1-800-697-1220 for assistance or to file complaints.
apnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams are on the rise as scammers impersonate recruiters and companies on online platforms to steal money and personal information from job seekers. A 28-year-old quality assurance analyst lost $1,000 after depositing a fraudulent check and unknowingly sharing personal details with scammers who posed as a marketing technology company. Experts recommend verifying recruiter identities through official company websites, avoiding clicking links from unsolicited messages, and being wary of unusually high-paying remote positions that request personal information like Social Security numbers early in the hiring process.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud is now the leading crime against Canadian seniors, with scammers increasingly exploiting technological tools to create more sophisticated schemes including grandparent fraud (2,494 victims, $9.4 million in losses), romance scams ($59 million in 2022), and phishing attacks ($58 million in 2022). Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to social isolation, limited digital literacy (only 26% feel confident with technology), accessible savings, and the emotional manipulation that can override caution despite public awareness campaigns.
bizzbuzz.news
· 2025-12-08
India's Union Home Ministry revealed that approximately 46% of digital arrest scams, trading fraud, romance scams, and investment fraud cases originate from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, with victims losing a total of Rs 1,776 crore. The scams include trading scams (Rs 1,420 crores), investment frauds (Rs 222.58 crores), digital arrests (Rs 120.3 crores), and romance scams (Rs 13.23 crores), with complaint numbers rising from 4.52 lakh in 2021 to 7.4 lakh complaints in the first four months of 2024.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Indians lost ₹120.3 crore in digital arrest frauds during the first quarter of 2024, with 46% of digital fraud cases—including digital arrests, trading scams, investment scams, and romance scams—originating from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, affecting victims who lost a cumulative ₹1,776 crore. Digital arrest scams involve fraudsters impersonating law enforcement via video call, claiming victims are involved in crimes or have received illegal parcels, and demanding money to close fabricated cases. Complaint numbers have increased significantly from 4.52 lakh in 2021 to 7.4 lakh in the
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
BBC Scam Safe Week is a multi-platform educational initiative launching programs across television, radio, and online to help the public recognize and avoid scams, which have become increasingly prevalent during the cost-of-living crisis. Expert contributors highlight that "pig butchering" romance-to-investment scams are currently the most profitable fraud scheme, with victims losing tens of thousands of pounds or more, and emphasize that people of all ages—particularly 16-34 year-olds—are vulnerable targets. The campaign stresses that self-education is essential since authorities can only convict 0.1% of fraud cases, and that scamming has become a sophisticated criminal enterprise rather than isolated incidents.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
The BBC is launching "Scam Safe Week" (November 23-29, 2024), a multi-platform educational initiative featuring TV, radio, and online content designed to help the public recognize and prevent scams. With fraud now comprising over 40% of all crime in the UK, the week will include the TV-BAFTA winning series "Scam Interceptors," live roadshow events across the country, and expert advice from fraud specialists, in partnership with organizations including Age UK and Stop Scams UK.
kivitv.com
· 2025-12-08
An Albertsons manager in Nampa, Idaho prevented a customer from losing nearly $3,000 to a phone scam by recognizing that the customer was depositing cash into a Coinstar machine after claiming a "sheriff" told him he had an arrest warrant. The scam is a common impersonation scheme where fraudsters pose as government officials or law enforcement demanding immediate payment via cryptocurrency ATMs, gift cards, or wire transfers—methods legitimate authorities never request. Albertsons staff are trained to recognize such red flags and intervene when customers attempt suspicious transactions.
bilyonaryo.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud against seniors in Canada is rapidly increasing and now represents the leading crime against this population, driven by sophisticated technologies including voice simulation, AI-generated profiles, and automated phishing systems. Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to social isolation, limited digital literacy (only 26% feel confident with technology), and accessible savings, making them targets for scams like grandparent fraud ($9.4 million in losses), romance scams ($59 million in 2022), and phishing ($58 million in 2022). To protect themselves, seniors should never share personal information via unsolicited calls or messages, verify requests independently, and remain cautious of emotional appeals even when awareness campaigns exist.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old woman in Johor Baru lost RM380,000 in a Macau scam after receiving calls from individuals posing as bank and Bank Negara Malaysia officials who claimed she had fraudulent credit card activity and instructed her to transfer funds to a "secure" account for investigation purposes. The victim made 49 transactions across six accounts on October 18-19 before the scammers blocked her number. Police are investigating under the Penal Code and advise the public to verify official contact through the Semak Mule application and report scams to the National Scam Response Centre at 997.
ag.state.mn.us
· 2025-12-08
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison provides guidance on steps to take after a data breach, warning that stolen personal information (passwords, social security numbers, credit card data, etc.) is frequently used by criminals to open fraudulent accounts or conduct phishing scams that damage victims' credit. Consumers should change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, place a fraud alert with credit bureaus, and consider placing a security freeze on their credit reports to protect themselves from identity theft and unauthorized account creation.
pahouse.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania House Democrats convened a hearing to discuss ways to strengthen state support for the commonwealth's 3.4 million older adults, the nation's fifth-oldest population. Testifiers identified key needs including affordable housing, transportation, community services, and protection from financial scams targeting seniors through phone calls, email, and social media, with recommendations to update the Older Adult Protection Services Act and implement stricter penalties for scammers.
interest.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Fraud is now the leading crime against seniors in Canada, with scammers increasingly exploiting advanced technology including voice simulation, AI, and fake identities to conduct grandparent scams, romance fraud, and phishing schemes. Notable losses include $9.4 million from grandparent fraud and $59 million from romance scams in 2022 alone. Seniors remain vulnerable due to social isolation, limited digital literacy (only 26% feel confident with technology despite 67% using the internet), and scammers' ability to create emotionally manipulative scenarios that override caution and awareness campaigns.
montanafreepress.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies common scam tactics targeting older adults—including urgent payment demands, voice impersonation using AI, and financial abuse by trusted individuals—and notes that Montana has a particularly high senior population per capita. The piece advises protection measures such as ignoring unknown calls, monitoring account activity, using digital payments instead of checks, and maintaining secure personal information, while emphasizing that neither banks nor government agencies demand money or threaten account holders.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting seniors during Medicare open enrollment (deadline December 7) by calling or texting them to help choose plans, then requesting personal information including Medicare ID numbers. The Better Business Bureau warns seniors to never share Medicare IDs, only work with trusted professionals, and remember that Medicare never initiates contact—seniors must reach out to Medicare themselves.
abc7.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults in Laguna Hills attended a fraud awareness seminar hosted by Age Well Senior Services where they learned to recognize common scams including tech support, lottery, romance, and sweepstakes schemes. The Federal Trade Commission reports seniors lost over $1.9 billion to fraud last year, though estimates suggest the actual figure may reach $62 billion when unreported cases are included. Experts emphasized that scams typically begin with unsolicited contact and advised seniors not to answer calls from unknown numbers and to report suspected fraud to Adult Protective Services or local law enforcement.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in 2024 frequently impersonate celebrities through deepfakes and fake endorsements to defraud victims, with Scarlett Johansson, Kylie Jenner, and Taylor Swift being the top targets according to cybersecurity firm McAfee. Common scams include unauthorized use of celebrities' names and likenesses to promote fake products (health cures, cosmetics, cryptocurrency), ticket fraud, giveaway schemes, and false political endorsements. To protect yourself, verify celebrity endorsements through official channels, be skeptical of unsolicited ads using celebrity images, and report suspected scams to relevant platforms and authorities.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
A Wells Fargo fraud expert warns Arizonans about evolving scams including impersonation schemes (which cost victims $2.7 billion last year), where scammers pose as bank representatives claiming card fraud and then trick victims into handing over debit cards or personal information. Additional threats include AI-powered deepfake calls mimicking family members, cryptocurrency investment scams promising quick returns, and holiday shipping scams posing as delivery services to steal tracking information.
dnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Idaho State Police warned residents of a phone scam in which callers impersonating law enforcement officers threaten victims with false DNA test requirements and arrest warrants, then demand immediate payment to "resolve" the matter. The scammers have targeted multiple Idaho residents, in some cases claiming victims or their relatives missed mandatory DNA appointments and had warrants issued against them, and requesting bond payments. The Idaho State Police urged residents to verify suspicious calls directly with authorities and cautioned that these scams undermine legitimate DNA collection efforts by the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative program.