Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
4,158 results
in Government Impersonation
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Impersonation scams surged 148% year-over-year from April 2024 to March 2025, now accounting for 34% of all identity crimes reported to the Identity Theft Resource Center, with businesses (51%) and financial institutions (21%) as primary targets. AI tools are enabling cybercriminals to scale campaigns more effectively through fake websites, phishing emails, and fraudulent ads, though the ITRC notes that overall reported identity crimes declined 31% while the percentage of victims reporting multiple incidents increased from 15% to 24%. The organization warns that fewer reports likely reflect underreporting rather than fewer actual crimes, and that criminals are increasingly using AI to democratize
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the FBI's annual internet crime report, seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams last year and are disproportionately targeted by scammers who view them as wealthy, not feeble-minded. The article identifies two major red flags for potential scams: feeling panicked and experiencing pressure to make fast decisions, and recommends that seniors slow down, create mental space to think, and independently verify claims before acting. Various protective services and apps have been developed to help seniors guard against financial exploitation.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource presents a chart detailing common scams targeting consumers, including AI scams (deepfake impersonations), bank text scams (phishing for account information), billing/invoice scams (fake invoices demanding payment), brushing scams (unsolicited items to boost reviews), and charity scams. The guide identifies shared scammer tactics such as impersonation, creating urgency, and pressuring victims to share personal information, while offering specific identification and prevention strategies for each scam type. The material encourages sharing this information with friends and family as a primary defense against fraud.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams last year and remain prime targets due to their concentrated wealth, according to the FBI. The article identifies five red flags indicating a potential scam: feeling panicked, pressure to make fast decisions, unsolicited contact, requests for personal information, and reluctance to verify claims—noting that scammers rely on emotional manipulation and time pressure to override victims' judgment. Experts advise pausing to think critically when experiencing these warning signs, as scammers count on immediate reactions rather than careful consideration.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies five red flags that warn seniors they may be targeted for scams, emphasizing that older adults lose nearly $5 billion annually and are targeted because they hold roughly half of U.S. wealth. The first two red flags discussed are feeling panicked (as in grandparent scams demanding immediate bail) and pressure to make fast decisions (such as investment opportunities or fake retail websites), with experts advising victims to slow down, create mental space, and independently verify claims rather than acting immediately.
kiro7.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating U.S. federal agencies (SSA, FDIC, IRS) are sending fraudulent letters, emails, texts, and pop-ups to Washington residents claiming identity theft or legal issues and demanding cash or gold payments. In early 2025 alone, scammers stole over $1 million from three Clallam County residents, with victims also identified in Jefferson County and Oregon. Red flags include unsolicited government contact via pop-ups or text, requests for cash withdrawals or gold purchases, demands to sign NDAs, and instructions to use unofficial couriers—none of which legitimate federal agencies would do.
familywealthreport.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance fraud—emotional manipulation by scammers to extract money or personal information—has surged significantly in the UK, with over 8,500 reports totaling £92 million in 2024 alone. Elderly and vulnerable individuals are particularly at risk due to isolation, cognitive decline, and limited digital literacy, leaving victims financially depleted and emotionally traumatized. The article recommends practical protective measures including maintaining open family communication, encouraging digital literacy training, monitoring unusual financial behavior, implementing account controls, and leveraging legal tools like Lasting Powers of Attorney to safeguard vulnerable relatives.
cmadocs.org
· 2025-12-08
CMS issued a warning about fraudulent fax requests falsely claiming to be Medicare audits, in which scammers impersonate CMS to trick healthcare providers into releasing medical records. CMS clarified that it does not initiate audits via fax and advised providers to verify all audit requests through Noridian and report suspicious communications to CMS.
wrex.com
· 2025-12-08
Since 2022, businesses across North America have experienced a surge in sophisticated scams—including impersonations, data theft, and fraudulent services—resulting in billions of dollars in losses, according to Better Business Bureau data showing over 3,600 BBB reports and 74,489 FBI reports between 2022-2024. Experts warn that AI-generated fake videos and emails are increasingly used in scams, and the true scale of incidents is likely much higher due to underreporting. Businesses are advised to implement security measures such as employee training, secure payment procedures, firewalls, multifactor authentication, and verification of requests through alternate channels to protect against these threats.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Jensen Beach, Florida, lost $800 to a Facebook scam in which a fraudster impersonating Elon Musk promised her a Tesla and $250,000 in cash, then repeatedly requested Apple Gift Card payments for supposed delivery fees. The scammer used a fake profile with copied images and AI-generated content, moved the conversation to WhatsApp, and exploited urgency and flattery to manipulate the victim into sending multiple payments before she recognized the pattern. Gift cards are favored by scammers because they are untraceable, fast, and nearly impossible to recover once redeemed.
www2.ljworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers have been impersonating Senior Resource Center employees and attempting to sell burial plots to Douglas County residents, prompting the center's director to warn the public that the organization does not sell anything. The FBI reports that cybercriminals stole over $16 billion from Americans in 2024, with people over 60 losing nearly $5 billion; experts recommend the "Stop, Verify and Report" approach—stopping the conversation, verifying legitimacy through trusted sources, and reporting suspected scams to the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using artificial intelligence to impersonate senior government officials and business executives via phone calls and text messages to Canadian and American targets, requesting urgent money transfers or prompting victims to open malicious links that install malware or steal sensitive information. In the first three months of 2025 alone, Canada's Anti-Fraud Centre received nearly 13,000 fraud reports resulting in over $165 million in losses across 9,092 victims. Security experts advise recipients of suspicious urgent requests from authority figures to verify the caller's identity by hanging up and calling back using a known contact method, as AI-generated voices and spoofed numbers make these impersonations increasingly difficult to detect.
evanstonroundtable.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Evanston seniors fell victim to scams in recent months: a 76-year-old woman lost over $102,350 after being tricked into transferring funds to Bitcoin by someone impersonating a Microsoft employee, and an 83-year-old woman nearly lost $12,500 in a Publisher's Clearinghouse sweepstakes scam before loss prevention staff at Jewel-Osco intervened. Police emphasized that prevention requires education, as most scammers operate internationally making arrests rare, and urged families to discuss common scam tactics with vulnerable relatives, particularly impersonation schemes involving grandchildren, financial institutions, tech support, and government agencies.
coastalbreezenews.com
· 2025-12-08
Lunch with Friends hosted over 100 seniors on June 18th at Marco Lutheran Church, where Lieutenant Joseph Belardo from the Marco Island Police Department presented on elder fraud prevention. Lt. Belardo warned that scammers stole $3.4-$6.1 billion from older Americans last year, with tech support scams, government impostor scams, and AI-powered voice cloning being among the most common threats; he advised seniors to be skeptical of unsolicited calls/texts/emails, avoid clicking suspicious links, and verify requests by calling trusted phone numbers directly. The presentation also covered ransomware, malware, and deepfakes, with recommendations to update security software, use V
wsbradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men, Pradip Parikh (67) and Al-Pesh Patel (40), were arrested and charged for operating an international government-imposter telephone scam that defrauded at least 20 victims across the United States, including elderly victims who lost over $600,000. The scammers impersonated federal officials, threatening victims with arrest and asset seizure to coerce them into transferring money to accounts under the defendants' control. Both men await sentencing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Patrick Fraser, a 44-year-old Canadian national, was extradited to the United States and charged with conspiracy and mail fraud for operating prize notification schemes that targeted vulnerable individuals, particularly elderly Americans, by falsely claiming they had won large cash prizes (typically over $1 million) if they paid a small fee. Fraser was arrested in June 2023 and faces up to 20 years in prison per count on a nine-count indictment filed in the District of Las Vegas.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Pradip Parikh, 67, and Alpesh Patel, 40, were convicted for operating an India-based call center scam that defrauded millions of Americans, predominantly elderly victims, by impersonating Social Security Administration officials and threatening arrest to pressure victims into transferring funds to bank accounts they controlled. Victims testified to losing significant sums, including a 70-year-old who transferred over $600,000 and a widowed mother of eight who lost more than $300,000, with the defendants retaining thousands for themselves before laundering the remaining funds. Both were convicted of money laundering and conspiracy charges, with Patel also convicted of wire fraud conspiracy
vietnam.vn
· 2025-12-08
Gen Z individuals in Hanoi fell victim to sophisticated impersonation scams despite growing up with digital literacy. Multiple cases involved fraudsters posing as police officers or bank employees, using psychological pressure and panic tactics to convince victims to transfer money; a 20-year-old lost 1.6 billion VND, another lost nearly 1 billion VND to fake police calls, and a 30-year-old lost 145 million VND total to a fake bank employee scam. The article highlights that scammers succeed not just through deceiving awareness but by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities and crisis-response confusion with constantly evolving scenarios and impersonation tactics.
chronline.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first quarter of 2025, Washington fraud victims lost $38.2 million, with people ages 80 and over suffering the highest median loss of $1,286; "government imposters" remain the most prevalent scam type. Regional law enforcement agencies warned residents about evolving fraud schemes including fake DMV text messages demanding payment, cryptocurrency kiosk scams (which cost Washington $142 million in 2023), and romance scams that defrauded seniors 60+ of $389 million nationally in 2024. Authorities advise residents to verify claims directly with agencies using official contact information and avoid unusual payment methods like cryptocurrency, Venmo, or Pay
spokesman.com
· 2025-12-08
Government agencies across Washington and Idaho are warning residents about multiple active scams, including government imposter schemes, fake DMV text messages demanding payment for traffic violations, romance scams, and cryptocurrency kiosk fraud. In early 2025, Washington fraud victims lost $38.2 million with people ages 80 and older experiencing median losses of $1,286, while Idaho residents lost over $63 million to cybercrimes in 2024, with seniors being predominately targeted. Authorities advise residents never to respond to unsolicited demands for payment and to independently verify any claims by contacting the legitimate agency using official phone numbers rather than information provided by the scammer.
kob.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Service is warning customers about "brushing" scams, where individuals receive unsolicited packages of low-cost items sent by online retailers or third parties using compromised personal information to artificially inflate product reviews and sales rankings. USPS also alerts the public to avoid counterfeit stamps and reminds customers that legitimate postal service messages never include links and to protect personal information. Since launching "Project Safe Delivery" in 2023 to combat mail theft and violence against postal workers, authorities have made 2,800 arrests, including over 1,200 in 2024.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using stolen identities and AI-generated deepfakes to create "ghost students" who fraudulently obtain federal student aid before disappearing, leaving victims with damaged credit scores and fraudulent debt. Criminals obtain personal information through data breaches and phishing, then use AI bots to enroll in classes and trigger financial aid disbursements, while also impersonating FAFSA representatives to steal login credentials and Social Security numbers. To protect against this fraud, students should monitor credit regularly, enable two-factor authentication, and guard sensitive personal information closely.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines seven common Zelle scams and protective measures. Zelle, a money-transfer service used by major U.S. banks, is generally secure but vulnerable to scammer exploitation; the platform announced in November 2023 it would refund victims of certain imposter scams (financial institution, government, and Zelle refund impersonators) but not others like friend/family or romance impersonators. Users are advised to verify the identity of anyone requesting money transfers, use reverse phone lookup tools, and remember that legitimate institutions never request money via phone, text, or email.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Shirley Waller, 43, of Missouri pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy after admitting she aided Nigerian online scammers who defrauded victims of approximately $1.07 million, including a 71-year-old woman who sent $35,000 as part of a romance scam. Waller received cash shipments at her home (over 70 Express Mail packages in 60 days), forwarded portions to Nigeria via cryptocurrency, and was found with $59,150 in seized cash during a court-approved search in January 2024. She also separately pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining a $196,000 mortgage an
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly Americans have lost millions of dollars through Bitcoin ATM scams, with fraud losses surging from $12 million in 2020 to $114 million by 2023, with seniors accounting for two-thirds of reported losses. In response, states and cities have implemented various regulations including transaction limits, licensing requirements, and mandatory operator conversations for large transactions, while Senator Dick Durbin introduced the federal Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to cap daily spending at $2,000 and require refunds if police reports are filed within 30 days. Scammers typically impersonate government agencies, businesses, or tech support, with median losses per victim reaching $10,000.
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-08
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert warning communities about "notario fraud," an immigration scam where unlicensed individuals fraudulently offer immigration legal services by exploiting confusion about what a "notario" is—particularly among Spanish-speaking immigrants who believe it means attorney as it does in their home countries. Only licensed lawyers and accredited representatives can legally provide immigration advice or represent clients in court; victims may end up improperly filing documents or being flagged by ICE. Californians are advised to verify credentials through the American Bar Association, avoid sharing money or personal information with unsolicited contacts, and report scams to the California Department of Justice or local authorities, with free legal assistance
chronline.com
· 2025-12-08
Washington residents lost $38.2 million to fraud in the first quarter of 2025, with people ages 80 and over experiencing the highest median losses of $1,286; "government imposters" represent the most common scam type, including fake DMV text messages demanding payment for traffic violations and romance scams targeting seniors. The FBI reported over 7,600 people age 60 or older lost approximately $389 million in romance scams in 2024, while cryptocurrency kiosk scams cost Washington state $142 million in 2023. Law enforcement agencies advise residents to verify requests independently using official phone numbers, avoid untypical payment methods like cryptocurrency or peer-to
dimsumdaily.hk
· 2025-12-08
**Hong Kong Telephone Scam Operations (June 2025)**
Law enforcement in Hong Kong's New Territories South Region arrested three individuals (ages 22-24) involved in telephone scam syndicates targeting at least 15 victims with losses totaling over HK$10 million (individual losses ranged from HK$140,000 to HK$3 million). The scammers impersonated law enforcement officials using forged documents and fake credentials, falsely accusing victims of mainland crimes and coercing them into payments under threat of arrest and asset freeze; notably, one of the arrested perpetrators was a local law student. Law enforcement warns that youth
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned of cyberattacks resembling Scattered Spider targeting the aviation industry, with confirmed sightings also reported by Google's Mandiant and Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42. Scattered Spider, a group of younger hackers using social engineering and phishing, has previously conducted high-profile breaches including the 2023 MGM Casinos attack and a 2024 Marks & Spencer breach that resulted in over $807 million in market capitalization loss. The advisory notes that airlines, vendors, and contractors across the aviation ecosystem face heightened risk, particularly as third-party breaches have doubled to represent 30% of data breaches in the past year.
daijiworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Goa police are requesting banks to share information about senior citizens with bank balances exceeding Rs 10 lakh to conduct targeted fraud awareness campaigns, as cyber scams targeting elderly residents have surged dramatically. Over nine months, 36 cases of senior citizen fraud were reported in Goa, including 15 "digital arrest" scams where fraudsters impersonating officials coerced victims into transferring large sums; recent arrests include perpetrators of Rs 1 crore and Rs 2.3 crore fraud cases, plus an interstate gang exploiting ATM users. The initiative aims to educate vulnerable elderly individuals about common digital scams and safety practices, recognizing that limited digital literacy an
newuniversity.org
· 2025-12-08
Orange County officially recognized June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day through a Board of Supervisors resolution, highlighting that 14.3% of county residents are age 65 and older and that Adult Protective Services received over 2,500 abuse reports in 2024. Financial exploitation accounts for 40% of these reports, with common schemes including IRS impersonation scams, grandparent scams, and romance scams that deplete victims' savings. The California Department of Justice estimates that only one in six instances of elder abuse is reported statewide, and experts recommend never sharing financial information with unsolicited callers regardless of claimed identity.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In response to a surge in "digital arrest" scams targeting senior citizens in Goa, police have directed banks to implement protective measures including scrutinizing unusual transactions by elderly customers and contacting them before completing large transfers. Fraudsters in these schemes impersonate law enforcement or government officials (police, CBI, RBI, TRAI) to coerce victims into transferring money by falsely accusing them of illegal activities like money laundering. Banks have been instructed to train staff to recognize warning signs, conduct senior-focused awareness campaigns, establish dedicated helplines, and display in-branch warnings about these scams.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman from Hampton, Virginia fell victim to a sophisticated Facebook account takeover scam in which a scammer impersonated her friend, used fake video calls and personal details to gain her trust, and tricked her into sending a recovery code that gave them access to her account. The scammer changed her email and password, locked her out, compromised three Facebook groups she administered, and attempted to purchase $17,000 in bitcoins on her account before she recognized a follow-up scam demanding money. The article provides recovery steps for compromised Facebook accounts and advises victims to report incidents to IC3.gov and Facebook's official support channels rather than third-party support numbers.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies common travel scams targeting tourists in popular cities including Riga, Istanbul, Budapest, Bangkok, and Barcelona, with schemes ranging from inflated taxi fares and fake tours to pickpocketing and restaurant surcharges. The article advises travelers to research local scams, use secure payment methods, verify pricing beforehand, and avoid carrying all valuables to protect themselves from scammers who exploit the confusion and crowding typical of tourist environments.
fisherinvestments.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are employing updated tactics during summer to defraud investors and steal personal information through two primary schemes: a modernized "pump and dump" stock manipulation where fraudsters pose as financial advisers on social media to recruit victims into buying penny stocks (particularly U.S.-listed Chinese companies) before artificially inflating and dumping them; and Social Security fraud involving false benefit applications. The article advises investors to avoid unrealistic get-rich-quick opportunities, base stock decisions on fundamental company analysis rather than tips or hot tips from unverified sources, and ignore unsolicited financial pitches from strangers on social media and messaging apps.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The FTC estimated fraud theft at $158.3 billion in 2023 (approximately $434 million daily), representing a persistent year-over-year increase in criminal activity. While fraud continues to surge, new initiatives such as the Aspen Institute's national fraud strategy and the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center launched in April 2024 aim to coordinate investigations and prosecutions against fraud criminals. Individuals can help combat fraud by reporting scams and educating others about fraud prevention tactics.
pressdemocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
A 21-year-old man was sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding a 78-year-old woman in Hessel of nearly $20,000 through an impersonation scam where he posed as a federal marshal working with others pretending to be bank and Federal Reserve employees. He was arrested when he returned to the victim's home the next day seeking an additional $20,000, as deputies were waiting. The victim expressed in a statement that the crime stole not only her money but her sense of security and trust in people.
news18.com
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Usha Goswami, a retired Indian senior scientist, lost her entire life savings to a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonated law enforcement officials via video call, falsely claiming her Aadhaar number was linked to money laundering and human trafficking. The scammers used fake documents, manipulated videos, and psychological coercion over several days to force her to transfer funds, targeting her as an elderly, educated, law-abiding citizen. The family has reported the case to authorities and is pursuing legal action while raising public awareness about this sophisticated cybercrime targeting vulnerable seniors in India.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired Indian senior scientist and widow, Dr. Usha Goswami, lost her entire life savings to cybercriminals who conducted a "digital arrest scam" involving video calls impersonating law enforcement officials. The scammers accused her of money laundering and human trafficking, presented fabricated documents, and psychologically coerced her into transferring all her savings over several days while keeping her isolated and threatened. Her daughter shared the case publicly to raise awareness about this sophisticated scam that targets educated, elderly people living alone using fear and psychological manipulation as primary weapons.
vietnamnews.vn
· 2025-12-08
Vietnamese authorities issued a nationwide alert about a surge in sophisticated online scams, with cybercriminals using methods including fake government/police impersonation, fake investment platforms, romance scams, and phishing schemes. Police dismantled several major fraud networks, most notably a transnational ring operating in Myanmar and the Philippines that defrauded Vietnamese victims of over $76.58 million, resulting in nearly 100 arrests. The Ministry of Public Security is responding by updating laws, sending over 500 million warning SMS messages, and partnering with tech companies to combat the growing cybercrime threat.
wispolitics.com
· 2025-12-08
The article discusses how military personnel are frequently targeted by scammers and identity thieves who exploit the military community's unique circumstances, with documented losses exceeding $584 million in 2024. July is designated as Military Consumer Protection Month to raise awareness about fraud targeting service members. The full article content is restricted behind a subscription paywall.
dw.com
· 2025-12-08
Interpol reports that human trafficking-fueled online scam centers have expanded globally from Southeast Asia to at least 66 countries across all continents, with victims now sourced from South America, East Africa, and Western Europe in addition to original Chinese-speaking populations. Trafficking victims are lured with fake job offers, held captive, and coerced into committing online fraud targeting people abroad through increasingly sophisticated methods including AI-generated fake ads and deepfake profiles. These criminal networks are intertwined with other transnational crimes including drug and weapons smuggling, prompting Interpol to call for coordinated international action to disrupt trafficking routes and support victims.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Event:** Kolkata Police organized a cyber awareness session under their Pronam initiative that attracted approximately 500 senior citizens to learn about digital fraud prevention.
**Content & Key Advice:** The session included live demonstrations and Q&A discussions on phishing scams, identity theft, and social engineering tactics. Experts provided practical guidance including: not sharing personal information with strangers, keeping social media profiles locked, verifying email links before clicking, using the helpline number 1930 to report fraud attempts, and recognizing red flags in suspicious calls (such as late-night calls from supposed bank officials).
**Participant Experiences:** Several attendees shared near-miss experiences with sc
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity expert Fuad Hamidli is educating New Jersey residents about how scammers manipulate victims by exploiting emotions, impersonating authority figures, and increasingly using AI technology to create fake voices and videos. In 2024, New Jersey consumers reported $321 million in fraud losses, though actual losses are believed to be significantly higher due to underreporting, and scammers employ sophisticated global operations with extensive training in emotional manipulation and behavioral targeting.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
An older Florida couple lost more than $80,000 in a PayPal phishing scam after responding to a fraudulent text message claiming an unauthorized charge on their account, then following the scammers' instructions to wire funds and hand over cash to a courier. The scammers impersonated Norton Security representatives and exploited the victims' confusion about a $50,000 deposit to extract additional payments. This case reflects a broader trend of rising phishing and text message scams, with Americans losing nearly $500 million through text scams in 2024, with seniors over 60 suffering disproportionate losses totaling nearly $5 billion annually.
griffindailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pradip Parikh, 67, and Alpesh Patel, 40, were convicted for operating an India-based call center scam that defrauded millions of Americans, primarily elderly victims, by impersonating Social Security Administration officials and claiming their Social Security numbers had been compromised. The defendants collected over $1 million from victims through controlled bank accounts, including $600,000 from a 70-year-old New Jersey resident and $300,000 from a recently widowed mother of eight, which they laundered and kept portions of for themselves. Parikh was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of money laundering, while Patel
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Kaushalkumar Chaudhary, age 30 from India, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for his role as a "money mule" in a wire fraud conspiracy targeting elderly and vulnerable victims. Working with coconspirators in the U.S. and India, Chaudhary collected cash, gold, and silver from 14 victims by posing as law enforcement officials claiming the victims' accounts were compromised or under investigation, resulting in over $500,000 in losses and a restitution order of $524,947.
unionleader.com
· 2025-12-08
A 38-year-old California man was indicted for his role in a tech-support scam that targeted a 92-year-old New Hampshire woman, in which he attempted to collect $50,000 in cash from her home. The victim received fraudulent calls falsely claiming to be from Apple support and her bank, falsely claiming her computer was hacked and bank account compromised, before being instructed to withdraw cash for pickup. The suspect was arrested on April 8 and faces 7½ to 15 years in prison and a $4,000 fine if convicted.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice dismantled a North Korean government scheme in which citizens impersonated American tech workers to evade sanctions and generate revenue for the Kim regime. The operation involved two arrested Americans who helped steal identities of over 80 U.S. persons, set up "laptop farms" across 16 states to facilitate remote access, and launder salaries through shell companies and bank accounts. Federal authorities seized approximately 200 computers, 21 web domains, and 29 financial accounts linked to the scheme, which had infiltrated more than 100 U.S. companies.
themirror.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity researchers are warning travelers about convincing fake TSA PreCheck websites designed to steal money and personal information, with scammers using AI tools, professional designs, and paid search ads to rank fraudulent sites higher than official government pages. Victims may be charged fake processing fees and have personal data harvested for identity theft or phishing attacks. Experts advise travelers to bypass search results and go directly to the official tsa.gov website, verify the ".gov" domain and padlock security symbol, and avoid clicking top search results that may be malicious advertisements.