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mynorthwest.com
· 2025-12-08
Lynnwood Police arrested a 41-year-old man in California in December for allegedly stealing over $600,000 from retired victims through an impersonation scam involving fake calls from a 1-800 number posing as a U.S. Treasury Agent demanding payment. The suspect was extradited to Washington and charged with first-degree theft and first-degree criminal impersonation. Police emphasized that legitimate federal agencies never call demanding money and urged the public to hang up on such calls and report them immediately.
slguardian.org
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams targeting new investors are rising, including pump-and-dump schemes on meme coins, romance scams (causing $185 million in losses from 2021-2022), and fraudulent investment schemes promising unrealistic returns ($575 million in losses). Protection strategies include never sending crypto to strangers, verifying contact sources before engagement, and avoiding blackmail attempts, as cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible.
wxii12.com
· 2025-12-08
Davidson County Sheriff's Office warns residents of phone scams where fraudsters impersonate sheriff's office or court officials, claiming victims have outstanding warrants or missed court dates and demanding payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cash. Sheriff Richie Simmons emphasized that his office never requests money from citizens and noted that elderly individuals have lost significant sums to these scams, with some victims giving "their last dime." Simmons recommends victims pause before responding, consult trusted sources or contact the sheriff's office directly to verify claims, as scammers are often located outside the country and recovery is nearly impossible.
advantagenews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers use counterfeit coupons distributed through websites, social media, text messages, and emails to steal personal information and money from consumers. Common tactics include fake coupon websites appearing during major retailer closures or requiring paid subscriptions for digital or mailed coupons that never arrive or are fraudulent, allowing scammers to capture victims' personal and financial details.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
A "smishing" scam is circulating nationwide, with criminals sending text messages impersonating state tolling agencies and claiming recipients owe overdue tolls, with the goal of obtaining one-time bank verification codes to fraudulently enroll stolen credit cards in Apple Pay or Google Pay. The scam software was built in China and sold to criminal gangs worldwide, and multiple Local 4 News staff members received these fraudulent messages. Experts recommend immediately blocking such messages, reporting them as spam, and never clicking links or providing one-time verification codes.
dakotanewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in the Sioux Falls region are impersonating law enforcement and the IRS to defraud residents through phone calls and text messages. In one recent case, a 64-year-old woman lost $2,000 after a caller falsely claimed she had outstanding warrants and threatened immediate jail if she visited the sheriff's office in person. Experts advise that these scams exploit fear and authority, use pressure tactics to cloud judgment, and often involve requests to pay money upfront—a red flag since legitimate government agencies never contact people unsolicited via phone, text, or social media to demand payment.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Drivers across multiple states are being targeted by a phishing scam impersonating EZDriveMA, Massachusetts' electronic toll collection system, with fraudulent texts claiming small unpaid tolls of $6.99 that direct victims to fake websites to steal personal and financial information. The scam has generated thousands of complaints to the FBI, with Massachusetts residents as primary victims, though texts have been sent nationwide, prompting alerts from highway authorities across six New England states and New York. Authorities advise recipients never to click links in such messages, as the legitimate EZDriveMA system never requests payment by text and only communicates through www.EZDriveMA.com.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
An E-ZPass scam text claims recipients have unpaid tolls and threatens fines or license suspension, directing them to click a malicious link. The scam texts typically originate from Philippine phone numbers (+63 country code) and use urgent language and suspicious URLs to deceive victims. The Federal Trade Commission advises recipients not to click links, contact their tolling agency directly to verify, and report/delete the messages, as clicking could expose personal information and enable identity theft.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Authorities are warning the public about a widespread phishing scam involving text messages falsely claiming unpaid toll fees, with scammers impersonating legitimate services like FastTrak and EZdriveMA to trick victims into entering banking and credit card information. The scam texts contain malicious links that can expose personal data and lead to identity theft; victims should avoid clicking links, verify sender legitimacy, and report suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM). These text-based scams originate internationally and represent a growing threat across the United States.
teltarif.de
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are conducting "quishing" scams on classifieds websites, where they contact sellers posing as buyers and send QR codes that appear to link to secure payment confirmation but actually redirect to phishing sites designed to steal credit card information. One seller lost €5,000 after scanning a malicious QR code while attempting to sell a laptop case. Consumer groups advise verifying payment procedures independently, scrutinizing websites before entering sensitive information, contacting banks immediately if compromised, and reporting fraudulent activity to platforms and authorities.
mothership.sg
· 2025-12-08
Singaporeans lost at least S$385.6 million to various scams in the first half of 2024, including e-commerce fraud, job scams, investment schemes, and government impersonation scams. The article highlights specific cases such as a luggage scam that defrauded 19 victims of S$7,000 and a Facebook egg scam that cost a family their life savings of S$150,000. Singapore's response includes the ScamShield app and helpline (1799) designed to identify scam messages and calls, block fraudulent numbers, and provide immediate assistance to potential victims.
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers are targeting older adults through calls, texts, emails, and door-to-door visits, falsely offering free in-home services like cooking and cleaning while actually attempting to fraudulently enroll them in Medicare hospice care to bill for unnecessary services. Legitimate hospice care requires doctor certification that a patient has six months or less to live, and improper enrollment can negatively affect future Medicare coverage. Consumers should never share their Medicare number for "free" services, agree to hospice enrollment for gifts or money, or provide information to anyone claiming to be from Medicare at their door.
wydaily.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides fraud prevention guidance covering five key areas: strengthening online security through strong passwords and multi-factor authentication while avoiding public Wi-Fi; donating safely by verifying charities and using credit cards; utilizing wireless provider scam protection features like robocall blocking; monitoring package deliveries with tracking and smart cameras; and staying informed through resources like the FTC and reporting suspicious activity. The article emphasizes that scammers operate continuously and offers practical steps individuals can take to protect themselves from phishing, identity theft, charitable fraud, robocalls, and package theft.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending phishing text messages claiming unpaid toll fees from legitimate services like FastTrak and EZdriveMA to trick recipients into clicking malicious links and revealing banking and credit card information. Authorities warn that legitimate toll services do not contact non-account holders via text, and recommend avoiding clicking links in suspicious messages, verifying sender legitimacy, and reporting scams to 7726 (SPAM).
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS is sending legitimate $1,400 Economic Impact Payments to eligible individuals by late January 2025, but scammers are impersonating the IRS via text messages to trick recipients into clicking malicious links and revealing personal information like Social Security numbers and addresses. The IRS never initiates contact via text, email, or social media to request personal information, so recipients should ignore these scam texts and verify eligibility directly through irs.gov to protect themselves from identity theft and fraudulent tax returns filed in their names.
trinidadexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old grandmother from Sangre Grande was reported missing after traveling to Brazil to meet a man posing as the Crown Prince of Dubai via Facebook and WhatsApp in a romance scam; the same week, a French interior decorator lost €830,000 to someone impersonating Brad Pitt. Romance scams exploit victims' emotional needs for connection and intimacy through careful trust-building, with scammers using fabricated stories to request money; in Trinidad and Tobago alone, over 100 people lost more than $2.3 million to suspected romance scams between 2020 and 2021.
wjcl.com
· 2025-12-08
At least two people in Chatham County fell victim to a kidnapping phone scam in which callers claimed a family member had been kidnapped and demanded ransom payments. Scammers used spoofed numbers appearing to come from family members and enhanced the deception with sounds of crying or threats of violence in the background. Police advise victims to immediately hang up and directly call the family member to verify their safety, and to never provide banking information or agree to deliver cash or gift cards.
crowdfundinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance fraud remains a persistent threat, with scammers creating fake online identities on social media and dating apps to build trust with victims before manipulating them into sending money. Bank of Ireland warns consumers to remain vigilant, noting that red flags include refusals to video call, overly rapid declarations of love, and requests for money, and emphasizes that victims should never send funds to individuals they have only interacted with online. The bank calls for stronger platform safeguards and notes that many cases go unreported due to victim shame, with survivors experiencing significant financial losses and emotional trauma.
torontosun.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Mississauga women and one man were charged in connection with lottery scams targeting elderly victims across Canada between 2019-2023, in which seniors were defrauded of over $57,000 combined by being promised large cash prizes if they paid upfront fees and taxes. Arja Donaldson (50) and Latoya Hayden (37) were charged with fraud and possession of property obtained by crime, while an arrest warrant was issued for Andrew Baker (31) for possession of property obtained by crime. Peel Regional Police advise residents to avoid sending money or personal information to unknown parties and direct anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
doj.nh.gov
· 2025-12-08
New Hampshire's Attorney General issued a consumer alert warning of increasing lottery and sweepstakes scams targeting older adults, in which scammers falsely claim victims have won contests like Publishers Clearing House and demand upfront fees (taxes, legal fees, processing fees) ranging up to $8,500 via wire transfer, Bitcoin ATM, or gift cards. The alert advises that legitimate lotteries never require payment to claim prizes, unsolicited callers claiming to be from PCH should be ignored, and victims should report incidents to local police, the Attorney General's office, or the Department of Health and Human Services.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers nationwide are sending phishing text messages impersonating toll agencies like FastTrak and EZdriveMA, claiming recipients owe unpaid toll fees and directing them to click links to steal personal and financial information. Authorities including the California Attorney General warn that these messages appear authentic and exploit drivers' fear of penalties to trick them into entering banking details. Consumers should avoid clicking links, verify messages through official agency contacts, report suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM), and file complaints with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
wrhi.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing (SMS phishing) is a scam where fraudsters send text messages impersonating legitimate organizations like banks or delivery companies to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive information such as passwords and credit card numbers. Common smishing schemes include fake bank alerts, delivery notifications, and gift card offers that create urgency to bypass critical thinking. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, verify sources directly with official company numbers, enable two-factor authentication, and report suspicious messages to your carrier (7726) or the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
tomsguide.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning about evolved "brushing" scams, where fraudsters send unsolicited packages to victims using stolen personal information, but now include malicious QR codes on cards or notes that direct recipients to phishing websites designed to steal credentials, financial information, and device data through malware infection. While victims can legally keep the unwanted packages, the FTC advises protecting oneself by avoiding unknown QR codes, using strong unique passwords with multi-factor authentication, monitoring credit reports, and installing antivirus software. This scam indicates personal information compromise and increased exposure to identity theft.
wsoctv.com
· 2025-12-08
Over $1.03 trillion was lost to scams globally in 2024, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence, imposter tactics, and evolving technology to deceive victims. Key emerging threats include AI-powered phishing, deepfake videos, and voice cloning, alongside traditional imposter scams (including grandparent and romance scams) where median losses reached $800-$14,740 depending on the scam type. Scammers are shifting from phone calls to email and text messages as their primary contact method, making it essential for people to remain skeptical of unsolicited communications.
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams and fraud losses reached over $1.03 trillion globally in 2024, with scammers increasingly leveraging new technology to evolve their tactics. Key emerging threats for 2025 include AI-powered scams (using deepfakes, AI-generated images, and synthetic voices to enhance phishing and imposter schemes), traditional imposter scams (including grandparent and romance scams, with median losses of $800 in 2023 and $14,740 for government imposter scams), and a shift toward email and text-based contact methods rather than phone calls. Learning about these developments helps potential victims stay ahead of scammers who aim to steal personal information
flyingpenguin.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot summarize this article as requested because it does not meet the standards for the Elderus database.
This piece is not a factual report about a scam or fraud incident. Instead, it contains:
- Unsubstantiated conspiracy theories and personal attacks
- Inflammatory rhetoric mixing unrelated historical claims with product criticism
- Opinion and editorialization rather than documented fraud cases or victim accounts
- No verifiable data about actual elder fraud, victims, or financial losses
For the Elderus database, I require articles that document specific, verified fraud schemes with identifiable victims, confirmed financial losses, and factual details about how the scam operated. This piece does not qualify.
columbiamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
An educational presentation at the Adair County Extension Office by Shellie A. May from Kentucky's Office of Senior Protection addressed identity theft prevention for seniors. The presentation explained how identity theft occurs (through data breaches, phishing, and physical theft), identified common tactics (dumpster diving, mail theft, password compromise), and provided protective measures including regular credit monitoring, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and statement review. Consumers can report scams to the Kentucky Attorney General's office at ag.ky.gov/scams or 1-888-432-9257.
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
During tax season, the IRS warns taxpayers to be cautious of scams, noting that the agency only initiates official contact with taxpayers via mail for tax documentation, not through other means. The warning alerts people to fraudulent schemes that may impersonate the IRS during the filing season.
winchesterstar.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens in Frederick County lost at least $2.6 million to scams in 2023, part of a statewide trend where Virginia residents over 60 lost more than $94 million that year. The Top of Virginia TRIAD, a law enforcement initiative, is hosting three educational classes and an expo in 2025 covering topics including financial planning, health resources, and personal safety to help seniors protect themselves from fraud and exploitation.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
A successful California businessman lost over $700,000 in a crypto romance scam after meeting a woman online who posed as an investment partner, showing him falsified wallet gains of $2 million before blocking his withdrawal attempts. Romance scams in cryptocurrency are increasingly common because the sector lacks banking-level regulatory oversight and uses anonymous wallets that make it nearly impossible to trace stolen funds once they are transferred through crypto mixers. Investors must exercise heightened due diligence when approached with unsolicited investment opportunities, particularly in the crypto space, as the combination of emotional manipulation and regulatory gaps creates significant vulnerability to fraud.
atg.wa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Washington's Attorney General's Office warned residents to watch for charity scams exploiting donations for California wildfire relief efforts. The advisory urged donors to research charities before giving, verify tax-exempt status, avoid high-pressure tactics, and report suspicious solicitations to protect themselves from fraudulent organizations using deceptive names and websites.
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence and deepfakes to commit fraud, with consumers losing over $10 billion to fraud in 2023—a 14% increase from the previous year. Notable incidents include a $25 million deepfake video call scam targeting a Hong Kong firm employee and widespread AI-powered phishing schemes that bypass traditional detection systems. Experts project fraud losses could reach $40 billion in the U.S. by 2027 if current trends continue, with investment scams and imposter scams being the most prevalent threats targeting bank customers.
govtech.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission warned about a surge in SMS phishing scams (smishing) impersonating toll road agencies like EZDriveMA, North Texas Toll Authority, and Sunpass, with texts containing fake toll charges and links designed to steal banking and credit card information. The scams, orchestrated by Chinese groups using newly available spoofing kits, represent a shift from package delivery fraud schemes and aim to extract personal financial data from victims. The FTC recommends verifying toll charges through official agency contact information, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and reporting fraudulent texts to prevent becoming a victim.
universe.byu.edu
· 2025-12-08
U.S. consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023, a 14% increase from 2022's $8.8 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scams are becoming more sophisticated and prevalent, particularly through phishing emails, voice phishing (vishing), and voice cloning technology that can impersonate victims' loved ones to extort money. Cybersecurity experts warn that artificial intelligence is enabling scammers to target people across all age groups more effectively, and that no demographic is immune to fraud.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax scammers are expected to escalate their tactics during 2025 tax season, employing AI-generated phishing emails, fake tax preparers, IRS imposter phone calls, and social media schemes to steal money and personal information from taxpayers. These scams can result in significant financial losses, identity theft, and emotional harm to victims. Protection strategies include verifying communications directly with the IRS through official channels, vetting tax preparers for credentials like a PTIN, ignoring unsolicited urgent payment demands, and avoiding suspicious social media offers.
business-reporter.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
CEO gift card fraud is a seasonal scam where attackers impersonate senior executives to trick employees into purchasing gift cards, exploiting holiday goodwill and busy schedules. Modern variants use sophisticated tactics including spoofed emails, social media reconnaissance, and generative AI to create convincing messages that bypass traditional email defenses, with these attacks increasingly enabled by cyber-crime-as-a-service platforms and tools like GhostGPT. Organizations face financial losses and reputational damage when falling victim, as these text-based scams lack obvious red flags that standard security systems are designed to catch.
mykeenenow.com
· 2025-12-08
New Hampshire elderly residents are experiencing a surge in lottery and sweepstakes scams, where perpetrators falsely claim victims have won prizes like Publishers Clearing House and demand upfront fees for taxes or processing through wire transfers, Bitcoin ATMs, or gift cards, with some victims losing $8,500 or more. Attorney General John M. Formella advises residents that legitimate lotteries never require payment to release winnings, unsolicited winning notices should be ignored, and PCH never calls winners in advance—victims should verify directly at 1-800-392-4190 and report suspected scams to local police or the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Bureau.
bgindependentmedia.org
· 2025-12-08
Three senior citizens in Bowling Green lost over $32,000 to scammers within four days, using different methods including gift cards, Bitcoin, and cash. The incidents involved a 78-year-old woman tricked into purchasing $8,000 in gift cards after being told her Apple card was compromised, a 60-year-old woman who withdrew $20,000 in cash after a fake Geek Squad scam, and a third unreported victim. Police Lieutenant Ryan Tackett advised seniors to verify message sources, refuse suspicious payment requests, seek help from trusted contacts, and treat unsolicited requests with skepticism.
news.syr.edu
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other government agencies to target international students via email and phone, claiming visa issues exist and demanding urgent payments through gift cards. ITS advises that legitimate government agencies never demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers, and victims should report such contact to the ITS Helpdesk rather than responding to the fraudsters.
timesleader.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday issued a consumer warning ahead of Super Bowl LIX, alerting residents to ticket scams and merchandise fraud targeting eager fans traveling to New Orleans. The advisory recommends consumers purchase tickets only from legitimate websites like Ticketmaster and StubHub, avoid third-party sellers and suspicious URLs, use credit cards rather than gift cards or wire transfers, and conduct in-person transactions in safe locations. Victims of Super Bowl-related scams can file complaints with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
chronicleonline.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes common scams targeting people of all ages, particularly elderly individuals, including fake virus warnings, fraudulent Medicare calls, package delivery texts, and voice recording schemes. The Citrus County Sheriff's Office is hosting a free public presentation by fraud detectives on February 3rd at the Homosassa Public Library to educate community members on how to recognize and protect themselves from con artists and scammers.
nbcchicago.com
· 2025-12-08
kxii.com
· 2025-12-08
During tax season, scammers increase fraudulent activity through multiple methods including tax identity theft, IRS impersonation via phone/email/text, fake tax preparation services, and phishing links to counterfeit websites. The IRS will only contact taxpayers by mail, never through phone, email, or text, and experts recommend setting up an IRS PIN to prevent criminals from filing fraudulent returns on victims' behalf.
roi-nj.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines how scams have evolved over two decades, becoming increasingly sophisticated with AI technology enabling scammers to impersonate voices and identities of loved ones and authority figures. The article identifies common fraud targets as elderly people and veterans, with typical schemes including romance scams, fake employment offers using fraudulent checks, impersonation of government officials, and advance-fee schemes. Key prevention strategies include recognizing red flags such as urgent pressure, unusual payment methods, grammar errors, and implementing protective measures like monitoring accounts, using strong passwords, and setting spending limits.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season scams employ increasingly sophisticated tactics including phishing emails impersonating the IRS, phone calls demanding immediate payment, fraudulent tax return filings to claim refunds, and fake tax preparers on social media platforms. Scammers exploit fear and urgency to pressure victims into revealing sensitive information or making payments. Taxpayers can protect themselves by filing early, verifying IRS communications directly, using secure internet connections, monitoring tax accounts, and only using IRS-registered tax preparers.
lexology.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource from a law firm specializing in online fraud describes "pig-butchering" scams—sophisticated schemes where fraudsters build trust with victims over weeks or months through romantic or business relationships, then pressure them to invest large sums in fake opportunities like cryptocurrency or real estate projects. The article provides warning signs including high-pressure tactics, unrealistic returns, cryptocurrency payment requests, and offshore transfers, and recommends victims conduct background checks, research platforms, seek legal advice early, and stay informed about common fraud tactics. The firm notes it receives approximately 100 victim requests monthly but can only accept cases involving losses exceeding $500,000 due to the complex, resource-intensive nature of
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly personalizing financial fraud tactics by targeting specific demographics based on vulnerabilities and life circumstances, similar to legitimate business marketing strategies. A 2024 PYMNTS Intelligence report found that approximately 3 in 10 U.S. consumers (77 million people) lost money to scams over the past five years, with most victims losing over $500, and that different age groups face different scam risks—such as Gen Z being three times more likely to fall victim to employment scams while older consumers face higher rates of fake eCommerce and identity theft scams. Financial institutions play a critical role in protecting customers by understanding scam tactics and the broader psychological and emotional damage these
newcastlepacer.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, adults aged 60 and older filed over 100,000 fraud complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, losing more than $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from the previous year. Oklahoma's Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready outlines common scams targeting older adults, including phishing, Medicare and health insurance fraud, and tech support scams, and recommends protection strategies such as staying skeptical of unsolicited communications, avoiding sharing personal information online, and immediately reporting suspected fraud to relevant authorities including the FTC, Social Security Administration, or financial institutions.
police.boston.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Boston Police Department warns that cryptocurrency scams are rising significantly, with losses in Boston alone expected to exceed $9 million in 2024 and anticipated to grow further in 2025. Common schemes include investment fraud promising guaranteed returns, blackmail and extortion demanding crypto payments, and imposter scams where fraudsters pose as banks, government agencies, or employers to trick victims into transferring funds. To protect themselves, residents should verify investment opportunities through official sources, never share crypto wallet information, be skeptical of unsolicited contacts and social media ads, and report suspected fraud to authorities or the Federal Trade Commission.