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hermoney.com
· 2025-12-08
Online dating scams, tech support fraud, and fake e-commerce websites represent increasingly sophisticated threats that affect people across all age groups. In 2023, online dating scams alone generated 64,003 reports with $1.14 billion in losses, with scammers using months of emotional manipulation and professionally researched personal details to build false trust before requesting money. The article provides preventative strategies including reverse image searches for dating profiles, verification of tech support legitimacy through official company websites, and use of scam-detection tools before purchasing from unfamiliar retailers.
prweb.com
· 2025-12-08
RangersAI announced two new features in its ScamRanger app to combat elder fraud and scams: Guardian Mode, which allows vulnerable users to designate trusted contacts who receive scam alerts and can provide support, and a WhatsApp Agent that delivers real-time scam detection directly within WhatsApp. The app detects over 130 scam types across SMS, email, and chat platforms, addressing a global scam crisis exceeding $1 trillion in losses annually.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-eight alleged members of a Chinese organized crime ring operating since at least 2019 were charged in federal indictments for a $65 million fraud scheme targeting thousands of seniors across the United States, including a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor's widow who lost her entire life savings. The network, composed primarily of Chinese nationals working with India-based call centers, used impersonation and psychological manipulation to trick victims into wiring money, with scammers posing as technical support agents or government officials and often convincing victims they had received mistaken refunds. After a nationwide takedown operation, 25 defendants were arrested, $4.2 million was seized from financial accounts
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Two New Jersey brothers, Abhishek and Tushar Barvalia, allegedly defrauded four elderly women (ages 76-90) out of nearly $400,000 between June 2023 and January 2024 by impersonating government agents, bank representatives, and Microsoft/FTC officials and convincing them their accounts were compromised or involved in illegal activity. The victims, located in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and Connecticut, were manipulated into withdrawing cash or sending cashier's checks to accounts controlled by the defendants, with individual losses ranging from $15,000 to $171,680. The brothers face charges of second-degree gran
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
The grandparent scam tricks seniors into sending money to scammers posing as distressed grandchildren or relatives in crisis. Scammers exploit grandparents' emotional vulnerability and willingness to help by researching personal information online, impersonating authority figures, and requesting untraceable payments via wire transfer or gift cards. Modern variants use sophisticated technology including caller ID spoofing and AI voice cloning to appear more convincing, making these scams increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate requests.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
According to AARP data, older Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams and fraud in 2024, representing a 25% increase from 2023, with imposter scams being the most common type. Scammers target seniors by posing as government officials, companies like Amazon and PayPal, or Medicare representatives, using phone calls, texts, and emails to request money or personal information. Experts advise seniors to verify all claims directly with organizations, avoid clicking links from unsolicited contacts, and remain cautious about sharing personal or financial information.
wdbj7.com
· 2025-12-08
The Virginia Tech Police Department warned of multiple ongoing scams targeting students and community members, including fake football ticket sales via social media (where scammers pose as alumni and accept payment through apps like Venmo but never deliver tickets), sextortion schemes targeting male students (where scammers pose as attractive women, solicit intimate photos, then blackmail victims), fraudulent job offers involving fake checks that students are asked to cash and return funds for, and impersonation scams where scammers pose as family or friends requesting gift card payments. The department provided prevention advice for each scam type, emphasizing purchasing from official vendors, never sending intimate photos to unknown contacts, verifying checks through banks, and carefully ver
fca.org.uk
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters impersonating the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) conducted nearly 5,000 scams in the first half of 2025, with 480 victims losing money through various schemes including fake crypto recovery claims, loan recovery promises, and "pig butchering" romantic investment scams. Older consumers aged 56+ accounted for almost two-thirds of reported cases, with scammers targeting vulnerable victims by requesting bank PINs, passwords, and additional funds under the pretense of regulatory assistance or debt recovery.
oag.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an alert about ongoing text-based scam activity targeting state taxpayers, in which scammers impersonate the California Franchise Tax Board to trick victims into providing personal and financial information under the guise of tax refunds. These government imposter scams are part of a larger fraud problem, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods. Consumers are advised to avoid clicking links in suspicious texts, verify messages directly with official agencies, and report suspected tax fraud to the IRS or California Franchise Tax Board.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired merchant navy officer, Surya Pal Singh, and his 100-year-old father, Hardev Singh, lost Rs 1.29 crore in a "digital arrest" scam in Lucknow. Scammers impersonated a CBI officer, sent a fake arrest notice via WhatsApp claiming money laundering charges, and convinced the victims to transfer funds through multiple RTGS transactions to various accounts between August 21-26. The fraud was discovered only after the transfers were completed, with payments dispersed to accounts in Bhavnagar, Panaji, and Jalgaon.
onmanorama.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired Kerala couple—Dr. S Lathika (72) and Shankaran Bhattathiri (69)—lost ₹2.4 crore in a "digital arrest" scam after receiving a call claiming to be from TRAI about a money-laundering investigation. The scammers held them in a continuous video call for 11 days, preventing them from disconnecting even at night, monitoring their movements, and threatening arrest while forcing them to transfer funds. The psychological control was so severe that Dr. Lathika delayed cancer treatment to comply with the scammers' restrictions, only visiting a hospital after days of pleading.
asianbankingandfinance.net
· 2025-12-08
Between October 2024 and June 2025, ANZ prevented and recovered over A$100 million in scam and fraud-related funds while reducing customer financial losses to scams by 15% compared to the previous year. The bank's first responders team resolved 93% of scam-related calls at first contact and authenticated nearly 30,000 calls through its new CallSafe feature launched in November 2024. ANZ customers who maintained default Scam Safe protections were 19 times less likely to fall victim to scams than those who disabled protective features.
people.com
· 2025-12-08
Dan Smoker lost $17,000 after a United Airlines customer service agent transferred him to a scammer posing as "David" who claimed to rebook his family's cancelled flights to Europe. The scammer convinced Smoker the $17,328 charge would be refunded later, but the refund never materialized and David's number became blocked when Smoker followed up. United Airlines confirmed their agent had Googled a fake Lufthansa phone number and transferred Smoker to the scammer by mistake; the airline refunded some associated costs but not the original $17,000, leaving Smoker to dispute the charge with American Express.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida retiree lost approximately $90,000 in retirement savings to a romance scam and cryptocurrency scam over five years, forcing him to take out a home equity line of credit and accumulate debt. His daughter Sarah sought advice on how to help her father while protecting her own family's finances, with experts emphasizing the need for boundaries and compassionate communication. The case underscores a broader crisis: Americans aged 60 and older reported $4.88 billion in fraud losses in 2024, a 43% increase from 2023, with impersonation scams increasingly targeting older adults' life savings.
twistedsifter.com
· 2025-12-08
A TikTok educator shared her experience with a jury duty scam in which a caller with no caller ID impersonated a sheriff's office deputy, claiming she had failed to appear for jury duty and providing personal details like her name and address to appear legitimate. She recognized the call as fraudulent, did not comply with the scammer's demands, and confirmed with her local police department's non-emergency line that legitimate jury duty failures are always communicated by mail, never by phone calls.
spokesman.com
· 2025-12-08
A 51-year-old former postal inspector in Massachusetts was arrested and charged with 45 counts, including stealing over $330,000 from elderly victims (average age 75) who had been defrauded by lottery scams and mailed cash to scammers. Kelley, who ironically led the Mail Fraud Unit investigating such scams, intercepted packages flagged by the Postal Service's anti-fraud algorithm, stole the cash from victims attempting to recover their losses, and laundered the money through money orders and multiple bank accounts to fund personal expenses including a pool patio and Caribbean cruise. He also stole $7,000 from an evidence locker and falsely blamed another inspector
koat.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old certified nurse assistant in New Mexico, April Guadalupe Hernandez, was charged with 19 counts of misconduct including nursing without a license, identity theft, abuse of a resident, and fraud for falsifying nursing credentials and stealing identities of nurses from Texas, California, and Kansas. Over one year, Hernandez worked at three hospice centers using different name variations, claiming to hold higher nursing credentials than she possessed, and made a potentially fatal medication error (an overdose of morphine) that was caught before administration; she has an arraignment scheduled for September 8th.
benzinga.com
· 2025-12-08
Sarah's widowed father lost $80,000-$90,000 in retirement savings to a romance scam and additional cryptocurrency scams over five years, forcing him to take out a home equity line of credit to cover the losses. The case highlighted the importance of setting financial boundaries within families and approaching victims with empathy rather than judgment to encourage them to seek help. According to the FBI, Americans aged 60 and older reported $4.88 billion in fraud losses in 2024—a 43% increase from 2023—with the FTC warning that impersonation scams are increasingly targeting older adults' life savings.
cityam.com
· 2025-12-08
The UK's Financial Conduct Authority received nearly 5,000 impersonation scam reports in the first half of 2025, with almost 500 victims losing money to fraudsters posing as the regulator through tactics including fake crypto recovery claims, bogus court judgements, and romance scams. Fraud has become the UK's most common crime, accounting for over 40 percent of offenses and causing £1.17 billion in losses in 2024, with criminals increasingly exploiting trust in regulatory institutions themselves to target vulnerable consumers, particularly those over 56. The surge highlights systemic gaps in fraud defense, requiring coordinated action across financial services firms, insurers, and government to
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) reported nearly 5,000 fake FCA scams in the first half of 2025, with fraudsters primarily targeting people over 56 years old by impersonating the regulator to extract sensitive information and money. Common schemes include falsely claiming recovered crypto funds, offering to recover losses from previous loan scams, or claiming County Court Judgements have been issued, resulting in 480 victims sending money to scammers. The FCA also warned of "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build personal relationships with victims before conducting investment fraud, then attempt a second fraud by posing as the FCA to "recover" the lost money
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old man in Noida was defrauded of Rs 3.14 crore in a "digital arrest" scam where fraudsters impersonated government officials (TRAI, police, CBI, Supreme Court) and convinced him he was involved in money laundering, keeping him and his wife under virtual surveillance for 15 days before the deception was discovered. Cybercrimes against seniors have surged 86% between 2020-2022, with common scams including digital arrest, investment fraud, deepfakes, government impersonation, and OTP theft, exploiting seniors' vulnerability to trust-based and fear-based tactics.
mercurynews.com
· 2025-12-08
YouTubers conducting "scambait" sting operations in 2020-2021 provided crucial evidence that helped federal prosecutors dismantle a Chinese organized crime group that defrauded more than 2,000 elderly victims of approximately $65 million across the United States. The scheme, operated primarily by Chinese nationals working with Indian call centers, targeted seniors (average age 70+) through phone calls, emails, and pop-up ads, using social engineering tactics to trick victims into wire transfers, cash shipments, and gift card payments by impersonating bank employees or government officials. Twenty-five of 28 indicted defendants were arrested and face federal charges including mail fraud, wire fraud,
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A former U.S. Postal Inspector, Scott Kelley, was arrested and charged in a 45-count indictment for stealing over $330,000 in cash from packages mailed by elderly scam victims between 2019 and 2023, then laundering the money and evading taxes. As Team Leader of the Mail Fraud Unit investigating lottery scams targeting seniors, Kelley exploited his position to intercept approximately 1,950 packages flagged by the USPIS algorithm, opening and stealing cash from parcels—with identified victims averaging 75 years old losing between $1,400 and $19,100 each. Additionally, Kelley st
ctnewsjunkie.com
· 2025-12-08
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued a warning to students about job recruitment scams involving fake emails and texts impersonating companies like Tesla and Indeed.com, promising unrealistic pay for minimal work. Scammers attempt to obtain personal information like Social Security numbers, application fees, or trick victims into depositing fake checks and transferring funds. The advisory provides red flags including suspicious sender addresses, foreign country codes, requests for payment, and urgency tactics, along with steps to verify legitimate opportunities through official company contacts and career services offices.
doj.state.or.us
· 2025-12-08
The Oregon Department of Justice warned of scammers impersonating lawyers to defraud victims, with two reported cases resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. In one case, a victim met someone on the dating app Hinge who posed as an attorney offering investment services and transferred funds; in another, scammers gained unauthorized access to attorney and client email accounts to intercept a $700,000+ settlement payment using false wiring instructions. The advisory recommends verifying legal and financial communications through direct phone contact with known numbers and advises victims to report incidents to the FBI, local police, and financial regulatory agencies.
wowt.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams are rapidly increasing, costing Americans $470 million last year, with common schemes involving fake package deliveries, job offers, bank alerts, toll notices, and DMV impersonations designed to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or divulging personal information. The BBB advises consumers to be suspicious of unsolicited texts—especially those demanding immediate action—to never share personal information with unknown senders, and to report suspicious messages to the BBB Scam Tracker or Internet Crime Complaint Center.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This AARP educational piece emphasizes three key protective measures against fraud: recognizing that most scams are run by organized international criminal networks (not individuals), taking proactive financial safeguards like strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and credit freezes, and reporting fraud to local police and the FBI's IC3.gov to help expose the true scale of the problem. The article also highlights emerging threats including AI-powered deepfake scams in banking, peer-to-peer payment app fraud (where scammers impersonate loved ones or create fake transactions), and identity theft, while advocating for federal legislation to combat AI-enabled financial crimes.
arise.tv
· 2025-12-08
Daniel Chima Inweregbu, a 40-year-old Nigerian man, pleaded guilty to romance scam fraud charges for his role in a scheme that defrauded American citizens of over $405,000 between July 2017 and December 2018. He and his co-conspirators used online platforms to pose as "Larry Pham," building fake romantic relationships with victims before requesting money under false pretenses and laundering the proceeds through intermediaries. Inweregbu faces up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $750,000 total upon sentencing scheduled for December 4, 2025, and this is his second conviction for romance fraud.
tnonline.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cybersecurity Association of Pennsylvania warns of sophisticated "phantom hacker" scams targeting seniors, which involve multiple phases of social engineering where criminals impersonate tech support, bank representatives, and government officials to manipulate victims into transferring funds or granting computer access. Nearly half of victims nationwide are over 60, with seniors representing two-thirds of losses totaling over $1 billion, and scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to make attacks more convincing. Experts advise families to educate seniors on red flags—such as requests for wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid cards—and to report suspicious contacts to local FBI offices or the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
gulfcoastnewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
A Cape Coral resident fell victim to a text message scam impersonating the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, claiming he owed $6.69 for a toll violation and threatening license revocation. Over 12,000 similar government impersonation scams were reported in Florida this year, resulting in losses exceeding $26 million. Authorities advise verifying such messages by contacting toll agencies directly, avoiding clicking links or sharing financial information, and reporting suspicious messages to the Federal Trade Commission.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A financial expert shares insights on common scams targeting individuals and businesses, with particular focus on the "emergency bank fraud" call scam where fraudsters impersonate bank employees to trick victims into moving funds to fraudulent accounts. One client lost $25,000 after receiving such a call, while another lost $50,000 due to password reuse that allowed scammers access to multiple accounts. The expert recommends protection measures including unique passwords managed through password managers, multifactor authentication on all accounts, and staying informed about current scam tactics to recognize red flags before falling victim.
theriverbanknews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article reports that scams cost Americans $16.6 billion in 2024, with 73 percent of U.S. adults experiencing online scams or attacks. The piece outlines common red flags—unsolicited contact, promises of easy money, requests for personal information or upfront payments—and describes prominent scam types including counterfeit merchandise, charity fraud, cryptocurrency investment schemes, bogus debts, home repair scams, and emergency/grandparent scams that particularly target elderly individuals.
escalontimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article reports that online scams caused a record $16.6 billion in losses in 2024, with 73% of U.S. adults experiencing some form of online scam or attack. The article outlines common scam tactics (unsolicited contact, promises of easy money, requests for personal information or upfront payments) and describes six prevalent scam types including counterfeit merchandise, charity fraud, cryptocurrency investment fraud, bogus debts, home repair scams, and emergency/grandparent scams that specifically target seniors. Awareness of these warning signs can help individuals avoid becoming victims.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Phishing scams are increasingly using fake DocuSign emails impersonating major companies like Apple to trick victims into calling fraudulent support numbers. These convincing emails include fabricated receipts, order IDs, and DocuSign links with security codes, but scammers use the provided phone numbers to steal personal information, banking details, or convince victims to download remote access software. Users can protect themselves by verifying sender email addresses, knowing that legitimate companies do not send receipts through DocuSign, and avoiding clicking suspicious links or calling numbers in unsolicited emails.
cubaenmiami.com
· 2025-12-08
A 59-year-old caregiver, Mónica Orta, was arrested in Doral, Florida on charges of economic exploitation, credit card fraud, identity theft, and organized fraud against an 86-year-old elderly client; the victim discovered fraudulent charges at Macy's and Nordstrom totaling hundreds of dollars, plus a missing $2,500 ring, with surveillance video confirming Orta used the victim's cards at multiple stores. Orta, who had an extensive criminal history of theft dating to 2004, had been employed as the victim's caregiver since July 2025 at a private community in Doral. The case
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal prosecutors in Southern California charged 28 members of a Chinese organized crime ring with defrauding seniors out of $65 million since at least 2019, with the scheme involving overseas call centers in India and U.S.-based conspirators who posed as government officials and bank representatives to pressure victims into sending money via wire transfer, cash, or gift cards. The operation targeted thousands of Americans, including a 97-year-old San Diego widow who lost her entire life savings, and laundered proceeds through luxury vehicles and high-end rentals until federal agents seized $4.2 million and multiple vehicles including a Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. The breakthrough came partly from YouTube scam
techradar.com
· 2025-12-08
AI impersonation scams have surged 148% in 2025, with cybercriminals using voice cloning and deepfake video technology to impersonate trusted individuals—family members, executives, and officials—through calls, video meetings, messages, and emails to solicit urgent payments or sensitive information. Notable cases include a $25 million fraud targeting UK engineering firm Arup employees who were deceived by a deepfake CEO impersonation, and scammers successfully evading detection in nearly 48% of AI-generated phishing attempts. Experts recommend independent identity verification and multi-factor authentication as key defenses against these increasingly sophisticated scams.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Scott Kelley, a 51-year-old former US Postal Inspection Service team leader who oversaw the Mail Fraud Unit from 2015-2023, was indicted on 45 counts for stealing more than $330,000 from packages sent by elderly scam victims (average age 75) and using the funds for personal expenses including home renovations, escorts, and vacations. Kelley allegedly manipulated postal workers into intercepting approximately 1,950 packages flagged as belonging to lottery scam victims, then laundered the stolen cash through money orders and multiple bank deposits while never returning any funds to the victims. He faces up to 20 years in prison on
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scott Kelley, a 51-year-old former team leader at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Boston, was indicted on 45 federal counts for intercepting nearly 2,000 packages containing over $330,000 in cash from elderly victims (mostly in their 70s and 80s) of Jamaican lottery scams between 2019 and August 2023. Kelley used his position to redirect flagged parcels to himself, opened them without authorization, and spent the stolen money on luxury items including home improvements, cruises, and escorts, while laundering the funds through money orders and structured bank deposits. He faces charges including mail
cordcuttersnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Phantom Hacker Scam, enhanced by artificial intelligence, has defrauded seniors across the United States of over $1 billion since 2024 through a three-phase scheme: scammers posing as tech support gain remote computer access, then impersonate bank representatives to convince victims to transfer funds to fake "secure" accounts, and finally pose as government officials to move money into "alias" accounts. AI enables criminals to personalize attacks using social media information, making detection difficult and often resulting in complete loss of victims' retirement savings and life savings. Experts recommend family education, verification of unsolicited contacts, and avoiding remote access software as protective measures.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scott Kelley, a 51-year-old former U.S. Postal Inspection Service team leader who oversaw the Mail Fraud Unit, was charged with stealing over $330,000 from packages sent by elderly scam victims (averaging age 75) and laundering the money for personal use including home renovations, vacations, and escort services. Between 2019 and 2023, Kelley allegedly deceived postal employees into intercepting approximately 1,950 packages from victims of a Jamaican lottery scam, opened them without authorization, and stole the cash inside—none of which was recovered by the victims. Kelley faces up to 20 years
channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first half of 2025, Singapore reported 19,665 scam cases with S$456.4 million in losses—a 26% and 12.6% decrease respectively from the same period in 2024. The top scams include phishing (up 134% in losses), government official impersonation (cases tripled), investment scams (highest losses at S$145.4 million), and a newly identified insurance services scam (791 cases, S$21.3 million lost), where fraudsters impersonate insurance employees to extract personal details and payments.
asiaone.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore reported a 12.6% decrease in total scam losses ($456.4 million in H1 2025 vs. $522.4 million in H1 2024) and a 26% decline in overall scam cases (19,665 vs. 26,563), marking the first decline since 2021. However, the median loss per case increased to $1,500, and elderly victims (age 65+) who comprised 15% of cases suffered the highest per-victim losses at $33,672, with government impersonation scams nearly tripling to 1,762 cases and phishing scams seeing losses jump 134% to $
globalvoices.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Brazilian scammers used deepfake videos impersonating well-known TV journalists and broadcasters to promote a fake government program called "Resgata Brasil," claiming victims of data breaches or people with forgotten bank funds could receive up to 7,000 reales (approximately $1,300 USD) in compensation. The phishing scheme tricked victims into clicking malicious links and surrendering personal data, with journalist Sandra Annenberg among those whose images and voices were illegitimately used in the fraudulent videos. The scam reflects a broader digital security crisis in Brazil, where nearly one-quarter of citizens over 16 fell victim to digital fraud schemes between
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Singaporean woman in her 40s named Sabrina lost $250,000 to scammers impersonating Shanghai police officers who claimed she was involved in a money laundering scheme and threatened her with arrest and deportation to China. Despite her bank accounts being frozen and Singapore police warning her of the scam, she persisted in withdrawing her life savings and handed the cash to a stranger at a park; Singapore police recovered the money two weeks later. Government official impersonation scams surged dramatically in the first half of 2025, with victims losing $126.5 million compared to $67.2 million in the same period of 2024.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
**Scam Type:** Mail interception fraud and money laundering related to Jamaican lottery scheme targeting elderly victims
**What Happened:** Former U.S. Postal Inspector Scott Kelley, 51, was arrested and indicted on 45 counts for allegedly stealing over $330,000 in cash from approximately 1,950 packages sent by elderly victims of a Jamaican telemarketing scam between 2019-2023. Kelley, who led the Mail Fraud Unit tasked with investigating scams targeting seniors, allegedly used his position to intercept victim mail, launder proceeds through money orders and multiple bank deposits, steal $7,000
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Former U.S. Postal Inspector Scott Kelley, 51, of Massachusetts, was indicted on 45 counts for stealing over $330,000 in cash from packages mailed by elderly victims of a Jamaican lottery telemarketing scam between 2019 and 2023. Kelley, who led the Mail Fraud Unit investigating senior citizen scams, used his position to intercept approximately 1,950 flagged packages, launder the proceeds through money orders and multiple bank accounts, and even framed a subordinate for a separate $7,000 evidence locker theft. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each wire fraud and mail frau
koreatimes.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
South Korea launched a five-month nationwide crackdown on phishing crimes beginning in August, following a 95% year-over-year surge in losses to 799.2 billion won ($575 million) across 16,561 cases in the first seven months of the year. Criminal tactics have become increasingly sophisticated, targeting victims through investment fraud (343.8 billion won in losses), romance scams (70.5 billion won), and fake e-commerce schemes, with perpetrators using mass texts, fake identities, and impersonations to create urgency and steal personal data. The police response includes over 400 officers in newly formed special units across multiple provinces, targeting not only ph
inquisitr.com
· 2025-12-08
A widespread scam targets Social Security recipients, particularly vulnerable seniors living alone and dependent on benefits for survival. Scammers impersonate Social Security Administration officials via phone calls, texts, or emails, falsely claiming account problems or requesting verification of information to obtain personal data (Social Security numbers, bank details) or money directly through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The key warning signs include unsolicited contact, payment demands, pressure tactics, and suspicious links or misspellings; the legitimate SSA communicates only by postal mail and does not solicit sensitive information unsolicited.
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The BBB warns of an ongoing phishing scam where callers impersonate process servers, claiming victims have unpaid debts, liens on their homes, or are involved in fictitious court cases to pressure them into revealing sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers and dates of birth. Scammers use intimidation tactics, threats of arrest, and claims of imminent home visits to create urgency, sometimes also targeting family members and friends; their goal is identity theft rather than legal service. Consumers should be wary of unsolicited calls with scare tactics and verify claims independently through official channels before providing any personal information.