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we-ha.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and AARP Connecticut Director Nora Duncan held a press conference to warn consumers about increasing fraud and scams, particularly during the holiday season when shopping, travel, and charitable giving increase. According to an AARP report, approximately 82% of U.S. consumers have experienced attempted fraud in the past year, with scams becoming increasingly sophisticated through phishing emails about delivery problems, counterfeit products, and fake charities. Officials urged awareness and caution, recommending that people report suspicious activity to the AARP Fraud Watch Network (877-908-3360), the Federal Trade Commission, or the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
securitybrief.com.au
· 2025-12-08
During Australia's end-of-year shopping season, online scams pose increased risk as consumer spending surges, with over 11% of Australians experiencing scams or card fraud in 2022/2023 and Westpac reporting a 47% rise in buying and selling scams in 2023. Common tactics include misleading sales promotions, non-delivery of products, fake shipping notifications, and SMS phishing, with scammers targeting consumers during the forecast $11.8 billion holiday gift-spending period. Experts recommend consumers and retailers employ security measures such as navigating directly to retailer websites, using secure payment methods (PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay),
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are using AI-generated phishing emails claiming that recipients' Apple IDs have been suspended, creating false urgency especially during Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season to trick users into clicking malicious links and surrendering account credentials. The scams target Apple's 2 billion+ users by impersonating legitimate Apple communications, sometimes including sophisticated 2FA-bypass methodologies, and exploiting the affluent Apple user demographic. Apple advises users to verify sender email addresses, avoid clicking suspicious links, recognize that Apple never requests passwords or authentication codes via email, and contact Apple directly through its official website if they suspect account issues.
nationalpost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., was arrested and charged with grand theft for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook to scam a 74-year-old Texas woman out of $250,000 (with her husband reporting the actual total may reach $600,000) by convincing her to invest in fake business opportunities. Moynihan established rapport with the victim over several months in 2023 by referencing real Musk social media posts, eventually persuading her that she had legitimately invested with the tech billionaire; police also discovered evidence he used false identities of actors Johnny Depp and Lionel Richie, an
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent emails impersonating the TSA PreCheck program to trick travelers into enrolling through fake websites and stealing their personal information. The TSA and FTC warn that legitimate PreCheck enrollment requires in-person payment at an airport enrollment center, never online, and users should only visit the official tsa.gov/precheck website to avoid falling victim to these schemes.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Ian Finlay lost over £50,000 when scammers contacted his mobile network impersonating him and requested a replacement SIM card, which was sent to a London address, allowing them to gain control of his phone and access his email and bank accounts while he was on holiday in Australia. The fraudsters obtained his personal information through phishing emails or stolen data from the dark web, exploiting gaps in the network's security verification process. His banks ultimately reimbursed the stolen funds after confirming the transactions were fraudulent, though Finlay expressed concern about how easily criminals circumvented security measures.
sheppnews.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A woman lost money to a sophisticated two-stage scam that began with a fraudulent call claiming to be from NBN offering an internet refund, which gained remote access to her computer via AnyDesk software. The scammers then impersonated her bank's fraud department, using the continued remote access to move funds between her accounts and authorize an unauthorized transfer, which she discovered only after visiting her bank branch the next day. The article highlights red flags including unsolicited direct contact from NBN, requests for remote computer access, and fraudulent claims of being a bank representative needing device access—legitimate banks never require remote access to verify accounts or detect fraud.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This column warns readers about the prevalence of holiday-season scams, which range from fake delivery notifications and fraudulent timeshare exit schemes to tech support scams and gift card draining. According to fraud prevention experts, sophisticated international criminal syndicates are targeting consumers through multiple channels, with older adults suffering particularly high losses despite millennials reporting fraud more frequently; one notable case involved an 85-year-old woman who lost $80,000 between Thanksgiving and Christmas to a fake virus warning scam. The article advises consumers to be vigilant when making purchases, booking travel, donating to charities, and handling gift cards, as stolen money is often transferred overseas and virtually impossible to recover.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Farmer Alan Steven lost £28,000 total (£12,000 to a contractor and £16,000 to a grain merchant) after scammers hacked his email account and cloned invoices from his legitimate suppliers, changing only the bank details. Invoice fraud targeting farmers is rising sharply, with Action Fraud reports jumping 54% from 35 cases in 2022 to 54 in 2023, and agricultural insurers now paying out triple the fraud claims compared to previous years, with individual losses often reaching tens of thousands of pounds that can devastate small farm operations.
i95rock.com
· 2025-12-08
The Massachusetts Better Business Bureau warns Connecticut residents about 11 prevalent holiday scams including fraudulent USPS package notifications, fake gift card offers, counterfeit job postings, look-alike websites, fake charities, phishing shipping links, puppy sales (with 80% of sponsored pet ads being fake), misleading social media advertisements, social media gift exchange schemes, and holiday-themed apps—all designed to steal personal information or money. Scammers use tactics like impersonating legitimate companies, offering free prizes, and creating convincing replicas of official websites and communications to deceive consumers during the holiday season.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Google identified five common online scams affecting its billions of users: deepfake content impersonating public figures to promote investment fraud, cryptocurrency investment schemes promising unrealistic returns, fake banking apps and websites designed to steal personal information, cloaking attacks that show different content to users than to Google's security systems, and fraudulent event ticketing pages that mirror legitimate sites to sell fake merchandise and tickets. The company recommends users verify app sources, examine URLs and website details carefully, watch for unnatural expressions in videos, avoid investment offers that seem too good to be true, and enable browser protections to identify malicious sites.
mysuncoast.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old man in Bradenton, Florida was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of over $600,000 after convincing her to invest in fake business opportunities with promised returns of $55 million. Elder fraud is rising across Florida's Suncoast region through various scams including romance and phishing schemes, with authorities recommending residents pause to verify requests, question urgency, and recognize too-good-to-be-true offers.
dicksoncountysource.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare's Open Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), scammers impersonate Medicare representatives to steal personal information and money by falsely claiming they need Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, or bank account details for new cards or fake medical equipment claims. Medicare never unexpectedly contacts beneficiaries to request personal information, sell coverage, or charge for cards, and consumers should hang up suspicious calls and verify by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or report scams to that same number.
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
As Medicare's December 7 enrollment deadline approaches, scammers pose as Medicare officials or insurance company employees via phone calls and text messages to trick older adults into disclosing Social Security numbers and sensitive information. Experts advise that legitimate Medicare programs and private insurers rarely contact beneficiaries by phone unsolicited, and recommend hanging up on suspicious callers, avoiding robocalls, and contacting insurers directly through official toll-free numbers to verify requests. Caregivers should help elderly relatives enroll early to avoid deadline pressure, which makes people more vulnerable to scams.
greekreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
Virgin Media O2 launched Daisy, an AI-powered virtual grandmother, to combat rising phone and online scams targeting older adults by engaging fraudsters in lengthy, complex conversations that waste their time and prevent them from victimizing real customers. The initiative addresses a critical problem: Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2023 (an 11% increase from 2022), with the average victim losing $33,915, while 22% of Britons report facing fraud attempts weekly. Daisy uses advanced natural language processing and realistic voice synthesis to convincingly pose as a vulnerable elderly person, gathering intelligence on scam tactics while raising public awareness about digital
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Package and delivery scams are surging during the 2024 holiday season, with four main types targeting consumers: "brushing" (fraudsters ordering items to your address using fake accounts to post fake reviews), "smishing" (fake text/email delivery notifications with malicious links), fake missed-delivery notices with phishing links or QR codes, and mail theft by criminals using insider information or stolen tracking numbers. Consumers should verify package status through official carrier websites rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages, monitor credit cards for unauthorized charges, and report incidents to the FTC.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers use multiple channels—email, phone calls, texts, fliers, and mail—to target victims year-round, with increased activity during the holiday season. Common scams include fake delivery notifications, timeshare exit schemes, fake virus warnings that trick victims into giving remote computer access, and tampered gift cards, with losses often unrecoverable as money is quickly moved offshore. The article advises consumers to never respond to communications from unknown sources and remain vigilant, as older adults suffer significantly greater losses than younger fraud victims despite millennials reporting fraud at higher rates.
becu.org
· 2025-12-08
Native and Indigenous elders in the U.S. face disproportionate risks of financial fraud and scams, with one documented case involving a tribal member losing $15,000 to a sweetheart scam. According to federal data, Alaska Native and Indigenous individuals are more likely to be victims of scams and less likely to report them than other groups, with approximately one million Indigenous and Alaska Native people over 65 across 574 federally recognized tribes. Community organizations are working to address this vulnerability by providing support without stigma, while recognizing that factors like regular tribal payments, Social Security, and cultural values around resource-sharing make older Indigenous people particularly attractive targets for financial exploitation.
ntd.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Bradenton, Florida man was arrested for defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of at least $250,000 (possibly up to $600,000) by posing as Elon Musk on Facebook and promising a $55 million return on fake business investments. The article also highlights a related case where a 26-year-old Minnesota man was arrested for stealing over $100,000 from a 77-year-old widower through an online romance scam, reflecting a broader trend in which scammers stole at least $3.4 billion from Americans aged 60 and older in 2023.
kaynewscow.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Morrison woman lost her entire life savings after scammers posing as fraud experts convinced her to withdraw her money and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM in Ponca City following a fake email about a Bitcoin transaction. Her daughter established a GoFundMe campaign to help her mother, who has Parkinson's disease, recover from the financial loss and to raise awareness about the scam.
theconcordian.org
· 2025-12-08
On November 4, many Concordia College students received a phishing email impersonating campus staff and faculty members, offering free expensive items like musical instruments and electronics to trick recipients into providing sensitive information. The scam was identified by students who noticed mismatched email addresses, and the college has implemented security measures including multi-factor authentication and email filtering to reduce such incidents, while encouraging community reporting as the best defense against fraud.
nbclosangeles.com
· 2025-12-08
During the holiday shopping season, scammers are targeting gift cards by tampering with packaging on store racks, stealing card information, and draining the balance before purchase. According to AARP's fraud prevention director, 30% of people have given or received a worthless gift card, up 21% from two years prior, with one woman discovering multiple cards she gifted to community members had zero value. Experts recommend purchasing gift cards from locked displays or behind cashier counters, or sending digital gift cards via email or text to prevent theft.
standoutmagazine.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
More than half of UK consumers incorrectly view social media as a safe space for buying live event tickets, despite platforms offering no buyer protection, leading to widespread fraud. Research by Get Safe Online found that 42% of survey respondents had purchased tickets on social media, with one in eight becoming victims of scams; during the Oasis ticket sale, scam victims lost an average of £346 each, with 90% of frauds occurring on social media platforms. Younger consumers (18-34) and Londoners are particularly vulnerable to ticket scams, with 17% of social media ticket buyers reporting negative experiences including fake tickets, phishing scams, and sellers disappearing with payment.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old Winnipegger nearly fell victim to an elaborate Manitoba Hydro impersonation scam in which fraudsters used personal information, fake work orders, and realistic-sounding IVR systems to pressure her into depositing money at a bitcoin kiosk. The scammers posed as Hydro technicians and agents, claiming she had unpaid bills and threatening power disconnection within an hour, but the scheme was exposed when she visited actual Hydro headquarters. Manitoba Hydro confirmed awareness of the scam and reminded customers that the utility does not accept cryptocurrency, credit cards, e-transfers, or phone payments for bills.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two Nigerian nationals operating from the Chicago suburbs, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, conducted inheritance scams, romance scams, and business email compromise fraud schemes that defrauded victims of at least $3.5 million across the United States. Ibekie was convicted on 14 counts and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, while Aniukwu pleaded guilty and received a 10-year sentence; a third accomplice, Jennifer Gosha, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges and awaits sentencing.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed over 2 million accounts connected to pig butchering scams on Facebook and Instagram, which involve elaborate romance schemes designed to manipulate victims into cryptocurrency investment fraud before stealing their money. The scam centers, primarily located in Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, UAE, and Philippines), often employ victims who are coerced into fraud work under threat of physical abuse after responding to fake job postings. Key warning signs include unsolicited messages from attractive profiles offering investment opportunities and requests to invest in cryptocurrency or transfer funds to the scammer.
fox32chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Nigerian nationals operating from the Chicago suburbs, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, were sentenced to 20 and 10 years in prison respectively for orchestrating multiple fraud schemes that stole at least $3.5 million from victims across the U.S. Their schemes included inheritance scams requiring upfront fees, romance scams conducted through social media and dating apps, and business email compromise attacks targeting corporate accounts. A third conspirator, Jennifer Gosha, pleaded guilty to related charges with sentencing scheduled for December 18.
listverse.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database. The content is a general listicle about various scams (cryptocurrency investment scams, online marketplace scams, phone scams, etc.) rather than a focused article about elder fraud, elder abuse, or scams specifically targeting older adults.
To be useful for Elderus, the article would need to specifically address scams affecting seniors, elder financial exploitation, or elder abuse cases. Please provide an article or transcript focused on elder-specific fraud or abuse for summarization.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
During the holiday shopping season, consumers face increased fraud risks as scammers exploit busy shoppers and high transaction volumes. Common scams include fake advertisements offering deep discounts, fraudulent package tracking notifications, fake charities, counterfeit gift cards, and porch theft—with the Better Business Bureau reporting a 125% rise in scam complaints and over 80% of victims losing money on online purchase scams. Consumers are advised to verify retailers, avoid unsolicited emails and texts, research charities, and use package tracking technology and home security to protect themselves and their holiday purchases.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Virgin Media O2 created "Daisy," an AI-generated grandmother chatbot designed to waste scammers' time by engaging them in lengthy conversations filled with rambling stories and feigned tech confusion. Since its November launch, Daisy has had over 1,000 conversations with scammers, with some lasting up to 40 minutes, as part of the company's fraud-prevention strategy in the United Kingdom where 69% of the public reports being targeted by scams. The initiative highlights the broader problem of phone fraud affecting both British and American consumers, while companies develop AI-powered defenses and consumers are advised to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls requesting personal financial information.
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines how artificial intelligence has made scams increasingly difficult to detect, particularly through text messages, voice calls, and audio impersonation that can replicate individuals' messaging styles and voices. It provides practical identification tips for common scams including text message frauds (impersonating companies), concert ticket resales on social media, and audio/impersonation scams, along with advice such as verifying unexpected requests through direct contact, checking for spelling errors and suspicious links, and establishing safe words with family members. The article recommends reporting scams through built-in blocking features on email and phone platforms.
vindy.com
· 2025-12-08
A fraud awareness forum in Youngstown hosted by Jewish Family and Community Services attracted 126 seniors to learn prevention strategies from Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova. The program covered major scam tactics including phishing text links, romance and catfishing schemes, AI voice impersonation, home improvement fraud, and warned against sharing personal information on social media that could endanger children or be used to answer security questions.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Eldercare Locator launched a national "Home for the Holidays" campaign to help older adults and families protect themselves from financial fraud and scams during the holiday season. According to the FBI, scams targeting people age 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with fraud increasing during the holidays due to heightened online shopping and donation appeals that scammers exploit, particularly targeting isolated or lonely individuals. The campaign provides resources to help older adults recognize, prevent, and report financial scams and fraud.
spokanejournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial fraud targeting older adults has significantly increased in sophistication, with U.S. financial institutions reporting approximately $27 billion in suspicious elder financial exploitation activity from June 2022 to June 2023, and older adults losing over $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023 alone (though the FTC estimates the actual figure may reach $61.5 billion). Check fraud has become particularly prevalent, increasing 385% nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic, with criminals stealing checks from mailboxes and using chemical solvents to alter amounts while preserving signatures. Financial experts recommend protective measures including using permanent gel markers on checks, avoiding blank spaces, monitoring statements regularly, and educating family
mdjonline.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article Type:** Educational/Awareness
Georgia's elder fraud investigators identified three dominant scam methods targeting seniors in 2024: Romance Scams (exploiting loneliness and shame), Bank Examiner Scams (impersonating government officials to trick victims into transferring funds), and Sweepstakes Scams (convincing victims they've won lotteries and must pay upfront fees). These scams persist because seniors are reluctant to report them due to embarrassment or fear of admitting vulnerability, and scammers target victims through social media and public information about their wealth and lifestyles.
al.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare's open enrollment period (through Dec. 7), the Federal Trade Commission warns of scammers impersonating Medicare representatives to steal personal information and money by requesting Medicare numbers, bank account details, or credit card information under false pretenses such as issuing new cards or processing fake medical equipment claims. Seniors should never share personal information with unsolicited callers claiming to be from Medicare, verify suspicious calls by hanging up and dialing Medicare's official number (1-800-633-4227), and treat Medicare numbers with the same protection as credit cards.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies nine common scams expected to target people in 2025, including grandparent scams (using AI to impersonate relatives requesting money), mail fraud schemes, debt collection scams, and lottery/prize scams. The piece advises consumers to watch for red flags such as urgent language, requests for personal information, poor grammar, unsolicited contact, and suspicious links, while emphasizing that verifying identities directly and avoiding hasty decisions can protect against financial loss.
dailydigest.uconn.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece warns students and employees about phishing email scams designed to steal money, login credentials, and personal information through deceptive tactics such as fake job offers, urgency threats, and requests to verify accounts or share passwords. The guidance advises recipients to be suspicious of unexpected emails (even from seemingly legitimate @uconn.edu addresses), never click links or share credentials with senders, and report suspected phishing to Outlook and local police if credentials or money have been compromised.
about.fb.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals operating forced-labor scam compounds primarily in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the UAE) systematically target people worldwide through text messaging, dating apps, and social media to perpetrate "pig butchering" and investment fraud schemes. These criminal organizations, estimated to control up to 300,000 forced workers, steal approximately $64 billion annually by building false trust with victims and manipulating them into depositing money into fake cryptocurrency and investment platforms. The article outlines how scam operators use deceptive personas, scripted social engineering tactics, and phased withdrawal schemes to exploit victims globally before disappearing with their funds.
bankrate.com
· 2025-12-08
Holiday shoppers face multiple online scams including puppy scams (fake breeders requesting upfront deposits), toy scams (counterfeit or non-existent products at discounted prices), and marketplace frauds on platforms like Facebook Marketplace where scammers take payment and disappear. Protection strategies include being skeptical of prices that seem too good to be true, avoiding clicking links from ads or search results, purchasing directly from trusted retailers, and refusing to pay upfront to unverified sellers who won't communicate via phone or video.
arstechnica.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal prosecutors charged five men operating the cybercriminal group Scattered Spider for running a sophisticated phishing scheme that compromised hundreds of companies nationwide and stole millions in cryptocurrency and sensitive data. The group was responsible for a major breach of MGM Resorts that cost the company $100 million in damages and disruptions, as well as breaching authentication provider Twilio to gain access to additional targets. Authorities emphasized that the phishing attacks were highly methodical and difficult to detect, resulting in the theft of tens of millions of dollars in intellectual property and personal information from hundreds of thousands of individuals.
westfaironline.com
· 2025-12-08
A 24-year-old Bengali national living in New York on a student visa, Mazharul Islam, was arrested and charged with conspiracy and wire fraud for operating a Geek Squad auto-renewal scam targeting elderly victims in Orange County and Ohio. In the first case, Islam posed as a courier and collected $35,000 in cash from a 73-year-old Warwick man who was tricked into believing he had accidentally authorized a $41,999 charge; police arrested Islam during a subsequent sting operation involving a decoy $22,000 payment. Islam admitted to working as a courier for an operation based in India, earning $2,000 per
socialmediatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta reported removing over two million accounts linked to scam centers in 2024, primarily originating from Southeast Asia and the United Arab Emirates, that were operating "pig butchering" romance scams—sophisticated frauds where scammers build trust with vulnerable individuals online before manipulating them into cryptocurrency investment schemes. The company is collaborating with law enforcement and NGOs to disrupt these criminal operations while recommending users enable two-factor authentication, verify email addresses and URLs, and remain cautious of suspicious links to protect themselves from such scams.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed over 2 million accounts in 2023 linked to criminal gangs operating "pig butchering" scams from Southeast Asia and the UAE, which lure victims into fake investments through social engineering and cryptocurrency fraud. These scam operations, which cost victims globally an estimated $64 billion in 2023, often rely on coerced labor from hundreds of thousands of workers forced into scamming under threat of harm. Meta and partner organizations recommend victims use two-factor authentication, remain skeptical of unsolicited investment offers and impersonators, and verify the identities of unknown contacts reaching out through social media and messaging apps.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta disclosed its multiyear effort to combat pig butchering scams, having removed over 2 million accounts linked to scam compounds in Southeast Asia and the UAE in 2024 alone. These scams, which have defrauded victims of approximately $75 billion globally since 2020, involve organized crime syndicates operating forced-labor compounds where over 200,000 trafficked people are coerced into impersonating romantic interests or investment advisors to extract money from victims worldwide. Meta stated it is collaborating with law enforcement and other tech companies to disrupt these criminal operations, though researchers note the company has been slow to publicly acknowledge the problem and engage with the
wdrb.com
· 2025-12-08
A spoofing scam targeting bank customers is costing Americans millions annually, with scammers using caller ID spoofing to impersonate banks and convince victims to transfer money to prepaid debit cards under the guise of fraudulent account activity. One Kentucky woman lost nearly $10,000 after transferring funds to a prepaid card based on a fraudulent call claiming to be from her bank. The Better Business Bureau advises recipients of suspicious messages to avoid clicking links or sharing account information, as transferred funds are typically irretrievable.
newsbytesapp.com
· 2025-12-08
During India's festive season (October 1-28), 45% of Indian consumers were targeted by or fell victim to shopping scams, according to a McAfee survey, with nearly half of those scammed losing over ₹41,500. The scams primarily involved AI-driven deepfakes, fake shopping websites mimicking platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, phishing emails, and fraudulent celebrity endorsements shared on social media, with 78% of shoppers reporting increased concern about online fraud in 2024. McAfee blocked 24,000 suspicious URLs during the period and noted that cybercriminals exploited the shift toward online shopping, with sc
winnipegfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
A Winnipeg woman nearly fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam in which fraudsters posed as Manitoba Hydro workers, claiming she had unpaid bills and threatening to disconnect her power within the hour. The scammers obtained her personal information including her name, address, and billing amount ($116), and directed her to pay at a convenience store kiosk equipped with a bitcoin machine that would have transferred her money to an unknown account. The victim reported the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre after discovering the deception when she attempted to verify the claim at Manitoba Hydro's actual headquarters.
concordmonitor.com
· 2025-12-08
New Hampshire residents are being targeted by "smishing" scams in which fraudulent text messages claim they owe E-ZPass toll fees and direct them to click malicious links designed to steal personal information. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation warns that legitimate E-ZPass will never request payment via text, and similar scams have been reported by toll agencies nationwide. Victims should check accounts only through official websites or apps, and report suspicious messages to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or their mobile provider.
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting Baltimore residents by impersonating utility company BGE, using threats of service shutoffs and requesting payment via phone calls, texts with QR codes, emails, or payment apps like Cash App and Zelle. BGE clarified they never call customers demanding money or requesting personal information like Social Security numbers or driver's licenses. Maryland's deregulated energy market also allows bad actors to pose as third-party energy providers offering lower rates that later increase, though new regulations taking effect January 1st will cap charges to prevent predatory pricing.