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in Government Impersonation
news.abplive.com
· 2025-12-08
A Delhi woman lost Rs 19.23 lakh in a work-from-home job scam after being recruited via social media in September; she was initially promised returns on small investments but was then coerced into making increasingly larger payments under threats of losing all funds, eventually borrowing Rs 7 lakh and arranging Rs 6 lakh from friends before realizing the fraud. In a related incident, a Bengaluru lawyer lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a similar scheme where scammers coerced her into recording nude videos and then used blackmail threats to extract ransom payments. Police have registered cases against unidentified accused under cheating and criminal conspiracy charges
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
California resident Donald Franklin Huegel was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded two elderly Arizona residents of nearly $400,000 over two years. Huegel participated in the scheme by funneling victim payments to co-conspirators in Africa after victims were lured by fake online profiles ("Chad Callahan" and "Michael Williams") and manipulated into sending money under false pretenses, including claims their identities were on the Dark Web. The first victim lost over $90,000 and the second lost over $367,000; Huegel was convicted of fraudulent schemes, money laundering, and theft, and will be required to pay
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
John Kyle Muller of Boulder, Colorado pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a prize notice scam from 2012 to February 2018 that defrauded thousands of consumers, predominantly elderly victims, of over $15 million. The scheme involved mailing millions of fraudulent notices claiming recipients had won cash prizes, then charging $20-$50 fees to claim non-existent rewards, while victims received only worthless reports or trinkets. Muller and his co-conspirators were shut down in February 2018 through U.S. Postal Inspection Service search warrants and a federal court order.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Teqare, an Indigenous-owned tech company in Manitoba, created a scam prevention workshop for elders after co-founder Zachary Flett's grandmother nearly fell victim to a phone-based gift card scam. The workshop covers common scams including romance, phishing, and text-based fraud, and addresses the shame victims often experience; participants at the first workshop in March 2024 with Sagkeeng First Nation responded positively, with one elder even deciding to purchase a cellphone after gaining confidence in digital safety.
mcknights.com
· 2025-12-08
Healthcare providers paid nearly $2 billion to resolve False Claims Act allegations in 2023, marking a historic annual record with 543 settlements and judgments involving federal investigations. The Department of Justice is intensifying efforts to investigate elder abuse and fraud in nursing homes, particularly targeting facilities providing substandard care and engaging in fraudulent billing practices, with notable cases including a $7.1 million settlement against a New York nursing home for worthless services and safety violations. Federal agencies are expanding enforcement actions across long-term care and Medicare Advantage plans, signaling that investigations and recoveries are likely to increase significantly in coming years.
lompocrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
Employees at a fulfillment center, primarily workers over 60 years old, became targets of impersonation scams after their personal data was stolen; callers falsely claiming to represent Social Security, the IRS, and other government agencies demanded cash payments under threat of arrest. Social Security Administration officials outlined common scam tactics—creating urgency through fear, impersonating trusted agencies, and demanding untraceable payments—and emphasized that legitimate government agencies never request cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, and victims should report incidents to the Office of Inspector General and avoid acting on threatening calls without verification.
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season scams are prevalent, with identity theft being one of the most common, where fraudsters file tax returns in victims' names to claim refunds—the IRS received 294,138 identity theft complaints in 2023, and victims wait an average of 19 months for resolution. Scammers typically use tactics based on fear, urgency, and financial incentives to trick people into sharing personal information or money, often impersonating the IRS or tax professionals. Experts recommend verifying IRS contact through official channels (mail or their website), researching tax professionals through reputable directories, and avoiding unsolicited phone calls to protect against tax-related fraud.
winknews.com
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement agencies have reported a spike in sophisticated scam calls impersonating police officers and court officials, with perpetrators now using real names, titles, and badge numbers of actual law enforcement employees to demand payment for alleged missed jury duty or bench warrants. Victims like Samantha Misener and Mary Shucart received threatening calls claiming they had outstanding legal violations, but both recognized the scams and reported them to authorities. Experts advise never answering calls from unrecognized numbers, ignoring blocked caller IDs, and remembering that legitimate law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone.
bigfuture.collegeboard.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource advises students and families on recognizing and avoiding financial aid scams. Key recommendations include avoiding hiring consultants (since free advice is available from school counselors and aid officers, and consultants cannot increase aid amounts), protecting personal information from unsolicited phone or email contacts, and being wary of two common scams: fraudulent "grant offers" that request processing fees (which the federal government never charges) and identity theft schemes where scammers pose as government or financial representatives. The piece emphasizes that suspicious activity should be reported to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old businessman in Mumbai lost Rs80,000 to an AI voice cloning scam where fraudsters impersonated the Indian Embassy in Dubai, falsely claiming his son was arrested and playing a cloned voice of his son pleading for bail. A second victim, a 58-year-old professor, lost Rs1 lakh in a similar scheme where a caller impersonated a police inspector claiming her son was detained; cybercriminals used AI to gather family details from social media. Experts warn that AI voice cloning scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and advise verifying distressed calls directly with the supposed victim or authorities before transferring money.
channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating local banks sent SMS messages to at least 12 victims offering fixed deposit promotions with high interest rates, resulting in losses of at least S$650,000 since January. The fraudsters posed as bank agents, collected personal information, and instructed victims to transfer money into fake accounts created under their names, with some victims receiving forged bank statements and facing delayed discovery through claimed "activation periods." Additional phishing scams targeting bank customers through spoofed SMSes resulted in 103 victims in December and 219 DBS customers losing about S$446,000 in the first two weeks of 2024.
menafn.com
· 2025-12-08
A hotel owner in Bengaluru lost Rs 48,000 after a man posing as a technician offered to update his Paytm scanner for one rupee; the scammer instead deducted the full amount from the victim's account and fled. The incident underscores a growing "scanner update" fraud targeting shop owners, with authorities warning the public to verify the legitimacy of strangers offering digital services and to avoid granting device access without proper verification.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Solano County launched the Solano Senior Fraud Prevention Center (SolanoScamCenter.org) through its Older & Disabled Adult Services division to help residents prevent financial elder abuse and report scams. The center provides resources and five key prevention tips, including verifying government communications, watching for fake social media identities, being skeptical of prize/investment offers, avoiding suspicious account compromise notices, and monitoring finances and Power of Attorney documents. Victims can call ODAS for assistance filing reports and contacting law enforcement.
pressdemocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season sees a surge in fraud schemes targeting taxpayers, with common scams including phishing emails/texts impersonating the IRS, "Offer in Compromise" mills falsely claiming to resolve tax debt cheaply, "ghost preparers" who steal refunds or charge excessive fees, and "new client" scams targeting tax professionals. The IRS never initiates contact by email, text, or social media, never threatens legal action, and never requests personal information like Social Security numbers or credit card details; taxpayers can verify legitimate IRS communications and check their accounts directly at irs.gov. Protection strategies include filing early, enabling two-step authentication, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and using legitimate free
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission identifies four trending online tax season scams: fake tax preparer ads that redirect to phishing websites to steal personal and payment information, fraudsters posing as accountants offering suspiciously high refunds at low prices, scammers spoofing IRS phone numbers to threaten taxpayers about supposed debt, and phishing emails/texts claiming unclaimed funds to harvest personal data or install malware. The FTC reported $1.1 billion in losses from impersonator scams in 2023 and recommends avoiding social media tax prep links, using word-of-mouth referrals for CPAs, and remembering that the IRS only contacts via mail—never by
nia.nih.gov
· 2025-12-08
An NIA-funded study of 644 older adults (average age 85) simulating government imposter scams found that a significant minority are vulnerable to fraud despite lacking cognitive impairment. When contacted about fake Social Security and Medicare account issues, 68.5% did not engage, but among those who responded, 16.4% engaged without skepticism and 12% provided personal information; vulnerability correlated with lower cognitive ability, financial literacy, and scam awareness. Researchers note that actual scam conversion rates are likely higher in real-world scenarios given participants were predominantly White, highly educated women exposed to less intensive tactics than actual scammers use.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
**Gift Card Scams Overview**
Gift card scams are increasingly prevalent, with fraudsters posing as grandchildren, IRS agents, or bank employees to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards and sharing the numbers. Scammers prefer gift cards because they are difficult to track once the card number and PIN are compromised, making them an "easy depletion method" for accessing funds. Common variants include bank investigator scams, IRS impersonation scams, grandparent scams, and lottery scams, all of which exploit urgency, authority, or emotional appeals to manipulate victims into sending money via untraceable gift cards.
southcoasttoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Chukwunonso "Douglas" Umegbo, a 39-year-old former New Bedford man, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for operating a romance scam between 2018 and 2019, defrauding victims of over $568,000 by creating fake online personas and romantic relationships to solicit money through fraudulent bank accounts. He was arrested in London in April 2022 and extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and false statements to banks, and must pay $578,954 in restitution and forfeiture.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Chukwunonso Umegbo, a former New Bedford man, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for operating a romance scam between 2018 and 2019, defrauding victims of over $568,000 by creating fake online personas to develop romantic relationships and extract money. Umegbo used multiple aliases and bank accounts in the Greater Boston area to receive and launder victim funds through cash withdrawals and cashier's checks, and continued the scheme even after leaving the U.S. by coordinating with co-conspirators. He was arrested in London in April 2022, extradited to the U.S. in February 2023, and ordered to pay
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old MBA student in Nagpur lost Rs 23 lakh in a cryptocurrency investment scam after a fraudster posing as an investment advisor contacted him via Telegram in November 2023. The scammer initially provided fake returns on a small investment to build trust, then persuaded the student to deposit the full amount, which was never recovered. Police registered a case and launched an investigation under IPC and IT Act provisions.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
IRS impostor scams, which cost consumers $5.8 million in 2023, typically begin with robocalls using spoofed caller IDs and progress to demands for payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency under threats of arrest, or attempts to extract sensitive personal information by falsely claiming a refund is owed. The article advises that the IRS never initiates contact via unsolicited calls and recommends verifying any such claims by contacting the IRS directly using official contact information from trusted sources.
cpr.org
· 2025-12-08
While younger adults are statistically more likely to fall for fraud, people over 70 lose significantly more money overall. An 80-year-old man in Aurora lost $20,000 after scammers posed as his bank's fraud department over several weeks, convincing him to withdraw cash and convert it to Bitcoin at a gas station ATM. Deputy Ryan Falkner of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office identifies the most prevalent current scams targeting older adults as popup virus warnings and jury duty/arrest warrant phone scams, recommending that victims turn off their computers and never pay via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
pioneertribune.com
· 2025-12-08
The Manistique Senior Center announced an educational presentation by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on June 14 on senior scams and fraud prevention. The center also promotes various community programs including a grief support group, gardening activities, bake sale, movie screenings, game night, and card-making classes.
macaudailytimes.com.mo
· 2025-12-08
The Judiciary Police in Macau launched a WeChat-based anti-fraud initiative in response to a sharp 70-120% surge in fraud cases from January to February, which resulted in 69 million patacas in losses across 265 reported incidents, including a concerning 44% increase in student-targeted scams. The interactive program offers fraud risk analysis, reporting channels, and educational resources to help residents identify fraudulent schemes. Two women were victimized by phone scams impersonating public prosecutors and immigration officials, with one losing 41,700 patacas after being coerced into transferring funds based on false money laundering allegations.
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
Employees at a fulfillment center received fraudulent calls from scammers impersonating Social Security Administration, IRS, and other government agencies demanding money or threatening arrest. According to the Social Security Administration, these sophisticated scams cost consumers over $126 million in 2023, and victims should remain calm, never send money or personal information via phone demands, and report incidents to the Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or the SSA website.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security number impersonation scams are among the most common government impostor fraud, with criminals stealing over $100 million annually by pretending to be government officials and requesting personal or banking information. Scammers employ sophisticated tactics such as fake documents, fraudulent letterhead, and threatening calls claiming account suspension or benefit loss to pressure victims into disclosing sensitive data. The Federal Trade Commission recommends never trusting caller ID, never verifying personal information to unsolicited callers, and remembering that the SSA will never demand upfront payment via wire transfer, cash, or gift cards.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Remote access scams initiated by phone, text, email, or social media cost Australians $15 million in 2023, with nearly half of 8,975 reported cases beginning via phone calls impersonating banks or service providers. Scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics—including spoofed numbers, fake social media profiles, and urgent requests for personal information or device access—to install malware, steal data, or make unauthorized purchases. Protection requires verification through official channels, refusing unsolicited requests, and immediately contacting your bank and reporting to Scamwatch if compromised.
wisbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies common scams targeting small businesses, which are particularly vulnerable due to limited cybersecurity resources and accounting processes compared to larger organizations. Key scams include Business Email Compromise (BEC), phony invoices, directory fraud, identity theft, fraudulent charity solicitations, phishing attacks, and office supply scams. The article emphasizes that knowledge and awareness are the best defenses and recommends businesses stay informed about these threats and report incidents when targeted.
cbs12.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody warned of direct deposit refund scams during the 2024 tax season, in which fraudsters impersonate IRS agents and contact victims claiming a tax return error, then demand immediate payment via wire transfer or gift cards. The IRS will never contact taxpayers by text or email about refunds, demand payment through untraceable methods, or require specific payment forms like gift cards. Victims should verify IRS communications through the official IRS website and report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission.
mychesco.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP Pennsylvania is launching an educational campaign to combat Social Security fraud, which affected approximately 360,000 people through impersonation scams in 2021. The organization recommends protective measures including robocall-blocking applications, online account monitoring, and reporting suspicious activities to authorities, emphasizing that genuine unsolicited Social Security Administration contact is extremely rare. Victims of these scams face risks including identity theft, financial loss, and long-term challenges accessing credit and services.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational podcast series covering consumer protection topics rather than a specific fraud or elder abuse incident. Key episodes address red flags in standard contracts, risks associated with rewards credit cards that can lead to debt, vehicle recalls affecting safety, and credit denial trends affecting consumers. The podcast provides advice on identifying problematic contract clauses, understanding credit card pitfalls, and navigating consumer financial decisions.
news4sanantonio.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly homeowner in Luling, Texas received an unsolicited package of precious metals worth approximately $100,000 after being contacted by a scammer posing as customer support; police intervention prevented the fraudster from collecting the package and led to the arrest of California resident Shalin Amin on money laundering charges. The scam targeted the victim by creating urgency and manipulating them into accepting a shipment they never requested. Authorities recommend avoiding unsolicited precious metals purchases, safeguarding personal information, and reporting suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or the Elder Justice Hotline.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between January 2020 and December 2023, investment fraud cost UK victims more than £2.6 billion across 98,525 cases, with an average loss of £26,773 per victim. Boiler Room fraud and Ponzi schemes were the most prevalent scams, stealing £553 million and £499 million respectively, with 2023 recording the highest number of victims (26,740) losing £527 million that year alone. The FCA recommends vigilance against red flags including unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, and promises of unusually high returns.
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers have stolen tens of millions of dollars in SNAP benefits from EBT cardholders nationwide using card skimming devices placed on payment terminals and phishing scams. To protect themselves, users should inspect card readers for loose or mismatched faceplates, never share their PIN, and utilize the new ConnectEBT app feature that allows them to lock their cards when not in use. New York has approved nearly 12,000 stolen benefit claims and reimbursed over $6.1 million to victims through its benefit recovery program since August 2022.
postandcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece highlights multiple types of elder and consumer fraud affecting South Carolina residents, including gift card scams, cryptocurrency schemes, the "grandparent" impersonation scam, and account takeovers, with documented losses ranging from $30,000 to $39,000. The author provides red flags to recognize scams (requests for gift cards or cryptocurrency, unsolicited requests for personal information, phishing emails) and recommends protective measures such as using strong passwords, utilizing password managers, and paying with credit cards rather than debit cards to limit liability. The piece emphasizes that while individuals have limited recourse, large institutions continue to suffer major data breaches that put personal information into criminals' hands.
columbian.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides educational guidance on protecting yourself from tax season scams. Common scams include identity theft (where scammers file false returns in victims' names to claim refunds) and IRS impersonation schemes that use fear, urgency, and promises of money to trick people into sharing personal information. To protect yourself, verify that communications are genuinely from the IRS (which contacts people only by mail), research tax professionals through official directories, and avoid sharing information with unknown callers.
cbs19news.com
· 2025-12-08
Virginia experienced 491 tax scam victims in 2023 who lost over $12 million to government impersonation schemes, ranking the state 11th nationally. Scammers primarily target older adults by impersonating the IRS through fake websites (using .com or .net instead of .gov) to steal login credentials and redirect tax refunds within minutes, with potential access to accounts lasting years. The article features a reformed scammer who warns that verifying URLs and protecting IRS account information are critical defenses against these schemes.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between January 2020 and December 2023, investment fraud in the UK resulted in £2.6 billion stolen from 98,525 victims, with an average loss of £26,773 per person. Boiler Room fraud and Ponzi schemes were the most common types, accounting for £553 million and £499 million respectively, with 2023 marking the worst year at £527 million lost across 26,740 victims. The FCA advises people to be wary of unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, and promises of unusually high returns as key warning signs of investment scams.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies common scams targeting Walmart shoppers, including fraudulent job offers (secret shopper schemes requiring upfront payment), gift card fraud (scammers posing as authorities or charities demanding payment via gift cards), phishing emails and fake giveaways, delivery scams using fake texts/emails about order issues, and counterfeit gift cards sold on secondary markets. The article advises consumers to verify communications directly through official Walmart channels, avoid any requests for upfront payments or gift card purchases, and purchase gift cards only from Walmart or authorized retailers.
fool.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies five common Medicare scams targeting seniors: unsolicited contact from fake Medicare representatives, false claims that Medicare plans have been canceled, offers of free products or services not covered by Medicare, requests to replace or activate Medicare cards, and pressure to switch to alternative plans during enrollment periods. The article advises seniors to verify information independently through Medicare.gov, never respond to unsolicited contact, protect personal information like Medicare and Social Security numbers, and call Medicare directly with questions rather than trusting solicitors.
gobankingrates.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies six common scams targeting Walmart shoppers: bogus job offers that steal personal information, gift card schemes impersonating authorities or charities, phishing emails and fake giveaways designed to harvest data or install malware, fraudulent delivery notifications requesting payment, counterfeit discounted gift cards sold on secondary markets, and spoofed surveys collecting sensitive financial information. The article advises consumers to verify offers through official Walmart channels, avoid upfront payments or gift card demands, and maintain skepticism toward offers that seem too good to be true.
startribune.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission warns that fraud losses exceeded $10 billion in 2023, with common scams targeting older adults including investment, grandparent, romance, tech-support, tax, and business impersonation schemes. The article emphasizes that anyone can fall victim to sophisticated fraud and recommends slowing down and resisting pressure to act immediately as a key protective measure against scammers.
vox.com
· 2025-12-08
This article examines the historical roots of conservative political grifting rather than a specific elder fraud case. According to journalist Joe Conason's book "The Longest Con," right-wing scamming culture originated in the 1950s with Senator Joe McCarthy's anti-Communist fear campaigns and was systematized by lawyer Roy Cohn, who exploited paranoia to extract donations. The article traces how direct-mail scams proliferated after Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign, establishing a normalized grifting template on the political right that eventually enabled Donald Trump's own schemes, including selling $399 gold sneakers and a $60 "God Bless the USA"
earlytimes.in
· 2025-12-08
This report documents major corruption scandals in Jammu and Kashmir since 2021, with 70 percent of cases registered in Kashmir. Notable scams include the Roshni Scheme involving Rs 25,000 crore and 25 lakh kanals of land (with 11 FIRs filed against prominent figures including a former Chief Minister), a fake gun license distribution scheme involving four lakh licenses, a Rs 700 crore J&K Bank misappropriation case, and recruitment fraud affecting over 2,000 Sub Inspectors and JE civil positions. The CBI has increased anti-corruption efforts substantially, registering more than 40
capenews.net
· 2025-12-08
This educational article discusses aging in place and the rising threat of elder fraud, reporting that seniors age 60+ filed 88,262 fraud complaints in 2022 resulting in $3.1 billion in losses—an 82% increase from 2021. Scammers target older adults due to accumulated savings, daytime availability, lower tech literacy, and potential cognitive vulnerabilities, with the five most common scams being government imposter schemes (Medicare, IRS, Social Security), sweepstakes/lottery fraud, phishing/vishing/smishing, tech support scams, and grandparent scams. The article emphasizes that seniors may underreport scams due to fears
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
During tax season, scammers increasingly impersonate the IRS through phishing emails, text messages, and fraudulent communications to trick taxpayers into revealing personal information or clicking malicious links. Identity theft remains a major threat, with scammers using stolen personal data to fraudulently file tax returns in victims' names and claim refunds; the IRS received 294,138 identity theft complaints in 2023, and victims typically wait approximately 19 months for resolution. Taxpayers can protect themselves by being suspicious of unsolicited communications, remembering that the IRS primarily contacts people via mail, independently verifying any requests for personal information, and never clicking links in unsolicited messages.
wpi.edu
· 2025-12-08
WPI Campus Police and the Dean of Students Office warn students of recent scams targeting them through social media, phone calls, and email that have resulted in financial losses over the past month. Scammers use various tactics including impersonating government officials to claim visa or tax problems, fabricating emergencies involving family members, threatening arrest or deportation, blackmail, and demanding upfront payments for jobs. Students should protect themselves by never sending money or personal information to unknown individuals, never confirming personal details even if scammers already possess some correct information, and reporting suspicious contact to campus authorities immediately.
salemnews.net
· 2025-12-08
Columbiana County Sheriff's Office warns residents of a spoofing scam where criminals impersonate sheriff's deputies using the civil office phone number and real deputies' names, threatening arrest and demanding payment via cryptocurrency or gift cards. Sheriff Brian McLaughlin emphasizes that legitimate law enforcement will never request money for warrants or court dates, and advises residents to hang up and call the sheriff's office directly at 330-424-7255 if they receive such calls. One victim avoided losing money when she encountered the sheriff in person after a scammer directed her not to contact the office.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Chukwunonso Umegbo, a former New Bedford man, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering related to romance scams between 2018 and 2019. Umegbo used fake identities to open bank accounts in the Boston area that received over $568,000 from romance scam victims, which he then withdrew as cash, converted to cashier's checks, or spent; he was arrested in London in 2022 and extradited to face charges in 2023. He was ordered to pay $578,954.78 in restitution and forfeiture.
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC reported 64,003 romance scams in 2023 resulting in $1.14 billion in losses (median $2,000 per victim), advising consumers never to send money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to online suitors. The FTC also announced enforcement actions against AI companies engaging in deceptive data practices, published a final rule prohibiting impersonation of government agencies and businesses, and secured a $20.3 million judgment against merchant cash advance company owner Jonathan Braun for defrauding small business owners through misleading practices and unlawful asset seizure.