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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
whyy.org
· 2025-12-08
Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania rank among the nation's most vulnerable states for identity theft and fraud in 2025, with Delaware ranking second nationally due to high complaint rates and substantial financial losses, while Pennsylvania reported over 314 theft complaints per 100 residents and average losses of $8,228 per case in 2024. The vulnerability is attributed to rising data breaches from major companies, with U.S. consumers facing an estimated $10 billion in fraud losses in 2023, and Pennsylvania's large senior population (2.6 million people aged 65+) identified as particularly susceptible to scams. State officials recommend public education initiatives, strong passwords, verification of websites, and family
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 57-year-old man in Karkala lost Rs 8.93 lakh to a digital arrest scam after receiving a fraudulent call from someone claiming to be from the Mumbai Crime Branch who threatened him with arrest over alleged illegal money transfers. The victim was coerced into transferring money in multiple instalments between December 13-18, including a single transfer of Rs 6 lakh to an account in the name of Pavan Kumar Gujar. A police case was registered at Karkala Town Police Station.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2025, scammers are expected to escalate their targeting of consumers' money and identities, with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance reporting over $1 trillion in losses during 2024. Key emerging threats include AI-generated scams creating increasingly realistic fake websites and impersonation content, cryptocurrency investment scams using manipulated websites to simulate earnings, and text-based impersonation scams posing as job recruiters, banks, or family members—all made harder to detect as AI improves grammar and personalization. The FBI advises consumers to avoid quick reactions, scrutinize images for imperfections, and never send money via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash apps, as
outlookbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Artificial intelligence has become a powerful tool for fraudsters in India, with 64% of respondents reporting increased fraud and 67% struggling to keep pace with evolving threats. Scammers use AI techniques including voice cloning, deepfakes, synthetic identity creation, and personalized phishing to impersonate trusted figures and extract money from victims across all demographics, though senior citizens are particularly vulnerable; notably, 83% of voice scam victims in India have lost money to cloned voice fraud. Financial institutions and individuals must implement more sophisticated detection systems, as the combination of AI with social engineering and offline techniques proves especially dangerous by exploiting human psychology and bypassing traditional security measures.
daijiworld.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old resident of Udupi, Francis Castelino, lost Rs 49 lacs after fraudsters added his son's number to a WhatsApp group called "Stock Market Navigation" and convinced the family to invest in fake stock market opportunities with promised high returns. The scammers requested further investments when the family attempted to withdraw funds, ultimately delivering neither returns nor principal, and a case has been registered with the Udupi CEN Police Station. The article advises vigilance against such schemes, warning never to share banking details or fall for threats of "digital arrest," which do not exist under Indian law.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides four cybersecurity recommendations for protecting against increasingly sophisticated online scams and hacking in 2025. The key strategies include: using unique, strong passwords with secure storage methods; recognizing social engineering tactics that build false relationships to steal information; establishing family code words to verify AI-generated voice calls; and remaining vigilant against improved phishing scams. The expert notes that while these practices require effort, they make individuals less attractive targets for cybercriminals.
kfyrtv.com
· 2025-12-08
A "brushing" scam is spreading across the country, where unsolicited packages arrive at victims' addresses containing tracking labels or QR codes designed to steal personal and financial information. The scam exploits curiosity by making packages appear to come from legitimate sellers, and scanning the codes can compromise banking details and enable identity theft. Authorities recommend keeping unopened packages, avoiding scanning any labels or QR codes, and reporting suspicious activity to police.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers and hackers are employing increasingly sophisticated methods, including social engineering schemes and AI-generated voice/content, to target individuals in 2025. A cybersecurity expert recommends four key protections: using unique strong passwords stored securely, remaining vigilant against social engineering tactics on social media and professional platforms, establishing "secret word" protocols with family and friends to verify AI-generated calls, and staying alert to AI-enhanced phishing emails that are now grammatically correct and harder to identify.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Educational awareness piece on phone scam prevention
This AARP guidance teaches seniors to recognize and avoid phone scams by not answering unknown calls, listening for the telltale pause that indicates an auto-dialer system, and using call-blocking features. The key message emphasizes that scammers employ increasingly sophisticated tactics to extract personal information or payments, but awareness of these red flags can help prevent fraud victimization.
wtxl.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are exploiting cash-sharing apps like Venmo and PayPal by using stolen login credentials from data breaches or password-cracking technology to access accounts, then attempting to reset passwords before victims do by calling with untraceable numbers to extract security codes. Online fraud cases have nearly doubled since 2019 with losses reaching $12.5 billion last year, with tech support impersonation scams growing 175% year-over-year. The FTC recommends enabling two-step authentication on money-sharing accounts and never sharing security codes with anyone, as fraudsters commonly impersonate legitimate companies to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
Vietnamese police dismantled a $1.17 million cryptocurrency scam operated by a company called "Million Smiles" that defrauded over 400 individuals and 100 businesses through a fake Quantum Financial System (QFS) coin claiming to be backed by ancient family treasures and promising exclusive financial benefits. The scammers, led by the company's general director and seven associates, were arrested after police seized evidence and prevented a planned conference that would have attracted 300 additional victims. The fraudulent scheme used luxurious office spaces to create legitimacy and collected investments ranging from approximately $190 to $1,350 per person or business.
morningjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Avon Lake police received dozens of reports of a phone scam in which callers impersonated local officers and used the city's actual non-emergency number as a spoofed caller ID to threaten residents with arrest for outstanding grand jury warrants, demanding payment to avoid jail. Though no money was successfully obtained, the scammers instructed victims to call a separate number to arrange payments, exploiting fear to solicit funds. Police emphasize that legitimate law enforcement never calls to threaten arrest in exchange for immediate payment, and recommend citizens verify caller identity by independently looking up official phone numbers rather than calling numbers provided by the caller.
siasat.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, India experienced a surge in digital scams targeting individual citizens, with reported losses of approximately Rs 1,750 crore (about $210 million USD) across over 740,000 complaints, according to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. Major scam types included digital arrest fraud (affecting 92,323 victims who were threatened by impersonators claiming to be law enforcement), TRAI fraud calls, online investment scams, and dating fraud schemes that exploited victims through social media and dating apps. The Indian government predicts losses could reach Rs 1.2 lakh crore ($14.4 billion USD) in 2025
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Baltimore resident Ami Porter avoided an employment scam when she recognized that a supposed remote data entry position with "Northzone" required her to purchase equipment (a computer and iPhone 15) and mail it to the company. Porter remembered the key rule: "you shouldn't have to pay to work," which prompted her to verify the offer and report it to the Better Business Bureau. The article highlights that employment scams have surged during the pandemic, with an estimated 14 million people exposed annually resulting in $2 billion in losses, and advises job seekers to verify companies directly and avoid any offer requiring upfront payments.
seattletimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto-Dominion Bank employee in New York used her access to customer data to distribute sensitive information to criminals on Telegram, a pattern that reflects a broader vulnerability in US banking where low-paid staff members are selling customer details to fraudsters. The scheme is particularly concerning given that US retirees face over $28 billion in estimated annual elder fraud losses, and con artists with insider information about wealthy customers can more effectively target victims. Banks have resisted stronger regulatory requirements to protect customers despite years of warnings about insider data breaches, with some cases involving sophisticated fraud rings operating on the dark web and social media platforms.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto-Dominion Bank employee in New York used her access to customer data to distribute sensitive information to criminals via Telegram, a case that exemplifies a broader pattern of low-paid bank employees selling customer details to fraudsters across the United States. Detectives found images of 255 customer cheques and personal information on approximately 70 others on her phone, with similar schemes documented at major financial institutions and credit unions. This insider vulnerability is particularly concerning given that US retirees face record elder fraud losses exceeding $28 billion annually, as scammers with inside knowledge of customers' finances can target victims more effectively.
foxbangor.com
· 2025-12-08
Janet D. fell victim to a tech support scam when a fake Windows Defender pop-up with audio alarms froze her computer and directed her to call a displayed number. The scammer instructed her to download UltraViewer, a legitimate remote access tool commonly exploited by fraudsters to gain control of victims' systems. The article outlines key warning signs of this scam type—unsolicited pop-ups claiming to be from Microsoft, urgent audio/visual cues, and requests to install remote access software—and provides protective steps including refusing to call displayed numbers, uninstalling suspicious software, updating passwords, and enabling two-factor authentication.
kktv.com
· 2025-12-08
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser warned residents about emerging AI-enabled fraud schemes that use voice recordings to create convincing fake calls claiming victims or loved ones need money, often impersonating law enforcement or creating "grandparent scam" scenarios. Common red flags include requests for gift cards or wire transfers, and Weiser advised victims to verify calls by contacting official numbers from organizations' websites rather than using numbers provided by callers. Coloradans who suspect they've been targeted by these scams can file complaints with the attorney general's office.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two people in Perth County, Ontario lost over $10,000 in a grandparent scam where they were called by someone posing as a lawyer claiming a family member was in jail and needed bail money, then a person posing as a bondsperson collected $5,000 and $5,500 in cash from their homes. Police warn that scammers may claim a voice sounds different due to a broken nose, and remind people not to provide personal information or make payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency to unsolicited callers.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Boston police issued a warning about a series of cellphone thefts that resulted in victims experiencing fraudulent charges and unauthorized fund withdrawals from compromised financial accounts. Police recommended security measures including using passcodes, enabling app-level authentication, avoiding stored passwords, and signing out of apps, with instructions to immediately enable lost mode and wipe data if a phone is stolen.
wcbi.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lee County Sheriff's Office warned the public about scams targeting seniors in which scammers contact victims via unsolicited emails, texts, or phone calls directing them to fake websites resembling legitimate financial institutions. The scammers falsely claim account issues and pressure victims to withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin or ATMs, threatening financial or criminal consequences if they refuse. The sheriff's department advised residents to ignore unsolicited communications, never send funds to unknown recipients, and verify any account concerns directly with their bank through official channels.
hometownsource.com
· 2025-12-08
The Senior LinkAge Line is offering a free virtual educational presentation on January 8 covering health care fraud, waste, and abuse prevention, with instruction on detecting and reporting scams that increasingly target older adults. The presentation, delivered via Microsoft Teams in partnership with the Senior Medicare Patrol, requires pre-registration through Eventbrite or by calling 800-333-2433, and accommodations are available upon request.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Two people in Perth County, Ontario lost over $10,000 total in a grandparent scam in which they received phone calls claiming a family member was in jail and needed bail money, then an imposter posing as a bondsperson visited their homes to collect cash ($5,000 and $5,500 respectively). Police warn that scammers may claim the "grandchild" has a broken nose to explain voice differences, and advise people to hang up on unsolicited calls requesting personal information or payments via gift cards and cryptocurrency.
wgem.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Better Business Bureau, online purchase scams represent nearly one-third of all reported scams since 2019 and remain the most common fraud reported. Scammers increasingly use cell phones and digital communications—including emails, texts, and phone calls—to target victims. The BBB regional director advised consumers in 2025 to think critically about unfamiliar online messages and help one another identify scams to reduce fraud success.
marbleheadcurrent.org
· 2025-12-08
Two elder fraud attempts were reported in Marblehead during December 5-17, 2024. On December 5, a resident received a fraudulent DocuSign/Norton Antivirus email and granted scammers remote computer access; they fabricated fake subscription charges ($299.99 and $399.99) and a false $3,999.99 credit to pressure the victim into buying CVS gift cards, but the resident recognized the scam before losing money. On December 13, another resident fell victim to a fraudulent travel documentation scheme via a fake "UK-ETA.com" website, submitting passport information before realizing the site was fraudulent; the victim pro
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
An 84-year-old Canton, Michigan woman was targeted by a phone scam in December 2024 in which a caller impersonated a bank "senior fraud officer" and instructed her to withdraw cash for a supposed security purpose; the scheme succeeded twice before family members detected suspicious bank activity and alerted police. Li Biao, a 30-year-old undocumented Chinese national, was arrested on December 17, 2024, when he arrived at the victim's home to collect $25,000 in cash, and was charged with fraudulent false pretenses and resisting police. Police emphasized the importance of monitoring elderly relatives for warning signs such as sudden financial changes, large
en.cibercuba.com
· 2025-12-08
Two young Cuban women (ages 20 and 23) fell victim to a "ring scam" in Guantánamo when strangers approached them claiming to have found a 14k gold ring and offered to trade it for their gold chains; the victims later discovered the ring was made of cheap gold-like metal rather than genuine gold. The article also documents a broader rise in fraud cases across Cuba, including dollar-trading scams, impersonation schemes, and the spread of false information via social media about such incidents.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
"Brushing" scams are targeting Australians who receive unsolicited packages containing worthless items like ripped fabrics, socks with holes, or stuffed animals, often originating from a PO Box in Dingley Village, Victoria. Scammers use these packages for two purposes: to trick recipients into scanning QR codes that lead to fake delivery websites, or to fraudulently boost their own business ratings by using the recipient's name to post fake reviews. The ACCC advises consumers to never click delivery links in unsolicited messages and instead verify packages independently through official Australia Post or courier websites.
wpxi.com
· 2025-12-08
The Washington County Sheriff's Office warned the public about scammers impersonating deputies, specifically claiming to be "Deputy Tony Androns" and requesting return calls to 724-409-8449 regarding a "confidential matter." This was the second such impersonation scam targeting the area within a month, and officials emphasized that law enforcement never calls to collect money. Residents who receive these calls are urged to contact their local police department.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly man in his 80s lost £7,450 on Christmas Eve after a fraudster posing as a police officer convinced him to withdraw the money as part of a bogus "undercover operation" targeting bank employees, which he then handed to a courier. South Yorkshire Police reported five similar scams in the preceding week and warned that this type of fraud, which typically involves impersonating police or bank officials and requesting cash for supposed investigations, disproportionately targets vulnerable and elderly individuals. Police advised victims to hang up suspicious calls, verify numbers independently using trusted sources, and never hand over bank cards to strangers.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
St. Clair County authorities warned residents of a scam involving unsolicited Amazon packages containing QR codes that install malware designed to steal personal and financial information when scanned. The scheme used fake diamond ring shipments to trick residents into scanning the malicious QR code. Authorities recommend contacting local police upon receiving suspicious packages.
rnz.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Sarah and Laine Robinson lost $252,000 of their home deposit in a "spear phishing" scam after unknowingly transferring funds to a fraudulent account based on forged emails appearing to be from their conveyancer—the scam was only discovered the day before their property settlement when the funds failed to appear. The scammers had impersonated their conveyancer with near-perfect detail, including correct fee amounts, but used an email address missing the ".au" domain extension; ANZ Bank recovered only $82,000 of the lost amount, and the case was transferred to Victoria Police after discovering a Melbourne university student owned the recipient account. This attack exemplifies a shift
colitco.com
· 2025-12-08
Sarah and Laine Robinson lost $250,000 of their home deposit in a spear phishing scam when fraudsters impersonated their conveyancer via a fake email address (missing ".au" at the end) and redirected their funds to a scam account. Although their bank ANZ recovered $82,000, the couple faced devastating financial and emotional consequences as they prepared to purchase their dream home on the Gold Coast. The case highlights the growing sophistication of targeted phishing attacks, which leverage personalized details and AI technology to deceive victims during high-value transactions.
macaubusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Five Macau residents fell victim to human trafficking orchestrated by criminal groups who lured them with fake job advertisements and promises of high salaries to Taiwan and Cambodia; four victims were forced into telecommunications and Internet fraud operations before being detained, while the fifth, a 38-year-old woman, escaped from Cambodia. The trafficking occurred as part of a larger regional scheme where hundreds of thousands of people, primarily Chinese nationals, are trafficked to Southeast Asia to conduct online fraud against compatriots, with at least 120,000 trafficked to Myanmar and 100,000 to Cambodia. Macau experienced a significant surge in telecom and Internet scams in 2023, with 1,306
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Wisconsin residents shared their experiences with tech support scams. Charlotte Siverling of Cadott received a fake warning claiming her computer was hacked and was pressured to withdraw $8,300 from Walmart after being falsely accused of possessing child pornography, but avoided losing money by calling her son who confirmed it was a scam. Nancy Wheeler of Ladysmith nearly fell victim to a similar scheme where a scammer gained remote access to her computer, manipulated her bank balance to appear as $3,000 owed, and pressured her to buy gift cards, though she ultimately hung up and avoided financial loss but had to replace her compromised bank account.
pressdemocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
A 20-year-old man was arrested in Sonoma County for his role in a sophisticated elder-fraud scheme targeting a 78-year-old woman who was tricked into withdrawing $40,000 over two days after scammers impersonated Redwood Credit Union and Federal Reserve representatives. The suspect, Yung-Wen Kuan, allegedly acted as a courier to collect the fraudulent withdrawals and is facing charges of grand theft, elder financial abuse, and conspiracy. Authorities are urging seniors to verify calls from financial institutions by contacting their banks directly and to report similar scams to law enforcement.
fraservalleytoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old woman in Salmon Arm lost $9,000 after clicking a Facebook link that displayed a fake security alert claiming she had been hacked and threatened with child pornography charges. She was then manipulated by scammers into purchasing iTunes gift cards and providing the details to them, with RCMP unable to recover the funds as they traced to a California phone number. RCMP issued a warning to seniors about this type of fraudulent scheme.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
While this article primarily focuses on teen vulnerabilities rather than elder fraud, it documents a significant scam trend: teens lost 2,500% more money to scams over a five-year period compared to a baseline, driven by emerging tactics including influencer impersonation, romance scams, sextortion, and fake game rewards schemes. The article emphasizes that open communication between parents and children, coupled with verification practices (reverse image searches, official app stores only), are critical protective measures, as scammers exploit trust and manipulate young people into sharing personal information, money, or explicit images for blackmail purposes.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers sent phishing text messages to Southern California Metro ExpressLanes users and non-users, threatening legal action and excessive late fees to coerce payment of fake FasTrak tolls through malicious links. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority confirmed no customer data was compromised and warned the public never to respond to, click links in, or use contact information from such messages. Similar phishing campaigns targeting FasTrak users have been reported across California since at least March.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides an overview of the spam and scam call problem affecting US consumers and discusses potential solutions. According to 2023 data, American consumers received an average of eight spam calls per week, with victims losing an average of $2,257 per scam—a 527% increase from the previous year. While the FCC has implemented technologies like Stir/Shaken and passed regulations to reduce unwanted calls, experts indicate these measures are inadequate, and the article advises consumers to employ defensive strategies such as not answering calls asking for confirmation or using call-blocking services.
makeuseof.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies six prevalent scams to watch for in 2025: IRS impersonation scams using phishing emails and calls; credit card fraud through skimmers and data breaches; cryptocurrency scams exploiting market hype and fake giveaways; employment scams (which surged 118% in 2023) targeting job seekers; post-holiday prize draw scams requesting payment or personal information; and package delivery scams using phishing links. The article recommends monitoring financial statements, verifying message sources, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and learning to identify fraudulent communications to protect yourself against these evolving threats.
messengernews.net
· 2025-12-08
Multiple sheriff's departments in north central Iowa are warning residents of a "grandparent scam" in which callers impersonate family members claiming to be arrested and needing bail money, resulting in victims losing tens of thousands of dollars. Scammers coach victims to lie to banks about withdrawal reasons and arrange for accomplices to collect the cash in person. Law enforcement urges residents to warn elderly and vulnerable family members about this predatory scheme.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A Gold Coast couple lost $250,000 of their home deposit in a "spear phishing" scam after transferring funds to a fraudulent account based on emails that appeared to be from their conveyancer but contained a slightly altered email address. The scam was not discovered until the day before their property settlement when their conveyancer could not locate the second deposit in the trust account. Queensland Police transferred the investigation to Victoria Police after identifying the scam account holder as a university student in Melbourne, and experts note that such highly-targeted, personalized scams are becoming increasingly common as criminals shift from mass phishing attacks to high-value transactions.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 30-year-old IT professional and a civil services candidate in India fell victim to romance scams on dating apps, losing Rs 55,000 and over one lakh rupees respectively. The first victim was lured to an expensive restaurant where his date disappeared after a inflated bill, while the second was manipulated by a fake suitor who promised government job assistance before requesting money under false pretexts. According to a McAfee study, 39% of Indians surveyed reported experiencing online dating scams, which exploit emotional vulnerability through fake personas and social engineering tactics targeting younger people, professionals, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between November 2023 and October 2024, the PSNI received over 5,200 fraud reports totaling £19 million in losses across Northern Ireland, including a £50,000 romance scam where a victim was deceived into transferring money for a fake business opportunity and a £100,000+ bank impersonation scam. Common fraud methods involved investment scams, ticket scams, and impersonation schemes conducted via phone, social media, email, and text, with criminals targeting individuals through sophisticated tactics to steal personal and financial information.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams are increasing in volume, with common schemes including fake shipping notifications claiming failed deliveries, fraudulent banking alerts about locked accounts, prize/sweepstakes offers, impersonated IRS/government agency demands for taxes, and fake fraud alerts. To protect yourself, never respond to, call numbers in, or click links from suspicious texts; instead, contact companies directly through official channels, and report scams to the FCC (7726) or FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Service is warning about "smishing"—a scam where criminals send unsolicited text messages claiming a package cannot be delivered, then direct victims to click malicious links to steal personally identifiable information like Social Security numbers, passwords, and card details. The USPS advises recipients not to click links in unsolicited texts, as the Postal Service only sends text updates to customers who have specifically opted in; suspected smishing messages should be reported to the Postal Inspection Service.
shreveporttimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams are increasing drastically, with common types including fake shipping notifications (claiming failed package deliveries), fraudulent banking alerts, prize/sweepstakes offers, impersonated government agency messages, and fake fraud alerts designed to trick recipients into clicking links or providing personal information. To protect yourself, never respond to or click links in suspicious texts, avoid calling numbers in the messages, and instead contact companies directly through official websites; suspicious texts can be reported to the FCC at SPAM (7726) or the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
This is an informational resource page from the Michigan Department of Attorney General detailing senior protection services. The Health Care Fraud Division investigates fraudulent activity by health care providers in the Medicaid program, including misappropriation of patient trust funds and identity theft in care facilities, while the Elder Abuse Task Force works to prevent financial exploitation of nursing home residents. The page provides contact information for multiple state agencies and resources available to report fraud and abuse or seek assistance.