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jcitytimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old Jersey City man, Sagar Patel, was arrested and extradited to Colorado, where he faces grand theft charges for scamming a 79-year-old woman out of $120,000 in gold bars. Patel was taken into custody in February and now faces 4 to 12 years in prison if convicted.
observer-review.com
· 2025-12-08
Schuyler County declared the week of March 3-9 as National Consumer Protection Week, with the County Office for the Aging and County Attorney distributing educational materials about scams, fraud, and identity theft to vulnerable residents. County officials highlighted that seniors are especially susceptible to scams, with the FTC reporting 5.2 million fraud reports totaling $8.8 billion in losses in 2022, with investment scam losses doubling year-over-year to $3.8 billion.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old physician lost approximately Rs 3 lakh in a fake electricity bill scam after receiving a threatening message claiming to be from his electricity provider (BSES) warning of service disconnection. The scammer coerced him into paying Rs 10 for an "upgrade," then directed him to click a malicious link where he disclosed his debit card details. The article advises consumers to verify urgent bills directly with official provider contact information, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and remember that legitimate providers provide advance notice before disconnection.
wdio.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Federal Trade Commission, older adults are increasingly targeted with scam calls and texts, with those aged 70 and older experiencing significantly higher median losses compared to younger adults, despite young adults reporting fraud losses more frequently. Experts recommend that older adults protect themselves by recognizing emotional manipulation tactics in messages (such as urgent language or threats), verifying sender identities, and having conversations about financial management, as awareness of scams helps reduce vulnerability. The Senior Linkage Line is offering free online classes on detecting and reporting Medicare fraud and healthcare scams targeting seniors.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
A TD survey found that 41% of young adult Canadians (ages 18-34) are more likely to be targeted by fraudsters on social media than older adults, with nearly 30% having fallen victim to financial fraud or scams through various channels including social media (43%), online ads (29%), and job applications (25%). Young adults are most concerned about job scams (19%), investment scams (15%), and cheque scams (12%), with 62% feeling vulnerable to fraud despite 60% taking steps to educate themselves about warning signs. Experts recommend learning to identify red flags, reporting incidents to banks and police, opting for electronic payments over cheques, and being suspicious
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Noel Chimezuru Agoha, a 40-year-old Maryland man, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison in February 2019 for leading multiple fraud schemes that defrauded victims of over $1.5 million between 2015 and 2018. Agoha and his co-conspirators executed business email compromise scams by impersonating legitimate business contacts to trick victims into transferring money to fraudulent accounts, and operated romance scams on dating websites using fake profiles to extract money and property from victims. The court ordered Agoha to pay $1 million in restitution for his role in the conspiracy.
thepointsguy.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC received 2.6 million fraud reports totaling $10 billion in losses, with imposter scams being the most common type, and AI technology is rapidly enabling new fraud methods including voice cloning, deepfakes, email spoofing, and credential stuffing attacks. Scammers use AI to impersonate loved ones, clone voices, generate fake images, mimic writing styles, and create convincing fraudulent communications to steal money and loyalty points, with the technology expected to advance further to include convincing deepfake video calls. Protection strategies include awareness of these AI-enabled tactics, verification procedures beyond video calls, and regulatory efforts like the FTC's
idahobusinessreview.com
· 2025-12-08
At a February 2024 cybersecurity conference in Boise, industry experts discussed the rising threat of digital fraud as financial technology adoption has surged—with 88% of Americans now using fintech services, up from 60% pre-COVID. The FBI reported 800,944 cyber-crime complaints in 2022 with $10.2 billion in losses, while the FTC received 5.4 million complaints in 2023, with Idaho alone losing $40.6 million to fraud across 9,829 reports. Experts emphasized that younger generations (ages 20-29) filed 44% of fraud complaints due to lower financial literacy and less skepticism
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Government impostor scams, particularly those impersonating the Social Security Administration, cost victims nearly $509 million in 2022, with scammers using unexpected calls, texts, or emails to create urgency by falsely claiming account problems or criminal activity. The Social Security Administration never initiates contact unless you're already engaged with the agency, and individuals can verify account status safely at ssa.gov/myaccount. Victims should report scams to local law enforcement or contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network at 1-877-908-3360 for assistance.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax identity theft is surging, with the IRS receiving 294,138 identity theft complaints last year as criminals exploit stolen personal data to file fraudulent tax returns. Experts recommend filing taxes early, enrolling in the IRS IP PIN program for extra security, and recognizing scams where fraudsters impersonate the IRS via unsolicited calls, emails, or texts requesting personal information. Recovery from tax identity theft is lengthy, averaging 19 months, underscoring the importance of prevention measures.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-08
Seminole County Public Schools fell victim to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam in December when staff received a fraudulent email with a spoofed header and wired $1.3 million to a fake account; the incident was reported to law enforcement on January 2 and is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Seminole County Sheriff's Office. BEC scams exploit convincing emails that appear to come from trusted sources or colleagues, often by slightly altering email domains, and commonly target organizations that use wire transfers for payments.
buzzfeednews.com
· 2025-12-08
Actor Eddie Redmayne's email account was hacked, and scammers sent urgent messages to his contacts requesting money. Hollywood legend Warren Beatty received one of these phishing emails and immediately offered to send cash without questioning it, though he was alerted to the scam before actually paying out. The incident occurred in 2017, before the Academy Awards ceremony where Beatty famously announced the wrong Best Picture winner.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Actor Jamie Dornan recounted on a podcast that Warren Beatty fell for an email phishing scam in which scammers had hacked actor Eddie Redmayne's email account and sent messages requesting cash from his contacts. Beatty reportedly responded positively to the fraudulent request, though it remains unconfirmed whether he actually sent money. The article notes that email and phishing scams target people of all ages, not just seniors.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Actor Warren Beatty nearly fell victim to a phishing scam in which a cybercriminal impersonated fellow actor Eddie Redmayne and sent emails to his contacts requesting money, according to actor Jamie Dornan. Beatty initially offered to help before discovering the email was fraudulent and did not send any funds. The incident highlights how phishing scams—where criminals pose as trusted contacts to steal personal information or money—cost Americans over $52 million in 2022 alone.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting people with elaborate fraud schemes involving fake claims of suspicious account activity, pressuring victims to transfer money to "protect" their savings and requesting verification codes—tactics that result in significant financial losses. Key protective measures include never transferring money based on unsolicited calls, never sharing verification codes, independently verifying caller identity using official account statements, and reporting incidents to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, as banks typically do not reimburse funds lost to these scams.
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Savvy Seahorse, a DNS threat actor, has been running a sophisticated investment scam since at least August 2021 targeting victims across Europe and English-speaking regions through fake investment platforms advertised on social media, luring users to deposit funds that are transferred to Russian banks. The group uses advanced DNS techniques including CNAME records and domain generation algorithms to evade detection and takedown efforts, directing victims through fake ChatGPT and WhatsApp bots to collect personal information before stealing their deposits.
shu.edu
· 2025-12-08
March 7 marks the 5th annual National Slam the Scam, a awareness campaign by the Social Security Administration and partners to educate consumers about government imposter scams, which cost Americans over $10 billion in reported losses last year—a 14% increase from 2022. The article outlines how imposter scams typically operate (contact, problem notification, pressure to act, payment demand) and advises people to hang up on unsolicited requests, verify through official channels, and report suspected fraud to help law enforcement identify trends and take action.
westnewsmagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
National Consumer Protection Week highlights the growing threat of scams, with the FTC reporting record losses of $10 billion in 2023, with older adults suffering the greatest financial losses. Scammers increasingly use sophisticated tactics including AI-generated deepfake voices and imposter schemes targeting seniors through phone, email, and social media, exploiting vulnerabilities related to health issues, cognitive decline, and isolation. The FTC recommends prevention strategies including blocking unwanted calls, never providing personal information to unsolicited requests, resisting pressure to act immediately, consulting trusted contacts before sharing information, and avoiding untraceable payment methods like gift cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency.
aboutamazon.com
· 2025-12-08
Amazon reports that scammers impersonating the brand cost consumers billions globally—with the FTC finding American consumers lost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022 and global losses exceeding $1 trillion in 2023. The company employs machine learning scientists and investigators to detect fraudulent websites and phone numbers, achieving a 15% decrease in victims in 2023, with over two-thirds of reported Amazon scams involving false claims about orders or account issues. Amazon advocates for cross-sector and government collaboration to combat scams, which exploit consumer trust through unsolicited contact via email, phone, text, and social media.
wbur.org
· 2025-12-08
Financial columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to a phone scam in fall 2023, handing cash through a car window to an unknown person after being deceived by fraudsters impersonating legitimate entities. According to survey data, 68.4 million Americans lost money to phone scams in 2022, highlighting the widespread vulnerability of victims despite common warnings about such fraud. The segment explores how these scams operate and provides guidance on avoidance tactics.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
"Slam the Scam Day," designated by the Social Security Administration for March 7, aims to raise awareness among seniors and families about the wide variety of online frauds targeting older Americans, including romance, investment, phishing, and fake government agency scams. According to the FBI's Internet Elder Fraud Report, seniors lost over $3.1 billion to scammers in 2022—an 84 percent increase from 2021—though this represents only a fraction of actual losses since most victims do not report incidents. The article emphasizes that seniors are particularly vulnerable due to limited online literacy, social isolation, substantial savings, and good credit scores, and provides key warning signs and protective measures such
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, seniors over 60 reported $3.1 billion in cybercrime losses to the FBI across 88,262 incidents, representing an 82% year-on-year increase, though many cases remain unreported. Digital fraudsters increasingly target senior citizens, believing they have more savings but less digital awareness to recognize scams. Common schemes include phishing, romance scams ($734 million in 2022), Medicare impersonation, tech support fraud, online shopping scams, robocalls, government impersonation ($1 billion in combined losses in 2022), and lottery fraud.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Government imposter scams caused consumers to lose nearly $2.7 billion in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with scammers posing as government employees via phone, email, text, or social media. These scams follow a consistent pattern using the "5 P's"—pretend, problem, pressure, pay, and prize—to manipulate victims into sending money via gift cards or wire transfers. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited contact from purported government agencies, avoid clicking links or attachments, and report suspected scams to the FTC or Social Security Administration.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Fairfax County police reported over a dozen cryptocurrency ATM scams since early 2024, with victims losing between $3,000 and $31,100 per incident. Scammers impersonated law enforcement, banks, and government agencies via phone calls to pressure victims into depositing money into Bitcoin ATMs or purchasing gift cards. The Fairfax County Police Department advises seniors to hang up on unsolicited calls, verify caller identities through official contact information, and consult trusted family members before making financial decisions involving unfamiliar technologies or large sums.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
During National Consumer Protection Week, FBI Cleveland warned the public about phishing scams, which accounted for over 298,000 reported crimes in 2023. In that year, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received 880,418 total complaints with losses exceeding $12.5 billion—a nearly 10% increase in complaints and 22% increase in losses from 2022—with Ohio ranking fifth nationally in complaint volume and seventeenth in victim losses at $197 million. The FBI provided recommendations for both workplace and personal protection, including employee education on phishing identification, use of multi-factor authentication, strong spam filters, and cautious handling of suspicious emails and links.
wibx950.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam is targeting New York drivers through text messages that impersonate the NYS Thruway Authority and direct victims to a fraudulent website (NYTollServices.com) to steal toll payment information. The scam has no connection to the legitimate New York State Thruway Authority or E-ZPass, and recipients are advised to delete the messages without clicking links. The article emphasizes that phishing techniques are increasingly sophisticated and warns the public to remain vigilant against evolving scam tactics.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Cleveland are warning about a sophisticated scam targeting Northeast Ohio residents where fraudsters send fake court documents via email, mail, text, or pop-ups claiming victims are being investigated for PPP fraud and must pay cryptocurrency to lift an arrest warrant. The scam combines government impersonation with tech-support fraud tactics, with criminals also posing as law enforcement or federal agencies to pressure victims into sending money, and authorities urge the public to verify communications directly with official agency phone numbers and report suspected scams to the FBI at ic3.gov or the National Elder Fraud Hotline.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
National "Slam the Scam" Day highlights government imposter scams, the most prevalent consumer fraud type in 2023, which caused $2.7 billion in losses. Scammers impersonate Social Security officials via phone, text, and email to pressure victims into sending cash or gift cards by threatening arrest or promising benefit increases. Real government officials never threaten arrest for payment or request money transfers, and suspicious activity should be reported to the Social Security Administration or Federal Trade Commission.
nbcbayarea.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in El Granada, California was victimized by a phishing scam in which she received a fraudulent email impersonating a money exchange company, instructed her to withdraw cash, and met with a courier who took her money and fled. The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is seeking an Asian male suspect, approximately 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt and dark pants, and urges the public to avoid sharing banking information with unsolicited online or phone contacts requesting money.
elkhornmediagroup.com
· 2025-12-08
Eastern Oregon is experiencing an uptick in scams targeting older adults and tech-illiterate individuals, with scammers increasingly impersonating law enforcement, the IRS, banks, and retailers to create panic and pressure victims into sending money or revealing personal information. According to Kai Nichols, an Older Adult Behavioral Specialist, these scams are becoming more sophisticated and widespread, with common tactics including phone calls claiming legal action, account compromises, or utility shutoffs, as well as fraudulent links and voice-sampling schemes. Residents are advised never to rely on caller ID, to resist being rushed, and to remember that legitimate law enforcement and the IRS do not demand immediate payment over the phone
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warned of SAT/ACT prep scams in which fraudsters impersonate College Board representatives, call parents with personal information about their children, and request credit card deposits for purportedly free trial materials that are never sent or refunded. One victim was charged $249.95 after being promised free materials for 30 days with email reminders and return shipping. The BBB recommends verifying companies through their website before paying, confirming requests directly with students, remembering that the College Board never requests payment via phone or email, and using credit cards rather than wire transfers or digital payment apps.
blog.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration and its Office of Inspector General held their fifth annual "Slam the Scam" Day on March 7 to raise awareness about Social Security imposter scams, which remain among the most commonly reported government fraud schemes. Scammers use sophisticated tactics including spoofed caller IDs, fake documents, and threats of arrest to trick victims into sending cash, gift cards, or wire transfers or disclosing personal information. The agencies emphasized that Social Security will never demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or request credit card numbers, and urged the public to report scam attempts to oig.ssa.gov.
dojmt.gov
· 2025-12-08
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen warned residents during National Consumer Protection Week about three prevalent website-based scams: law enforcement imposters demanding immediate payment via wire transfer or cryptocurrency to resolve fake arrest warrants, cryptocurrency investment scams that show false gains before stealing funds deposited into crypto ATMs, and tech support scams using fake pop-up alerts to gain computer access and demand payment for bogus virus removal. The advisory emphasized that legitimate law enforcement and courts never demand immediate payment by untraceable methods, and urged Montanans to verify requests before sending money and report suspected fraud to the Office of Consumer Protection.
doj.state.or.us
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the Oregon Department of Justice received more complaints about imposter scams than any other type of fraud, with government imposter scams being particularly common—especially those falsely claiming to be from the Social Security Administration or Office of the Inspector General. These scammers use sophisticated tactics including fake credentials and contact through multiple channels to deceive victims into revealing personal information or paying fees for suspended benefits, cost-of-living adjustments, or alleged debts. The article provides guidance on recognizing these scams and recommends protecting oneself by never sharing personal information with unsolicited callers, monitoring credit reports, and reporting incidents to the Oregon Department of Justice.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines major fraud trends affecting consumers in 2024, noting that fraud losses exceeded $10 billion in 2023 with a 14% increase year-over-year. It describes five prevalent scam types targeting older adults: grandparent scams (impersonating distressed relatives), romance scams (building false relationships to extract money), SIM swap scams (hijacking phone numbers to access financial accounts), investment scams (promoting unrealistic opportunities with high-pressure tactics), and mail theft scams (stealing personal information from physical mail). The article provides practical prevention strategies including using family code words, conducting background checks, enabling voice authentication with banks, avoiding unsolicite
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
An unidentified cryptocurrency trader lost over $674,000 in USDC through a phishing scam, with attackers draining the victim's wallet and converting stolen funds to Ethereum through decentralized exchanges. The perpetrators have continued exploiting the victim's compromised wallet since March 1, executing over 400 transactions and stealing additional assets including ASTRA and NOIA tokens, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars more. This incident reflects a broader trend of increasingly sophisticated phishing scams in the crypto space, which resulted in over $300 million in losses affecting approximately 320,000 users in the previous year.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul identified the top consumer scams affecting state residents, with construction/home repair fraud leading for the third consecutive year (2,091 reports), followed by identity theft (1,885 reports) and consumer debt complaints (1,683 reports). The Consumer Fraud Bureau recovered over $9 million through mediation and $76 million through enforcement actions, and the office received nearly 20,000 written complaints plus tens of thousands of calls. The attorney general recommends residents protect themselves by guarding personal information, changing passwords frequently, and being cautious of unsolicited communications, especially as scammers increasingly use AI technology.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank imposter scams, ranked by the FTC as the top scam of 2022, involve fraudsters posing as banks via unsolicited calls or texts to request personal and banking information, with a median reported loss of $3,000 from 2019-2022. The Fairfax County Police Department advises against sharing financial information with unsolicited callers, recommends independently verifying bank contact information through official channels, and warns that legitimate institutions never request payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or remote computer access.
nbcmiami.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans aged 60 and older lost $3.1 billion to cyberfraud in 2022, with over 88,000 victims experiencing an average loss of $35,101 per person, according to FBI data. Elder fraud is escalating through sophisticated schemes including phishing and impersonation scams that exploit older adults' loneliness, social isolation, and cognitive decline, with women disproportionately affected due to demographic factors. Warning signs include suspicious emails with misspellings, vague signatures, urgent language, requests for personal information, and out-of-character behavior from purported family members.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
During Consumer Protection Awareness Week, the Federal Trade Commission cautioned that post-storm roofing scams are prevalent, with fly-by-night contractors going door-to-door offering suspicious low-price inspections and repairs. To protect yourself, obtain all contractor details in writing including warranties and materials, verify insurance coverage, check online reviews and Better Business Bureau listings, and avoid paying the full amount until work is completed. Hiring established local roofers is recommended as the most effective way to avoid storm-related contractor fraud.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
A sextortion scam has resurged, wherein cybercriminals send threatening emails claiming to have installed screen-recording software and possess compromising photos, demanding $1,506 in Bitcoin or threatening to release the images. The scam exploits stolen credentials from the dark web and preys on victims' fear, though the criminals typically lack actual access to victims' devices unless malware was installed through phishing or pirated software downloads. Individuals should verify suspicious emails through Google searches, avoid clicking malicious links, and report threats to the FBI cyber tip line.
greenhouse.com
· 2025-12-08
democratandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
Online purchase scams were the top fraud affecting upstate New York residents in 2023, with nearly 30,000 reported cases resulting in over $525 million in losses, according to the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York. Overall, scams cost Rochester-area residents and those in Albany, Buffalo, and Syracuse a combined $653 million in 2023, with employment scams, phishing schemes, sweepstakes/lottery scams, and tech support scams among the other major fraud types reported. The scams employed various tactics including fake checks, impersonation of trusted entities and government agencies, and promises of unearned prizes or loans.
wrdw.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece explains a recurring sextortion scam in which cybercriminals email victims claiming to have installed screen-recording software and threatening to release compromising images unless Bitcoin payment is made, typically around $1,506. The article clarifies that while scammers may purchase stolen credentials from the dark web, they cannot remotely install software without victim action, and alleged compromising images often come from pirated software downloads rather than actual surveillance. The piece recommends verifying suspicious emails through Google searches and reporting threats to the FBI cyber tip line.
bbb.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines common tax scams targeting U.S. taxpayers, primarily involving scammers impersonating the IRS through phone calls, emails, and mail. Common tactics include demanding immediate payment via untraceable methods (wire transfers, prepaid debit cards) for alleged back taxes, offering fake refunds in exchange for personal information, and committing tax identity theft using Social Security numbers to file fraudulent returns. Key protective measures include recognizing red flags such as pressure for immediate payment, unsolicited phone/email contact, and knowing that the legitimate IRS initiates contact by mail and never demands specific payment methods or personal financial information over the phone.
elkhornmediagroup.com
· 2025-12-08
An uptick in phone and online scams targeting older adults in Eastern Oregon uses sophisticated impersonation tactics—including fraudulent claims from law enforcement, the IRS, banks, and retailers—to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information. According to Kai Nichols, an Older Adult Behavioral Specialist, scammers exploit elderly individuals' unfamiliarity with technology and bureaucracy by creating panic through threats of legal action or account compromise. Key protections include never trusting caller ID, refusing to be rushed, and remembering that legitimate law enforcement and the IRS do not demand phone payments or threaten immediate action.
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
On National Slam the Scam Day, Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon highlighted that scams remain a significant crime driver in the borough, with senior citizens losing over $2.6 million to fraud in 2023 alone. Common scams include impersonation schemes (government officials, police, IRS, family members), marketplace fraud, and payment requests via gift cards and digital platforms, with scammers using threats and pressure tactics to manipulate victims. McMahon emphasized that prevention and immediate reporting to the District Attorney's Scams Hotline (718-556-7226) are critical to investigating incidents and securing restitution for victims.
brunswicktimes-gazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Government impostor scams cost victims nearly $509 million in 2022, with Social Security scams being a particularly common threat. The article advises recipients to be wary of unexpected communications claiming problems with Social Security numbers, remember that the Social Security Administration only calls existing account holders, and verify account status directly through ssa.gov/myaccount rather than responding to unsolicited contact.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
This article examines the psychological impact of scams on victims and the manipulation tactics used by scammers. A Cleveland woman who lost $4,000 to a home improvement scam shares her experience of emotional recovery, while clinical psychologists explain how scammers exploit fears and anxieties, and recommend self-awareness and questioning suspicious offers as key defenses. Scammers commonly use tactics including creating urgency, the "foot in door" technique, and reciprocity to manipulate victims.
sanbenito.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scammers impersonating PG&E targeted nearly 43,000 customers, resulting in approximately $875,000 in fraudulent losses (averaging $785 per victim), with over 103 cases reported in Gilroy alone. The scams typically involved threats of immediate service disconnection and requests for payment via prepaid cards, gift cards, or digital payment apps—methods PG&E never uses. PG&E advises customers to hang up on suspicious calls, verify account details directly through PGE.com or official customer service, and never purchase prepaid cards to avoid service shutoff.