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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
ktnv.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors with cognitive decline from Alzheimer's or dementia face significant financial risks beyond traditional scams, including unauthorized charges, forgotten recurring payments, and neglected account monitoring. Nevada ranks third nationally for senior fraud, and financial experts warn that memory loss-related financial mismanagement can deplete decades of savings within a year. Experts recommend caregivers maintain regular contact, establish powers of attorney, educate seniors on common scams, and monitor accounts vigilantly.
barbadostoday.bb
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece examines the escalating problem of elder fraud in the digital age, highlighting how seniors are disproportionately targeted by scammers who exploit their trusting nature, financial assets, and technological vulnerabilities. The 2023 FBI report revealed that seniors aged 60 and older lost over $3.4 billion to fraud, with individuals losing an average of $33,915, while data breaches exposing personal information make them prime targets for sophisticated, personalized attacks. The article emphasizes that common scams include tech support fraud, romance scams, and emergency/grandparent scams, and stresses the urgent need for awareness and protective measures given seniors' limited ability to recover
wral.com
· 2025-12-08
Fayetteville police are warning citizens of a scam involving fraudulent voicemails impersonating police sergeants claiming to have "confidential legal matters" requiring immediate attention. When victims call back, scammers pressure them to pay money or provide gift cards to avoid legal consequences, a tactic law enforcement will never use. Police advise citizens to verify suspicious calls directly through official department phone numbers and to share this warning to prevent others from being victimized.
tristatealert.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission approved final amendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule extending coverage to inbound calls for technical support services, a major source of fraud targeting older adults. Consumers aged 60 and older reported over $175 million in losses to tech support scams last year, with scammers using deceptive pop-up alerts and pressure tactics to sell unnecessary services paid via untraceable methods like wire transfers, gift cards, and cryptocurrency. The rule, effective 60 days after publication, aims to hold tech support scam businesses accountable and recover funds for defrauded consumers.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
Local law enforcement agencies across the Tampa Bay area are warning that elderly fraud has reached epidemic levels, particularly during the holiday season when seniors are vulnerable to scams involving romance, fake investments, and impersonation schemes. The Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit has investigated cases resulting in nearly $3 million in losses this year, including a case where a 56-year-old man scammed a Texas woman of approximately $600,000 by impersonating billionaire Elon Musk via Facebook over several months. Authorities advise seniors to verify identities by calling contacts directly, hang up on suspicious calls, and recommend family members stay involved in elderly relatives' financial and digital activities.
travelandtourworld.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-powered travel scams have surged 900% in the past 18 months, with US travelers losing $265,000 in 2023 and nearly 1 in 4 losing $1,000 or more per scam. Scammers use AI to create fake booking websites, fraudulent chatbots, convincing phishing emails, and fake reviews to exploit holiday travelers, with defenses including verifying URLs, avoiding suspicious links, and cross-checking reviews across multiple platforms.
thefintechtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In the past 12 months, 6.6 million UK adults lost money to online scams, with nearly 75% of victims reporting fraud on platforms that signed the Online Fraud Charter—a voluntary agreement by tech giants like Facebook, Google, Amazon, and TikTok to remove fraudulent content. Despite the charter's promises, one in five people encountered suspicious ads or messages daily, with social media platforms (particularly Facebook at 37%) being the most common venues for investment fraud, fake product offers, and other scams. Consumer trust in online platforms has declined rather than improved since the charter's implementation, prompting calls for the government to urgently enforce the Online Safety Act to hold tech companies account
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Australian federal police shut down an alleged scam call centre in the Philippines that targeted Australian men over 35 through dating apps and social media, resulting in the arrest of over 250 people (190 foreign nationals and 68 Filipino nationals). The scammers built trust with victims before directing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms, with at least 50 Australians confirmed as targets, though authorities believe thousands may have been affected. The operation seized over 300 computer towers, 1,000+ mobile phones, and thousands of SIM cards, and provided law enforcement with critical intelligence on romance and investment scam operations.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
In early October, Filipino authorities raided a romance scam operation in Manila that arrested over 250 people and seized more than 1,000 mobile phones, with the Australian Federal Police identifying possible Australian victims among those targeted. The scammers allegedly targeted Australian men over 35 through social media and dating platforms to lure them into cryptocurrency investment schemes, operating on shifts aligned with Australian time zones. The AFP is working with Philippine authorities to identify affected Australians and has gathered intelligence on the scam network's structure and methods.
9news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian federal police are working with Philippine authorities to identify Australian victims of romance scams following the arrest of 250 cybercriminals (190 foreign nationals and 68 Filipino nationals) at a scam compound in Manila in October. The scammers targeted Australian men over 35 on social media and dating apps, building trust before directing victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms while working in shifts to match Australian time zones. The operation, conducted under Operation Firestorm, resulted in seizures of over 300 computer towers, 1,000 mobile phones, and thousands of SIM cards, providing law enforcement with intelligence on the structure and targeting methods of offshore romance and investment scam call
au.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Australian Federal Police raided a scam operation in Manila, Philippines, arresting 250 alleged cyber criminals and seizing over 300 computers and 1,000 mobile phones. The scammers targeted Australian men over 35 through dating apps and social media, building trust before directing victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms, with perpetrators working shifts to align with Australian time zones. Authorities are now working to identify victims and dismantle the financial structures supporting these offshore romance and investment scams.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Philippine police arrested 250 romance scammers operating from a criminal call center in a raid coordinated with Australian Federal Police intelligence. The operation is believed to have defrauded thousands of Australians and numerous victims from other countries through romance scams. The investigation involved collaboration between international law enforcement agencies and included input from scam victims and experts.
newscop.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian Federal Police conducted a significant raid on a scam compound in Manila, Philippines as part of Operation Firestorm, resulting in the arrest of over 250 individuals and seizure of hundreds of computers and thousands of mobile phones used to target Australian men over 35 through romance and cryptocurrency investment scams. The operation revealed how offshore scam centers operate in shifts aligned with Australian time zones to build rapport with victims before soliciting investments in fake trading platforms. The AFP and National Anti-Scam Centre will contact identified victims and advise Australians to remain vigilant against romance and investment scams by verifying identities, being skeptical of urgent requests, and reporting suspicious activity to authorities.
stimson.org
· 2025-12-08
Cyber scams targeting Americans represent a significant national security threat, with nearly a quarter of Americans victimized in 2023 and collective losses reaching $159 billion. Criminal networks operating from scam compounds in Indo-Pacific countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines) coordinate these operations while also engaging in modern slavery, with global annual profits from scams and fraud exceeding $3 trillion. The U.S. lacks coordinated government efforts to counter these operations and requires a whole-of-government approach including a national command center, improved interagency collaboration, and international partnerships to address this growing threat.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Tracey Watkins, a 42-year-old accountant from Cardiff, lost £52,000 (her savings plus her daughter's savings and unauthorized loans) after being approached via WhatsApp by a scammer posing as an investment firm representative who promised to triple or quadruple her money through bitcoin investments. After granting remote access to her phone via the AnyDesk app under the pretense of facilitating the investment, the scammer used her device to authorize loans and drain her accounts, then disappeared; her bank and the Financial Ombudsman Service denied recovery because she had granted permission through the app. Citizens Advice warns against investment scams on social media, advising people
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot summarize this material as requested. This appears to be a listing of news headlines rather than a single article or transcript about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.
To provide an Elderus database summary, I would need you to provide the full text of a specific article or transcript. The only fraud-related item visible is a brief mention of "A.I.-generated video deep fakes" scams, but without the full article details, I cannot create the required 2-3 sentence summary with specific information about victims, amounts, and outcomes.
Please provide the complete article text you'd like summarized.
sootoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is warning seniors about a surge in grandparent scams, where fraudsters call posing as grandchildren or their lawyers and request $5,000-$10,000 in cash under the guise of an emergency, with a courier collecting the money in person. Police advise victims to pause when pressured, verify callers through personal questions, independently confirm stories by contacting family directly, and report suspicious calls to the police or Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
saultstar.com
· 2025-12-08
Sault Ste. Marie Police Services is warning residents about an increase in "grandparent scams," where fraudsters contact seniors by phone impersonating grandchildren in legal trouble or their lawyers, typically demanding $5,000 to $10,000 in cash delivered by a fake courier. Police recommend that seniors pause and verify such claims by asking personal questions, contacting family members directly using known phone numbers, and never sharing money or personal information over the phone.
barbadostoday.bb
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece discusses the vulnerability of elderly adults to digital scams and fraud, particularly in the Caribbean context. The author highlights that seniors aged 60 and older lost over US$3.4 billion to scams in 2023 according to FBI data, with the average victim losing US$33,915, and notes that older adults are targeted due to their trusting nature, substantial savings, technological inexperience, and emotional vulnerabilities exploited through tactics like grandparent scams and romance fraud. The article emphasizes that data breaches exposing personal information increase seniors' risk, and that most cannot recover financially from these losses due to their inability to re-enter the workforce.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old retiree in Penang lost approximately RM1 million after being deceived by a phone scam syndicate that impersonated Tabung Haji officials and police officers, claiming his account was involved in money laundering and directing him to transfer his savings to a new account. In a separate case, a 55-year-old factory manager lost RM1.1 million to a similar scam in which fraudsters posing as NFCC and Sarawak police officers threatened detention and ordered her to transfer funds across nine accounts. Both victims only discovered the fraud after discussing the incidents with family members, and authorities are investigating the cases under Section
fingerlakesdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Schuyler County officials issued a holiday season warning about gift card scams targeting seniors and consumers. Scammers impersonate government agencies, financial institutions, or legitimate companies via phone, email, or text to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards (Amazon, Walmart, Apple, etc.) and providing the card numbers and PIN codes. County officials emphasize that no legitimate business or government agency requests payment via gift card, and urge victims to report suspected fraud immediately to law enforcement, the gift card issuer, and keep receipts, as some companies may issue refunds.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
An Ohio man lost his entire life savings of $425,000 in a cryptocurrency fraud scam that began in October 2023 when he was contacted via a pop-up claiming a tech issue and told his retirement account had been compromised. The scammer convinced the victim to grant remote computer access and wire money to stop fraudulent transactions, then stole and converted the funds to Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency. Federal authorities seized approximately $947,883 in USDT tokens in July 2024 and filed a forfeiture complaint in November 2024, seeking to return recovered funds to the victim as compensation.
examiner.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Over 260 people were arrested in Manila, Philippines during a raid on a romance scam operation that targeted Australian men over 35 through dating apps and social media. The scammers, working in shifts aligned with Australian time zones, built trust with victims before directing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms. Australian Federal Police worked with Philippine authorities to gather intelligence on the scam's structure and money laundering operations, with plans to identify victims and shut down similar operations globally.
afp.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) partnered with Philippine authorities in October 2024 to dismantle a romance and cryptocurrency scam operation in Manila, resulting in the arrest of over 250 suspected cyber criminals and the seizure of hundreds of computers and thousands of mobile phones. The scammers targeted Australian men over 35 through dating apps and social media, building trust before directing victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms while operating shifts aligned with Australian time zones. The AFP gathered intelligence on victim targeting methodologies and financial structures to help identify Australian victims and disrupt similar scam centers globally under Operation Firestorm.
pulse.ng
· 2025-12-08
An American woman over 50 revealed in a viral video how she was victimized by two Nigerian romance scammers ("Yahoo boys") between 2020 and an unspecified later date, losing unspecified amounts of money to both perpetrators. The first scammer posed as a romantic interest for ten months before she discovered his true identity and Nigerian girlfriend when he accidentally called using his real phone number; the second scammer admitted to using her money for his mother's medical bills. Despite significant financial losses, the victim expressed no animosity toward her scammers and remained optimistic about recovery.
gvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses pig butchering, a evolving romance scam variation that originated in China where fraudsters build fake romantic relationships with victims (called "pigs") to eventually swindle them out of money. The piece, written by a Community Outreach Specialist with R.O.S.E. (Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly), alerts readers—particularly older adults—to this emerging fraud threat and directs them to roseadvocacy.org for information on the latest scams targeting seniors.
ogletree.com
· 2025-12-08
Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams involve criminals spoofing legitimate email addresses to trick victims into sending wire transfers, with Real Estate Wire Fraud (REWF) targeting property buyers into wiring funds to fraudulent accounts. Between 2013 and 2022, the FBI documented over 211,000 BEC complaints totaling approximately $30.4 billion in losses, with REWF complaints surging 27% from 2020 to 2022 and losses jumping 72% to $446.1 million. The FBI recommends verifying payment requests independently through known contact information, avoiding unsolicited links, and confirming any account or procedural changes directly
consumerreports.org
· 2025-12-08
Bank imposter fraud targeting customers is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using phishing schemes, hacked personal data, and affordable "phishing-as-a-service" cybercrime kits (costing as little as $150/month) to steal billions from Americans' bank accounts. Major banks like Wells Fargo have faced multiple class-action lawsuits, with documented losses exceeding $700,000 in individual cases, yet banks frequently deny reimbursement claims citing the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which does not require them to reimburse customers who are tricked into authorizing fraudulent transfers. Key advice includes being skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from banks,
advocacy.consumerreports.org
· 2025-12-08
Consumer Reports investigation found that wire transfer scams targeting bank customers are increasingly common, with victims rarely reimbursed—major banks like JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America reimbursed customers at rates of only 2-24 percent in 2023. The scams exploit banks' security gaps using readily available "phishing-as-a-service" kits sold on Telegram and the Dark Web for as little as $150 monthly, with phishing complaints to the FBI more than doubling since 2019 to nearly 300,000 reports annually. Consumer Reports is calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to investigate these scams and support reforms including stronger account authentication, security
dailystar.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A UK survey reveals that nearly one in three Brits worry about falling victim to purchase scams during Christmas shopping, with four in ten experiencing increased scam attempts during the festive season. UK Finance reported that a record £85.9 million was stolen through 156,516 purchase scams last year, with 92% occurring online—a 34% increase from 2022. The most common scams target high-demand items including phones (26%), tickets (23%), gift cards (23%), laptops (21%), and clothing (19%), typically involving fake products, counterfeit goods, or non-delivery after payment on fraudulent websites or social media ads.
ucf.edu
· 2025-12-08
Scammers stole over $1.6 billion from victims in the first five months of 2024—a 20% increase from 2023—though actual numbers are higher due to underreporting. Researcher Nichole Lighthall at UCF's Adult Development and Decision Lab found that while most older adults recognize scams as a problem, they feel disempowered to prevent them, and scams range from minor losses of $50 to financially catastrophic amounts. Lighthall's research aims to empower seniors with knowledge and solutions, noting that modern scammers use increasingly relentless tactics like impersonation texts, robo-calls, and social engineering because
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are using AI-generated phishing emails claiming that recipients' Apple IDs have been suspended, creating false urgency especially during Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season to trick users into clicking malicious links and surrendering account credentials. The scams target Apple's 2 billion+ users by impersonating legitimate Apple communications, sometimes including sophisticated 2FA-bypass methodologies, and exploiting the affluent Apple user demographic. Apple advises users to verify sender email addresses, avoid clicking suspicious links, recognize that Apple never requests passwords or authentication codes via email, and contact Apple directly through its official website if they suspect account issues.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Des Healey, a kitchen fitter from Brighton, lost £75,000 to a Facebook investment scam that used AI-generated deepfake videos falsely showing money-saving expert Martin Lewis and Elon Musk endorsing a bitcoin scheme. After initially investing £1,000 through a fraudster posing as financial adviser "Carl," Des was manipulated into taking out four loans totalling £70,000 to keep investing, only discovering the scam when his son heard suspicious background noise during a call with the scammer. Martin Lewis highlighted that scammers use psychological manipulation and urgency tactics, and emphasized that falling victim to scams does not indicate a lack of
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Ian Finlay lost over £50,000 when scammers contacted his mobile network impersonating him and requested a replacement SIM card, which was sent to a London address, allowing them to gain control of his phone and access his email and bank accounts while he was on holiday in Australia. The fraudsters obtained his personal information through phishing emails or stolen data from the dark web, exploiting gaps in the network's security verification process. His banks ultimately reimbursed the stolen funds after confirming the transactions were fraudulent, though Finlay expressed concern about how easily criminals circumvented security measures.
coconutcreektalk.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A Coconut Creek resident nearly fell victim to a bank impersonation scam when a fraudster called posing as a bank representative, claiming suspicious activity on his account and tricking him into sharing his login credentials and password. The scammer attempted to transfer funds from the victim's account, but the bank detected and blocked the fraudulent transaction before the money was dispersed. Coconut Creek Police warned residents that legitimate banks never call customers unexpectedly and advised hanging up on such calls.
gbnews.com
· 2025-12-08
ITV Love Island star Amy Hart lost £5,000 to a sophisticated phone scam in 2022 when fraudsters impersonated her bank's fraud team, demonstrated knowledge of her finances, and used high-pressure tactics to manipulate her into authorizing unauthorized access to her account. Hart has since spoken publicly about her experience to reduce stigma around victimization and encourage other victims to come forward, emphasizing that scammers are professionals who exploit psychological pressure rather than victim negligence.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This column warns readers about the prevalence of holiday-season scams, which range from fake delivery notifications and fraudulent timeshare exit schemes to tech support scams and gift card draining. According to fraud prevention experts, sophisticated international criminal syndicates are targeting consumers through multiple channels, with older adults suffering particularly high losses despite millennials reporting fraud more frequently; one notable case involved an 85-year-old woman who lost $80,000 between Thanksgiving and Christmas to a fake virus warning scam. The article advises consumers to be vigilant when making purchases, booking travel, donating to charities, and handling gift cards, as stolen money is often transferred overseas and virtually impossible to recover.
techradar.com
· 2025-12-08
AI voice-clone scams are increasing as scammers use generative AI models to imitate family members, authorities, and celebrities in phone fraud schemes, requiring only small audio samples sourced from social media to create convincing synthetic voices. According to security experts, 28% of UK adults have been targeted by these scams, with only 30% confident they could recognize one; recommended safeguards include establishing secret phrases with loved ones, verifying callers through callback, and listening for artificial speech patterns.
mendovoice.com
· 2025-12-08
The Savings Bank of Mendocino County warned of increased scam calls targeting its customers, where fraudsters falsely claim accounts have been compromised and request debit card numbers, PINs, and personal information to conduct unauthorized transactions. The scammers spoof official bank phone numbers to appear legitimate; the bank emphasized it never requests personal information over the phone and advised customers to hang up and call back using verified numbers on bank statements.
i95rock.com
· 2025-12-08
The Massachusetts Better Business Bureau warns Connecticut residents about 11 prevalent holiday scams including fraudulent USPS package notifications, fake gift card offers, counterfeit job postings, look-alike websites, fake charities, phishing shipping links, puppy sales (with 80% of sponsored pet ads being fake), misleading social media advertisements, social media gift exchange schemes, and holiday-themed apps—all designed to steal personal information or money. Scammers use tactics like impersonating legitimate companies, offering free prizes, and creating convincing replicas of official websites and communications to deceive consumers during the holiday season.
wboc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Milford Police Department is warning residents of an impersonation scam in which callers falsely claim to be US Marshals and demand payment to clear alleged wanted statuses. Police remind the public that legitimate law enforcement agencies and court systems never request payment via phone calls or electronic transfers for fines, warrants, or bail. Residents with questions about phone scams are directed to the Federal Trade Commission's website.
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
The article covers three financial topics: Over 800,000 people have used a dedicated fraud line in the UK over three years to report suspected scams and connect with their banks for protection, including one woman who lost £4,000. Complaints against wealth manager St James Place surged to 15,000 in the first half of the year during a historical fee review, with Financial Ombudsman complaints quadrupling year-over-year. Additionally, some first-time homebuyers find the government's Lifetime ISA scheme limiting due to a £450,000 property price cap that excludes them from purchasing in their areas.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Bengaluru police are investigating sophisticated VoIP scams where fraudsters impersonate traffic police officers using spoofed official phone numbers to falsely accuse victims of traffic violations or hit-and-run cases, threatening digital arrest and demanding money. While no financial losses have been reported yet, victims describe receiving calls in multiple languages claiming rental vehicles registered to their Aadhaar cards were involved in accidents, with callers pressuring them to visit police stations or provide personal details. Authorities warn that these scams are particularly convincing because they use official department numbers, and advise the public to verify any such calls directly with police stations.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Bengaluru traffic police uncovered a sophisticated extortion scam where fraudsters used Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications to spoof official police phone numbers and demand payments from victims under false claims of traffic violations and hit-and-run cases. The scammers targeted approximately 20 individuals across multiple cities by impersonating senior traffic police officials, though no confirmed losses have been reported as victims contacted police when contacted. Police are working to obtain data from VoIP app operators to trace the perpetrators, and have clarified that the traffic department only communicates violations through mail, formal notices, or official websites.
dicksoncountysource.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare's Open Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), scammers impersonate Medicare representatives to steal personal information and money by falsely claiming they need Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, or bank account details for new cards or fake medical equipment claims. Medicare never unexpectedly contacts beneficiaries to request personal information, sell coverage, or charge for cards, and consumers should hang up suspicious calls and verify by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or report scams to that same number.
levittownnow.com
· 2025-12-08
As Medicare's December 7 enrollment deadline approaches, scammers pose as Medicare officials or insurance company employees via phone calls and text messages to trick older adults into disclosing Social Security numbers and sensitive information. Experts advise that legitimate Medicare programs and private insurers rarely contact beneficiaries by phone unsolicited, and recommend hanging up on suspicious callers, avoiding robocalls, and contacting insurers directly through official toll-free numbers to verify requests. Caregivers should help elderly relatives enroll early to avoid deadline pressure, which makes people more vulnerable to scams.
greekreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
Virgin Media O2 launched Daisy, an AI-powered virtual grandmother, to combat rising phone and online scams targeting older adults by engaging fraudsters in lengthy, complex conversations that waste their time and prevent them from victimizing real customers. The initiative addresses a critical problem: Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2023 (an 11% increase from 2022), with the average victim losing $33,915, while 22% of Britons report facing fraud attempts weekly. Daisy uses advanced natural language processing and realistic voice synthesis to convincingly pose as a vulnerable elderly person, gathering intelligence on scam tactics while raising public awareness about digital
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
A cybersecurity researcher discovered that Forces Penpals, a dating app and social network for military personnel, exposed an unencrypted, unpassword-protected database containing personal information on approximately 1.2 million U.S. and UK service members. The exposed data included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, military service documents, and user photos, which could be exploited for identity theft, romance scams, deepfakes, or to track military operations. After notification, Forces Penpals restricted public access to the database, though it remains unclear how long the exposure lasted or whether unauthorized parties accessed the information.
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers use multiple channels—email, phone calls, texts, fliers, and mail—to target victims year-round, with increased activity during the holiday season. Common scams include fake delivery notifications, timeshare exit schemes, fake virus warnings that trick victims into giving remote computer access, and tampered gift cards, with losses often unrecoverable as money is quickly moved offshore. The article advises consumers to never respond to communications from unknown sources and remain vigilant, as older adults suffer significantly greater losses than younger fraud victims despite millennials reporting fraud at higher rates.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
Blanca, a 29-year-old investor, lost $60,000 to Ascend CapVentures Inc. (operating as Ascend Ecom), a company that promised to manage an Amazon store on her behalf and generate five-figure monthly income. The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit alleging the company defrauded customers out of at least $25 million by misrepresenting earnings potential and using customer investments to enrich themselves rather than manage stores. The FTC also took action against similar companies, Ecommerce Empire Builders and FBA Machine, highlighting widespread fraud in the ecommerce automation opportunity sector.