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humaneworld.org
Online pet purchase scams deceive consumers into sending money for puppies that never exist, with scammers often claiming shipping delays or customs complications to extract additional payments before disappearing with victims' funds—sometimes hundreds or thousands of dollars. Legitimate online pet sales also pose risks, as many puppies come from overseas puppy mills and arrive sick or diseased, with buyers often unaware of the animals' foreign origins. Experts recommend avoiding online pet purchases entirely and instead meeting breeders in person to see breeding conditions and parent animals before committing to a purchase.
lafayettestudentnews.com
Lafayette College students have been targeted by phishing scams impersonating college officials and offering fraudulent job positions at $700 per week, though most emails are flagged as suspicious and few students report financial losses. College campuses are increasingly vulnerable to phishing attacks due to innovative hacking techniques, AI, and students' frequent email use combined with low cybersecurity awareness. The college addresses the threat through mandatory cybersecurity training for first-year students and recommends that students verify sender information, check for grammar errors, and hover over links before clicking.
becu.org
Criminals are impersonating BECU employees by spoofing the bank's phone number and calling victims about suspicious account activity, then convincing them to cut up their debit or credit cards (leaving the EMV chip intact) and leave the pieces outside for a fake courier to collect. Scammers use the chip portion to access accounts and commit fraud including unauthorized purchases and wire transfers. The FBI advises verifying caller identity by hanging up and calling BECU directly, never providing sensitive information over the phone, monitoring accounts regularly, and securely destroying expired cards by cutting through the chip and discarding pieces separately.
ksby.com
The IRS identified twelve common tax scams during tax season, ranging from email phishing and fake charities to fraudulent tax credits and ghost preparers, designed to steal financial information from taxpayers and tax professionals. The "Dirty Dozen" is an annual educational awareness campaign (not a formal enforcement list) to help people recognize and avoid these schemes. Taxpayers can find detailed information about each scam category on IRS.gov.
cpapracticeadvisor.com
The IRS's annual Dirty Dozen campaign educates taxpayers about 12 prevalent tax scams and fraudulent schemes, with email phishing and smishing (text message fraud) being among the top threats. These scams, which peak during tax filing season but occur year-round, aim to steal personal information, financial data, and money through tactics like fake IRS communications, bogus refund promises, and false legal threats. The IRS has been running this awareness effort since 2002 and works with state agencies, tax software companies, and tax professionals to protect taxpayers from identity theft and refund fraud.
nzherald.co.nz
Multiple women worldwide have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in romance scams impersonating actor Martin Henderson, with victims including an American woman who lost $375,000 over two years and another who transferred over $120,000 through payment apps after believing she was in a relationship with the actor. The scammers, operating on platforms like Telegram with doctored verification badges, used various pretexts (hospital stays, surgery, injuries) to prevent in-person meetings and extract money from emotionally vulnerable victims, some of whom continue to believe they are communicating with the real Henderson despite his public warning. The scam represents a broader pattern of identity-based romance fraud targeting fans of celebrities, resulting in significant financial
kbsi23.com
The Marion Police Department reported a scam targeting seniors that resulted in a $40,000 loss in a single day, wherein victims received a fake McAfee Security pop-up warning of viruses and were instructed to call a number where a scammer impersonated a federal agent claiming their computer and phone were compromised. The victims were then coerced into withdrawing $40,000 from their bank accounts and depositing the funds into Bitcoin kiosks and purchasing gift cards. Marion police advise residents to never provide personal information, money, or computer access to unsolicited contacts, and to verify company authenticity by contacting the company directly using official account information rather than responding to pop-ups
wmar2news.com
A WMAR-2 News reporter received text messages from someone impersonating her HR director and news director, requesting she purchase "google certificates" from a store; she avoided the scam by verifying the sender's identity directly with the HR department. This type of social engineering fraud targets new employees at vulnerable moments by researching victims and their organizations, beginning with small requests (gift cards, certificates) that escalate to larger financial or credential demands, with scammers often using job networking sites to identify recent hires. Experts recommend verifying unexpected requests through official company directories or in-person contact, never sharing credentials or clicking links, and reporting suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) or the
lex18.com
A 74-year-old Kentucky woman lost $179,000 to a federal impersonation and gold coin scam in January 2024 after receiving fraudulent emails from scammers posing as the Social Security Administration and Inspector General's Office, threatening her with prison unless she paid money for investigation purposes. The scammer convinced her to purchase gold coins in person at a Lexington bank parking lot, after which he disappeared with her life savings; the traumatized victim attempted suicide but is now recovering, and her grandson is sharing their story to raise awareness and help prevent similar crimes.
news4jax.com
Fraudsters are sending phishing text messages to drivers claiming they owe unpaid toll fees, impersonating legitimate services like SunPass and E-ZPass to trick recipients into clicking malicious links that install malware or steal personal information. Multiple Jacksonville residents reported receiving the scam texts, which contain red flags such as misspellings and references to out-of-state toll services, though one potential victim (Rhonda Caseletto) avoided the scam by verifying through the official app. Experts warn that legitimate toll companies never demand payment via text and recommend deleting suspicious messages, changing financial passwords, and monitoring accounts if clicked, with reports able to be filed with the FBI or Florida
wevv.com
A 74-year-old woman in Danville, Kentucky lost her life savings of $179,000 to a combined federal impersonation and gold coin scam in January-February 2024. The scammer posed as the Social Security Administration and Inspector General's Office, threatening her with prison and fraud charges, then convinced her to meet in person at a Lexington bank where she exchanged cash for gold coins that were never returned. The victim became so distraught that she attempted suicide; her grandson is sharing the story to raise awareness and help the FBI investigation.
irs.gov
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list of common tax scams on February 27, 2025, warning taxpayers, businesses, and tax professionals about fraudulent schemes that peak during filing season but occur year-round. The list includes email phishing scams, text message scams (smishing), and misleading tax credit claims that can lead to identity theft and financial loss. The IRS has conducted this annual awareness campaign since 2002, working with state agencies and tax professionals to educate the public about evolving fraud threats.
fairmontsentinel.com
Fairmont Police report that seniors in their community face consistent threats from online scams, with tech support scams and romance/friendship scams being the most common types targeting the local older population. Scammers use various payment methods including gift cards and cryptocurrency to extract money, often directing victims to crypto ATMs or banks, and many cases originate outside the United States making recovery unlikely. Police Sergeant Beletti advises recognizing four warning signs: impersonation of trusted sources, claims of immediate danger or reward, pressure to decide quickly, and requests for specific payment methods.
journalofaccountancy.com
The IRS released its 2025 Dirty Dozen list of scams targeting taxpayers and tax professionals, highlighting phishing, smishing, and spear phishing as primary threats designed to steal confidential information and enable identity theft or fraudulent tax filings. The list includes newer scams like "new client" spear phishing attacks impersonating potential clients to compromise preparer systems, as well as recurring threats such as fake charity solicitations, bogus tax credits, and fraudulent tax preparers. Taxpayers and tax professionals are advised to watch for warning signs including poorly constructed emails, alarming text messages, and suspicious communications from entities claiming to be the IRS or legitimate financial organizations.
nbcbayarea.com
Meta has alerted Facebook users to a widespread scam in which fraudsters send fake messages claiming account violations of trademark rules and directing users to click a link to file complaints. The scam aims to trick users into clicking malicious links that could compromise their accounts. Meta advises users who receive such messages to block and report the sender rather than clicking any links.
theblock.co
A 73-year-old Montana man, Randall V. Rule, was found guilty of cryptocurrency money laundering conspiracy tied to romance scams, fake real estate schemes, and business email compromises. Rule and his co-conspirators laundered over $2.4 million by converting scam proceeds into cryptocurrency and sending it to domestic and foreign associates while misrepresenting transactions to financial institutions. Romance scams, also known as "pig butchering," involve fraudsters faking romantic interest to exploit victims' trust for financial gain.
pymnts.com
A PYMNTS Intelligence report reveals that approximately 30% of U.S. consumers (77 million people) lost money to scams in the past five years, with most losses exceeding $500. The research shows that scammers personalize their tactics by targeting different demographics through preferred communication channels—using social media for Gen Z, email and phone calls for older adults—and tailoring messaging to exploit specific vulnerabilities such as investment fears for high-income individuals and benefits fraud for lower-income groups. Key manipulation tactics include posing as trusted figures like employers (86% of job scam victims) or debt collectors (83% of victims), as well as using coercion through threats or financial incent
freep.com
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams, warning taxpayers about fraudulent schemes that proliferate during tax season and can delay legitimate refunds or lead to identity theft. Key scams include misleading tax advice on social media (particularly encouraging fake W-2 forms), fraudsters posing as helpers to create IRS online accounts to steal personal information, and promotion of nonexistent "self-employment tax credits" falsely marketed to gig workers and the self-employed. The IRS warns that victims risk identity theft, unauthorized bank account access, and significant civil and criminal penalties for unknowingly filing fraudulent returns.
americanbar.org
This article is an educational piece for estate planning practitioners on protecting vulnerable clients from elder financial exploitation. The article advises practitioners to first ensure their own cybersecurity and document security measures are adequate, then implement firm-wide policies to recognize and prevent elder exploitation, including staff training to identify "procurement" schemes where beneficiaries control client access and educating aging clients about securing sensitive documents through digitization and secure storage. Key recommendations include developing protocols for suspected exploitation, obtaining trusted contact information, and incorporating security discussions into estate planning conversations to address risks from identity theft, document loss, and abuse.
nbcboston.com
Tax season scams are surging, with phishing attempts via text messages up 77%, as criminals impersonate the IRS to steal personal information and refunds through fake tax avoidance schemes, fraudulent charities, and spearphishing attacks. Experts recommend taxpayers protect themselves by obtaining an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS, avoiding "ghost preparers" who charge percentage-based fees, and verifying all IRS communications directly through IRS.gov rather than responding to unsolicited phone or email contact.
abc7ny.com
A widespread scam is targeting victims across the U.S., with scammers posing as tech support or federal agents and convincing victims to convert their savings into gold bars, claiming their accounts have been compromised, then having courier accomplices collect the gold. Notable victims include an Indiana widower who lost $80,000 and a New York City woman who lost $700,000, while the FBI has traced the scheme to call centers in India and is investigating both the masterminds and the couriers used to transport the stolen assets.
fincen.gov
FinCEN is alerting financial institutions to monitor for relationship investment scams as part of the multiagency #DatingOrDefrauding campaign, noting that romance and confidence scams resulted in over $650 million in losses reported to the FBI in 2023. The agency highlights that scammers use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build fake relationships and deceive victims into cryptocurrency and investment schemes, with particular vulnerability among older adults. FinCEN provides guidance on identifying "pig butchering" scams and other romance fraud patterns so financial institutions can file Suspicious Activity Reports to aid law enforcement investigations.
finance.yahoo.com
**Tax Scams and Prevention Strategies**
The IRS reported $9.1 billion in fraud from financial and tax crimes in 2024, with scammers targeting stressed taxpayers during tax season through schemes including inflated refund offers, ghost tax preparers who disappear after payment, and fake charities. Key protective measures include filing early, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, verifying tax preparer credentials through official IRS registries, avoiding unsolicited emails and links, and remaining skeptical of pressure to act quickly, as legitimate tax authorities do not demand immediate payment via phone or text.
euronews.com
As tax filing season approaches, phishing, smishing, and other tax scams are expected to increase, with the US IRS reporting $9.1 billion in fraud from financial and tax crimes in 2024. Common scams include fake refund offers requesting upfront fees, "ghost" tax preparers who inflate deductions and disappear after payment, and fake tax advisors who steal personal information and refunds. Taxpayers can protect themselves by filing early, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, verifying tax preparer credentials through official IRS directories, and avoiding suspicious emails or pressure to act quickly.
etsn.fm
A surge of fraudulent text messages ("smishing" scams) has targeted Texas toll tag owners, with scammers using publicly available phone numbers to claim unpaid fees and directing recipients to click malicious links. The Texas Department of Transportation and FBI warn that TxDOT will never contact drivers about unpaid toll fees via text message, and recipients should not reply "STOP" to suspicious texts, as this confirms their phone number is active and invites further scam attempts.
heraldmailmedia.com
Two New York men pleaded guilty to a conspiracy that defrauded a 75-year-old Hagerstown-area woman of $90,600; as part of their plea deals, they agreed to reimburse $70,000 of the stolen funds. The victim cooperated with law enforcement throughout the case with the goal of raising awareness and preventing similar scams targeting other seniors.
globalnews.ca
Kelowna, B.C. has experienced a spike in scams targeting seniors, with at least 14 reported incidents since January resulting in over $36,000 in losses, according to RCMP. The majority of scams involve the "Grandparent Scam," where perpetrators impersonate family members in distress and request immediate financial help, sometimes arranging in-person pickups by posing as couriers, police officers, or lawyers, while secondary scams involve phishing emails requesting computer repairs followed by extortion demands. Police urge seniors to avoid sharing personal information, never send cash to unknown individuals, and report all scam attempts to authorities.
news.va.gov
In 2024, romance scams affected 53% of men and 47% of women in online dating environments, with scammers creating fake personas to build trust with victims—often impersonating military personnel or celebrities—before requesting money or personal information. The FTC reported over 64,000 romance scams in 2023 alone, resulting in $1.14 billion in losses. Veterans are advised to verify identities of new online contacts, avoid sharing financial information, be cautious of unsolicited messages and monetary requests, trust their instincts, and report suspicious activity to the FTC or relevant authorities.
straitstimes.com
In 2024, cryptocurrency scams accounted for 24.3% of Singapore's $1.1 billion in total scam losses, a dramatic increase from 6.8% the previous year, with victims aged 30-49 most affected. Notable cases included a 36-year-old who lost $125 million after clicking a fake job interview link containing malicious code, a victim who lost $33.8 million to a phishing scam on a fake cryptocurrency wallet site, and another who lost $21 million to social media impersonation. Police identified three vulnerable groups: digital natives unfamiliar with cryptocurrency despite technical knowledge, investors whose funds disappear after opening exchange accounts, and cryptocurrency
channelnewsasia.com
Singapore reported at least S$1.1 billion in scam losses in 2024, a 70.6% increase from 2023, with one victim losing S$125 million in cryptocurrency through a malware-enabled scam involving fake interview links. E-commerce scams were the most common type, followed by job and phishing scams, with 51,501 total cases reported; however, the police's Anti-Scam Command recovered over S$182 million and averted S$483 million in potential losses through proactive interventions.
straitstimes.com
Scam victims in Singapore lost a record $1.1 billion in 2024, representing a 70% increase from 2023, with 51,501 cases reported—the highest number ever. The most common scams were e-commerce fraud (particularly concert ticket scams), job scams ($156.2 million lost), and phishing scams ($59.4 million lost), with nearly 25% of losses involving cryptocurrency; victims under 50 were most vulnerable to e-commerce scams while older victims predominantly fell victim to phishing schemes.
asiaone.com
Singapore experienced a significant surge in scam losses, reaching at least $1.1 billion in 2024, a 70.6% increase from 2023, with 51,501 reported cases (up 10.6% year-on-year). E-commerce scams were the most common type at 22.7% of cases, while investment scams caused the largest financial losses at $320.7 million, with cryptocurrency scams also spiking dramatically to 24.3% of total losses. Youths and young adults under 50 comprised nearly 71% of victims and were primarily targeted via messaging platforms and social media, while those aged 65 an
attorneygeneral.gov
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday issued a fraud alert warning that scammers are using Bitcoin ATMs to steal money from consumers by creating urgency through threatening messages (like claims of criminal charges), coercing victims to withdraw large amounts of cash, and then obtaining access to those funds via QR codes. The scams typically begin with unsolicited phone calls, texts, emails, or pop-ups, and are difficult to reverse once funds are deposited into a Bitcoin ATM.
9news.com
Scam victims are petitioning Congress to change a 2017 tax law that requires them to pay taxes on funds lost to fraud, compounding their financial devastation. Debbie Fox lost $58,000 to a romance scam and faced an additional $7,000 tax bill on withdrawn retirement funds, exemplifying how the law eliminates fraud loss deductions that previously existed. Annual fraud losses have surged from $1.5 billion to $12.5 billion since the tax law change, and advocates argue the approximately $100 million cost to the government should not be recovered from crime victims.
bbc.com
In 2024, scammers stole over £2.2 million from Isle of Man residents, with investment scams accounting for £1.2 million, voice call cons for £391,674, and romance fraud for £45,000, according to the Cyber Security Centre report. The number of suspicious emails and cyber concerns reported increased 50% compared to 2023, though officials believe this represents only a fraction of actual scams as many go unreported. Additional fraud methods included phishing attacks, account compromises, and impersonation schemes using celebrity names.
prnewswire.com
As AI-driven scams surge during tax season 2025, taxpayers face three major threats: W-2 phishing scams using AI-generated emails and deepfakes to steal employee tax documents, disaster relief fund scams exploiting tax extensions for disaster victims, and fake Offer in Compromise scams promising debt relief through robocalls and deepfake videos. According to LifeLock research, 56% of individuals have encountered AI-powered tax scams with realistic voices, and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit uncovered over $9.1 billion in tax fraud in 2024, with 81% of scam victims reporting financial losses. Taxpayers are advised to verify
kwtx.com
Texas drivers are being targeted by fake text messages claiming unpaid toll fees, with scammers threatening fines to trick victims into clicking malicious links that either steal payment information or install malware on their devices. TxDOT and the Better Business Bureau warn that the legitimate agency never contacts customers via text and advises drivers to report scams to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. Texas has lost at least $10 million to such scams, though the actual figure is likely much higher since only 5-10% of victims report the fraud.
41nbc.com
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office and Better Business Bureau outline three prevalent scams: debt collection scams where fraudsters impersonate creditors or government agencies threatening legal action or arrest, advanced loan fee scams involving fake loan processors requesting payment with urgency, and road toll collection scams using text messages with malicious links to steal personal information. To protect yourself, hang up on suspicious calls, request written debt validation, contact companies directly using official numbers, avoid clicking links from unsolicited messages, and verify claims through official websites or customer service lines.
justice.gov
Kenneth J. Brown and Nicholas R. Shepard, both 45-46 years old from Lexington, South Carolina, were sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. The men operated Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange and received checks from business email compromise and romance scam victims through the mail, then deposited the funds into their business account and converted them to cryptocurrency. They were ordered to pay $415,196.66 in restitution to victims and face three years of court-ordered supervision following their prison terms.
swlexledger.com
The FBI is warning of a widespread fraud scheme targeting elderly residents where scammers impersonate cybersecurity representatives, bank officials, and government officers to trick victims into converting their assets into physical gold and surrendering it to couriers. During 2024, 11 South Carolina elderly victims lost approximately $4.2 million to this scam, which typically begins with fake device compromise warnings and involves creating false urgency to move assets out of financial accounts. The FBI advises victims to verify identities independently, avoid using provided contact numbers, and report suspicious activity to the FBI IC3 website, with elder victims able to seek assistance through the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline.
news4jax.com
Susan and Todd Hopper of Jacksonville fell victim to a coordinated cyber fraud scheme that began with a hacked Facebook account, which scammers then used to compromise their Venmo and American Express accounts and post a fraudulent car listing to defraud their friends. Although the Hoppers prevented direct financial losses by alerting their banks promptly, some of their friends lost money responding to the fake car ad, and the couple was further victimized when they contacted a scammer posing as Facebook support. Detective Bobby Fultz recommends using passphrases instead of passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being skeptical of unsolicited communications to prevent similar account takeovers and identity frau
onlineathens.com
Multiple fraud cases were reported in Athens during February, ranging from $11,000 to nearly $2 million in losses. Victims included a man who lost $1.734 million in a fake investment scheme promising unrealistic returns (80-380% monthly profits), a woman whose identity was used to steal $184,693 through a fraudulent bank account, and an 83-year-old woman who lost $11,000 before bank employees intervened to prevent her from withdrawing an additional $60,000 for a gift card scam. Police recommend verifying communications through official channels, being suspicious of unsolicited contact, and not trusting caller ID.
mirror.co.uk
A 28-year-old author and her husband lost their entire life savings to a phone scam after the husband received a call claiming their account had been breached. The scammer, who possessed detailed account information, convinced them to transfer their savings to a "safe account" for protection; despite the wife's initial doubts, she authorized the transaction. The couple publicly shared their experience to warn others that legitimate banks never call with no caller ID or request money transfers for safety, and advised checking call history through banking apps to verify legitimacy.
newsweek.com
Drivers are being targeted with fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid toll fees and threatening increased late fees or DMV reports if payment isn't made within 12 hours. The scam directs victims to fake websites that collect personal information and payment card details, with toll fee text scams experiencing a 731 percent increase between December and January. Experts advise ignoring such messages and instead verifying toll balances directly through official state highway websites rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
2news.com
A new scam is spreading nationwide that targets people with text messages claiming they owe unpaid tolls, attempting to trick recipients into paying fraudulent fees. The scam uses deceptive messaging to convince victims they have outstanding toll violations, though specific dollar amounts and victim numbers are not detailed in the available excerpt.
bbc.co.uk
**Gmail Phishing Scam Alert**
Criminals are targeting the 1.8 billion Gmail users worldwide by sending phishing emails with links to fake Google websites designed to steal login credentials and passwords. The scam mimics legitimate Google password reset messages, making it difficult for users to distinguish genuine communications from fraudulent ones.
newstalk870.am
Social Security scams are increasing in Washington State, with fraudsters impersonating the SSA through phone calls, emails, and text messages to threaten arrest, demand immediate payment, or steal personal information like Social Security numbers and bank details. The SSA never threatens, demands payment, or requests sensitive information via phone or email, so residents should hang up on suspicious calls and verify any claims directly through ssa.gov or the official customer service number. Victims should report incidents to the SSA's Office of the Inspector General and the FTC, monitor their accounts and credit reports, and use the secure "My Social Security account" portal to safely access their information.
nugget.ca
A 95-year-old North Bay woman nearly fell victim to a grandparent scam when scammers impersonated her son, falsely claiming he had been arrested for cocaine dealing and demanding $5,950 to keep him out of jail; the scammers even arranged a taxi to drive her to Scotiabank to withdraw the money. The bank teller's alertness prevented the loss when she questioned the elderly customer about the "emergency" withdrawal and contacted the son at work to verify the situation. This incident occurred amid a surge of grandparent scams targeting North Bay seniors, with several already losing thousands of dollars in recent days.
wvnews.com
**Financial Exploitation via Unauthorized ACH Transfers**
Steven and Ashley Simpson of Charmco, West Virginia were arrested and charged with financial exploitation and computer fraud after allegedly stealing approximately $36,000 from an 82-year-old victim's bank account between August 2023 and December 2024. The couple obtained the victim's banking information from a payment check issued for construction work they performed, then used it to conduct unauthorized ACH transfers until the victim discovered her account was overdrawn. Both defendants face 103 counts of computer fraud and related charges, with bonds set at $50,000 and $100,000 respectively.