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b2b-cyber-security.de
· 2026-08-15
Cybercriminals are using the Chinese DCloud framework to operate over 236,000 fraudulent websites targeting both consumers and corporate employees across 25 industries, generating more than 5 million connection attempts. The fraud infrastructure facilitates various scams including fake cryptocurrency exchanges, "pig butchering" romance investment schemes, phishing networks, and crypto wallet drainers, with employees often compromised after clicking malicious links on WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media. Organizations now face significant risks including staff compromise, data leaks, and operational disruption as these workplace fraud attempts increasingly infiltrate corporate networks through personal devices.
wlos.com
· 2026-08-15
Buncombe County staff are warning residents and developers about a phishing scam targeting planning and zoning applicants, in which scammers impersonate county officials to request wire payments for building permits. One developer nearly lost $13,050 after receiving a fraudulent email requesting payment, though he avoided the scam by noticing suspicious wording; county officials note this is a nationwide trend affecting 44% of Americans according to the Better Business Bureau. Buncombe County clarifies it never requests wired payments for applications and urges residents to verify requests by contacting the county directly or confirming emails come from the official BuncombeNC.gov domain.
scmp.com
· 2026-08-14
Hong Kong saw investment scam cases decline 15% in the first half of 2026 (from 2,525 to 2,151 cases), but losses remained substantial at HK$1.65 billion as fraudsters impersonated representatives of overseas firms, some of which were fictitious or used AI-generated identities and fake licenses. The largest single case involved a 67-year-old merchant who lost HK$48.79 million in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scam between July 2025 and January 2026.
finance.biggo.com
· 2026-08-14
A Chinese investor lost 300,000 yuan (approximately $44,537) in a "pig-butchering" scam that lured him through a Douyin livestream into a fraudulent stock trading scheme where 2,724 group members were all shills posing as legitimate traders and analysts. The scammers used fabricated profit screenshots, fake IPO opportunities, and forged contracts purporting to be from CITIC Securities to gradually build trust and convince the victim to deposit funds into fraudulent trading apps, then blocked all large withdrawal attempts with various excuses.
thehimalayantimes.com
· 2026-08-14
Nepal Police registered 20,526 cybercrime complaints in fiscal year 2082/83 (July 2025-July 2026), with Facebook and Messenger misuse accounting for the largest share at 7,123 complaints, followed by TikTok at 6,776. Despite the high volume of complaints, only 161 cases were filed and 155 arrests made, with common fraud schemes including impersonation of bank representatives, fake gift and lottery offers, romance scams, and fraudulent job postings circulated through social media platforms.
hometownnewstc.com
· 2026-08-14
A Martin County senior citizen nearly fell victim to a gold bar scam in which he was nearly defrauded of $600,000 after being contacted by someone impersonating a government official who demanded he purchase gold bars for "safekeeping." The scam targets older adults by pressuring them to act immediately and threatening consequences like arrest or loss of funds. Authorities advise victims to verify caller identity independently, consult trusted family or financial advisors before moving large sums, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement.
thebostonpilot.com
· 2026-08-14
This article describes a free educational speaker series for seniors at New Horizons at Marlborough, a not-for-profit senior community, featuring weekly Monday lectures on diverse topics like history, science, and culture. While the article mentions that District Attorney Marian Ryan recently spoke about elder scams and financial fraud prevention at one of these events, the article itself is about the speaker series program and not about any actual fraud or scam incident.
yahoo.com
· 2026-08-14
An elderly Michigan woman attempted to withdraw $385,000 to purchase gold after scammers falsely convinced her that her bank accounts had been compromised, but a alert coin shop owner contacted the FBI when he noticed her distress, preventing the loss. The investigation led to the arrest of 25-year-old Sai K. Puttha on felony charges related to the scheme, which follows an FBI-identified pattern where criminals impersonate financial institutions or government officials to pressure victims into converting savings into precious metals that scammers then steal. Between May and December 2023, similar precious metals conversion scams targeting older adults resulted in over $55 million in reported losses nationally.
myleaderpaper.com
· 2026-08-14
The Arnold Senior Expo, scheduled for August 19, will offer seniors 50 and older free admission, entertainment, vendors, and educational speakers at the Arnold Eagles Hall. Featured speakers include an Arnold Police Officer who will discuss common senior scams, along with presentations on the expanded farmers market and health opportunities. The event will include bingo, live music, free refreshments, and prizes, with a grand prize of a handcrafted cedar Adirondack chair and Jefferson College season passes.
ua.news
· 2026-08-14
A 71-year-old former Ukrainian lawmaker lost $31,800 to scammers impersonating SBU agents who convinced him the money was needed for "fund verification." Two suspects—a 17-year-old courier and a 20-year-old accomplice from Odesa—were arrested before the funds could be transferred to a cryptocurrency wallet, and the full amount was recovered.
cronista.com
· 2026-08-14
Colorado's new ASSET Act, effective August 12, 2026, authorizes banks and credit unions to delay withdrawals for up to 90 days (extendable to 180 days) when employees reasonably suspect a vulnerable adult is experiencing financial exploitation. The law aims to give institutions time to investigate suspicious transactions and notify law enforcement or adult protective services, while protecting institutions and employees from liability for good-faith interventions. Colorado residents age 60 and older reported over $74 million in fraud losses during 2024 across more than 3,100 cases, prompting the protective measure.
english.nepalnews.com
· 2026-08-14
Nepal police registered 20,526 cybercrime complaints in fiscal year 2025/26, leading to 161 cases filed and 155 arrests, with the majority involving social media platforms like Facebook (7,123 cases) and TikTok (6,776 cases). Recent fraud schemes include impersonation of bank and digital wallet employees, fake lottery and gift schemes, romance scams, and fraudulent job offers, with suspects arrested for offenses ranging from hacking Facebook accounts for fraud to posing as eSewa employees to deceive victims.
wtop.com
· 2026-08-14
Fraud losses reached a record $15.9 billion in 2025, a 27% increase from the previous year, with criminals increasingly using AI to create sophisticated scams via fake websites, emails, texts, and deepfake audio and video. Investment, romance, crypto, and impostor scams are driving the surge in losses reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Experts recommend being skeptical of all communications, avoiding clicking suspicious links, using credit cards instead of debit cards for purchases, and never paying via cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers.
butlereagle.com
· 2026-08-14
Monica Placek, a postal clerk manager in Buffalo Township, Pennsylvania, prevented three older residents from losing nearly $100,000 to various scams over three months by inspecting suspicious overnight shipments. The scams involved victims being pressured to ship cash disguised in packages—$15,000 hidden in a coffee pot, $30,000 in a lottery scam, and $27,000 wrapped in foil—after receiving fraudulent communications impersonating their banks, lottery organizations, and Microsoft. Police Chief Tim Derringer honored Placek for her vigilance, noting that in his 27 years in law enforcement, he had rarely seen victims recover their money until her intervention.
cbsnews.com
· 2026-08-13
Multiple elderly residents in the Buffalo Township area lost nearly $100,000 to sophisticated scams where perpetrators hacked victims' phones, impersonated banks or claimed loved ones were in jail, then coerced them into sending cash or gift cards through local postal offices. A postal store manager has intercepted several shipments including $16,000 in a coffee pot, $60,000 in cash, and $27,000 in books by recognizing red flags like unusually expensive shipping fees for low-value items. Police are urging residents to verify any requests to send money with family, friends, or authorities before complying.
legit.ng
· 2026-08-13
Babajide Adesayo, 41, of Georgia, was convicted on August 6, 2026, of laundering $2.7 million stolen from elderly victims through romance scams orchestrated between April 2020 and September 2021. Adesayo operated as a central figure in a transnational network that posed as romantic interests and business partners to defraud victims, then rapidly moved the stolen funds through accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and other countries to prevent recovery. He faces up to 20 years in prison per conspiracy count and was convicted on 18 charges including money laundering offenses.
en.ilsole24ore.com
· 2026-08-13
As e-commerce shopping in Europe grows, online fraud has surged dramatically, with approximately 45% of EU consumers falling victim to scams in 2024. In Italy alone, documented losses in the first half of 2024 reached 114 million euros—a 71% increase year-over-year—with one in five Italians victimized by online shopping fraud. Scams typically employ fake shops, fake reviews (cited by 66% of victims), and unrealistic discounts to lure consumers, then defraud them through non-delivery, counterfeit goods, payment credential theft, or refused refunds.
techtimes.com
· 2026-08-13
President Trump signed an executive order authorizing vetted private companies to conduct offensive cyber operations—including covert access and system disruption—against foreign criminal networks for the first time in U.S. history, addressing the $20.8 billion in cyber-enabled crimes Americans lost in 2025 to ransomware, pig-butchering scams, and financial fraud. The program creates "Participating Companies" that gain legal immunity from the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act when conducting government-approved surveillance and sabotage operations against foreign cybercriminals, with safeguards including dual approval requirements from DOJ and DHS directors and potential $1 million bond requirements for non-compliance.
techtimes.com
· 2026-08-13
WhatsApp launched Scam Alert, an optional beta feature that uses on-device machine learning to detect and flag suspected scam messages without sending content to Meta's servers, marking the first major encrypted messaging platform to combine anti-fraud AI with end-to-end encryption. The feature analyzes incoming messages from non-contacts for common scam patterns like urgency cues and financial solicitations, displaying warnings only to recipients who can then block, report, or trust the contact. WhatsApp's privacy-preserving design uses Trusted Execution Environments and differential privacy to collect only aggregate usage analytics, demonstrating that platforms can combat fraud without compromising encryption or user privacy.
techbuzz.ai
· 2026-08-13
Meta is rolling out an optional AI-powered Scam Alert feature to WhatsApp's 2 billion users that uses on-device machine learning to detect and warn users about suspected fraud attempts in real-time without compromising end-to-end encryption. The system analyzes incoming messages for red flags like urgent money requests, fake delivery notifications, and romance scam tactics, then provides users options to block, report, or dismiss warnings. The feature is currently in limited beta with no disclosed timeline for global expansion or accuracy metrics, marking Meta's expanding use of on-device AI for fraud prevention across its messaging platforms.
newsbreak.com
· 2026-08-12
Grandparent scams exploit emotional urgency and family details mined from social media to manipulate retirees into sending tens of thousands of dollars via untraceable methods like wire transfers and gift cards. Scammers now use AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate grandchildren convincingly, and the FBI reported $352 million in AI-related scam losses to victims over 60 in a recent year, with grandparent scams alone accounting for over $5 million in 2025 losses. The most effective defense is to hang up and verify the emergency by contacting the family member directly through a saved phone number before sending any money.
haveagonews.com.au
· 2026-08-12
Scammers are increasingly targeting older Western Australians through gift card fraud, using tactics including romance scams where fraudsters build false relationships before requesting money, and impersonation scams where they pose as employers, government agencies, or business executives to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards. Notable cases include a woman who lost $17,000 to a fake CEO email, another who lost $77,000 to a romance scam, and a man in his 70s who lost $50,000 in similar schemes. Legitimate organizations never request payment via gift cards, and consumers should verify requests in person while retailers are encouraged to watch for unusual purchases and alert staff to coaching tactics scammers use to circumvent warnings
bu.edu
· 2026-08-12
Boston University Police Department offers safety recommendations for students, including traveling in groups, using secure bike locks and storage, locking residence doors and windows, avoiding unattended property, and verifying rideshare vehicles before entering. The guidance emphasizes personal awareness, neighborhood vigilance, and utilizing campus resources like bike registration to prevent theft and protect against crime both on and off campus.
altoonamirror.com
· 2026-08-12
Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday is urging passage of Senate Bill 738, which would allow bank employees to place seven-day holds on transactions suspected of fraud, with possible 15-day extensions by officials. The push comes as older adults in Pennsylvania lost nearly $216 million to online scams in 2025, with investment scams accounting for over $98 million (up 75% from 2024), government impersonation scams at $10.66 million, and romance scams at $20.2 million. Similar fraud-prevention legislation has already been enacted in at least 33 states, including Georgia as of July 1.
issafrica.org
· 2026-08-12
Cybercriminals in Cameroon and Chad are targeting young jobseekers with fake employment offers via WhatsApp and Facebook, using advance-fee fraud schemes that steal victims' savings and sometimes lead to trafficking for forced labor or sexual exploitation. The scams exploit rapid digital expansion and economic vulnerability in regions with weak law enforcement, outdated cybercrime laws, and limited social media platform accountability. These frauds are increasingly linked to conflict-driven displacement and irregular migration networks in Central Africa.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-12
A 71-year-old Lorain woman lost $30,000 in a tech support scam where a fraudster posing as a Microsoft representative convinced her that federal investigators needed to move her money to a secure account to protect it from hackers and criminal activity. The scammer stayed on the phone while she withdrew the cash from her bank and instructed her to hand it over in a shoebox to a stranger in a Kohl's parking lot, where an Asian man in his early 20s collected the money and disappeared. The woman did not realize she was being robbed until after the exchange, as the scammer had coached her throughout the entire process to make her believe he was helping protect her accounts.
ncoa.org
· 2026-08-12
Older Americans aged 60 and over filed over 201,000 fraud complaints in 2025 with losses exceeding $7.7 billion—a 37% increase from the previous year—as scammers increasingly target seniors through phone calls, texts, emails, and social media impersonating banks and government agencies. Sherman J., a 67-year-old, avoided losing money by trusting his instincts when a caller claiming to be from his bank requested sensitive information, and later found support through a community scam awareness workshop at his local senior center. Community-based prevention programs are helping older adults recognize common scams including romance fraud, fake lottery winnings, and contractor fraud, while newer AI
smh.com.au
· 2026-08-12
AI-generated scam emails impersonating prestigious publishers, editors, and media figures are targeting authors internationally with fake publishing deals and promotional opportunities. Scammers use AI to create convincing, detailed emails that reference authors' work and professional credentials before eventually requesting payment for services. The Australian Society of Authors has reported a significant surge in these "pig butchering" style scams, with some writers receiving multiple fraudulent emails daily.
money.com
· 2026-08-12
Fraudsters are impersonating FCC officials via calls and texts, claiming victims' phone numbers are under investigation and demanding money or personal financial information, with the FCC warning that it never contacts people this way. The article also highlights related scams including gold bar schemes targeting seniors (with losses exceeding $100 million in New York alone) and recovery scams that prey on previous fraud victims by promising to return lost money for an upfront fee.
aol.com
· 2026-08-12
A Southern California renter lost over $2,500 to a fake rental listing scam after a fraudster copied photos and video from a real property listing, posed as the landlord, and collected a deposit via Zelle before disappearing. Fake rental scams have surged significantly, with the FBI receiving 12,368 real estate fraud complaints in 2025 (up from 9,359 in 2024) resulting in losses exceeding $275 million, with scammers exploiting renters' urgency by stealing existing listings and using professional photos, videos, and AI-generated documents to appear legitimate.
newsnationnow.com
· 2026-08-11
A jury duty scam is spreading nationwide where callers impersonate law enforcement and claim victims missed jury duty summons, demanding immediate payment of thousands of dollars to avoid arrest. The scammers use psychological tactics including empathetic tones, incremental compliance requests, and personal information obtained through spyware to pressure victims into paying via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or retail stores. Reported losses include $25,000 in Florida and $2,000 in Ohio, with police warning that legitimate courts never demand immediate payment by phone, text, email, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
wgal.com
· 2026-08-11
A Lancaster County man lost $35,000 in a sophisticated government imposter scam that began with a text about fraudulent charges and escalated through impersonation of an FTC commissioner, remote computer access, and two in-person cash exchanges at retail locations. The scammers convinced the victim that his identity and finances were under investigation due to money laundering, instructing him to withdraw cash and hand it to couriers using verification photos and passwords. Authorities note that legitimate government agencies never ask victims to move money for safekeeping, a hallmark indicator of fraud.
wesh.com
· 2026-08-11
A Pennsylvania man lost $35,000 in a government imposter scam that began with a fake text about unauthorized charges and escalated through multiple phone calls impersonating an FTC commissioner, who claimed fraudulent activity required moving the victim's money for protection. The scammer gained remote computer access via AnyDesk software, then instructed the victim to withdraw cash and hand it to couriers at retail locations in two separate exchanges, providing fake checks and fraudulent FTC letters as false reassurance. This elaborate scheme involved impersonation, forged documents, passwords, and in-person cash pickups, with police investigating using surveillance footage from the exchange locations.
newsbreak.com
· 2026-08-11
Once elder fraud money is wired overseas or converted to cryptocurrency, it is virtually impossible to recover because these transfers are designed to be fast and irreversible, making prevention the only realistic strategy. The key to stopping fraud is recognizing the artificial urgency built into scam scripts—whether involving a fake grandchild, phony government agent, or tech support—since legitimate agencies never demand immediate payment through untraceable channels like wire transfers, gift cards, or crypto. The most effective defense is introducing a delay by consulting a trusted family member or verifying the request through an official number, which dissolves the pressure that makes these scams work.
patch.com
· 2026-08-11
A New Canaan resident fell victim to a phishing scam after receiving a text message claiming to be from Apple about a suspicious $847.92 charge on their account. The victim called the fake support number and handed over cash to someone posing as an officer, who claimed payment was necessary to recover funds owed. Police warn residents to verify suspicious messages by contacting Apple directly or local authorities rather than calling numbers in unsolicited texts.
thenextweb.com
· 2026-08-11
Impersonation scams using AI technology surged over 1,400% in 2025, with AI-enabled operations generating 4.5 times more revenue than non-AI operations while reaching significantly more victims through deepfake identity verification that costs as little as $20 and defeats liveness checks 58% of the time. Crypto accounts for 88% of all detected deepfake fraud globally, with North American losses exceeding $410 million in the first half of 2025, though enforcement efforts have resulted in $4.4 billion in frozen assets and nearly 5,800 arrests across 97 countries.
peninsuladailynews.com
· 2026-08-10
A financial scam prevention seminar in Sequim, Washington on July 27 educated seniors about fraud tactics used against them, with law enforcement officials warning that Clallam County residents have lost millions of dollars to scams involving impersonation of government agents, gold and Bitcoin conversion, and identity theft. The presenters emphasized that prevention is critical because victims are extremely difficult to recover losses for, citing cases where residents lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and one 83-year-old woman lost her house after being scammed. The officials recommended seniors use locking mailboxes, monitor bank statements monthly, and obtain free annual credit reports to protect themselves.
singjupost.com
· 2026-08-10
This transcript from an August 2026 FBI interview does not contain information about elder fraud, scams targeting seniors, or fraud cases suitable for an elder fraud research database. The content focuses on FBI Director Kash Patel discussing World Cup security operations, counter-drone systems, and mentions Operation Blackout only in passing without substantive details about scam victims or fraud amounts.
koreapost.com
· 2026-08-10
South Korean financial authorities conducted an anti-phishing campaign at Busan Sea Festival warning the public about sophisticated voice-phishing scams that use deceptive text messages impersonating wedding invitations, parcel deliveries, and fine notices to trick victims into installing malicious apps. Voice-phishing losses in South Korea surged 56.1% year-over-year to 1.133 trillion won between January and November 2025, though recent government intervention measures have reduced cases and losses by 35.3% over seven consecutive months. Authorities express concern that criminals may be shifting tactics to newer scams on social media and messaging platforms rather than being deterred entirely.
community.triblive.com
· 2026-08-10
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday warned of a rising "government imposter scam" where callers use number spoofing to impersonate county sheriff's offices and demand immediate payment via phone for bail or bonds, claiming arrest warrants have been issued. Scammers pressure victims to pay through untraceable methods like gift cards, Bitcoin, or cash withdrawals, exploiting the urgency created by false legal threats. Legitimate law enforcement never demands immediate phone payments, and residents are urged to hang up, independently verify information, and report suspicious calls to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office.
rte.ie
· 2026-08-10
Recruitment scams are rising in Ireland, with criminals using legitimate company branding, conducting fake video interviews, and then requesting personal information, bank details, or upfront payments under the guise of onboarding. The scams are particularly effective because they mimic the entire genuine hiring process—application, interview, and job offer—making fraudulent requests feel like normal employment procedures. Job applicants are vulnerable because they typically authenticate employers through weak methods like logos and email signatures, while legitimate employers have multiple verification tools available.
ksl.com
· 2026-08-10
Internet scams cost Americans over $20 billion last year, with older adults particularly targeted through schemes like fake credit card breach calls and cryptocurrency fraud. Congress and Utah lawmakers are working to combat fraud by improving law enforcement information-sharing, implementing transaction limits on cryptocurrency kiosks, and requiring scam warnings to help people recognize and avoid schemes that prey on emotional reactions. The FBI reported Americans lost more than $11 billion to cryptocurrency scams and nearly $900 million to AI-based scams in 2025.
firstalert4.com
· 2026-08-10
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 4911, a bipartisan measure that expands protections for seniors from financial fraud by requiring investment advisers, securities dealers, and financial managers to report suspected abuse. The law mandates the creation of a web-based reporting portal by July 1, 2028, and takes effect July 1, 2027, allowing financial professionals to detect and report fraudulent behavior earlier. The bill passed unanimously in both the Illinois House and Senate and applies to suspicious financial transactions affecting vulnerable populations of all ages.
aol.com
· 2026-08-10
The FTC is warning about "refund and recovery" scams that target previous fraud victims by falsely promising to recover lost money for an upfront fee or financial information. Scammers obtain lists of prior fraud victims containing personal details and exploit that information to pose as government agencies, law firms, or consumer groups, requesting payment under names like "retainer fees" or "processing fees." Legitimate recovery organizations never charge upfront fees, and victims should report suspected scams to the FTC or their state attorney general.
yellow.com
· 2026-08-10
Daren Li, a 42-year-old dual Chinese-St. Kitts national, received a 20-year maximum prison sentence for orchestrating a $73 million cryptocurrency fraud scheme involving Cambodia-based scam operations that targeted American victims through spoofed trading platforms and romance scams. Li became a fugitive in December 2025 after cutting off his ankle monitor, and the sentencing was imposed in absentia; at least $73.6 million in victim funds flowed through accounts he controlled, with roughly $59.8 million laundered through U.S. shell companies into cryptocurrency. The case represents one of the largest "pig butchering" prosecutions in the U.S
lawfaremedia.org
· 2026-08-10
A 51-year-old Massachusetts man lost over $400,000 in a pig-butchering scam, where a scammer posing as "Emily" on LinkedIn cultivated a false relationship before persuading him to invest in fake cryptocurrency opportunities. Pig-butchering scams are a rapidly expanding transnational fraud industry concentrated in Southeast Asia, responsible for $7.2 billion in reported U.S. losses in 2025, often perpetrated by organized criminal enterprises using trafficked workers forced to conduct scams under threats of violence. The scams involve criminals contacting victims through social media, building trust over time, then directing them to fraudulent investment platforms that display fake profits before the funds disapp
consumerbankers.com
· 2026-08-10
This article discusses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's reconsideration of data-sharing rules under Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which governs consumer access to personal financial information held by banks. The Community Bankers Association urged the CFPB to clarify which entities can request consumer data, allow banks to charge fees for data access, prohibit insecure data-sharing methods like screen scraping, and establish stronger limits on how third parties use shared financial information. The debate centers on balancing consumer rights to access their own financial data with security, privacy, and competitive concerns in the banking industry.
newsbreak.com
· 2026-08-09
Devin Ward Elder, CEO of DJE Texas Management Group in San Antonio, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to wire fraud after raising over $69.5 million from approximately 345 investors between January 2023 and March 2025 through false promises about investment returns, risk levels, and his personal participation in 17 real-estate deals. Elder used funds from new investors to make interest payments to existing investors without disclosing the source, and when new capital slowed in March 2025, he halted payments and informed investors that projects would not be completed and substantial losses were likely. The scheme averaged approximately $200,000 per investor, with Elder facing up to 20
mbiz.heraldcorp.com
· 2026-08-09
A business owner fell victim to a "no-show scam" after receiving a call from someone impersonating a city hall employee requesting he purchase vehicle radios and wire payment to a designated account; the promised commission never materialized. No-show scams, where fraudsters impersonate government or public institution officials to pressure victims into proxy purchases, have surged dramatically, with 1,376 cases reported in South Korea between June and October, representing 37% of all phishing fraud reported during that period. The government warns that legitimate public institution employees never solicit contracts or financial transactions via personal mobile phones.
kotatv.com
· 2026-08-09
A Lead, South Dakota woman was targeted by scammers impersonating Walmart, Social Security Administration officials, and the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office who attempted to convince her that her identity had been compromised and fraudulently used for criminal activity. The scammers instructed her to withdraw money and move it to a "secure" location, but she became suspicious and ended the call without providing financial information. Police warn residents that scammers use fake badges, manipulated phone numbers, and threats to pressure victims into sending money, and advise people to hang up on unexpected calls, verify caller identity independently, and report incidents to law enforcement.