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in Robocall / Phone Scam
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
As Valentine's Day approaches, scammers are exploiting the holiday with malicious tactics: Check Point Software identified over 18,000 Valentine's-themed websites since early 2025, with approximately 1 in 72 being malicious, including phishing emails impersonating legitimate brands to steal money and personal information. North Carolina consumers lost over $16 million to romance scams in 2023 alone, with experts warning to verify sender addresses, avoid suspicious links, and reject requests for money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards from online romantic interests.
about.fb.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers exploit Valentine's Day and other occasions by impersonating military personnel, celebrities, or fake dating agencies across social media and messaging platforms to build trust with victims before soliciting money via wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. A tech company disrupted multiple romance scam networks operating across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, and other platforms, with schemes originating from Nigeria and Kenya targeting users in the US, UAE, Japan, Africa, and other regions. The company recommends users verify identities, avoid sending money to unknown contacts, and use platform safety tools to protect against these schemes.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Kate Kleinert, a 71-year-old widow, lost $39,000 over four months to a romance scammer posing as a UN surgeon named "Tony" who built trust by involving his supposed children and eventually requesting money for medical emergencies and legal bail. Romance scams cost victims $1.14 billion in 2023 across 64,003 reported cases, with scammers using sophisticated psychological manipulation to build emotional investment before exploiting targets for money, often via cryptocurrency which is difficult to recover.
myfox28columbus.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams resulted in $823 million in losses nationally in 2024, with the FBI recording over 17,800 complaints in 2023 alone; Ohio authorities have investigated eight cases since early 2023. Scammers create fake dating profiles to build trust with victims over weeks or months before introducing fraudulent investment schemes, often targeting older individuals and draining their savings. The Ohio Department of Commerce advises protection measures including avoiding offshore money transfers, verifying identities through reverse image searches, meeting in person when possible, and consulting only licensed investment professionals to confirm credentials.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Merck Employees Federal Credit Union partnered with Carefull, a financial safety service, to provide members with fraud protection tools including real-time account monitoring, identity protection, and issue resolution services. The partnership addresses rising elder fraud and sophisticated scams by offering 24/7 alerts and expert support to help members detect unauthorized transactions quickly and recover funds, with education components to help members learn fraud prevention strategies.
businesswire.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Merck Employees Federal Credit Union has partnered with Carefull, a financial safety service, to provide members with proactive account monitoring, identity protection, and fraud resolution tools to combat rising elder fraud and scams. The partnership offers all MEFCU members, their parents, and caregivers 24/7 account monitoring and real-time alerts for unusual transactions, addressing the gap in protection for older adults who may not regularly check their accounts.
advisorhub.com
· 2025-12-08
Marjorie Kessler, a senior investor in Tampa, Florida, lost nearly $1.75 million to scammers impersonating government officials who convinced her to withdraw funds for safekeeping in a U.S. Treasury account. Morgan Stanley was ordered to pay $843,000 in compensatory damages for failing to investigate her unusual withdrawal requests and neglecting to establish a trusted contact on her account as required by regulations, though the arbitration panel deducted the first transfer amount due to insufficient evidence of negligence.
digit.in
· 2025-12-08
A family in Noida fell victim to a "digital arrest" scam in February when scammers posing as telecom regulators and police officers threatened them with fake arrest warrants and money laundering charges. Over five days, the family transferred Rs 1.10 crore (approximately $132,000 USD) to the fraudsters after receiving intimidating calls and video messages targeting multiple family members. The scam exemplifies the growing sophistication of cyber fraud and highlights the importance of remaining cautious about unsolicited calls claiming to be from government or law enforcement agencies.
9news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An Australian woman's mother fell victim to a romance scam in 2022-2023 when she developed an online relationship with a man using stolen photos and a fabricated identity, eventually sending him money despite never admitting the full extent of financial loss. The incident prompted her daughter Kylee to found Two Face Investigations to investigate romance scams, revealing that the industry is highly sophisticated, transnational organized crime involving AI-generated deepfakes, stolen identities, and networks of scammers sharing tactics and manuals. Kylee emphasizes that victims often delay reporting due to shame and embarrassment, which hinders law enforcement efforts, and that dating apps lack the fraud protections that banks and telecommunications
wilmingtonbiz.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common financial scams targeting seniors and the general public, including phishing, investment fraud, imposter scams (grandparent and IRS varieties), computer scams, romance scams, lottery schemes, charity fraud, and fake debt relief services. The article provides red flags and warning signs for each scam type, such as urgent requests, unsolicited offers, promises of guaranteed returns, and requests for upfront payments. Key protective measures include awareness of common scam tactics, verification of organizations before sharing information, and skepticism toward unsolicited offers or high-pressure requests.
cronkitenews.azpbs.org
· 2025-12-08
Arizona experienced over $47 million in losses from online romance scams during 2022-2023, ranking fifth nationally, with elderly residents particularly targeted by scammers who build false relationships to extract money. Common tactics include professing instant love, moving conversations off dating platforms to private channels, refusing to share photos, and requesting money—sometimes stringing victims along for extended periods. Authorities warn that scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to create convincing false identities, and many victims remain unreported due to embarrassment.
thecipherbrief.com
· 2025-12-08
Cyber-enabled scams originating primarily from criminal gangs in Southeast Asia, India, and Nigeria have become a global security emergency, with over 57,000 Americans scammed daily, resulting in $158 billion in annual losses and an average victim loss of $14,197 ($33,915 for seniors). These transnational fraud operations, often run by Chinese crime bosses using forced labor, fund additional criminal activities including human trafficking, drug manufacturing, and hostile nation weapons programs, while U.S. law enforcement capacity is severely overwhelmed and can only address a fraction of cases.
rnz.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams increase around Valentine's Day, targeting vulnerable individuals across all demographics who may be emotionally invested in fake relationships created by sophisticated scammers using fabricated social media profiles and forged documents. Common warning signs include rapid declarations of love, refusal to meet in person or video call, requests for secrecy, and requests for money or to receive funds on their behalf. The best defenses are to avoid keeping relationships secret, verify identities through reverse image searches, consult trusted friends and family who can spot red flags, and never send money to someone you haven't met in person.
local3news.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly adults aged 60 and older lost approximately $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year, with scammers employing increasingly sophisticated tactics tailored to exploit seniors' wealth and vulnerabilities. The most common scams targeting seniors include romance scams (averaging $2,000 per victim), investment/cryptocurrency scams, gift card scams, texting scams, home improvement scams, and imposter scams, with scammers often using social media and high-pressure tactics to build trust before manipulating victims into sending money. Prevention strategies include staying connected with elderly loved ones, remaining skeptical of online connections, and being aware
democratandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
New York residents lost over $25 million to romance scams in 2024, with scammers targeting singles—particularly older adults who are widows, widowers, or divorcees—by creating fake profiles and building trust over weeks or months before requesting money for investments, emergencies, or travel. The New York Department of State advises individuals to avoid sending money to people they haven't met in person, never share personal or banking information with online contacts, and be wary of those who make excuses to avoid meeting or request cryptocurrency investments.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a Valentine's Day warning about romance scams, which target tens of thousands of Arizonans through dating apps, dating sites, and social media platforms. Scammers create fake profiles to build trust with victims before requesting money through lies about emergencies, sick relatives, military service, or investment opportunities. The advisory provides warning signs—such as quick declarations of love, requests for wire transfers or gift cards, and broken plans to meet in person—and recommends victims avoid sending money to strangers, verify stories with loved ones, and file complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center or Arizona Attorney General's office if victimized.
businesswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion has emerged as one of the most devastating romance scams, with fraudsters using fake profiles to manipulate victims into sharing intimate content before threatening exposure and demanding ransom payments. The FBI reported over 12,000 complaints in 2023 resulting in millions in financial losses, severe psychological trauma, and in some cases fatalities, with younger and newer online daters being particularly vulnerable. The article recommends that social media and dating platforms implement stronger identity verification measures, including biometric and government ID verification, to eliminate fake profiles and make it harder for scammers to operate across multiple platforms.
news.illinoisstate.edu
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to launch sophisticated phishing and romance scams targeting university students, faculty, and staff, particularly around Valentine's Day. AI-generated deepfake videos, voice cloning, and realistic fake profiles make these scams harder to detect than traditional fraud, as attackers can now personalize messages by mimicking authentic university communications and creating convincing long-term online relationships. Universities face significant challenges in defending against these evolving threats, with particular vulnerability among international students, new students, and those with access to financial systems or sensitive data.
fbi.gov
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Los Angeles Field Office warned the public about romance scams, in which criminals create fake online identities to build trust with victims on dating sites and social media before requesting money under false pretenses. In 2023, approximately 18,000 victims nationwide reported nearly $700 million in losses to romance scams, with over 2,000 California victims alone losing more than $100 million, and scammers particularly targeting women over 40 who are widowed, divorced, elderly, or disabled. The FBI recommends verifying online contacts through photo searches, being cautious of quick declarations of love or requests to go offline, and never sending money to people met only online.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency fraud reached record levels in 2024, with scam wallets receiving an estimated $9.9-$12.4 billion, driven largely by a 40% surge in "pig butchering" romance scams where criminals build fake relationships to lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes. Scammers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence and organized platforms like Huione Guarantee (which received $375.9 million in crypto in 2024) while expanding geographically from Southeast Asian compounds to locations like Nigeria, often employing human trafficking victims to conduct the fraud. The report warns that the scam ecosystem is becoming more professionalized, with criminal groups creating specialize
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending smishing texts claiming victims owe unpaid toll charges, often impersonating E-ZPass or state tolling agencies, and directing recipients to click malicious links to steal personal information and money. The FBI received over 2,000 complaints about this scam in April 2024 alone across multiple states. Consumers should verify toll charges directly with legitimate state tolling agencies using recognized phone numbers or websites rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
socialmediatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta released Valentine's Day safety reminders about romance scams, which cost Americans $1.14 billion in 2023. Romance scammers typically pose as attractive, successful individuals (often claiming military or business backgrounds) on dating apps and social media, building trust before requesting money or promoting fraudulent investments. Meta is expanding in-app warnings and partnering with third-party organizations to detect and disrupt romance scam operations, including those impersonating U.S. military members and fake dating agencies.
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
Two individuals were arrested in Texas for check fraud crimes: Stephanie Seabolt was caught attempting to cash a fraudulent $4,250 check at Prosperity Bank using someone else's identification, and Neva Cravens, a nurse's aide, was arrested for exploiting an elderly person by forging checks totaling over $900 and making unauthorized credit card purchases. Bryan Police Department reports handling 10-12 check fraud cases monthly, with criminals increasingly stealing checks from the mail system, and recommend protective measures such as using black gel ink, avoiding mailing checks, and monitoring bank statements for suspicious activity.
mynews4.com
· 2025-12-08
Two suspects, Mohjid Singh and Habri Harmal, were arrested on February 12 in South Reno after defrauding victims of $49,000 through impersonation of Amazon and FTC officials, with the perpetrators continuing to pressure victims for additional payments after the initial theft. The arrests resulted from a joint operation by multiple law enforcement agencies including Washoe County Patrol, Property Detectives, and the Human Exploitation and Recovery Operations Unit, with both suspects charged with felony theft, exploiting an elderly or vulnerable person, and conspiracy. The Sheriff's Office cautions the public that legitimate law enforcement will never demand payment by phone and advises residents to verify claims
seattlemedium.com
· 2025-12-08
Chase and the Seattle Police Department partnered with Kin On Seattle Community Center to hold a senior financial health workshop aimed at protecting seniors from online fraud and scams, with particular attention to romance scams that increase around Valentine's Day. The workshop emphasized that seniors are highly targeted due to their vulnerability and financial resources, and outlined key prevention strategies including being cautious with strangers online, verifying identities, avoiding emotional manipulation, never sending money to people met only online, protecting personal information, and trusting instincts when something feels suspicious.
kjzz.com
· 2025-12-08
Lehi Police Department officers interrupted an active Bitcoin ATM scam targeting senior citizens when they discovered a woman who had already deposited several thousand dollars with $15,000 remaining, and a second senior man preparing to deposit cash while both were on phone calls with fraudsters. Criminals typically convince elderly victims their bank accounts have been hacked or that family members have been arrested, instructing them to transfer funds via Bitcoin ATMs; the officers were able to seize the ATM through a search warrant and attempt recovery of the deposited cash.
lewistownnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Central Montana seniors face increasingly sophisticated scams at a rate of 5-10 reports weekly to the Council on Aging, with Montana experiencing disproportionately high fraud rates due to its elderly population (sixth-highest percentage age 65+ nationally) and rural vulnerabilities. Common scams include healthcare-related fraud, Medicare enrollment threats, grandparent impersonations using AI technology, fake donation solicitations, and mail-based schemes involving insurance lapses and fraudulent medical equipment billing to Medicare. The Council on Aging recommends seniors speak up about suspicious communications, verify caller identity through independent contact, and avoid providing personal information unsolicited.
theweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers operating primarily from overseas (notably Nigeria and Ghana) use fake dating profiles with stolen photos to build false romantic relationships with Americans, then manipulate victims into sending money. The FBI and FTC report that romance scams caused over $1 billion in losses in 2023, with more than 64,000 victims, and scammers employ sophisticated tactics including impersonating celebrities and military members. To protect themselves, people should avoid sending money to online-only contacts, verify profile photos through reverse image searches, and be cautious about sharing personal information on social media and dating platforms.
ncdoj.gov
· 2025-12-08
Sweetheart scammers build fake online relationships on dating and social media platforms to steal money or personal information from victims, often targeting lonely or grieving individuals. In North Carolina during 2024, sweetheart and friend-in-need scams resulted in 25 victims losing $1,833,047 (average $73,322 per victim), while cryptocurrency scams—often an evolution of romance scams—caused 25 victims to lose $3,334,408 (average $133,376 per victim). Attorney General Jeff Jackson advises verifying who you communicate with online and watching for warning signs such as requests to move conversations off dating apps, claims of being a U
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers exploit Valentine's Day by creating false identities on dating apps and social media to establish emotional connections with victims, then manipulate them into sending money or investing in fraudulent schemes. Red flags include rapid declarations of love, excuses to avoid video calls, requests for money due to emergencies, and overly perfect profile photos (often AI-generated or stolen). A 26-year-old Australian woman lost over $46,000 to a romance scammer in 2024 after connecting on Tinder, highlighting how emotional manipulation and "love bombing" can lead to both financial loss and deep psychological trauma.
fox10tv.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's "Operation Level Up" initiative has identified over 4,300 victims of "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scams across all 50 states, with the majority of victims aged 30-60 who were lured through unsolicited messages and online ads with promises of high returns. Victims are shown fake accounts displaying investment growth, but their money is lost immediately upon investment, resulting in an estimated $5 billion in losses in 2024; however, the FBI's intervention efforts have prevented approximately $285 million in additional fraud losses. The FBI advises potential victims to remain skeptical of unsolicited investment pitches, verify communications claiming to be from the FBI, and report
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Dennis Jones, 82, lost his life savings and subsequently took his own life after being victimized by a "financial grooming" scam (also called "pig butchering"), in which a person posing as "Jessie" built an online relationship with him over months before pressuring him to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. Financial grooming scams—where criminals establish trust with victims before luring them into fake investments—caused losses rising from $3.31 billion in 2022 to $4.57 billion in 2023, with individual victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars; the scams originate from criminal operations primarily in Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines, where
enews.wvu.edu
· 2025-12-08
During tax season, identity theft and tax fraud increase when criminals file fraudulent returns using stolen Social Security numbers to claim refunds. To protect against these scams, individuals should file taxes early, obtain an IRS Identity Protection PIN, watch for phishing emails and calls impersonating the IRS or tax preparers, securely exchange tax documents through encrypted services, and maintain encrypted backups of tax records. The IRS never contacts taxpayers by email or phone, and scammers often use threats of arrest or penalties to pressure victims into providing personal information.
nwasianweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial fraud aided by generative AI is rising sharply, with experts projecting losses could reach $40 billion in the U.S. by 2027, and deepfake incidents in the fintech sector increased 700% in 2023. Seniors, non-native English speakers, and Asian immigrants are particularly targeted by scammers who exploit loneliness and build relationships before striking. JP Morgan Chase and Seattle police shared prevention advice including verifying identities, being skeptical of sob stories and urgent payment requests, avoiding sending money to online contacts, and protecting personal information.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old Washington woman was nearly defrauded of $50,000 by a skincare spa operator who lured her in with complimentary eye cream samples and red light treatments, building rapport before pressuring her to withdraw cash for a fake "contestant" program. After the operator drove her to the bank and demanded she withdraw $1 million (later reduced to $50,000), alert bank tellers recognized the scam, refused her request, and alerted authorities, leading to the 27-year-old suspect's arrest. Police reported receiving multiple complaints from vulnerable seniors who had been overcharged at the skincare store, which was later abandoned.
moneywise.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old Vancouver, Washington woman was recruited at a mall kiosk to join a spa program at BH28 Skincare Consultants, where the 27-year-old owner charged her $5,000 and then attempted to manipulate her into withdrawing $1 million (later reduced to $50,000) from her bank for additional treatments. Alert bank tellers recognized the scam and refused the withdrawal, with one teller calling police; the owner was arrested and the business subsequently closed following multiple complaints of overcharges and financial exploitation of vulnerable seniors.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old Washington woman was targeted by a skincare scam operator who initially charged her $5,000 for spa treatments, then manipulated her through flattery and false promises of a spokesperson contest to attempt withdrawing $1 million (later reduced to $50,000) from her bank. Alert bank tellers recognized the scam and refused the withdrawals, leading to the arrest of 27-year-old spa owner Hai Baranetz, who faced investigations into multiple complaints of overcharges and fraud targeting vulnerable seniors.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old Washington woman was targeted by a skincare spa scam in which the business owner, 27-year-old Hai Baranetz, built a relationship with her during treatments and then pressured her to withdraw $1 million (later reduced to $50,000) from her bank for a supposed "body sculpture" contest. Alert bank tellers recognized the manipulation and refused her withdrawal requests, with one calling police, leading to Baranetz's arrest; authorities also received multiple complaints of tens of thousands of dollars in overcharges and fraudulent practices at his BH28 Skincare Consultants business.
wfsb.com
· 2025-12-08
Connecticut State Police recovered $180,000 in cryptocurrency for a Willimantic resident who was defrauded through a "pig butchering" scam in July 2024, where a scammer impersonated an investment advisor and convinced the victim to transfer $225,000 to a fake platform called "XeggeX" before disappearing. The State Police Cryptocurrency Working Group intercepted approximately 1.77 Bitcoin from the fraudulent wallet and returned the funds on February 12, 2025, with the investigation highlighting that such scams are part of a larger transnational operation responsible for over $75 billion in global losses. Warning signs include unsolicited investment advice via text or social
livemint.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers posing as State Bank of India employees targeted Indian customers with a credit card fraud scheme, offering to increase credit limits and remove annual fees while directing victims to a fake e-KYC website built on WIX. A Reddit user prevented his father from falling victim after noticing red flags including the suspicious URL, spelling errors ("Expari date," "Intar OTP"), a fake employee ID with discrepancies, and inconsistent phone numbers used by the scammer. The incident highlights how deliberate spelling mistakes in scam materials may intentionally filter for less educated victims, with the Reserve Bank of India urging customers to remain vigilant against such credit card fraud schemes.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans $1.14 billion in 2023, with a median loss of $2,000 per victim, and $384 million in the first nine months of 2024 alone. Scammers create fake profiles on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, build emotional relationships with victims, and then request money or investment opportunities; one elderly widow lost an estimated $50,000-$60,000 to seven overlapping romance scams over seven years. To protect themselves, users should verify identities through video calls, be skeptical of requests for money or personal information, and report suspicious accounts to platforms.
wgnsradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Rutherford County, Tennessee residents reported scam attempts in which callers impersonated sheriff's deputies and threatened arrest via phone calls, text messages, and fake court documents to coerce victims into sending money via bitcoin or other payments. One senior victim nearly complied with a fake court document ordering bitcoin deposits after being threatened with 30-60 days jail time for missed jury duty, but stopped when she visited the Sheriff's Office in person; another senior recognized a toll road payment demand as fraudulent; and a third victim traced a caller's number to a China-linked company. The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office clarified that it does not call citizens threatening arrest or demanding money, and urged residents
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An 89-year-old Windber, Pennsylvania woman lost $8,400 in a "grandparent scam" after receiving a call from someone posing as her grandson claiming he needed bail money following a car crash. Windber Police Chief Andrew Frear warned that seniors are frequently targeted by sophisticated scammers impersonating relatives and legitimate organizations, and advised victims to hang up on callers using urgency tactics, verify requests with family members, and contact police rather than comply with demands.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals exploit legitimate data breach notices by creating fraudulent scams that impersonate companies and ask victims to download malware, click phishing links, or divulge personal information. Red flags for fake data breach alerts include suspicious sender contact information, spelling errors, odd-looking URLs, and artificial urgency in the message. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links or replying to unsolicited breach notices; instead, contact the company directly, and report suspected scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A French woman lost $850,000 to a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt using AI-generated images and videos in a year-long online romance scheme, with the fraudster claiming to need money for medical treatment. Multiple other women have been similarly victimized by fake celebrity dating scams involving impersonations of Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, and other stars, exploiting victims' vulnerability to flattery, loneliness, and difficulty detecting deepfakes and AI-generated content. Experts note that advances in AI technology, combined with victims' common traits of being trusting and susceptible to persuasion, make these scams increasingly effective and difficult to identify using
sentinelone.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals exploit Valentine's Day by launching romance baiting scams, phishing attacks, and fraudulent gift card promotions to manipulate victims through emotional appeals and false investment opportunities. Romance baiting schemes have caused significant financial damage, with investment fraud losses increasing from $3.31 billion in 2022 to $4.57 billion in 2023, often resulting in severe psychological trauma for victims beyond monetary losses. The article advises individuals to recognize common scams such as fake dating profiles, malicious e-cards, and spoofed promotions, and emphasizes that awareness, education, and timely reporting are essential to prevent victimization and aid law enforcement.
wbay.com
· 2025-12-08
"Snowball" scams are multi-layered fraud schemes that start small and escalate through repeated contacts from scammers posing as legitimate agencies, lottery officials, or government representatives, with the goal of extracting money through fear tactics about stolen identities or unclaimed winnings. Wisconsin consumers have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in these schemes, including one victim who paid $155,000 in fake lottery taxes and another who lost nearly $500,000 after being tricked into converting savings to gold bars. The Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection advises victims to stop contact immediately if transferred between callers, verify legitimacy with trusted contacts, and never pay money or provide personal information, regardless of pressure to
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans lost $10 billion to fraud, with scammers employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to steal money and personal information. The article outlines 10 common banking scams—including check fraud, phishing, fake websites, advance fee schemes, and government imposter scams—and provides protective measures such as verifying bank URLs, never clicking unsolicited links, and avoiding upfront payments for promised services.
cbs6albany.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Medicare officials and calling New York seniors claiming they need to replace their Medicare cards with plastic or chip versions, then requesting personal and medical information. Medicare cards never expire and the agency never initiates calls to beneficiaries; victims who fall for the scam may find Medicare denies legitimate claims if fraudsters have already used their information. Seniors are advised to hang up on unsolicited calls requesting personal information and contact the official Medicare hotline or NYS Senior Action Council for legitimate inquiries.
nbcnewyork.com
· 2025-12-08
New Jersey authorities warned residents about a phishing scam using text messages claiming unpaid E-ZPass tolls of $6-$7, with links that steal personal information like credit cards and dates of birth when clicked. The official E-ZPass and consumer affairs agencies clarified they never contact customers by text or phone about unpaid tolls, and advised consumers to watch for red flags like foreign phone numbers and grammatical errors, and to place fraud alerts on their credit with agencies if targeted.