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cm.asiae.co.kr
· 2025-12-02
Side job scams are targeting financially vulnerable people—particularly those seeking extra income to pay for children's education or medical expenses—by exploiting their guilt and pressuring them to make deposits under the false premise that their teammates will suffer losses if they don't comply. Victims have lost millions of won in these schemes, which are widespread on social media platforms where scammers pose as legitimate side job opportunities and use fake "team missions" to manipulate people into transferring money. To protect yourself, be wary of side job offers on social media that require upfront deposits, demand screenshots or personal information, or create pressure by claiming others depend on your participation—legitimate work opportunities don't operate this way.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-02
# Cyber Monday Fraud Alert
This Cyber Monday is expected to generate over $14.2 billion in online sales, but scammers are actively targeting shoppers with fake websites, phony delivery notifications, and fraudulent job offers to steal personal information and money—Americans have already reported $7 billion in fraud this year. To stay safe, verify website URLs carefully for typos, avoid clicking links in unsolicited text messages about package deliveries, be cautious of too-good-to-be-true job postings, and monitor your credit card statements closely for unauthorized charges. When shopping, trust your instincts if something seems off, shop only on verified retailer websites, and use secure payment methods whenever possible.
wmbfnews.com
· 2025-12-02
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about online Secret Santa schemes that resurface each holiday season, where scammers pose festive gift-exchange posts on social media to trick people into sharing personal information like emails and home addresses for identity theft purposes. These illegal pyramid schemes often encourage users to invite friends and family, expanding the scam's reach across social networks. To protect yourself, avoid participating in these posts, and instead report them directly to the BBB scam tracker and your social media platform.
news.ssbcrack.com
· 2025-12-01
# Bitcoin ATM Scam Summary
An Aransas Pass veteran lost thousands of dollars after scammers convinced him his computer had been hacked and directed him to deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM under false pretenses. The scam typically begins with a fake pop-up warning, followed by a phone call from someone impersonating tech support who creates urgency by threatening the victim's financial accounts. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited pop-ups and phone calls, never wire money or use Bitcoin ATMs based on such warnings, and listen to warnings from store employees—legitimate companies will never ask you to deposit cash into cryptocurrency machines.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-01
An Orange County man successfully prevented an $11,000 scam targeting an elderly victim by working with rideshare drivers who were unknowingly being used to transfer stolen money. The scheme involved fraudsters convincing the elderly victim to withdraw cash and hand it to rideshare drivers, who then passed the funds along without realizing they were participating in a crime. To protect yourself, be wary of requests to withdraw large sums of cash or give money to drivers or strangers, verify unexpected money transfer requests with the company directly, and report suspicious activity to authorities immediately.
bernama.com
· 2025-12-01
International police agencies are warning of a dangerous surge in transnational scam operations across Southeast Asia that are linked to human trafficking, forced labor, and serious crimes including torture and sexual exploitation. Victims are often lured with fake job promises and then forced into compounds where they operate fraud schemes like romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency scams targeting people worldwide. Law enforcement is increasing coordination and information sharing to dismantle these criminal networks, with Myanmar recently destroying hundreds of illegal scam buildings, and regional authorities are emphasizing joint efforts to combat the cross-border crime problem.
investmentnews.com
· 2025-12-01
David Gentile, the former CEO of GPB Capital, had his seven-year prison sentence commuted by President Trump just days after he began serving time for defrauding approximately 1.6 billion dollars from retail investors. Gentile and his firm promised steady investment returns but allegedly used new investor money to pay distributions rather than actual profits, operating as a Ponzi scheme that affected thousands of individual investors who had invested through brokers and financial advisors. Investors should be cautious of investment funds promising consistent high returns and should verify that distributions come from actual operating profits, not recycled investor capital.
nasaa.org
· 2025-12-01
Scammers are using deepfake videos and fake endorsements from celebrities and business leaders to promote fraudulent investment schemes that promise quick riches, with some scams causing losses in the millions. People across North America have fallen victim to these realistic-looking videos that are difficult to spot, losing all their invested money to what are essentially complete fabrications. To protect yourself, be skeptical of any investment promoted by famous people online, research thoroughly through internet searches and registered investment professionals before investing, and avoid putting money into opportunities that seem too good to be true.
mychesco.com
· 2025-11-30
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CBC News
· 2025-10-10
**Scam Type:** Romance/Investment Fraud
**Victim:** Marcel Desan (Ontario, Canada)
**Perpetrator:** Mariam Chan (operating under fake identity "Mary")
**Amount Lost:** $3,500
A scammer using a fake identity and stolen photos defrauded Marcel Desan of $3,500 through an online romance scheme. When Desan discovered the fraud and confronted the perpetrator (identified as Mariam Chan on social media), recorded calls captured the scammer's abusive responses and threats. The investigation traced the stolen funds being used by the fraudster to finance a lavish lifestyle while the
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KOAA 5
· 2025-10-07
A Colorado Springs woman lost her $37,000 inheritance to a fake cryptocurrency investment scam after seeing what appeared to be an investment opportunity posted by a close friend on Facebook. The friend's account had been hacked, and scammers used it to lure Suzanne Pence into the fraudulent scheme, stripping away the funds her father had left behind.
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CTV News
· 2025-10-04
A Winnipeg family lost $200,000 in two consecutive scams: first, a fraudulent investment scheme on social media promising returns on Netflix and Tesla stocks, followed by a second scam involving a fake UK-based lawyer who claimed to recover their losses. The initial scam used pressure tactics and threats of legal action, while funds were converted to cryptocurrency making recovery nearly impossible.
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This Morning
· 2025-10-01
Alex Wood spent nearly two decades committing elaborate fraud schemes, stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds by impersonating judges and conning businesses, until a court appearance exposed the devastating impact of his crimes. After this turning point, Wood abandoned criminal activity and now works with police using his insider knowledge to combat the very fraud schemes he once perpetrated.
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ABC News
· 2025-09-25
**Grandparent Scam - Voice Technology Fraud**
Scammers are using advanced voice technology to impersonate grandchildren in what the FBI identifies as an escalating problem targeting older adults. A 91-year-old victim (Shirley Morrow) was convinced by a call mimicking her grandson's voice that he was in legal trouble and needed $9,000; older adults collectively lost $4.9 billion to these scams, which typically involve fraudsters posing as family members in supposed emergencies to pressure immediate payment.
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Bangkok Post
· 2025-09-08
This episode from the Bangkok Post examines Thailand's growing cyber scam epidemic, which has expanded into a trillion-dollar industry over the past three years as both scammer and victim numbers have surged. The content outlines common scam tactics including advance-fee schemes (fake Nigerian prince emails), phishing attacks impersonating banks and government agencies to steal identity and funds, and tech support scams where fraudsters pose as Microsoft to gain computer access. The episode illustrates how modern cyber scams are adaptations of centuries-old swindle techniques now conducted through digital channels.
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CBS Mornings
· 2025-09-06
This educational piece outlines warning signs and protection strategies against modern scams, particularly AI scams and romance scams. It highlights that scammers stole a record $16.6 billion through internet crimes like identity theft and online impersonation in 2024—a 33% increase from the previous year—by exploiting personal data left behind through online activity. The article recommends protective measures including investigating your digital trail through Google searches, managing social media profiles, and being aware of how data brokers collect and sell personal information to third parties.
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WDEF News 12
· 2025-09-04
Phishing scams have become increasingly sophisticated since the 1990s, with fraudsters now using emails, text messages, phone calls, QR codes, and AI-generated voices to deceive victims into sharing sensitive information like bank accounts, passwords, and social security numbers. Notably, younger adults aged 18-30 are now falling victim to these scams more frequently than older Americans, particularly through online shopping schemes, while businesses and consumers collectively face millions in losses annually from stolen funds, identity theft, and malware infections.
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8 News Now — Las Vegas
· 2025-08-26
In 2024, older Americans ages 60 and up lost $12.5 billion to scams and fraud—a 25% increase from 2023—with impostor scams being the most common type, where criminals impersonate government officials or companies like Amazon and PayPal. Las Vegas seniors including Bernardet Bartal reported falling victim to multiple schemes involving fake checks, fraudulent car repairs, and housing scams, losing thousands of dollars with little recovery. According to AARP, seniors face relentless daily contact from scammers through phone calls, texts, and emails attempting to extract personal information and money.
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KENS 5: Your San Antonio News Source
· 2025-08-21
In the first half of 2025, Texas residents lost approximately $10 million to scams, with three types dominating: debt collection scams ($2 million in losses, a 100-fold increase from $20,000 the previous year), investment scams ($3.7 million, double the prior year's $1.9 million), and employment scams. The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers exploit financial vulnerabilities, particularly through debt collection schemes that now target medical debt included in credit reports.
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CNY Central
· 2025-08-20
Federal authorities arrested 13 people involved in a transnational grandparent scam that defrauded at least 400 elderly victims nationwide of approximately $5 million, with funds funneled to the Dominican Republic. Scammers called victims from call centers in the Dominican Republic, impersonating grandchildren in distress and requesting urgent wire transfers, sometimes using ride-share drivers to collect cash in person. An elderly couple from Cayuga County, New York, was among the victims, losing nearly $25,000 to the scheme.
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The Star
· 2025-08-19
A 55-year-old Malaysian man lost over RM450,000 in consecutive scams: first losing RM390,000 to a fake investment platform offering China-Hong Kong IPO shares, then losing an additional RM60,000+ to a fraudulent lawyer found on social media who claimed to specialize in investment fraud recovery. The fake lawyer, posing as a Chinese national based in Hong Kong, manipulated the victim by claiming his money had been traced to a Macau casino and demanding payment for recovery services.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2025-08-11
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WSYX ABC 6
· 2025-08-09
Investment scams cost Americans over $5 billion last year, with the Ohio Department of Commerce warning of increased fraud targeting vulnerable populations. Scammers exploit emotions like fear of missing out, loneliness, and guilt to manipulate victims—particularly seniors—into wiring money or sending checks for fake investment opportunities, often initiated through unsolicited text messages or social media contact.
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FOX59 News
· 2025-08-04
Phishing scammers are increasingly using recognizable brand names—including EZPass, Microsoft, Steam, Facebook, Coinbase, Netflix, American Express, and others—to trick victims into clicking malicious links or visiting fake websites. Scammers exploit familiarity and artificial urgency to prompt impulsive action, with AI making fraudulent emails and websites look increasingly realistic; fake DMV scams saw a 700% increase in one quarter. The best defense is to never click links in unsolicited messages and instead navigate directly to official websites through your own search to verify any account issues.
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BBC News
· 2025-08-02
This BBC documentary exposes multi-million pound whiskey investment scams targeting investors in Scotland's unregulated whiskey trade. Criminals deceive investors into purchasing worthless assets (such as picture frames instead of actual whiskey), with victims losing between £47,000 and over £300,000 each. The investigation tracks perpetrators exploiting the industry's lack of regulation while investors are left financially devastated with no recourse.
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CBS 8 San Diego
· 2025-08-01
In the first half of 2025, over 700 senior citizens in San Diego County lost nearly $70 million to financial scams, with losses on track to exceed last year's total of $98 million, though actual figures are likely higher due to underreporting. The FBI reported that seniors accounted for more than one-third of the $16 billion in nationwide fraud losses last year, with scammers targeting vulnerable elderly people who are often deceived by professional-sounding perpetrators. Local law enforcement and prosecutors are working to combat these crimes and bring scam artists to justice.
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KOAA 5
· 2025-07-25
A Colorado author lost over $100,000 in a combined romance and cryptocurrency investment scam after meeting someone on a dating app who convinced him to invest in what appeared to be a legitimate cryptocurrency opportunity. The incident is part of a larger trend in Colorado, where residents lost more than $240 million to scams in the previous year according to FBI data. The scammer used video calls and seemingly normal conversation tactics to build trust before pivoting to the fraudulent investment scheme.
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CTV News
· 2025-07-22
Fraudsters increasingly use AI to create convincing scams by generating personalized texts and emails mimicking real people's language, cloning voices, and creating deepfake videos and images. Common AI-enabled scams include impersonating familiar companies, promoting fake products and services through fraudulent videos and images, and building duplicate websites designed to deceive victims. To avoid being scammed, individuals should be aware of these sophisticated AI techniques and verify communications directly with known contacts and official company channels.
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Newsmax
· 2025-06-30
Scam artists, including foreign nationals living in the country illegally, are impersonating federal agents to defraud senior citizens by threatening them with false fraud investigations. In Spanish Fort, Alabama, a Chinese national posing as a federal agent swindled a retired educator out of over $400,000 through weeks of coercion involving cash withdrawals, gold purchases, and psychological intimidation about wire fraud cases. Law enforcement reports this is an organized, deliberate scheme targeting retirees' life savings and extends beyond Alabama.
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CTV News
· 2025-06-26
A Manitoba senior lost $2 million in a Fargo Investor cryptocurrency scam, prompting a warning from the Manitoba Securities Commission. The fraudulent scheme operated by showing the victim fake returns on his investments over time, creating the illusion of legitimate gains before the scammers converted his money to cryptocurrency and moved it overseas.
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CTV News
· 2025-06-26
A Manitoba senior lost his entire life savings of $2 million in a cryptocurrency investment scam involving a fake website called "Fargo Investor" created using artificial intelligence. Scammers, reportedly operating from outside Canada, used social media ads featuring celebrity endorsements to promote the unregistered investment opportunity, which the Manitoba Securities Commission warns is part of a rising trend of fraud targeting seniors.
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WPLG Local 10
· 2025-06-13
Federal authorities warned of a 43% increase in elder fraud victim losses nationwide, with Florida ranking third in both losses and victims. FBI Miami highlighted rising impersonation fraud schemes—including immigration-related scams—that target seniors through phone calls and text messages, exploiting their politeness, desire for companionship, and lower technological literacy.
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CBS Evening News
· 2025-06-01
A 26-year-old U.S. Navy electrician named Thomas Xiao admitted to passing sensitive military documents to a Chinese intelligence officer who posed as an investor and researcher on the Chinese social media app WeChat between 2021 and 2023. Chinese intelligence operatives are increasingly using social media and virtual contact to recruit U.S. military personnel and extract classified information, as traditional in-person espionage has become more difficult.
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News Channel 3-12
· 2025-05-10
Craig Case, owner of a Santa Barbara security company, was sentenced to 26 years and 8 months in prison after being convicted of 63 of 64 felony counts for embezzling $690,000 from 94-year-old Montecito resident Constance McCormack Fearing. Case fraudulently obtained checks from the elderly woman's estate through Nancy Coglazer, who held power of attorney and testified against him; the victim was unaware of the fraudulent transactions due to declining health and mental capacity. Coglazer received 10 years probation and 364 days in jail for her role in the scheme.
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CTV News
· 2025-05-06
A Montreal senior lost $25,000 after falling victim to a phone scam impersonating her bank, RBC. The fraudster convinced her that her card was compromised, obtained her security information, instructed her to cut up her cards, and arranged for an accomplice posing as an Uber driver to collect them. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Center reports that fake bank investigator scams cost Canadians over $16 million in 2024, with authorities receiving over 108,000 fraud reports annually.
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CBS4 Indy
· 2025-05-05
A Full Stack Academy survey ranks Indiana second nationally for phishing scam victims, with 40% of Hoosiers reporting they've been targeted and 69% lacking confidence in spotting phishing attempts. The most common scam tactic in the state involves impersonating major delivery services (Amazon, USPS, UPS) and payment platforms (PayPal, FedEx) to lure victims into clicking malicious links through fake delivery delay notifications, with email remaining the primary attack vector. Experts recommend independently verifying suspicious messages by navigating directly to company websites or looking up official phone numbers rather than clicking links in unsolicited communications.
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KSHB 41
· 2025-05-02
Kansas City seniors are participating in the "Show Me Seniors Digital Literacy Cohort," a new educational program designed to teach them computer skills and how to recognize digital scams. According to the FTC, the number of older adults losing $100,000 or more to fraud has tripled since 2020, with investment scams being the most common type targeting seniors. The program aims to protect seniors' financial security while improving their overall digital literacy and quality of life.
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ABC 6 News - KAAL TV
· 2025-04-27
Online scams surged in 2024, with over 859,000 complaints to the FBI resulting in $16.6 billion in losses—a 33% increase from 2023. People over age 60 were disproportionately affected, losing $2.5 billion, with investment scams, business email compromise scams ($2.7 billion), and tech support scams ($1.4 billion) among the leading fraud types. Tech support scams remain particularly prevalent, using fake virus warnings to trick victims into providing computer access and sensitive financial information.
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CBS 13 News
· 2025-04-27
Maine residents lost $31 million to cybercrime and scams in 2024, a 65% increase from $19 million in 2023, according to FBI data. Adults aged 60 and older accounted for $13 million (40%) of these losses, with tech support scams, government impersonation, and investment fraud being the primary threats to this age group. The FBI recommends reporting wire transfer fraud within 72 hours through IC3.gov to trigger a financial fraud response.
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Al Jazeera English
· 2025-04-18
Romance scams are rising significantly, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting that approximately 70,000 people across the US fell victim to fake virtual romances in 2022 alone, resulting in $1.3 billion in losses. Scammers use fake profiles with AI-generated images to pose as attractive individuals on social media platforms like Facebook, targeting victims emotionally before requesting money. Gen Z is among the biggest targets of these scams, yet victims are often blamed and reluctant to speak openly about their experiences.
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Graham Cluley
· 2025-04-16
This is a transcript excerpt from the Smashing Security podcast (Episode 413) featuring hosts Graeme Cluey and Carol Tero discussing cybersecurity topics, including a mention of a Swiss cybersecurity company launching a "CIS initiative" and references to Nigerian fraud schemes (419 scams). The transcript appears to be a partial, auto-generated recording with significant repetition and unclear audio quality, making it unsuitable for detailed summarization of specific fraud cases or elder abuse incidents.
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KETV NewsWatch 7
· 2025-04-04
Two brothers in their 70s in Lancaster County lost $1.3 million in a cryptocurrency online trading scam, while another victim lost nearly $50,000 over six months in a similar scheme. Law enforcement reports multiple cryptocurrency scams in the area this year resulting in substantial losses, with funds often transferred overseas, making recovery unlikely. Officials recommend exercising caution when investing online, particularly with unfamiliar people or platforms, and suggest consulting the FBI's website for more information.
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WIRED
· 2025-03-28
A WIRED article examines romance scams through the story of a victim who lost $300,000 after meeting someone on the dating app Hinge who posed as a cryptocurrency entrepreneur and convinced her to invest her savings and IRA funds. The piece explores how scammers use dating platforms to build trust over weeks or months before exploiting victims financially, and notes that romance scams are among the most personally and financially damaging online fraud schemes, with perpetrators constantly evolving their tactics.
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60 Minutes
· 2025-03-23
This 60 Minutes segment examines why investment fraud and Ponzi schemes continue to thrive despite public awareness of high-profile cases like Bernie Madoff's multi-billion dollar fraud. The piece features expert Ricky Jay discussing how con artists exploit human psychology—including greed and excessive trust—and identifies key warning signs such as dealings with well-established figures who rely on exclusive affiliations to build credibility. The segment highlights that despite financial disasters and skepticism, investors remain vulnerable to sophisticated scams, a phenomenon regulators refer to as "ponzi-monium."
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19 News
· 2025-03-13
According to a 2024 Better Business Bureau report, cryptocurrency and investment scams ranked as the leading consumer fraud scheme, with victims losing anywhere from $5,000 to over $1.3 million in individual cases. Scammers exploit people's desire for easy money by posing as investment advisors and falsely promising tenfold returns on deposited funds. The BBB advises consumers to be cautious of anyone offering seemingly easy investment processes and recommends reporting suspected scams.
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WBNS 10TV
· 2025-03-09
A Central Ohio man lost over $42,000 in a romance scam involving cryptocurrency investments after meeting a woman on Facebook who convinced him to invest in her crypto business. The scammer used fake investment screenshots showing growth to encourage continued payments before disappearing with his money, personal information, and Social Security number. The Better Business Bureau reports that crypto investment scams facilitated through online relationships are increasingly common in the Central Ohio area.
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CBS TEXAS
· 2025-03-05
A North Texas man fell victim to a combined romance and cryptocurrency scam after meeting a woman named "Giana" on a dating site for seniors. The scammer built trust through daily communication, then persuaded him to invest in cryptocurrency, ultimately causing him to lose nearly everything. The scam exemplifies how romance fraud is often layered with investment schemes to exploit victims' emotional vulnerability and financial resources.
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CBS4 Indy
· 2025-03-04
A cybersecurity survey reveals that many Americans are overconfident in their ability to avoid online scams, with over a third believing victimization only occurs from oversharing and nearly half thinking misspellings easily identify scams—misconceptions that no longer hold true as scammers increasingly sophisticate their tactics. Despite 75% of respondents agreeing scams should be reported, actual reporting rates are significantly lower, dropping to 14% for romance scams, while seniors remain the most targeted demographic though younger age groups are experiencing the fastest growth in scam victimization.
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National Geographic
· 2025-03-02
Investigative journalist Mariana Van Zeller explores cryptocurrency "rug pull" scams, where fraudsters create fake crypto tokens to steal investor money—a scheme that victimized people of nearly $3 billion in 2021 alone. The episode follows Van Zeller's investigation into young, wealthy scammers who exploit cryptocurrency's unregulated decentralized finance space, and features interviews with victims like Xavier, who lost money across multiple rug pull schemes with no recourse in the largely lawless crypto market.
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CTV News
· 2025-03-01
March marks Fraud Prevention Month across Canada, during which law enforcement and community groups collaborate to educate the public about fraud prevention. According to Edmonton police and the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association, current fraud trends include investment fraud, online employment scams, and romance fraud, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated in targeting both money and personal identity. Key prevention advice includes being skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true and verifying whether you initiated contact with the person or organization reaching out.