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ktnv.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are exploiting post-Real ID deadline confusion by using fake websites, AI-generated phone calls, and phishing messages to impersonate government agencies like the DMV and TSA, attempting to steal personal information including Social Security numbers and payment details. Red flags include unsolicited urgent messages with suspicious links, requests for sensitive data via text or email, and offers to expedite Real ID online—a process that requires mandatory in-person DMV interviews. Authorities emphasize that the DMV will never initiate contact about Real ID applications, and there are no legitimate online shortcuts to obtain the credential.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent emails impersonating Geek Squad, claiming victims owe $300-$500 for fake subscription renewals to pressure them into calling the provided number or clicking links. Once victims engage, scammers use social engineering tactics to steal personal information like credit card or Social Security numbers, or trick them into installing remote access software. To protect yourself, ignore these emails entirely and contact Geek Squad directly through Best Buy's official website if you need legitimate support.
gulfcoastnewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cape Coral Police Department is warning residents about courier scams in which imposters pose as police officers, federal agents, IRS officials, or bank employees via phone, email, or text to pressure victims into withdrawing large sums of money by creating false urgency and threats of arrest. Police emphasize that legitimate institutions never contact people this way and advise residents to never open suspicious links or withdraw money based on unsolicited contact, and to report such attempts to the non-emergency line at 239-574-3223.
gator995.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam targeting Texas Gmail users involves fraudulent emails that impersonate Google or banking institutions, directing victims to fake login pages to steal credentials. Developer Nick Johnson fell victim after clicking a link in an email claiming he had been served a subpoena and needed to upload documents. Google advises users to enable account recovery options (backup email and phone number) and ignore any emails requesting passwords or verification codes, as legitimate Google communications never request this information via email.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not about elder fraud. It covers cybersecurity and immigration policy issues, including CBP's face recognition expansion, data breaches affecting a messaging app used by government agencies, and a hack of a deportation airline that revealed flight manifests. These topics fall outside the scope of elder fraud research and do not involve scams targeting older adults or elder abuse.
consumerfinance.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five federal financial regulatory agencies and FinCEN issued guidance to help banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions combat elder financial exploitation, which affected approximately $27 billion in reported suspicious activity over a one-year period ending in June 2023. The statement recommends risk management practices including employee training on recognizing exploitation, establishing trusted contact processes, implementing transaction holds when appropriate, and timely reporting to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services. These measures aim to help supervised institutions identify, prevent, and respond to elder financial exploitation that can cause older adults to lose their life savings and financial security.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
CNET advises fraud victims to report scams to the Federal Trade Commission and FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, even if no money was lost, as these reports help authorities identify trends, educate the public, and build cases against criminals. The FTC received over 3.4 million complaints last year with only 38% involving monetary losses, and victims can also take steps like freezing credit, contacting their bank, or using identity theft protection services to mitigate damage.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, fraud cost Americans $12.5 billion with a median loss of $1,500 per victim, with many incidents involving imposters posing as banks, retailers, or government agencies. Common scams include fraudulent bank charge texts, arrest threat calls demanding payment to avoid police action, fake USPS or Amazon messages requesting payment details, and official-looking property tax bills targeting recent homebuyers. Consumers should verify suspicious communications by contacting official numbers or agencies directly rather than using contact information from the suspicious message itself.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pittsburgh-area law enforcement leaders warned the public about increasingly sophisticated scams facilitated by technology, including common schemes like "grandparent" scams, fake tech support, and gift card fraud. The officials advised people to pause before acting on suspicious communications, verify information with trusted sources, avoid clicking links, and report all scams regardless of amount, noting that most stolen money is quickly moved out of the country and difficult to recover.
abc15.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece warns parents that scammers target children both for their personal data and their parents' information, potentially using stolen social security numbers to commit identity theft and credit fraud years later. The article emphasizes that children lack online security skills and may fall victim to gaming scams, fake social media accounts, phishing links, and fraudulent online stores. Parents are advised to have regular conversations with children about online safety, set clear boundaries on internet usage, use parental controls, and teach kids to recognize suspicious websites, unusual payment requests, and suspicious links.
safetydetectives.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Google is deploying AI-powered defenses in Chrome to protect users from online scams, including a version of its Gemini Nano model that runs on-device to identify suspicious websites and scams on desktop, and new warnings for suspicious notifications on Android. The Enhanced Protection mode in Safe Browsing now offers an additional layer of protection against both known and emerging scams, while Google's AI efforts across Search have reportedly caught 20 times more scam pages compared to previous methods.
bristolpost.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Nationwide warned that romance scams affected 29% of people seeking partners online, with 51% of those targeted agreeing to send money to someone they hadn't met in person. These scams stole £31.3 million from British victims in 2022, with fraudsters using emotional manipulation to build trust before requesting funds, after which money is rarely recovered. The bank advised protective measures including staying on legitimate dating platforms, avoiding money discussions before meeting in person, researching potential partners' authenticity, and consulting trusted contacts before sending funds.
devonlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers defraud victims by building trust-based online relationships and requesting money with emotional manipulation tactics; in 2022, romance scams stole £31.3 million from British victims, with 51% of those asked for money by online contacts agreeing to send it. Once money is sent to scammers, recovery is typically impossible as the fraudster disappears. Nationwide recommends staying on legitimate dating platforms, avoiding financial discussions before meeting in person, researching potential partners' backgrounds, consulting trusted loved ones, and being alert to scripted messaging and investment schemes.
bristolpost.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeted 29% of people seeking relationships online in the UK, with 51% of those asked actually sending money to fraudsters they had not met in person. According to UK Finance, these scams stole £31.3 million in 2022, with victims unlikely to recover their funds once transferred. Nationwide advises staying on trustworthy dating platforms, avoiding money discussions with unmet contacts, researching potential partners through reverse image searches, and consulting trusted loved ones to identify scammers who use emotional manipulation and generic scripts to exploit victims.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Nationwide Building Society warns that romance scams result in victims rarely recovering their money, with scammers typically disappearing after funds are sent. In 2022, romance fraud cost UK victims £31.3 million, with 29% of online daters reporting being asked for money by someone they haven't met in person, and over half complying with these requests. The institution advises victims to immediately contact their bank with evidence and outlines seven prevention steps, including staying on reputable platforms, avoiding money discussions before meeting in person, conducting background research on potential matches, and consulting trusted friends or family about new relationships.
bristolpost.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeted 29% of people seeking relationships online in the UK, with 51% of those targeted agreeing to send money to someone they hadn't met in person; these scams stolen £31.3 million from victims in 2022, with fraudsters using emotional manipulation and false pretenses (medical emergencies, travel costs) to build trust before disappearing with the money. Nationwide warns that recovered funds are unlikely and advises victims to contact their bank immediately with evidence, while recommending potential dating app users stay on legitimate platforms, avoid pre-meeting money discussions, verify profiles through reverse image searches, consult trusted friends, and watch for generic script language and investment solicitation tactics.
mix106radio.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated phishing scam targeting Idaho residents has been exploiting vulnerabilities in Google's infrastructure to bypass security systems and appear as legitimate Google emails. The attack, discovered by developer Nick Johnson, uses fraudulent emails designed to trick recipients into sharing sensitive data or downloading malware. Experts recommend using authenticator apps, regularly updating passwords, and forwarding suspicious emails to legitimate support sources like Google Support for verification.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta warned users about rising scam tactics including fake coupons, gift cards, and counterfeit products sold at artificially low prices designed to steal personal information. Research shows scam-related fraud increased 56% in share and financial losses jumped 121% this year, with scams now accounting for 23% of all fraudulent transactions, as fraudsters shift from targeting technical payment vulnerabilities to exploiting human behavior through phishing, impersonation, and social engineering tactics.
cantonrep.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns new college graduates to be cautious of four main scam types during their transition to post-college life: fake student loan forgiveness programs that charge fees for services, fraudulent tuition collection schemes demanding immediate payment via wire transfer, deceptive job offers promising high pay for remote entry-level positions while requesting personal/banking information or training fees, and fake graduation gifts or scholarships requesting personal information or processing fees. Graduates are advised to understand their actual loan terms, verify communications directly with institutions, research companies before applying for jobs, and be skeptical of unsolicited offers.
fingerlakes1.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS warns that tax scams and identity theft threats persist year-round, not just during tax season, highlighting top schemes including phishing attacks, W-2 fraud, fake charities, and new client scams targeting both individuals and businesses. The agency recommends protective measures such as using multi-factor authentication, strong passwords, anti-malware software, and reporting suspicious activity to [email protected], while maintaining secure business information like EINs and remaining cautious of disaster-related fraud schemes.
nkytribune.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from the prior year, with investment scams accounting for $5.7 billion in losses. Adults aged 60+ are particularly vulnerable, having lost $3.4 billion in 2023 alone to scams including tech support, grandparent, and government impersonation schemes. The article recommends consumers verify caller identity by hanging up and calling their bank directly, never share account credentials or one-time access codes, and ignore unsolicited payment requests, as legitimate banks will never ask for such information.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
neworleanscitybusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old Philadelphia woman nearly fell victim to a sophisticated tech support scam in which fraudsters posed as Norton antivirus, Microsoft, and her bank, threatening her with arrest and claiming hackers had transferred $18,000 to Russian accounts unless she purchased cryptocurrency. She avoided losing money after recalling that a friend had lost $800,000 to a similar scam and hung up the phone. Experts note that artificial intelligence, dark web data access, and lack of federal oversight have made financial scams increasingly believable and effective, with Americans losing between $23.7 billion and $158.3 billion to such schemes in 2023-2024.
lifehacker.com
· 2025-12-08
**REAL ID Scams and Prevention**
Scammers are exploiting the REAL ID deadline urgency through phishing emails, texts, and calls impersonating the DMV or DHS, directing victims to fake websites that steal personal information or deploy malware. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact from unknown sources, non-.gov email addresses, mismatched area codes, and fraudulent claims that REAL IDs can be obtained online or that services like "driver's license waivers" exist. To protect yourself, verify your current license already has a gold or black star (indicating compliance), ignore unrequested messages from government agencies, never click unknown links, and remember
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Nicole Yelland fell victim to an elaborate job scam in January involving scammers impersonating a real company's hiring manager, who refused to turn on their camera during a video interview and requested sensitive personal information like her driver's license number. According to the FTC, job and employment-related scams have nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024, with losses increasing from $90 million to $500 million, fueled by AI tools that make it easier for fraudsters to create convincing fake personas and deepfakes. To combat these digital imposter scams, professionals are employing both high-tech solutions (AI detection startups, biometric verification) and low-tech
valpo.life
· 2025-12-08
Americans lose $10 billion annually to scams, with older adults being particularly vulnerable due to lower confidence in recognizing fraudulent schemes and varying levels of tech-savviness. Common scams targeting seniors include tech support fraud, sweetheart scams (which cost people over 60 nearly $367 million in 2023), imposter scams, advance fee scams, investment scams, gift card scams, emergency wire transfers, and phishing attempts. To protect yourself, understand how scams operate—scammers pose as trusted entities and create urgent situations to pressure you into sharing money or personal information—and avoid clicking unknown links, verify requests by calling institutions directly, and be skeptical of
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
A PYMNTS Intelligence and Featurespace report examining over 10,000 U.S. consumers reveals that scammers increasingly use personalized, sophisticated tactics targeting specific vulnerabilities across generations rather than employing generic approaches. Generation Z faces higher risks from employment and social media fraud, while older generations are disproportionately targeted by fake eCommerce and sweepstakes scams—with baby boomers and seniors experiencing eCommerce fraud at three times the rate of Gen Z. The report emphasizes that financial institutions must implement dynamic defenses, advanced analytics, and consumer training to combat these evolving threats that exploit psychological manipulation and consumer trust.
crosstimbersgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud—a 25% increase from 2023—with text message scams accounting for $470 million in losses alone. The article provides protective measures against common scams including text/email fraud, Medicare enrollment scams, and impersonation calls, advising consumers to verify requests through official channels, scrutinize sender information, and never provide Social Security numbers to unsolicited callers. Victims should report suspected scams to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov or 1-877-438-4338.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Crime Stoppers Lieutenant Mike Johnson conducted a scam awareness presentation at Brookdale Senior Living in Jackson, Tennessee, highlighting that billions of dollars are lost annually to people over 60 through various scams including romantic schemes and fake court warrant threats. Johnson emphasized the importance of in-person education because seniors may not read all digital communications, and noted that many scams go unreported due to victims' reluctance to inform family members, with recent cases in the Jackson-Madison County area involving losses exceeding $50,000.
hometownstations.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first four months of 2024, elder fraud resulted in an estimated $1.6 billion in losses nationwide, with Ohio reporting a 22% increase in scam complaints year-over-year. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated methods including deepfakes, voice cloning, and cryptocurrency to target older adults, who are exploited due to perceived vulnerability and are often reluctant to report crimes due to shame or fear. Authorities recommend verifying unfamiliar contacts, establishing family code words, monitoring financial accounts regularly, and resisting high-pressure tactics to prevent fraud.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a public advisory warning residents about increasingly common celebrity impersonation scams, in which fraudsters pose as famous figures like Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, and Kid Rock to deceive victims into sending money. Common schemes include romance scams (where victims believe they're in relationships with celebrities and send substantial sums), cryptocurrency/investment scams, and merchandise fraud; one notable case involved a French woman who sent over $800,000 to someone impersonating Brad Pitt. Nessel advises never sending money to online contacts, avoiding pressure to rush into relationships, and consulting trusted contacts before engaging with strangers on social media.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned consumers about a rising trend of scams impersonating celebrities (including Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, and Kid Rock) and military leaders to defraud victims. The scams include romance schemes, cryptocurrency/pig butchering investment frauds, and merchandise scams, often using AI-generated deepfakes to appear authentic. Nessel advised consumers never to send money to online contacts claiming to be celebrities, to verify requests through trusted contacts, and to avoid sharing personal or financial information with unverified online sources.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Australians over $23 million last year, with fraudsters creating fake online identities to build emotional connections and exploit victims for money or personal information. While older adults, widowers, divorcees, migrants, and Indigenous people are frequently targeted, anyone seeking love online can fall victim to increasingly sophisticated scammers. Key warning signs include love bombing, pressure to move off dating platforms, secrecy, avoiding in-person meetings, and requests for money—and protection requires never sharing personal/financial details, avoiding intimate photos, refusing to send money, and recognizing that AI-generated images can fake video verification.
koaa.com
· 2025-12-08
A Colorado couple nearly lost $75,000 in a real estate scam when they attempted to purchase a five-acre property in Park County through what appeared to be a legitimate real estate transaction. The scammer had impersonated the actual property owner and worked through a deceived real estate agent via email and phone, but was caught when a title company closer noticed red flags including the seller's unavailability by phone and insistence on using an out-of-state notary. The fraud was prevented before any money changed hands, and the couple is now warning others about seller identity fraud in real estate transactions.
dailygazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Lance Norman, a 36-year-old from Queens, was arrested for his role in a sweepstakes scam targeting an 80-year-old Chatham man who was tricked into believing he had won $10 million and a Mercedes-Benz from Publishers Clearing House. Norman served as the courier in the scheme, collecting approximately $62,000 in cash from the victim during two separate meetings in Hudson; he was apprehended on the Sprain Brook Parkway with a large amount of cash in his vehicle and charged with second-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree conspiracy.
dailygazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A 36-year-old Queens man, Lance Norman, was arrested for his role in a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes scam targeting an 80-year-old Columbia County resident. The victim was deceived into believing he had won $10 million and a Mercedes-Benz, then instructed to pay taxes upfront; Norman served as the courier who collected approximately $62,000 in cash from the victim during two separate meetings in Hudson. Norman was charged with second-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree conspiracy after state police discovered a large amount of cash in his vehicle during a traffic stop.
winknews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, elder fraud losses in the United States reached $3.4 billion, with Florida accounting for nearly $300 million and ranking second nationally. Scammers target seniors over 60 through various methods including phishing, tech support, and romance scams, employing sophisticated, professional tactics. The FBI launched an awareness campaign called "Take a Beat" encouraging victims to pause and consult trusted contacts, while emphasizing the importance of reporting all fraud attempts, including unsuccessful ones, to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
dailypress.net
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued consumer alerts about a rising trend of scams impersonating celebrities (Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, Kid Rock) and military leaders. The scams include romance fraud, cryptocurrency/pig butchering schemes, merchandise fraud, and AI-generated deepfake audio and video impersonations designed to extract money from victims. The alert advises consumers never to send money or personal information to online contacts claiming to be celebrities or officials, to verify requests through trusted contacts, and to be wary of urgent investment opportunities or requests for banking details.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
A Wisconsin woman lost over $500,000 to a romance scam, the fourth-largest amount lost to such fraud in the U.S., after meeting a man on a dating app who posed as an international oil rig worker and repeatedly requested money for emergencies. According to Nasdaq Verafrin, romance scams cost $3.8 billion globally in 2023, making them among the world's fastest-growing frauds. The victim, who had mortgaged her home and taken loans against her vehicles to send the money over seven months, eventually reported the scam to law enforcement with assistance from the Dane County Sheriff, FBI, and Internet Crime Complaint Center.
techcrunch.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers exploited compromised contractor accounts within Granicus's GovDelivery email system—used by U.S. federal and state governments to send official notifications—to send fraudulent emails impersonating government agencies in Indiana and New Mexico. The fake toll and payment scam emails, sent from official government addresses, contained malicious links directing recipients to phishing websites designed to steal personal and financial information. Granicus confirmed the breaches resulted from compromised user accounts rather than system vulnerabilities, but did not disclose the number of affected recipients.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** LexisNexis Risk Solutions 2024 Cybercrime Report
**Summary:**
First-party fraud—including false loan applications, friendly fraud refund claims, and misrepresentation of personal information—became the leading fraud type globally in 2024, rising to 36% of all fraud (up from 15% in 2023), with inflation and rising living costs driving opportunistic attacks against financial institutions and ecommerce providers. Account takeover fraud remained significant at 27% of cases, while scams and authorized push payment fraud declined to 11%, though over three billion bot-driven account takeover attacks were still detected and AI-
deseret.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics—including spoofed caller IDs, voice cloning, and impersonation of government agencies and loved ones—to defraud people through unsolicited calls, texts, and emails requesting money or personal information. Older adults are particularly targeted because they tend to be more trusting and willing to "make things right," and fraudsters deliberately create urgency to pressure quick decisions without verification. The FBI reports billions of dollars are stolen annually through fraud, and experts recommend resisting immediate action, consulting trusted contacts, and avoiding clicks on suspicious links rather than falling prey to these schemes.
arstechnica.com
· 2025-12-08
Nicole Yelland fell victim to an elaborate job scam in January and now implements strict verification protocols before meeting unknown contacts, including background checks and video calls with cameras on. Digital imposter scams targeting job seekers have surged significantly, with AI-generated fake personas and deepfake videos making fraudulent impersonation easier; FTC data shows job-related scam reports nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024, with losses increasing from $90 million to $500 million. Criminals are exploiting remote work trends and AI tools to construct convincing fake professional identities on platforms like LinkedIn and video conferencing services.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Google is rolling out enhanced scam detection technology in Google Messages to identify fraudulent text messages about unpaid tolls, which have become increasingly prevalent scams affecting Android users. The FBI received approximately 60,000 toll scam complaints last year, and consumers lost $470 million to text scams in 2024, with fake unpaid toll texts nearly quadrupling in early 2024 according to McAfee. The on-device detection system will flag suspicious messages as "likely scams" while also identifying fraud related to cryptocurrency, technical support, and gift cards, helping users avoid sophisticated phishing attempts that use poor grammar, urgent language, suspicious links, and imitated official logos.
turnto10.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams cost Americans $470 million in reported losses during 2024, with cybersecurity experts noting that scammers use sophisticated tactics like spoofed numbers and personalized details to deceive even tech-savvy users. Red flags include unsolicited messages with shortened links and artificial urgency, with older adults being particularly vulnerable due to their tendency to respond promptly to communications. Experts recommend warning family members about these evolving scams and avoiding clicking suspicious links in unexpected messages.
cherokeescout.com
· 2025-12-08
A Scam Jam educational event held on April 29 at Murphy First Baptist Church brought together 33 attendees and seven speakers, including representatives from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, the N.C. Department of Justice, and a cybersecurity expert, to educate the community about identity theft, email scams, and fraud prevention strategies. The speakers emphasized that seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams due to unfamiliarity with technology and lack of skepticism, and recommended protective measures such as using strong passwords, verifying email sources, avoiding sharing sensitive information electronically, and utilizing credit monitoring services. The event highlighted common warning signs of scams—including urgent requests, unsolicited messages, an
youralaskalink.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report documented 6,770 online fraud complaints in Alaska totaling over $26 million in losses, with residents over 60 experiencing the highest financial impact, particularly from cryptocurrency scams comprising 45% of losses. Investment fraud, business email compromise, and tech support fraud were the top scam types in the state, with the FBI urging residents to report incidents to their financial institutions and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old retired Maharashtra government official lost Rs 4.2 crore in a sophisticated digital arrest scam that began in April when fraudsters impersonated telecom and law enforcement officials, falsely claiming money laundering charges and an arrest warrant against him. The scammers used fake video calls simulating a Supreme Court hearing, the fabricated concept of "digital arrest" with threats of surveillance, and psychological pressure to coerce the victim into transferring his life savings to accounts they claimed were government-monitored. The fraud was only discovered when the victim's son investigated the transactions and confirmed the scam.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides guidance on reporting fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), emphasizing that victims should report scams even without monetary loss, as only 38% of 2024 fraud reports involved actual financial damage. Reporting helps law enforcement identify trends, catch criminals, and educate the public about popular scams through data analysis and alerts. Victims can file complaints at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov, which feed into law enforcement databases used by thousands of agencies nationwide to build cases against fraudsters.
iheart.com
· 2025-12-08
Rising isolation in society—28% of the population now lives alone compared to 9% in the 1950s—has made older adults vulnerable to romance scams. Dr. Phil and Chris Harrison discuss a scammer manual containing 100 manipulative pick-up lines and feature victims including a 67-year-old widow and an 81-year-old woman who was scammed twice within three months. Social Catfish provides identity verification tools to help combat these frauds that cost victims millions of dollars.