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in Robocall / Phone Scam
evertiq.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Swedish high school students, Henning Lindeberg and Erik Apelqvist, are developing a mini-computer device designed to detect phone scams by identifying words commonly associated with fraud and alerting users in real-time. The invention was motivated by personal experience—both students' grandparents were targeted by scammers—and addresses a significant problem in Sweden where nearly 30,000 phone scams were reported in 2023, resulting in approximately 66 million dollars in losses primarily targeting elderly individuals. The students aim to complete a fully functional prototype by their summer graduation.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A Bankrate Financial Fraud Survey found that 34% of U.S. adults experienced financial fraud or scams in the past 12 months, with 37% of victims losing money to schemes ranging from fake prize claims to job recruitment and investment scams. Of Americans scammed in the past year, 90% had their personal financial information accessed or targeted, though 57% of those attempts were unsuccessful; baby boomers and Generation X experienced the highest lifetime fraud rates at 73% and 71% respectively, and experts warn that economic stress and the pending wealth transfer of baby boomers may embolden scammers.
wilx.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Michigan Bankers Association launched the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign during National Consumer Protection Week to educate consumers about phishing scams, which are on the rise. The campaign advises that legitimate banks never request confidential information via unsolicited calls, emails, or texts, and provides guidance on how to identify suspicious communications and report them to the FTC, Anti-Phishing Working Group, and state authorities. Resources include an interactive website at BanksNeverAskThat.com with videos, quizzes, and a video game, plus Spanish-language materials.
murrayledger.com
· 2025-12-08
A resurgence of toll-charge texting scams is circulating, where recipients receive messages claiming unpaid tolls in states they may or may not have visited, with links directing them to fake websites requesting payment. Law enforcement officials note that scammers increasingly replicate legitimate toll company messaging (like FastTrak or EZ Pass) and create sophisticated fake websites, making scams harder to identify, though legitimate toll agencies never request payment via text and instead send physical mail with license plate photos. Police advise recipients to verify they actually visited the state in question and to research any suspicious requests before responding, as scammers are becoming increasingly skilled at mimicking legitimate communications across multiple platforms including email and phone calls.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service issued a warning during National Consumer Protection Week (March 2-8, 2025) about imposter scams, where fraudsters pose as trusted contacts or legitimate organizations to steal personally identifiable information and drain financial accounts. The agency provided protective measures including: avoiding rushed financial decisions, verifying bank communications directly, confirming grandchild emergencies through known contacts, recognizing romance scams, ignoring fraudulent USPS texts, registering with the Do Not Call Registry, and reporting suspected fraud to the Inspection Service.
wxow.com
· 2025-12-08
The La Crescent Police Department reported five scam calls in one day targeting residents with a "grandchild in jail" premise, where callers falsely claimed relatives were arrested after vehicle accidents and demanded money for bail. Two families nearly lost $9,000 and $18,000 respectively before recognizing the fraud; scammers instructed victims to lie to banks about withdrawal purposes and used spoofed local phone numbers and computer-generated voices to appear legitimate. Police advised community members to verify incidents directly with family, noting that scammers specifically target elders with landlines using fear tactics, and emphasized that government agencies like the IRS and Social Security do not initiate arrest-related calls.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Multiple women, including an American who lost $375,000, fell victim to romance scams using the likeness and identity of actor Martin Henderson over an extended period, with victims spanning the United States, Britain, and Ireland. After one victim's story was publicized, four additional women came forward, and scammers subsequently attempted secondary extortion by posing as private investigators offering money recovery services. Henderson has issued public warnings that he does not initiate contact through messaging apps and expressed concern that advancing deepfake technology could make such scams increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The article outlines 11 common tax scams expected in 2025, including phishing emails, IRS impersonation phone calls, fake tax preparation services, social media fraud, and stimulus payment scams. Key protective measures include verifying sender authenticity before clicking links, never providing personal information to unsolicited callers, confirming tax preparers are IRS-registered, and remembering that legitimate government agencies never demand immediate payment or charge fees for assistance. Scammers increasingly use sophisticated tactics targeting vulnerable taxpayers, making awareness and verification critical during tax-filing season.
pasadenanow.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service issued a National Consumer Protection Week warning about imposter scams where fraudsters pose as friends, relatives, or organizations using urgent messages ("I'm in trouble," "You've won!") to steal personal information and money. The advisory recommends verifying unexpected financial requests through direct contact, avoiding clicking suspicious links, ignoring unsolicited postal service communications, and registering with the National Do Not Call Registry, with victims able to report scams at (877) 876-2455.
mulletwrapper.net
· 2025-12-08
The Baldwin County Extension office is hosting a free educational class on March 7 designed to help seniors recognize and avoid common scams. The session covers "The Dirty Dozen"—the top 12 scams frequently targeting older adults, including fraudulent calls, phishing emails, investment schemes, and fake lotteries.
storyboard18.com
· 2025-12-08
**Cybercrimes against India's elderly population surged 86% between 2020 and 2022 as seniors increasingly adopted digital platforms, with phishing scams, fraudulent advertisements, and privacy breaches being the primary threats.** Nearly half of surveyed seniors struggle to identify scams, and 45% of those over 70 now use mobile phones, making them vulnerable to messaging app and email-based fraud. Experts recommend enhanced digital literacy campaigns, user-friendly interfaces, and stronger cybersecurity frameworks to protect this growing demographic, as India's senior population is projected to reach 193 million by 2031.
hongkongbuzz.hk
· 2025-12-08
A middle-aged woman in Sai Kung lost $150,000 to a romance scammer who convinced her he needed money to travel to meet her. According to HSBC, romance scams are widespread in Hong Kong, with 30% of residents targeted by such scams and an average loss of $4,000, though victims aged 25-39 are most vulnerable due to oversharing personal information online. The bank advises protecting personal details, avoiding money transfers to unknown online contacts, and reporting suspected fraud immediately to authorities and financial institutions.
bostonglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for this content. The text provided appears to be only a navigation menu and section headers from a news website, not an actual article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
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audacy.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, 53% of men and 47% of women experienced romance scams in online dating environments, with scammers impersonating military personnel or celebrities to build trust before requesting money or personal information from victims. The FBI reported that over 64,000 romance scams were reported in 2023 alone, resulting in $1.14 billion in losses. Veterans are advised to verify identities of new online contacts, protect sensitive information, be cautious of financial requests, trust their instincts, and report suspicious activity to relevant authorities including the FTC or VA benefits hotline.
fox17online.com
· 2025-12-08
During National Consumer Protection Week, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Postal Service warned the public about impostor scams where fraudsters impersonate family members, friends, banks, or government agencies to steal money and sensitive information. The scammers typically use urgent messaging such as "I'm in trouble," "You've won," or "I have a great offer," and Inspector Eric Shen recommends avoiding rushed financial decisions, verifying caller identity independently, not clicking suspicious links, and being especially cautious about grandparent scams and online romance fraud.
wcax.com
· 2025-12-08
The US Postal Service issued warnings during Consumer Protection Week about imposter scams targeting older adults, where scammers pose as banks, government agencies, or family members to steal identities and money. Key prevention tips include verifying unexpected requests for money by contacting family directly, avoiding unsolicited USPS text messages about delivery problems, and confirming the legitimacy of bank communications before responding. Victims are urged to report suspected fraud to the Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or online.
longreads.com
· 2025-12-08
CRA impersonation scammers, primarily operating from call centers in India on a commission basis, have targeted nearly every Canadian adult through phone calls demanding payment of fake tax debts or threatening legal action. The scam involved thousands of offshore perpetrators working scheduled shifts alongside dozens of Canadian recruiters, many of whom were new immigrants, and operated on a massive scale with relative impunity due to Canada's under-resourced fraud investigations and cross-border enforcement challenges.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reported that the state's Consumer Protection Team received over 10,000 written complaints and 20,000 phone calls in 2024, recovering $1.9 million for consumers through mediation, settlements, and refunds. The top complaint categories were internet/online purchases, retail delivery issues, motor vehicle sales, credit/financial concerns, personal services, health services, landlord/tenant disputes, utilities, contractors, and telecommunications billing problems.
sjcda.org
· 2025-12-08
This article from the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office provides educational information on common scam tactics, including impersonation of government agencies and businesses, spoofed caller IDs, and pressure tactics demanding immediate payment via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards. The piece emphasizes that scammers create false emergencies or threats to bypass victims' critical thinking and lists reporting resources including the FTC and the District Attorney Consumer Fraud Department at (209) 953-7730. It also highlights local support services through the Family Justice Center for victims of various crimes including elder abuse.
vermontbiz.com
· 2025-12-08
On February 20, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted 25 Canadian nationals for operating a "Grandparent Scam" from call centers in Montreal that defrauded elderly victims in Vermont and 40+ other states between summer 2021 and June 2024. Scammers posed as arrested grandchildren or their attorneys, convincing elderly victims to provide bail money (totaling over $21 million) that was then laundered to Canada through cash deliveries and cryptocurrency; 23 defendants were arrested in Canada on March 4, 2025, while two remain at large.
arabtimesonline.com
· 2025-12-08
A Kuwaiti woman lost her entire bank balance of 1,710 dinars and 835 fils after a fraudster posing as a bank employee called claiming her card was blocked and obtained her card number, PIN, and one-time password. Kuwait's Ministry of Interior warned the public about rising phone scams perpetrated by individuals outside the country, emphasizing that citizens should never share banking credentials with unknown callers, and highlighted emerging WhatsApp scams where fraudsters request money transfers through malicious links.
drydenwire.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple Barron County residents lost a combined $50,000 to scammers, prompting Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald to issue a public warning urging vigilance against unsolicited calls requesting financial information. Sheriff Fitzgerald advised residents to verify suspicious requests before taking action and remain cautious of potential fraud attempts.
khq.com
· 2025-12-08
Spokane business owner TJ Sneva lost $28,000 to a scam two years ago and has been unable to recover the funds despite his recovery efforts. Sneva is now speaking out publicly to warn others about the scam, though the article does not specify the type of fraud involved.
wcax.com
· 2025-12-08
A cooperative U.S.-Canadian law enforcement effort resulted in the indictment of more than two dozen Quebec men accused of stealing over $21 million through "grandparent scams," in which they impersonated grandchildren in distress to manipulate seniors into sending money. Experts emphasize that scams targeting seniors have become increasingly sophisticated and difficult to combat across borders, and recommend that families establish code words to verify callers' identities and report suspicious contacts immediately to authorities. Vermont officials note that red flags include requests for urgent payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and encourage victims to report incidents without shame to help law enforcement understand the scope of fraud affecting their communities.
radio.wpsu.org
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadians, mostly based in Quebec, were charged with operating an elaborate "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans across 46 states of more than $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. The scheme involved call centers in the Montreal area using spoofed technology to impersonate relatives in distress, claiming bail money was needed, with victims often targeted multiple times and referred to as "whales" if they provided substantial funds. All 25 defendants face conspiracy to defraud charges carrying up to 20 years in prison, with five also charged with money laundering conspiracy.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal prosecutors charged more than two dozen Canadian nationals operating from Montreal call centers in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded over 300 elderly victims across 40+ U.S. states of more than $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. The scammers posed as grandchildren or lawyers claiming relatives needed bail money after accidents, used spoofed U.S. phone numbers, sent in-person "bail bondsmen" to collect cash, and sometimes targeted repeat victims ("whales") with inflated bail amounts, with proceeds laundered to Canada via cryptocurrency. Most of the 25 defendants arrested in Canada face up to 20 years in prison
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
A man in Anchorage fell victim to a QR code scam when fraudsters placed a fake QR code over a legitimate parking lot payment sticker, redirecting him to a phishing website and compromising his financial information. To protect yourself, examine QR codes for tampering, verify URLs match the legitimate business, never scan codes from unsolicited messages, keep phone security updated, and avoid rushing when making payments. Report scams immediately to your bank and the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) for free assistance.
wgme.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate family members and loved ones in distress, with "grandparent scams" becoming more convincing and difficult to detect. According to the FTC, imposter scams were the most common fraud type in Maine last year, affecting more than 2,000 victims, and experts warn this number could rise as fraudsters refine their tactics. To protect themselves, consumers should verify unexpected calls by hanging up and calling back directly, establish family code words, not trust caller ID, and resist pressure tactics that create urgency.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A leak of 1 million audio files from Georgian scam call centers exposed sophisticated cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes that defrauded victims of £9 million combined through "authorised push payment" (APP) fraud, which tricks people into voluntarily sending money from their bank accounts. In the first half of 2024, investment scammers cheated Britons out of at least £56 million, accounting for a quarter of the £214 million lost to APP fraud despite representing only 4% of cases. As of October 7, 2024, new UK regulatory rules now mandate banks refund victims up to £85,000 within five days for domestic transfers, significantly improving reimburs
cbia.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list of top tax scams on February 27, identifying 12 prevalent threats including email phishing, misleading social media tax advice, fake charities, and fraudulent tax credit claims such as the Fuel Tax Credit and pandemic-era sick leave credits. These scams target taxpayers, tax professionals, and businesses year-round, seeking to steal personal information, enable identity theft, and generate fraudulent refunds. The IRS advises taxpayers to verify communications directly with official agencies and only claim tax credits for which they are genuinely eligible.
patriotledger.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service warns consumers about imposter scams during National Consumer Protection Week, where fraudsters pose as friends, relatives, or organization representatives to steal personal information and money using common phrases like "I'm in trouble" or "You've won!" The advisory provides six protective strategies including verifying identities through official channels, confirming distress messages with family members directly, being cautious of online romance scams, ignoring unsolicited USPS texts, and registering with the National Do Not Call Registry. Victims can report suspected fraud to the Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or online.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
An organized Georgian call center network scammed approximately 6,000 people across the UK, Europe, and Canada out of $35 million (£27 million) between May 2022 and 2023 using deepfake videos and fake celebrity endorsements featuring Martin Lewis, Zoe Ball, and Ben Fogle to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency and investment schemes. UK victims were disproportionately affected, accounting for about £9 million in losses, with some individuals defrauded of over £160,000 after spending hundreds of hours on calls with scammers. The fraud was exposed through a leaked dataset of over 1 million call recordings that revealed how the approximately
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal prosecutors charged more than two dozen Canadian nationals in a "grandparent scam" that defrauded elderly victims of over $21 million across more than 40 U.S. states between summer 2021 and June 2024. Scammers operating from Montreal call centers impersonated grandchildren claiming to need bail money after accidents or posed as attorneys, using spoofed U.S. phone numbers and sometimes extracting multiple payments from victims by claiming bail amounts had increased; money was laundered back to Canada through various methods including cryptocurrency. Twenty-three of the 25 defendants were arrested in Canada, with two remaining fugitives facing up to 40 years in prison
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadian nationals were charged in Vermont federal court for operating a multi-million dollar "grandparent scam" that defrauded elderly victims across more than 40 U.S. states of over $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. Perpetrators operating from call centers near Montreal posed as grandchildren claiming to need bail money for fabricated arrests or as attorneys representing them, convincing victims to provide cash that was collected in person and laundered through Canada using cryptocurrency. Canadian law enforcement arrested 23 of the defendants on March 4, 2024, following search warrants executed at the call centers where they were actively making calls to elderly victims.
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadians, mostly based in Quebec, were charged with defrauding hundreds of American seniors out of more than $21 million through a "grandparent scam" that operated from call centers in the Montreal area beginning in summer 2021. The scammers used spoofed phone numbers and fake identities (posing as grandchildren in legal trouble and attorneys) to convince elderly victims across 46 states to send money via in-person pickups, mail, or cryptocurrency, with some victims targeted multiple times and referred to as "whales." The scheme continued until June 2024 when Canadian law enforcement executed search warrants at the call centers, leading to the arrests of
substack.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly targeting Substack writers and readers through impersonation of public figures like Keanu Reeves and the author themselves, using engagement patterns and trust-building tactics to gather information before attempting to defraud victims. The author, who lost one-third of her retirement funds to a scam in 2022, warns that sophisticated scammers profile users by age, hobbies, and interactions, and notes that recent romance scams alone exceeded half a billion dollars. She urges the community to be vigilant about fake celebrity accounts and impersonators, as even highly educated individuals and tech professionals have fallen victim to these schemes.
92moose.fm
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers in Maine are using artificial intelligence to clone voices and impersonate family members, with over 2,000 Maine residents falling victim to these AI-enabled scams in the past year according to the FTC. This evolved version of the "grandparent scam" uses voice spoofing to make fraudulent calls appear to come from relatives in distress asking for immediate money. Experts recommend verifying unexpected urgent requests by hanging up and calling back the person directly, as scammers rely on panic to succeed.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A massive data leak exposed an international crypto scam operation with call centers in Georgia, Israel, Spain, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Bulgaria that defrauded at least 32,000 victims of over $275 million USD. The scammers used fake news articles on social media featuring celebrities like Kevin O'Leary and Elon Musk to lure victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, then deployed "recovery scammers" (using stolen identities) to extract additional payments from desperate victims—including a Canadian factory foreman who lost $200,000 and was later targeted for an additional $3,500. The leaked internal records, including over one million call recordings and 20,
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Trump-themed memorabilia scams, particularly the Trump Rebate Banking (TRB) scheme, have defrauded supporters who were promised their coins and merchandise would appreciate in value or generate cash payouts. An Alabama woman lost over $152,000 in cryptocurrency after being promised a $13 million rebate for her Trump items, though the FBI later froze the stolen funds in federal custody. These scams exploit supporters' emotional investment in Trump's brand and remain prevalent across platforms like Telegram and X, with victims typically losing thousands of dollars to fraudsters posing as legitimate investment facilitators.
fox29.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old woman in Washington Township, New Jersey nearly lost $24,600 in a multi-layered scam involving fake iCloud alerts, spoofed police calls, and impersonation of a banker pressuring her to withdraw cash. An alert Uber driver recognized the suspicious situation and prevented the fraud by warning the woman and returning her to the bank to re-deposit the money. Washington Township Police partnered with the FBI to hold a senior scam awareness seminar in response to the incident.
kgw.com
· 2025-12-08
A Portland woman lost over $40,000 in a romance scam after matching with a man on Tinder who posed as a civil engineer in Turkey and used fake hospital photos and fabricated documentation to build trust over several months before requesting money. The scammer used altered images of former MLB pitcher Phil Hughes and eventually moved $750,000 into her Vanguard retirement account before the funds disappeared when red flags prompted the company to freeze the account. According to experts, romance scams are increasingly common and sophisticated, with the FTC reporting $547 million in consumer losses to such scams in 2021, aided by AI technology that allows scammers to manipulate photos and deepfakes.
blog.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration and its Office of Inspector General launched the sixth annual "Slam the Scam" Day on March 6 to combat Social Security imposter scams, where fraudsters pressure victims into sharing personal information or making payments by claiming to fix alleged Social Security number problems. These scams affect all age groups and remain among the most commonly reported government imposter frauds to the FTC, with victims tricked through sophisticated tactics including caller ID spoofing, fake documents, and fraudulent letterhead. The agencies emphasized that Social Security will never suspend numbers, demand immediate payments, threaten arrest, or request gift cards or wire transfers, and urged citizens to report attempts to oig.ssa.gov
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting tax season with sophisticated phishing emails, deepfake calls, and fake tax preparation websites to steal money and personal information from Americans. According to McAfee research, nearly one in four Americans lost money to tax scams, with over half of victims losing more than $1,000, while 48% received fraudulent tax-related messages and scammers targeted sensitive data like Social Security numbers and banking information. Experts recommend ignoring unsolicited IRS communications, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and using two-factor authentication and unique passwords to protect against these evolving threats.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercrime marketplaces are dramatically lowering the barriers to entry for fraud, enabling less-skilled individuals to conduct sophisticated scams through "cybercrime-as-a-service" platforms that sell malicious tools, stolen data, and hacking expertise. These organized underground markets—including darknet sites and public platforms like Huione Guarantee—operate with corporate-like structures and cryptocurrency payments to facilitate illicit activities, with vendors on major platforms processing billions in transactions. Experts warn this professionalization and accessibility of cybercrime resources poses unprecedented global cybersecurity and fraud threats.
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Google is rolling out AI-powered scam detection features for Android devices that identify suspicious patterns in text messages and phone calls in real-time, particularly targeting conversational scams and spoofing techniques used by fraudsters. The on-device detection system, launching in English in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, alerts users to likely scams during conversations without accessing private chat content unless users choose to report a message. Google is simultaneously expanding similar phone call scam detection to Pixel 9+ users and enhancing its Chrome browser's Safe Browsing capabilities with AI models designed to identify phishing and social engineering tactics.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel highlighted ongoing efforts to combat illegal robocalls during National Consumer Protection Week, noting that Michigan residents filed 32,647 robocall complaints in fiscal year 2024. The Attorney General's office has received over 14,000 robocall complaints since launching its crackdown initiative in 2019 and has taken enforcement action against voice service providers and companies transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic. The article advises consumers to avoid providing personal information to suspicious callers, be wary of payment requests via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and report suspected fraud immediately.
newsday.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, New Yorkers over 60 lost more than $203 million to scams including sweepstakes, tech support fraud, and government impersonation schemes, with Long Islanders accounting for $38 million of those losses. Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed legislation that would train bank employees, brokers, and financial advisers to recognize elder exploitation and legally empower them to place temporary holds (up to 55 days) on suspicious transactions while law enforcement investigates. The bill, supported by 43 consumer protection groups including AARP, aims to prevent funds from being permanently lost to scammers before fraud can be detected and stopped.
nst.com.my
· 2025-12-08
I appreciate you providing this content, but I'm unable to summarize an article from what you've shared. The text contains only navigation menus, section headers, and website structure from what appears to be a news website (NST - New Straits Times), but no actual article content about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
To provide an Elderus database summary, please share the actual article text - the headline, body content, and key details about the fraud or elder abuse incident being reported.
citizen.digital
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines five common scam tactics used by fraudsters in Kenya: unrealistically cheap offers and links promising wealth, pressure tactics with urgent payment demands, requests for sensitive banking information, poor communication and grammar, and emotional manipulation through hacked social media accounts. A 2022 TransUnion study found that while 80% of Kenyans encountered scam attempts, only 8% actually fell victim, emphasizing the importance of recognizing these warning signs. The article advises vigilance, direct verification with trusted contacts or institutions, and reporting suspicious activity to protect oneself and others from fraud.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A call centre operation based in Tbilisi, Georgia defrauded victims of $35 million by using fake social media advertisements and news articles featuring celebrity endorsements (including radio DJ Zoe Ball and adventurer Ben Fogle) to promote non-existent cryptocurrency trading platforms promising AI-driven profits. Victims were directed to fraudulent platforms on Facebook and Google where no actual trading occurred, making this a classic advance-fee or investment fraud scheme targeting savers.