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in Robocall / Phone Scam
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
As romance scams targeting seniors surge, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users if they've communicated with someone banned for fraud. According to the FTC, nearly 70,000 Americans reported romance scam victimization in 2022, with people aged 70 and older experiencing median losses of $9,475, and Tennessee seniors over 60 losing $43 million in 2023. The legislation would be enforced by the FTC and allow state attorneys general to bring civil actions, addressing a growing threat exemplified by cases like Aurora Phelps, who was charged with using dating
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
The Social Security Administration warned beneficiaries in March 2024 about scammers impersonating SSA representatives through phone, email, text, and social media to steal benefits and personal information using tactics like spoofed caller IDs, fake letterheads, and threats. Between mid-2024, nearly 45% of reported scams involved false claims about suspended Social Security numbers, with victims aged 70-84 losing an average of $11,902 compared to $2,346 for those under 29. The SSA urged citizens to hang up on suspicious contacts and report attempts to its Office of the Inspector General.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple Chicago residents fell victim to a street-based charity donation scam between June 2024 and November 2024, where con artists used emotional stories (such as raising funeral funds or awareness for causes) to gain trust, then charged victims thousands of dollars through Apple Pay and other digital payment methods when they believed they were donating only small amounts. The Illinois attorney general's office received approximately 10 complaints about this scheme, though one victim, Eliazar Rodriguez, was charged $3,000 for a carpet purchase after believing he donated $15, and he eventually recovered his funds after disputing the charge with his bank.
zdnet.com
· 2025-12-08
A widespread "smishing scam" targeting Americans claims recipients owe unpaid tolls from E-ZPass or similar toll providers, with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center logging over 60,000 reports; the fraudulent texts originate from Chinese-speaking scammers selling phishing kits on Telegram and aim to steal personal and financial information rather than toll payments. The scam texts typically come from suspicious numbers or +63 Philippine country codes, contain shortened URLs, threatening language about license suspension or fines, and request small payment amounts to appear legitimate. Victims should not click links, report messages as spam, and if they've already entered payment information, immediately contact their bank, credit car
queensda.org
· 2025-12-08
Lise Rossopoulos, 59, of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for orchestrating a nationwide elder fraud scheme that defrauded senior citizens of over $500,000. The scam involved co-conspirators impersonating government officials (FTC and Amazon representatives) who convinced victims to wire money to bank accounts in Queens and upstate New York that Rossopoulos controlled, with funds withdrawn immediately after each transfer. Two identified victims—a 92-year-old from Hawaii and an 83-year-old from Kentucky—lost $446,000 and $101,980 respectively between February and July
newschannel9.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennessee seniors lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with an 18% increase from the previous year, largely driven by romance scams on dating apps where fraudsters build trust before requesting money for emergencies or loans. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act to require dating apps to notify users who have interacted with accounts banned for fraudulent activity, including the banned member's profile details and fraud warnings. The bill would be enforceable by the FTC and state attorneys general, addressing a national problem where romance scams alone cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022.
bluewin.ch
· 2025-12-08
A Swiss family lost 22,000 francs (including their two daughters' savings accounts) through QR code fraud when a woman was tricked into scanning a malicious code while attempting to sell children's clothes on Facebook Marketplace; a fraudster posing as a Revolut employee directed her to scan the code, which gave criminals access to her e-banking credentials. The bank denied responsibility for compensation, and despite filing a police complaint, authorities were unable to recover the funds that had been transferred abroad. The family went public with their experience to warn others about this sophisticated scam targeting unsuspecting individuals through fake payment assistance.
vvdailypress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old Apple Valley man foiled a tech support scam when he recognized a fraudulent pop-up ad claiming his information was compromised and asking him to withdraw $35,000. After reporting the scheme to the sheriff's department, the victim arranged for the suspect to pick up the money at his home, where deputies arrested 29-year-old Alex Yu of San Francisco on suspicion of attempted fraud. The incident underscores the importance of recognizing that legitimate banks and government agencies never request cash withdrawals or in-person money transfers.
denvergazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A 27-year-old man from New Jersey was sentenced to six years in prison for stealing over $120,000 from an 80-year-old Highlands Ranch woman through a fake federal agent gold bar scam in July 2023. Sagar Jayeshkuma Patel posed as law enforcement after she clicked a virus pop-up, convincing her to purchase gold bars and hand them over at a convenience store; he was caught through cellphone records, credit card records, and surveillance footage, and ordered to pay approximately $144,000 in restitution. Patel is also under investigation for similar crimes in New York and Delaware and faces an ICE hold for being an un
agrinews-pubs.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare fraud exceeded $100 billion in fraudulent claims during one calendar year, with additional losses from identity theft and stolen financial information. Scammers employ multiple tactics to obtain Medicare card numbers and personal information, including impersonating Medicare employees, falsely claiming cards have expired (they don't), offering cheaper coverage, threatening benefit cancellation, and promising refunds or free services. Seniors should never share their Medicare card number or personal information via phone, email, or text, and should report suspected scams immediately to 1-800-MEDICARE.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old retired care worker lost £22,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a widower named "Daniel Peeters" on Match.com over a four-month period from June to November. The fraudster used stolen photographs and fabricated increasingly elaborate stories—including a frozen bank account, a hospital accident, and marriage proposals—to manipulate the victim into making repeated wire transfers. Fortunately, solicitors from the National Fraud Helpline recovered all of the victim's lost funds through a fraud reclaim scheme.
wcyb.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennessee seniors lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with an 18% increase from the previous year, largely driven by romance scams on dating apps where perpetrators build trust before requesting money or financial access. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users if they've communicated with someone banned for fraudulent activity and include warnings about potential scam attempts. The bill would be enforceable by the FTC and state attorneys general, addressing a nationwide problem in which romance scams alone cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022.
wsls.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Colonel Brandon Young, Chief Deputy of the Roanoke City Sheriff's Office, calling residents claiming they have warrants or failed to appear for jury duty and demanding payment to resolve the issue. The sheriff's office warns that it never calls to request money, and scammers are increasingly using spoofed local phone numbers (540 area codes) and fake domains to appear legitimate; victims are advised to question unexpected calls, avoid clicking unknown links, and never provide personal information.
9news.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Denver Field Office warns of a rising cybercrime trend where criminals use free online file converter websites to install malware that steals personal information like Social Security numbers, banking details, and passwords; victims are advised to use built-in tools like "Print to PDF" instead. Colorado authorities also report ongoing "smishing" scams impersonating toll and parking agencies via text message, with Coloradans filing 44,945 fraud reports in 2024 totaling $210.7 million in losses, and experts emphasize that fraud targets people of all backgrounds and education levels.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeting older Americans are on the rise, with the FTC reporting nearly 70,000 victims in 2022, with people over 70 suffering median losses of $9,475. Bipartisan lawmakers introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users who have interacted with accounts banned for fraudulent activity, enforced by the FTC and state attorneys general. The legislation was prompted by cases like that of 43-year-old Aurora Phelps, who met older men on dating sites, drugged them, and stole from their accounts, resulting in at least two deaths and 21 criminal charges against her.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Imposter scams cost consumers $2.7 billion in 2023, with scammers typically posing as government agencies or trusted companies to demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. The FBI is warning of an unusual variant where scammers are mailing letters to business executives claiming to be the Russian ransomware gang BianLian, demanding $250,000-$500,000 in Bitcoin while threatening to release stolen data, though cybersecurity experts confirm no actual data breaches have occurred and the letters lack hallmarks of legitimate ransomware communications.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are targeting Apple customers with phishing text messages that falsely claim suspicious purchases or unauthorized account activity, urging recipients to call a fraudulent support number or risk being charged. When victims call the fake support line, scammers impersonate Apple representatives to steal personal information or gain remote access to devices to install spyware and access bank accounts. Users should avoid clicking links or calling numbers in unsolicited messages and instead verify account security directly through official Apple channels or their bank.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages impersonating toll collection services (E-ZPass, EZDriveMA, FasTrak, and North Carolina Toll Services) to drivers, claiming unpaid tolls and threatening license suspension or increased fines to create urgency. If victims click the links or provide payment information, scammers can install malware on their devices or steal credit card data for fraudulent charges. The FBI and FTC have issued alerts about this scam; victims should verify toll violations directly through official agency websites rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
san.com
· 2025-12-08
The FCC issued a consumer alert warning about AI-powered voice cloning scams that impersonate loved ones, often using social media videos to create convincing deepfakes requesting urgent money transfers. These scams exploit fear and pressure tactics—such as fake arrest scenarios and "don't tell anyone" instructions—to bypass victim skepticism, with elder fraud complaints rising 14% in 2023 and 25 Canadian nationals recently charged with using similar schemes across 45 states.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
This article presents two perspectives on a major UK call centre scam that defrauded approximately 6,000 people. A Which? director argues that organized criminal networks exploited weaknesses in consumer protections, calling for stronger regulation of tech firms and banks to prevent scam advertisements and enforce financial reimbursement rules more quickly. A victim's letter reveals how fraudsters used spoofed London telephone numbers and fake social media advertisements to convince the family to "invest" their house sale proceeds, resulting in the loss of their home.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers are exploiting Docusign's legitimate email delivery system to send convincing phishing emails impersonating PayPal, bypassing standard email security filters by using fake Gmail addresses and fraudulent Docusign templates to steal login credentials. The attack can be detected by red flags such as PayPal using a Gmail address, documents not requiring signatures, and mismatched recipient addresses; victims can verify authenticity by visiting Docusign.com directly and using the document security code provided in the email. PayPal and security experts recommend users verify all communications directly through official websites rather than clicking email links, and API security monitoring should be improved to prevent such exploits.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Portland man lost $170,000 in a sophisticated gold bar scam in which he was manipulated into purchasing fake precious metals after receiving a call claiming his social security number had been compromised. The scheme mirrors a similar Clark County case where a victim lost $500,000, and law enforcement reports this type of fraud targeting retirees is on the rise, typically employing high-pressure tactics and false promises of returns. Authorities urge potential investors to exercise caution and conduct thorough research before precious metals purchases, and encourage victims to report suspected scams to local law enforcement or consumer protection agencies.
cryptopolitan.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not about elder fraud and falls outside the scope of Elderus, which focuses on scams and abuse affecting seniors. The piece discusses bot activity on the X platform in general, with some mention of cryptocurrency scams, but does not address elder-specific fraud, elder abuse, or target elderly populations. It would not be appropriate to summarize for this database.
irishmirror.ie
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old retired care worker lost €25,000 to a romance scammer who posed as "Daniel Peeters," a widowed businessman, after they met on Match.com in May. Over four months, the fraudster used romantic gestures, fabricated emergencies (frozen bank accounts, business deals, a taxi accident), and fake documents to manipulate her into sending multiple wire transfers. Fortunately, solicitors from the National Fraud Helpline recovered all of her lost funds through a fraud reclaim scheme.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
This curated cybercrime news roundup covers multiple fraud incidents globally. Domestic cases include Indian police recovering Rs 1.05 lakh from 10 cyber fraud victims, an engineer losing Rs 1.76 crore to fake investment schemes via WhatsApp, a teacher losing Rs 2.1 lakh in stock market fraud, and a senior citizen defrauded of Rs 47 lakh in online trading schemes. International incidents include the FCC warning seniors about AI-powered "grandparent scams" that cloned voices, Bybit cryptocurrency exchange losing $1.5 billion to hackers exploiting insecure freeware, and law enforcement shutting
hyannisnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article reports on federal law enforcement arrests of undocumented immigrants with criminal records in Massachusetts during early 2025, including individuals charged with sexual assault, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses. The cases involved coordination between DEA, ICE, and local police, with one suspect remaining in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and another wanted for felony drug trafficking in Brazil. The article does not contain information related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse and is therefore outside the scope of the Elderus database.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
iPhone users are receiving phishing text messages claiming suspicious purchases or unauthorized account activity, directing them to call fake Apple support numbers where scammers attempt to steal personal information, install spyware, or gain remote device access. To protect themselves, users should avoid clicking links in suspicious messages, verify any account issues directly through official Apple channels or their bank, and remember that Apple never initiates unsolicited contact via text, email, or phone.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, a Hong Kong employee was tricked into transferring $25 million after joining a video conference with an AI-generated deepfake of his company's CFO. Deepfake attacks—using AI to create fake videos and audio—now occur every five minutes and comprise 40% of all biometric fraud, exploiting victims' trust in familiar faces and voices combined with artificial urgency. The best defense is verification through separate channels: if you receive an unusual request involving money or sensitive information via video, phone, or voicemail, hang up and independently confirm the person's identity before proceeding.
montgomeryadvertiser.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security imposter scams remain widespread, with fraudsters using calls, texts, emails, and letters to trick victims into providing personal information or payments through gift cards, wire transfers, or cash. The Social Security Administration clarifies that it never threatens arrest, suspends Social Security numbers, demands immediate payment, or sends unsolicited communications containing personal information—and encourages reporting suspected scams to oig.ssa.gov/report. Legitimate Social Security contact typically occurs only by mail regarding payment issues or by phone for those who recently applied for benefits or requested a call.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Jane received a suspicious text claiming to be from her bank Kinecta notifying her of a $950.44 transfer approval to an unfamiliar person, with a link to cancel the transaction—a classic smishing scam designed to steal login credentials or install malware. The message exhibited multiple red flags including artificial urgency, suspicious links, brand impersonation, and unsolicited contact. The article provides guidance on recognizing such scams and protecting oneself through verification practices, strong antivirus software, and never clicking suspicious links.
atlanticsun.co.za
· 2025-12-08
Camps Bay police have reported an increase in fraud cases targeting residents, particularly seniors, including impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as bank employees or government officials to steal money, fake payment schemes on social media marketplaces, and fraudulent holiday rental listings. The police station commander provided guidance on protective measures including verifying bank communications directly with financial institutions, never sharing personal details with callers, ensuring payment clears before releasing items in sales, and researching holiday accommodations through reputable platforms before booking.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies six Social Security scams targeting Baby Boomers in 2025, including cost-of-living adjustment schemes, fake benefits applications, malicious security update tools, benefit suspension threats, and phony information update requests. According to the Office of the Inspector General, government impostors scammed Americans out of $577 million in the previous year, with approximately 61% of Social Security scams involving claims about SSN or benefits issues. The article advises recipients to verify communications directly through official SSA channels, avoid clicking suspicious links, and remember that the SSA will not demand money or threaten legal action via unsolicited contact.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old Missouri man fell victim to a sextortion scam in which he sent intimate photos to someone posing as a romantic interest, who then threatened to publish the images unless he paid $2,500; a second scammer then impersonated police and demanded additional money by threatening to contact his employer. Sextortion—coercing victims into financial or behavioral compliance by threatening to share intimate images—affects not only children and teenagers but also older adults, with surveys indicating that 7.6% of adults ages 50-64 and 8.4% of those 65+ have experienced it, though experts believe actual numbers are higher due to underreporting caused by shame
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
The FCC warned of increasingly sophisticated "grandparent scams" conducted via robocalls, following the indictment of 25 Canadians accused of running call centers near Montreal that stole tens of millions of dollars from elderly victims across 40+ U.S. states. Scammers impersonated grandchildren in legal trouble, used voice cloning and AI technology, and pressured victims to send bail money—ultimately transmitting $21 million to Canada through cash deliveries and cryptocurrency. The FCC advises recipients to hang up and call their grandchild back using a saved number, consult trusted contacts despite pressure to stay silent, and report suspicious calls to the National Elder Frau
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
Vermont officials charged 25 Canadians operating call centers near Montreal for conducting a "Grandparent Scam" that defrauded elderly Americans of $21 million between summer 2021 and June 2024. The scammers used personal information to impersonate grandchildren in distress, then posed as attorneys and bail bondsmen to convince victims to send money, which was transferred to Canada via cash pickups and cryptocurrency. Law enforcement dismantled the operation on June 4, 2024, when they executed search warrants and caught defendants actively calling victims, with the alleged ring leaders facing up to 40 years imprisonment if convicted.
qns.com
· 2025-12-08
Lisa Rossopoulos, 59, of Kew Gardens Hills, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for operating a nationwide elder fraud scheme targeting senior citizens through impersonation of government officials and companies. Between February and July 2023, she fraudulently obtained approximately $548,000 from a 92-year-old Hawaii resident and an 83-year-old Kentucky man through coordinated phone scams claiming their identities were stolen, with the victims wiring money to bank accounts under Rossopoulos' name that she promptly emptied. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans aged 60 and older are the most targeted group for scams, with elder fraud costing the nation $3.4 billion annually and averaging $33,915 per victim in 2023. Scammers exploit older Americans' cognitive vulnerabilities, loneliness, trust, and technological inexperience through impersonation via calls, texts, emails, and social media—sometimes using artificial intelligence to mimic voices. Protection strategies include monitoring accounts, using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, verifying unexpected requests directly with contacts, and reporting suspected fraud to the FBI, FTC, local police, or state attorney general offices despite potential embarrassment.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old Missouri man was victimized in a sextortion scam where he sent intimate photos to an online romance scammer, who then extorted him for $2,500 and threatened to share the images; a second extortionist impersonating police demanded additional money by threatening to contact his employer. Sextortion—threatening to publish intimate images to coerce victims into financial or behavioral compliance—is an evolving form of abuse affecting not only minors but also older adults, with 7.6% of adults ages 50-64 and 8.4% of those 65+ reporting victimization, though actual rates are likely higher due to underreporting
dfpi.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) shut down over 26 crypto scam websites in 2024 through its Crypto Scam Tracker and partnership with the state DOJ, uncovering $4.6 million in consumer losses across 2,668 complaints. The agency identified seven new scam types including bitcoin mining, crypto gaming, and crypto job scams, and increased its posted alerts to 303 while receiving over 400,000 unique visitors to the tracker. Authorities urge consumers to report suspected scams immediately, verify website domains, and avoid sending money to unknown contacts, as scammers employ increasingly sophisticated deception and emotional manipulation tactics.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using fake Docusign accounts to send phishing emails impersonating PayPal, leveraging Docusign's legitimate infrastructure to bypass email security filters. The attack uses red flags including fake Gmail sender addresses, non-existent recipient addresses, and documents that don't require signatures—users can verify legitimacy by visiting Docusign.com directly and using the document security code provided in suspicious emails. PayPal and security researchers recommend customers remain vigilant, check accounts directly rather than through email links, and report suspicious activity.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Scam Tracker Report identified investment and cryptocurrency scams as the top fraud type, with over 80% of victims losing money (median loss of $5,000) through financial grooming tactics. Other prevalent scams included employment scams (14% of reports), romance scams (highest median losses), and online shopping scams (30% of reports), with seniors aged 65+ losing the most money on average ($160) despite being least likely to fall victim. Publishers Clearing House, USPS, PayPal, and Amazon were the most commonly impersonated organizations in reported scams.
fox13memphis.com
· 2025-12-08
52-year-old Nooruddin Bhai Narsuddin of India was sentenced to five years in prison for wire fraud after participating in a phone scam operation where he impersonated a federal agent to collect money from victims. Operating with co-conspirators, Narsuddin convinced victims that their personal information was compromised, then instructed them to withdraw cash or purchase Bitcoin, promising their money would be safeguarded by the government—with Narsuddin personally collecting the funds in at least two known cases. Narsuddin was ordered to pay $104,000 in restitution and will serve five years of supervised release.
thecitizen.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old woman named Julie from Fayette County was scammed out of approximately $270,000 after receiving calls from people impersonating her bank who claimed there was an insider threat and convinced her to secretly withdraw funds via cashier's checks sent to multiple domestic addresses. Unlike many fraud cases where money is quickly converted to cryptocurrency and lost overseas, this case had a rare positive outcome: a UPS worker recognized one of the destination addresses in Waco, Texas as flagged by law enforcement, leading to the interception of the checks and recovery of all stolen funds. The article introduces an ongoing series about local scams and emphasizes that financial fraud is the most common and financially devastating crime affecting
cityofmentor.com
· 2025-12-08
Mentor detectives report scams targeting seniors are at an all-time high, with 2-3 reports weekly in their city alone, though an estimated 87% of cases go unreported due to embarrassment. Recent local cases include a woman who lost $660,000 to a cryptocurrency scam initiated by a "wrong-number" text and a couple who lost $45,000 after clicking a malicious pop-up and speaking with an impostor bank officer. The article advises seniors to avoid unknown callers, never click suspicious links, verify requests through official channels, refuse gift card or cryptocurrency payments, guard personal information, and report incidents immediately to police to maximize recovery chances.
abcactionnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in the Tampa Bay area have stolen over $1 million from senior citizens using phone scams that impersonate law enforcement, including jury duty summons, warrant, and failure-to-appear schemes. One victim, Beverly Boyarsky, nearly fell for a call claiming she owed $9,800 in bail for missing jury duty before recognizing the scam when the caller requested payment via Apple Pay and demanded she sign documents online. Law enforcement officials warn that courts always send jury summons by mail and legitimate authorities never demand payment over the phone, gift cards, or cash.
ottumwaradio.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, scams cost Iowa consumers over $50 million across nearly 14,000 reported fraud cases, with a median loss of $400 per victim. Seniors aged 80 and older, though representing a small number of victims, suffered the largest average losses at approximately $2,000 each, with investment schemes ($20 million) and romance scams ($8 million) accounting for the costliest fraud categories. The most frequently reported scams involved business/government impersonation, online shopping fraud, and prize/sweepstakes schemes.
wbrc.com
· 2025-12-08
Blount County, Alabama authorities are warning of an evolving phone scam in which callers impersonate court officials and threaten victims with arrest warrants for missing jury duty, sometimes sending fake court notices to appear authentic. Scammers demand payment over the phone, at kiosks, or pressure victims to stay on the line to pay a "bond," though legitimate warrants are never handled this way. Authorities advise hanging up on such calls and reporting them immediately.
fox5dc.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, according to FTC data, with the increase driven by a higher percentage of victims reporting losses rather than more fraud reports overall. Impostor scams were the most commonly reported type of fraud, followed by online shopping issues, job/business opportunities, investments, and internet services. Regional losses included $30.4 million in Washington D.C., $198.9 million in Maryland, and $293.7 million in Virginia in 2024.
kcrg.com
· 2025-12-08
**Grandparent scams** are increasing in prevalence, with criminals impersonating grandchildren in distress (accidents, jail, hospitalization) to pressure elderly victims into sending money immediately, often using social media research to make calls convincing. Recent Iowa cases resulted in losses of at least $10,000, with one arrest made in the Burt area in March 2025. Key protective measures include hanging up to verify information, contacting family members directly, resisting pressure to act quickly, and reporting suspicious calls to law enforcement immediately.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC is distributing $25.5 million in refunds to consumers defrauded by Cyprus-based tech support scam companies Restoro and Reimage, which used fake malware warnings and scare tactics to trick victims into paying for unnecessary computer repairs, with payments averaging $34 per person among 736,375 victims. The companies agreed to a $26 million settlement and were barred from future misrepresentation, with the scam particularly targeting older consumers who lost between $27 and $58 per initial transaction, and sometimes significantly more through follow-up exploitation attempts.