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in Robocalls / Phone Scams
abc7chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A Los Angeles man was defrauded of $25,000 by scammers who used artificial intelligence to replicate his son's voice, then posed as attorneys claiming his son needed bail money for a hit-and-accident case. The victim made two separate wire transfers via Uber drivers before realizing the scam, after which police confirmed that AI voice cloning technology is becoming an increasingly sophisticated tool in fraud schemes. Law enforcement notes that scammers need only brief audio samples from social media or voicemails to clone someone's voice convincingly.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
QR codes pose significant fraud risks as scammers use fake codes—often placed as stickers over legitimate ones—to steal personal information and money through fake payment links and malicious app downloads. A recent survey found 83% of people used QR codes for financial transactions in three months, with a notable incident involving 150 tampered parking meters in a California beach town. Security experts recommend verifying QR code sources, using physical payment methods when available, avoiding codes that request personal information, and using free verification apps like "Genie" to identify potential scams.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
In a landmark ruling, Australia's Financial Conduct Authority (AFCA) ordered HSBC to compensate a customer who lost $47,178.54 in a sophisticated "spoofing" scam where the victim was manipulated into revealing security passcodes through a fake bank text message. The decision is significant because AFCA rejected the bank's argument that the customer voluntarily disclosed codes and therefore wasn't entitled to compensation, instead finding the victim was manipulated rather than acting of free will. This ruling could reshape how Australian banks handle similar cases and supports broader sector reforms pushing financial institutions to take greater responsibility for detecting and preventing scams rather than placing the burden solely on consumers.
heritagefl.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines six common scams targeting seniors in Central Florida: check tampering, voice printing/deepfakes, celebrity impersonation on social media, grandparent scams, sweepstakes fraud, and good Samaritan email scams. The piece advises seniors and families to contact the Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) to verify suspicious communications and identify potential fraud attempts.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A California elderly man was defrauded of $25,000 by scammers using AI voice technology to impersonate his son, claiming he had caused a car accident and needed bail money; after an initial call from the AI-generated voice, follow-up calls from supposed lawyers named "Michael Roberts" and "Mark Cohen" pressured him to make two separate bank withdrawals totaling $25,000, which he handed to Uber drivers before discovering the fraud. The scam exploited the victim's emotional distress and the speed of the scheme to prevent him from verifying his son's actual situation, highlighting how advanced AI technology and social engineering are making fraud increasingly difficult for seniors to detect.
kpel965.com
· 2025-12-08
Texas residents over age 50 are nearly six times more likely to be targeted by scams, with older Americans losing approximately $3 billion to fraud between 2019-2020, primarily through identity theft and phone/text schemes. Scammers target seniors because they hold 85% of the nation's wealth, have higher credit limits, and tend to be more trusting, with nearly 60% of elder financial exploitation committed by their own adult children. Experts recommend that family members educate older relatives about current scams, encourage reporting of attempts, and contact local law enforcement if victimized.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a promotional piece about digital identity solutions for elderly care, not a scam or fraud incident. It discusses how AI-powered identity verification systems can help protect seniors from identity theft and fraud while improving access to healthcare and financial services, and highlights successful implementations of such technologies in elderly care settings.
livebitcoinnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 individuals operating a "pig butchering" romance scam ring that stole $46.3 million from victims across Mainland China, India, and Singapore. The scammers posed as romantic partners online and used AI deepfake technology and fake cryptocurrency investment platforms to deceive primarily male victims into transferring digital assets, which they never recovered. The operation was run from an industrial complex in Hong Kong's Hung Hom neighborhood and employed trained staff and contracted developers to execute the scheme.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Jose Alejandro Zuñiga Cano, a Peruvian national, was sentenced to 98 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $700,000 in restitution for operating a call center that defrauded over 1,100 Spanish-speaking U.S. consumers, primarily recent immigrants. The scheme involved falsely promising free products, then threatening victims with arrest and immigration consequences to extort payments, and re-victimizing many through a fake restitution recovery scam. This conviction is part of a larger $15 million transnational fraud operation involving 12 defendants.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a cease-and-desist warning to iDentidad Advertising Development LLC (also known as iDentidad Telecom) for transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic, joining 50 other state attorneys general in an Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force. The company routed nearly 200 traceback-identified illegal calls involving IRS/Social Security imposters, utilities scams, and financial scams, including spoofed calls impersonating the Illinois Attorney General's Office. The FCC simultaneously issued its own cease-and-desist, and state attorneys general warned they will pursue legal action including damages, civil penalties,
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI operates the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) website to help the public report cybercrime, receiving over 880,000 complaints in 2023 with estimated losses exceeding $12.5 billion. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams including investment fraud, ransomware, phishing, and tech support schemes, with nearly 60 percent of call center scam losses coming from people over 60, and Americans over 60 losing over $1.1 billion to cryptocurrency scammers alone. The FBI emphasizes prevention through awareness and due diligence rather than investigation alone, and successfully prosecuted a tech support scam ring originating from an IC3 complaint that affected over
wusa9.com
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old woman in Washington, D.C. lost approximately $109,000 in a government impersonation scam after receiving a phone call claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. The scammer sent fraudulent documents (including a fake "U.S. Supreme Court" certificate with numerous grammatical errors) and text instructions directing her to transfer funds and mail cash to multiple accounts. This case illustrates a growing trend: the FBI reported elder fraud targeting those 60 and older exceeded $3.4 billion in losses last year, a significant increase from 2022, and authorities advise that legitimate government agencies contact people by mail only, never by phone, email
addisonindependent.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service warns that scammers are increasingly targeting seniors by impersonating government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) and other trusted entities to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. These fraudsters use tactics including caller ID spoofing, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or refunds), threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS advises recipients of unexpected calls claiming to be from the agency to hang up immediately and contact IRS customer service directly at 800-829-1040 to verify any legitimate tax issues.
thebullamarillo.com
· 2025-12-08
Randall County authorities warned residents of Amarillo and Canyon about a impersonation scam where criminals pose as Randall County Sheriff's Office employees, including Sheriff Christopher Forbis, and call victims demanding $3,000 to resolve alleged federal warrants. The Randall County Sheriff's Office clarified that legitimate law enforcement will never contact residents by phone requesting money to resolve warrants, and advised potential victims to hang up and contact the sheriff's office directly at 806-468-5800 if they receive such calls.
texasstandard.org
· 2025-12-08
AI-driven phishing scams are targeting Gmail users through fake notifications, text messages, and sophisticated AI-generated phone calls impersonating Google support, with fraudsters requesting sensitive information like Social Security numbers and credit card details. Security experts recommend users protect themselves by ignoring urgent calls requesting personal information Google would never solicit, avoiding suspicious email links, and remaining vigilant about unsolicited contacts.
washingtontimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Instagram announced new platform features designed to combat sextortion scams, which involve criminals stealing intimate images and extorting victims for payment by threatening exposure. The new protections include blocking screenshots of disappearing stories, preventing suspicious accounts from viewing followers and tagged photos, alerting users when chatting with international contacts, and automatically blurring nude images on Teen Accounts. The FBI reported over 13,000 sextortion scams involving minors from 2021 to 2023, with most victims being males ages 13-17 and perpetrators primarily from West Africa and East Asia.
geaugamapleleaf.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers impersonate Medicare representatives during the October 15-December 7 open enrollment period, using unsolicited calls and texts to trick consumers into divulging personal information like Social Security numbers under the guise of offering better coverage or threatening service discontinuation. One Westlake woman received a fraudulent call from someone claiming to be with Medicare who had partial personal information, but she recognized the scam and reported it. The BBB recommends avoiding unsolicited contacts, never sharing Medicare or Social Security information with unknown callers, using only official websites like Medicare.gov for enrollment, and reporting suspected fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
Real estate fraudsters in Phoenix use tactics including recording false deeds to assume property ownership, passing fake cashier's checks, and selling land they don't own, leaving homeowners and title companies unable to remove squatters. Experts recommend verifying funds through wire transactions, using secure communication, and working with trusted real estate professionals to protect against these scams. Maricopa County has implemented measures to prevent property theft, though incidents continue to occur.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 people in October for operating a crypto romance investment scam that used AI deepfakes to defraud victims of $46.3 million. The scammers, mostly targeting men from mainland China, Taiwan, India, and Singapore, posed as women using deepfake technology to lure victims into fake cryptocurrency investment schemes operated from an industrial building in Hung Hom. The operation employed university graduates in digital media and overseas IT professionals to build the fraudulent platform and develop training materials for the deepfake scams.
odishabytes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using deepfake technology and artificial intelligence to perpetrate fraud, employing tactics including romance scams (where victims are lured into fake relationships and defrauded of millions), "digital arrest" schemes (where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to coerce victims into extended video calls and payments), and investment scams using deepfake videos of celebrities like Virat Kohli and Ratan Tata to promote fraudulent apps. Notable victims include men across Taiwan, Singapore, and India who lost over $46 million to romance scams, and Indian textile baron SP Oswal who was defrauded of $833,000 after being
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
A global law enforcement operation called SOGA X conducted in June and July across 28 countries arrested over 5,100 people and shut down tens of thousands of illegal gambling websites, recovering more than $59 million in illicit proceeds during the UEFA 2024 European Football Championship. The crackdown exposed links between illegal gambling operations and organized cybercrime centers involved in human trafficking, romance scams, and "pig butchering" fraud schemes, with one Philippine raid rescuing over 650 trafficking victims who had been forced to conduct online fraud. Notable takedowns included dismantling a Vietnamese gambling ring generating $800,000 daily and disrupting organized crime operations in Thailand, Greece, an
pcworld.com
· 2025-12-08
A Hong Kong-based scam ring of 27 people used romance-fraud schemes combined with real-time deepfake video technology to steal approximately $46 million from victims across China, Taiwan, India, and Singapore. The scammers created fake profiles with AI-generated photos, built romantic relationships through messaging, and when victims requested video verification, used deepfake software to convincingly impersonate the attractive women in their profiles before convincing targets to "invest" in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. This "pig butchering" technique, which has reportedly stolen as much as $75 billion globally, is expanding internationally with increasing sophistication as AI tools make it easier for organized crime rings to create convincing
digit.in
· 2025-12-08
A 29-year-old Bengaluru businessman lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a digital arrest scam in September 2024 after receiving calls from fraudsters impersonating TRAI and CBI officials who accused him of money laundering and threatened "digital arrest." The scammers pressured him to transfer nearly 80% of his bank balance to purportedly secure RBI accounts for verification over the course of a week before he filed a complaint on October 3. The article advises protecting against such scams by never sharing personal information based on unsolicited calls, verifying claims directly with official organizations, avoiding responses to urgency tactics, and reporting suspicious contact to authorities
indiatvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A surge in online scams targeting senior citizens has resulted in significant financial losses, exemplified by a woman in her 60s from Noida who lost Rs 50,000 after a caller impersonated a client of her husband and convinced her to transfer funds under false pretenses. Scammers exploit urgency, false familiarity, and social engineering across multiple channels including phone calls, phishing messages, fake e-commerce sites, and investment schemes. To protect themselves, seniors should verify caller identities through official channels, never share OTPs or passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and report suspicious activities immediately to their bank or cybercrime authorities.
lokmattimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 31-year-old woman from Thane, India lost ₹17 lakhs (₹1.7 million) in a sophisticated impersonation scam where fraudsters posing as police and narcotics officials claimed she had sent illegal drugs to Taiwan and pressured her into taking a bank loan under threat of legal action. The scammers initiated contact via phone call, used video calls on Skype to appear legitimate, and directed the victim to transfer the funds online. Kapurbawdi Police have registered a case and warn citizens to avoid sharing personal or banking information with unknown callers claiming authority regarding suspicious courier packages.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A widow in Scotland discovered that scammers created a fake Facebook page called "David Rodger Funeral Service Live Stream" the day after her husband's funeral in October, attempting to trick mourners into paying to watch a livestream of the service; over 100 people had joined the page before it was discovered and removed by Meta. Although no one fell victim to this particular scam, the funeral director confirmed multiple clients had experienced the same issue, indicating this is a widespread fraud targeting grieving families during vulnerable moments.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated AI-powered phishing scam targeting Gmail users uses fake account recovery notifications, spoofed Google phone numbers, AI-generated voice calls, and email spoofing via Salesforce CRM to impersonate Google support and trick victims into confirming passwords or account access. The scam is harder to detect than traditional phishing because it combines multiple deceptive tactics including legitimate-appearing caller IDs, professional-sounding AI voices, and emails spoofed from Google domains. Users should verify requests by checking email addresses for non-Google domains, remembering that Google does not call users proactively unless they have a Business Profile, and avoiding clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This article explains Zelle, a peer-to-peer payment service vulnerable to fraud because transfers are often irreversible. According to a congressional investigation, customers at Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo disputed $166 million in Zelle fraud in 2023, but only 38% was reimbursed; from 2021-2023, the three banks rejected approximately $560 million in scam disputes. The article outlines seven common Zelle scams including account takeover, employment schemes, charity fraud, marketplace and rental scams, and impersonation scams, providing awareness and protective guidance for users.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages claiming recipients are not registered to vote, directing them to fake websites like all-vote.com and votewin.org to harvest personal information including names, addresses, emails, dates of birth, and phone numbers. Election officials in Michigan and Pennsylvania warned voters to be cautious of these messages, which can be identified as scams by their unsolicited nature, suspicious domains, requests for unnecessary personal data, and grammatical errors. To verify voter registration safely, Americans should use the official government website vote.gov rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Insurance fraud scams cost approximately $40 billion annually in the U.S., with household costs reaching $400-$700 per year. Consumers should be aware of four common home and auto insurance scams: unsolicited contractor offers (particularly after natural disasters), fraudulent "free" windshield repair claims, phishing calls and emails posing as insurance companies to steal personal information, and exaggerated damage or injury claims. Protecting yourself involves obtaining multiple contractor estimates, verifying licensing, contacting your insurance company directly before authorizing repairs, and being cautious of unsolicited contact offering suspicious deals.
ksat.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Comal County, Texas are calling residents impersonating sheriff's office employees and demanding payments for fake warrants, claiming citations exist for failing to appear before a grand jury and threatening to issue warrants if payment is not made. The Comal County Sheriff's Office clarified that it does not accept warrant payments over the phone and advises residents to verify calls by independently contacting the agency at 830-620-3400.
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
A vigilant bank teller in Australia prevented a 70-year-old woman from losing millions in a dating scam by asking probing questions about her decision to sell her home, ultimately discovering the woman was being manipulated by an online boyfriend who claimed to need money for overseas prison bail—a classic romance scam tactic that was confirmed through a reverse image search. The article also describes a similar incident where a Scottish postal employee protected an elderly woman from a bank impersonation scam, highlighting how alert employees can serve as critical safeguards against fraud that cost consumers approximately $8.8 billion in 2022.
securitybrief.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Bitdefender launched Scam Copilot, an AI-powered platform designed to detect and prevent online scams across multiple communication channels and devices. The platform addresses a critical need—the Global Anti-Scam Alliance reported over $1 trillion in global scam losses in 2023, with 78% of surveyed individuals experiencing at least one scam—by offering real-time monitoring, geo-specific alerts, and tailored protections for vulnerable populations including seniors. Scam Copilot integrates AI and threat intelligence to counter increasingly sophisticated scams, including text message and phishing attacks enhanced by Large Language Models, and is now available in Bitdefender's Ultimate and Premium Security packages
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
Maharashtra Cyber Department warned citizens about deepfake scams using AI to create realistic fake videos and audio of celebrities and high-profile individuals to impersonate them and request urgent financial transfers or sensitive information. In one documented case, a 68-year-old businessman from Powai lost Rs 80,000 after receiving a fake call with an AI-cloned voice of his son, falsely claiming he was arrested by the Indian Embassy in Dubai. The alert recommends restricting social media privacy settings, avoiding unknown friend requests, and reporting suspicious communications to authorities.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 individuals, primarily tech and digital media graduates aged 21-34, for operating a sophisticated deepfake romance scam that defrauded victims across Asia of over $46 million. The organized criminal ring used AI-generated deepfake personas of attractive women to initiate romantic relationships with male victims in Singapore, India, Taiwan, and elsewhere, then manipulated them into investing in fake cryptocurrency platforms through a structured operation with training manuals and specialized departments. The scam operated for approximately one year before law enforcement dismantled the operation in a raid that seized over 100 cell phones, nearly $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This roundup covers multiple news stories, including one relevant to elder fraud: Hong Kong police reported a deepfake romance scam in which artificial intelligence was used to create fake video calls of an attractive woman to defraud men of $46 million. The article also covers unrelated topics such as parenting stress, AI risks, credit card debt concerns, and tourism regulations.
benzinga.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
UK fitness influencer Carly Rowena lost £5,700 ($7,450) in a cryptocurrency scam after transferring assets to a fraudulent Instagram account she believed belonged to a financial expert, but which was actually controlled by a scammer who had compromised her friend's profile. Rowena advised others to avoid deals appearing "too good to be true," verify communications through trusted contacts, and keep screenshots as proof before making financial decisions. The incident reflects a broader pattern of crypto fraud, with the FBI recently dismantling a $25 million crypto fraud ring, and regulatory officials noting the cryptocurrency sector accounts for a disproportionately large share of scams despite being a small part of
brooklynpaper.com
· 2025-12-08
On September 30, Taeli Kim, owner of Sonbul Café in Brooklyn, lost over $5,000 to utility impostor scammers who claimed to represent his electric company, threatened service disconnection, and used personal information to appear legitimate. The scammers used a guest payment system to intercept funds before they reached his account, jeopardizing his ability to make payroll for his newly opened restaurant. Kim launched a GoFundMe that raised nearly the full amount within three days, supported by over 100 local donors.
autogpt.net
· 2025-12-08
AI-enhanced phishing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect, with cybercriminals using AI to create convincing emails, messages, and voice calls that mimic legitimate services like Gmail account recovery requests. Google is combating this threat through initiatives like the Global Signal Exchange—a collaborative platform that detects and blocks scam patterns in real time—and the Advanced Protection Program for high-risk users, which uses passkeys and stronger authentication methods. Users are advised to verify contact information through official channels, remember that Google never initiates account recovery contacts directly, and remain vigilant about suspicious details like unnatural voice patterns that may indicate AI involvement.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 29-year-old Bengaluru businessman lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and CBI, falsely claiming his phone number was linked to money laundering and threatening legal consequences. The scammers pressured the victim to transfer 80% of his bank balance to a supposedly secure RBI account for "verification" after having him download Signal to record a fake video statement. The article advises victims to verify caller claims directly with organizations, avoid sharing personal information or transferring funds in response to unsolicited calls, be cautious of urgency-inducing tactics
wfsb.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Connecticut impersonated the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging to target grieving seniors, using the agency's trusted name to pressure victims into revealing credit card information for fake funeral and burial contracts. The fraudsters identified vulnerable seniors by monitoring obituaries and exploiting their recent losses. Officials warn that legitimate organizations will never pressure callers for immediate payment and encourage seniors to report such scams to the national elder fraud hotline at 833-FRAUD-11.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 members of a sophisticated romance scam ring that used deepfake AI technology to defraud victims across Asia of more than $46 million. The well-organized gang, composed of young university graduates, posed as attractive women to lure victims into fake romantic relationships, then coerced them to invest in a bogus cryptocurrency platform, using a detailed training manual to manipulate victims' emotions and trust. The scam operated for approximately one year before police raids in August recovered over 100 cell phones, nearly $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches.
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 people involved in a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded victims from multiple countries of $46 million between October 2023 and the investigation's conclusion. The syndicate used AI-generated photos and deepfake technology to pose as attractive women in online relationships, convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms while showing fabricated transaction records and discussing false future plans. The operation was highly organized with specialized roles in scamming, technical support, and accounting, with individual fraudsters earning tens of thousands of dollars monthly.
advertiserandtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Two romance scams targeted Lymington residents, with fraudsters posing as Brad Pitt to contact a woman in her 70s via Facebook, and another scammer using a dating website to target a man in his 20s who lost £1,300. These incidents follow previous celebrity impersonation scams in the New Forest area, including a woman in her 90s who lost £13,000 to a fake Sir Tom Jones account and a man in his 60s who lost £910 to a Celine Dion impersonator. Hampshire police urged the public to recognize that wealthy celebrities would never request money from strangers online and encouraged vulnerable individuals and their relatives to exercise caution when
zdnet.com
· 2025-12-08
A Microsoft consultant received a sophisticated AI-powered scam targeting Gmail users that combined fake account recovery notifications, spoofed Google phone numbers and email addresses, and an AI voice impersonating a Google employee to trick users into revealing account recovery codes or visiting fake login portals. The scam was detected when the AI voice repeated "Hello" identically, prompting the victim to hang up, though red flags included unsolicited account recovery notifications, Google's policy of not calling personal users, and inconsistencies in email headers and recipient fields. Users can protect themselves by verifying suspicious communications through their account security settings, checking for recent unauthorized logins, and remembering that legitimate tech support will never contact users unprompte
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Security experts are warning that AI-driven phishing scams targeting Gmail accounts have become increasingly sophisticated, using fake Google notifications, convincing AI-generated phone calls, and counterfeit Google pages to deceive users. High-profile targets including Microsoft security experts and tech executives have recently fallen victim to these attacks. Google is addressing the threat through a new Global Signal Exchange launched with partners including Amazon and Meta to track scam URLs and phishing attempts, while recommending users familiarize themselves with anti-phishing policies and consider using Advanced Protection Program features like hardware security keys.
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
This article describes a "brushing" scam where unsolicited packages containing inexpensive items like ping pong balls or seeds are sent to consumers without their knowledge or order. Scammers use these shipments to generate fake positive reviews and boost seller credibility on online retail platforms, and may subsequently contact recipients demanding payment. Victims should not pay for unsolicited items, secure their personal information on online retailer accounts, and report the scam to the Better Business Bureau.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses the growing threat of real-time video deepfakes used for fraud, describing how Reality Defender and other companies are developing detection tools to combat the problem. Recent cases include a US Senate chairman being deceived by a fake Ukrainian official video call and an engineering company losing millions to deepfake video fraud, with romance scams also employing the technique. Multiple approaches are being developed, including Reality Defender's planned Zoom plug-in and academic research on challenge-based authentication, though these detection tools remain unavailable to the general public.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Following Hurricanes Milton and Helene, the IRS warned taxpayers about scammers operating fake charities to steal money and personal information from donors seeking to help disaster survivors. The agency advises donors to verify charities using the Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) tool before giving, and to avoid payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers, never share sensitive personal information, and resist pressure to donate immediately. Only donations to IRS-qualified tax-exempt organizations are tax-deductible.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns of increased healthcare scams during Medicare and Affordable Care Act open enrollment periods (October 15-December 7 and November 1-January 15, respectively). Scammers pose as government officials or healthcare advocates and contact consumers via unsolicited phone calls, emails, or in-person visits requesting personal information like Social Security numbers and medical IDs in exchange for gifts or better deals. Consumers should verify contact legitimacy by checking official websites ending in ".gov," remembering that legitimate navigators never charge for assistance, and hanging up on unexpected calls.