crypto.news
· 2026-10-03
Greek police arrested 17 people, including nine military personnel, for operating a cryptocurrency investment pyramid scheme that defrauded at least 10,000 participants of over $8 million since 2025. The operation used fake online platforms across multiple Greek cities to promise guaranteed high returns and double investments within 50 days, while failing to return deposited funds. Police seized €295,090 in cash along with computers and mobile devices during raids on five offices.
u105.com
· 2026-10-03
In 2025, Northern Ireland residents lost more than £814,400 to romance scams, with police receiving 61 reports of dating fraud where criminals built fake online relationships to manipulate victims into sending money. The PSNI believes the actual number of victims is higher due to underreporting, as victims often feel embarrassed to come forward, and warns that scammers use emotional manipulation and false promises of repayment to exploit trust before requesting financial help or investment opportunities.
psni.police.uk
· 2026-10-03
In 2025, Northern Ireland received 61 reports of romance scams resulting in losses totaling £814,400, prompting the Police Service of Northern Ireland to warn the public about this type of fraud on World Romance Scams Prevention Day. Romance scammers build fake relationships through dating sites and social media, gaining victims' trust before requesting money under false pretenses such as medical emergencies, travel costs, or investment opportunities, with no intention to repay. Authorities urge the public never to send money to people met only online and encourage victims to report the fraud to their banks and police without shame, as help and support are available.
gulfcoastnewsnow.com
· 2026-10-03
A Lee County woman avoided a scam in which fraudsters impersonated sheriff's deputies and threatened arrest over missed jury duty to extort money. The scheme instructs victims to withdraw cash from ATMs and purchase money vouchers, reading the voucher numbers aloud so scammers can steal the funds. Authorities warn that law enforcement never requests payment via ATM and encourage residents to hang up and call 911 if they receive such calls.
hawaiinewsnow.com
· 2026-10-03
The Honolulu Police Department is warning of scammers impersonating law enforcement and government officials who use spoofed caller IDs and fake badge numbers to trick victims into paying for fake classes via digital payment apps like Apple Pay, Zelle, and Cash App. One fraud group has been fraudulently using the identity and photograph of a former HPD sergeant to pose as an FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center agent in cryptocurrency recovery schemes. Victims are advised to immediately halt contact with scammers, notify their banks, and file reports with local police and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
mercerme.com
· 2026-10-02
A Hopewell Township resident lost over $20,800 in a fake Apple Security scam where fraudsters gained remote access to his computer and made unauthorized cryptocurrency transfers from his bank account. Another resident was targeted by a jury duty scam where a caller impersonating a sheriff's officer threatened her with arrest and demanded cash bail, and a third victim lost $15,000 after being tricked into withdrawing cash and meeting a courier through a computer pop-up scam.
wxyz.com
· 2026-10-02
Scammers placed fake QR code stickers on parking meters in Ann Arbor, Michigan's downtown area, with labels like "Scan to Park!" that direct users to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and financial information. Ann Arbor police warn residents not to scan unfamiliar QR codes on meters and recommend using only official payment methods, with particular concern that older residents may be more vulnerable to this scam. City employees have been instructed to remove suspicious stickers from meters and residents are urged to report them to police to prevent identity theft and financial loss.
discoverweyburn.com
· 2026-10-01
Conexus Credit Union marks Cyber Security Awareness Month by highlighting that cybercrime affects all age groups, not just seniors, and emphasizes common fraud types including social engineering, romance scams, investment scams, verification code scams, and overpayment scams. The credit union recommends people familiarize themselves with fraud warning signs, follow the "three R's" (recognize, reject, report), and notes that only 5-10% of Canadian scams are reported. Conexus advises monitoring accounts through transaction alerts, never sharing verification codes, and reporting suspected fraud immediately to financial institutions and police.
nbcnewyork.com
· 2026-09-30
Scammers are impersonating real federal law enforcement agents and calling New Jersey residents, using the names of actual FBI employees and spoofed federal agency phone numbers to gain victims' trust and solicit money. The scheme is an evolved version of traditional federal impersonation fraud that makes it particularly difficult for victims and agencies to identify as fraudulent, with some scammers even creating fake virtual meetings with FBI office backdrops. The FBI Newark field office has documented multiple victims of this scam but has not disclosed specific dollar amounts stolen.
wgxa.tv
· 2026-09-30
Two individuals, James Card and Tykeria Washington, were arrested after impersonating federal, court, and law enforcement officials to scam an elderly Perry, Georgia resident out of approximately $70,000. The suspects threatened the victim with arrest and coerced her to withdraw cash, purchase cryptocurrency, and transfer funds to other individuals before police located and intervened. Card was charged with theft by extortion, elderly exploitation, and impersonation of an officer, while Washington was charged with elderly exploitation, with the investigation ongoing to identify additional participants.
creators.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-30
A man impersonating an Adams County Sheriff's Department sergeant called the author claiming to discuss a legal matter, but the scammer made a critical error by calling it the "Sheriff's Department" instead of the correct "Sheriff's Office," which prompted the author to investigate further and discover the fraud. Police impersonation scams typically aim to extract money by claiming victims have missed jury duty, face arrest, or have other legal problems requiring immediate payment, and scammers can make these calls convincing by using real officer names, spoofed caller IDs, and personal information obtained from public records.
idahonews.com
· 2026-09-29
Scammers in Idaho's Treasure Valley are impersonating police and threatening victims with arrest warrants, instructing them to deposit cash into cryptocurrency ATMs to avoid prosecution. Between January 2025 and September 2026, victims across the region lost over $2.1 million, with approximately half of identified victims over age 60. Local governments are responding by considering bans on cryptocurrency ATMs within city limits to combat the fraud and prevent further losses.
wsbtv.com
· 2026-09-28
A suspect connected to a Georgia prison-based scam ring was arrested after a Florida woman lost $15,000 in Bitcoin in the scheme. The scam involved fraudsters operating from within a Georgia prison who targeted victims and convinced them to send cryptocurrency. This case highlights the growing problem of organized fraud operations being run from correctional facilities.
wabi.tv
· 2026-09-28
The Penobscot County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about scammers posing as law enforcement officials who call, text, or email demanding money and threatening arrest if payment is not made. These fraudsters impersonate sheriff's office or correctional facility staff to appear legitimate. Authorities emphasize that real law enforcement will never demand money or immediate payment by phone.
vietnam.vn
· 2026-09-27
Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi, founder of Prince Group, has been indicted by the US Department of Justice for operating forced labor camps in Cambodia that conducted "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scams, defrauding billions of dollars from victims worldwide. The scheme involved contacting victims via text and social media with false investment promises, stealing their cryptocurrency, and laundering proceeds through gambling and crypto mining. Federal prosecutors are simultaneously seeking to seize approximately 127,271 Bitcoin (valued at $15 billion) as illicit gains—the largest asset seizure in DOJ history—with Chen currently at large.
hoodline.com
· 2026-09-26
Oklahoma has enacted Senate Bill 2067, which takes effect in November and grants banks and credit unions legal immunity to freeze suspicious transactions and report suspected elder exploitation to authorities. The law addresses a growing crisis in which Oklahoma seniors lost $53.3 million to financial scams in 2025, including $24 million from investment fraud alone, representing a 32% increase in elderly victims year-over-year. The measure removes previous legal barriers that prevented financial institutions from alerting law enforcement and Adult Protective Services to potential fraud without risking privacy lawsuits or regulatory penalties.
watfordcitynd.com
· 2026-09-26
Americans over age 60 filed more than 201,000 internet-crime complaints in 2025 with losses exceeding $7.7 billion, representing a 37% increase in complaints and 59% increase in losses compared to 2024, with average losses of $38,000 per victim. Scammers target seniors through various schemes including grandparent scams, fake law enforcement calls, technical support fraud, and romance scams, often manipulating caller ID and using urgency to prevent victims from verifying requests. North Dakota residents and authorities have reported increasing incidents of these fraud schemes, and law enforcement urges families to establish safeguards and teach seniors that legitimate government agencies will never demand immediate
birminghamtimes.com
· 2026-09-26
Americans ages 20-29 reported over $500 million in internet crime losses in 2025, with college students particularly vulnerable to sophisticated scams including online shopping fraud, fake job offers, rental scams, and AI-enabled schemes. Scammers exploit students' digital familiarity and high demand for housing and employment by impersonating legitimate businesses, posting fake listings, and using deepfakes and cloned voices to deceive victims into sending money or sharing personal information. Students and parents can protect themselves by verifying website legitimacy, applying for jobs through official company websites, conducting reverse image searches on rental listings, and being wary of unsolicited job offers and unusually low prices.
lex18.com
· 2026-09-26
Kentucky residents lost nearly $6.5 million to phone and text scams in 2025, with over 300 million robocalls placed in the state, according to Attorney General Russell Coleman's office. Scammers commonly use caller ID spoofing and AI voice cloning to impersonate law enforcement and create panic, with one documented case involving a woman losing her entire $128,000 life savings to a single call. Coleman and 49 other state attorneys general are urging the FCC to strengthen protections like STIR/SHAKEN protocols and implement stricter upstream provider monitoring to combat the escalating robocall threat.
pa.gov
· 2026-09-26
Scammers impersonating federal law enforcement officials have defrauded victims across multiple states of approximately $6.5 million through a scheme involving fake pop-up alerts claiming compromised identities, then directing victims to purchase gold bars or coins and hand them over to couriers. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the organized fraud ring and have identified a silver 2025 Honda Accord used in the scheme, with two suspects arrested in September 2026. Authorities warn that legitimate law enforcement will never instruct people to purchase gold or transfer cash or precious metals to couriers.
aol.com
· 2026-09-25
A 70-year-old Michigan woman lost over $270,000 after a scammer impersonating an FTC agent threatened her with arrest for money laundering and drug trafficking. Believing the false charges, she initially purchased gold and later cashed out her own and her late husband's pension accounts to pay the fraudster, who was eventually arrested after she reported the crime to police. This case exemplifies a common government impersonation scam targeting seniors, who collectively lost $7.7 billion to fraud in 2025.
14news.com
· 2026-09-25
Madisonville Police Department is warning residents of increasing scams involving Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and fake jury duty schemes where callers impersonate law enforcement or court officials and threaten arrest or legal consequences to demand immediate payment. Scammers use hard-to-trace payment methods like Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and gift cards, while legitimate authorities never demand payment through these methods. Police advise residents to verify suspicious calls through official sources and contact local law enforcement rather than sending money.
kmbc.com
· 2026-09-25
A Kansas City couple received a convincing jury duty scam call where scammers used personal information including their addresses, birthdates, and social security numbers to claim they had missed jury duty and had arrest warrants, demanding $5,000 in Walmart payment. The couple grew suspicious when instructed to remain on the line and not contact anyone, and the husband verified the scam by calling the actual sheriff's department using a second phone, ultimately avoiding financial loss. According to cybersecurity experts, scammers obtained personal details through public records, data brokers, breached databases, and social media, then used caller ID spoofing to make the fraudulent calls appear legitimate.
abc.net.au
· 2026-09-25
Cambodia's multi-billion-dollar online scam industry persists despite government crackdowns, as evidenced by analysis of nearly 5,000 job advertisements posted on Telegram recruiting workers for scam operations between April 2023 and July 2024. The ads, posted in multiple languages, offered various roles including "victim finders" ($600/month), romance scam "models" (up to $12,000/month for those with "Western" or "Japanese" features), and money launderers, with some explicitly targeting victims in the US, Europe, Australia, and other countries. While Cambodia's government claims to have successfully dismantled scam compounds through raids in 2025, the persistence
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-24
A 70-year-old Michigan woman cashed out her and her late husband's pension accounts, totaling over $270,000, after a scammer posing as an FTC agent threatened her with arrest for alleged money laundering and drug trafficking. The victim was instructed to purchase gold and later withdraw cash to pay the fake charges, and was threatened with arrest if she contacted police. A 30-year-old man from Sacramento was arrested using community camera footage, though it's unclear whether the victim recovered her money.
broadandliberty.com
· 2026-09-24
Pennsylvania's elderly population, which comprises over one-quarter of the state's residents, lost over $215 million to scams in 2025 alone, according to FBI data. Common scams targeting seniors include romance and investment fraud, online shopping counterfeit schemes, phishing scams impersonating government agencies like Social Security and the IRS, and grandparent emergency scams. Scammers exploit seniors' vulnerability by using spoofed phone numbers, fake websites, and increasingly AI technology to deceive victims into divulging sensitive financial information or transferring funds.
lbpost.com
· 2026-09-24
Young adults ages 20-29 reported over $500 million in internet-crime losses in 2025, with students increasingly targeted by sophisticated scams including online shopping fraud, fake job offers, and rental listing schemes. Scammers are leveraging AI technology to create deepfakes and cloned voices to impersonate trusted contacts, employers, and family members to obtain money or personal information. To protect themselves, students and families should verify URLs and seller credentials, apply for jobs only through official company websites, use reverse image searches for rental listings, and remain cautious of unsolicited contact offering money or requesting urgent payments.
wsmv.com
· 2026-09-24
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of increasingly sophisticated scams in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement, court officials, and federal agents to solicit personal information or money by creating false urgency and manipulating caller IDs. The scammers use convincing details, official-looking documents with government seals and real judge names, and threats of arrest to deceive victims. Authorities advise residents to hang up, independently verify calls with legitimate authorities, and never share personal or financial information or send money based on such calls.
johnstonnc.gov
· 2026-09-24
A Johnston County resident avoided a jury duty scam when a caller impersonating Sergeant Michael Pope claimed she had missed jury duty and faced arrest, using a real badge number to appear legitimate. The scammer's claim that a forged signature was on file at the sheriff's office raised red flags, and when the victim asked for proof and later verified the phone number, the scammer hung up. The incident illustrates the importance of verifying caller information independently and contacting law enforcement directly rather than calling back suspicious numbers.
whtc.com
· 2026-09-23
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet declared at an international anti-fraud summit that the country would not serve as a haven for transnational scam syndicates, citing government raids on hundreds of compounds that have deported hundreds of thousands of people over the past year. The country has emerged as a major hub for cyberscams—particularly romance scams and police impersonation fraud—operated by mostly Chinese-led criminal gangs, with Americans alone losing over $10 billion to scammers in the region during 2024. Skeptics, including analysts and opposition figures, question the effectiveness of the crackdown, arguing that politically connected figures remain untouched while criminal organizations have adapted by fragmenting into smaller
thestar.com.my
· 2026-09-23
Cambodia hosted a global anti-cyberfraud summit to demonstrate its crackdown on transnational scam operations that have cost Americans over $10 billion in 2024 alone, with the government claiming to have raided hundreds of compounds and deported hundreds of thousands of people. The country has become a hub for Chinese-led criminal gangs operating large-scale facilities where trafficking victims are coerced into conducting romance scams and police impersonation fraud schemes. However, analysts and opposition figures question the effectiveness of the crackdown, noting that politically connected figures remain untouched while criminal networks continue operating by fragmenting into smaller units and relocating operations overseas.
asiaone.com
· 2026-09-23
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet declared at a global anti-fraud conference that the country will not serve as a safe haven for transnational scam syndicates, as the government showcases its crackdown on the multibillion-dollar cyberscam industry operating in Southeast Asia. Cambodian authorities claim to have raided hundreds of compounds and deported hundreds of thousands of people over the past year, with the US estimating that Americans lost over $10 billion to scammers operating in the region in 2024 alone. However, analysts and opposition figures express skepticism, noting that high-level figures allegedly protecting these criminal networks have remained untouched while scam operations continue adapting by fragment
theregister.com
· 2026-09-23
Swedish cybercriminals profited 5.7 billion SEK ($579.9 million USD) in 2025 by targeting elderly citizens through telephone-based scams, prompting police to launch a celebrity-backed public awareness campaign encouraging people to be "rude" and hang up on suspicious callers. Common scams include fraudsters posing as banks or government officials via SMS messages, and fake police officers claiming to collect valuables for safekeeping before stealing them. Sweden has implemented new regulations requiring telecom providers to block suspected fraud communications, working to combat the organized crime networks behind these scams.
gsma.com
· 2026-09-23
Maxis, a Malaysian telecommunications operator, implemented a multi-layered anti-fraud framework combining SMS/call blocking, malicious website filtering, and fake base station detection to combat scams across Malaysia in coordination with regulators and law enforcement. The initiative achieved a 65% reduction in scam SMS deliveries between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, with technical controls including SMS firewalls, fraud detection systems, and international gateway filtering working alongside government directives and the National Scam Response Centre. While successful enforcement actions have removed rogue infrastructure, scammers are adapting by shifting to over-the-top platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook that operate outside direct operator control.
local21news.com
· 2026-09-22
Two individuals were arrested on September 10 for orchestrating a gold bar scam targeting a 74-year-old woman in Pennsylvania, stealing over $250,000 across multiple transactions. The scammers impersonated federal law enforcement officers and convinced the victim that her identity had been stolen, instructing her to withdraw savings and purchase gold bars to hand off to couriers in out-of-state vehicles. Police recovered gold bars during a traffic stop and are seeking additional victims, as they believe at least two other people may have been targeted by the same fraud organization.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2026-09-22
Reece Salmon, a 28-year-old fraudster who was recently deported from New Zealand after serving time for a $400,000 elder fraud scheme, was murdered in London on September 16. Salmon had posed as an undercover police officer to defraud elderly victims aged 69-95, stealing $239,500 in cash and $172,000 in gold bullion from 19 victims between July and August 2024 by convincing them to withdraw money or purchase gold as part of a fake police investigation. He was released on parole in February and deported to the UK in May, but was fatally stabbed on a London street weeks later with no arrests made
newstalkzb.co.nz
· 2026-09-22
Reece Salmon, 28, was murdered in London in September after being released on parole from a New Zealand prison where he had served time for a $400,000 fraud scheme targeting elderly New Zealanders. Salmon had posed as an undercover police officer to convince victims aged 69-95 to withdraw cash and purchase gold bullion, which he then collected as a courier, stealing approximately $239,500 in cash and $172,000 in gold from 19 victims between July and August 2024. He pleaded guilty to 15 counts of obtaining money and gold by deception and was sentenced to four years in prison before his release and deportation to the UK, where he
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-22
Actor Channing Tatum denied speculation that he was running a secret Instagram burner account called "Nonya Bidness" after fans noticed the account followed only him and made comments about his ex-fiancée Zoe Kravitz and other celebrities. Tatum clarified via Instagram Stories that he only maintains one account (@channingtatum) and questioned why he would follow his own burner account if seeking anonymity. The Nonya Bidness account was later revealed to be a previously deactivated Channing Tatum fan page that had been repurposed, and has since been deactivated.
japantimes.co.jp
· 2026-09-22
Cambodia is hosting an international conference this week with representatives from about 20 countries, including the U.S. and China, to demonstrate its efforts against online fraud operations. The country displayed a seized scam compound containing counterfeit currency and a fake police station as evidence of enforcement actions against the multibillion-dollar online scam industry operating across Southeast Asia. These scam operations typically target internet users through romance fraud and cryptocurrency investment schemes, often involving trafficked individuals forced to participate.
france24.com
· 2026-09-22
Cambodia hosted a global anti-fraud conference while showcasing a shuttered scam compound that reportedly employed 20,000 scammers, as the country faces international pressure over its role as a Southeast Asian hub for online fraud operations estimated to generate billions annually. Cambodian authorities claimed to have closed 663 scam sites and frozen $300 million in related accounts, though analysts remain skeptical about the sustainability of the crackdown, noting that criminal operations have adapted by dispersing to smaller locations and that key protection networks remain intact. The U.S. estimates that transnational scam organizations in Southeast Asia defrauded Americans of at least $18.2 billion in 2025 alone through schemes involving
21alivenews.com
· 2026-09-22
An Allen County woman's search for her lost emotional support dog, Daisy Mae, was targeted by scammers who sent an AI-generated photo of a similar-looking dog and demanded $400 for the animal's return. The victim recognized the fake image upon closer inspection and refused to pay, but the incident highlights a growing trend of pet extortion scams using manipulated or AI-generated photos to exploit desperate pet owners, with similar cases reported nationwide involving demands ranging from $400 to $1,300.
techflowpost.com
· 2026-09-21
This article analyzes specialized jargon used in East and Southeast Asian cryptocurrency money laundering networks, specifically examining the term "Liao" (料), which refers to illicit fiat currency from fraud, extortion, gambling, and human trafficking awaiting conversion into untraceable cryptocurrencies or goods. The article describes common laundering methods such as Card-to-USDT exchanges and classifies illicit funds by risk level and victim type, including "pupil Liao" (money scammed from students), "part-time job Liao" (fake employment schemes), and "pig butchering scam Liao" (romance investment fraud), with higher-risk frontline launderers commanding
newswav.com
· 2026-09-21
Singapore police are warning the public about a phishing scam using fake SPF logos and pop-up alerts claiming devices are locked due to illegal website access and demanding payment of "outstanding fines" within hours. Victims who fall for the scam discover unauthorized foreign currency charges on their bank accounts that often exceed the stated fines. Authorities emphasized that the SPF never remotely locks devices or issues fines via pop-ups and urged the public to verify suspicious alerts through the ScamShield Helpline at 1799.
northcentralpa.com
· 2026-09-21
State police and the Lycoming County Sheriff's Office are warning residents of a phone scam where callers impersonate law enforcement and claim victims missed jury duty, now facing arrest warrants, then demand payment to resolve the alleged warrant. The scammers sometimes have personal details about victims, including their names and jury summons information, and may spoof caller IDs to appear as "Private Number." Authorities emphasize they never demand phone payment, gift cards, or personal information, and advise residents to hang up and call agencies directly using official numbers.
12onyourside.com
· 2026-09-21
The FBI warns that elder fraud targets adults 60 and older by exploiting emotional vulnerabilities—trust, fear, grief, and loneliness—rather than tech inexperience, with scammers impersonating law enforcement, romantic interests, or trusted entities to manipulate victims into wire transfers, gift cards, or liquidating assets like retirement funds and home equity. Reported elder fraud complaints rose 37% from 2024 to 2025 with losses totaling $7.7 billion, with some individual victims losing over $1 million accumulated over a lifetime. Scammers often spend months building relationships with isolated older adults before requesting money, deliberately isolating victims from family and social circles to increase depend
creators.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-20
A caller impersonating an Adams County Sheriff's sergeant attempted to scam the author by claiming there was a "legal matter" requiring attention, but the scam was foiled when the caller incorrectly referred to the agency as "Adams County Sheriff's Department" instead of the correct "Adams County Sheriff's Office." The scammer, identifying himself as "Sgt. Don Davis," was part of a broader scheme where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to extract money from victims by claiming they missed jury duty, have legal violations, or face arrest unless they pay fines immediately.
abc45.com
· 2026-09-19
The Burlington Police Department is warning residents about multiple scam types including fake customer service, jury duty impersonation, malware pop-ups, sweepstakes, romance, and NFC/ghost tapping scams. Police advise residents to verify requests directly with official sources, never provide remote access or banking information to unsolicited callers, and report suspicious activity to avoid becoming victims of these evolving fraud schemes.
wesh.com
· 2026-09-19
A Seminole County gas station owner and his employees have prevented over $100,000 in losses by intervening in Bitcoin ATM scams targeting Central Florida residents. Scammers use threats of arrest, deportation, or legal consequences to pressure victims into depositing money into Bitcoin machines with false promises that transactions can be reversed. Authorities warn that legitimate organizations never request payment via Bitcoin, and victims should contact police if they suspect fraud.
wcjb.com
· 2026-09-19
Scammers in Bradford County, Florida are calling residents claiming they missed jury duty and demanding immediate fines, a tactic that has also appeared in neighboring counties. Law enforcement warns that legitimate legal summons are never issued by phone and authorities never demand payment via phone, gift cards, or wire transfers. Residents are advised to hang up immediately if they receive such calls.
fox13news.com
· 2026-09-18
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier proposed legislation to strengthen penalties for phone and text scams, including those using artificial intelligence, fake warrants, and impersonation, classifying high-volume or high-loss cases as elevated felonies with mandatory prison time. The proposal aims to address gaps in current Florida law that often treats such crimes as misdemeanors with minimal punishment, while also targeting phone farms and SIM farms used in large-scale scam operations. The Attorney General's Office has recovered nearly $10 million for scam victims this year and is seeking broader authority to investigate and pursue civil penalties against scammers and businesses trafficking in illegally obtained records.
wtap.com
· 2026-09-18
Phone scams involving callers impersonating government officials, banks, and law enforcement continue to rise, with fraudsters using caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate and demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest. A common variation is gift card fraud, where victims are instructed to purchase gift cards and provide the numbers, often resulting in significant credit card debt. Consumers can protect themselves by refusing to provide personal information, hanging up and independently verifying caller identity, and consulting trusted contacts before responding to any demands.
news3lv.com
· 2026-09-18
Las Vegas Metro police are clarifying that reckless driving warning letters mailed to residents are legitimate notices that do not result in citations or points on driving records, while simultaneously warning of jury duty scams where fraudsters claim victims have warrants and pressure them to withdraw money immediately. Police advise residents to verify information independently by looking up official agency contact numbers rather than using numbers provided by callers, and to hang up if pressured for money.
wetmountaintribune.com
· 2026-09-18
The FCC has warned that "grandparent scams" targeting elderly Americans have become increasingly sophisticated, leveraging stolen personal data from social media, fake caller ID technology, and AI voice cloning to impersonate grandchildren in crisis situations. Americans aged 60 and above reported $7.74 billion in losses to such scams in 2025, representing a 59% increase from the previous year, though the FBI estimates actual losses are significantly higher. The agency recommends verifying callers independently, establishing family code words, recognizing pressure tactics, and reporting suspicious calls to local authorities.
mbiz.heraldcorp.com
· 2026-09-18
Multiple South Korean entertainment agencies have warned fans about impersonation scams on social media, where fraudsters create fake accounts mimicking celebrities' official handles to solicit money, personal information, and financial details through direct messages. The scams typically involve promises of exclusive fan meetings or personal connections, with perpetrators using similar usernames differing by only one or two characters and directing victims to click links or scan QR codes. Police reported 2,192 romance and impersonation scam cases in the previous year with damages totaling 136 billion won ($98.5 million), roughly double the prior year's figures.
ground.news
· 2026-09-18
The FBI received nearly 61,000 complaints of law enforcement and government impersonation scams between January 2025 and July 2026, resulting in losses exceeding $1.6 billion. Scammers use unsolicited phone calls, threats of arrest, fake uniforms, mock government offices, and video calls to convince victims to surrender money or personal information. The con artists impersonate police officers, judges, and other government officials to extort payments from their targets.
nationthailand.com
· 2026-09-17
Two US House committee chairmen requested the Trump administration investigate 28 people and entities, including Thai financier Vorapak Tanyawong, for possible sanctions over alleged links to Southeast Asian scam operations. The lawmakers attribute growing American financial losses to Chinese criminal organizations operating industrial-scale scam compounds in Southeast Asia that exploit approximately 400,000 trafficking victims forced to commit cryptocurrency fraud, romance scams, and other schemes. They estimate cyber-scam profits in the Mekong subregion equaled nearly 40% of combined formal GDP in 2024, with scam operations allegedly protected by corrupt officials in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.
news.tuoitre.vn
· 2026-09-17
A transnational fraud ring operating from Laos defrauded thousands of Vietnamese victims of approximately $57.7 million through a scheme involving fake Facebook accounts and bogus e-commerce websites promising commission payments. Police arrested 91 suspects (64 Vietnamese nationals and 27 foreigners) on September 12 following a coordinated raid by Vietnamese and Laotian authorities in Bokeo Province. The operation, which ran from early 2025 until its shutdown, lured victims by building trust on social media before redirecting them to fraudulent shopping task websites to steal their money.
wral.com
· 2026-09-17
A Durham woman lost nearly $2,000 to scammers impersonating sheriff's deputies who claimed she had missed jury duty and owed bail for three arrest warrants. The fraudsters used personal information about the victim and created urgency through fake legal documents and intimidating language to convince her to wire money. This jury duty scam is among hundreds reported across central North Carolina in 2026, with law enforcement agencies documenting over 100 similar complaints in the Triangle area alone.
ic3.gov
· 2026-09-17
Between January 2025 and July 2026, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 61,000 complaints of law enforcement and government impersonation scams resulting in over $1.6 billion in losses. Scammers contact victims via phone, email, and text using spoofed official numbers and credentials to make urgent threats of legal consequences, demanding payment through prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, bank wires, or cash. Targeted victims include the general public, medical professionals threatened with license revocation, and foreign nationals threatened with extradition, with specialized schemes against these groups resulting in hundreds of millions in additional losses.
abc7.com
· 2026-09-17
A New Jersey social media influencer exposed a sophisticated arrest warrant scam in which callers impersonated Bergen County Sheriff's Office personnel and used personal information to convince victims to pay cash bail to avoid arrest. The scammers used fake arrest warrants, involved multiple callers to appear credible, and redirected victims to federal credit unions instead of the sheriff's office when suspicion arose. Law enforcement estimates the operation has stolen approximately $500,000 over four to five years and believe the scheme may be coordinated by an inmate in Georgia with outside accomplices.
nbcmiami.com
· 2026-09-17
Jonathan Christian Gonzalez-Reyes, 45, was arrested for impersonating an ICE agent and threatening a food truck worker in Miami-Dade on July 8, approaching the victim with a gun and badge while demanding money in exchange for immigration help and protection. The suspect threatened to harm the victim's son, pistol-whip him, and plant drugs at the business, even pointing a gun at the victim before driving away with police sirens activated. Gonzalez-Reyes faces charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, falsely impersonating an officer, and unlawful use of a police badge.
vladtv.com
· 2026-09-17
DJ Vlad's 80-year-old mother was defrauded of $200,000 in an FBI impersonation scam where fake federal agents gained remote access to her computer, claiming her Social Security and bank account were compromised, then directed her to purchase gold coins and transfer them in a parking lot exchange. The scam utilized tactics including fake pop-ups, authority impersonation, isolation from family, and manipulation through fear, with former CIA officer Charles Finfrock explaining how such schemes exploit vulnerable seniors. The case highlights the growing prevalence of elder fraud and gold-based scams targeting seniors.
nbcmiami.com
· 2026-09-17
Florida's Attorney General introduced the Florida Anti-Spam Communications Act to combat rising scam calls and texts targeting residents through spoofed government agencies, fake jury duty notices, and fraudulent payment demands. The proposed legislation aims to establish tougher penalties for scammers and the "phone farms" and "SIM farms" that blast thousands of numbers, addressing gaps in current law. Victims cited in the announcement lost amounts ranging from $190 to $700, with the state's Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit having recovered nearly $10 million from scammers to date.
rsc-pfluger.house.gov
· 2026-09-16
The House of Representatives passed the GUARD Act (H.R. 2978), legislation designed to combat financial scams targeting seniors by providing state, local, and Tribal law enforcement with federal grant funding to investigate elder fraud schemes, including "pig butchering" scams where fraudsters gradually convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency investments before stealing their funds. The bill aims to strengthen coordination between law enforcement agencies and support the use of blockchain tracing tools to recover stolen assets, with lawmakers citing examples such as North Dakota's $14.4 million in reported fraud losses in 2024 affecting vulnerable seniors.
northfortynews.com
· 2026-09-16
The Loveland Police Department warned seniors about multiple scam tactics including grandparent scams, tech support fraud, phishing messages, bank impersonation, romance scams, and investment schemes that exploit urgency and fear to extract money or personal information. Police recommend hanging up on unsolicited callers, contacting companies directly using verified numbers, avoiding clicking unexpected links, and consulting trusted contacts before making financial decisions. A common warning sign across all scams is pressure to act immediately.
firstalert4.com
· 2026-09-16
Scammers are impersonating St. Charles County Police Department officers and St. Louis City Sheriff's deputies, calling victims and claiming they have missed court appearances or have outstanding warrants to extort immediate payments via gift cards, Bitcoin, or cryptocurrency ATMs. Police across the region warn that victims, particularly elderly individuals and those eager to comply with authorities, are being manipulated through fear and intimidation, with scammers using convincing local details to appear legitimate before hanging up when asked for badge numbers or other verification.
rstreet.org
· 2026-09-16
Government impersonation scams surged 87% in 2025, with Americans losing $920 million to criminals posing as agencies like the IRS and toll authorities, up from $789 million in 2024. A Gallup survey estimates the actual problem is far larger—roughly 15 million Americans (6% of adults) lost about $68 billion to all scam types in 2025, though only 13% reported their victimization to federal authorities. Without stronger enforcement against scam operations and the communication channels enabling them, eroding public trust in government will further undermine legitimate government communication.
myvillager.com
· 2026-09-15
Minnesota seniors lost $111.4 million to financial scams in 2025, with common schemes including romance scams, law enforcement impersonation, and extortion. A payment processing industry worker advocates for Congress to pass the TRAPS Act, which would establish a comprehensive federal task force to coordinate with local law enforcement in combating these crimes and recovering victims' funds, particularly those sent overseas.
pulse.ng
· 2026-09-15
Five Nigerian men allegedly linked to the Black Axe criminal network were extradited from South Africa and face federal fraud charges in the US for operating romance scams from at least 2011 to 2021, with maximum collective prison sentences potentially reaching 100 years. The defendants allegedly posed as romantic interests on social media and dating websites to deceive US victims into sending money or valuable items, sometimes threatening to release sensitive photographs if victims refused, while also laundering money from advance-fee fraud and business email compromise schemes. South African authorities reported the scheme targeted over 100 US women, including pensioners and businesspeople, allegedly defrauding them of more than R100 million (approximately $5.5 million
wbaltv.com
· 2026-09-15
A Maryland woman received calls from scammers impersonating Wells Fargo fraud department and a San Francisco police officer, who claimed she was involved in a federal money laundering case tied to fraudulent credit card purchases of thousands of dollars in guns and ammunition. The scammers used specific details to appear legitimate, moved the conversation to video chat, sent fake police documents, and threatened arrest and extortion to pressure her into compliance. The woman recognized the scam before providing critical information, but experts warn that real banks and police will not threaten immediate arrest or force victims to remain on the phone.
fox4news.com
· 2026-09-15
An elderly Frisco resident who lost $30,000 to an international gold theft ring assisted police in capturing a courier, helping authorities dismantle a scheme that defrauded over 200 victims of more than $250 million. Scammers posed as federal agents to convince seniors to withdraw cash and gold, which was melted into jewelry or converted to cryptocurrency and funneled overseas. Central figure Muzamil Ahmed was arrested at JFK Airport attempting to flee the country, with over 40 indictments issued and more than $130 million in gold seized.
creators.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-15
A man impersonating an Adams County Sheriff's Office sergeant attempted to scam the author with a police-impersonation scheme, claiming a legal matter required immediate attention and falsely stating he was calling from the "Adams County Sheriff's Department" (the correct name is "Sheriff's Office"). The scammer, who identified himself as "Sgt. Don Davis," was part of a known fraud operation targeting people with claims of missed jury summons or legal issues to extort money, though the author detected the deception through basic fact-checking and independently verified the call was fraudulent.
aarp.org
· 2026-09-14
I cannot provide a summary of this article because the content provided is only a navigation menu and website structure from AARP.org, not an actual article about Medicare mistakes or fraud. Please provide the full text of the article you'd like summarized.
nippon.com
· 2026-09-14
Gold bar scams in Japan resulted in 8.13 billion yen in losses during the first half of 2026, already exceeding the entire previous year's total, with approximately two-thirds of losses coming from fraudsters impersonating police officers who convinced victims to send gold bars for fake criminal investigations. Investment scams conducted through social media accounted for an additional 2 billion yen in losses, with the average loss per case reaching 52.5 million yen—nearly ten times higher than typical online fraud cases—because gold bypasses transaction limits and monitoring that apply to bank transfers.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-14
A North Carolina high school student founded Click With Confidence after his grandfather's business collapsed following a 2022 phishing scam, and the organization now deploys over 30 teenagers to senior centers to educate older adults about fraud recognition and safe technology use. The effort addresses a growing crisis: the FBI recorded 201,266 fraud complaints from Americans 60 and older in 2025 with losses totaling $7.75 billion, while the IRS opened 255 elder fraud investigations from fiscal 2021-2026 involving approximately $885.86 million in alleged fraud. Click With Confidence provides in-person presentations, digital mentorship training, and a browser extension to help seniors identify
japantimes.co.jp
· 2026-09-14
Gold bar scams in Japan resulted in ¥8.13 billion in losses during the first half of 2026, already exceeding the prior year's total. The majority of losses (approximately ¥5.3 billion) involved fraudsters impersonating police officers who falsely claimed victims' bank accounts were involved in crimes and demanded gold bars as payment, while social media investment scams accounted for about ¥2 billion in additional losses.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2026-09-14
Senior citizens in Guwahati are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals exploiting their smartphone use through digital arrest scams, fake investment schemes, and malicious APK files, with police reporting 18-20 cases daily. Victims have lost between Rs 45-50 lakh in digital arrest scams, with one individual losing as much as Rs 3.5 crore in investment fraud schemes. Fraudsters impersonate police, RBI officials, and government agencies through WhatsApp and Telegram, using fear tactics and fake refund promises to extract money from elderly residents.
military.com
· 2026-09-13
A 37-year-old Indian national on a student visa was sentenced to 30 months in prison for defrauding a Vietnam veteran in Oklahoma through a tech support scam, extracting nearly $65,000 by posing as Microsoft support and a fake federal officer. Chagamreddy was ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution and also victimized an 87-year-old woman from North Carolina; he will face deportation proceedings after his sentence.
transcripts.cnn.com
· 2026-09-13
This transcript is not about elder fraud or scams. It covers President Trump's visit to Ireland for meetings with Irish leaders and attendance at a golf event. While the transcript mentions "Nigerians Extradited to U.S. to Face Charges in Romance Scams" in the headline, the actual content provided does not include details about that story. I cannot summarize elder fraud content that is not present in the provided text.
hawaiinewsnow.com
· 2026-09-13
Kauai County officials debunked false rumors that Port Allen was closed and a fuel barge had capsized following Hurricane Lowell, with the port confirming full operational status. Kauai Police Department warned residents to remain vigilant against disaster-related scams, noting that fraudsters often impersonate law enforcement, government agencies, and relief organizations to steal money or personal information during recovery efforts.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-12
A 70-year-old Michigan woman lost over $270,000 after being targeted by a government impersonation scam in which a fraudster posing as an FTC agent claimed she faced arrest for money laundering and drug trafficking. The scammer instructed her to purchase gold and later demanded she cash out her and her deceased husband's pension accounts, threatening arrest if she contacted police. Police arrested a 30-year-old suspect from Sacramento using community camera footage to track him down.
katv.com
· 2026-09-12
The IRS is warning of rising scams targeting seniors ahead of National Grandparents Day, noting that fraud schemes have evolved from local, in-person scams to sophisticated online operations involving perpetrators worldwide who exploit trust to gain access to personal information and bank accounts. Common schemes include romance scams targeting widowers on dating sites and "grandparent scams" where callers pose as grandchildren claiming emergencies and requesting urgent money transfers. Authorities recommend warning signs include unsolicited contact, requests for personal or financial information, and pressure to act quickly, and advise victims to immediately cut contact, notify police and banks, and report to resources like the National Elder Fraud Hotline.
moneywise.com
· 2026-09-12
A 70-year-old Michigan woman lost over $270,000 after falling victim to a government impersonation scam in which fraudsters posing as FTC agents claimed she faced arrest for money laundering and drug trafficking. The victim withdrew her own and her deceased husband's pension accounts to pay the scammers in gold and cash as demanded. Police arrested a 30-year-old suspect from Sacramento using community surveillance footage, though it remains unclear whether the victim's money was recovered.
creators.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-12
A scammer impersonating a sergeant from the Adams County Sheriff's Office called the author claiming there was a legal matter, but the caller made a critical error by referring to the agency as "Sheriff's Department" instead of "Sheriff's Office," which tipped off the experienced former investigative reporter. The scam typically involves impersonators claiming victims missed federal jury duty or face arrest unless they pay fines immediately, and can be sophisticated enough to include spoofed caller ID, personal information, and fake voicemail systems. The sheriff's office confirmed the scam was circulating and warned that the impersonator was using the false identity "Sgt. Don Davis."
wpsdlocal6.com
· 2026-09-12
The McCracken County Sheriff's Office warned of two scams: a bitcoin scheme where callers falsely claim victims missed jury duty and have federal warrants, demanding thousands of dollars in bitcoin to resolve; and a bond scam targeting families of incarcerated individuals, requesting they purchase preloaded Visa cards and provide card information to secure releases. Law enforcement emphasized they never request funds, banking information, or personal details by phone.
hoodline.com
· 2026-09-12
A 37-year-old Indian student visa holder was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for acting as a courier in a gold fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans, including a Delaware County, Oklahoma veteran who lost nearly $100,000 after being tricked by fake Microsoft support and federal officer impersonators into converting cash to gold. Venkateswara Chagamreddy was arrested during an undercover sting after collecting gold from multiple victims across three states within 48 hours, with evidence showing he received real-time instructions and victim photos from co-conspirators. The case reflects a national surge in elder fraud, with gold courier scams alone causing $311.8 million in losses across approximately
okcfox.com
· 2026-09-11
An Indian national on a student visa was sentenced to 30 months in prison for orchestrating a tech support scam targeting a Vietnam veteran in Oklahoma in August 2025. The suspect, Venkateswara Chagamreddy, posed as Microsoft support and a federal officer to convince the elderly victim that his identity had been stolen and connected to federal crimes, ultimately defrauding him into transferring money converted to gold. Chagamreddy was arrested when he arrived to collect the package, and investigators indicate he worked with another individual to defraud multiple victims over a 48-hour period; he was ordered to pay nearly $100,000 in restitution.
ottawapolice.ca
· 2026-09-11
Suspects impersonating Ontario Provincial Police officers and judges have defrauded seniors in Ottawa's Kanata area through a roofing scam, convincing victims to pay tens of thousands of dollars for misrepresented or undelivered services. The Ottawa Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police are warning residents to be vigilant when contacted by individuals claiming to represent government agencies, law enforcement, or courts. Victims are encouraged to report incidents to police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2026-09-11
Venkateswara Chagamreddy, a 37-year-old Indian man on a student visa in Texas, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for defrauding an elderly Vietnam veteran in a tech support scam that resulted in the loss of gold and cash. The scheme involved fake Microsoft support, federal officer, and Treasury Department impersonators who convinced the victim to convert money to gold, which Chagamreddy collected in person; he was arrested during a second pickup arranged by law enforcement. Chagamreddy was ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution and evidence showed he targeted multiple elderly victims across multiple states within 48 hours, collecting gold
mypolice.qld.gov.au
· 2026-09-11
Queensland police are warning residents about caller ID spoofing scams where fraudsters impersonate police, government agencies, banks, and other trusted organizations to demand payments or steal personal information. The scammers use technology to display fake caller IDs from legitimate institutions and pressure victims with threats of legal action or financial harm. Police emphasize that legitimate organizations never request banking details, passwords, or payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and urge victims to independently verify caller identity before sharing information.
huffingtonpost.co.uk
· 2026-09-11
British consumers face rapidly escalating AI-powered fraud threats, with 75% now worried about AI scams and investment fraud up 40% year-on-year in 2025, as criminals use deepfake technology to impersonate loved ones and celebrities in romance and investment schemes. Over four million fraud cases were reported in the UK in 2025, resulting in £1.3 billion in losses, prompting authorities to launch the "Take Five" campaign encouraging people to verify unexpected requests for money or personal information before acting.
americanbazaaronline.com
· 2026-09-11
Venkateswara Chagamreddy, a 37-year-old Indian national on a U.S. student visa, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for leading an elaborate gold scam targeting elderly victims, including a Vietnam veteran, by impersonating federal officials and claiming their identities were linked to criminal activity. The scheme involved convincing victims to purchase gold and hand it over to fake federal agents, with Chagamreddy collecting gold from multiple elderly victims across several states and ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution. Evidence showed he was part of a coordinated operation with co-conspirators targeting at least three elderly victims (ages 75, 79
abc6onyourside.com
· 2026-09-10
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson launched a new hotline (1-855-961-SCAM) to help residents recognize and report romance scams, which have become increasingly sophisticated with the use of artificial intelligence and deepfakes. The dedicated line connects reports to forensic investigators with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, while experts recommend using reverse image searches and looking for inconsistencies in scammers' photos and stories to identify potential frauds.
tovima.com
· 2026-09-10
A woman in central Greece was defrauded of $400,000 in cash and jewelry after scammers posing as a tax official and accountant convinced her that authorities were conducting a tax inventory of her assets. The victim was instructed to place the money and valuables in a bag outside her home, where accomplices collected them. Greek police identified a suspect believed to be the group's "collector" and are continuing investigations into the fraud operation.
tovima.com
· 2026-09-10
Police in Greece arrested two teenage suspects and identified six others in connection with a criminal gang accused of 34 thefts and frauds totaling over €250,000. The gang posed as electricity company employees, using phone calls to convince victims of electrical leaks or radiation hazards at their homes before stealing cash and valuables. The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on phone scams targeting elderly people across Greece, where criminals increasingly impersonate utility workers and public officials using sophisticated methods including AI voice mimicry.
legalreader.com
· 2026-09-09
A Nigerian man, Oluwasegun Baiyewu, was sentenced to 95 months in federal prison for laundering over $3.1 million obtained through fraud schemes targeting U.S. people and businesses, including romance scams, unemployment insurance fraud, and business email compromises. Between May 2020 and October 2021, Baiyewu worked with at least six others to convert stolen funds into used vehicles that were exported to Nigeria, with one notable transaction involving a Puerto Rican renewable energy company losing $280,000 through a business email compromise scam. The group used encrypted messaging services to coordinate the movement of fraud proceeds and coordinate purchases made with the stolen money.
japantimes.co.jp
· 2026-09-09
Thai authorities arrested 12 South Koreans and 1 Chinese national operating a call center from a luxury house south of Bangkok that targeted South Korean victims through phone scams impersonating prosecutors and government officials. The scammers used VoIP phones, computers, and forged documents to trick victims into transferring money, and police discovered call center equipment with 13 workstations and lists of South Korean victims at the location. This bust is part of an ongoing crackdown on organized scam operations in Southeast Asia, which have defrauded victims globally of billions of dollars annually.
facebook.com
· 2026-09-09
A South Carolina man used AI-generated images and voice-changing technology to catfish a victim into getting engaged, exploiting deepfake technology to impersonate someone in a romantic relationship. The perpetrator deceived the victim into believing they were engaged to a person they had never met in person and allegedly convinced them to lend out a vehicle based on the fraudulent relationship.
kcra.com
· 2026-09-09
A 63-year-old Pennsylvania woman lost at least $384,000 in a romance scam after meeting someone on TikTok who impersonated an up-and-coming country music star and convinced her to move their conversations to Telegram. The scammer repeatedly requested money for his music career and pressured the victim to keep the relationship secret from her family, who eventually discovered the fraud. The scam highlights how predators target emotionally vulnerable individuals by building trust before requesting funds, often through gift card purchases to obscure transactions.
wesh.com
· 2026-09-09
A 63-year-old Pennsylvania woman lost at least $384,000 in a romance scam after meeting someone on TikTok who posed as an up-and-coming country music star and convinced her to move conversations to Telegram. The scammer persuaded the victim to send money and purchase hundreds of Apple gift cards over several months, with the scheme only discovered when her children became involved. Romance scams like this typically target emotionally vulnerable individuals, including widows, widowers, and lonely people across various age groups.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-08
Over 200 seniors were defrauded of more than $250 million in a coordinated scheme where scammers called posing as bank or federal officials, convincing victims to withdraw savings and purchase gold or cryptocurrency, which was then collected by couriers and laundered through shell companies and a Florida refinery. More than 40 people have been indicted including Muzamil Ahmed, a 35-year-old from New Jersey arrested at JFK Airport, who allegedly operated the scheme with call centers primarily based in India that targeted elderly victims across multiple states. The stolen assets were converted into cryptocurrency and smuggled overseas, with investigators seizing over $130 million and indicating additional arrests are likely.
moneywise.com
· 2026-09-08
Over 200 U.S. seniors lost more than $250 million in a coordinated fraud scheme in which scammers called posing as bank or federal officials, convincing victims to withdraw savings and buy gold, bitcoin, or cash that couriers then collected. The stolen funds were funneled through shell companies to a Florida refinery where gold was melted down and converted to cryptocurrency before being sent out of the country; Muzamil Ahmed, 35, of New Jersey was arrested as a central figure in the operation with more than 40 indictments issued by early September.
dailystar.co.uk
· 2026-09-08
Thai military seized an 80-hectare scam compound in Cambodia's O'Smach that housed thousands of trafficked workers running romance, cryptocurrency, and government impersonation schemes targeting victims globally, including British citizens. The facility contained fake police station mock-ups (including replicas of Singapore Police and Brazil's Federal Police offices), detailed romance scam scripts on whiteboards, and rows of cubicles where scammers operated around the clock. While Cambodian authorities claim to have eradicated large-scale scam operations, rights groups and experts assert that criminal syndicates have simply transitioned to decentralized operations rather than being truly dismantled.
vietnam.vn
· 2026-09-08
Thai police arrested 12 South Korean nationals and their Chinese boss operating a call center in Samut Prakan province that targeted over 1,000 South Korean victims through phone scams. The perpetrators impersonated government prosecutors and officials, falsely claiming victims were involved in criminal investigations to trick them into transferring money. The group, which had illegally entered Thailand six months prior and relocated every two months to avoid detection, operated from a luxury house equipped with 13 workstations, computers, mobile phones, and forged official documents.
vladtv.com
· 2026-09-08
DJ Vlad's 80-year-old mother lost $200,000 to an FBI impersonation scam that began with a fake Charles Schwab pop-up warning her account was compromised, leading fake federal agents to gain remote computer access and direct her to purchase gold coins that were handed off in a parking lot. Former CIA officer Charles Finfrock explains the scam's tactics of using authority, fear, and secrecy to isolate victims and exploit bank systems, highlighting the rising trend of gold and cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors.
losbanosenterprise.com
· 2026-09-08
Merced Police are hosting an elder fraud prevention class on September 15, 2026, for residents 50 and older as the county experiences multiple active scams targeting seniors, including impersonation of law enforcement officers demanding payment for missed jury duty, family emergency scams claiming arrested relatives need money for ankle monitors or bonds, and fraudulent emails posing as county departments requesting wire transfers for fake invoices. The scams have used increasingly sophisticated methods including spoofed phone numbers, fake official documents, and AI-generated voice imitations to deceive victims.
wgal.com
· 2026-09-08
A 63-year-old woman from Lebanon County lost $384,000 in a romance scam after meeting a scammer posing as a country music star on TikTok in February. The scammer convinced her to move communications to Telegram and repeatedly requested money and hundreds of Apple gift cards for his supposed music career while instructing her not to tell her family. The scam was ultimately discovered by the victim's children, and authorities note these scams typically target emotionally vulnerable individuals including lonely people and widows.
thediplomat.com
· 2026-09-07
Indian call centers operating primarily from rural regions like Jamtara and Mewat generate approximately $10 billion in annual losses globally through technical support scams, government impersonation, and "digital arrest" schemes targeting victims in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. The scam infrastructure relies on VoIP networks, money mule accounts, and underground remittance systems, with cryptocurrency pig-butchering schemes alone exceeding $3.6 billion in losses in 2024. Local politicians in economically disadvantaged areas provide scammers protection in exchange for votes, creating systemic complicity that enables the fraud networks to operate with minimal legal consequences.
themanchestermirror.com
· 2026-09-07
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office warns of increasing impersonation scams via phone, email, and text that use AI technology to appear legitimate and demand money, gift cards, or financial payments while threatening arrest or detention. The Sheriff's Office emphasizes it never requests money or financial compensation from individuals and urges community members to verify all communications claiming to be from the office by contacting Metro Dispatch at 734-994-2911 or 911.
telegraphherald.com
· 2026-09-07
A 30-year-old Dubuque man, Andrew R. Stant, was arrested for impersonating a police officer and using various scams to defraud a woman of approximately $17,000. Stant was charged with first-degree theft and impersonating a public official and was taken into custody at his residence.
macaupostdaily.com
· 2026-09-07
A young mainland Chinese man lost 2.7 million yuan (approximately 3.1 million patacas) in a "fake police" scam where a caller impersonating a mainland police officer accused him of fraud involvement and convinced him to disclose his online banking credentials under the pretense of a "funds investigation." The scammer subsequently drained the victim's bank account, and the victim remained unaware of the fraud even after initial contact from Judiciary Police officers in Macau. The case has been referred to the PJ Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
hoodline.com
· 2026-09-06
An Athens man was catfished by 25-year-old Caleb Jonquay Mills of South Carolina, who created a fake persona of a Florida sheriff's deputy named Hailey Morello using stolen photographs, fake social media accounts, voice-changing technology, and multiple phone numbers to deceive the victim into believing they were engaged. Police suspect Mills may have been secretly living inside the victim's apartment without his knowledge while he was at work, and the victim reportedly sent money to the fraudster before the scheme was discovered in July 2026. Mills was arrested on charges including identity fraud, impersonating a public officer, and making false statements to law enforcement.
fox5ny.com
· 2026-09-06
Nassau County authorities have arrested Aurelia Soogea, 39, and William Fickbohm, 71, for an elaborate home rental scam involving breaking into properties, stealing keys, and posing as homeowners to collect deposits and rent payments from unsuspecting tenants. The initial known victim lost $7,000 in a July 17 incident, but police believe the suspects operated across multiple towns and may have defrauded additional victims. The duo faces charges including second-degree burglary, third-degree grand larceny, and first-degree scheme to defraud.
the420.in
· 2026-09-05
A 63-year-old businessman in Noida lost ₹1.45 crore after being subjected to a 26-day "digital arrest" scam where fraudsters impersonated Delhi Police, ATS, and NIA officials, threatening him with terrorism and money-laundering charges while isolating him from family. The scammers made four transfers from the victim's account between August 7-21 using psychological manipulation and fake official documentation, with police now tracing the beneficiary accounts and money trail. "Digital arrest" is a cyber fraud technique where criminals impersonate law enforcement to create panic and psychological control, convincing victims they are under surveillance and must send money to prove innocence.
tanea.com.au
· 2026-09-04
Greece is strengthening criminal penalties and establishing a specialized police unit to combat phone scams targeting elderly citizens, which authorities describe as an "epidemic." Scammers impersonate relatives, police, or utility company employees to pressure victims into sending money, with recent cases involving losses of €76,500 from a single victim and €1.6 million stolen by one organized group in three months.
legit.ng
· 2026-09-04
The FBI has placed four Nigerian men—Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh, Felix Osilama Okpoh, Nnamdi Orson Benson, and Micheal Olorunyomi—on its cybercrime wanted list for operating a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded over 70 U.S. businesses of more than $6 million. The suspects, believed to be residing in Nigeria, sent spoofed emails requesting fraudulent wire transfers, operated romance scams targeting elderly individuals, and supplied fraudulent bank accounts to receive stolen funds. All four face federal charges including wire fraud, conspiracy, identity theft, and access device fraud
hutchpost.com
· 2026-09-04
Financial scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated using artificial intelligence, caller ID spoofing, and impersonation tactics targeting people of all ages in Hutchinson, Kansas. Common schemes include impersonation of law enforcement, courts, and government agencies claiming warrants or injuries to create urgency and pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information. Hutchinson Police Detective Pearson Schrag advises residents to slow down, verify caller information independently, and avoid providing personal details to unsolicited callers, with victims encouraged to contact their financial institutions and law enforcement immediately if money is stolen.
wbko.com
· 2026-09-04
The Bowling Green Police Department hosted a scam prevention seminar after residents lost approximately $800,000 to scams in 2026. Law enforcement, FBI agents, and financial representatives educated attendees on common fraud tactics, including romance scams, tech scams, and impersonation schemes that often involve cryptocurrency or gift cards. Adults aged 60 and older are disproportionately targeted, though scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated with new technology like AI.
13abc.com
· 2026-09-04
This article announces an episode of "Aging Untold Extra," a streaming show that covers topics relevant to aging adults, including an interview with a neurologist about dementia and its treatments. The episode also warns viewers about a jury duty scam in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to pressure victims into providing money or personal information by threatening consequences for missing jury duty.
amp.scmp.com
· 2026-09-04
Phone scams in Hong Kong surged 45% to 4,830 cases in the first half of 2026, with impersonating customer service representatives being the most common tactic accounting for nearly half of incidents. Victims lost an average of HK$270,000 (US$34,500) per phone scam, with one resident falling victim every hour, according to Hong Kong police. Overall fraud losses decreased slightly to HK$3.51 billion (US$447.6 million) despite the rise in phone scam cases.
abc7.com
· 2026-09-04
Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, a 65-year-old Malibu resident and CEO of tech company StarClub Inc., was convicted of wire fraud for defrauding investors of more than $20 million through false claims about an app for celebrity monetization, then fled the country before sentencing. Fritsch used investor funds to purchase luxury vehicles, upgrade his yacht, and renovate his mansion before being sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $26.8 million in restitution. The FBI has added him to its Most Wanted Fraudsters list and is offering up to $150,000 for information leading to his apprehension,
longisland.news12.com
· 2026-09-03
A 70-year-old Hicksville woman wired $919,200 to a scammer claiming to be with the Delhi Police Department who said she was involved in a crime in India requiring financial restitution. The fraudster, Fnu Tierigeli, 32, of Woodside, Queens, attempted to extort an additional $300,000 by claiming CIA agents needed to examine gold bars as part of an investigation. Nassau County police arrested Tierigeli during a sting operation in which she attempted to collect a bag of counterfeit gold bars valued at approximately $284,650, and charged her with second-degree attempted grand larceny.
globenewswire.com
· 2026-09-03
Trust Onion, a free app launched in September 2026, helps families combat AI voice-cloning scams by providing three automatically rotating private codewords that real family members can verify but scammers cannot replicate. Older Americans lost $7.7 billion to fraud in 2025 (up 59% from the prior year), with the FTC estimating true losses could reach $81.5 billion annually as AI-enabled impersonation scams increasingly target seniors and other groups. The app requires no account setup and includes additional verification features like timestamped selfies for added security during high-stakes situations.
gandernewsroom.com
· 2026-09-03
AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating celebrities like Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Steve Martin, and Bill Gates are being used in scams targeting seniors, with Michigan seniors reporting nearly $170 million in cybercrime losses in 2024. The scams proliferate on Meta platforms (Facebook and Instagram) through fraudulent ads directing victims to fake websites or connecting them with scammers posing as legitimate service representatives, with internal Meta documents indicating that approximately 10% of the company's advertising revenue comes from such scams. Experts attribute seniors' vulnerability to lower digital literacy and their tendency to trust phone interactions over online transactions, while state protections and platform safeguards have proven insufficient to prevent these
amac.us
· 2026-09-03
A senior lost significant money to a tech support scam after a caller claiming to represent a well-known tech company convinced her to grant remote computer access and wire payment for repairs. The article emphasizes that seniors are frequently targeted by scammers seeking money or personal information, and recommends learning red flags (unexpected urgency, requests for wire transfers or gift cards), staying informed about current scams, reporting fraud to the FTC or relevant authorities, and sharing scam warnings with friends and family to build community awareness and protection.
live5news.com
· 2026-09-03
A Summerville woman nearly fell victim to an impersonation scam when a caller claiming to be from the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office threatened her with 72 hours in jail and demanded $8,900 over an allegedly missed court date. The scammer used personal information and cloned the sheriff's office phone number to appear legitimate, but the victim verified the call independently and discovered the fraud. The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office reports this is part of a pattern of increasingly sophisticated scams in the area, with other victims losing $2,900 and $100,000 in recent incidents.
yellow.com
· 2026-09-03
Ukrainian authorities shut down a Kyiv-based cryptocurrency fraud ring that operated fake investment platforms and drained wallets across over 20 countries, moving up to $1 million monthly at its peak. The 25-year-old organizer and 46 recruited associates lured victims through Telegram by promoting fictitious crypto projects, then used hidden drainer code to steal funds after victims connected their wallets and approved test transactions. Police identified 62 victims and seized over 100 computers, 100 phones, and other assets during 34 searches in the region.
financefeeds.com
· 2026-09-03
"Pig butchering" scams using WhatsApp fake profiles have cost Americans billions, with cryptocurrency fraud alone generating $11 billion in losses and 181,565 complaints in 2025. The scheme operates in four phases: scammers posing as attractive financial professionals contact victims via WhatsApp, build trust over weeks, encourage small crypto investments on fake platforms showing fabricated profits, then demand additional fees before disappearing. A recent federal case against the NanoBit platform resulted in $5.5 million in ordered restitution from six defendants who defrauded 18 victims of approximately $967,000 in direct deposits, with over $2 million wired to Hong Kong accounts
aspistrategist.org.au
· 2026-09-03
Southeast Asian crime groups operating sophisticated scam factories in Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and the Philippines have cost Australians approximately A$3 billion in 2022, with sophisticated operations including AI-driven fraud, banking trojans, and forced labor schemes. Major compounds like the Chinatown complex in Sihanoukville produce remote-access malware, impersonate government agencies, and recruit workers internationally who are coerced into conducting scams targeting Australian bank accounts and cryptocurrency. Scammers increasingly use AI to impersonate police officers and create realistic communications, making traditional fraud detection increasingly difficult as the operations grow more sophisticated.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2026-09-03
A retired nurse, Susan Bivins, lost over $200,000 to a scammer posing as a federal agent and subsequently received an $80,000 tax bill from the IRS for the withdrawn retirement funds, forcing her to sell her home. The case illustrates a broader problem where scam victims face compounding financial hardships including tax bills, bank fees, and loan repayments long after losing money to fraud. US consumers reported a record $15.9 billion in scam losses in 2025, a 25% increase from the previous year, with actual losses estimated much higher due to underreporting.
longisland.news12.com
· 2026-09-03
A 70-year-old Hicksville woman wired nearly $919,200 to a scammer over one month after receiving calls claiming she was involved in a crime in India and needed to send money to a fake Delhi Police Department official. The fraud continued when the scammer requested an additional $300,000 in gold bars, but the victim contacted police, who set up a sting operation and arrested a 32-year-old Woodside, Queens woman attempting to collect counterfeit gold. Nassau County police charged the suspect with second-degree attempted grand larceny and are urging the community to alert vulnerable relatives about similar scams.
coralspringsflnews.com
· 2026-09-03
Since 2024, 26 cryptocurrency scam victims in Coral Springs have lost over $320,000, with about 54% being seniors over 60 years old. Scammers impersonating law enforcement or federal agents trick victims into withdrawing cash and depositing it at crypto ATM kiosks, then sending funds via Bitcoin to untraceable digital wallets. The Coral Springs Police Department is advocating for a complete ban on crypto ATMs in the city, arguing that existing Florida regulations with transaction limits are insufficient to prevent fraud.
thestar.com
· 2026-09-02
A widower named Simon lost $800,000 to a romance scammer posing as a woman named Emily after his wife's death, and subsequently faced additional financial losses including $185,000 in loan repayment obligations and taxes on withdrawn funds. Despite reporting the crime to local police and the FBI, Simon received no assistance and was later targeted by another scammer offering recovery services, illustrating a broader pattern where American victims of scams—which reached a record $15.9 billion in reported losses in 2024—receive little institutional support and often face ridicule, financial penalties, and dismissive law enforcement responses. An AP and FRONTLINE investigation found that scam operations, including the Myanmar compound responsible for Simon
gazettextra.com
· 2026-09-02
A widower named Simon lost $800,000 to a romance scam perpetrated by a fake profile called "Emily" and subsequently faced additional financial hardship including loan repayment obligations and taxes, with little help from law enforcement or government agencies. The investigation found that scams in the U.S. have reached record highs with reported losses of $15.9 billion in 2024 and estimated real losses near $200 billion, driven by advances in AI and cryptocurrency, while victims often face stigma, dismissal from authorities, and additional financial consequences. Despite the crimes being traceable—with the stolen funds in this case linked to a scam compound in Myanmar—most victims receive no recourse, and
wvnews.com
· 2026-09-02
A widower named Simon lost $800,000 to a romance scam perpetrated by a fake profile called "Emily," then faced additional financial burdens including $185,000 in loan repayments and taxes, with little help from law enforcement or authorities. Americans reported a record $15.9 billion in scam losses to the FTC in the past year (with estimates suggesting actual losses near $200 billion), driven by advances in AI and cryptocurrency, yet victims often face ridicule, dismissal from authorities, and additional financial consequences rather than meaningful support or recovery assistance.
click2houston.com
· 2026-09-02
A Montgomery County man nearly fell victim to a jury duty scam where callers impersonated law enforcement, claimed he missed federal jury duty, and demanded $15,000 in bond payments using spoofed caller ID and forged documents. The scam pressured the victim to make immediate payment at a kiosk while threatening arrest, but he avoided losing money after a police officer friend confirmed it was fraudulent. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office warns that such scams are increasing nationwide and that legitimate law enforcement agencies never demand payment by phone for missed jury duty or warrants.
apnews.com
· 2026-09-02
A widower named Simon lost $800,000 to a romance scam perpetrated by a fake online profile named "Emily," only to face additional financial hardship including loan repayments and taxes, with little help from authorities. An AP and FRONTLINE investigation found that the U.S. lags behind other countries in combating scams and holding tech and financial companies accountable, leaving victims with minimal recourse despite record losses exceeding $15.9 billion reported to the FTC in 2024, with actual losses estimated near $200 billion. The scam operations, often originating from compounds in Myanmar, continue to proliferate and relocate despite efforts by law enforcement and government agencies to shut them down
upnorthnewswi.com
· 2026-09-02
Wisconsin seniors lost over $92 million to scams in the past year, with AI-powered scams using deepfake videos and spoofing techniques becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly targeting those ages 60 and older through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Scammers use AI-generated deepfake ads directing seniors to fake websites and chatbots that collect personal information, often exploiting seniors' lower digital literacy and preference for speaking with live representatives. Meta reportedly generates approximately $16 billion (10% of its ad revenue) from scam advertisements, despite having review teams and policies designed to prevent such content from appearing on its platforms.
yen.com.gh
· 2026-09-01
The FBI is actively searching for four Nigerian nationals—Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh, Felix Osilama Okpoh, Nnamdi Orson Benson, and Micheal Olorunyomi—indicted for a Business Email Compromise scheme that defrauded over 70 American businesses of more than $6 million. Uzuh orchestrated the fraudulent emails and wire transfers, Okpoh provided hundreds of bank accounts to launder proceeds exceeding $1 million, Benson assisted in the conspiracy, and Olorunyomi additionally ran a separate romance scam targeting elderly and widowed individuals that extracted over $1 million.
legit.ng
· 2026-09-01
The FBI has publicly identified four Nigerian nationals as suspects in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded over 70 American businesses of more than $6 million through spoofed emails and fraudulent wire transfers. The suspects coordinated a complex operation involving money laundering, romance scams targeting elderly victims for over $1 million, and the use of hundreds of bank accounts to receive stolen funds. All four men remain at large in Nigeria with federal arrest warrants issued against them.
m.rediff.com
· 2026-09-01
Text-message scams targeting Indian banks surged 146 percent between mid-2025 and mid-2026, with fraudsters using SMS to impersonate banks, government agencies, and investment platforms to steal OTPs, credentials, and money through tactics like fake trading apps, romance scams, digital arrests, and malware-laden files. Common scam types include investment fraud showing fictitious profits, UPI payment impersonation, banking OTP theft, and mule schemes disguised as work-from-home jobs, with perpetrators exploiting SMS's ability to bypass filters and borrow trust from legitimate banking communications. Users are warned to never share sensitive information via unsolicited messages, verify requests through official
thesuntimesnews.com
· 2026-09-01
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of an increase in impersonation scams where callers, emails, and texts falsely claim to be from law enforcement, using AI and other technology to appear legitimate. Scammers demand money, gift cards, or financial compensation while threatening victims with arrest or incarceration if they don't comply. The Sheriff's Office emphasizes it never requests money or gift cards and advises residents to verify any such communications by calling Metro Dispatch at 734-994-2911 or 911.
attorneygeneral.gov
· 2026-09-01
Pennsylvania's Attorney General highlights a two-year milestone for the Organized Retail Crime Section, which has opened over 170 investigations, made more than 100 arrests, and recovered millions in stolen property and counterfeit merchandise since its launch in July 2024. The section targets large-scale, coordinated retail theft networks that cross jurisdictional boundaries, working collaboratively with law enforcement and retailers like Walmart to identify criminal patterns and dismantle organized theft operations. The initiative was established following Act 42 of 2023, which gave the Attorney General's office authority to prosecute organized retail crime throughout Pennsylvania.
operationsports.com
· 2026-08-31
Daejon Love, 35, and co-conspirator Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested for running a romance scam targeting over two dozen women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California, defrauding them of $1.3 million. Love impersonated an NFL player and posed as a Swiss real estate developer on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, while Chan posed as a wealth manager to convince victims to transfer funds or take out loans for fake investments. Both men face federal charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with investigators confirming 26 victims identified so far.
audacy.com
· 2026-08-31
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged with wire fraud for operating a romance-and-investment scam that defrauded at least 26 women of approximately $1.3 million between February 2022 and August 2024. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player or wealthy real estate investor on dating apps, while Chan impersonated his financial adviser to show fake investment gains; victims were blocked when they ran out of money or asked questions. Both suspects were arrested on August 24 at Boise airport, and federal authorities believe there are additional victims across California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
mikebolhuis.co.za
· 2026-08-31
South African authorities warn that criminals increasingly use AI-generated content—including phishing emails, WhatsApp messages, and voice-cloned deepfakes—to conduct more convincing fraud schemes. Common tactics include impersonating police, bank officials, and family members through realistic fake communications to pressure victims into providing personal information or transferring money, with one reported case involving an impersonation of a Hawks official that resulted in over R100,000 being stolen. The threat is particularly effective because AI does not need to be perfect to deceive victims; it only needs to be convincing enough to trigger an emotional or urgent response, exploiting human psychology rather than requiring sophisticated technical attacks on systems.
ksl.com
· 2026-08-31
Two men, Daejon Labrayae Love (35) and Taylor Jamie Chan (18), were arrested at Boise Airport in connection with a $1.3 million romance and investment scam that targeted at least 26 women across multiple states starting in February 2022. Love posed as a wealthy investor or NFL player on dating apps to build romantic relationships with victims, while Chan posed as his financial adviser; together they convinced women to invest in fake opportunities and manipulated them into sending large sums of money, which they never recovered. The FBI believes there may be additional victims and is seeking information from anyone who encountered the men or has details about the scheme.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2026-08-30
A Florida man nearly lost $14,000 to phone scammers who pressured him to buy gift cards within two hours, but his wife's suspicion led her to alert deputies who intercepted him in a Lowe's parking lot before he could complete the purchase. The scammer had threatened to hack the victim's accounts if he didn't meet the deadline. Nassau County has seen an 80 percent surge in fraud cases since 2021, with authorities warning residents about common scam tactics including artificial urgency, threats of legal action, and requests for payment via gift cards or digital transfers.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-30
An Alva police officer and his wife are charged with exploiting an 82-year-old elderly man by siphoning over $74,000 from his bank accounts and through unauthorized Cash App transfers after he allowed them to live in his home and granted the officer power of attorney. Andrew McVicker, 28, and Abbigale McVicker, 24, face felony charges of exploitation of an elderly person and conspiracy, with the alleged thefts occurring between January 2024 and May 2026. McVicker has been placed on administrative leave from the Alva Police Department pending the investigation's outcome.
theguardian.com
· 2026-08-30
Scammers are impersonating banks and trusted institutions through texts and calls claiming unauthorized payments have been made on victims' accounts, then persuading them to transfer savings or hand over debit cards under the guise of protecting their money. Lloyds Bank reported a 10% increase in fraud losses year-over-year with an average loss of £3,516 per victim, while Santander has seen over £3 million stolen through bank impersonation scams this year with an average loss of £6,000 per victim. Experts advise customers to ignore messages from mobile numbers, hang up and call their bank directly using trusted numbers if suspicious, rather than following numbers provided in unsolicited messages
bgdailynews.com
· 2026-08-30
The Bowling Green Police Department is hosting a scam prevention seminar on Thursday featuring law enforcement and FBI professionals to help residents identify fraud red flags and common scam tactics. The seminar comes as local agencies report increased incidents of impersonation scams, including criminals posing as police officers demanding payment via Bitcoin or gift cards for fake fines or warrants, and a recent case where a Glasgow woman lost over $150,000 to a hacking scam.
crypto.news
· 2026-08-29
A 22-country INTERPOL operation arrested 58 suspects and identified 263 additional individuals involved in West African organized crime networks running romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment schemes, and money laundering operations, resulting in $2.67 million seized. The eight-month Operation Jackal IV targeted criminal groups including Black Axe, with major enforcement actions in South Africa (39 arrests), Argentina (17 arrests), and Romania (11 arrests), dismantling call centers and Crime-as-a-Service networks that defrauded victims globally of approximately €143 million.
boston.com
· 2026-08-29
Twenty Massachusetts communities have banned cryptocurrency kiosks due to their increasing use in scams where fraudsters direct victims to deposit cash and convert it to crypto, making recovery difficult. Massachusetts residents reported over $6.8 million in crypto kiosk scam losses in 2025, with one case involving a cancer patient losing $5,500, and the state attorney general alleges that more than 80 percent of high-value customers at one major operator's kiosks were involved in scams totaling $10.6 million. All 14 Massachusetts county sheriffs have urged statewide legislation to ban the machines, though the state Senate and House have not yet agreed on the measure.
kcra.com
· 2026-08-29
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested and charged with wire fraud for operating a romance scam where Love posed as a wealthy San Francisco 49ers player or real estate investor on dating apps, while Chan impersonated his financial adviser to convince at least 26 women across four states to invest in fictitious opportunities. The scheme, which ran from February 2022 until their arrests in August 2026, netted approximately $1.3 million, with victims being shown fake bank accounts and investment gains through manipulated screenshots and FaceTime calls. Once victims exhausted their funds or questioned the investments, Love blocked communication and kept the money, with
abc7.com
· 2026-08-29
Daejon Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested and charged with wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 26 women out of approximately $1.3 million between February 2022 and 2026. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player and wealthy investor on dating apps, while Chan posed as his financial adviser, convincing victims they were in romantic relationships and encouraging them to invest in fake schemes and take out personal loans. The scheme spanned California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, with the FBI believing there are additional victims beyond the 26 identified.
news.immigration.gov.tw
· 2026-08-28
Taiwan's 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline has identified five prevalent scams in 2026, including fake investment schemes, AI deepfakes, romance scams, impersonation of police or prosecutors, and phishing messages, with scammers using various deception tactics to gain trust and solicit money or personal information. The hotline advises the public to verify suspicious requests, stay calm when asked to transfer funds or provide sensitive data, and contact 165 for assistance when encountering potential fraud.
ktre.com
· 2026-08-28
Scammers in Angelina County, Texas are impersonating sheriff's deputies through spoofed phone calls, threatening victims with arrest for missing jury duty or court appearances and demanding payment via Bitcoin kiosks to avoid arrest. At least two victims lost significant sums—one person transferred $35,000 through a Bitcoin kiosk and another attempted to pay $10,000—with tens of thousands of dollars total lost in the area, as scammers use pressure tactics and stay on the line while victims complete transactions.
straitstimes.com
· 2026-08-26
Singapore lost $410.6 million to scams in the first half of 2026, a decrease from $500.2 million in the same period of 2025, with 16,821 cases reported. Eight in 10 victims were manipulated into voluntarily transferring money to scammers rather than having their accounts directly compromised, with elderly victims (65+) suffering the highest average losses at $42,347 per person. The most common scam types were e-commerce ($8 million in losses), investment scams ($169.8 million), and government official impersonation scams, with notable increases in Pokemon card trading scams rising from 279 to 605
chinadaily.com.cn
· 2026-08-26
Fraudsters are increasingly targeting minors in China through telecom scams involving fake job offers, impersonation of police officers, and fraudulent gaming transactions, with cases spiking during summer holidays when children spend more time online. Victims include primary and middle school students who have lost amounts ranging from several hundred to over 74,000 yuan after being pressured or intimidated into transferring money through various schemes involving social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps. Authorities are urging parents to restrict payment functions on children's devices and advise minors to report suspicious requests to parents immediately rather than attempting to handle situations alone.
eagleobserver.com
· 2026-08-25
Two Indian nationals, Prashant Gajera and Dharaben Bavadiya, were sentenced to five years of suspended imposition of sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit theft in connection with an elder fraud scheme operating in Arkansas. The pair served as money couriers in a PayPal refund scam, where they were arrested in April 2024 during an undercover sting operation after attempting to collect $29,500 in cash from an undercover officer posing as an elderly victim. Both were ordered to pay $1,000 fines plus court costs, with convictions that could result in deportation.
13abc.com
· 2026-08-25
Adrian, Michigan police are warning of a surge in crypto ATM scams where fraudsters pose as law enforcement and threaten arrest to coerce victims into sending Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies through gas station ATMs via QR codes. Multiple local victims have lost nearly $10,000 to these scams in recent days, and the money cannot be recovered once sent. The scams have been rising steadily since 2023 but are accelerating in 2026, with authorities urging residents to recognize red flags such as unsolicited urgent demands for payment or threats of arrest.
premierchristianity.com
· 2026-08-25
A data breach at Beacon CRM compromised personal information of donors and volunteers from over six Christian charities, including names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and donation records. The breach is particularly concerning because scammers can now target high-value donors with tailored fraud schemes after purchasing the stolen data on the dark web. Fraud experts advise affected individuals to remain vigilant against targeted scams and to verify contact from banks or authorities by independently calling official numbers rather than using contact information provided by callers.
creators.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-24
A man impersonating a sergeant from the Adams County Sheriff's Department called the author claiming there was a legal matter to discuss, but the scammer made a critical error by referring to the agency as "Sheriff's Department" instead of "Sheriff's Office," which raised suspicion. The author independently verified the call was fraudulent and discovered the sheriff's office had warned of a scammer impersonating "Sgt. Don Davis" and falsely claiming victims missed federal jury summons, with the ultimate goal typically being to extract money through threats of legal consequences.
whio.com
· 2026-08-24
Scammers in Warren County are impersonating law enforcement officers to defraud residents through phone and text calls, claiming victims have missed court dates or owe unpaid fines and demanding immediate payment via cash withdrawals, Bitcoin, or digital payment services like Zelle under threat of arrest. The sheriff's office warns that legitimate law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone, request money instead of arrest, or use cryptocurrency for transactions. Victims should be aware that real officers do not pressure people to stay on the line during financial transactions or threaten immediate arrest when questioned.
rwcpulse.com
· 2026-08-24
A Redwood City woman thwarted an alleged elder fraud scheme by contacting police instead of complying with scammers posing as AppleCare representatives who instructed her to withdraw cash for a courier pickup. Investigators arrested a 22-year-old man from Fresno after tracking his vehicle using license plate reader technology when he attempted to flee from officers in San Francisco. The suspect was booked on charges including financial elder abuse, attempted grand theft, conspiracy, and fraud, and the victim avoided any financial loss due to her quick action reporting the scam to authorities.
candgnews.com
· 2026-08-24
Shelby Township police are reporting a significant uptick in scams targeting seniors, with individual losses ranging from hundreds to $30,000-$80,000, where victims are draining life savings and retirement accounts. Common scams involve criminals impersonating government agencies, family members, or utility companies and creating urgency through claims of arrests, medical emergencies, or service disconnections to pressure victims into sending money via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Police urge seniors to verify information independently, never send money to unknown callers, and contact local authorities to confirm the legitimacy of suspicious calls.
macaupostdaily.com
· 2026-08-24
A local woman lost approximately 1.9 million patacas in a "fake police" scam in which a caller impersonating a mainland immigration officer claimed she was under investigation for sending fraudulent messages and demanded a deposit for bail. A separate incident involved a young local man who was targeted in a pornographic blackmail scam after clicking a malicious link on social media; the scammer demanded 8,000 yuan but the victim refused and reported the case to police.
mychesco.com
· 2026-08-23
A 35-year-old man was arrested after scamming an Upper Chichester resident through impersonations of Microsoft, Citizens Bank, and the FBI, threatening arrest for money laundering to extort $40,000. The victim became suspicious and contacted authorities before withdrawing any money, preventing the loss. The suspect, Jian Jian Yu, faces multiple charges including financial exploitation of an older adult, theft, and fraud.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-23
Leonard Weston Ramey Jr., an 80-year-old fugitive wanted since 1989, is suspected of operating fraudulent investment schemes across multiple states since the 1970s, defrauding investors in Clackamas County, Oregon alone of approximately $600,000 by posing as a stockbroker and creating fake account statements before disappearing when victims requested withdrawals. Ramey, who has used at least 15 aliases and evaded capture for over five decades, was formally charged in Oregon in 2002 with racketeering, money laundering, securities fraud, and aggravated theft, and is now on the FBI's most wanted list.
pasadenanow.com
· 2026-08-23
The Los Angeles County Superior Court warned residents about a jury duty scam where callers falsely claim victims missed jury service and face arrest warrants to pressure them into providing personal or financial information. The scam involves threatening calls, texts, or emails demanding immediate action or payment, but legitimate court communications never threaten arrest, demand immediate courthouse reporting, or request sensitive information like Social Security numbers or bank details. Residents are advised to verify jury service status through the court's official website and report suspicious communications to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-23
A 21-year-old Indian national from Jersey City was arrested at Toronto Pearson Airport after fleeing the U.S. while facing federal charges for his role as a courier in a $7.5 million elder fraud scheme targeting nine victims aged 59-87. Goswami allegedly collected cash and gold from victims who were deceived by scammers posing as government officials claiming their bank accounts or personal information had been compromised. He was released on pretrial conditions on August 17 but crossed into Canada the next day and attempted to board a flight to Qatar before Canadian authorities detained him on immigration grounds.
deccanherald.com
· 2026-08-23
Cybercriminals in Bengaluru have shifted from random targeting to strategically profiling high-net-worth individuals—including IT professionals, doctors, financial traders, and entrepreneurs—using social media scraping and dark web databases to execute sophisticated scams like fake investments and digital arrests. A notable case involved a 57-year-old IT professional losing Rs 31.83 crore over six months in a digital-arrest scam, though she delayed reporting for eight months. Investigators attribute the scams' success to victims' high disposable income, societal stigma preventing timely complaints, and the loss of the critical "Golden Hour" window needed to freeze funds before they are laundered offshore.
independent.co.uk
· 2026-08-23
Impersonation scam victims lost an average of £3,516 in the past year, a 10% increase from £3,200 the previous year, according to Lloyds Banking Group data. While overall impersonation scam reports fell 3%, specific types increased, including police impersonation scams where victims were tricked into purchasing gold, with one 85-year-old woman losing £188,000 across eight transactions. Common impersonation scams involve fraudsters posing as banks, police, HMRC, or broadband providers, typically initiating contact via phone, text, email, or social media to pressure victims into transferring money or revealing personal details.
kfvs12.com
· 2026-08-22
A Jamaican citizen, 29-year-old Jenel Chrissancia Rowe, was extradited to the U.S. following investigation into a lottery scam that defrauded Graves County, Kentucky residents of approximately $80,000. Victims were deceived through the mail into believing they had won $250 million and were instructed to deposit money into Rowe's account to pay fake IRS fees. Rowe, identified as one of six co-conspirators, faces charges of Theft by Deception and Engaging in Organized Crime.
dallasexpress.com
· 2026-08-22
Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, a 21-year-old Indian national, was detained at Toronto Pearson International Airport while attempting to flee to Qatar after being released on pretrial conditions, following his arrest for serving as a courier in an elder fraud scheme. The scheme allegedly targeted nine victims aged 59-87 through fraudulent phone and internet calls impersonating law enforcement, pressuring them to convert assets to cash or gold, resulting in losses totaling approximately $7.56 million. Goswami faces charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with each charge carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
nbclosangeles.com
· 2026-08-22
Scammers are calling Los Angeles County residents claiming they missed jury duty and have an arrest warrant, threatening legal consequences to pressure victims into providing personal and financial information. The LA County Superior Court confirmed it never calls, texts, or emails residents with arrest threats or requests for Social Security numbers, credit card details, or bank information, and advised residents to verify jury status through the court's website and report suspicious communications to local law enforcement or the FTC.
abc7.com
· 2026-08-22
Scammers in Los Angeles County are calling residents claiming they missed jury duty and face arrest warrants, threatening legal consequences to extort personal and financial information. The Los Angeles County Superior Court warned that it never initiates contact via phone, email, or text to threaten arrest or demand immediate payment, and residents should verify jury status directly through the court's website. Anyone receiving such suspicious communications should not provide personal information and should report the scam to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
macaudailytimes.com.mo
· 2026-08-21
A middle-aged woman in Macau lost MOP460,000 in a romance scam when a man posing as a retiring Chinese military officer convinced her to invest in a fake "China Aerospace" metal investment platform through cryptocurrency transfers in June and July. The scammer disappeared in August without providing any investment returns, and police are investigating to identify the fraudster and trace the stolen funds. In a separate case, authorities arrested a mainland Chinese man for conducting illegal currency exchange operations near the ZAPE district, seizing HKD24,400 in cash.
creators.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-21
A caller impersonating a sergeant from the Adams County Sheriff's Department attempted to defraud the author by claiming a legal matter required attention, but the scam was detected when the caller incorrectly referred to the agency as "Sheriff's Department" instead of "Sheriff's Office." The scammer, identifying himself as "Sgt. Don Davis," was part of a scheme warning potential victims of missed federal jury summons and demanding payment, though the sheriff's office confirmed no such sergeant exists and the agency does not contact people about legal proceedings in that manner.
globalnation.inquirer.net
· 2026-08-21
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu ordered an investigation into a second fake government agency, the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, headed by George Buchi Nwabueze, which operated illegally from a government office. This discovery follows the recent uncovering of another fraudulent agency, the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, that operated for years and accessed public funds. Analysts suspect the perpetrators are collaborating with senior government officials to embezzle money from the national budget, with three officials already suspended and an arrest warrant issued for Nwabueze.
washingtonstand.com
· 2026-08-21
Criminals are increasingly using AI tools to perpetrate fraud at unprecedented scale and profitability, with the FBI reporting over $893 million in AI-related fraud losses in 2025, including romance scams, business email compromise schemes, and voice-cloning extortion. Seniors aged 60 and older filed only 14% of AI-fraud complaints but suffered over a third of total losses ($352 million), making them disproportionately vulnerable to these sophisticated, personalized attacks at mass scale. Criminal networks are using AI to generate convincing profiles, synthetic content, and forged documents while automating fraud campaigns that previously required individual human attention for each victim.
au.lifehacker.com
· 2026-08-20
Meta removed 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts associated with cybercrime and digital scams in the second half of 2025, though attacks continue due to low costs and automated execution. Common WhatsApp scams rely on social engineering rather than sophisticated hacking, with the most dangerous being account takeover schemes where attackers trick victims into sharing verification codes, then impersonate them to extort money from their contacts. Users can protect themselves by enabling two-step verification, never sharing verification codes, and verifying urgent money requests through direct phone calls using known contact numbers.
vindy.com
· 2026-08-20
Mahoning County Sheriff's Office issued a warning about telephone scams in which fraudsters spoof the sheriff's number, impersonate law enforcement, and demand victims transfer thousands of dollars via Bitcoin while claiming to have arrest warrants against them. Recent scams in the Boardman area have cost residents tens of thousands of dollars, with individual victims losing between $6,000 and $69,000 through various schemes including impersonation of banks, credit unions, Microsoft, and law enforcement. Authorities advise residents to hang up on unexpected calls demanding money, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and never send money via Bitcoin or gift cards to unknown persons.
tovima.com
· 2026-08-20
An elderly woman in Pella, Greece was defrauded of €15,000 and three gold coins in a phone scam where perpetrators posed as a threatening criminal and a protective police officer. The scammers convinced the victim to hand over her money and valuables to an accomplice, though one suspect was arrested and police continue investigating other gang members. Greek authorities warn the public against trusting unknown callers claiming official roles and advise immediate reporting of such attempts.
fox10phoenix.com
· 2026-08-19
A woman in Yavapai County lost $4.3 million to fraudsters who threatened her with jail time, while a recent case in Arizona involved a man who lost his home through deed fraud perpetrated by his massage therapist and subsequently took his own life. Advocates and lawmakers are pushing for revival of legislation that would expand Arizona's definition of "vulnerable adult" to include seniors over 65 and provide stronger protections against elder fraud, after a similar bill failed to pass in the last legislative session.
wpxi.com
· 2026-08-19
Scammers impersonating Allegheny County Sheriff's deputies are targeting residents in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, with calls claiming victims missed court dates and owe fines for identity theft cases. Victims are instructed to deposit money into kiosks and Bitcoin wallets, with one victim losing $32,000; scammers also use AI-generated fake arrest warrants to enhance the deception. Police warn that legitimate law enforcement never demand payment via cryptocurrency or kiosks, and urge residents to contact their local police department if they receive such calls.
kwhi.com
· 2026-08-19
The Austin County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of an impersonation scam where callers claiming to be police officers or court clerks demand immediate payment via cash or cryptocurrency to resolve fabricated arrest warrants for missed jury duty, unpaid traffic tickets, or federal charges. Legitimate law enforcement never demands instant payment over the phone, and victims should hang up, verify the claim through official channels, and report any contact to authorities.
wtae.com
· 2026-08-19
North Huntingdon Township police are investigating a scam where callers impersonated law enforcement, claiming victims had missed court dates and arrest warrants were issued, then demanded cryptocurrency payments via Bitcoin. Four victims reported the scam in August 2026, with callers keeping them on the phone while instructing them to withdraw funds and scan QR codes, some receiving AI-generated fake warrant documents. Police stressed that legitimate law enforcement agencies never demand payment for fines or warrants through cryptocurrency or kiosks.
pressherald.com
· 2026-08-19
Scammers in Cumberland County are impersonating sheriff's office lieutenants and calling victims claiming they missed jury duty, threatening fines or arrest to coerce payments or personal information. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office warns that law enforcement does not handle jury duty selection or scheduling, and advises targets to hang up immediately and never provide sensitive data or money to callers making such threats.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-19
Elderly residents in Oconee County, Georgia recovered stolen cryptocurrency after falling victim to a scam where fraudsters posing as FTC agents used fake bank breach warnings to trick victims into withdrawing cash and depositing it into crypto kiosks while keeping them on the phone. Law enforcement from multiple agencies traced the stolen funds through digital wallets and froze them at a centralized crypto exchange before they could be liquidated, making this recovery unusually successful in a crime category where losses are normally irreversible. The case highlights the effectiveness of new Georgia legislation (House Bill 945) that established daily transaction limits, fee caps, and mandatory refund procedures for crypto kiosk operators, with significant penalties for non-compliance.
lifehacker.com
· 2026-08-19
Meta removed 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts in the second half of 2025 due to cyber crime and digital scams, with attackers using low-tech social engineering tactics rather than sophisticated technology. Common WhatsApp scams include account hijacking through verification code theft and emergency impersonation scams where attackers access compromised accounts to solicit money from the victim's contacts. Users can protect themselves by enabling 2-step verification, never sharing verification codes, and verifying sensitive requests through direct phone calls to known contact numbers.
ageuk.org.uk
· 2026-08-19
AI-enabled scams are increasingly using voice cloning, deepfake videos, and fake profiles to deceive people into sending money or sharing personal information. Common scams include impersonation calls from supposed relatives or trusted organizations requesting urgent money transfers, fake celebrity endorsements promoting investment schemes or products, and romance scams using AI-generated photos and manipulated video calls. Victims can protect themselves by verifying callers through independent contact methods, checking regulatory registers before investing, and being cautious of unsolicited requests for money or urgent financial action.
ageuk.org.uk
· 2026-08-19
AI-enabled scams are increasingly used by fraudsters to impersonate trusted individuals and organizations, including voice cloning of family members or officials requesting urgent money transfers, deepfake videos of celebrities promoting fake investments and products, and AI-generated profile photos in romance scams. Age UK advises consumers to verify callers through independent contact, check financial firms on the FCA Register before investing, and avoid sending money to people they haven't met in person, noting that legitimate banks and officials will never request money transfers to "safe accounts" or demand immediate action based on threats to finances.
ksat.com
· 2026-08-18
The FBI's San Antonio Division reports that elder fraud targeting people age 60 and older resulted in over 200,000 complaints and $7.5 billion in losses last year, with common scams including impersonation of law enforcement, the IRS, and government agencies. Older adults are frequently targeted because they may have accumulated wealth, are more likely to engage with strangers, and often fall victim to repeated scams. The FBI recommends victims hang up and independently verify claims, treat cryptocurrency and gift card requests as red flags, and promptly report fraud to their bank, local law enforcement, or the FBI.
nj1015.com
· 2026-08-18
An Ocean County senior citizen was scammed out of $50,000 after receiving a fake Microsoft pop-up warning that directed her to call a fraudulent number, where scammers impersonating Microsoft and Wells Fargo employees convinced her to mail a cashier's check. When the scammers attempted to collect an additional $30,000 via courier, 24-year-old Gurdutt Singh of South Richmond, New York was arrested at the victim's home and charged with conspiracy to commit theft by deception and money laundering.
einpresswire.com
· 2026-08-18
Georgia's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit, working with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office and GBI, successfully seized and returned cryptocurrency to elderly fraud victims who were deceived by scammers impersonating the FTC. The perpetrators used fake computer pop-up alerts claiming bank account breaches to convince an elderly couple to withdraw funds and deposit them into crypto kiosks, instructing them to avoid detection by bank employees. Law enforcement traced the stolen cryptocurrency through multiple wallets and recovered the funds from a crypto exchange wallet, resulting in court-ordered return to the victims.
cepa.org
· 2026-08-18
An Ohio woman lost approximately $663,000, including her life savings and Roth IRA, to a cryptocurrency investment scam that began with a text message from a scammer posing as a friend. The FBI now receives around 3,000 fraud complaints daily, with cyber-enabled fraud accounting for $17.7 billion in losses during 2025, prompting the U.S. government to authorize vetted private companies to conduct cyber surveillance and operations against foreign criminal organizations.
law.georgia.gov
· 2026-08-17
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's office seized and returned cryptocurrency to elderly fraud victims in Oconee County who were targeted by scammers impersonating the Federal Trade Commission. The perpetrators used fake bank breach alerts to convince an elderly couple to withdraw funds and deposit them into crypto kiosks, then instructed them on how to avoid detection while the funds were transferred through multiple wallets. Law enforcement traced the stolen cryptocurrency and secured a court order to return the funds to the victims.