Fraudsters are increasingly using government impersonation fraud to deceive and exploit individuals. This form of scam involves criminals posing as officials from trusted government agencies to pressure victims into providing personal information or money. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), over 330,000 reports of business impersonation scams and nearly 160,000 reports of government impersonation scams. These scams rely on fear, urgency, and the authority of government entities to manipulate targets, making them both effective and dangerous.
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fraud,
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Scams,
money,
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government,
taxes,
Social Security,
AI,
artificial intelligence,
cyber attacks,
As Artificial intelligence advances, and one of its most concerning applications is deepfake technology. According to Cyber Defense Magazine, the number of deepfake videos online has surged at an alarming annual rate of 900%. Originally a novelty for entertainment, deepfake voices are now being weaponized for fraud. Criminals are using AI to replicate voices with stunning accuracy, allowing them to impersonate real people and deceive unsuspecting victims.
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Deepfake,
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Small Business,
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artificial intelligence,
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Scams,
AI,
Cyber Defense,
Deepfake Scams,
Protecting yourself from ATM and POS terminal skimming is more crucial now than ever. Criminals have found increasingly sophisticated ways to steal personal and financial information by installing covert devices at ATMs and point-of-sale terminals. These skimming devices capture sensitive card data that can later be used to create counterfeit cards or make unauthorized purchases. According to the FBI, skimming costs financial institutions and consumers more than $1 billion each year fbi.gov, and according to Coin Law, global ATM fraud has surged by 18% in 2023, with losses estimated at $2.4 billion.
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Finances,
financial crimes,
skimming,
Scams,
ATM,
POS Terminal,
small business,
fraudulent,
Fraud,
credit cards,
payment cards,
transactions,
Charity scams exploit the goodwill of individuals by posing as legitimate organizations or causes to misappropriate donations for fraudulent purposes. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans reported losing over $300 million to charity scams in 2023 alone, a substantial portion of which involved fraudulent charitable appeals. These scams often arise after natural disasters, global pandemics, or other crises, preying on donors’ emotions and urgency to act. Unfortunately, this fraudulent activity not only impacts victims financially but also erodes trust in legitimate charities, undermining their ability to assist those in need.
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Scams,
charity,
charities,
nonprofit,
nonprofit organizations,
Protect,
Fraud,
fraudulent,
donations,
charitable,
donors
Scammers defrauded thousands of holiday shoppers through online scams, non-delivery schemes, and fake listings, resulting in substantial financial losses. The FBI reported almost 12,000 victims resulting in losses of over $73 million last holiday season due to scams, with thousands of victims falling prey to phishing emails, fake online stores, and fraudulent social media ads designed to deceive consumers into disclosing personal and financial information.
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Phishing,
Technology,
Scams,
Technology,
Cyber Security,
Protection,
Fraud,
Financial Empowerment,
finance,
holiday shopping,
It has been reported by Gallup poll that about 8% of adult Americans, which is roughly 21 million people, have personally been scammed. Fraud is a widespread problem that can take several forms, each with its own unique characteristics and consequences. It is crucial for individuals and organizations to understand the various types of fraud to stay alert and implement effective preventive measures.