Scam
FTC warns of record $3.5 billion losses to imposter scams in 2025
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned that Americans lost $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, with reported losses nearly tripling since 2020. Imposter scams were also the most reported fraud category last year, accounting for nearly one in three fraud reports filed with the FTC. In these scams, the fraudsters reach victims through […]
FBI: Fraudsters use couriers to steal money in crypto scams
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned that criminals are using couriers to collect money from victims of cryptocurrency investment scams, also known as pig butchering or romance baiting. Such scams usually start with the fraudsters reaching out to their targets via social media, dating sites, and messaging apps, building trust, and then luring victims into fake […]
Google adds Android protection against AI deepfake scam calls
Google is introducing a new Android security feature that will detect and flag phone calls in which scammers use artificial intelligence to impersonate a user’s personal contacts. Called “fake call detection,” the feature is rolling out globally this month to Android 12 and later devices, starting with Pixel devices, and will be enabled by default. Once activated, it works […]
FBI warns of fake FIFA websites running World Cup fraud schemes
The FBI is warning of fake websites impersonating FIFA ahead of the 2026 World Cup, to steal personal and financial information, sell fake tickets and hospitality packages, and push other fraud related to the event. With the international soccer tournament set between June 11 and July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, threat […]
FBI: Americans lost over $388 million to scams using crypto ATMs in 2025
The FBI says Americans have lost over $388 million last year to scams using cryptocurrency kiosks, also known as crypto ATMs or Bitcoin ATMs. Cryptocurrency kiosks are physical, standalone electronic terminals (which may or may not require identity verification to prevent money laundering) that resemble bank ATMs and allow users to buy or sell crypto […]
Android 17 to expand banking scam call and privacy protections
Android 17, expected to roll out next month, will introduce several security and privacy features focused on device theft, threat detection, and banking scam calls. Google will be expanding protections against scammers spoofing caller IDs to impersonate financial institutions and trick users into transferring money or revealing account-related information. Android will work with banking apps to detect […]
Telegram Mini Apps abused for crypto scams, Android malware delivery
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a large-scale fraud operation that uses Telegram’s Mini App feature to run crypto scams, impersonate well-known brands, and distribute Android malware. A new report by CTM360 says the platform, dubbed FEMITBOT, is based on a string found in API responses and uses Telegram bots and embedded Mini Apps to create convincing, […]
Police dismantles 9 crypto scam centers, arrests 276 suspects
A joint international operation involving U.S. and Chinese authorities arrested at least 276 suspects and shut down nine cryptocurrency investment fraud centers. The crackdown was led by Dubai Police under the UAE Ministry of Interior and targeted crime networks running so-called pig-butchering schemes (also known as romance baiting), a form of fraud in which scammers […]
European police dismantles €50 million crypto investment fraud ring
Austrian and Albanian authorities dismantled a criminal ring accused of running a large-scale cryptocurrency investment fraud operation that caused estimated losses of over €50 million ($58.5 million) to victims worldwide. The joint action, which started in June 2023 and was supported by Europol and Eurojust, led to the arrest of 10 suspects and searches of […]
FTC: Americans lost over $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned of a massive increase in losses from social media scams since 2020, exceeding $2.1 billion in 2025. According to reports to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network, all age groups (except those 80 and over, who were mainly targeted via phone calls) lost more money to scams originating on […]