Scams
Survey Scammers Targeting People Who Just Got COVID Shot, Offer Free Prizes
Americans are receiving shady emails and text messages promising free iPads and cash prizes for filling out a post-vaccine survey.
Four Stimulus Check Scams To Look Out for As Government Issues Warning
Among the common scams are fake checks, which "can take weeks to be discovered and untangled," the Federal Trade Commission warns.
Stimulus Payments Arriving on Debit Cards Are Being Confused For Scams
The debit cards arrive in plain white envelopes with a Treasury Department seal. The cards bear a Visa logo on the front and have been issued by MetaBank, which is named on the back.
Man Allegedly Behind 20-Year Psychic Fraud Scheme Extradited to U.S.
Patrice Runner, 54, allegedly scammed about $180 million from American victims over 20 years by sending letters purporting to be from two famous French psychics.
Donald Trump Campaign Site Hackers Ask For Donations to Reveal Data
"We have evidence that completely discredits mr trump as a president proving his criminal involvement and cooperation with foreign actors manipulating the 2020 elections," the hacked site said.
Coronavirus-Related Scams Rise as Hackers Take Advantage of Pandemic
By mid-June the FBI's cybercrime division received more complaints of cyber threats than it received in all of 2019.
Ex Governor Defends Televangelist in Lawsuit Over Fake Coronavirus Cure
Jay Nixon, a lawyer and former two-term Democratic governor of Missouri, is defending Jim Bakker's "religious freedom" after the televangelist was sued by the state for allegedly promoting a fake coronavirus cure.
Coronavirus Scams Cost Americans $23 Million, FTC Says
Americans in all 50 states have reported more than $23 million in losses due to coronavirus scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Michigan Man Charged With Wire Fraud Over Scheme to Sell Nonexistent Masks
Rodney L. Stevenson II faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted on wire fraud charges for allegedly selling "Anti-Viral N95" masks at inflated prices online, then never delivering them.
FCC Warns of Text Scam Offering $30K in Coronavirus Relief
The scam is also just one of many that have proliferated during the epidemic, preying on people's financial and health fears.
Online Stimulus Fund Scams Are On the Rise—Here's How to Stay Protected
"Fake stimulus check scams could be very successful considering the financial chaos coronavirus has unleashed on families worldwide," one top malware researcher told Newsweek.
How to Avoid Coronavirus-Related Scams Amid Plans of Government Payout
Scammers are using the COVID-19 pandemic to take advantage of Americans.
Alex Jones Claims His Colloidal Silver Toothpaste Kills Coronavirus
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is promoting his "Superblue" toothpaste as a remedy against coronavirus, despite health experts insisting that the key ingredient is neither safe nor effective against any ailment.
Fox News Viewers Scammed Into Spending Retirement Savings on Silver: Report
A report from Quartz has revealed that seniors are allegedly being fleeced of thousands of dollars, which they traded for silver coins worth a quarter of what they paid.
DNA Testing Site Used to Catch Criminals Vulnerable to Hackers, Study Finds
A popular third-party genetic genealogy database is vulnerable to security risks that include impersonation of relatives, a study found.
Parents Speak about Closure of FalseGoFundMe
Six-year-old Darci Jackson passed away of cancer last year, but her picture and name have been attached to an unauthorized GoFundMe account. Now her parents are fighting back against the "sick" scammers who tried to defaud others in their daughter's name.
San Diego Man Sentenced for Impersonating Government, Defrauding Immigrants
Despite the defendant's ingenuity in implementing the fraud, he himself fell prey to another financial scam, the Justice Department said.
13 Named in Phoenix Telemarketing Scam
The scammers targeted the elderly and scammed them out of nearly $40 million dollars.
Hurricane Dorian: Scams and Fraud to Be Aware of
In the past, destructive natural disasters have been exploited by scammers. Experts say it is vital to be aware of what to look out for.
New Social Security Scam Claims to Suspend Your Number
Find out how to spot a fake government call—and what to do if you receive one.
Trump Hit With New Business Scam Lawsuit
The lawsuit, funded by a group led by a Democratic donor, alleged that the Trump Organization acted as a racketeering enterprise.
Bitcoin Passes $7,000—But Jordan Belfort Warns of Scams
"I would say 95 percent of people in bitcoin are legit, but it's the 5 percent that kills you every time," Belfort said.
'Fortnite' Player, 8, Sent Mom's License to Stranger
He's far from the first kid to succumb to a scam that was driven by a desire to get ahead in the game.
What Is Uber Vomit Fraud? Drivers Accused of Sick Scam
The ride-sharing company it would "take appropriate actions" if culprits are found.
Russian Police Ordered to Halt 'Negative' Crime News
Regional departments in Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs ordered police to stop publishing "negative news" about minor crimes until after the millions of World Cup attendees have departed in late June.
Houston Megachurch Pastor Accused of $1 Million Scam
Caldwell is a prominent Houston megachurch pastor who was once President George W. Bush's closest spiritual adviser.
Cryptocurrency Scams Target Musk Fans
No, Elon Musk is not giving away big amounts of ether in exchange for small amounts of ether.
Email Scams Target the Lonely on Valentine's Day
Don't trust emails from Russian hotties looking for love.
Genetic Tests Could Allow Companies to Exploit You
Learning your ancestry just got a lot more complicated.
How Criminals in Mexico Are Targeting American Families
The cases are notoriously difficult to prosecute because of untraceable evidence.