Phishing exploits the gap between tools and trust  — Experts at Vanguard describe phishing scams today in a straightforward primer. The key insight: "While phishing is often framed as a single event, it can also mark the starting point for broader scams that evolve over time. In many cases, escalation is not driven by the message itself, but by the response—small actions that signal availability, trust, or willingness to continue the exchange." The most effective way to avoid being phished is to never engage. Don't respond and feed the interaction.

What The Tech: Young People Engage with Scams Even More Than Seniors  — Seniors may be losing the most money, but it's actually young people who are engaging with scams the most. Shopping scams, employment scams, and romance scams are at the top of the list for scam attempts hooking young victims.

San Francisco Retiree Loses $500K Live Savings in Fake Romance  — A San Francisco man lost his life savings in a fake romance with "a woman" he met on Facebook. The woman convinced him to invest with her in crypto so they could afford to start a new life together. Family and friends tried to stop him, but he was too infatuated to listen. In the end, all of the money disappeared.

FBI Norfolk Warns of Romance Scams, Urges Public to Recognize Red Flags Ahead of Valentine’s Day  — “Romance scams are especially devastating because they exploit trust and emotion."

CEOs Bracing For An Explosion of Cyber-Fraud in 2026, Finds WEF  — According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, cyber-enabled fraud—particularly phishing, identity theft, and insider threats—will overtake ransomware as the biggest threat.

How to Avoid Scams in the Age of AI  — AI can be a powerful tool -- even for scammers. A cybersecurity expert provides tips to avoid falling victim.

Crypto ATMs Function as the 'Getaway Car' for Many Scams  — This is how the companies behind crypto ATMs profit as Americans lose millions to scams. "If there was a way to prevent 100% of scams there is no way this industry would survive."

U.S. and U.K. Take Largest Action Ever Targeting Cybercriminal Networks in Southeast Asia  — American losses to online investment scams have been growing steadily, totaling over 16.6 billion dollars. In response, the U.S. Treasury and U.K. government have launched their most expansive joint campaign yet to dismantle Southeast Asia–based cybercrime networks by sanctioning 146 entities tied to the Prince Group Transnational Criminal Organization and cutting off the Cambodia-based Huione Group from the U.S. financial system.

How to spot and stop AI phishing scams  — Everyone is talking about the power of AI these days. Unfortunately, scammers are also turning to AI to making their scams smarter and more effective. A recent victim recently lost $850,000 to a scammer who used AI to pose as Brad Pitt! Here are some tips to avoid falling for a scam.

Barclays Scams Bulletin: Romance scam reports rise 20 per cent as online dating hits 30-year anniversary  — Barclays Scams Bulletin: Romance scam reports rise 20 per cent as online dating hits 30-year anniversary One in 10 UK adults have been targeted, or know someone who has been targeted, by a romance scam In the first quarter of 2025, romance scams were up 20 per cent year-on-year Victims lost £8,000 on average last year, increasing to £19,000 for those 61 and over Three quarters of consumers want tech companies to do more to prevent romance scammers on their platforms The Barclays Scams Bulletin tracks scam data across personal and business current accounts, paired with expert commentary from Barclays digital safety experts