A Featured Phool Gets His Revenge Scam of elderly man goes so well, con artists strike again. But this time the Phool is ready for them.  — Two scammers stole $25,000 from a senior in Ventura County. But once they find their mark, scammers love to try again -- so they reached out a second time, but this time the victim was ready -- with the police. The scammers now face jail time and our Featured Phool got his money back. The moral of the story: shame is a scammer's weapon. They count on their victims to feel so much shame that they don't get help. This victim went to the police and successfully landed his scammers in jail.

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.

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.

AARP Fraud Watch Warns Seniors to Be Especially Vigilant During the Holidays  — A new report from the AARP Fraud Watch Network warns that as the holidays approach and millions of people prepare to shop and donate online, scammers are preparing to capitalize. Fake shipping alerts, bogus charities, and gift card scams are just a few of the ways that scammers hope to steal your money and your personal information.

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.

6 new ways Google is protecting you from scams  — Google has rolled out a number of features to help customers avoid scams. Read more to learn how best to use Google's offerings to protect yourself.

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.