You’d never fall for an online scam, right?  — Wrong, says cybersecurity expert. Con artists use time-tested tricks that can work on anyone regardless of age, IQ — what’s changed is scale. Online scams are on the rise. Last year, American consumers lost $12.5 billion due to cybercrime, which represents a 22 percent increase over the previous year, according to a report by the FBI. Cybercriminals use psychological trickery to dupe victims into giving up their money, and their tactics are becoming more sophisticated. They post fake ads on social media platforms, send emails with phishing links or malware, and recently in the Boston area, solicit payments for unpaid tolls via text message.

Security training cuts phishing risk by 86% globally in a year  — A recent study shows that security training targeting phishing scams reduces risk by 86% in the corporate space. *PhoolPhisher is a tool that offers security training for phishing scams in the consumer space.

Fake Loan Followup  — Beware: Loan-Related Emails May Be Targeted Spam—Even If You Just Applied

US shoppers targeted in sophisticated TikTok scam amid global trade uncertainty  — Online scammers are reportedly targeting US shoppers on TikTok in an elaborate fake luxury products scheme in which the seller claims to have obtained "factory direct" designer clothes. Recently, many users on TikTok have encountered convincing ads promoting discounted items from high-end brands, like Lululemon leggings and a Hermès Birkin lookalike. The voiceover purports that the cheap clothes were pulled straight out of the factory, meaning they possess the same quality materials from the same suppliers—a deal too good to be true.

Receiving odd texts for someone else? Rise of ‘wrong number’ messages is new payday for scammers  — “Hey, how are you?” “Hey, how’s your sore back?” “Sorry, I’m running a little late; I’ll meet you for dinner at 6:15.” If you have been on the receiving end of an increasing number of seemingly random and innocuous texts like those, you aren’t alone. And it wasn’t a wrong number. Online scammers are increasingly turned to “wrong number” message tactics, aided by AI, to trick phone users into providing access to personal information and financial accounts.

Denver sheriff warns residents to avoid jury duty text message scam  — DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Sheriff’s Department is warning about a new text message scam that targets victims by saying they are being summoned to jury duty. Major Michelle Kim told FOX31 that the scammers pose as officers of the court.

Cybersecurity experts warn about job offer text scams  — ACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A scam that may flood your phone may be disguised as a job offer sent through text, deceiving you with a job description that may be a little too good to be true. If you got an unexpected text message with a job offer from a company you didn’t apply to, chances are it’s a scam. It’s a scam cybersecurity experts told First Coast News has been growing rapidly over the past year.

Unpaid toll texts are scam, costing Tennesseans more than $190 million in 2024, AG says  — CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In a recent press release, the Tennessee Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division urged Tennesseans to be aware of phishing text scams claiming that a consumer has unpaid toll road and EZ Pass balances. Tech scams such as these cost Tennesseans more than $190 million in 2024, with senior accounting for one-third of those losses, says the FBI.

Bitdefender exposes Facebook ad scams using fake crypto sites and celebrity lures to spread malware via malicious desktop clients and PowerShell scripts.  — A persistent malware campaign is exploiting Facebook’s advertising network to target cryptocurrency enthusiasts, security researchers at Bitdefender revealed today. The operation leverages the trusted names of major cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance and TradingView, and images of celebrities such as Elon Musk and Zendaya in Facebook ads to lend credibility to the fake cryptocurrency exchange promotions and lure unsuspecting users into downloading malicious software.

What you should know about the missing officer Facebook scam  — VANDALIA — Have you seen a Facebook post about a missing officer named Carolyn Lynch? [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] If so, Vandalia Police say the information is false and a scam, according to a social media post. A post circulating on Facebook claims that an officer named Carolyn Lynch has gone missing and urges users to spread the word. “The accounts will then be used to push out other scams and links involved in fraudulent activity,” the department said. “These posts will be in the form of missing children, suspects on surveillance, cutting off catalytic converters, or other items which people share frequently.”