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.”

“Upgrade Scams” Are SCARING Everyone on Facebook Marketplace—Here’s How to Stay Safe  — Online outlets such as Facebook Marketplace have changed the way we shop—and sell things that no longer bring us joy. Secondhand shopping is not just sustainable and affordable, it’s also way more accessible, allowing us to buy and sell from our phones rather than hunting through bargain bins. Now, as tariffs rise, we anticipate many of us will start turning to Facebook Marketplace as a preferred source for home decor. It’s also ideal for those looking to declutter in a sustainable fashion—while also making a few bucks. If you’re trying to give a piece of decor that you no longer need a second home, it's a great place to start.

Hacker turns New Jersey woman's Facebook account against her, tries to scam her friends  — For months, Sherri Evans says she's been fighting to regain access to her Facebook account and the many priceless memories locked away with it. The South Jersey woman, like many users, has been uploading family photos to her page for years. That all stopped in February when she was locked out of the account by a hacker.

That ‘missing teen’ Facebook post could be a new scam  — You’re scrolling through your Facebook feed, and you see a post from someone in your city asking for help finding a missing teen. She has been gone for 48 hours since she left a friend’s house, and the post shows a picture of her. “It takes two seconds to share,” the post points out, asking everyone to get the word out. However, before you hit the “share” button, you should know this: it’s probably a scam.

I lost $500 getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace: 4 red flags I shouldn’t have ignored  — I’ve been writing about personal finance for about seven years now, and my beat has included ample reporting on various financial scams and how to identify them. I know several red flags to look out for and what steps everyone should take to protect themselves from ill-intentioned actors in the real world and online. Still, I fell for a scam this spring that cost me $500.

Don't Fall for This New Gmail Phishing Scheme  — If you receive an email from Google that appears to be a legitimate security alert, do not proceed. Scammers are taking advantage of vulnerabilities in Google's authentication protocols to send phishing messages that appear convincing enough to steal unsuspecting users' account credentials. Here's how to protect yourself.

New Google email scams are alarmingly convincing - how to spot them  — A sophisticated phishing scam has been taking advantage of Google security flaws to convince people that the malicious emails and websites are legitimate. In a series of X posts spotted by Android Authority, developer Nick Johnson explained how he was targeted by a phishing attack that exploits flaws in Google's own infrastructure. In his first post, Johnson includes a screenshot of the scam email claiming that Google had been served a subpoena requiring it to produce a copy of his Google account data.

‘Hello pervert’: the sextortion scam claiming to have videoed you  — Hello pervert” is how the email starts and frighteningly it appears to have been sent from your own account. It is a ransom note with the recipient warned that they have been recorded in a compromising act, and will be exposed unless they pay up. The sender warns “this is a very bad situation for you”, or something similarly threatening.