Text Scams – New FCC Order Could Substantially Reduce Them 2023

Text Scams – New FCC Order Could Substantially Reduce Them Author: •  SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Text Scams – The United States Federal Communications Commission Is Going After Them On November 22, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted its Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which outlines new measures to combat illegal text messages (text scams and illegal marketing texts.) Read More …

Online Dating Safety Act – New Law Going Through The U.S. Congress 2023

Online Dating Safety Act New Law Going Through The U.S. Congress Authors: • SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Portions FOX News Bipartisan Online Dating Safety Act Will Help Reduce Dating App Scams That Cost Victims Over $1 Billion A Year The bill is being led by Republican Rep. Valadao and Democratic Rep. Pettersen House lawmakers are eyeing legislation to make dating app users more aware of potential scammers who tricked victims out of more than $1 billion in a single Read More ...

Cryptocurrencies – Europol Takes A Major Step Forward

Europol Takes A Major Step Forward By Europol Criminal Misuse Of Cryptocurrencies – Shaping An International Response A Europol co-organized hybrid international conference on the Criminal Misuse Of Cryptocurrencies attended by 1,300 participants has concluded that tackling the criminal use of cryptocurrencies is a race against time. Law enforcement agencies that collaborate in joint task teams and proactively collaborate with the private sector are getting ahead of the criminals. In contrast, countries that do not take the risks seriously are in danger of becoming a haven for crypto-enabled scams, money laundering, and Read More ...

Federal Trade Commission Partners with Latin America To Combat Fraud

Federal Trade Commission Partners with Latin American Countries to Combat Fraud By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., and the Federal Trade Commission The U.S. Federal Trade Commission Enters Into A Multilateral Agreement Enhances Consumer Protection Cooperation With Chile, Colombia, Mexico, And Peru The Federal Trade Commission signed a cooperation agreement with the consumer protection authorities of the four Latin American countries —Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru – to combat fraud both inside and outside the United States. The Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMOU) promotes cooperation across Latin America, including Read More ...

EUROPOL Report: Money-Laundering Criminals Are Adapting To New Technology Faster Than Authorities Can Keep Up

EUROPOL Report: Money-Laundering Criminals Are Adapting To New Technology Faster Than Authorities Can Keep Up By SCARS Editorial Team Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions Europol Money-Laundering Criminals Are Using New Technology Faster Than Authorities Can Keep Up Criminals Are Washing Their Money Faster Than Authorities Can Track Them Down, According To A New Europol Report The report found that 70% of criminal enterprises in Europe are using money laundering techniques to hide their wealth and assets. These criminals are mixing illicit finances with seemingly legal businesses and exploiting Read More ...

FTC Takes Action Against Unsolicited Communications

FTC Takes Action Against Unsolicited Communications By: SCARS Editorial Team Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.; and the United States Federal Trade Commission FTC Joins FCC in Renewing Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Cross-Border Law Enforcement Efforts to Combat Spam, Scams, and Illegal Telemarketing Agencies are partnering with the Unsolicited Communications Enforcement Network The Federal Trade Commission has joined the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in signing a renewed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between public authorities who are members of the Unsolicited Communications Enforcement Network (UCENet). The MOU aims to promote Read More ...

University of Phoenix Scam

University of Phoenix Scam By United States Federal Trade Commission & SCARS Editorial Team University of Phoenix – FTC Action Leads U.S. Dept. of Education to Forgive Nearly $37 Million in Loans for Students Deceived by University of Phoenix FTC charged that the for-profit University of Phoenix falsely touted relationships and job opportunities with top companies Read More …

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) Becomes Enforceable

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) Becomes Enforceable By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions: Reuters, Washington Post, Council of Europe The EU Has Done With The DSA What The United States Could Not Or Would Not Do! Bring Order And Control To Digital Platforms A New Era of European Digital Regulation The Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) are two new pieces of legislation that will regulate digital services in the European Union. The DSA will focus on creating a Read More ...

Human Trafficking & Scam Slavery – UN Issues New Report

Human Trafficking & Scam Slavery – UN Issues New Report By United Nations and SCARS Editorial Team UN Report: Scam Slavery Is A Form Of Human Trafficking In Which People Are Forced To Work In Scam Call Centers SCARS Overview The victims are often lured with promises of good jobs and high salaries, but once they arrive at the call center, they are forced to work long hours under abusive conditions. They are also often threatened with violence or deportation if they try to escape. Southeast Asia is a major hub Read More ...

Human Scam Trafficking – The Knoble Report

The Knoble Report On Human Scam Trafficking By The Knoble & SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. From Fake Job Ads to Human Trafficking: The Horrifying Reality of the Human Trafficking Scam Trade Human Trafficking Scam Trade preys on vulnerable individuals trapping victims in a web of human trafficking, coercion, fraud, and cryptocurrencies. Our new publication, in collaboration with The Mekong Club, Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative, and Humanity Research Consultancy, sheds light on the shocking tactics used by criminal networks and highlights the complexities surrounding detection Read More ...

U.S. FCC Imposes Record Penalty Against Transnational Illegal Robocalling Operation

FCC Issues Historic $300 Million Fine Against The Largest Robocalling Scam It Has Ever Investigated By Federal Communications Commission & SCARS Editorial Team U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Imposes Record Penalty Against Transnational Illegal Robocalling Operation Robocalling Scammers Who Placed Five Billion Auto Warranty Robocalls Fined Nearly $300 Million for Robocall and Spoofing Violations The Federal Communications Commission today issued a record-breaking $299,997,000 fine for auto warranty scam robocalling made by the largest illegal robocall operation the agency has ever investigated. An international network of companies violated federal statutes and the Read More ...

U.S. Cyber Force Moves Forward

U.S. Cyber Force Moves Forward By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions The Record U.S. Senate Opens Path For A Cyber-Focused Military Branch The possibility of a U.S. Cyber Force moved one step closer to reality this last week after the Senate approved its version of a massive defense policy bill. The $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act passed in an 86-11 vote. The Republican-led House narrowly passed its version of the legislation earlier this month, mostly along party lines. The two chambers will now Read More ...

2023-07-29T17:58:27-04:00July 29th, 2023|Categories: • GOVERNMENT/REGULATORY, • NEWS, 2023|Tags: , , |

UK Threat From Organised Crime

UK Threat From Organised Crime By Graeme Biggar CBE, Director General, National Crime Agency, United Kingdom Providing A Picture Of The Threat To The UK From Serious And Organised Crime What is Serious and Organised Crime? Serious and organised crime (SOC) is defined in the 2018 Serious and Organised Crime Strategy as individuals planning, coordinating and committing serious offences, whether individually, in groups and/or as part of transnational networks. The main categories of serious offences covered by the term are: child sexual abuse; modern slavery and human trafficking; organised immigration crime; Read More ...

U.S. FedNOW Is Launched

U.S. FedNOW Is Launched By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. U.S. Federal Reserve Launches Long-Awaited FedNOW Instant Payments Service, Modernizing System The United States Federal Reserve announces that its new system for instant payments, the FedNow® Service, is now live The Federal Reserve on Thursday announced that its new system for instant payments, the FedNow® Service, is now live. Banks and credit unions of all sizes can sign up and use this tool to instantly transfer money for their customers, any time of the day, Read More ...

APP Scam/Fraud Repayment In The UK Moves A Step Further

APP Scam/Fraud Repayment In The UK Moves A Step Further By SCARS Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions PSR UK's PSR Takes First Step In Implementing New APP Scam Refund/Reimbursement Requirements Today, the United Kingdom's Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has published its consultation on two of its draft directions which are the legal means to put its new Authorized Push Payments APP scam reimbursement requirements in place. This marks the start of the regulator’s plans to implement new requirements that will see mandatory reimbursement for victims of APP scams. In Read More ...

Robocall Refunds From The FTC & State Of Florida $540,000

Robocall Refunds From The FTC & State Of Florida $540,000 By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions FTC FTC and State of Florida Send More Than $540,000 to Consumers Who Lost Money to Robocall Scammers Selling Bogus Interest Rate Reduction Services The Federal Trade Commission and the Florida Attorney General are sending refunds totaling more than $540,000 to consumers nationwide who were defrauded by Life Management Services of Orange County, LLC, and related companies who tricked them into paying for worthless credit card interest rate Read More ...

Illegal Robocallers – People Hate Them

Illegal Robocallers – People Hate Them By Lesley Fair – Federal Trade Commission – reprinted Robocallers E-I-E-I-NO: Operation Stop Scam Calls targets operators that facilitate illegal robocalls, including “consent farms” People hate illegal robocallers. No one knows that more than the FTC, which is why we’ve brought 167 cases to date and we won’t stop until companies that violate the FTC Act and the Telemarking Sales Rule hang up once and for all. In the latest battle against these illegal and injurious intrusions, the FTC and over 100 federal and state Read More ...

UK Identifies Meta As Responsible For 61% Of APP Fraud

UK Identifies Meta As Responsible For 61% Of APP Fraud By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. & portions Financial Times UK Finance, A Banking & Finance Lobby Group In The UK, Is Raising Concerns About Meta Meta Is The Company That Owns Social Media Sites Facebook, Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, And Whatsapp, Regarding Its Connection To Digital Payment Scams In Britain According to UK Finance, 61% of reported authorized push payment (money transfer) fraud by volume is linked to Meta’s platforms. The lobby group has written Read More ...

Facebook Is Using Your Tax Data!

Facebook Is Using Your Tax Data! By AP – Associated Press / reprinted 3 Major Tax Prep Firms Shared ‘Extraordinarily Sensitive’ Data About Taxpayers With Meta, Lawmakers Say Three large tax preparation firms sent “extraordinarily sensitive” information on tens of millions of taxpayers to Facebook’s parent company Meta over the course of at least two years, a group of congressional Democrats reported on Wednesday. They say some of that data was then used by Meta to create targeted advertising to its own users, other companies, and to train Meta’s algorithms. The Read More ...

The Mail Is No Longer Safe In The United States

The Mail Is No Longer Safe In The United States By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. The Mail & the Post Office has been a Disaster For Decades The U.S. Postal Service does a great job with the mail, and has great people doing a hard job! But this appears to be a losing battle! The simple fact is that the mail does not always go through. If it did then there would be no FedEx, DHS, or UPS. Those companies were the response to Read More ...

Social Media Prohibition!

Social Media Prohibition! US Judge Blocks Biden Officials From Contacting Social Media Sites By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. A Major Blow To The Biden Administration’s Attempts To Control Social Media The Attorney Generals for Louisiana and Missouri have filed a lawsuit alleging that the federal government is unlawfully censoring conservative viewpoints in violation of the First Amendment. A federal judge, Terry A. Doughty, has ruled that several Biden administration officials are prohibited from contacting social media companies regarding the moderation of posts protected by Read More ...

Federal Trade Commission Going After Fake Reviews

Federal Trade Commission Going After Fake Reviews By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Federal Trade Commission Announces Proposed Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials The Federal Trade Commission proposed a new rule to stop marketers from using illicit review and endorsement practices such as using fake reviews, suppressing honest negative reviews, and paying for positive reviews, which deceive consumers looking for real feedback on a product or service and undercut honest businesses. Read More …

Walmart Facilitated Scams According To The FTC

Walmart Facilitated Scams According To The FTC By FTC & SCARS Editorial Team Walmart: FTC Files Amended Complaint Charging that Walmart Facilitated Scams Through Its Money Transfer Services That Fleeced Customers Out of Hundreds of Millions The Federal Trade Commission filed an amended complaint against Walmart – bolstering the agency’s case that Walmart allowed its money transfer services to be used by scammers, who fleeced consumers out of hundreds of millions of dollars. The FTC filed the amended complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Walmart, following Read More ...

A Scam Victims Petition To The Federal Trade Commission To Stop Money Recovery Services

SCARS Petition: FTC – Victims Predators Please Help All Scam Victims! Please help all scam victims by petitioning the United States Federal Trade Commission to end predatory practices by companies preying on scam victims by claiming they can trace & recover scam victims’ money or perform investigations to track down and arrest scammers/fraudsters/criminals. Read More …

From the FTC: Hey, Alexa! What are you doing with My Data?

From the FTC: Hey, Alexa! What are you doing with my data? By: Elisa Jillson, U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – reprinted What you say in your home, what you do in your home. It doesn’t get more private than that. But, according to two recent FTC complaints, Amazon and Ring used this highly private data – voice recordings collected by Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant and videos collected by Ring’s internet-connected home security cameras – to train their algorithms while giving short shrift to customers’ privacy. These matters, the first announced since the FTC’s new Biometric Policy Statement, contain important lessons for Read More ...