• SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES Archives

Crypto Scams – Lloyds Bank Issues Urgent Warning Over Rising Threat – 2023

Crypto Scams – Lloyds Bank Issues Urgent Warning Over Rising Threat Author: • Lloyd’s Banking Group Crypto scams surge on social media: Lloyds Bank warns investors, FCA issues warning, experts advise on how to stay safe Provided by Lloyd’s Bank – unedited Crypto scams have surged by 23% this year as fraudsters target younger investors Victims losing £10,741 on average, more than any other type of scam Two-thirds of investment scams now estimated to start on social media Findings highlight importance of investing through trusted, genuine companies A growing number of Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-11-11T14:21:02-05:00November 11th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, 2023, Lloyd's Bank|Tags: Crypto Investment Scams, Crypto scams, Lloyd's Bank, Pig Butchering Scams, Scam Warning|

Scams and Cryptocurrency Go Hand in Hand

Scams and Cryptocurrency go Hand in Hand By: Yaniv Hanoch, Associate Professor in Risk Management, University of Southampton; and Stacey Wood, Professor of Psychology, Scripps College Scams And Cryptocurrency Can Go Hand In Hand – Here’s How They Work And What To Watch Out For When one of our students told us they were going to drop out of college in August 2021, it wasn’t the first time we’d heard of someone ending their studies prematurely. What was new, though, was the reason. The student had become a victim of a cryptocurrency Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-26T21:16:56-04:00September 23rd, 2023|Categories: • CRIMINOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, 2023, From The Conversation, Stacey Wood, Yaniv Hanoch|Tags: Cryptocurrency, Pig Butchering Scam, Scams|

Mule Addresses

Mule Addresses By David Maimon, Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Georgia State University and Saba Aslanzadeh, PhD Student in in Computer Science, Georgia State University What Are ‘Mule Addresses’? Criminologists Explain How Vacant Properties Serve As Depots For Illegal Online Purchases Online shopping isn’t just a convenient way to buy batteries, diapers, computers, and other stuff without going to a brick-and-mortar store. Many Americans also use the internet to quietly acquire illegal, fake, and stolen items. Guns, prescription drugs no doctor has ordered and checks are on this long list, Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-21T06:49:37-04:00September 21st, 2023|Categories: • CRIMINOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, 2023, From The Conversation|Tags: Black Market, Ecommerce Fraud, Mule Addresses, Package Mules, Parcel Mules|

Fraudsters Steal $135 Billion In Fake COVID19 Jobless & Unemployment Claims

Fraudsters Steal $135 Billion In Fake COVID19 Jobless & Unemployment Claims By SCARS Editorial Team, portions Washington Post Fraudsters Stole $135 Billion in Unemployment Benefits During the Pandemic A fraudster’s picnic! The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread economic disruption, leading to millions of Americans filing for unemployment benefits. Unfortunately, this also created an opportunity for fraudsters to steal billions of dollars in government aid. According to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), fraudsters may have stolen as much as $135 billion in federal unemployment aid during the pandemic. This represents Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-12T16:04:40-04:00September 12th, 2023|Categories: ♠ CRIMES & CRIMINALS, • CRIMINALS - SCAMMERS/FRAUDSTERS, • NEWS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, 2023|Tags: Covid, Fake Claims, Fraud, Fraudsters, Jobless Claims|

Criminal Cryptocurrency Boss Jailed For 11,196 Years In Turkey For Fraud

Criminal Cryptocurrency Boss Jailed For 11,196 Years In Turkey For Fraud By SCARS Editorial Team, portions BBC Criminal Boss of Failed Crypto Exchange Gets 11,000-Year Sentence The Outcome The Thodex cryptocurrency boss is Faruk Fatih Özer. He was sentenced to 11,196 years in prison by a Turkish court on charges of “establishing, managing and being a member of an organization,” “qualified fraud,” and “laundering of property values.” Özer founded Thodex cryptocurrency exchange in 2017 and it quickly became one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in Turkey. In April 2021, Thodex abruptly Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-08T17:27:10-04:00September 8th, 2023|Categories: ♠ CRIMES & CRIMINALS, • CRIMINAL JUSTICE, • NEWS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, 2023|Tags: Criminal, Crypto Exchange, Cryptocurrency, Faruk Fatih Özer, Fraud, Thodex|

Israel Police Bust Major Investment Fraud Organization

Israel Police Bust Major Investment Fraud Organization By SCARS Editorial Team, portions from Jerusalem Post and Finance Magnates Israeli Police Bust Massive Online FX Investment Fraud, Arrest Six Israeli police have arrested six people in connection with a massive online foreign exchange (FX) investment fraud that is estimated to have cost victims millions of dollars. The suspects, who are all Israeli citizens, are accused of running a scam that involved setting up fake websites and social media accounts that purported to offer high-yield FX trading opportunities. They allegedly lured victims into Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-07T22:44:25-04:00September 6th, 2023|Categories: ♠ CRIMES & CRIMINALS, • NEWS, • POLICE/LAW ENFORCEMENT, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, 2023|Tags: Investment Fraud, Israel Fraudsters, Organized Crime, Transnational Fraud|

FraudGPT – AI For The Bad Guys

FraudGPT – AI For The Bad Guys By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. FraudGPT: The New AI-Powered Cybercrime Tool The rise of generative AI models has changed the fraud & cybercrime threat landscape drastically and FraudGPT is a new plateau in this new arms race.. Threat actors can now use these models, such as FraudGPT to create realistic and convincing phishing emails, malware, and other malicious content that is flawless (or almost flawless.) In July 2023, a new AI tool Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-28T09:15:39-04:00July 28th, 2023|Categories: • CRIMINALS - SCAMMERS/FRAUDSTERS, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • CYBERSECURITY, • NEW TECHNOLOGY / AI, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, BARD, ChatGPT, Cybercrime, FraudGPT, Generative AI|

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 ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-22T16:36:29-04:00July 22nd, 2023|Categories: • GOVERNMENT/REGULATORY, • REGULATORY / LEGAL REVIEW, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, ♠ REGULATORY/LEGAL ACTIONS, 2023|Tags: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Illegal Robocallers, Regulatory Action, robocallers, robocalls|

27 Food Fraudsters Arrested In Lithuania And Italy

27 Food Fraudsters Arrested In Lithuania And Italy By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions EUROPOL Fraudsters Relabelled Millions Of Expired Food Products And Reintroduced Them To The Supply Chain, Risking Health And Safety Of European Consumers A two-part investigation across several EU Member States has unveiled a criminal/fraudster network that operates by reintroducing expired food into the supply chain. In total, law enforcement officials have arrested 27 fraudsters/criminals responsible for this relatively new criminal practice that jeopardizes the health and safety of European consumers. Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-14T21:42:29-04:00July 14th, 2023|Categories: • POLICE/LAW ENFORCEMENT, • CRIMINAL JUSTICE, • CRIMINALS - SCAMMERS/FRAUDSTERS, • NEWS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, ♠ CRIMES & CRIMINALS, 2023|Tags: Dangerous Food Scam, Europol, Food Fraudsters, Fraudsters, Fraudsters Arrested|

Family Takes Legal Action Against Banks After Navy Veteran Loses $3.6 Million in Wire Fraud Scheme

Family Takes Legal Action Against Banks After Navy Veteran Loses $3.6 Million in Wire Fraud Scheme By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions NBC Family Files Lawsuit Against Banks After Veteran Loses $3.6 Million in Wire Fraud Scheme The family of a veteran who fell victim to a devastating wire fraud scheme has taken legal action against multiple banks involved. A Navy veteran’s family is pursuing legal action against banks and credit unions in Virginia, claiming they should have taken stronger measures Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-11T17:43:55-04:00July 11th, 2023|Categories: • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, • NEWS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, • VICTIM ADVOCACY, • VICTIM STORY, 2023|Tags: Bank Wire Fraud, Banks Failed, Law Suit, Legal Action, Scam Victim, Thailand, Wire Transfers|

Government Impersonation Scams Are On The Rise!

Government Impersonation Scams Are On The Rise! By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Government Impersonation Scams: What You Need to Know In today’s digital age, scammers have found new avenues to exploit unsuspecting individuals, and one of the most insidious forms of deception is government impersonation scams. These scams involve fraudsters posing as government officials or agencies to manipulate victims into disclosing sensitive information, making fraudulent payments, or engaging in other illegal activities. This article aims to shed light on the dangers of government impersonation Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-08T17:35:25-04:00July 8th, 2023|Categories: • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • VIDEOS, 2023|Tags: FTC Impersonation, Government Impersonation Scams, Government Imposter Scams, IRS Impersonation, Social Security Impersonation|

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 ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-06T12:50:21-04:00July 6th, 2023|Categories: • CRIMINOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • GOVERNMENT/REGULATORY, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, ♠ CRIMES & CRIMINALS, 2023|Tags: Check Fraud, Mail, Mail Theft, Postal Service, United States, USPS|

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 ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-04T13:29:14-04:00June 30th, 2023|Categories: • GOVERNMENT/REGULATORY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, ♠ REGULATORY/LEGAL ACTIONS, 2023|Tags: Ammended Complaint, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Money Transfer Services, Walmart|

Jerry Moran Senate Campaign Scammed Out Of $690,000

Jerry Moran Senate Campaign Scammed Out Of $690,000 In BEC Scam By SCARS Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions AP Kansas Senator Jerry Moran’s Reelection Campaign Scammed Out Of $690K - A Classic Business Email Compromise Scam Someone scammed U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s reelection campaign out of $690,000 by getting the Kansas Republican’s accounting firm to wire the money to fraudulent bank accounts, Jerry Moran’s office said. Jerry Moran’s campaign treasurer, Timothy Gottschalk, notified the Federal Election Commission by email on Dec. 8 of “fraudulent activity by a third-party cyber-criminal.” Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-06-30T20:22:54-04:00June 30th, 2023|Categories: ♠ CRIMES & CRIMINALS, • NEWS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, 2023|Tags: BEC Scam, Business Email Compromise Scam, Jerry Moran, Political Campaign Scammed, Senator|

Pedophile Extortion Scam

Pedophile Extortion Scam By West Africans By French & Belgium Police, and SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Extortion Scam: West African Scammers Accuse Men Of Being Sexual Predators – Some Took Their Own Life! Police in France and Belgium say they have arrested 19 members of gangs involved in this extortion scam who sent people fake court summonses that accused them of viewing images of children being sexually abused. People who received the extortion messages were threatened with prosecution and tricked into paying thousands of Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-06-27T20:39:22-04:00June 27th, 2023|Categories: • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, • NEWS, • SCAM/FRAUD VICTIMS, 2023|Tags: Email Scam, Extortion Scam, Government Impersonation, Pedophile Scam, Phone Scam, Threats of Exposure|

France Fights Back Against Influencers And Scams

France Fights Back Against Influencers And Scams By SCARS Editorial Team, Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Influencers Are Out Of Control & Scamming Millions In response to a surge in online scams orchestrated by influencers, France has taken decisive action. These influencers have exploited their followers, convincing them to part with their hard-earned savings for miracle cancer cures and other fraudulent products. Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2023-06-24T20:47:08-04:00June 24th, 2023|Categories: • CRIMINALS - SCAMMERS/FRAUDSTERS, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, 2023|Tags: Deceptive Messaging, France, Influencers, Manipulative Messaging, Scam Influencers|

This Fraudster Is No Dummy

This Fraudster Is No Dummy By SCARS Editorial Team | Source São Paulo Police, Brazil This Fraudster Figured Out How To Defeat The Bank’s Facial Recognition With A Cut Out Dummy! To avoid facial recognition and apply for loans on mobile banking applications, a fraudster “taped photos of his victims’ faces onto a DUMMY,” according to police. Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2023-06-25T21:41:53-04:00June 23rd, 2023|Categories: • CRIMINALS - SCAMMERS/FRAUDSTERS, • NEWS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, ♠ CRIMES & CRIMINALS, 2023|Tags: Bank Fraud, Dummy, Facial Recognition, Fraudster, Online Banking|

INTERPOL Issues Global Warning On Human Trafficking-Fueled Fraud

INTERPOL Issues Global Warning On Human Trafficking-Fueled Fraud By INTERPOL The NEW Scheme, Where Victims Are Trafficked To Work In Online Scam Centres, Has Shifted From A Regional Crime Trend To A Global Threat. INTERPOL HQ SINGAPORE: For the past several years, INTERPOL has been closely observing a growing crime phenomenon: large-scale human trafficking where victims are lured through fake job ads to online scam centres and forced to commit cyber-enabled financial crime on an industrial scale. Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2023-06-25T21:42:46-04:00June 23rd, 2023|Categories: • CRIMINALS - SCAMMERS/FRAUDSTERS, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, 2023|Tags: Global Warning, Human Trafficking-Fueled Fraud, Interpol, Scam Centres|

Romance Scammers’ Favorite Lies Exposed

Romance Scammers’ Favorite Lies Exposed By Emma Fletcher – U.S. Federal Trade Commission Scammers Are Liers! We All Know This! Romance scammers are especially expert at crafting stories to lure and hold their victims Romance scammers tell all sorts of lies to steal your heart and money, and reports to the FTC show those lies are working. Last year’s romance scam numbers looked a lot like 2021 all over again, and it’s not a pretty picture. In 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam and reported losses hit a staggering Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-06-25T21:46:23-04:00June 22nd, 2023|Categories: • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • CRIMINALS - SCAMMERS/FRAUDSTERS, 2023|Tags: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Lies, Romance Scams, Scammers, Stories|

Scammers Impersonate Funeral Home Staff to Prey on Mourning Families.

Scammers impersonate funeral home staff to prey on mourning families. Can it get any lower? By Alvaro Puig, U.S. Federal Trade Commission - reprinted There’s a new funeral home scheme that involves imposters preying on people who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The imposters pretend to be from the funeral home and say that, unless the family pays more money immediately, the funeral will be canceled. Can you imagine anything more despicable? That’s why we want to alert members of the funeral industry about the scam and hope other businesses will warn their employees and Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-06-25T21:54:41-04:00June 21st, 2023|Categories: • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, • NEWS, 2023|Tags: Funeral Homes, Impersonation, News, Scammers|

The Importance Of Taxonomies

The Importance Of Taxonomies Taxonomies allow for agreement on the terms that define the work of many. In every aspect of criminology, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and law enforcement having a unified agreed-upon taxonomy is vital! By: Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., Anthropologist, Scientist, Managing Director, Society of Citizens AgainstRelationship Scams Inc. The Role Of Taxonomies Taxonomies play a crucial role in criminology by providing a systematic framework for categorizing and classifying criminal behaviors and activities. Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2023-06-25T21:58:24-04:00June 20th, 2023|Categories: • EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY, • CRIMINOLOGY, • SCAMS & FRAUD - CRIMES, • STANDARDS/BEST PRACTICES, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Criminology, Editorial, Standardized Terms, Taxonomies, Taxonomy, Tim McGuinness Ph.D.|

FTC Victim Predators

Attn: Federal Trade Commission

There is a WAR going on against scam victims!

A war where for-profit companies are exploiting and deceiving the victims of scams and financial fraud!

WE ASK THE FTC TO STOP EXPLOITATION OF SCAM VICTIMS NOW!

This war is being led by predatory for-profit companies that want more of these desperate and panicked crime victims\' money or to lead them away from legitimate support!

These companies claim they can get the victim\'s money back or that they will investigate the crime and have the criminals arrested - neither they can do. The victim usually receives a document or two and nothing more for the thousands of dollars they pay in advance for these services. Services that within the United States these companies must be licensed as private investigators to even provide any crime investigations or money recovery services, yet almost all of these companies lack state licenses.

There are cryptocurrency tracing companies that use automated tools to generate a paper report and charging scam victims thousands of dollars in advance for this service! These victims are desperate for help and looking for answers, and instead of sending them to real victims\' assistance providers they are pulling them in and costing them more of the precious little money they have left! What the scammers do is bad enough, but these real companies are exploiting victims one more time!

We call on the Federal Trade Commission to begin exploring this exploitation of crime victims - specifically scam or financial fraud victims by private investigating, money recovery, and other for-profit companies service companies!

We believe that this falls under the Commission\'s authority to regulate deceptive trade practices.

This is despicable and deceptive trade practice that should be banned in the United States without proper state licensing and full and complete disclosure about what they can and cannot do. We also believe the companies and their principals operating without proper legal licenses now should be banned from these activities permanently.

Please do what YOU can to bring this to the attention of the FTC Chair and staff!

Thank you!

Vianey Goes and Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., Directors,
Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
A crime victims\' assistance & crime prevention nonprofit supporting scam victims worldwide for free!
contact@againstscams.org

**your signature**