Scam

A person selling items on Facebook Marketplace received a suspicious inquiry from someone claiming his sister was interested. The potential buyer suggested non-cash payment methods like Zelle or Cash App, which raised suspicion since the seller only accepts cash. Concerns were noted about slow response times and observing that many followers on the brother's profile appeared to be bots.

The user reports receiving similar texts and calls over several weeks from different numbers. The communications are designed to elicit a response, and the callers use international numbers that are unfamiliar to the user. The user has proactively managed the situation by blocking all incoming communication and asks if this pattern is typical of a scam or spoofing attempt.

A user received a suspicious text asking for their old house address, which they suspect may be a scam. They noted that while some credit applications legitimately request previous addresses to confirm identity, this specific message might be connected to a 'pig slaughter' scam or similar scheme.

A travel agent operating in the Chicago area has resurfaced to public attention. She is currently accused of lying to a judge regarding her actions. These accusations follow prior allegations concerning scams involving fake vacation packages.

A customer bought multiple Apple gift cards and gift items at Target after being messaged by an individual claiming to be a colleague. After sending photos of the purchased items and realizing they were asked to remove the gift card contents for pictures, the buyer determined they had been scammed.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department issued a warning regarding a child abduction scam involving men who call parents from private numbers. These scammers reportedly know personal information and threaten children unless the parent meets them at Walmart in Cookeville or nearby areas. JCSD urged residents not to meet these callers, emphasizing that this is part of a scam.

A person received a suspicious call from an unknown number with their area code. The caller, claiming to reference their online schooling research, knew their name and zip code, and requested their address and computer details. The individual hung up after the address request and suspects a scam.

A dog walker with a 2-year history of reliable service suddenly asked the client to help transfer $400 via Venmo and Zelle, which the client did. The walker has since stopped responding to texts about dog walking, raising concerns about a potential scam.

A person received a suspicious letter from their father, who identified it as a scam. The letter contains accurate personal details about the father, such as past holidays in Barbados and his role as a headmaster, but also includes inconsistencies. The sender used a physical letter with a stamp but provided no contact information, raising concerns about a potential scam involving a crypto app.

A Viber message claiming a prize from an unsign-up site is flagged as a scam. Key red flags include unexpected contact, unentered contests, and links to claim prizes. The article advises reporting suspected misuse of personal information to the National Privacy Commission.

A user's younger brother fell for a Discord Minecraft scam, leading to the theft of his Microsoft account after entering a verification code. The user provided extensive personal and financial information to Microsoft support to reclaim the account but was told it was insufficient. The account is now likely in the hands of an unknown individual.

A woman received a suspicious text message claiming she had cancer from a recent screening, which she did not have. She blocked the number and reported it as spam, suspecting it was part of a scam seeking money for fake treatments.

A user reports receiving repeated calls from a debt collector claiming to be from 'Americollect' using different numbers and unclear debt details. The caller provides a P.O. box and website but never specifies the debt's origin, amount, or the user's name, raising concerns about potential scams. The user avoids answering calls due to fear of identity theft and has found no resolution in online discussions.

The article describes daily automated calls from spoofed numbers claiming to be from American Tax Advisors, warning about tax issues. The calls are flagged as scams by the user's iPhone and result in AI-generated voicemails with consistent messaging.

A user received $300 in Apple Cash and is being contacted by multiple numbers requesting its return. Apple support claimed the user cannot lose the money, but the user remains uncertain and is advised to contact their bank for a three-way call with support.

The Ninth Circuit Court ruled that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can proceed against a scam. The ruling is referenced in the article, which also directs readers to prior coverage of the scam.

A user was contacted by a representative from 'Catsy' offering remote work involving cash investments and optimizing product listings for payouts. The job required pressing a button on multiple listings, with higher payouts tied to investment amounts, and cashing out via cryptocurrency. The user expressed suspicion due to lack of testimonials or scam warnings about the company.

A user is considering signing a lease for an NYC apartment after an in-person tour and meeting the landlord, but is concerned it might be a scam due to the apartment being listed for sale on Zillow and a lower-than-average rent. They verified ownership through the NYC ACRIS database.

A user received an unsolicited Discord message from a profile claiming to have found them through a server member list. The sender invited them to play 'De-Extinct Jurassic Dinosaurs' to combat loneliness but refused to share other social media accounts. The user suspects a scam and questions the authenticity of shared images, noting inconsistent AI detection.

A Reddit user reported being scammed approximately $94.32 while attempting to purchase a digicam online. The scam involved initial payment of $16 for the camera, followed by demands for additional fees, including a $300 'secret fee,' before the scammer blocked the user. The funds were intended to help the user escape an abusive household.

An individual received a plastic bowl with a spout and drain hole from a company named Yanwen, which they did not order. The item smells like paint and resembles 3D-printed material, prompting concerns about it being a scam or a potential chemical weapon.

Facebook Marketplace is flooded with ads for used cars (2014-2020 models) priced under $5,000 by US-based dealerships claiming to be 'car flippers.' A user suspects these listings may be scams, as the prices appear too low to cover costs, and is seeking validation before reporting sellers.

A user received a text from an unsaved local number initiating a suspicious conversation. After exchanging unclear messages about identities, the user blocked the number, suspecting it was a scam.

A user received Venmo emails claiming to welcome a new account and request verification. They suspect the emails might be a scam, as they closed their Venmo account a year ago and no longer use the service.

A user received 2500€ via rovawex.com after logging in through a Mr Beast tweet on Twitter but encountered requests for 60$ to a merchant and a fiscal ID verification they couldn't provide. After requesting a refund, the money was returned, but the user remains concerned about potential scam activity.

Congress has named 10 new faces in the Karnataka Cabinet expansion, including a scam-accused individual. The ministers will be sworn in later this evening at Lok Bhavan.

A scammer called from a New York number, claiming to be pregnant by the user after a night of drinks. The user dismissed the call as a prank, noting they have not had sex with anyone outside their relationship in years.

A scam on X, Discord, or Steam involves fake accounts claiming mistaken reporting, directing victims to a fake support contact. Scammers request personal and bank information, threaten IP bans, and use compromised accounts to repeat the fraud.

A user is receiving unsolicited emails from 'rapidfundbridge' about payment and account updates, despite not having engaged with the company. They clicked a link leading to a loan setup page but are unsure how to proceed, fearing a potential scam.

An elderly man in the UK sent thousands of pounds to Thailand for a person he had only communicated with via video calls, prompting concern from a bystander who suspected a scam. The post office employee processed the transaction despite the bystander's intervention, and the man later expressed regret over the decision.

A user reported playing a mobile game app (Take E30) to win money, met a 1k minimum requirement, but was told they would face a 60-90 day wait for payout due to high demand. They expressed concern about their PayPal account security and used an Apple Account passkey for login.

An artist's son questions a potential scam after a buyer offered a lower price for paintings and requested listing them on an unfamiliar platform called Atma&AlchemyArt. The buyer claims to handle payment and shipping through the platform, which raises concerns due to its unknown reputation.

A person's mother has fallen victim to an Elon Musk scam, giving gift cards and money after believing she is communicating with him via AI videos. She has dementia and a legal guardian, and the family struggles to convince her it's a scam without damaging their relationship. The user seeks insights from others who have experienced the scam's resolution.

A person's small business was inadvertently used as the name on scam checks distributed through eBay. The scam involved checks with inconsistent return addresses, names, signatures, and letters, leading recipients to contact the business owner. The owner advised recipients to discard the checks and reported any received checks to the postal inspector.

A person is receiving text messages from 'Aldous & Associates' claiming to represent YouFit Gyms and offering debt resolution options, despite the individual never using a gym, signing contracts, or living in states where YouFit Gyms operate. The sender suspects the messages are a scam, as YouFit Gyms are not present in their state and no physical correspondence has been received.

A user created a BetOnline account with a fake alias but used their real cell number, later receiving a scam call referencing the fake alias. The user suspects BetOnline or an associated vendor experienced a data breach or sold customer information.

A user reported being scammed by accounthub.shop after purchasing advertised verified Stripe and PayPal accounts, which were not delivered, leading to financial loss. The user warns others to exercise caution and is reporting the site to relevant authorities.

The user's father-in-law (FiL) has a compromised business account, leading to unauthorized checks being cashed across the east coast. The bank refuses to freeze the account until he can visit in person, causing daily financial headaches. Scammers are exploiting the situation by contacting victims via Instagram, offering fake purchases and sending fraudulent checks.

A scammer called from an Oregon number, leaving a voicemail claiming a loved one was harmed and urging an urgent FaceTime call to exploit fear. The message included fabricated details about the victim losing their face and references to 'millions' of dollars, warning against falling for the scam.

A user fell for a bookonline scam after calling a number from Google, resulting in a $575 hotel booking and a $30 service fee. They later confirmed the booking with the hotel's real number and received a confirmation email, expressing minimal concern but cautioning others.