Scams
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Blog
FTC warns of online task job scams hooking victims like gambling
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns about a significant rise in gambling-like online job scams, known as “task scams,” that draw people into earning cash through repetitive tasks, with the promises of earning more if they deposit their own money. Although this type of scam was nearly non-existent in 2020, with the FTC receiving zero reports, the agency documented 5,000…
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What are Zelle scams? (and how to avoid them)
Zelle scams are on the rise because convenience breeds popularity, and that popularity is an opportunity for scammers. To give you an idea of Zelle’s popularity, in 2023 alone, consumers and small businesses sent 2.9 billion transactions totaling 806 billion dollars—a scam goldmine. This post provides an overview of Zelle and how it works, a rundown of some of the…
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The 2024 Guide to TikTok Scams
TikTok has quickly become one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, with over a billion users sharing videos on topics from comedy to education. While it fosters creativity and entertainment, TikTok attracts scammers looking to exploit unsuspecting users. Awareness of these scams is crucial for protecting yourself and your personal information. In this article, we’ll examine the most…
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Now BlueSky hit with crypto scams as it crosses 20 million users
As many more users are flocking to BlueSky from social media platforms like X/Twitter, so are threat actors. BleepingComputer has spotted cryptocurrency scams popping up on BlueSky just as the decentralized microblogging service surpassed 20 million users this week. It didn’t take long Over the past few years, X/Twitter has become the hotbed of scammers from those targeting banking customers…
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How to spot and avoid Offerup scams
Ever found a “mint condition” iPhone 14 Pro listed for $300 on OfferUp? Before you rush to message that seller, let’s talk about why deals that seem too good to be true usually are. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s 2023 Consumer Sentinel Network Report, marketplace scams cost Americans over $440 million in 2023, with mobile marketplace apps being prime…
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Don’t Take the Bait on These Phishing Scams
Key Takeaways Phishing scams use social engineering and urgency to manipulate you into making bad decisions. You can spot red flags in suspicious emails by checking sender address and link destinations. Common phishing scams imitate banks or social media to trigger fear and prompt quick reactions. Verify through trusted methods instead. Email phishing scams have been around for a long…
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Common Venmo scams and how to avoid them
Lost money to a Venmo scammer? You’re not alone. In 2023, Americans lost over $5.8 billion to digital payment fraud, with peer-to-peer apps like Venmo becoming prime targets for scammers. These criminals are getting craftier, but you can outsmart them by learning their tactics. Think of this guide as your personal fraud prevention toolkit. We’ll walk through the most common…
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ChatGPT-4o can be used for autonomous voice-based scams
Researchers have shown that it’s possible to abuse OpenAI’s real-time voice API for ChatGPT-4o, an advanced LLM chatbot, to conduct financial scams with low to moderate success rates. ChatGPT-4o is OpenAI’s latest AI model that brings new enhancements, such as integrating text, voice, and vision inputs and outputs. Due to these new features, OpenAI integrated various safeguards to detect and…
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Spot 5 Common Crypto Scams Before It’s Too Late
Quick Links Cryptocurrency Phishing Scams Fraudulent Crypto Platforms I remember the excitement of seeing my very first Bitcoin ATM in our local mall. Cryptocurrency was taking off, particularly Bitcoin and Ethereum. But with that rise, so have crypto scams—and no one is immune. Cryptocurrency Phishing Scams Americans lost $5.6 billion last year in crypto fraud scams, the FBI said in…
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Digital Scams More Likely to Hurt Black and Latino Consumers
In particular, a 2021 FTC report, “Serving Communities of Color” (PDF), notes that members of predominantly Black and Latino communities who reported scams are more likely than those in white communities to have conducted their transactions using cash, cryptocurrency, or money orders, which offer minimal fraud protections, while members of predominantly white communities are more likely to have used credit…
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