scam4.245 min read
"Willy Wonka Immersive Events: From Tears to Outrage, the Controversy Continues"
1 year ago•Source: Rolling Stone
Scam News
The latest scam stories, summarized by AI
Featured Scam Stories
View original source
9.195 min•1 year ago
"Mexican Cartel Timeshare Scam Hooks Thousands of Americans"
Thousands of Americans, including many elderly individuals, have fallen victim to a sophisticated timeshare scam orchestrated by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Mexico. The cartel's telemarketing scheme, which has become a lucrative business venture, involves convincing timeshare owners to pay various fees and taxes in exchange for selling their properties, ultimately resulting in substantial financial losses for the victims. The cartel's operations have evolved to include elaborate tactics, such as posing as government investigators and creating fraudulent legal proceedings, leading to millions of dollars being wired to Mexican bank accounts. Despite ongoing FBI investigations and U.S. government sanctions, the cartel's timeshare fraud continues to exploit vulnerable individuals, with little accountability for those involved in the criminal enterprise.
More Top Stories
2
"Taylor Swift Fans Fall Victim to Fake AI Endorsement Scam for Le Creuset Cookware"
New York Post •2 years ago
3
More Scam Stories
"Grandmother's Life Savings Stolen in Facebook Scam: Heartbreaking Attempt to Buy Yorkshire Terrier for Grandson"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by KTRK-TV
A grandmother from North Carolina lost over $5,000 of her life savings in a pet scam while trying to buy a Yorkshire Terrier for her grandson. The scammer, who advertised the purebred puppies on Facebook, convinced the grandmother to purchase gift cards worth $525 and later demanded additional payments for checkups, vaccinations, and insurance. Despite sending the money, the puppy never arrived, leaving the grandmother devastated. The Better Business Bureau warns that pet scams are prevalent on social media, with consumers losing over $1 million in 2022 alone. To avoid such scams, it is advised to be cautious of suspiciously low prices, avoid purchasing pets without seeing them in person, and consider adopting from animal shelters instead.
Beware of Taylor Swift ticket scams on Facebook and beyond.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland
A local woman's Facebook account was hacked and used to trick people into buying fake Taylor Swift tickets. The Ohio Attorney General has issued a warning about concert ticket scams, especially those involving Taylor Swift. The scammer used the woman's reputation as a trustworthy person to fool people into buying the fake tickets. The Attorney General advises people to be skeptical of offers that are too good to be true, use reputable third-party resale sites, and consider paying with a credit card. Consumers who believe they have been defrauded should immediately report the details to the company they used to make the payment.
Tinder scam leaves newly divorced mom without $100k 401k savings
Originally Published 2 years ago — by New York Post
A newly divorced mother-of-three lost her entire 401(k) savings of $100,000 to a scammer she met on Tinder who convinced her to invest in cryptocurrency. The scammer, who claimed to be a French entrepreneur named "Fred," used the "pig butchering" scheme to gain her trust before convincing her to invest all her retirement funds. The scheme involves months-long fake romance before "butchering" with fake investment advice. Investment fraud caused the highest losses of any 2022 scam reported by the public to the FBI's Internet Crimes Complaint Center, totaling $3.31 billion.
Tinder Scammer Tricks Mom into Losing $100k Retirement Savings
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Daily Mail
A divorced mother of three lost over $100,000 to a scammer she met on Tinder who convinced her to invest in bogus cryptocurrency schemes. The scam, known as "pig butchering," involves building a fake romantic relationship with the victim before providing fraudulent investment advice. The con is reportedly exploding across the US and Australia, with victims losing up to $850,000. The scam is often run by criminal syndicates in Cambodia, and victims are given scripts tailored to their individual circumstances.
The Cost of Loyalty: Trump Bucks Leave Some Supporters Empty-Handed.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Yahoo News
Suspected con artists have been selling "Trump Bucks" to Donald Trump's supporters, advertising them as a golden ticket that will help propel Trump's 2024 bid and make supporters rich when cashed in. However, dozens of social posts, online complaints, and hundreds of misleading ads for the products suggest that they are worthless. The companies behind the Trump Bucks have been identified as Patriots Dynasty, Patriots Future, and USA Patriots, and have received an F rating from the Better Business Bureau. The Federal Trade Commission has received one fraud complaint against Patriots Dynasty.
The Cost of Loyalty: Trump Bucks Leave Some Supporters Empty-Handed.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NBC News
Trump supporters have fallen prey to a scam involving "Trump Bucks" and commemorative coins that promise wealth for MAGA loyalty. The scheme involves fraudulent marketing videos and fake promotional materials that claim the coins and checks can be cashed in for a profit. Many Trump supporters have invested tens of thousands of dollars in the scheme, only to find out that they have been scammed. It is not clear who is behind the scheme, but it is believed to involve affiliate marketers who earn commissions from each sale generated by the fraudulent ads.
Rochester Couple's Child Saves Them from $14K PayPal Scam
Originally Published 2 years ago — by ABC 6 News KAAL TV
A Rochester couple lost $14,000 in a PayPal scam after a scammer pretending to be from PayPal convinced them to transfer money to a new account. The couple's daughter intervened and prevented them from transferring more money. The scammer likely received the money in Bitcoin through a Holiday gas station. The couple, who do not have PayPal accounts, were targeted because they are elderly and not technologically savvy.
Beware of AI voice cloning scams targeting families.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by KABC-TV
A new kidnapping scam is using artificial intelligence to clone voices, as a mother in Arizona recently experienced. The scammers replicated her daughter's voice and demanded ransom in exchange for her safety. Experts warn that anyone with the right software can clone voices in just a matter of seconds, posing a significant risk to safety.