Tag

Scams

All articles tagged with #scams

technology14 days ago•6 min saved

Recurring senior-targeted scams persist on Meta platforms, report finds

A Center for Countering Digital Hate study, provided to NBC News, says Meta allows repeat scam advertisers to run ads on Facebook and Instagram that target seniors, generating about 215 million impressions from 30 active scam accounts, with 73% of viewers over 65; ads often feature fake celebrity imagery and prompt clicks or calls that harvest data or steer victims into worse Medicare plans. Meta contends it fights scams aggressively and removed over 159 million scam ads last year, but the report argues scammers reappear after removal and enforcement is inconsistent, a point highlighted amid several ongoing lawsuits alleging Meta profits from online scams.

via NBC News|

#ad-library #meta #online-advertising

technology19 days ago•1 min saved

Live Deepfakes From China Drive Global Scams

A new wave of scams is powered by real-time deepfake software developed in China that can swap faces during live video calls, enabling scammers to impersonate individuals in real time on platforms like Microsoft Teams and potentially defraud victims worldwide.

via 404 Media|

#china #cybersecurity #deepfake

business1 month ago•50 min saved

19 Everyday Industries Under Scrutiny for Branding and Markups

BuzzFeed’s community post surveys 19 industries—ranging from soda and eyewear to mattresses, weddings, olive oil, diamonds, and packaged ice—sharing consumer concerns that pricing, branding, and opaque practices inflate costs or obscure value, with claims of over-markups, limited competition, and marketing-driven narratives across sectors.

via BuzzFeed|

#branding #business #consumer-issues

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

Fake iCloud deletion notices lure Apple users into phishing traps

Phishing emails impersonating Apple warn that iCloud storage is full and threaten immediate deletion unless users upgrade, guiding victims to malicious links designed to steal bank details. Which? warned of the scam, which resembles legitimate messages and uses dubious sender addresses and grammar. Do not click any links—verify storage via Settings, report suspected phishing, and contact your bank if details were shared.

via The Guardian|

#consumer-protection #cybersecurity #icloud

technology2 months ago•3 min saved

FBI Warns of QR Code Mystery Packages Triggering Phishing Scams

The FBI and FTC warn about unsolicited mystery packages that include QR codes leading recipients to fraudulent sites designed to steal personal and financial information. This dangerous twist on brushing scams targets people who scan codes without verification, risking identity and financial theft. Advice from authorities includes changing passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, checking credit reports, and reporting incidents to the FBI.

via supercarblondie.com|

#brushing-scam #fbi-warning #phishing

technology3 months ago•7 min saved

Guarding Against Scams in Google's AI Overviews

Google’s AI Overviews synthesize web results, but fake phone numbers planted by scammers have slipped into some summaries, sending users to impersonators who may harvest payment data. While Google says it’s strengthening anti-scam protections, the piece advises always verifying contact numbers on a company’s official site or with a separate search, since AI Overviews can still present outdated or misleading information.

via WIRED|

#ai-overviews #google-search #misinformation

us-news3 months ago•24 min saved

90-year-old LA man’s life savings drained by scammers; bank refunds after TV investigation

A 90-year-old Los Angeles man, Irving Rosenberg, had about $814,000 siphoned from his savings by scammers starting last April. Wells Fargo initially rejected the fraud claim under a 60-day rule, but after ABC7’s 7 On Your Side investigation, the bank refunded the money and emphasized ongoing fraud-prevention efforts.

via New York Post|

#elderly #fraud #losangeles

cybersecurity3 months ago•6 min saved

Global cloud-storage scam hits inboxes with fake renewal alerts to steal payment details

A worldwide phishing campaign floods recipients with urgent emails claiming cloud-storage renewals failed, pushing them to a fake Google Cloud Storage link that redirects to scam pages impersonating cloud portals. The pages upsell a deceptive “loyalty” upgrade and collect credit card info, with the aim of affiliate revenue. Legitimate providers do not notify via such scans or require third-party security products, and users should delete the messages and verify billing directly on official sites.

via BleepingComputer|

#cloud-storage #cybersecurity #email-security

society4 months ago•1 min saved

Guarding Elder Finances: Practical Steps to Prevent Family Mistakes

Americans over 70 control about $53 trillion in wealth and are prime targets for financial scams; the article urges empathetic, proactive engagement with aging relatives, due diligence, and outside help—such as AARP's BankSafe Initiative—to prevent financial missteps, while noting that family dynamics can both aid and impede timely interventions.

via The New York Times|

#elder-care #elder-financial-fraud #family-dynamics

world4 months ago•3 min saved

Country at the center of global scam network revealed

Paywalled FT piece teases a global scam industry investigation, but the provided text only shows subscription prompts and a headline; no full article details are included.

via Financial Times|

#country #fraud #global

technology4 months ago•2 min saved

Evaluating the Value of an AliExpress Homelab

A DIY homelab built entirely from inexpensive AliExpress components cost only $216 but revealed significant quality issues, especially with fake SSDs and outdated hardware, leading to the conclusion that buying used quality hardware is a better investment.

via Hackster.io|

#aliexpress #cheap-hardware #homelab

travel5 months ago•2 min saved

Holiday Travel Tips and Expectations Amid Peak Season and Storms

The holiday season is expected to be extremely busy, with over 122 million Americans traveling between December 20 and January 1, including record-breaking air travel days on December 19, 20, and 21, and post-Christmas weekends. Travelers are advised to watch out for scams involving fake websites and impersonators, and to use official airline channels for bookings and information.

via CBS News|

#air-travel #busy-travel-days #december-travel

technology5 months ago•6 min saved

Meta Faces Growing Ad Fraud Concerns and Potential Legal Challenges

A Reuters investigation reveals that Meta generates billions from Chinese ads, with a significant portion linked to scams and illegal activities, highlighting internal policies that prioritize revenue over fraud prevention, and raising concerns about the company's transparency and effectiveness in combating ad fraud.

via Fortune|

#ad-fraud #china #internal-investigation

technology5 months ago•6 min saved

AI Training Growth Sparks Rise in Scams

A shadow market for illicit sale of verified AI training accounts has emerged on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram, driven by the high demand for data labeling work in AI development. Despite company bans and safeguards, scammers and opportunists are selling fake or real accounts, risking scams and data leaks for buyers and sellers. Companies like Scale AI and Surge AI are actively fighting fraud, but the underground industry continues to evolve, highlighting the challenges in securing AI training data.

via Business Insider|

#ai-training-accounts #black-market #data-labeling

technology6 months ago•3 min saved

Microsoft's AI Agents Fail and Scam in Fake Market Tests

Microsoft's research on AI agents in simulated marketplaces reveals that current autonomous AI shopping assistants are prone to failures, scams, and manipulation, highlighting the need for supervised human oversight rather than full automation, as these agents struggle with basic tasks and are vulnerable to malicious tactics.

via Decrypt|

#ai-agents #autonomous-shopping #microsoft