Scams: The Latest Scams

Given all the warnings about scams, you may think that you are informed enough to avoid becoming a victim. However, security experts say that anyone can fall for a scam if the circumstances are right.

In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 2.6 million fraud reports, resulting in losses totaling $12.5 billion—a fivefold increase from the $2.5 billion in losses reported in 2023. Security experts suggest that losses are likely higher because people often do not report being scammed due to embarrassment.

Research suggests several reasons why people fall prey to scams. For one, people are more vulnerable to scams when they are exhausted, overwhelmed, or highly distracted. So, if they are overwhelmed at work when a scammer calls about a so-called problem with their checking account, they might give away personal information.

Thomas Holt, a professor at Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice, says usually, “there’s something that’s just a little bit off” in a scammer’s message. However, “you’re not paying close enough attention, and it can still slip through.”

Additionally, people become victims of fraud because they tend to trust those in authority, which is why scammers pose as authority figures. Individuals also trust well-known companies like Google, which has also been a target of scammers. Recently, some Google users received an email that appeared to be from Google stating that a legal subpoena had been issued, requiring them to produce a copy of the content from their Google account.

The fake subpoena emails even slipped past Google’s email authentication system. The fraudsters were attempting to trick Google users into giving away sensitive personal information.

While scam attempts are inevitable, there are ways to minimize your risk of falling for a scam. Here’s what experts recommend:

• Christopher Chabris, a cognitive scientist and co-author of Nobody’s Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It, says that if you get the feeling that something fishy is going on, you should “gut-check” it and discuss it with someone else.

• Holt suggests taking a closer look at where a suspicious message is coming from by looking at the email address or phone number.

• Jameca Woody Cooper, a forensic and criminal psychologist, suggested adopting a “high degree of skepticism,” particularly when encountering “too good to be true” deals or unsolicited offers.

• The FTC recommends using two-factor authentication on your logins so that if a scammer tries to access your account, you have another layer of protection.

Protect Your Email Accounts From Medusa Ransomware

The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned users of Gmail, Outlook, and other email services about “Medusa.” The dangerous ransomware has been linked to a group of developers who have breached the data of individuals in various sectors, including medical, education, legal, insurance, technology, and manufacturing.

The ransomware utilizes phishing emails that appear to be from legitimate sources to deceive Gmail or Outlook users into clicking on links or downloading infected attachments. Once their systems are compromised, Medusa ransomware encrypts the stolen information and demands a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key.

The FBI and CISA recommend that individuals and organizations ensure all operating systems, software, and firmware are up to date, among other measures.

Check Group Apps on Your Phone

The National Security Agency (NSA) recently warned that millions of Android and iPhone users leave themselves vulnerable to cyberattacks due to their use of messaging apps.

The NSA’s alert followed Google’s Threat Intelligence Group’s discovery that Russia’s GRU (Russia’s military intelligence agency) had tricked Ukrainian officials into providing access to their Signal accounts, thereby allowing the Russians to eavesdrop.

According to Google, it’s not only Signal, but scammers also target apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, which allow you to communicate with multiple people simultaneously.

Security experts recommend going to the settings options on your phone and disabling the “Group Link” or “Linked Devices” apps.

Watch Out For Text and “Smishing” Scams

Text scams have been increasing over the years since people conduct more personal business on their phones. According to the FTC, Americans reported losing $470 million in 2024 to scams that started with fraudulent text messages. The losses represented a 26 percent increase from the $373 million lost in 2023 and a fivefold increase from the total of $85 million in 2020.

The most common type of text scam reported to the FTC in 2024 involved scammers impersonating UPS, FedEx, or Amazon, claiming that there was a problem with a delivery, a credit card payment, or an incorrect delivery address.

The FBI reports a relatively new type of text scam called “smishing,” which is a combination of “SMS” and “phishing.” With smishing, scammers use fake messages to deceive people into giving out their personal information. A popular smishing scam involves a text allegedly from a government agency warning recipients they have unpaid parking invoices and threatening a $35 daily fine if the invoice is not paid. The texts instruct recipients to click a link to pay an alleged overdue fine. 

The FBI also warned that the fraudsters have gone beyond parking fines and are now impersonating road toll collection services. 

Tips for avoiding text scams:

Don’t click on links in unsolicited texts or emails, even if they appear to be legitimate. Treat unsolicited texts with caution.

Verify before you trust. Go directly to your bank or store, or contact your local government agency to verify the information you received.

5 Signs That Your Phone Has Been Hacked

The following are five signs that tell you your phone has probably been hacked:

• Battery Drainage. Spyware or malware that hackers place on your phone can cause your battery to drain more quickly.

• Overheating. Background apps that hackers install constantly run on your phone, causing it to overheat and drain your battery.

• Strange apps on your phone that you do not recognize.

• Your contacts ask why you keep sending strange messages or calls that you know you did not send or make.

• If you start seeing pop-ups, especially when you have blocked pop-up ads, then a hacker may be at work. Pay attention if the apps redirect you to other pages.

If you suspect your phone has been hacked:

• Update your operating system software. These updates include security patches to keep your phone secure.

• Delete any suspicious apps, particularly the ones that you did not download.

• Perform a factory reset to erase all data from your phone. Make sure to back up important information first.

• Consider using a spyware removal app.

• Change your password:

• Create long passwords with numbers and special characters. They’re the hardest for hackers to figure out.
• Use different passwords for each of your accounts.
• Use a password manager to create, store, and enter passwords for you.
• Write down your passwords. Experts say a notebook is much safer than storing it on your device.

Source Links:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/anyone-can-fall-for-a-scam–yes-even-you-here-are-the-psychological-tactics-scammers-use-to-steal-your-money-090054906.html
https://www.the-sun.com/tech/14068282/gmail-scam-google-steal-data-attack/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/gmail-outlook-fbi-cisa-issue-150744323.html?guccounter=1
https://www.the-express.com/news/us-news/167882/NSA-Warning-iPhone-Android-security
https://www.yahoo.com/news/americans-lost-470-million-text-221000923.html
https://www.newsbreak.com/shefinds-518722/3970709906091-5-telltale-signs-hackers-are-targeting-your-device-and-how-to-protect-yourself-pop-ups-more
https://www.fox5vegas.com/2025/04/22/fox5-investigates-scam-alert-five-secrets-password-security/