Imposter scams : Live Updates Every Minute from 25K+ News Agencies Across the Globe

AARP Maine
Sun, 02/07/2021 - 7:15am
February means Valentine’s Day, but romance scammers abound every month of the year. It’s important to understand that a “romance” scam isn’t about romance at all. It’s about people looking for social connection online – whether a dating site, an online game, or a neighborhood listserv. Criminal imposters are more than happy to provide that connection – at great cost.
How can you tell if your new online connection is fake and what can you do if it is? First, be wary of a new relationship with someone who suddenly bestows on you overwhelming affection; this is what criminals call “grooming.” Second, check their photos using your web browser; both Google and Bing offer image search. You may find your Romeo’s picture is actually one of a Marine sergeant’s or from a magazine ad. Most importantly, don’t engage with any financial transaction – this is the biggest red flag and the one that can cost you thousands of dollars and great emotional pain.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission received 8,257 fraud reports from consumers in Idaho in 2020, according to newly released data.
Idaho consumers reported losing a total of $10,032,295 to fraud, with a median loss of $295.
The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network is a database that receives reports directly from consumers, as well as from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the Better Business Bureau, industry members, and non-profit organizations. This year, the FTC welcomed the data contributions of the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Twenty-five states now contribute to Sentinel. Reports from around the country about consumer protection issues—including identity theft, fraud, and other categories—are a key resource for FTC investigations that stop illegal activities and, when possible, provide refunds to consumers.

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Compliance Professionals continue protecting their Financial Institutions during these unprecedented times. They have become a source of regulatory information for Financial Institutions facing challenges that are changing from day to day.  As the Pandemic continues, Compliance Departments and Compliance Officers working remotely bear an additional responsibility for assuring proactive risk identification, assessment, and mitigation.  Regulators expect full funding of the Compliance function.
 
Fraud, Fraud and More Fraud
Fraud is a continuously evolving threat during the Pandemic with Imposter Scams, Investment Scams Product Scams, and Insider Trading adding more stress to the compliance function.  There are fraudsters that will pretend to offer “important” information when attempting to convince individuals to click on malicious links. These links can install malware, obtain personal/confidential information, as well as login and password credentials.  Compliance Officers are usually “gatekeepers” in a Financial Institution relating to fraud scheme detection.  That said, the rise in Fraud has compounded the stress level at the compliance function. 

By FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Credits: Federal Trade Commission
February 1, 2020 at 12:03 AM
WASHINGTON - New data released by the Federal Trade Commission shows that consumers across New Jersey received $3,825,267 in refund checks from the FTC in 2019.
In addition to refunds, the newly released data also shows that New Jersey residents filed 75,100 complaints with the FTC last year. The most common category of complaints received from New Jersey consumers was Identity Theft, followed by Imposter Scams, Banks and Lenders, Credit Reporting Issues, and Online Shopping and Negative Reviews. Consumers in New Jersey reported losing $32,666,461 to scams and fraud.
Reports from around the country about consumer protection issues are a key resource for FTC investigations that stop illegal activities and, when possible, provide refunds to consumers.

New data released by the Federal Trade Commission shows that consumers across Oklahoma received $2,032,041 in refund checks from the FTC in 2019.In addition to refunds, the newly released data also shows that Oklahoma residents filed 22,444 complaints with the FTC last year. The most common category of complaints received from Oklahoma consumers was Imposter Scams, followed by Identity Theft, Telephone and Mobile Services, Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries, and Debt Collection. Consumers in

“Trust is a key battle ground.”
THE ESSENTIAL IMPORTANCE OF TRUST
There are just a few elemental forces that hold our world together. The one that’s the glue of society is called trust. Its presence cements relationships by allowing people to live and work together and feel safe.
“A world where trust is at the heart of the relationship allows unlimited opportunities.”
Trust takes a long time to build and retaining it requires transparent and consistent effort. 
High levels of trust create mutually beneficial extraordinary relationships where each person wants to do their best for the other.
WHAT IS TRUSTSEARCH?