Category Protection

Cryptocurrency romance scams are becoming more common, especially during times of economic uncertainty when people are looking for new ways to make money. These scams often begin on dating apps or social media, where scammers build fake relationships to gain their victim’s trust. They may even use video calls, fake investment apps, and fake websites to appear legitimate. Once the victim feels confident, the scammer convinces them to invest large sums of money in supposed cryptocurrency opportunities. However, when the victim tries to withdraw their profits, they discover the money is gone. This type of scam, often called "pig butchering," highlights how easily people can be tricked when both their emotions and finances are targeted. Law enforcement agencies are now warning people to be cautious when mixing online relationships with money matters.

As more financial services move online, document fraud is becoming a bigger threat to everyday people, especially during times of economic stress. Scammers are now using advanced technology to fake or change important documents like bank statements, tax forms, and IDs. These fake documents are often used to steal money, commit identity theft, or trick people into giving away personal information. This type of fraud has grown beyond simple paper forgeries; digital versions now make scams harder to spot. With the rise of cybercrime and economic uncertainty, it's more important than ever for individuals and families to stay alert and protect their personal information.

"Phantom hacker" scams are a new kind of cyber fraud spreading quickly across the United States. In these scams, criminals pretend to be people you trust—like bank workers, tech support, or even the police—to scare you into giving up personal information, like your bank account or social security number. With advanced tools like caller ID spoofing and AI-generated voices, they can sound very real, making it hard to tell they're fake. These scams thrive during times of economic stress, when people may already feel nervous about their finances. Experts warn that everyone, regardless of age, should be cautious and always double-check before sharing any private information over the phone or online.

Scam text messages pretending to be from the New York Department of Revenue are on the rise, tricking people into believing they owe back taxes or are getting a refund. These fake messages try to create fear or excitement so people will click on links that lead to phishing websites. Once there, scammers try to steal personal information like Social Security numbers and bank account details. The increase in these scams is partly due to economic uncertainty and the fact that more people are used to handling money matters online. With financial stress growing, it’s important for consumers to be cautious and verify any messages before responding.

In September 2025, a major cybersecurity breach at FinWise Bank revealed how insider threats and digital scams are becoming a growing danger to Americans’ personal finances. A former employee reportedly stole data from nearly 700,000 customers, many of whom are already struggling financially. This breach highlights a rising trend in financial crimes, including smishing (fake text messages that trick people into giving away personal information) and other scams targeting banks, businesses, and even government agencies. As a response, FinWise is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft protection to affected customers. The incident shows just how important it is to protect your personal information and stay alert to new types of fraud.

In September 2025, the FBI warned the public about a rise in fake websites pretending to be its official Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). These fake sites used names and designs that looked almost identical to the real IC3 site to trick people into sharing personal and financial information. Criminals used these look-alike sites and phishing emails to steal names, addresses, phone numbers, and banking details. The FBI urges people to be careful and double-check web addresses when reporting cybercrimes, making sure they are on the official government site, which ends in “.gov.”