Elder Fraud On the Rise-$3.5 Billion and Growing

There’s a segment of the U.S. population particularly vulnerable to online and other scams. The 60+ year old community is under attack, and the complaints are on the rise. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reports last year saw an 11% rise in complaints of elder fraud over the previous year. It’s now a nearly $3.5 billion criminal scheme to defraud this at-risk group — and it’s only getting worse. The 2023 IC3 Elder Fraud Report takes a deep dive into the problem at hand including the statistics behind fraud victim complaints to the agency. READ FULL STORY

They Just Don't Give Up; FBI Warns Of Re-invented Tech Support Scam Targeting Seniors

The FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) unit is warning the public, especially older adults, about an increase in tech support scams. These persistent little scams just won’t go away; instead they just get revised and reinvented to target new potential victims. In this latest version, scammers pretend to be from legitimate companies, contacting primarily older victims through phone calls, texts, emails, or even pop-up windows. A quick look at this scam reveals how easy it is to spot. READ FULL STORY

Billions of SSN’s Exposed—How To Protect Your Finances

There has been a mega data breach boom lately and billions of Social Security numbers have been exposed. The National Public Data breach alone let loose 2.9 billion of our most sensitive records into the hands of cybercriminals. It's unlikely that anyone in the U.S. escaped this breach. And if you did, there's certainly another one that got you. Fortunately, there are several protective steps we can take to minimize the potential financial damage, and they aren't so difficult to do. READ FULL STORY

Passkeys Make Passwords a Thing of the Past

Tired of creating and remembering passwords? Aren't we all? Well, now there’s an easier option to do away with all those pesky passwords. They’re called “passkeys”, and the best part is, they’re easier to use and more secure (you can now jump for joy). Passkeys are a type of authentication technology doing away with the risks of traditional logins. Unfortunately, not all websites use them yet, but more are appearing every day. While it's a hip hip hooray for us, finding ways around them is also a big challenge for hackers. READ FULL STORY

Your Browser Extensions May be Stealing from You

When the FBI releases an urgent warning to three million Chrome users, it’s time to pay attention. The alert warns malicious file conversion software, and their fake URLs, are hijacking personal information. It’s also at a time when malicious browser extensions and the hackers behind them are threatening Google Chrome users everywhere. The FBI says cybercriminals worldwide are creating websites hyping free file conversion services or free software downloads to convert files on your own. Their warning also finds victims are told MP3 or MP4 download might also being used. READ FULL STORY

How to Shop Safely Online and Avoid Scams

Today, shopping online for anything can be a financial risk. Marketplaces are rife with scammers looking to make a fast buck by pulling you into their web. Here’s what to know before your next marketplace purchase. Any type of payment method can be scammed. Whether it’s using peer to peer (P2P) like Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal, gift cards and payment cards—anything to cheat you and profit themself. Like with other cybercrimes today, shopping safely online takes cyber-smarts and a good dose of common sense. READ FULL STORY

Should I, Could I Freeze My Credit Report?

Having your private information or identity stolen is no picnic. It takes quite a long time to make it right, so one of the best ways to help ensure that neither happens in the first place is to protect it as much as you can. In light of the recent Capital One data breach, many may be considering putting a freeze on their credit reports and that is a great idea. However, it's a good idea to be sure to know what that means before taking that action. READ FULL STORY

Hi, It’s Not Me: It's a 148% Rise in Impersonation Scams

Impersonation scams have exploded—and we’re not talking about your buddy doing a bad Elvis impression. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s latest 2025 Trends in Identity report, these scams have shot up a whopping 148% and are now the most-reported identity crime. The scammers? They’re posing as banks, tech support reps, and even your own family. The scary part? They’re convincing—way too convincing. Sadly, there is no shortage of examples of these. READ FULL STORY

Webcam Woes—Are You Being Spied On?

It’s a creepy feeling no one really wants to think about, but we all need to be aware of it. It’s not that someone’s looking over your shoulder while you’re online, it’s that they’re looking straight at you via your webcam. Often extortion is the goal, and a bad actor will back up their ransom demand using your personal details--sometimes gleaned from social media. It’s all to scare you into paying up. Below are a few red flags showing your webcam could be compromised. READ FULL STORY

What Is A Brushing Scam?

We haven’t talked about brushing scams much of late. However, there is one happening now that is significant enough that the FBI’s IC3 unit issued a warning about it. It involves mystery packages being delivered to your home with no information about where they came from and though many are harmless, some make that bargain you thought you were getting vastly more expensive. And to make it easier for you to fall for the scam, a convenient QR code is inside so you can solve the mystery easily and deliver your money to the scammers too. READ FULL STORY

Google Patches Critical Pixel Flaw in August Update—What You Need to Know

If you’ve been doom-scrolling on your Android 16 device without updating, it’s time to sit up straight and take notice. Google’s August 2025 security update finally fixed a seriously nasty bug—the one that let hackers sneak into your phone without you even lifting a finger. That's right: no clicking, tapping, or app installations required—attackers could run harmful code on your device remotely. That’s the real danger flagged in CVE-2025-48530. READ FULL STORY

FBI Issues Alert About Rise in Financial Fraud

You may not know that there’s a day dedicated to elder abuse awareness, but there is. While we think it’s wise to be aware of elder abuse every day, the FBI recently called attention to World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by issuing an alert about an uptick in financial crimes against older people. Unfortunately, these scams not only harm people of all ages financially, but leave a lasting emotional damage. Scammers may pretend to be romantic interests, friends or loved ones, technical support professionals, government agents, or financial advisors offering assistance. There is no end to who they may pretend to be and their targets are often elders. READ FULL STORY