Tag:

Phishing

Mount Pleasant, NY
News
Town Wins Privacy Battle: NY’s Top Court Blocks Release Of Mount Pleasant Residents’ Email Info Town Wins Privacy Battle: NY’s Top Court Blocks Release Of Mount Pleasant Residents’ Email Info
Town Wins Privacy Battle: NY’s Top Court Blocks Release Of Mount Pleasant Residents’ Email Info New York’s highest court has ruled that a Westchester County town does not have to release the names and email addresses of residents who subscribe to its “E-news” alert system, finding that disclosure would be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.  In a Thursday, Feb. 19 decision in Matter of Russell v. Town of Mount Pleasant, N.Y., the Court of Appeals reversed a lower court order that would have forced the town to turn over its news subscriber list in response to a 2022 Freedom of Information Law request filed by resident James C. Russell.  Writing for a unanimous court,…

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by Ben Crnic
Saratoga Springs, NY
News
Don't Fall For Automatic Withdrawal Scams: Here's What To Know Don't Fall For Automatic Withdrawal Scams: Here's What To Know
Don't Fall For Automatic Withdrawal Scams: Here's What To Know The latest trick to drain your checking account doesn’t require your debit card. Just your bank and routing numbers.  Fraudsters posing as prize promoters or special-offer reps convince victims to “verify” account details, then use that information to pull money out—often again and again. Here’s what to know to spot these schemes and protect your money. What They Are These scams hinge on a criminal getting your bank account and routing numbers, often from a check image, a cold call, a mailed postcard, or a too-good-to-be-true email. The criminal then initiates unauthorized autom…

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by Joe Lombardi
Newton, MA
Business
Fake Amazon Recall Texts Prompt FTC Warning Fake Amazon Recall Texts Prompt FTC Warning
Fake Amazon Recall Texts Prompt FTC Warning The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is urging the public to ignore and delete a new wave of phishing texts that masquerade as recall notices from Amazon and dangle instant refunds. According to the agency’s consumer-protection unit, the messages claim a “routine quality inspection” found a defect in a recent Amazon purchase. Buyers can secure a full refund — no return required — simply by tapping a supplied link. In reality, there is no refund. Clicking routes victims to look-alike sites designed to harvest Amazon credentials, credit-card numbers, or other personal data that can be resold or…

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by Joe Lombardi
Northampton, MA
Business
Gmail Users Urged To Reset Passwords Now: Here's Why Gmail Users Urged To Reset Passwords Now: Here's Why
Gmail Users Urged To Reset Passwords Now: Here's Why It starts with an email that looks official, but isn’t. Google is warning all Gmail and Google Cloud users to change their passwords and boost account security after a surge in phishing and impersonation scams tied to a breach at Salesforce.  While Google’s own systems were not directly compromised, the third-party breach exposed information that hackers are now using in targeted attacks. The schemes include emails and phone calls designed to trick users into revealing their credentials.  Some attackers are posing as IT staff, pressing victims to hand over login codes.  Ot…

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by Joe Lombardi
Somers, NY
News
Rapidly Spreading Scam Targets Drivers With Texts Meant To Click Quickly Rapidly Spreading Scam Targets Drivers With Texts Meant To Click Quickly
Rapidly Spreading Scam Targets Drivers With Texts Meant To Click Quickly A new scam is hitting phones with alarming claims tied to enforcement deadlines, and officials say it's designed to scare drivers into clicking fast. The messages are fraudulent and part of a growing trend known as smishing, or SMS-based phishing attacks, authorities say. The texts note an alleged traffic infraction and cite a specific deadline by which payment must be made to avoid license suspension, fines, or even criminal charges.  Some messages reference obscure motor vehicle codes or list a set of escalating penalties. A link is provided to submit payment through what appears to…

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by Joe Lombardi
Garden City, NY
Business
Amazon Issues Alert For Prime Day Scam Amazon Issues Alert For Prime Day Scam
Amazon Issues Alert For Prime Day Scam Prime members are being urged to stay vigilant following a new scam warning by Amazon as its annual Prime Day event gets underway. Prime Day is often used by scammers as cover for phishing attempts and impersonation fraud. It runs from Tuesday, July 8, through Friday, July 11. The company says fraudsters are increasingly targeting shoppers with fake emails, texts, and phone calls that appear to come from Amazon.  The goal: to trick users into handing over personal or financial information. In many cases, the messages create a false sense of urgency, such as a problem with an ord…

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by Joe Lombardi
Arlington, VA
News
Scam Targets Airlines As Hacking Group Expands Operations, FBI Warns Scam Targets Airlines As Hacking Group Expands Operations, FBI Warns
Scam Targets Airlines As Hacking Group Expands Operations, FBI Warns A cybercriminal group known for extorting people and companies across the world is now targeting the airline industry. The FBI has issued a warning about Scattered Spider, a hacking group that has  expanded its operations to include major US airlines and their vendors.  The group is known for using convincing impersonation tactics to access corporate networks, often bypassing multi-factor authentication by tricking IT staff into adding unauthorized devices. Scattered Spider impersonates employees or contractors to deceive help desks. "These techniques frequently involve methods …

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by Chris Spiker
Rye, NY
News
Billions Of Google, Facebook, Apple Passwords Breached In Potentially Record Hack Billions Of Google, Facebook, Apple Passwords Breached In Potentially Record Hack
Billions Of Google, Facebook, Apple Passwords Breached In Potentially Record Hack A newly discovered trove of stolen login credentials may represent the largest data breach in history, with billions of usernames and passwords now circulating online. Researchers with Cybernews uncovered more than 16 billion records spread across 30 databases, many of them tied to malware known as infostealers. The findings, published Wednesday, June 18, reveal that the leaked data spans social media platforms, business services, VPNs, and developer tools. The leaked datasets provide access to nearly every online service, including major platforms like Apple, Facebook, Google, GitHub, and…

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by Joe Lombardi
Hackensack, NJ
News
Thousands In NJ Hit With Fake Text Threatening License Suspension: Don't Fall For It Thousands In NJ Hit With Fake Text Threatening License Suspension: Don't Fall For It
Thousands In NJ Hit With Fake Text Threatening License Suspension: Don't Fall For It Thousands of Garden State residents were targeted this week by a fake text message claiming drivers owed traffic fines and faced immediate license suspension. The phishing scam used the names of the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles, EZ-Pass, and NJ Courts, warning of penalties, toll charges, and even prosecution. The message read: “Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 30. Our records show you still have an outstanding traffic ticket… Suspension of driving privileges for 30 days… Credit score will be affected.” The text includes a link posing as a payment portal and urge…

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by Cecilia Levine
Bel Air, MD
News
ESPN Star Blasts AI Fakes Targeting Her Fans: 'Enough Is Enough' ESPN Star Blasts AI Fakes Targeting Her Fans: 'Enough Is Enough'
ESPN Star Blasts AI Fakes Targeting Her Fans: 'Enough Is Enough' Even ESPN's Erin Dolan isn’t safe from scammers. ESPN talking head Erin Dolan issued an advisory to her nearly 340,000 Instagram followers this week, cautioning that not everything may be as it seems when it comes to corresponding with her on social media.  The Penn State grad and girlfriend of Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm set the record straight after receiving disconcerting messages from fans about apparent phishing schemes. "Alright. Enough is enough," the ESPN sports betting analyst posted in an Instagram story on Wednesday, May 28.  "I have TikTok, Instagra…

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by Zak Failla
North Adams, MA
Business
Don't Fall For It: Instagram CEO Says He Almost Became Victim Of Google Phishing Attack Don't Fall For It: Instagram CEO Says He Almost Became Victim Of Google Phishing Attack
Don't Fall For It: Instagram CEO Says He Almost Became Victim Of Google Phishing Attack The tech-savvy head of Instagram says he almost fell for an elaborate scam in which a new phishing attack was posing as Google. Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram and Head of Product for Instagram at Facebook, said in a social media post on Threads that the scammer contacted him by phone, with a quick follow-up email. "They said my Google account was compromised and they sent me an email to confirm my identity," wrote Mosseri, a 42-year-old New York City native who graduated from NYU. "On the phone they asked me to change my password using my Gmail app and to *not* say my new…

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by Joe Lombardi
Hartford, CT
News
Many People Fear Cyberattacks But Don't Protect Themselves Properly, Survey Says Many People Fear Cyberattacks But Don't Protect Themselves Properly, Survey Says
Many People Fear Cyberattacks But Don't Protect Themselves Properly, Survey Says Most online users say they're worried about data breaches, but still skip basic ways to improve their cybersecurity, according to a new survey. The Acronis Data Privacy in 2025 Survey polled nearly 2,500 adults in the US and seven other countries, finding that many aren't doing enough to protect their personal data. The Swiss tech company found that while 64% of respondents listed data breaches as their top online privacy concern, only one-third back up their data daily or weekly. Fewer than half (46%) said they use security features like two-factor authentication. "Perhaps …

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by Chris Spiker
Accokeek, MD
News
Fraudulent Texts Pretend To Be From USPS Fraudulent Texts Pretend To Be From USPS
Fraudulent Texts Pretend To Be From USPS A new scam is targeting people with fraudulent text messages pretending to be from the United States Postal Service (USPS) — and officials are urging caution. The US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is warning customers about a rise in phishing and smishing attacks, where fraudsters send fake texts and emails that appear to come from USPS. The messages often claim that a package is delayed or that a payment is due, directing recipients to click a link that steals personal information. Postal inspectors say these scams are becoming more advanced, but there are clear warning signs: Smishi…

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by Joe Lombardi
McLean, VA
News
New Scam Involving Fraudulent Texts Impersonates IRS New Scam Involving Fraudulent Texts Impersonates IRS
New Scam Involving Fraudulent Texts Impersonates IRS A new scam involves unsolicited text messages impersonating the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the agency says. The fraudulent messages falsely claim recipients are eligible for a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment and instruct them to click a deceptive link to "claim" the funds. How The Scam Works Victims receive a text message that appears to be from the IRS, stating they are owed an Economic Impact Payment. The message urges them to provide personal information to process the supposed payment. Scammers promise the money will be deposited into a bank account or mailed as a check within 1-2…

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by Joe Lombardi
Albany, NY
Business
Scammers Impersonating IRS With These Texts: Here's What To Know Scammers Impersonating IRS With These Texts: Here's What To Know
Scammers Impersonating IRS With These Texts: Here's What To Know A new scam is making the rounds, with fraudsters posing as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents and sending text messages promising a substantial rebate.  The trap is a phishing attempt designed to steal your personal and financial information. What’s Happening? The fraudulent messages claim recipients are eligible for a $1,400 stimulus check, directing them to click on a fake link to “claim” their payment.  How The Scam Works You receive a text message appearing to be from the IRS, stating that you’re owed an Economic Impact Payment and must provide personal information …

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by Joe Lombardi
New Haven, CT
Police & Fire
Cryptocurrency Scammers Steal $63K From CT Resident; Here's How To Protect Yourself Cryptocurrency Scammers Steal $63K From CT Resident; Here's How To Protect Yourself
Cryptocurrency Scammers Steal $63K From CT Resident; Here's How To Protect Yourself Police are sounding the alarm after scammers successfully stole tens of thousands of dollars from a Connecticut resident. In New Haven County, a Cheshire resident contacted Connecticut State Police in April 2024 saying they had lost more than $68,000 worth of cryptocurrency in a scam. The victim told investigators they were tricked by a phishing scheme that offered new tokens. Instead, the scammers drained all the cryptocurrency in their digital wallet. Detectives were able to trace the victim’s stolen funds using blockchain analytics and located their wallet, which still had most of the c…

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by Michael Mashburn
Allentown, PA
News
Pottsville Snapchat Hacker Who Sold Woman's Nudes Gets Short Prison Stay Pottsville Snapchat Hacker Who Sold Woman's Nudes Gets Short Prison Stay
Pottsville Snapchat Hacker Who Sold Woman's Nudes Gets Short Prison Stay A Pottsville man will spend 18 months behind bars for hacking into social media accounts to steal and sell explicit photos of the victims, according to the US Attorney's Office.  Brandon Boyer, 34, will also spend two years on supervised release, prosecutors said.  Investigators said Boyer contacted the victims using an account that appeared to be Snapchat affiliated, then coaxed them to reset their passwords and send him the verification codes that were generated, a technique known as "phishing." Authorities said he stole photos from the private sections of the victims' accounts…

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by Mac Bullock
Fairfax, VA
Schools
'Cruel' Phishing Email Tricks Fairfax County Public School Teachers 'Cruel' Phishing Email Tricks Fairfax County Public School Teachers
'Cruel' Phishing Email Tricks Fairfax County Public School Teachers Outrage spread amongst the Fairfax County Public Schools community after a bogus email offering gift cards to teachers was sent as a phishing test on the last day of school, according to various news outlets. The email was apparently sent by the district's IT department, complete with the FCPS logo, as a way to test if teachers would fall for phishing emails, according to NBC Washington and the Washington Post. Those who clicked were brought to a cybersecurity page explaining phishing. David Walrod, president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, said the IT department will routin…

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by Cecilia Levine
Glen Burnie, MD
News
Maryland Men Convicted Of Running $13M Money Laundering Scheme Maryland Men Convicted Of Running $13M Money Laundering Scheme
Maryland Men Convicted Of Running $13M Money Laundering Scheme Two Maryland men have been convicted after running a $13 million business email compromise scheme, authorities say. Onyewuchi Victor Ibeh, 33, of Mitchellville, and Jason Eugene Joyner, 42, of Hyattsville, participated in the scheme to launder proceeds by infiltrating computer systems of victim companies through phishing and malware attacks, according to the Department of Justice. Once the pair would gain access to the accounts, prosecutors said they would pose as the victim's business partner and claim the bank account information has changed so the victim business sends money to accounts …

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by Annie DeVoe
Greenburgh, NY
Business
Scam Alert: Phishing Text Messages On Rise, New Report Says Scam Alert: Phishing Text Messages On Rise, New Report Says
Scam Alert: Phishing Text Messages On Rise, New Report Says Cybersecurity experts have reported an increase in phishing scam text messages, according to a new report from CNET. Josh Yavor, the chief information security officer at cybersecurity company Tessian, told the news outlet he has seen a recent increase in scammers using text messages for phishing, where they attempt to steal peoples' personal information by pretending to be reputable organizations. CNET also said a report from enterprise security company Proofpoint found that incidents SMS phishing increased by 24 percent in the United States last year. The Federal Trade Commission reporte…

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by Nicole Valinote
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
Police In Western Mass Issue Warning For Fake Contest Police In Western Mass Issue Warning For Fake Contest
Police In Western Mass Issue Warning For Fake Contest Police in Western Massachusetts are cautioning of a new scam involving a phony contest that has been making the rounds in the region. The Chicopee Police Department issued an alert warning of a fake Chicopee Forum that has been messaging people advising that they’ve won a contest that doesn’t exist in an effort to ascertain personal identifying information. Police said that area residents have been receiving private messages on social media and through other means regarding the faux contest, stating that they’ve won a prize in the fake contest. According to police, residents should “alwa…

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by Zak Failla
Kingston, NY
News
Alert Issued For Scam USPS Package Delivery Postponed Texts Alert Issued For Scam USPS Package Delivery Postponed Texts
Alert Issued For Scam USPS Package Delivery Postponed Texts Law enforcement officials are cautioning of a new text message "smishing" scam that involves phony messages being sent from fraudsters posing as members of the US Postal Service (USPS). Alerts have been issued by state and federal officials following recent reports from consumers who have received messages claiming to be from USPS about a change in delivery shipment. The messages typically include a link that could potentially expose one to scammers looking to steal personal identifying information. Many who click the phony link have wound up being hacked or prompted to provide new informat…

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by Zak Failla
Brentwood, NY
News
COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine, Stimulus Scams, NY Attorney General Says COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine, Stimulus Scams, NY Attorney General Says
Covid-19: Beware Of These Vaccine, Stimulus Scams, NY Attorney General Says Opportunistic fraudsters have been taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic recently, prompting Attorney General Letitia James to issue a warning to New Yorkers. James said that New Yorkers should remain vigilant about scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically vaccine and stimulus check schemes that have become more prevalent as the country combats the spread of the virus. 
“As more New Yorkers become eligible for the vaccine that will help prevent the spread of the disease and a new round of stimulus payments are sent out to combat the economic fallout of the pandemic, scammers…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
News
Scam Alert Issued For 'Update Your Contact Info' Fake DMV Emails, Texts Scam Alert Issued For 'Update Your Contact Info' Fake DMV Emails, Texts
Scam Alert Issued For 'Update Your Contact Info' Fake DMV Emails, Texts The New York State DMV is warning drivers it has seen an increase in scammers pretending to be the department in an attempt to commit identity theft.  These attempts often include logos, images, and content copied from the legitimate New York State DMV website (or another government site) to make their fraudulent communication appear realistic. Phishing can also be in the form of phone solicitations, fraudulent social media accounts, or websites.  "We encourage you to remain vigilant and to use caution to protect your data," the department said. "Remember that if the message does not feel…

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by Kathy Reakes
Torrington, CT
Lifestyle
Alert Issued For Netflix 'Update Your Payment' Email Scam Alert Issued For Netflix 'Update Your Payment' Email Scam
Alert Issued For Netflix 'Update Your Payment' Email Scam A phishing scam is taking on new life as many use streaming services more frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Forbes, the legitimate-looking email prompting users to update their Netflix payment information comes complete with Netflix logos and bypasses most email spam filters. The scam email, titled "Notice of Verification Failure", reportedly takes Netflix users that are fooled into clicking to a convincing CAPTCHA page, which also has Netflix branding.  From there, victims of the scam are taken to a Netflix lookalike page, where they are prompted to enter their Ne…

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by Christina Coulter
Hackensack, NJ
Police & Fire
Feds Smash Hundreds Of Online Coronavirus Scams -- And Tell You What To Look For Feds Smash Hundreds Of Online Coronavirus Scams -- And Tell You What To Look For
Feds Smash Hundreds Of Online Coronavirus Scams -- And Tell You What To Look For Federal authorities said they've gotten help from domain providers and others in smashing hundreds of online sites exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to commit fraud and other crimes. As of Tuesday, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) had received and reviewed more than 3,600 complaints related to COVID-19 scams, the Justice Department said Wednesday. Many of them “operated from websites that advertised fake vaccines and cures, operated fraudulent charity drives, delivered malware, or hosted various other types of scams,” federal officials said in a release. To attract traffic, t…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Mount Pleasant, NY
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Justice Department Issues Alert For These Scams COVID-19: Justice Department Issues Alert For These Scams
Covid-19: Justice Department Issues Alert For These Scams The United States Justice Department of Justice is warning the public to be wary of opportunistic fraudsters who have been fear-mongering in the wake of fears of coronavirus. Attorney General William Barr issued an alert warning of fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 outbreak, as he begins to investigate and prosecute scammers. According to Barr, he has directed United States attorneys to prioritize and investigate the prosecution of coronavirus-related fraud schemes. Each has been directed to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial d…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
News
Scam Alert: Don't Fall For These Tax Season Schemes Scam Alert: Don't Fall For These Tax Season Schemes
Scam Alert: Don't Fall For These Tax Season Schemes As tax season heats up, officials are warning area residents to be wary of opportunistic fraudsters looking to scam them in new ways. Scammers have found new ways to defraud their victims, from mailbox phishing to new electronic means. The IRS stated that hackers attempted to claim more than $3 billion in false refunds last year using stolen information. “Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams. Scammers use the regular mail, telephone, or email to set up individuals, businesses, payroll and tax professionals,” the IRS stated. “The …

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
News
267M Facebook Users Had Names, Phone Numbers Leaked On Dark Web 267M Facebook Users Had Names, Phone Numbers Leaked On Dark Web
267M Facebook Users Had Names, Phone Numbers Leaked On Dark Web Hundreds of millions of Facebook users’ data has reportedly been leaked to the dark web, according to a new report. Comparitech and security researcher Bob Diachenko reported that he found a database containing 267 million Facebook user IDs, phone numbers and names that were left exposed on the dark web for anyone to access without password protection or any other authentication. In total, 267,140,436 records were exposed. According to Diachenko, who examined the evidence, the data likely came from “an illegal scraping operation or Facebook API abuse by criminals in Vietnam.” Most of the …

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by Zak Failla
Shelton, CT
News
Warnings Issued For Text, TV 'Smishing' Scams Warnings Issued For Text, TV 'Smishing' Scams
Warnings Issued For Text, TV 'Smishing' Scams Officials are warning of new “smishing” scams that have been making the rounds. The Federal Trade Commission issued an alert cautioning consumers of new scams that have been using text messages, not the traditional emails. One such scam involves the fraudster offering to provide major savings on television services. The scams involve the victims sending back personal information, or infecting devices with malware. According to the Better Business Bureau, this new scheme is called “smishing” which stands for SMS fishing, as opposed to “phishing,” which involves email. “We’re kind of condit…

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by Zak Failla
Shelton, CT
News
Alert Issued For Scam Targeting Amazon Prime Subscribers Alert Issued For Scam Targeting Amazon Prime Subscribers
Alert Issued For Scam Targeting Amazon Prime Subscribers Scammers targeting Amazon Prime customers have been targeting consumers with the holidays approaching. Area police departments have issued alerts cautioning Amazon Prime users that they’ve recently received reports from local residents who have been receiving phony calls from fraudsters stating that their accounts were having problems and memberships needed to be renewed. According to reports, some customers have been defrauded out of tens of thousands of dollars after being scammed as part of the scheme. “This is a social engineering phishing attempt to induce the target to hand over fina…

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by Zak Failla