The protagonist of the HBO docuseries “Telemarketers” — which depicted the tumultuous journey of a call center in New Jersey — mysteriously disappeared on Friday night and has not been seen or heard from since. Patrick J. Pespas, a cunning salesman with a history of substance abuse, went missing from his residence in Easton, Pennsylvania, …
Jennifer DiStefano, a mother of four, received a phone call from an unknown number. Concerned for her children’s safety, she answered, only to hear her daughter Bree screaming and crying for help. A man then came on the line, claiming to have kidnapped Bree and threatening to kill her if DiStefano didn’t pay up. However, …
Scientists at the Observatory on Social Media at Indiana University recently conducted a study uncovering a bot problem on X (formerly known as Twitter). The study revealed that there are approximately 1,140 AI-powered accounts on X that generate machine-generated content and steal selfies to create fake personas. This network of fake accounts, known as the …
Introducing the latest hotel scam that will make you question your five-star experience — and the worst part is, it’s completely legal. Hotels across the country have been recently caught implementing exorbitant charges for early check-ins or late check-outs, a perk that used to be offered as a courtesy when available, according to a report …
Things took a turn for the worse when a devoted fan of “Stranger Things” fell prey to a cunning catfishing scam. McKayla, a single mother and film artist from Kentucky, found herself in a toxic relationship and decided to join an online artist forum to connect with like-minded individuals. In her introduction on the forum, …
If you’re someone who prides themselves on staying informed about the latest scams to avoid becoming a victim, then you need to be aware of QR code scams. Criminals are constantly finding innovative ways to deceive the public, and QR code scams are no exception. While their tactics may be impressive in their creativity, the …
Neil Davies found himself trapped in a business failure and drowning in money worries when a phone call offered him a solution. The caller claimed that by transferring his pension pot to the Norton Motorcycles scheme, Davies could invest in a flourishing business and receive tax-free cash back. Little did Davies know, this was only …
Kayricka Wortham, a former operations manager at an Amazon warehouse in Atlanta, has been handed a 16-year prison sentence for orchestrating a $10 million fraud scheme. Wortham, along with six other co-conspirators, defrauded the e-commerce giant out of $9.4 million, using the stolen money to indulge in a lavish lifestyle. She purchased luxury cars, including …
Gift cards are a convenient last-minute gift option, but unfortunately, scammers have also found ways to exploit them. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), gift cards were the preferred method of payment for scammers in 2021, resulting in a staggering $148 million in stolen funds. Here’s how the physical gift card scam typically works: …
Job scams can be devastating, costing consumers millions of dollars annually. Last year alone, they were responsible for losses of up to $367 million, according to a 2023 alert from the Federal Trade Commission. Unfortunately, these kinds of scams are on the rise, with the median dollar loss from job scams increasing by 66.7% between …