Identity Theft

Rising Costs? Scammers Are Taking Advantage – Here’s How to Spot Their Tricks When money gets tight, the last thing anyone needs is to lose more of it to a fraudster. Yet a recent survey reported by Fox 59 points to an uncomfortable trend: as the cost of living climbs, scam attempts are rising alongside it. The connection isn’t accidental. Financial stress makes people more likely to jump at offers that seem like relief, and scammers know exactly how to exploit that urgency. ...

AI Era Cyber Risks Are Real: How to Protect Your Privacy Now The World Economic Forum recently published a report on cutting cyber risk in an age of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence. The message is clear: AI is not only a tool for attackers but also a challenge for personal data privacy. The WEF’s analysis is aimed at policymakers and businesses, but the risks it describes affect everyday users just as directly. Here is what the report says – and what you can actually do about it. ...

How to Avoid Social Media Scams and Digital Party Traps in 2026: Essential Safety Tips Introduction Scams on social media are not new, but they are evolving faster than most people expect. As we move through 2026, two trends stand out: the growing use of AI-generated content to create convincing fake profiles, and a specific category of attacks known as “digital party traps” — fake event invitations designed to steal personal information or trick people into sending money. ...

Fraud EDU: Essential Safety Tips for 2026 to Avoid Social Media Scams and Digital Party Traps Social media platforms are convenient for connecting with friends, finding events, and shopping. But as 2026 has already shown, scammers are getting more creative—and more convincing. One of the fastest-growing threats this year is the “digital party trap,” where fake event invitations trick people into handing over personal data. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening, why it matters, and how you can protect yourself. ...

How Data Privacy Helps You Cut Cyber Risk in the AI Era Artificial intelligence is reshaping everything from customer service to medical diagnosis. But as AI becomes more capable, it also gives attackers new tools—automated spear-phishing, deepfake impersonation, data poisoning. The World Economic Forum recently published an analysis arguing that strengthening data privacy is one of the most effective ways to reduce cyber risk in this environment. The message is straightforward: the less personal data you expose, the fewer handles attackers have to manipulate AI systems that rely on that data. ...

Rising Costs Make You a Bigger Scam Target — Here’s How to Protect Yourself A new survey has highlighted a troubling pattern: as living costs climb, so does the number of people falling for scams. The report, covered by Fox 59, found that higher expenses are making consumers more vulnerable to fraud. While the exact statistics aren’t public yet, the core finding matches what consumer protection advocates have warned about for years—financial pressure clouds judgment and opens the door to exploitation. ...

A Third of Americans Have Been Scammed Shopping Online: Here’s How to Avoid It New data from the Pew Research Center, published in late 2025, found that roughly one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is not just a headline: it reflects a problem that touches millions of households, and one that continues to evolve as scammers adapt to new platforms and payment methods. ...

Rising Costs Are Fueling Scams: How to Protect Yourself Now If you’ve been feeling the pinch of higher prices on everything from groceries to rent, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, scammers are aware of that stress, and a new survey suggests they are exploiting it in increasingly targeted ways. A survey released on June 15, 2026, by an unnamed research organization (reported by Fox 59) found a clear link between rising living costs and an uptick in scam attempts. While the exact methodology and sample size of the survey haven’t been fully disclosed, the pattern it describes aligns with what consumer protection agencies have been warning about for months: when money is tight, people are more likely to let their guard down. ...

1 in 3 Americans have been scammed while shopping online. Here’s how to spot the traps. According to recent data from the Pew Research Center, about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That figure comes from a survey conducted in late 2025, and it underscores a problem that has only grown worse as more of our daily purchases move to screens. The good news is that most of these scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to look for, you can spot them before you lose money. ...

Stay Safe While Shopping Online: How to Spot and Avoid Scams Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most people. But with every legitimate transaction, there are scammers trying to intercept your money or personal information. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, consumers lost billions of dollars last year to various online fraud schemes, with shopping-related scams making up a significant share. The good news is that many of these crimes are preventable once you know what to look for. ...