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☆ How this 77-year-old widow lost $661,000 in a common tech scam: 'I realized I had been defrauded of everything'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Older adults, many of whom have saved their entire careers for retirement, can have the most to lose. The Covid pandemic was a disproportionate threat to older adults, keeping Americans indoors and quickly pushing them online. Outcomes hinge on a complex web of federal and state rules that govern banking and elder financial fraud. Such "heightened procedures" to protect older adults are part of the bank's duty of care relative to older customers, the lawsuit said. Scammers had her wire funds from her PNC bank account to an account at the now-defunct Signature Bank in New York.

Persons: Marjorie Bloom, she'd, Bloom, Roth, Ester, Ester Bloom, Rebecca Keithley, —, they'd, I'm, Kathy Stokes, Keithley, General Merrick Garland, she'll, Marjorie Bloom Bloom, trekked, Mount, Kriangkrai, I've, There's, Sergio Flores, scammers —, Carla Sanchez, Adams, Sanchez, Banks, Marve Ann Alaimo, Porter Wright Morris, Arthur, Alaimo, Cryptocurrency, Scammers, scammers, it's, Patrick Wyman, Wyman, Al Drago Organizations: PNC Bank, Finance, CNBC, Federal Bureau of Investigation, PNC, FBI, Social, Department of Justice's, Vanguard Group, Federal, Consumer Finances, AARP, Microsoft, Department of Energy, Guaranty Corporation, U.S, North Dakota ., Everest Base, Social Security, North Bethesda Camera, PNC Bank —, District of Columbia, Bloomberg, Getty, National Consumer Law, Signature Bank, Asset Unit Locations: Chevy Chase , Maryland, U.S, Vietnam, Mount Everest, North Dakota, liquidating, Nepal, Marjorie Bloom Maryland, District, —, Maryland, PNC, New York, Cayman Islands, Washington ,

☆ The Great Zelle Pool Scam
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Devin Friedman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +38 min

When I asked Chase to discuss Zelle fraud, I received an email saying, "Unfortunately, we don't have anyone available for an interview." The way the email messages from Gary were subliterate in a completely different way from the way a classic Gary email is subliterate. When Gary Kruglitz told us to Zelle him, he didn't really tell us to Zelle him. Out of all the kinds of money, money to build a pool is probably the very best kind of money for the world to suffer the loss of. It's possible that the government will eventually be moved to safeguard consumers against Zelle fraud.

Persons: Madison Ketcham, Gary Kruglitz, Gary, couldn't, he'll, Gary —, —, Cheryl, Sheryl, Sheryl —, we'd, Jeff Allen's, didn't, Jeff, Krystal, we'll, He'd, you've, Karen, I'm, she'd, Yellllow, Zelle, Chase, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, there's, That's, It's, Jesus, who'd, Donald Trump, Gary Kruglitzes, Cheryls —, Yasmine48, Nixon, Evan Kohlmann, cybercrime, we've, I've, Kohlmann, Guess, Let's, that's, Elizabeth Warren's, it's, they're, Warren's, Warren, I'd, they'd, blinked Organizations: Boston Pops, The New York Times, New York Times, Chase, Bank of America, PNC, US Bank, PayPal, Disney, NBC, Warner Bros, Netflix, JPMorgan Chase, Bank —, of, Professionals, Justice Department, Northeast . Contractors, Cloudburst Technologies, Facebook, FBI, Mafia, Massachusetts State Police, Monterey Police Department, Police Locations: Massachusetts, Lyme, Tennessee, Wells Fargo, Truist, Silicon Valley, Amsterdam, Northeast, what's, Paxful, Estonia, Korea, Monterey , Massachusetts, Monterey

☆ Zelle Fraud: I Got Scammed Out of $31,000 and My Bank Didn't Care
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Devin Friedman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +38 min

Because a lot of bank branches were still closed, and the crew wanted their money, he requested that we transfer the money via Zelle. When I asked Chase to discuss Zelle fraud, I received an email saying, "Unfortunately, we don't have anyone available for an interview." The way the email messages from Gary were subliterate in a completely different way from the way a classic Gary email is subliterate. When Gary Kruglitz told us to Zelle him, he didn't really tell us to Zelle him. It's possible that the government will eventually be moved to safeguard consumers against Zelle fraud.

☆ How to avoid getting scammed out of your home or becoming a victim of land fraud
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Gordon isn't the only victim of this type of fraud — known as home-title fraud, land fraud, or seller-impersonation fraud — where scammers impersonate the rightful owner of a property by forging documents in order to sell it. Petrescu and Gordon share a few measures property owners can implement to help stop land fraud from happening to them. That may seem like an obvious one, but for a vacant piece of property, owners might forgo that extra security. He used the same title company to buy the land and to refinance it a year later. "Here we have the same title company that I used, and now the fraudster's using the same title company," Gordon said.

Persons: —, William Gordon's, Gordon isn't, scammers, Daniel Kenigsberg, Victor Petrescu, Levine Kellogg Lehman Schneider, Grossman, " Petrescu, Petrescu, Gordon, William Gordon William Gordon Another, there's, hadn't, Victor Petrescu Levine Kellogg Lehman Schneider, he'll Organizations: FBI, MLS, Service Locations: Arizona, Tucson, Fairfield , Connecticut, Miami, Petrescu, Pima County , Arizona

The Internal Revenue Service is pausing accepting claims for a pandemic-era tax credit until 2024 due to rising concerns that an influx of applications are fraudulent. The tax credit, called the Employee Retention Credit, was designed help small businesses keep paying their employees during the height of the pandemic if they were fully or partly suspended from operating. The credit ended on Oct. 1, 2021, but businesses could still apply retroactively by filing an amended payroll tax return. A growing number of questionable claims are coming from small businesses who may or may not be aware that they aren't eligible. The government's programs to help small businesses during the pandemic have long been a target for fraudsters.

Persons: isn't, Danny Werfel, “, It's, they're Organizations: Internal Revenue, ERC, IRS

☆ Relief could be on the way for student-loan borrowers who paid one of the 52 companies suspected of 'falsely promising' them loan forgiveness, Minnesota's attorney general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison opened investigations into 52 student-debt relief companies. He said those companies are suspected of "falsely promising" loan forgiveness to borrowers for fees. Should the investigations find wrongdoing, impacted borrowers could receive relief. Last week, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that his office has opened investigations into 52 student-debt relief companies "suspected of violating Minnesota law," according to the press release. The FTC had previously halted operations of two different debt relief companies that scammed borrowers out of $8.8 million under the guise of debt relief.

Persons: Keith Ellison, California —, Ellison, Joe Biden's, servicers Organizations: Service, Minnesota, Joe Biden's Education, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, FTC, Consumer Financial Protection Locations: Minnesota, Wall, Silicon, California

Rebuild credit after bankruptcy with a credit builder product that doesn't require good credit. As such, you'll have to start from zero, using products such as credit builder loans and secured credit cards that don't require a good credit score or any credit at all. Credit builder loansCredit builder loans are one of the main credit-building methods for people either starting from scratch or rebuilding credit after severe delinquency or bankruptcy. Secured credit cardsApplying for a secured credit card can be one of your best options for rebuilding your score. Rebuilding credit after a bankruptcy frequently asked questionsCan you remove a bankruptcy from your credit report?

Persons: you'll, it's, myFICO Organizations: Visa, Card Locations: Chevron

☆ Fake Taylor Swift tickets, student loan forgiveness: 4 top scams that targeted consumers this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at SoFi Stadium on August 09, 2023 in Inglewood, California. Concert and event ticket scamsFans were especially eager to see big-ticket acts like Beyonce and Taylor Swift as they toured this summer. Vacation lodging scamsVacationers who sought rentals or other services in popular destinations may have found themselves prey to fake listings. Such vacation scams meant travelers could find themselves out money as well as a place to stay. "But at the end of the day, those listings are fake listings, which puts consumers at risk," he said.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Kevin Winter, Beyonce, Fabara, Rob Bonta, Letitia James, Roomster, James, Tashdique Mehtaj Ahmed Organizations: Getty, Visa, New York, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Federal Student Aid Locations: Inglewood , California, California, U.S, York

☆ Jimmy Buffett, legendary 'Margaritaville' singer, dies at 76
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Henry Austin | Phil Helsel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Jimmy Buffett of Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band performs during the 2022 New Orleans & Jazz festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 08, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jimmy Buffett, the singer-songwriter who drew millions of fans with his folksy tales of living and loving on tropical sandy beaches, frozen concoction in hand, died Friday night. But it was in Key West, Florida, in the 1970s that Buffett "found his true voice," according to his website. As time went on, Buffett also appeared on TV, movies and his work became a musical. There was also a Broadway show based on Buffett's music, " Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville," which debuted in 2017.

Persons: Jimmy Buffett, Jimmy, Buffett, Hank Williams, Alan Jackson, —, Jerry Jeff Walker, margarita, Tom Selleck, Jimmy Buffett's, Joe Merchant, Jane Slagsvol, Cameron, — Christopher Cichiello Organizations: Reefer, Orleans & Jazz, Forbes, Alabama's Auburn University, University of Southern, Billboard Magazine, Key West, University of Miami, Men's, Associated Press Locations: Orleans, New Orleans , Louisiana, Pascagoula , Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi, New Orleans, Nashville , Tennessee, Key West , Florida, South Florida, Margaritaville, Pitcairn, Savannah

Credit scores usually drop at least 100 points or more after bankruptcy is added to a credit report. As such, if a bankruptcy is added to your credit report, it can have a severe negative impact on your credit score. More Information No hard credit report pullReports to all 3 bureausBuild credit AND savingsJoin over 1 million credit buildersUnlock a Secured Credit Card after meeting eligibility criteria24 months loan durationCan you remove a bankruptcy from your credit report? Editor's Rating 4.6/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.7/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.8/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Learn more On Aura's website Learn more On IDShield's website Learn more On IdentityForce's websiteFinal thoughtsRemember, bankruptcy is just one of various debt relief options. If you're patient and commit to following good credit habits, your credit score will slowly but surely rise.

Persons: myFICO, you'll, You'll Organizations: Service, Visa, Card, Credit Monitoring, Chevron Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Billy McFarland, a year out of prison, says the first tickets for Fyre Festival II have sold out — but there is no date or lineup
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The first tickets for Fyre Festival II have sold out, founder Billy McFarland tweeted on Tuesday. We now saw this convert to one of the highest priced GA pre-sales in the industry," McFarland tweeted, without providing evidence. In a video announcing the resurgence of the festival, McFarland said he came up with the idea "during the seven-month stint in solitary confinement." AdvertisementAdvertisement"We spoke to people as far away as the Middle East and South America and ultimately, we decided that Fyre Festival II is coming back to the Caribbean," he added. This time around, Fyre Festival's original co-founder, Ja Rule, told People Magazine that he knows "nothing" about a second Fyre Festival and doesn't plan on being involved.

Persons: Billy McFarland, McFarland, FYRE, Ja Organizations: Fyre, Service, Netflix, People Magazine Locations: Wall, Silicon, Caribbean, Bahamas, East, South America

☆ Penny stocks can be riskier than any other stock. Here's why they're so dangerous.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Andrea Miller | In Dreajmiller | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"I'm getting a lot of calls from investors who are duped and getting scammed by-penny stock operators," Jacob Zamansky, attorney with his firm Zamansky LLC, told CNBC. Penny stocksAlthough there is nothing inherently wrong with low-priced stocks, they are considered speculative, high-risk investments because they experience higher volatility and lower liquidity. "He really was a character as Leonardo DiCaprio portrays him in the movie," Zamansky told CNBC. And he said, If I can sell steaks, I can sell stocks." Before Zamansky started representing investors who were abused by Wall Street firms, he was an attorney for Stratton Oakmont.

Persons: I'm, Jacob Zamansky, Andres Vinelli, Greg Ruppert, Jordan Belfort, Stratton Oakmont, Leonardo DiCaprio, Zamansky, he's, Belfort Organizations: CNBC, Financial Industry, Authority, CFA Institute, Wall Street, Innocent, SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: That's, Belfort

☆ 2 companies scammed student-loan borrowers out of $8.8 million in 'illegal' fees over 'phony promises of loan forgiveness and lower monthly payments,' a federal watchdog says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The FTC accused two companies of scamming student-loan borrowers out of $8.8 million. The FTC said they pocketed "illegal" fees for debt relief services that are normally free. A federal court halted the operations of the companies last week, and it will determine whether they violated the law. Biden's administration has previously warned borrowers to keep an eye out for scams, especially with confusion surrounding the debt relief conversation. Nearly a year ago, the Education Department announced up to $20,000 in debt relief for federal borrowers.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Samuel Levine, Pell Grant Organizations: FTC, Service, Federal Trade Commission, Intercontinental Solutions, Joe Biden's Education Department, Education Department, FTC's Bureau, Consumer Locations: Wall, Silicon

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy penny stocks are so riskyAs more retail investors trade penny stocks, innocent traders could be become victims. These equities are more vulnerable to fraud and have a history of multimillion-dollar scams. "I'm getting a lot of calls from investors who are duped and getting scammed by penny-stock operators," Jacob Zamansky, an investment fraud lawyer, told CNBC. Watch this video to learn more about how penny stocks inspired a new breed of investors, high-stakes gamblers, risk-taking fraudsters and enforcement crackdowns.

Persons: I'm, Jacob Zamansky Organizations: CNBC

☆ Latin Americans fall prey to more online scams as cybersecurity lags
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Carolina Pulice | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Online scams in Brazil jumped 65% last year to over 200,000, according to data from the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook published last month. And across Latin America, online frauds and cyberattacks are at an "all-time high," says cybersecurity company Tenable, posing an urgent problem for a well-connected region. "Latin America is a priority target because it has a very connected population, which means that they are always exposed," said Claudio Martinelli, managing director for Latin America for Kaspersky. In a ranking of 93 countries on cyberthreat risks compiled by fraud prevention software SEON, nine of the 10 Latin American countries were ranked in the bottom half. Three Latin American countries - Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela - were seen among the 10 countries with the highest risks for cyberthreats.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Gabriella Batalha didn't, Batalha, Kerry, Ann Barrett, Barrett, Claudio Martinelli, SEON, Tenable, Ransomware, Marcos Simplicio, Carolina Pulice, Brendan O'Boyle, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, YouTube, Brazilian Public Security, International Telecommunication Union, Organization of American States, America, Kaspersky, Costa, University of Sao, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Instagram, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, America, Latin America, Caribbean, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, University of Sao Paulo

☆ I fell for a Facebook Marketplace Zelle scam involving a piano that's increasingly common
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Jane Ridley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I couldn't believe it when I spotted a Steinway & Sons grand piano for free on Facebook Marketplace. His jaw would drop at the sight of a Steinway baby grand piano. The video on his application showed him sweeping back the tails of his tuxedo and playing a grand piano. So I couldn't believe my luck when I spotted an ad on Facebook Marketplace for a gleaming baby grand piano by Steinway & Sons. There were dozens of hits with titles like "Avoid Baby Grand Giveaways" and "Don't fall for the Grand Piano Scam."

Persons: I'd, —, John Lennon, Jane Ridley, it's, Joyce Ehle, I'm, Ehle, It's, Jane Ridley I, Steinway, I've Organizations: &, Facebook, Morning, Craigslist, Steinway & Sons, PayPal, Zelle, Ehle Locations: Czech Republic

☆ She bought an airplane ticket she thought was a scam. Then her future husband was on board
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Like Martina, Leslie was skeptical – the price seemed too good to be true. There was a seat next to Martina, but Leslie didn’t want to overstep any boundaries by inviting himself to sit there. Martina Johnson and Leslie JohnsonOver the next week, Martina and Leslie enjoyed their respective adventures in and around Nairobi. Leslie JohnsonA few days later, once Martina and Leslie were both home in the US, Martina sent him a text. Around a year and a half after their airplane meeting, in December 2016, Leslie and Martina traveled to London together.

Persons: Martina Jones, Martina, “, ”, Leslie Johnson, Leslie, who’d, They’d, Leslie –, –, he’d, ” Leslie, He’d, Martina Jones Johnson, Leslie didn’t, nudging Martina, Martina Johnson, ’ ” Leslie, fretting Leslie, she’d, Martina's, DeRonn Kidd, Leslie texted, She’d, they’d, ” Martina, Daniel Johnson, Will, Holly, Leslie’s Organizations: CNN, Washington D.C, CNN Travel, Schiphol Airport, Familia, Newark Airport, San, Leslie Johnson Travel, Martina, Black Locations: Washington, New York City, Nairobi, Kenya, London, South Korea, Southeast Asia, New Jersey, Hudson, Amsterdam, Barcelona, he’d, ”, African, Midtown, Newark, Ohio, Michigan, San Francisco, Delaware, Costa Rica, Maldives, “ London, Columbus , Ohio

☆ What causes someone to become a serial killer? Criminology experts explain
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Alaa Elassar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —For decades, criminologists and true crime documentaries have attempted to understand what causes serial killers to commit the atrocities they do. CNN spoke with three forensic psychologists and serial killer experts to better understand what causes people to become serial killers. Scott Bonn: Not all psychopaths are serial killers, and not all serial killers are psychopaths. In the case (of a serial killer who) is a psychopath, their brain functions differently than a normal human brain. Are all serial killers serial sexual murderers?

Persons: Dennis Rader, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Albert DeSalvo, Ted Bundy, Rex Heuermann, Heuermann, he’s, Long, Scott Bonn, Psychopaths, Louis Schlesinger, Katherine Ramsland, DeSalvo, Joe Dennehy, Scott, –, you’re, they’re, Bundy, There’s, BTK, Jack, who’ve, They’re, Marny Malin, Sygma, William Heirens, ”, Ted Bundys, John Wayne Gacys, Dennis, they’re chameleons, it’s, He’s, there’s, Jeffrey Dahmer's Organizations: CNN, University of Michigan, John Jay College of Criminal, DeSales University, Boston, Boston Globe, Des, Des Plaines Police Department, Chicago Tribune, Tribune, Service, Getty, Lutheran Church, Boy Scout, Suffolk County Sheriff's, Scott Bonn Locations: United States, New York, Shore, criminologist, Scott Bonn, Chicago, Des Plaines, Milwaukee, Suffolk County, Long

☆ How 'Birkin Bandit' George Mickum Infiltrated NYC Society
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Kate Taylor | Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +52 min

"He would know people's weaknesses and what they wanted and somehow always have something to offer," a former close friend said. Another close friend said Mickum once gave her a $1,000 loan "within minutes" when she needed it because of a credit-card crisis. He never "let the truth get in the way of a good story," a former close friend said. Hermès bags, like the Birkin and the Kelly, have always been symbols of unattainable luxury. There wasn't even a dust bag; Mickum claimed his mom's assistant would drop it off later.

Persons: George Mickum strode, Carlyle, Patty Hearst, He'd, Mickum, Birkin, swilling, Patty's, Gillian Hearst, Mr, George Mickum, Gillian Hearst's, George, Sally Painter, who'd, Peter Davis, Jackie O, Barbara Walters, Alessia Fendi, influencer Hannah Stella, Nick Hissom, Steve Wynn, Hearst, they'd, Prince Charles, Anna Delvey, Patty Hearst's, Rumor, he'd, wasn't, Met Breuer, Peter Poopat, George Santos, Trinity, Elisabeth Thieriot, Thieriot, Hermes, —, Painter, Paul Mickum, George Mickum III, Sally, Painter's, Poopat, PJ Pascual, Patrick McMullan, Ramona Singer, Lauren Lawrence, Lawrence, Van Cleef, Nicole Salmasi, Trudy, Mike Vitelli, Eric Schmidt, Schmidt, Eric, R, Couri Hay, They're, Astor, William Randolph Hearst, Orson Welles, Kane, Gillian's, Bill Clinton, Patty, Bernard Shaw, Gillian, Lydia —, Shaw, Maxim, Lydia, Kane we're, Christian Simonds, Pierre, Krista Corl, Dee Dee, Scott Buccheit, Naeem Delbridge, Pascual, who's, We're, buttering, Simonds, Matthew Kehoe, England, — Hearst, Delbridge, Hearst's, Mario Glen Coco, Hearsts, Astrid Stawiarz, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Justin Timberlake, Joe Lewis, Buccheit, Mary McCarthy, Lillian Hellman, Mickum's, Christie Grimm, Steve, Kameron Ramirez, Hissom, Ramirez, Nick, Hunt, Damien Hirst, Douglas Elliman, Harry Winston, David Fiszel, invitees, Fiszel, Darian, Winston, Martha Stewart's, Mendel minks, Vacheron Constantin, Tao, Melinda French Gates, Shawn Mendes, Bill, Hillary Clinton, Neiman Marcus, Damien Hirst's, Damien, weren't, Kelly, Alexis Clarbour, Clarbour, Paul Wharton, you've, Wharton, Sean Zanni, Michael Coste, Hannah Stella, Coste's, Stella, Scott Fitzgerald, Coste, Goodman, Courroies Birkin, didn't, Aman, Cartier, Mickum's bluster, skeptically, satchel, Clarbour's, He's, We've, Sider, Philippe, Buccheit texted Pascual, he's, Hay, Café Carlyle, Alexander Hankin, Burisma, Hunter Biden, Mickum hasn't, There's, They've, Amy X, Wang, King Charles, Tracey Amon, Amon, GEORGE MICKUM Organizations: Hearst, Blue, Potomac, Hamptons, East, Met, University of Delaware, Southampton Bathing Corporation, Fields School, Georgetown Law, DC, Town &, New York Daily News, The New York Times, Google, Carnegie, Rockefeller, Cosmopolitan, Symbionese Liberation Army, Hearst Corporation, Vogue, Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering, Stockbridge Golf, New, Tiger, Tottenham, Douglas, Martha Stewart's Hamptons, Mickum, Projects, Madison, Getty, Antibes, Nike, Rue du Faubourg Saint, Couture, US, UN, New Yorkers, Avenue Couture, Hermès, Republican, Justice Department, Blue Star, Town, New York Times Magazine Locations: Bemelmans, Clinton, York, Palm, New, London, Manhattan, Dalton, Bay, Windsor Castle, Haute, Washington , DC, New York, Baccarat, The, San Francisco, Wilton , Connecticut, Side, Wyntoon, California, Buccheit, woodsy Stockbridge , Massachusetts, Stockbridge, Bahamas, Albany, Nobu, Martha, Peking, Paris, Istanbul, St, Georgetown, China, Italy, Hermès, Amalfi Coast, du, Midtown, brunch, Rue, Central Park, Mickum, Turkey, La, Café, Ukrainian, Ukraine

☆ Why We Get Scammed and What to Do About It
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Daniel Simons | Christopher Chabris | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-we-get-scammed-and-what-to-do-about-it-442c2b01

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Over 7,100 student-loan borrowers will get $3.5 million in refunds after a debt relief company was accused of illegally charging them up to $699 in fees to reduce their federal balances, a consumer wa
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

7,100 borrowers will receive $3.5 million worth of checks in the mail after the CFPB said they were scammed. The CFPB accused Timemark, a debt relief company, of illegally charging federal borrowers fees. Scams are likely to grow following the Supreme Court decision to strike down student-debt relief. According to the bureau, Timemark charged borrowers "illegal advance fees" to reduce their federal student-loan balances when the Education Department offers those services for free. Over the past few years, the CFPB — along with the Federal Trade Commission — have scrutinized a range of student-debt relief companies over potential fraudulent behavior.

Persons: Timemark, —, Joe Biden's, scammers Organizations: Service, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Timemark, Inc, Education Department, Epiq Systems, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Federal Locations: Timemark

☆ A $7 billion startup wanted to build patient-friendly healthcare. Its bet on buzzy weight-loss drugs is testing that vision.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Blake Dodge | Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Patient complaints go beyond the Wegovy shortageKaitlyn's complaints echo an array of issues faced by other Ro patients seeking weight-loss drugs. The patients Insider interviewed asked to be identified by their first names to protect their privacy. In this chat log, a Ro weight-loss patient sends messages to the startup asking to cancel the program. Reitano told Insider that around 90% of Ro patients got a response within 24 hours. "Until these DTC companies generally start getting into the muck of healthcare, they're not going to have a material impact," Parker told Insider.

Persons: Ro, Zachariah Reitano, Reitano, Li Ran, Robyn Phelps, Kaitlyn, She'd, didn't, she's, couldn't, Max Kerwick, drugstores, Max, Ro's, aren't, hasn't, Florian Gaertner, it's, TJ Parker, they're, Parker Organizations: New York, Getty, Better Business Bureau, Nordisk, Better Business, CareMetx, Ro, TechCrunch Locations: Xinhua, New York, New York City

☆ AI Voice Generators Are Fueling a Terrifying New Phone Scam
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Eve Upton-Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

As soon as he heard his dad's voice, Eddie, a 19-year-old TikToker, knew something was up. But with AI, the voice on the other end of the phone can now sound eerily like the real deal. Plus, more people are making their real voice available to scammers: McAfee said 53% of adults shared their voice data online weekly. McAfee also found that over one-third of victims lost more than $1,000 in AI scams, with 7% losing more than $5,000. Then, the scammer can just type out whatever they want, and the AI voice will speak what is typed in real time.

Persons: Eddie Cumberbatch, Eddie, —, Eddie's, Eddie didn't, tricksters, scammers, McAfee, aren't, Richard Mendelstein, Stella, panicking, it's, Steve Grobman, Grobman, they've, Neil Gorsuch, Kamala Harris, Ally Armeson, cybercrime, Armeson, Eve Upton, Clark Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, People, FTC, McAfee, Google, Washington Post, Supreme, Cybercrime Support Locations: Chicago, Mexico City, Canadian

☆ How Easy Is It to Fool A.I.-Detection Tools?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Stuart A. Thompson | Tiffany Hsu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

“Real” Umm-maybe “Real” Illuminarty “A.I.” A.I. or Not “A.I.” Hive “A.I.” Sensity “Real” Umm-maybe “Real” Illuminarty “Real” A.I. or Not “A.I.” Hive “A.I.” Sensity “Real” Umm-maybe “Real” Illuminarty “A.I.” A.I. or Not “A.I.” Hive “Real” Sensity “A.I.” Umm-maybe “Real” Illuminarty “A.I.” A.I. or Not “A.I.” Hive “A.I.” Sensity “A.I.” Umm-maybe “Real” Illuminarty “Real” A.I.

Persons: Elon Musk, ”, Musk, Chenhao Tan, “, I’m, Ron DeSantis, Cynthia Rudin, Dan Lytle, Midjourney, Kevin Guo, ” Mr, Guo, Biden, Damon Winter, Sensity, Jackson Pollock, Pollock, Marc Fibbens, Shyam Sundar, Sundar Organizations: New York Times, Guerrero Art, Times, University of Chicago, Republican, Duke University, Hive, Photoshop, The Times, The New York Times, Industry, A.I, Center, Intelligence, Pennsylvania State University Locations: A.I, Florida, “, Gettysburg, Pa, New Zealand

Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here's how). Fraudulent activity by scammers trying to get your personal information has increased significantly. Check washing, robo calls, and even student loan forgiveness scams can walk scammers right into your bank account. Student loan forgiveness scamHow it works: Under the Biden Administration, student loan forgiveness applications opened in 2022. Be skepticalRight now, money scams are at an all-time high.

Persons: —, scammers, they're, It's Organizations: Service, Biden Administration, Social, Department of Education, US Postal Service

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