Latest news with #IC3
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Do Not Take These Calls
You have been warned — do not take the call. The FBI is warning smartphone users this week to be alert to nationwide attacks that frighten citizens into sending money. There's a nasty twist to this scam, and it's one where law enforcement is especially keen to stop Americans becoming victims. 'Scammers are spoofing FBI phone numbers nationwide,' the bureau says, 'impersonating government agents. Victims are tricked into thinking an arrest is imminent unless they send money.' If you receive such a call, the advice is simple and clear: 'The FBI will never call you demanding money to get out of criminal charges. It's a scam. Hang up and visit the FBI's to file a report.' The FBI is not alone in being spoofed in this way — this has become a powerful attack methodology and it's catching on fast. Last week I warned that multiple police forces across several states have issued the same warnings." New York State Police has told its citizens that 'an ongoing phone spoofing scam" is now "impersonating members of law enforcement or government agencies in an attempt to solicit sensitive personal information from individuals across New York State and beyond.' Those scammers 'demand personal information such as Social Security numbers and have threatened punitive action against recipients who refuse to comply.' Whether it's federal, state or local law enforcement, the advice is exactly the same. Do not take the calls. As soon as you hear the initial pitch from the scammer, hang up and file a report, either with your local police or with the FBI's national IC3 service. As with the FBI, New York State Police warns that attacks spoof legitimate phone numbers "to make it appear as if calls are coming from trusted agencies. These scams are designed to create confusion and fear, often leading victims to comply with demands or share information that can be used to commit further fraud.' You have been warned — this scam is nasty and preys on natural fears. Do not be afraid to hang up the phone. If you have any doubts, call back your local police force using a publicly available number. But all law enforcement agencies stress they never make such threats by phone or text — it's a scam every single time.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Palm Beach County-based 'SIM swap' scam could extend across U.S., court records show
A Palm Beach resident may be one of many people across the country who fell victim to a scam known as "SIM swapping." Palm Beach Police on May 28 arrested a 31-year-old man and 29-year-old woman who live in Westlake, but whose scheme to bilk unsuspecting people from hundreds of thousands of dollars may stretch across state lines, according to their arrest reports. The pair were arrested after the Palm Beach resident, who lives on the South End, called police to report that someone had accessed his phone and financial accounts, gained access to about $1,500 in cash from an ATM and attempted to wire transfer more than $200,000 from his bank account, according to the arrest reports. What officers found what a scheme they said was orchestrated by the Westlake couple, who tricked the man into transferring his phone numbers to a new carrier — without him knowing, the arrest reports said. Here's what to know about SIM swapping and this case. "SIM swapping," or "SIM hijacking," happens when fraudsters gain control of a person's phone number and then use it to access their banking and other financial and personal accounts, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center, also called the IC3. More: Palm Beach Police: 'SIM swap' scam tried to steal more than $200,000 from Palm Beacher The Palm Beach resident told police that he received a call on April 8 from a person who said who said they were with AT&T, and that he needed to validate his phone numbers using a code sent to him via text message, an arrest report said. The resident provided the code that he received to the person, but later discovered that the code was used to forward his phone number to a different provider, Verizon, police said. By giving that code to the person who said they were from AT&T, he allowed them to complete the final step to move all three of the phone numbers on his account to the other carrier, police wrote in the arrest report. About 20 minutes after that phone call, phone numbers connected to the resident's AT&T account stopped working, police said. Once the phone numbers were transferred, someone tried to withdraw money and make a wire transfer from the Palm Beach resident's bank account, police said. Someone also successfully took over one of the man's email accounts. Detectives determined that once the couple gained access to a person's phone line, they could "circumvent two-factor authentication and gain access to victims' financial accounts, resulting in substantial unauthorized wire transfers and fraudulent transactions," the arrest report said. In recent years, the number of SIM swap cases in the U.S. has dropped from a peak in 2022, according to the IC3's annual reports: In 2024, there were 982 complaints of SIM swapping with a total reported loss of $25,983,946. In 2023, 1,075 SIM swapping complaints were made with a reported loss of $48,798,103. In 2022, 2,026 cases were reported with a reported loss of $72,652,571. In 2021, the IC3 received 1,611 complaints about SIM swapping with estimated losses of $68 million. Once the phone numbers were transferred, someone tried to withdraw money and make a wire transfer from the Palm Beach resident's bank account, police said. Someone also successfully took over one of the man's email accounts. It's unclear from the arrest reports just how many people may have been affected. However, Palm Beach Police talked with at least one person in another state, Nevada, who provided evidence that they may also have lost money to the same people who targeted the Palm Beach resident, an arrest report said. When the Westlake home where the couple lived, Palm Beach Police found a yellow notebook with "Work $" written on it, the arrest report said. Inside the notebook, officers said they found bank account details, Social Security numbers, addresses, names and more personal details about more than 50 people in Florida and across the United States. Those who believe their case may be connected to the one in Palm Beach should call the Palm Beach Police Department's non-emergency line at 561-838-5454, department spokesman Capt. Will Rothrock said. Complaints can also be filed with the IC3 at Palm Beach has cautioned residents to be wary of potential scams. "Most of these cases nationally go unsolved," Rothrock said. "The work and tenacity that our detectives put into this to follow the leads to the end and bring a successful conclusion are noteworthy." Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@ Subscribe today to support our journalism. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach County-based scam could extend across U.S., records show
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FBI Warns of Scam Demanding Students Pay to Fix Their Immigration Status or Else
The FBI is warning of a new scam targeting Middle Eastern students who lawfully reside in the US. Fraudsters are impersonating government officials in an attempt to convince students that there is an issue with their immigration or visa status. To rectify the problem, and avoid prosecution or deportation, a targeted student is asked to pay paperwork processing fees. Scammers are known to take advantage of current events to craft believable cons. This particular scam comes amid efforts by the Trump administration to ramp up the deportation of undocumented immigrants. Students have also faced threats of visa removal in response to participation in pro-Palestine protests on college campuses across the country. Students from Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been targeted in the scam, according to an alert from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Scammers are impersonating agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) or US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In some cases, scammers identify themselves as foreign government officials from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the UAE Embassy in Washington. "They may speak professionally and use the accents and/or language matching the purported location of the callers," IC3 said in the alert. It did not specify how much fraudsters have been charging students. However, according to the FBI's latest annual fraud report, victims lost $405 million to government impersonation scams last year. The first step to protecting yourself against a scam is knowing about it. So, if you're reading this, you can check that box. The FBI said you should always be skeptical of any unsolicited government communication. If this happens, begin by verifying the validity of the call or message by contacting the agency yourself with a number or email found on its website. You should take time to analyze any links that scammers send you. Make sure links are encrypted with standard "https" encryption and the URL reads as you would expect. For example, URLs should end in ".gov" not " and should also not be a random combination of letters and numbers. That is a clear red flag. Finally, do not download files or provide any unsolicited caller two-factor authentication codes, the FBI says. If you ended up paying the scammers, you should contact your bank, credit union or credit card company right away. Your financial institution may be able to cancel the transaction in time or give you your money back. It's also common for scammers to ask for payment via cryptocurrency and gift cards regardless of the scam. Crypto payments are basically irreversible, but contacting a gift card issuer can potentially lead to a refund. Finally, the FBI has asked the public to report any fraudulent or suspicious activity at Reporting scams to the agency helps it inform the public and assists law enforcement with tracking down criminals.
India Today
11-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Are mothers the missing link in children's mental health support?
Over the past few years, children have faced a world of change-a global pandemic, growing mental health challenges, academic uncertainties, and shifts in the education landscape, from exam cancellations to changing opportunities abroad. Through it all, one constant source of strength and support has stood tall: OUR this Mother's Day, we have more than just appreciation to offer, we have a renewed understanding of the critical role mothers play that often goes unnoticed. For decades, mothers have been quietly fulfilling the role of emotional first responders, serving as the first line of defence against their children's stress, anxiety, and academic pressure. Put simply, mothers often serve as informal mental health Kohli, Founder of the IC3 Movement, highlights the urgent need to recognise and empower mothers as mental health first responders. This Mother's Day, he calls for equipping them with the right tools to support children's emotional well-being. Research shows that in low- and middle-income countries, up to 80% of mental health care for children is provided informally, often by mothers or female caregivers. This is especially true in communities with limited access to trained professionals (UNICEF Innocenti Research Brief, 2020).RECOGNISING MOTHERS AS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONDERSAs we mark Mental Health Awareness Week alongside Mother's Day, we must broaden our perspective. Mothers are not just caregivers, they are critical stakeholders in the mental well-being of their are often the first to notice changes in sleep patterns, eating habits, or mood, well before teachers or counsellors can. According to the NIMHANS School Mental Health Report, 81% of Indian school students report academic stress, and mothers are typically the first to observe these early warning proximity alone isn't truly support children, we must empower mothers with skills, language, and partnerships. Mental health support cannot be instinctive alone, it must be informed, intentional, and integrated into everyday TRAINING FOR MOTHERS At IC3, our Student Suicide Aversion Task Force underscores the need to move from reactive to preventive strategies. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death amongst Indian youth, and while mothers are often the first to sense distress, they're rarely equipped to take the next Training, similar to first aid, but for mental health, is one of the most impactful tools we can offer. Frameworks like QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) or SafeTALK empower individuals to recognise red flags and respond with empathy, not panic. For mothers, this means learning to listen actively, de-escalate tension, and seeking professional support at the right the power of a mother confidently responding to her child's whisper of "I feel overwhelmed" with understanding, guidance, and a clear path to the gap to research by IC3's Counselling Lab, only 36% of mothers can correctly identify signs of clinical depression or anxiety. Mental health literacy is not a luxury, it is a NOT ISOLATIONadvertisementMental health cannot be addressed in isolation. At the core of the IC3 Institute's counseling philosophy lies the Decision Circle, a collaborative model placing the student, parent, and school at the centre of all support. When mothers, educators, and counselors work together, the outcomes are stronger, earlier, and more urge schools to see mothers not just as participants, but as partners. Co-led counseling sessions, regular check-ins, and collaborative workshops can create an ecosystem where mothers feel heard and empowered, and children feel is especially critical for adolescent girls, who, as IC3 research shows, often hesitate to express emotional distress due to fear of judgment or SPACES, SHARED RESPONSIBILITYSupporting mothers also means creating environments, at home and in schools, where vulnerability is not punished, but welcomed. When mothers model openness and emotional expression, children learn that it's okay to speak up, to feel, and to seek can bolster this effort through peer support groups, creative outlets like art or theatre, and wellness programs that encourage emotional literacy. Emotional outlets are no longer optional-they are SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORTEquipping mothers must be a part of larger systemic change. IC3 advocates for national and school-level policies prioritizing student well-being as much as academic performance. This includes:Strengthening school counseling departmentsMandating teacher training on mental healthPartnering with expert organisations like SPIFCreating wellness helplines and anonymous student platformsEncouraging mother-led community wellness circlesThese strategies are scalable, cost-effective, and proven to make a difference.----Let this Mother's Day be a turning point. Let's move beyond flowers and thank-you notes to real, structural support. Let's recognise the silent labour mothers perform every day, observing, absorbing, supporting, and give them the tools to do so even when we support mothers, we support the frontlines of our children's emotional lives. And when mothers are empowered, children are not just protected - they are prepared, understood, and Reel
Tom's Guide
08-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
FBI warns you should upgrade your old router now — here's why
Routers are one of the easiest ways for hackers to exploit networks and break into a system – rarely updated and often overlooked, they're a common hole that can be abused. The FBI has recently issued an alert warning against using older model routers that have reached end-of-life and have stopped receiving security patches and software updates from their manufacturers. According to the FBI, routers that date before 2010 or earlier are likely to be an easy target for cybercriminals as they can be hacked via known vulnerabilities. The law enforcement agency recommends that these routers should be replaced as soon as possible with newer models. In particular, the department has noticed hackers launching coordinated attacks against thirteen older device models, several of which appear to be Linksys models that have reached end-of-life support: Other recent router hacking campaigns have used variants of TheMoon malware to gain access to vulnerable devices. This malware strain lets threat actors install proxies on routers in order to conduct fraud and other cyber crimes anonymously. First found on compromised routers back in 2014, TheMoon doesn't require a password to infect routers, but will simply scan for open ports then send a malicious command and wait for instructions from the hacker-operated command and control server. A proxy server is basically a system that acts as a gateway to reach the internet; its IP address is exposed to the servers to which it sends requests. That means when hackers have access to a user's router, they can hide their IP address behind the user's IP address to conduct malicious activities. Hackers will often then sell these compromised routers as a proxy service to others so they can commit online crimes like stealing cryptocurrency or offering or contracting illegal services. The most vulnerable routers are ones with remote administration turned on, which means hackers can access the web administration panel from the internet. This makes deploying malware very, very easy. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. If you own one of the affected router models, the FBI's recommendation is to replace it right away with one of the best Wi-Fi routers instead as they will receive frequent software updates and patches from their manufacturer. If you haven't already applied all available security patches and firmware updates, you should definitely do that as well while also making sure that you're using a strong and unique password with at least 16 characters. To make things easier, you can always use one of the best password managers to generate and then securely store the password for your home network. Additionally, you can disable remote administration and reboot the device. If you suspect that your router has been compromised, you should contact the FBI's IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) at to file a complaint. It's also a good idea to make sure that you're using one of the best antivirus software programs – many of these will offer additional security features such as a VPN that can help protect you when you're online. Security aside, you're getting a significantly worse online experience when you use an outdated router. From slow internet speeds to difficulties handling the increased number of connected devices in your home, you owe it to yourself and to your devices to use a faster, newer router instead. If you want the latest and greatest Wi-Fi and have the budget for it, one of the best Wi-Fi 7 routers will provide you with the best experience possible. However, if you don't mind not having access to the faster 6GHz band, one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers will still be a major upgrade. By using a new router with frequent security updates, you're essentially adding an extra layer of protection for all of the devices on your home network. Just like with outdated software, an old router could also be putting you at serious risk online which is why you should take the FBI's recommendations here seriously.
