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USA Today
22-05-2025
- USA Today
Phone scams involving fake warrants, bank impersonators cost Georgia victims over $20,000
Phone scams involving fake warrants, bank impersonators cost Georgia victims over $20,000 Show Caption Hide Caption FBI warns scammers are using AI voices to impersonate US officials The FBI warns of AI voice scams impersonating U.S. officials, exploiting new voice cloning tools amid a booming $5.4B tech market. Straight Arrow News Two Georgia residents were recently scammed out of thousands of dollars after receiving phone calls. One scam involved a caller impersonating a sheriff's deputy demanding payment via cryptocurrency to avoid arrest. The other scam involved a caller posing as a bank official, ultimately resulting in unauthorized debit card transactions. The simple act of answering a telephone call recently lured two Georgia residents into scams that cost them thousands. One scam is common and notoriously successful in that the caller convinces people they are wanted on an arrest warrant. The only way to avoid jail is paying money, usually with a gift card, but a method becoming more common is paying by cryptocurrency. The Oconee County Sheriff's Office warned people on April 28 that it was 'seeing an uptick in scam calls impersonating law enforcement in our area.' If someone calls saying you must pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency or GreenDot cards, then 'congratulations, you're being scammed," the sheriff's office reported. Law enforcement doesn't operate this way, according to the sheriff's office. 'If you have a warrant, we'll save you the trouble and come by your house, in uniform, with a badge, place you in handcuffs, and arrest you the old-fashioned way,' the Facebook post explained. Phone scams: How a credit union is helping consumers identify traps before they become victims In the recent case, a 50-year-old man reported to Athens-Clarke police on April 17 that he received a call from someone claiming to be a Clarke County sheriff's deputy, and due to a warrant, he had to pay $2,000 to avoid arrest. The man received a Quick Response barcode that he scanned on his cellphone. He was then led to a bitcoin kiosk, where he deposited $2,000. The other case was different in that a 62-year-old Athens man reported he received a call on April 10 from a man identifying himself as an official with his bank. The man reported he was on the phone with the caller for more than two hours, during which time he provided his debit card information, according to the report released on April 29. The man reported he discovered afterward that $12,000 was removed from his account, but the bank replaced the money. Then four days later, three debit charges were made to the account for $7,550, which he has yet not been reimbursed. The man told the officer he is working with the bank to prevent further transactions.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Holocaust Survivors share their somber memories eighty plus years later
The mood was somber and the emotions were deep as 8 survivors of the Holocaust joined U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and a host of Jewish groups gathered Sunday morning at Atlanta's Holocaust Memorial at Greenwood Cemetery. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The event was Atlanta's 60th 'Yom HaShoah' or Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 8 survivors spoke about their thoughts on why Holocaust Remembrance is so important in today's society and the reasons why they feel the need to share their stories. TRENDING STORIES: 1 person critically injured after being hit, dragged by reckless driver in Marietta Cobb County man caught with Fentanyl, Cocaine during traffic stop The FBI mistakenly raided their Atlanta home. Now the Supreme Court will hear their lawsuit Even today, the survivors still can remember in great detail their family members being taken, never seen again. The loss is something they all said is impossible to forget. The event has been held at the 'Memorial to the six-million' every year since 1965. And while the Holocaust took place many years before that, it's Atlanta's way of saying 'Never forget'. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] In honor of the day, The Bremen Museum in Midtown Atlanta provided free admissions for visitors to their exhibit titled 'Absence of Humanity: The Holocaust Years, 1933-1945
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cybercrime soars nationwide: Georgia residents face $420M in losses
The Brief Cybercrime complaints in the U.S. surged to over 850,000 in 2024, with losses totaling $16.6 billion, marking a 33% increase from the previous year; Georgia ranked 11th in complaints with $420 million in potential losses. Cryptocurrency scams were among the most costly cybercrimes in Georgia, with losses spiking 66% to nearly $200 million in 2024; other major threats include phishing schemes and personal data breaches. Officials emphasize the importance of public education and timely reporting to combat cybercrime, highlighting that elderly residents are frequent victims and encouraging the use of state-provided resources to learn about common scams. ATLANTA - Cybercrime is surging nationwide and hitting Georgia residents and businesses with increasing force, according to a new report from the FBI. At a press conference Thursday at FBI headquarters in Atlanta, state and federal officials outlined alarming trends and emphasized the urgent need for public education to help combat fraud and digital theft. By the numbers The FBI received more than 850,000 cybercrime complaints in 2024, with reported losses totaling $16.6 billion — a 33% jump from the previous year. Georgia ranked 11th in total complaints, with potential losses estimated at $420 million, marking a 40% year-over-year increase. Among the most costly types of cybercrime were cryptocurrency scams. In Georgia, crypto-related losses spiked 66% in 2024, reaching nearly $200 million. Other major threats include phishing schemes and personal data breaches. What they're saying "The reality of the situation is criminals are smart and technology is evolving, and we have to stay ahead of it," said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, who joined the FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation to present the findings. "Criminals are increasingly using the internet to victimize individuals and businesses here in Georgia, as well as hijacking networks, crippling critical infrastructure, and robbing virtual exchanges," said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "As technology advances, so do the methods that are used to perpetrate cybercrimes," Carr said. "And the networks are often overseas." Officials say elderly residents are among the most frequent victims. Carr encouraged Georgians to use state-provided online resources to learn about common scams. The GBI also warned against enticing but suspicious investment offers, noting that no one is immune. "It doesn't matter what we do or what our title is — we all can be victims if we're not careful and we're not educated on what to do," said GBI Director Chris Hosey. "We need to share that with everybody around us, our communities. The education, I think, is a key aspect — and not being afraid to report it if you do find yourself a potential victim or a victim." FBI officials stressed that timely reporting is critical. "The sooner someone reports having been potentially scammed, the better chances authorities will have to keep their money from being stolen," Brown said. The Source This article is based on a press conference held by the FBI in Atlanta. GBI Director Chris Hosey, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and Paul Brown, and Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta spoke to the press during that event.
Epoch Times
23-04-2025
- Epoch Times
FBI: Losses From Internet Crime Surged 33 Percent in 2024, Topping $16 Billion
Internet-enabled crime cost victims in the United States more than $16.6 billion in 2024, a record-breaking 33 percent increase over the previous year, according to a new report released by the FBI. The 'The criminals Americans face today may look different than in years past, but they still want the same thing: to harm Americans for their own benefit,' said B. Chad Yarbrough, Criminal and Cyber Operations director at the FBI. 'This brings me back to IC3's quarter-century milestone. While the top threats facing our country have certainly shifted over the decades, protecting American citizens—whether that means your safety, your money, or your data—remains a cornerstone of the FBI's mission.' Phishing and spoofing scams were the most frequently reported crime types, accounting for more than 193,000 complaints. Extortion was the second most common category, with more than 86,000 cases, followed by personal data breaches, which exceeded 64,000. Investment scams caused the highest monetary damage, resulting in more than $6.5 billion in reported losses. Business email compromise ranked second with $2.77 billion in losses, followed by tech support fraud at $1.46 billion and personal data breaches at $1.45 billion. Cryptocurrency was a common tool in online scams, referenced in 149,000 complaints with losses topping $9.3 billion—a 66 percent increase from 2023. Related Stories 4/16/2025 4/14/2025 Adults aged 60 and older were especially hit hard, filing nearly 150,000 complaints in 2024 and reporting $4.9 billion in losses—an increase of more than 40 percent from the prior year. The most damaging schemes targeting older Americans included investment fraud, tech support scams, and romance scams. They were also the most impacted demographic in cryptocurrency-related cases, losing more than $2.8 billion. 'Reporting is one of the first and most important steps in fighting crime so law enforcement can use this information to combat a variety of frauds and scams,' The FBI said it continues to expand prevention and recovery efforts through partnerships and enforcement initiatives. In one case, the agency's Recovery Asset Team froze more than $5 million linked to a business email compromise (BEC) scam targeting a U.S. property transaction. A business email compromise scam, or BEC, involves cybercriminals impersonating executives or trusted contacts to trick employees into transferring funds or disclosing sensitive information, according to the report. These scams often involve the use of hacked or spoofed email accounts to carry out unauthorized transactions. The agency also credited its global collaborations with disrupting international fraud networks and dismantling major ransomware and malware operations. The FBI emphasized that cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics and encouraged the public to report suspected fraud to the IC3. Since its launch 25 years ago, the center has received more than 9 million complaints.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FBI probes bombshell claim that NY robbed Long Island public hospital of crucial funds: chairman
The FBI is investigating bombshell allegations of a scheme by top Long Island and New York officials to shut down Nassau University Medical Center, the public hospital's chairman told The Post on Monday. NUMC chief Matthew Bruderman revealed he is 'cooperating' with the agency, as well as the Department of Justice, in a probe of his claims that the hospital was robbed of more than $1 billion over decades to ensure its failure. Bruderman said he believes the officials' ultimate goal was to financially strangle the public hospital, paving the way for state and local leaders to shut it down, take over the land currently owned by the public-benefit corporation that runs it and have it redeveloped for profit. 'It is a fact that New York state did not pay their share of the money owed' to keep NUMC running, said Bruderman, who receives no salary in his post and recently sued the state over his allegations. 'And now I'm going to prove it,'' the chairman said just days after Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman met with FBI Director Kash Patel on Long Island. 'I have every bank account, document, transfer, everything,' he said. Patel's meeting with Blakeman occurred after the FBI chief received a letter from Bruderman and Missouri Rep. Eric Burlison, who sits on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, the CEO said. The letter urged Patel and US Attorney General Pam Bondi to open an investigation into 'what appears to be a large financial scheme, uncovered by hospital leadership.'' At the center of the alleged scheme is a little-known federal program called the Disproportionate Share Hospital Fund — meant to help keep afloat struggling hospitals such as NUMC, which treat large numbers of low-income patients on Medicaid and Medicare. Under the program, the federal government agrees to give these hospitals tens of millions of dollars in funding as long as their state matches the investment. Bruderman came on board at NUMC in 2022, when it was facing a $180 million deficit. He said he started digging through the books to find out why the hospital was struggling as badly as it was but that the math didn't add up. Bruderman, who has over 30 years of experience as a financial expert, claims to have discovered that past hospital leadership would secretly 'borrow' what was supposed to be the state's share of money from a Cayman Islands-based offshore account for the medical center's legal fees for various lawsuits. He said previous hospital leadership would have to have been colluding with state and past county officials to pull this off. Hospital officials would move this money into NUMC's general fund temporarily, just long enough to show the feds that the state's portion had been 'paid' — which would unlock the federal government's share, Bruderman said. Then once the federal money hit the account, the hospital would quietly move the state's portion back offshore — leaving only the feds' contribution behind — and meaning the state hasn't actually paid its share in years, he said. 'This is corruption that is both broad and deep within our State's government. This wasn't a clerical oversight, a bookkeeping mistake or incompetence,' Bruderman said in the letter to Patel and Bondi. 'What we've uncovered was nefarious, intentional and the State covered it up for years to starve this hospital and the people it serves of resources.' Bruderman told The Post, 'When I brought what I found to Gov. Hochul's office, I thought I was going to get a medal.' Instead, he said, he has received push back, ridicule and a 'complete shut-out' of communication with her office since. Gordon Tepper, Hochul's Long Island press secretary, denied the claims by Bruderman. 'The leadership at NUMC continues to waste time and resources on a bizarre public relations campaign,' Tepper told The Post. 'The state remains focused on what really matters — patient care and the fiscal health of the hospital.' Bruderman, who was appointed to the hospital by Blakeman, has since helped the hospital do a complete 180 financially. NUMC is on track to profit roughly $11 million this year after being in the hole nearly $200 million just two years prior, according to the public corporation that runs it, NuHealth. 'My goal is to protect this hospital, and I will do everything in my power and not stop until this hospital is protected,' Bruderman said. The FBI declined to comment, while the AG's office didn't respond to The Post's request for comment.
