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UPI
4 days ago
- UPI
Back-to-school advice from FBI: Make a hoax threat, pay the price
Aug. 6 (UPI) -- FBI officials in Philadelphia said Wednesday that as the new school year starts "serious consequences" await students who make violent threats whether a hoax in person or online. "The FBI takes every threat seriously -- regardless of intent," Wayne A. Jacobs, the bureau's Philadelphia special agent in charge, said in a statement. Officials issued its reminder to Pennsylvania students and others throughout the nation that a joke -- even if spoken, written, posted or shared on social media -- is "a serious criminal offense" that can result in "lasting consequences." According to the FBI, law enforcement is required to act once a threat is reported and deems every violent threat credible until proven otherwise. Jacobs reminded students of the adage to "think before you act," and he said that what may seem like a joke can "quickly become a life-altering mistake." The bureau added it can result in suspension, expulsion and in some cases arrest and imprisonment. In 2007, 19 high school seniors in New York were given felony charges for planting prank bomb threats as one example in a number of other similar reported incidents over the years. FBI officials say that multiple social media platforms now self-report on verbiage viewed threatening in nature, even if a bogus threat is posted in a private group chat. "Hoax threats not only disrupt the community and divert law enforcement resources, but they can also ruin the perpetrators life," added the FBI's Jacobs. Over the last few years there was an uptick in threats in America's schools following school shooting events. During the 2023-2024 school year nearly 2,000 threats were reported nationally against U.S. school, according to a report from Educator's School Safety Network. But the warning by federal officials applies not only to students but educators. A teacher in Virginia was arrested in 2014 after she reported a false school shooting at Virginia College where she worked as an April Fools Day prank. The FBI reiterated that if a person sees a threat of violence such as a school shooting or bombing threat -- or any other related threat on social media or via text message -to "immediately" contact local law enforcement or nearest FBI field office. Virtual tips can be submitted online, or the FBI's Philadelphia field office can be reached: (215) 418-4000.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Newsweek
Fake Police Scam Targets Chinese International Students, FBI Warns
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. International students from China studying in the United States have faced an uptick in scams involving criminal actors impersonating Chinese law enforcement officials, according to a warning from the FBI Philadelphia Field Office on Monday. Why It Matters Since 2022, the FBI Philadelphia Field Office said it has observed a growing trend in which alleged criminal actors impersonate Chinese police officers. These individuals tell victims they are under investigation for an alleged financial crime in China and must pay to avoid arrest. The government impersonation targets the U.S.-based Chinese community, particularly Chinese students attending colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area, according to the FBI field office. "These scams inflict more than just financial harm—many victims endure lasting emotional and psychological distress," Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Field Office, said in a statement. What To Know Investigators said the scam typically unfolds over four stages. First, the alleged criminal actors call victims from a number that appears to be associated with a mobile phone service provider, a large retailer, a delivery service or the Chinese Embassy/Consulate. The callers allegedly tell victims that their information is either linked to a subject or a victim of a financial fraud investigation. The call is then transferred and an alleged criminal actor posing as a police officer provides details of the alleged financial crime. Victims may be pressured to return to China to stand trial or threaten them with arrest, according to the FBI Philadelphia Field Office. The caller will allegedly direct the victim to consent to 24/7 video and audio monitoring, citing the alleged sensitivity of the investigation, a need to prove innocence or both. Investigators said victims are told not to discuss the case, not to search the internet and to report all daily activities. Finally, the criminal actors instruct victims to wire a large sum of money to a Chinese bank account to prove their innocence or to post bail and avoid returning to China, according to the field office. "We are actively engaging with the public, academic institutions, and our law enforcement partners to identify and support those impacted by this scheme," Jacobs said. The FBI Washington Field Office reported a similar scam in May 2024. The FBI field office said criminals pose as law enforcement officials from China, tell victims they are the subjects of criminal investigations and convince them to pay to avoid arrest or deportation. The FBI Philadelphia Field Office is seen. The FBI Philadelphia Field Office is seen. FBI Philadelphia Field Office What People Are Saying Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Field Office, in a statement: "If you or someone you know has been affected, we urge you to contact our office. Every day, we remain committed to holding these criminals accountable, delivering justice for the victims, and connecting those harmed with the resources they need to recover." David Sundberg, assistant director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, in a statement in 2024: "These fraudsters pose as Chinese investigators to intimidate their victims and then prey on their victims' fear to steal their money. The scam is so convincing because it consists of multiple layers and perpetrators. We hope to educate Chinese communities about this threat to empower victims to file reports." What Happens Next? The FBI Philadelphia Field Office is encouraging victims of this scheme to report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at or at their local FBI Field Office. The FBI Philadelphia Field Office can be reached at 215-418-4000. The FBI Philadelphia Field Office recommends that victims notify their payment service provider used for the financial transaction and ask the provider to stop or reverse the transaction immediately. The field office also recommends asking the provider to contact the financial institution where the funds were sent. College students who are impacted by this scheme should also report the activity to their campus security or public safety office to increase awareness among the student population. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
FBI: Pennsylvania ranked top 10 for cyber crime complaints in 2024
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has released its annual crime report. The 2024 Internet Crime Report combines information from 859,532 complaints of suspected internet crime. The newest release details reported losses exceeding $16 billion, which is a 33% increase from 2023. Nationwide, the top three cybercrimes reported in 2024 were phising/spoofing and personal data breaches. The top three crime types reported by victims of fraud loss were investment scams, business email compromise and tech support scams. Pennsylvania was in the top 10 states by number of complaints to IC3 as well as the top 10 states by losses. In reported complaints per state, Pennsylvania was 5th overall with over 27,000 reports, according to the FBI. The commonwealth also reported over $400 million in losses. 'Since our founding, the FBI has vigorously pursued complex financial crimes. While the methods have evolved, the motives remain the same—criminals seeking to exploit others for profit. Today, fraudsters are using advanced digital tools to scale their schemes and target victims around the globe,' Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia, said. 'Whether you're an individual consumer or a large corporation, the threat is real—and growing. That's why we urge everyone to stay vigilant online, and report suspected internet crimes to the FBI at Your reports are vital—they help us disrupt criminal networks, share intelligence with our partners, and safeguard our communities.' For more information on the IC3 report or to submit a complaint, visit the FBI's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Yahoo
Does your dating app match look like this? They're probably not real
Feb. 13—February is an expensive time of year to be falling in love, with Valentine's Day and all. That goes double for someone who finds themselves caught in a catfishing scam, whether it's through dating apps or some other form of conversation that doesn't happen face to face. According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than 64,000 people reported "romance scams" in 2024, with losses totaling $1.14 billion. In addition, the median loss on a romance scam is about $2,000 per person. That's the largest loss among imposter scams reported to the FTC, which also include business and government imposters. FTC officials say that figure suggests that when a romance scammer has their hooks in someone, the financial consequences can be particularly serious. Typically one of the first steps in crafting a romance scam is adopting a fake identity. "Romance scammers are working to be your 'perfect match'; what might begin as a seemingly innocent connection can quickly turn sinister as criminals cash in on those looking for companionship," said Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of the FBI's Philadelphia branch. "As always, we encourage the public to be mindful when forging a relationship online, exercise caution navigating the cyber landscape, and report suspected scams to the FBI." Social Catfish is a website that offers "reverse-lookup" services, allowing users to search for other uses of the profile photo they see on a dating app or social media. The company compiled the top 100 photos used in romance scams from more than 1.5 million reverse-image searches conducted to verify online identities in 2024. Some of the results, shown below in the order they are ranked on the list, were a little surprising. #1 According to Social Catfish, this is the most popular photo used in the romance scams they researched, and this is a good example of how innocuous these can be. There's nothing outwardly misleading about this photo. I mean, that seems like a pretty hardcore apron that you probably use for leather tanning rather than flower arranging, but then again, I'm not a florist. ------ #2 This is immediately suspicious. Look at every photo you have of your significant other — are they posing like this? Of course they're not. This is a television-drama-"come-here-big-boy" pose. ------ #3 Fair play, scammers. Fair play. The angle suggests a real person using their phone to take this photo. I know men who could get catfished by this photo. ------ #4 Listen, as a man who occasionally has to, well, trim his shoulders, it's very flattering that this is in the top five catfishing photos. This provides hope for hirsute men everywhere. I don't have anything negative to say about it, other than it's apparently being used a lot in romance scams. ------ #5 This guy is at a massively popular tourist destination but can't get another tourist to snap this photo? Even if he's a real person, I'm immediately suspicious. ------ #10 I've seen a mugshot. You've seen a mugshot. This is a mugshot. What in the world is someone doing getting scammed by this? Even if this were the actual woman in the photo — no, strike that, ESPECIALLY if this was the actual woman in the photo — she would NOT be using her MUGSHOT to get a date. ------ #20 If you don't recognize this pose, lighting and side shadow from every stock photo of all time. ... Look, I'm not going to say anyone deserves to get scammed. I'm trying very hard not to say that. ------ #30 This is adult film star Mia Malkova. She's not DM-ing you on Tinder. Trust me. If you don't, look up a few more photos of her. Don't do it at work if you value your job. ------ #40 THIS IS JUST A YOUNG TUPAC SHAKUR HOLY SMOKES PEOPLE HAVE THE ENTIRE WORLD AT THEIR FINGERTIPS WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND 17-YEAR-OLD TUPAC IS OUT HERE CATFISHING PEOPLE?!?? ------ #45 Frequently, to ensure a person is who they say they are, they'll be asked to take a photo holding up a sheet of paper with the current date and time written on it. My 12-year-old could Photoshop that writing better than this. ------ #58 ...this is just Mia Malkova again. Get your life together. ------ #73 You gotta be a real big Detroit Red Wings fan to get catfished by this photo. All of that doesn't even include the new wave of catfishing photos created using artificial intelligence. These are getting better by the day, but anything more than a cursory glance will often reveal disturbing signs of laziness on the creator's part, like a missing finger or leg — or too many fingers and legs! There's a brave new world of mild body horror out there just waiting for you. The Federal Trade Commission advises the following ways to avoid a romance scam, during Valentine's Day or any other time: —Never send money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, bank or wire transfers to anyone you've never met in person. —Don't believe promises that an online friend wants to show you how to make money through investing in things like cryptocurrency. —Be suspicious of excuses for why an in-person meeting isn't possible. —Perform a reverse-image search using Google Images or a specialized service such as Social Catfish. —Tell a trusted friend that you're talking to someone online. People with honest intentions have no problem with someone telling a close friend about their relationship. By contrast, romance scammers often try to isolate people and not want others to know about them, commission officials said. Suspicions of a romance scam can be reported at and FTC officials advise notifying the social media site or app where you met the suspicious person. Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day. Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
FBI warns of romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day
(WTAJ) — As Valentine's Day quickly approaches, FBI Philadelphia is reminding everyone to remain vigilant as criminals operate romance and confidence schemes. In a romance or confidence scam, the victim is led to believe they are in a trusting relationship, whether family, friendly or romantic, and is often tricked into sending money or personal information to someone who is a scammer. The scams begin when a criminal adopts a fake online identity as a way to gain the victim's trust and affection. After building a relationship with the victim, the scammer will use the illusion or a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and steal from the victim. These criminals often come across as genuine, caring and believable and are noted to go through an intended victim's social media as a way to develop a connection quickly. 'Romance scammers are working to be your 'perfect match'; what might begin as a seemingly innocent connection can quickly turn sinister as criminals cash in on those looking for companionship,' Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia, said. 'As always, we encourage the public to be mindful when forging a relationship online, exercise caution navigating the cyber landscape, and report suspected scams to the FBI.' The FBI noted that cryptocurrency investment scams are on the rise, with the scammer asking the victim to make investments through scam sites and then cutting off contact with the victim, vanishing with the invested sums. If you develop a romantic relationship with someone online the FBI recommends: Think twice before you share personal information online. Scammers can use details shared on dating sites and social media platforms to better target victims If you try online dating, only use dating sites with well-known reputations. Search people's photos and profiles online to see if anyone has used the names, images, or information elsewhere Take the relationship slow and ask lots of questions Beware if the person quickly asks you to leave a dating app or social media platform to go 'offline' — or tries to isolate you from friends and family Never send money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to anyone you've only communicated with online or by phone Be particularly cautious if the person you're communicating with is overseas – often times scammers use overseas construction or military jobs as an excuse to not be able to meet in person Scammers can fabricate things like medical emergencies that they need money to pay for, or if wanting to meet in person, request the victim pay for their airfare and travel upfront If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a romance scam, file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
