Latest news with #scam
CBC
4 hours ago
- CBC
Halifax police warn of heating and cooling scam, fake loan rebate program
Halifax Regional Police are warning the public of a scam involving the door-to-door sale of heating and cooling equipment. Police said in a statement on Thursday they are investigating two incidents where two men posed as representatives of a heating and cooling company and advertised an illegitimate government loan rebate program. In both cases, the men asked for personal documentation from victims, including notices of assessment, property tax and power bills, and drivers' licences, and used that information to apply for a loan. The cash from the loan is then transferred to the men, who tell their victims that a government rebate program will reimburse them, according to police. The men cut off all communication once the loan was transferred, leaving victims with the loan repayment. Police said in one case a contractor was hired to install a heat pump and was never paid. Police are warning residents to avoid giving out personal information to salespeople unless they can be sure of the legitimacy of the businesses.
CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
Halifax police investigating efficiency rebate scam
A man posing as a heating system salesman in an energy rebate scam near Halifax, N.S., is pictured in an image from a home security camera. (Source: Halifax Regional Police) Halifax Regional Police (HRP) is investigating two cases of fraud involving rebates for home heating and cooling systems. Two men posing as representatives from a heating and cooling company are advertising an energy efficiency rebate program on social media and making sales appointments with people in their homes, said a police news release. During appointments, the men ask to see personal documents including: notice of assessment property tax bill driver's licence power bill The men are allegedly helping homeowners apply for loans to pay for system installations and having the money transferred to them. They tell victims a government efficiency rebate will reimburse them. In both cases the men cut off contact and left victims with the loan repayment. HRP says the rebate program is not legitimate and to protect your private information and documents. They are asking the public to raise awareness of the scam. Anyone with information is asked to call police. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at or by using the P3 Tips app. energy rebate scammer A man posing as a heating system salesman in an energy rebate scam near Halifax, N.S., is pictured in an image from a home security camera. (Source: Halifax Regional Police) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
‘Gangster granny' BANNED from Asda for ‘masterminding yellow sticker scam' before fleeing on mobility scooter
A PENSIONER dubbed "gangster granny" has been banned from her local Asda after she allegedly masterminded a cunning yellow sticker scam. Jan Rhodes, 67, was allegedly caught out swapping reduced stickers on products in Asda on Hall Road, Norwich, according to Asda. 4 4 The pensioner is said to have come up with the cunning scheme to net cheap deals on products but was snared by CCTV, Asda claim. Dubbed " gangster gran" by locals for her alleged role in dreaming up the scheme, Jan has hit back against her ban. She claims that Asda have "got the wrong gran" but bosses are convinced they have caught her red handed. They say "gangster gran" was caught on in-store CCTV swapping reduced labels on products before fleeing on her mobility scooter. Jan was handed a three-year ban from the store in a bid to put an end to her yellow sticker scam. The "criminal mastermind" claims her ban is unfair and has fought against it. Jan told the Eastern Daily Press: "I went in to buy three things and while I was there, the security came up to me and said I wasn't allowed in anymore. "I've never done that. "I'm angry and I'm upset. I used to go in there all the time. I know loads of them in there. I just want to prove them wrong." Jan's partner, Rob Gillies, claims one item allegedly misappropriated in his partner's scam was a pack of bacon. Jan is alleged to have bought the bacon the day before she was banned. Rob returned the next day to show staff the product's expiration date in an effort to prove it was offered at reduced prices. Jan and Rob both claim the bacon was reduced and was bought the day it was expiring. Leanne Hutchings, Jan's stepdaughter, has also argued the case, going into the store to ask that her stepmother be unbanned. Leanne claims that the ban is a case of mistaken identity and that her stepmother is innocent. 4 4 Staff at the store claimed that Jan had been abusive but Leanne said this is nonsense. Leanne added: "She [Jan] would never be nasty to someone." An Asda spokesperson told The Sun: 'We ask all customers to treat our colleagues and stores with respect and do not tolerate any form of abuse. "While banning a customer is always a last resort, this decision was taken due to repeated disruptive and abusive behaviour.' How to save at Asda Shop the budget range Savvy shopper Eilish Stout-Cairns recommends that shoppers grab items from Asda's Just Essentials range. She said: " Asda's budget range is easy to spot as it's bright yellow! Keep your eyes peeled for yellow and you'll find their Just Essentials range. "It's great value and I've found it has a much wider selection of budget items compared to other supermarkets. Sign up to Asda Rewards The savvy-saver also presses on the importance of signing up to Asda's reward scheme. She said: "Asda Rewards is free to join and if you shop at Asda you should absolutely sign up. "As an Asda Rewards member, you'll get exclusive discounts and offers, and you'll also be able to earn 10% cashback on Star Products. "This will go straight into your cashpot, and once you've earned at least £1, you can transfer the money in your cashpot into ASDA vouchers. We've previously rounded up the best supermarket loyalty schemes - including the ones that will save you the most money. Look out for booze deals Eilish always suggests that shoppers looking to buy booze look out for bargain deals. She said: "Asda often has an alcohol offer on: buy six bottles and save 25%. "The offer includes selected bottles with red, white and rose options, as well as prosecco. There are usually lots of popular bottles included, for example, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot and Freixenet Prosecco D.O.C. "Obviously, the more expensive the bottles you choose, the more you save." Join Facebook groups The savvy saver also recommends that fans of Asda join Facebook groups to keep in the know about the latest bargains in-store. Eilish said: "I recommend joining the Latest Deals Facebook Group to find out about the latest deals and new launches in store. "Every day, more than 250,000 deal hunters share their latest bargain finds and new releases. "For example, recently a member shared a picture of Asda's new Barbie range spotted in store. "Another member shared the bargain outdoor plants she picked up, including roses for 47p, blackcurrant bushes for 14p and topiary trees for 14p."
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Love Island star slams show as a ‘scam' and ‘fake as f***' in shock rant, revealing ‘why I'm banned from Aftersun'
A FORMER Love Island star has let rip at the ITV2 show and called it a 'scam' in a scathing outburst. The Edinburgh-born beauty - who starred in the summer 2023 series - has let rip at 'fake' reality TV. 5 TikTok star Mal Nicol - who was dumped after nine days in the villa - can be seen on the social media site responding to another clip from claiming that producers don't want Shakira to win the show. The Scottish star vented: "This is why I do not watch reality TV, because it's a scam, it's a scam, it's a scam, it's a scam. "People are too, I don't know, like, bum licking Love Island. Like, I don't care. I'm gonna say it's a scam. "All reality TV is a scam. Do I sound like a person that believes the earth is flat? "I'm telling you, The X Factor is a scam. " Britain's Got Talent is a scam. It's a scam. It's a scam. You've been scammed, it's just insane." She continued: "People who are genuine and actually have connections or whatever, they're f***ing up. "I'm not even gonna mention it, but I'm gonna sound so bitter, I'm a hater or whatever. "Just reality TV is not real. It's not real. It's fake as f**k. Oh my god, I'm literally gonna cry. "It's so frustrating because people believe it. The 45-second trick to get a snatched waist that Love Island star swears by "Another thing I'm gonna say... people always are like, Oh, the edit did me bad." She concluded: "I'm like, genuinely, if you're a bad person, they can't edit you to be anything else. "If you're a bad person, there's no way an edit makes you look bad. "If you're a good person, you're a good person. It will be shown. Let me leave it there." Mal entered the Love Island villa on day 16 and chose to go on dates with Mitchel Taylor and Sammy Root - who went on to win the show with Jess Harding. On day 18 she chose to couple up with Sammy but was dumped from the show shortly afterwards when she received the fewest votes for favourite girl. The former Love Island bombshell told fans last year that she'd been approached for a new series of MAFS. She took to Instagram to share a message apparently from one of the E4 show's casting agents - but is now happily in a relationship with her investment banker man. The Sun has contacted ITV reps for comment. 5 5
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Crypto Wallets Drained By Podcast Scammers
It starts with a blue checkmark and a flattering question: You ever been on a podcast before? You ever been on a podcast before?The sender? A verified individual supposedly with CoinDesk. The sender might be someone named Adam Yilmaz, using the handle @FinanceAda and presenting himself as affiliated with CoinDesk and other crypto-focused causes. But it is not always him. Similar outreach has been linked to a network of X accounts, including @shaola_dai3 and @Quant_acc. Each of these are different personas, but are following the same script. The message is casual, confident, and deliberately intriguing. For a Web3 founder, content creator, or technical contributor, an invitation like this signals recognition—and that is exactly what the scammers are counting on. The Setup: A Fake Group Chat Full of 'Professionals' Scammers send a scheduling question. Once engaged, victims are added to a Telegram group with a name like 'CoinDesk Podcast #352.' The participants? Supposed professors, startup execs, blockchain researchers—all discussing availability, formats, and timing. A group calendar is shared. Time zones are sorted out. It looks and feels like any other podcast coordination. Only it's not. Whether the original message came from @FinanceAda, @shaola_dai3, @Quant_acc, or someone not yet on our radar, the follow-through is always the same: an attempt to ease the target into trusting the group and lowering their guard. The scam is designed to feel real. There is no rush, no pressure—just professionalism. That is part of the brilliance. You are not being asked for crypto or credentials yet. You are being included. The Trap: A WeChat Link and a Stolen Identity Scammers send you a phishing link, disguised as a message asking to join a call for the podcast. Then comes the scheduled recording. Only, instead of a Zoom or Google Meet link, you get a WeChat or another third-party platform invite. The link is suspiciously long. The preview is generic. There is no CoinDesk branding, no moderator name—just a vague message: 'Shaola invites you to join the call.' Clicking that link can lead to credential harvesting, wallet draining, or malware installation. And if you connect a hot wallet during the interaction, you may never see your assets again. We reached out to @FinanceAda, @shaola_dai3, and @Quant_acc—each of whom has been connected to these scams—for comment. None responded. The Aftermath: A Trail of Victims A growing wave of reports on X confirms that this scam is not just theoretical; it is actively harming users. User @BenjjjiWalker publicly warned others after falling victim: Another user, @Hugcteelse, replied in solidarity: These are not isolated experiences. Dozens of replies under posts mentioning "Coinbase podcast" or 'Adam Yilmaz' describe identical setups: a flattering DM, a fake Telegram group, and a wallet-draining link disguised as a recording invite. What unites them all is a single misstep—trusting that the opportunity was real. Why It Works: Social Engineering with a Crypto Twist Lowering your guard through a harmless, casual message. Crypto culture normalizes casual Telegram groups and cold invites. Founders are used to last-minute collabs and chaotic scheduling. Scammers exploit that openness by mimicking what legitimate outreach looks like: right down to group chats and scheduling polls. There is no poor grammar. No urgent call to action. Just the illusion of opportunity. That is what makes it dangerous. How to Stay Safe The Broader Operation The operation is coordinated and it is getting more sophisticated. These scammers are not just faking a podcast; they are faking professionalism. In a space built on trustless systems, this scam relies entirely on trust. Don't allow your trust to be taken advantage of in hopes of exposure for you and your project. The psychological warfare is unrelenting. Stay vigilant. If you believe you've interacted with this scam or had assets stolen, report the incident to your local cybercrime unit or financial authorities. In the U.S., you can file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at or notify the FTC at While recovery may not always be possible, documenting the scam helps build the case against coordinated operations like this, and may help others avoid the same scam.
