WEATHER ALERT
Lost pet scam: Orange County Animal Services warns of impersonators
Read full article: Lost pet scam: Orange County Animal Services warns of impersonatorsOrange County Animal Services is warning owners of lost pets that scammers are impersonating the shelter to try and take victims' distress to the bank.
Most of $1.3M stolen in Seminole schools phishing case to be recovered, superintendent says
Read full article: Most of $1.3M stolen in Seminole schools phishing case to be recovered, superintendent saysSeminole County Public Schools is in the process of getting much of the $1.3 million stolen last December by cybersecurity scammers will be recovered, according to the district’s superintendent.
Deltona man accused of posing as cancer patient, scamming Florida nonprofit
Read full article: Deltona man accused of posing as cancer patient, scamming Florida nonprofitA 69-year-old man was arrested in Volusia County after after he was accused of posing as a cancer patient and scamming a Florida nonprofit out of thousands of dollars.
Central Florida couple falls victim to ‘puppies for sale’ scheme
Read full article: Central Florida couple falls victim to ‘puppies for sale’ schemeWhen Jo and Jerry Hatley‘s dog passed away, they wanted to fill the void with a new puppy. As luck would have it, the couple found two puppies offered on Facebook, yet the ensuing 4-hour drive to pick them up would only end in heartbreak.
Fake parking tickets are being placed on cars in New Smyrna Beach, police say
Read full article: Fake parking tickets are being placed on cars in New Smyrna Beach, police sayPeople are reportedly placing fake parking tickets on vehicles in New Smyrna Beach, the police department announced on Wednesday.
‘Nightmare:’ PayPal imposters steal $2,200 in gift card scheme
Read full article: ‘Nightmare:’ PayPal imposters steal $2,200 in gift card schemeAn Orlando woman lost $2,200 in an elaborate PayPal imposter scheme that started with an email alert and ended with the purchase of hundreds of dollars in gift cards.
$1.3M lost after scammers target Seminole County Public Schools
Read full article: $1.3M lost after scammers target Seminole County Public SchoolsSeminole County Public Schools, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, and U.S. Secret Service are trying to find out what happened to more than $1 million of funds after the district fell victim to a scam.
These Florida metros were hotbeds for fraud cases last year. Here’s where
Read full article: These Florida metros were hotbeds for fraud cases last year. Here’s whereStatewide, the greatest number of fraud cases consisted of imposter scams, though online shopping and negative review scams were close behind.
Orange County Animal Services impersonator tries to scam owner of lost pet, shelter says
Read full article: Orange County Animal Services impersonator tries to scam owner of lost pet, shelter saysOrange County Animal Services raised the alarm to make the public aware of a nationwide scam now possibly targeting owners of lost pets in Central Florida.
New York man faces charges in ‘grandparents scam’ after targeting DeLand woman, deputies say
Read full article: New York man faces charges in ‘grandparents scam’ after targeting DeLand woman, deputies sayA 24-year-old New York man faces charges after deputies said he attempted a “grandparents scam” on a DeLand woman, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Osceola Council on Aging warns residents about online weatheriztion scam
Read full article: Osceola Council on Aging warns residents about online weatheriztion scamThe Osceola County on Aging issued a statement warning residents about about fraudulent sites offering roofing, window, and door programs on social media outlets.
‘Will you marry me?’ Bulgarian woman contacts News 6 to expose international romance scheme
Read full article: ‘Will you marry me?’ Bulgarian woman contacts News 6 to expose international romance schemeA 52-year-old Bulgarian woman currently working in Ireland is the latest target of international imposters who use stolen photos of a handsome Carnival Cruise Line officer in an online dating scheme that steals victims’ money.
Secret Service calls gas pump manipulator legislation a ‘game changer’
Read full article: Secret Service calls gas pump manipulator legislation a ‘game changer’Committees in the Florida House and Senate have been assigned to review identical bills that include proposed felony charges for anyone who “tampers with, manipulates, removes, replaces, or interrupts any mechanical or electronic component located within a retail fuel dispenser.”
Polk County deputies warn of scam involving sale of US Treasury bonds
Read full article: Polk County deputies warn of scam involving sale of US Treasury bondsThe Polk County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a scam involving the sale of U.S. Treasury bonds that is “making its way through our communities.”
Insider extra: Florida man loses $65K in cellphone hack
Read full article: Insider extra: Florida man loses $65K in cellphone hackA $65,000 wire transfer to a mystery bank account left an admissions manager with Full Sail University staring at a zero balance with little proof he was the victim of a smartphone hacker.
Phone hackers use Florida man’s password to steal $65K from bank account
Read full article: Phone hackers use Florida man’s password to steal $65K from bank accountA $65,000 wire transfer to a mystery bank account left an admissions manager with Full Sail University staring at a zero balance with little proof he was the victim of a smartphone hacker.
Woman gets 3 years in bogus good Samaritan online fundraiser
Read full article: Woman gets 3 years in bogus good Samaritan online fundraiserA New Jersey woman who pleaded guilty to helping her boyfriend spread a feel-good story that garnered more than $400,000 in online donations has been sentenced to three years in prison on state theft charges.
Kissimmee woman accused of scamming elderly woman in sweepstakes scheme
Read full article: Kissimmee woman accused of scamming elderly woman in sweepstakes schemeA Kissimmee woman was arrested Wednesday, accused of stealing thousands of dollars from an elderly woman in a scam known as a “Jamaican Sweepstake Scheme.”
Florida joins FTC crack down on rental-listing platform duping consumers
Read full article: Florida joins FTC crack down on rental-listing platform duping consumersSix states, and the Federal Trade Commission, are suing a rental listing platform accused of paying for fake positive reviews for people looking for affordable housing.
Looking for a summer job? Don’t fall for employment schemes
Read full article: Looking for a summer job? Don’t fall for employment schemesStudents are being alerted of summer employment scams as con artists are using summer jobs online, according to a news release from the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
Nomorobo Max: What to know about the company targeting robocall imposters, ‘deepfakes’
Read full article: Nomorobo Max: What to know about the company targeting robocall imposters, ‘deepfakes’Nomorobo founder Aaron Foss has announced a new upgrade in the company’s fight to counter so-called “deepfake” and imposter robocall messages.
Tech support scams stealing millions from seniors 60 and older
Read full article: Tech support scams stealing millions from seniors 60 and olderFlorida residents beware: The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is collecting data on so-called tech support imposters which indicates a wave of senior victims in Florida.
‘Alex the Officer’ impostors hack his real-life girlfriend’s phone and credit card
Read full article: ‘Alex the Officer’ impostors hack his real-life girlfriend’s phone and credit cardThe people hiding behind stolen social media photos of the man known as “Alex the Officer“ are targeting his real-life girlfriend after the couple went public on News 6 and ClickOrlando.com to warn women about the elaborate global romance rip-offs.
Retired Illinois couple receives 2 years worth of vulgar ‘spoof’ calls and texts
Read full article: Retired Illinois couple receives 2 years worth of vulgar ‘spoof’ calls and textsFor the last two years, Adelmira and Nicholas Garcia of Illinois have endured phone calls and texts from a phantom caller who has used a spoofing app to make it appear as if the calls originated from the couple’s own cellphones.
Maryland woman turns to News 6 to expose Publishers Clearing House imposter
Read full article: Maryland woman turns to News 6 to expose Publishers Clearing House imposterPublishers Clearing House has been tracking imposters for years and the new multi-media messages were the latest tactic in the scheme to collect money.
Don’t click that link: Verizon, T-Mobile customers receive scam texts from themselves
Read full article: Don’t click that link: Verizon, T-Mobile customers receive scam texts from themselvesVerizon and T-Mobile customers got a bizarre text Tuesday night—and it came from their own numbers, News 6 partner WDIV-TV in Detroit reported.
Orange County deputies warn of Miya Marcano donation scam
Read full article: Orange County deputies warn of Miya Marcano donation scamA fraudulent post claiming to be collecting funds to aid in the search for missing 19-year-old Miya Marcano is circulating social media, according to a tweet sent out by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Don’t share COVID-19 vaccine card on social media, BBB says
Read full article: Don’t share COVID-19 vaccine card on social media, BBB saysAll rights reserved)Vaccination record cards are shown before residents are inoculated, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, at the Isles of Vero Beach assisted and independent senior living community in Vero Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)The latest scam has to do with COVID-19 vaccine cards. Vaccination cards have personal information on them like your full name, your birthday and where you got your vaccine. AdScammers have been caught selling fake vaccination cards online in Great Britain. If you want to share the momentous occasion online, you can take a photo of your vaccine sticker or take a selfie at the clinic.
Orange County Sheriff’s Office warns against COVID-19 ‘smishing’ scam
Read full article: Orange County Sheriff’s Office warns against COVID-19 ‘smishing’ scamORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County Sheriff’s Office officials are warning residents about a new COVID-19 scam: one sent via text message and aimed at your coronavirus fears. “It is not necessarily connected to any particular case in Orange County. It is just a warning.”If you receive a text message like the one pictured, DO NOT click the link! But News 6 wanted to know: if you click on a scam link in a faux COVID-19 text message by accident or on purpose, are you really in trouble? “Smishing” attacks are used to describe SMS phishing scams or text message scams.
Beware of coronavirus stimulus check scams via text, email, phone calls
Read full article: Beware of coronavirus stimulus check scams via text, email, phone callsAs Americans receive their government stimulus checks during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s creating an unfortunate scenario where some might be taken advantage of. “Everyone is vulnerable to scams during these troubled economic times.”Chronister warned people not to click on links that claim there’s an update on the status of their stimulus check. Chronister said people should be leery when someone asks for their financial information or Social Security number over the phone or electronically. “Remember, no government agency will ever ask you to pay money to get your stimulus check faster,” Chronister said. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.
Don’t fall for it: Army Recruiting says military draft texts aren’t real
Read full article: Don’t fall for it: Army Recruiting says military draft texts aren’t realJust a heads up: The U.S. Army is not sending out text messages to tell people they’ve been chosen for a military draft, officials from Recruiting Command said Wednesday. Even if there were a draft, it’s not a decision made by U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The Selective Service System, a separate agency outside of the Department of Defense, is the organization that manages registration for the Selective Service, officials said. The Selective Service System is conducting business as usual. Registering for the Selective Service does not enlist you into the military.