WEATHER ALERT
Caretaker accused of exploiting DeLand senior couple for up to $100K nabbed at Internet café
Read full article: Caretaker accused of exploiting DeLand senior couple for up to $100K nabbed at Internet caféAn in-home caretaker has been accused of exploiting an elderly DeLand couple, raking in up to $100,000 using their credit cards and bank accounts, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
Prime Day is a prime target for package thieves
Read full article: Prime Day is a prime target for package thievesAs Amazon Prime Day approaches, it's not just deals and discounts that are on the rise— so are package thefts. With millions of people expected to be ordering online, security experts warn that the number of stolen packages could surge dramatically.
UCF police announce arrest of ‘serial scammer,’ seek more victims
Read full article: UCF police announce arrest of ‘serial scammer,’ seek more victimsUniversity of Central Florida police have announced the arrest of a "serial scammer" accused of bilking people on campus by pretending to be a student athlete short on rent.
Florida attorney general talks takedown of fake SunPass websites, warns of toll scams
Read full article: Florida attorney general talks takedown of fake SunPass websites, warns of toll scamsFlorida Attorney General Ashley Moody held a news conference Thursday morning in Orlando to warn of toll smishing scams and to announce the takedown of fraudulent SunPass websites.
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.
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.
‘No place to go:’ 2 arrested after man gets choked in Sanford home invasion
Read full article: ‘No place to go:’ 2 arrested after man gets choked in Sanford home invasionPolice discovered that a woman had knocked on the door of the victim’s home, claiming she was cold and “had no place to go,” the report reads.
There’s a huge uptick in ‘sextortion’ scams aimed at kids. Here’s what to watch for
Read full article: There’s a huge uptick in ‘sextortion’ scams aimed at kids. Here’s what to watch forThe FBI released a report earlier this month about an uptick in financially motivated “sextortion” scams, mainly targeting young boys.
Man accused of taking $8K to pour concrete slab in Marion County, never delivering on job
Read full article: Man accused of taking $8K to pour concrete slab in Marion County, never delivering on jobDetectives said Silvestris told the victim his wife had suddenly died, though they later discovered that she was still alive.
‘Work hard for my money:’ Customer claims card skimmed at Orange County gas station
Read full article: ‘Work hard for my money:’ Customer claims card skimmed at Orange County gas stationDays after stopping at a Speedway gas station for $30 worth of fuel, Shakhea Hinton learned that she had actually paid much more than that.
Florida men sentenced for using urine drug tests to scam insurance companies
Read full article: Florida men sentenced for using urine drug tests to scam insurance companiesIn a release, DOJ officials said that the men would use hospitals to bill for testing that wasn’t reimbursable or medically necessary.
Sanford police imposters trying to rip off residents with fake criminal cases
Read full article: Sanford police imposters trying to rip off residents with fake criminal casesPolice said these imposters have been calling residents to tell them that they have active criminal cases against them for missing court.
Florida congressman developing amendments to protect reputations on social media
Read full article: Florida congressman developing amendments to protect reputations on social mediaAn Orlando-area congressman is taking action after a student at the University of Central Florida told News 6 his reputation was ruined after racial slurs linked to his name went viral, reaching “about 1 million people.”
Chase Bank tells retired postal worker ‘We are unable to help you’
Read full article: Chase Bank tells retired postal worker ‘We are unable to help you’Chase Bank officials contacted retired Indiana postal worker Robert Wolfe Thursday afternoon to tell him they would be unable to retrieve his funds lost in a text message scheme.
Retired postal worker in Florida ‘scammed’ by Chase Bank security imposters
Read full article: Retired postal worker in Florida ‘scammed’ by Chase Bank security impostersA retired postal worker living in The Villages said imposters posing as Chase Bank security employees cost him $11,000 in less than three minutes.
Norton security email scam costs Volusia County woman $10,000
Read full article: Norton security email scam costs Volusia County woman $10,000An email that appeared to be from Norton 360 billing department cost a DeBary woman $10,000 in Bitcoin currency in an elaborate scheme that is sweeping the country.
WATCH LIVE: Candace Campos, Mike Holfeld talk ‘consent farms’ on Take 6
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Candace Campos, Mike Holfeld talk ‘consent farms’ on Take 6The Federal Trade Commission is taking on illegal telemarketing calls and so-called consent farms with a joint task force involving more than 100 federal and state law enforcement partners, including the attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
WATCH LIVE: Mike Holfeld joins Julie Broughton on Take 6
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Mike Holfeld joins Julie Broughton on Take 6A man whose face was the center of a catfishing scheme and his girlfriend took the helm of a new social media lifeline for victims of romance imposters around the world.
With ‘vishing’ scams on the rise, here’s how you can protect yourself — and your money
Read full article: With ‘vishing’ scams on the rise, here’s how you can protect yourself — and your moneyCriminals today are using the art of social engineering, which essentially relies on human psychology to hack someone's personal information rather than technical exploits.
Business owner accused of grand theft in Volusia pool construction scheme
Read full article: Business owner accused of grand theft in Volusia pool construction schemeThe owner of a now-defunct Volusia County business was arrested on Tuesday after local residents accused him of running off with their money without doing the work he promised, according to court records.
Look out for robocalls offering bogus tax help this week in Florida
Read full article: Look out for robocalls offering bogus tax help this week in FloridaWith the 2023 tax deadline upon us, the IRS and tax assistance imposters are connecting with residents across the state with the help of scripted robocalls.
81-year-old Florida man accused in nationwide fraud scheme falls for romance scam, police say
Read full article: 81-year-old Florida man accused in nationwide fraud scheme falls for romance scam, police sayAn 81-year-old Port Orange man was booked Thursday after investigators said he played a role in facilitating a nationwide series of scams dating back to 2021.
Insider extra: Crypto con artist took $20K from Florida woman in romance scheme
Read full article: Insider extra: Crypto con artist took $20K from Florida woman in romance schemeA Central Florida woman lost $20,000 in a crypto investment scheme that made it appear as though she had earned more than $389,000 dollars in Bitcoin Day trading.
DeLand residents targeted in border patrol scam, police warn
Read full article: DeLand residents targeted in border patrol scam, police warnThe DeLand Police Department is warning residents of a scam involving phone calls made by fake U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, according to a news release sent out by police on Monday.
Social media platforms giving voice to victims of online romance schemes
Read full article: Social media platforms giving voice to victims of online romance schemesA man whose face was the center of a catfishing scheme and his girlfriend took the helm of a new social media lifeline for victims of romance imposters around the world.
Florida woman targeted Holocaust survivor in $2.8M romance scam, feds say
Read full article: Florida woman targeted Holocaust survivor in $2.8M romance scam, feds sayAn Orlando woman was arrested Wednesday, accused of a romance scam that drained an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor of his life savings, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
FBI: Steep climb in teens targeted by online ‘sextortion’
Read full article: FBI: Steep climb in teens targeted by online ‘sextortion’An explosive increase in teenage boys targeted online and extorted for money after being tricked into sending explicit pictures of themselves has the FBI sounding a public-safety alarm.
BBB: Scammers hungry to steal your information, money this holiday shopping season
Read full article: BBB: Scammers hungry to steal your information, money this holiday shopping seasonShopping for the perfect holiday gift is a tradition around this time of year, but it also means it’s hunting season for thieves and scammers.
‘Alex the Officer’ uses verified Instagram account to expose catfishing schemes
Read full article: ‘Alex the Officer’ uses verified Instagram account to expose catfishing schemesA Miami cruise line manager has been fighting fake impostors for more than a year. But now he says he finally has a social media platform to expose the fake accounts.
Fraud, scam cases increasing on Zelle, Senate report finds
Read full article: Fraud, scam cases increasing on Zelle, Senate report findsIncidents of fraud and scams are occurring more often on the popular peer-to-peer payment service Zelle, according to a report issued Monday by the office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, giving the public its first glimpse into the growing problems at Zelle.
Scam artists capitalize on Mega Millions opportunity to rip people off
Read full article: Scam artists capitalize on Mega Millions opportunity to rip people offThe Mega Millions drawing is tonight with a jackpot of over a billion dollars. And that has scam artists trying to capitalize on the opportunity and rip people off.
Gas pump manipulators steal ‘millions of dollars’ in fuel --and it’s legal In Florida
Read full article: Gas pump manipulators steal ‘millions of dollars’ in fuel --and it’s legal In FloridaInvestigators tell News 6 the manipulation device was first uncovered in Orlando and Tampa last June and many lawmakers are not aware of it.
To India with love: ‘Alex the Officer’ romance scam pics show up again
Read full article: To India with love: ‘Alex the Officer’ romance scam pics show up againAlessandro Cinquini has gone public to warn women across the globe that imposters have stolen his photographs from social media platforms to create “catfish” style profiles that offer love but target 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.
Robocalls flooding phonelines, social media with bogus job offers
Read full article: Robocalls flooding phonelines, social media with bogus job offersThe scammers are back on the robocall circuit and according to the Federal Trade Commission, 2.8 million people lost an estimated $5.2 billion dollars to conmen in 2021 alone.
COVID-19 vaccine scams at center of new crime-fighting effort
Read full article: COVID-19 vaccine scams at center of new crime-fighting effortORLANDO, Fla. – Scammers base their strategies on the times, and according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which tracks scams and bad practices, COVID-19 is no different. Situations like this are part of the reason the Department of Homeland Security has relaunched a crime-fighting effort called Operation Stolen Promise 2.0. According to a recent press release, agents are now “preparing for a surge” in fraudulent COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Operation Stolen Promise 2.0 is a spinoff of an effort earlier this year, aimed at dismantling COVID-19 scams we have already seen nationwide: scams like fake COVID-19 tests, stimulus check fraud, and fake PPE equipment. You can also report scams to our your local Better Business Bureau by visiting Scam Tracker.