Staying informed is the first step in protecting yourself from scams. By understanding how these common scams operate and knowing the warning signs, you can avoid falling victim to fraud.
As we close out 2025, the numbers paint a sobering picture: this was the year scammers went industrial. Armed with artificial intelligence, operating from human trafficking compounds spanning multiple continents, and exploiting every new technology from QR codes to deepfake video calls, criminals extracted an estimated $442 billion globally from
As featured on the CISO Insights podcast - because cybercriminals don't take holiday breaks The 12 Threats of Christmas: Quick Reference List 1. The Delivery "Smishing" Pandemic - Fake package delivery notifications via SMS trick victims into paying fraudulent "tariff fees" or downloading malware
A second Reuters investigation reveals Meta's calculated tolerance for billions in fraudulent advertising—and why this time, corporate deflection won't be enough. A few weeks ago at the Global Anti-Scam Summit (GASS), I had an opportunity for an on-stage conversation with a Meta executive about the
As we close out 2025 and head into 2026, scammers are evolving their tactics faster than ever before. The integration of artificial intelligence into fraud operations has fundamentally changed the scam landscape, making traditional warning signs like poor grammar and suspicious emails increasingly obsolete. Understanding these emerging threats is crucial
With less than two weeks until Christmas, scammers are working overtime to exploit rushed holiday shoppers. This year's scams are more sophisticated than ever, powered by AI technology that makes fake websites and phishing emails frighteningly believable. Here's everything you need to know to protect yourself
Executive Summary The cybercrime world is undergoing a fundamental transformation. According to a comprehensive report by Trend Micro's Forward-Looking Threat Research team, we're witnessing the evolution from "Cybercrime-as-a-Service" to "Cybercrime-as-a-Sidekick"—a shift that dramatically changes how criminal operations function and threatens to
Global Scam Series 2025
Executive Summary: A Fraud Ecosystem Spanning Streets to Cyberspace Morocco occupies a unique position in the global fraud landscape—simultaneously a romance scam capital targeting lonely Europeans, home to Storm-0539 (one of the world's most sophisticated gift card fraud operations), and ground zero for aggressive tourist exploitation in
Global Scam Series 2025
Executive Summary Hong Kong, one of the world's premier financial hubs and Asia's gateway for capital flows, faces an unprecedented fraud crisis that threatens its reputation as a secure, sophisticated business center. In 2025, residents and businesses lost HK$5.02 billion ($644.9 million) in
Global Scam Series 2025
Executive Summary Ghana stands at a dangerous intersection where traditional African spiritualism collides with modern cybercrime, creating a unique fraud ecosystem unlike any other in the world. While the nation lost GH₵38 million ($2.5 million) domestically in just 18 months, Ghanaian scammers operating internationally have stolen over $100
Global Scam Series 2025
Executive Summary Colombia stands at a dangerous crossroads where traditional organized crime—drug cartels, armed groups, and trafficking networks—is rapidly evolving into sophisticated digital fraud operations. A nation historically known for cocaine production and armed conflict is now witnessing criminal organizations diversify their portfolios to include cryptocurrency scams, call
Global Scam Series 2025
Executive Summary Egypt, home to 104 million people and one of Africa's largest digital economies, faces an unprecedented convergence of economic crisis and cyber fraud that is reshaping how Egyptians interact with money, technology, and trust itself. With the Egyptian pound losing over 70% of its value against
Global Scam Series 2025
Executive Summary Argentina stands at the epicenter of a perfect storm where hyperinflation, cryptocurrency adoption, and economic desperation have converged to create what experts are calling a "Ponzidemia" – an epidemic of Ponzi schemes and investment fraud sweeping across the crisis-hit nation. With inflation reaching 249% in 2024 (though