Explore

The Commercial AppealThe Commercial Appeal
BBB of the Mid-South: Cryptocurrency kiosks facilitate fraud

BBB of the Mid-South: Cryptocurrency kiosks facilitate fraud

Learn tips from BBB of the Mid-South about how to protect your assets and avoid fraud.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Maryland Woman Nearly Falls Victim to Sophisticated Wells Fargo and San Francisco Police Impersonation Scam

Maryland Woman Nearly Falls Victim to Sophisticated Wells Fargo and San Francisco Police Impersonation Scam

A Maryland woman, Lauren Star, reported being targeted by a highly convincing scam involving individuals impersonating Wells Fargo fraud department representatives and San Francisco police officers. The scam began with multiple calls from an unknown number, leading Star to believe it might be a family emergency. The caller, claiming to be from Wells Fargo, informed her that a credit card had been opened in her name and used to purchase thousands of dollars in guns and ammunition. Star was instructed that the card could not be canceled until she filed a police report in San Francisco. The scammers provided specific details, including a credit card number, a delivery address in San Francisco, and the application date, making the story appear legitimate. The call was then transferred to another individual posing as a San Francisco police officer, who escalated the situation by treating Star as a suspect and moving the conversation to Webex, claiming her information was linked to a federal money laundering cas...
Detroit Free PressDetroit Free Press
Postcard for 'free gas' is tempting. But it costs more than expected

Postcard for 'free gas' is tempting. But it costs more than expected

The scam offering free gas is designed to ultimately give fraudsters access to your cash, your credit card or debit card numbers.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
FBI Oklahoma City Warns Public About Agent Impersonation Scams

FBI Oklahoma City Warns Public About Agent Impersonation Scams

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Oklahoma City office has issued a warning to the public regarding a prevalent scam where fraudsters impersonate FBI agents over the phone. This scam typically begins with a call from an individual claiming to be a bank representative, who then alleges that the victim's information has been used for illegal firearm purchases. The call is subsequently transferred to a supposed 'FBI agent' who provides a fake name and badge number to appear credible. This imposter then attempts to extract sensitive personal and financial information from the victim. Scammers often use spoofing technology to make these calls appear to originate from the legitimate FBI Oklahoma City office number. A key characteristic of this scam is the insistence on transferring the call directly to the 'FBI agent' rather than allowing the victim to independently verify the claims by hanging up and calling the FBI directly. The FBI emphasizes that it will never demand payment, personal information, threat...
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Two North Huntsville Teenagers Killed in Separate Shootings Within One Week

Two North Huntsville Teenagers Killed in Separate Shootings Within One Week

Two teenagers in North Huntsville, Alabama, have been killed in separate shooting incidents occurring one week apart, raising concerns among local residents about gun violence and bystander safety. The most recent incident took place on a Friday on Lakewood Drive, resulting in the death of 18-year-old Charles Seltzer. Police also discovered another individual on Burwell Road with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, who investigators believe may be connected to the same shooting. This event followed the death of 17-year-old Jayden Ford, who was killed in a shooting on Winchester Road just one week prior. Both locations are in close proximity. Residents like Antonio Tobias, who lives on Lakewood Drive, expressed shock and fear, noting the proximity of the violence and the potential danger of stray bullets to innocent bystanders, including children playing outside. Huntsville police are investigating Seltzer's death and the possible connection to the other injured person, with several individuals detained, ...
Wilmington Star-NewsWilmington Star-News
Ex-hotel worker pleads guilty to identity thefts in Wilmington

Ex-hotel worker pleads guilty to identity thefts in Wilmington

A former Wilmington hotel worker was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to identity theft.
USA TodayUSA Today
Exclusive: OpenAI launches road tour to educate older Americans on AI

Exclusive: OpenAI launches road tour to educate older Americans on AI

OpenAI and AARP are partnering to teach older Americans how to use artificial intelligence to spot scams.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Texas Utility CenterPoint Energy Confirms Data Breach After Hacker Leaks Customer Information

Texas Utility CenterPoint Energy Confirms Data Breach After Hacker Leaks Customer Information

CenterPoint Energy, a Houston-based public utility serving approximately 7 million customers across Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas, has confirmed a data breach. The company disclosed that an unauthorized third party obtained personal information belonging to a portion of its customers through one of its external-facing systems. This confirmation follows claims made by a hacker on a cybercrime forum on September 12, who alleged to have stolen 7.5 million customer records from the utility. CenterPoint Energy has initiated an investigation into the incident. The utility has stated that the cybersecurity incident has not affected the delivery of electric and gas services and does not anticipate a material impact from the data breach. This is not the first time CenterPoint Energy has been targeted; previous incidents in 2024 involved an access broker named AntiBrok3rs and another hacker, with stolen data believed to originate from the Cl0p ransomware group's 2023 MOVEit campaign, often through third partie...
Rapid ReadRapid Read
SwypeSure Launches Digital Personal Safety Education Platform Amid Rising AI Scams

SwypeSure Launches Digital Personal Safety Education Platform Amid Rising AI Scams

SwypeSure, a personal safety media and education platform founded by Anthony Corvane in 2020, is bringing personal safety education into the digital age. The platform aims to address the evolving risks consumers face due to increased online interactions, dating apps, rideshare services, social media, and sophisticated AI-powered scams. SwypeSure provides practical safety tips, real-world stories, and current event analysis with safety takeaways, focusing on awareness around online risks, dating safety, travel, commuting, and public spaces. The platform emphasizes recognizing warning signs, verifying information, and making proactive decisions rather than instilling fear. Corvane, with a background in investigations and risk analysis, designed SwypeSure to deliver relevant and accessible safety information through social-first content.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Waynesboro Police Department Warns Public About Jury Duty Warrant Scam and Impersonation

Waynesboro Police Department Warns Public About Jury Duty Warrant Scam and Impersonation

The Waynesboro Police Department has issued a public alert regarding a scam involving fake jury duty warrants and the impersonation of law enforcement officers. In a recent incident, a resident received a phone call from an individual falsely claiming to be a police officer. The scammer informed the resident of an outstanding warrant for failing to appear for jury duty and threatened immediate arrest if payment was not made. The scammer then sent a fraudulent warrant document and demanded thousands of dollars, instructing the victim to withdraw cash and use a provided barcode at a retail store for payment. The police department emphasizes that legitimate law enforcement agencies will not demand immediate payment over the phone, threaten immediate arrest for hanging up, or instruct individuals to use gift cards or barcodes for payments.
TrendlineTrendline
Digital Wallets Enhance Payment Security Through Biometrics and Tokenization

Digital Wallets Enhance Payment Security Through Biometrics and Tokenization

Digital Wallets Enhance Payment Security Through Biometrics and Tokenization
Rapid ReadRapid Read
City of Hattiesburg Unveils 70th Mural Celebrating Etheridge Knight's Legacy

City of Hattiesburg Unveils 70th Mural Celebrating Etheridge Knight's Legacy

The City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, recently unveiled its 70th mural in the downtown area, moving closer to its goal of 100 murals. This new artwork, overlooking Gordon’s Creek, was created by artist Julia Reyes with contributions from Hattiesburg Poet Laureate Jennifer Peterson and the Academy of American Poets. The mural is a tribute to the legacy of poet Etheridge Knight, drawing its inspiration specifically from his renowned poem, 'Cell Song.' This initiative is part of a broader effort by the city to integrate art and culture into its urban landscape, highlighting local and national figures through public art installations.