9News | New AI scam targeting pet owners by 9News

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

A Sydney student, 18‑year‑old Sarah Swain, posted on Facebook and put up flyers after her 16‑year‑old black cat, Cinda, escaped in Kingsford on May 5. She soon received an email from someone claiming to have found the cat and sent AI‑generated photos showing a cat that looked similar, but the sender demanded $200 and an Apple gift card, threatening to “sell” the cat if she didn’t pay. Suspicious of the oddly phrased messages and the cat’s appearance, Sarah and her boyfriend realized it was a scam, and when she attempted to meet the alleged finder at a supermarket with her mother, no one appeared. The police said they could do nothing, so Sarah reported the incident to Scamwatch and is warning other pet owners that such extortion attempts are a crime and that they should verify any claims before giving money.

Read more: https://www.9news.com.au/national/missing-cat-scam-warning-after-student-searching-for-missing-cat-targeted-by-scammer/04d0d703-c89c-458a-9f0a-509823404b46

#SarahSwain #Apple #Scamwatch

Australians lost $334.4 million to scams in 2025, according to the latest ACCC Scamwatch data – a slight increase from 2024.
Investment scams remain the most damaging at $172 million, followed by phishing and romance scams. People aged 65+ lost almost $89 million, the highest of any age group.
Key tactic: creating urgency and using AI to make scams more convincing.
Always pause and verify before transferring money or sharing details. Report suspicions to Scamwatch immediately.

#scams #australia #scamwatch #staysafe

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/how-over-330-million-was-taken-from-australians-in-a-year-and-the-tactics-behind-it/atu595hkx

"As regulators press Meta to crack down on rogue advertisers [Scammers] on Facebook and Instagram, the social media giant has drafted a “playbook” to stall them. Internal documents seen by Reuters reveal its tactics, including efforts to make scam ads 'not findable' when authorities search for them." protecting Meta's ability to profit from these scam Ads and putting peoples online safety in danger.

https://www.reuters.com/investigations/meta-created-playbook-fend-off-pressure-crack-down-scammers-documents-show-2025-12-31/

#Safety #Crime #Corruption #News #HumanRights #ScamWatch #Meta #Facebook #Instagram #OnlineSafety

6 Real Estate Scams You Should Know

6 Real Estate Scams You Should Know

6 Real Estate Scams You Should Know

There’s no shortage of scammers and fraudsters trying to take advantage of you and your clients.  Here’s what to watch out for and some ways for everyone in the real estate community to stay safe.

• MY SPECIALTY: EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE

  Marie Walton, GRI REALTOR & ASSOCIATED BROKER (972) 816-5197 [email protected] View Website Ebby Halliday – North Dallas 16000 Preston Road, Suite 100 Dallas TX 75248

  #ScamAlert #ScamAwareness #FraudPrevention #OnlineSafety #ProtectYourMoney #StayAware #ConsumerAlert #CyberSafety #IdentityTheft #AvoidScams #ScamWatch #FraudAlert #DigitalSafety #BeInformed #SpotTheScam #MarieWaltonRealtor

#avoidscams #beinformed #consumeralert #cybersafety #digitalsafety #fraudalert #fraudprevention #identitytheft #mariewaltonrealtor #onlinesafety #protectyourmoney #scamalert #scamawareness #scamwatch #spotthescam #stayaware

If you are still an EFA member you need to check in on your Facebook uncle. Because this is embarrassing.

#ScamWatch #Grifters

Micronation or Mega Scam? Westarctica "Consul" Busted in Ghaziabad
What happens when a fantasy becomes fraud? A Ghaziabad man claiming to be a diplomat for Westarctica turned a self-made micronation dream into a criminal empire. Fake embassies, morphed Modi pics, ₹75 lakh in cash—this story is stranger than fiction.
#Micronations #Westarctica #FakeEmbassy #IndiaCrime #ScamWatch

https://news24media.org/fake-embassy-westarctica-busted-harshvardhan-jain/

🔎 Yehor Valerevich Alshevski: Digital Clean-Up or Calculated Cover-Up?
Accused of weaponizing DMCA takedowns and linked to Ponzi schemes, Alshevski’s online trail raises serious concerns.

🔗 https://cybercriminal.com/investigation/yehor-valerevich-alshevski

#YehorAlshevski #CyberCrime #FraudAlert #PonziScheme #DMCAAbuse #ScamWatch #OnlineDeception #TrendingNow #StayInformed

Binomoidr.com: Trading Platform or Potential Threat? ⚠️
Is Binomoidr.com a legitimate trading platform or another online risk? We break down red flags, user complaints, and potential risks tied to this website. 🕵️‍♀️💬
👉 Dive into the Full Analysis: https://www.cybercriminal.com/check/binomoidr.com

💬#Binomoidr #TradingScam #InvestmentFraud #ScamWatch #OnlineTradingRisks #FinancialSafety #FraudAlert #TradingPlatformReview #StayProtected #CyberRisk