Officials warn against price gouging, looting amid Los Angeles wildfires
California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned of bad actors who seek to use the trauma and chaos created by the wildfires in California for their own gain.
Scam Alert
How to avoid falling victim to online ticket scams
Americans lost over $2.3 million to online ticket scams this year, according to the FBI. Lucas Gutterman from U.S. Public Interest Research Group shares tips to protect yourself.
AI grandma tool helps fend off phone scams
British phone company Virgin Media O2 has developed an AI-generated grandmother to talk to scammers all day and waste their time so you don't have to. CBS News Confirmed executive producer Melissa Mahtani has more on the "grandma" and how you can protect yourself from phone scams.
Deepfakes of Elon Musk contribute to billions in fraud losses
A study found that Elon Musk is the most common celebrity used in deepfake scams.
Report probes phone companies over robocalls
While scam phone calls have slightly decreased in the last three years, scam texts have tripled. A consumer report found that phone companies need to do more to prevent robocalls and texts for customers. CBS News correspondent Nancy Chen has more.
Scammers hire models to fool Americans
A group of romance scammers based in Ghana have been hiring models and escorts to fool Americans. Debora Patta was given an inside look at the operation.
Gov. Newsom vetoes bill to protect California seniors from scammers
Credit card companies are responsible for fraud loss, under federal law. But there's no penalty for big banks when victims wire thousands of dollars to scammers.
CBS News investigates online romance scams
A CBS News investigation looks into internet romance scams that are targeting Americans, tracking them to Ghana, where many of the scams begin. Debora Patta shows how men and women who are looking for love online are tricked into sending money.
Inside look at Ghana romance scam operations
Men and women in the U.S. looking for love online are being tricked by young men trained to scam them. CBS News foreign correspondent Debora Patta followed the money all the way to Ghana.
An inside look at an elaborate romance scam
Operating out of underground boiler rooms across Ghana, online criminal syndicates prey on older Americans, running sophisticated scams that break hearts and empty bank accounts. Ghanaian scammers told CBS News they prefer targeting men as they are easier to trap and less likely to report the scam because of their deep shame. Debora Patta reports.
Inside a romance scam targeting American men
Scammers overseas are targeting Americans' hearts and their wallets. Men, who believe they're speaking with women online, are lured into sending them money -- but that money often ends up in the hands of young men in the West African nation of Ghana. CBS News foreign correspondent Debora Patta reports on her yearlong investigation into these operations.
92-year-old loses life savings in online scam
Earlier in 2024, CBS News shared a story about the growing epidemic of overseas online scammers robbing vulnerable Americans. There is now an update on the billions of dollars being taken. CBS News' Jim Axelrod spoke with a woman whose elderly mother lost her life savings.
Elderly woman becomes target of overseas gold scam
A 92-year-old Los Angeles woman became the target of overseas scammers, who convinced her to put her life savings into gold and then hand the precious metal over. Now, her daughter is looking to hold the bank that allowed the transactions responsible. Jim Axelrod reports.
How to protect yourself against blackmail email scams
A blackmail email scam relies on public information, using a person's name, address and even a street view image of where they live.
How criminals are targeting job seekers
Employment scams surged by 118% last year, costing victims over $70 million, according to the FBI. Criminals are using tactics like fake job offers and AI-generated text messages to steal personal information and money. Senior consumer investigative correspondent Anna Werner shares tips on how to avoid falling victim to these scams.
3 tips to spot misinformation online
It's more important than ever to scrutinize what you see online. These three tips from CBS News Confirmed will help you know what to trust.
Did you receive an unsolicited package? It might be a brushing scam.
Receiving a product in the mail you didn't order can indicate a scam, consumer advocates warn. Here's what to know.
OpenAI warns of foreign propaganda campaigns
ChatGPT developer OpenAI warns that state actors worldwide use generative artificial intelligence to run covert propaganda operations. The company told The Washington Post it found groups in Russia, China, Iran and Israel using its technology to build and launch social media campaigns. Gerrit De Vynck, tech reporter for The Post, joins CBS News to discuss.
Scams on TikTok targeting weight loss drugs
A joint investigation by Digital Citizens Alliance and Coalition for a Safer Web found dozens of TikTok profiles offering to ship weight loss drugs for lower prices and without a prescription. In nearly every situation, it was a scam.
Schemes targeting seniors account for $3.4 billion in reported losses, FBI says
Reports of elder fraud crimes increased by 14% in 2023, according to a new federal report.
Elder fraud on the rise in the U.S.
Scams targeting people over 60 are on the rise in the U.S., with $3.4 billion being stolen just last year, according to a new FBI report. Nicole Sganga reports.
Why the U.S. struggles to combat romance scams
Local and federal authorities face challenges in investigating and prosecuting romance scammers because the scammers are often based overseas. Jim Axelrod explains.
Widow's death highlights romance scams danger
A growing form of fraud is posing physical, emotional, and financial threats to everyday Americans. Jim Axelrod reports on a romance scam turned tragic -- when a widow was swindled out of her life savings.
Widow's scam story serves as cautionary tale
A widow looking for love was scammed out of $1.5 million before her tragic death. Her daughter is now on a mission to share her mom's story, hoping it spurs change.
Widow's tragic story highlights scam epidemic
Laura Kowal was looking for love online and ended up being conned out of $1.5 million before her mysterious death. A year-long CBS News investigation found that experts believe law enforcement isn't keeping pace with romance scammers like the ones who victimized Kowal. Correspondent Jim Axelrod reports the first of a four-part series, "Anything for Love," a look inside the nation's romance scam epidemic. [Don't miss Part 2 of the investigative series "Anything for Love" on the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell," Monday, April 22.]
Live
Missed paychecks, benefit lapses increase pressure for shutdown deal
The government shutdown stretched into Day 27 on Monday as the stalemate over how to reopen the government continues. Follow live updates here.
Hurricane Melissa threatens to bring catastrophic flooding to Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Monday, unleashing torrential rain and threatening to bring catastrophic flooding to the northern Caribbean.
2 Illinois National Guard members speak out: "I won't turn against my neighbors"
Staff Sgt. Demi Palecek and Capt. Dylan Blaha say they'll defy federal orders regarding Trump's immigration enforcement operation in Chicago.
Political violence has gripped the U.S. Experts say it's not as simple as left and right.
A nationwide string of threats and violent acts present a problem experts say is politically more complex than it seems.
Trump reveals he underwent an MRI during checkup, calls results "perfect"
President Trump had his second physical in six months earlier this month at Walter Reed Medical Center.
Minnesota man arrested for threatening Pam Bondi in TikTok post
A TikTok user was arrested earlier this month for threatening Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Indiana's GOP governor says he will call a special redistricting session
Indiana's Republican governor on Monday said he would be calling a special session to consider redrawing the state's congressional map.
Why your beef, bananas and coffee beans have gotten so expensive
Americans are paying significantly more for these food staples, inflation data shows. Will prices ever relent?
FDA approves new menopause drug without hormones. Here's what to know.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Lynkuet, a new medication that does not contain hormones to treat hot flashes due to menopause.