Small businesses thrive on orders, and large orders often mean growth, higher revenue, and new opportunities, but that very trust is exactly what scammers exploit.

For artisans, markets and fairs serve as vital platforms that provide financial support, professional exposure, and opportunities to connect with customers in a competitive creative economy.

Military romance scams are a type of online fraud in which criminals impersonate members of the armed forces to gain trust and extract money or personal information from victims. These scams have grown increasingly sophisticated, using stolen photographs, AI-generated images, deepfake videos, face overlays during video chats, and voice cloning.

There has been a recent rise in reports about vehicle warranty renewal scams, where fraudsters use false claims of expiring coverage to pressure victims into immediate action. These scams aim to steal money or personal information, and they provide a clear example of how pressure-based tactics appear across multiple online renewal scams.

🕵️‍♀️ 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗜𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦

Earlier today I came across a post on social media where a woman described how she received a package out of the blue. The box contained generic parts for a Roomba. She had never ordered them. When she contacted the delivery company, they told her she was not alone. Others had reported the same strange deliveries.

While looking at scam trends this evening I noticed a surge in online searches for “Baby of the Year scam.” Parents around the world are starting to question whether these contests are innocent fun or if the Baby of the Year contest is indeed a scam. Recent reporting, including a 6ABC investigation, confirms the competitions are real and winners are awarded.

The Phantom Hacker Scam has become one of the most troubling frauds of 2025. It represents an evolution in cybercrime that relies not on brute force hacking but on carefully staged deception. The scam is designed to manipulate trust and fear, persuading victims to hand over their money under the illusion of protection.

🧩 HOW THE SCAM UNFOLDS

For decades the cashier’s cheque has been promoted by banks as one of the safest methods of payment. The logic was simple: because the funds are drawn directly against the issuing bank, the instrument is supposed to be as good as cash.

Unsolicited text messages have evolved from minor annoyances into a major tool for modern scammers. What may begin as a casual "wrong number" can quickly develop into weeks or months of manipulation. These scams exploit curiosity, politeness, and even loneliness, often resulting in financial loss and emotional damage.