Welcome to the primary version of This Week in Scams, a brand new weekly sequence from McAfee breaking down the most recent fraud developments, headlines, and real-time threats we’re detecting throughout the digital panorama.
This week, we’re spotlighting the FBI’s stunning new cybercrime report, the rise of AI-generated deepfakes, and a refined Gmail impersonation rip-off flagged by Google. We’re additionally seeing a surge in location-specific toll scams and faux supply alerts—a reminder that staying forward of scammers begins with figuring out how they function.
Let’s dive in.
Scams Making Headlines
$16.6 Billion Misplaced to On-line Scams in 2024
The FBI’s newest Web Crime Report is right here—and the numbers are staggering. Individuals misplaced $16.6 billion to on-line scams final 12 months, up from $12.5 billion in 2023. Older adults and crypto buyers had been hit particularly laborious, however the company warns the actual whole is probably going a lot larger, since many victims by no means report the crime.
Learn extra
AI-Powered Deepfake Scams Get Extra Convincing
Deepfake-enabled fraud has already brought on greater than $200 million in monetary losses in simply the primary quarter of 2025.
McAfee researchers estimate the typical American sees three deepfakes per day, lots of that are designed to imitate actual individuals, providers, or information tales. Whether or not it’s faux crypto pitches, job gives, or social media stunts—seeing is now not believing.
Learn extra
Google Warns Customers of Subtle E-mail Rip-off
Google is alerting Gmail customers to a brand new kind of phishing electronic mail that appears prefer it comes from Google itself. These messages usually seem in reputable electronic mail threads and cross all typical safety checks, however lead victims to a cloned Google login web page designed to steal credentials. The rip-off highlights how attackers are evolving to outsmart conventional filters.
Learn extra
From Specialists at McAfee
McAfee Researchers have noticed a latest surge within the following rip-off varieties:
Pretend Supply Notifications: Scammers impersonate supply providers like USPS, UPS, and FedEx, sending faux monitoring hyperlinks that set up malware or steal fee information
Bill Scams: Fraudulent messages that declare you owe cash for a services or products, usually accompanied by a faux bill PDF or request for fee through telephone
Cloud Storage Spoofs: Emails that fake to be from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, prompting you to “log in” to view shared information. The hyperlinks result in phishing websites designed to seize your credentials.
Toll Textual content Scams: Customized smishing messages that declare you owe a toll and hyperlink to faux fee websites. These messages usually use location information—like your space code or latest metropolis visits—to look reputable. McAfee Labs noticed toll rip-off texts spike almost 4x between January and February.
This week, Steve Grobman, govt vice chairman and chief expertise officer at McAfee, stated the toll rip-off is efficient as a result of it hits all the right social factors for a shopper.
These scams usually depend on urgency and familiarity—pretending to be one thing you belief or count on—to get you to behave rapidly with out double-checking.
The way to Keep One Step Forward
- Be skeptical of emails—even from acquainted senders.
The Gmail rip-off reveals that even official-looking messages will be faux. If an electronic mail asks you to log in, don’t click on the hyperlink. As a substitute, go to the web site instantly by your browser and log in from there. - Perceive how deepfakes are getting used.
Whether or not it’s a voice message from somebody you already know or a video of a public determine selling an funding, deepfakes are designed to take advantage of belief. If a message pressures you to behave urgently—particularly involving cash—decelerate and confirm it by one other channel. - Don’t assume personalization means legitimacy.
Scams just like the toll fraud texts really feel actual as a result of they embrace particular location information. However scammers can use leaked or bought private information to tailor messages. Simply because it sounds correct doesn’t imply it’s reliable. - Look ahead to emotional triggers.
The best scams—whether or not it’s a faux assist electronic mail, a journey deal, or a message a couple of missed toll—create urgency or panic. If one thing is pushing you to behave quick, that’s your cue to cease and confirm. - Defend your self with instruments that transcend primary filters.
Conventional spam filters aren’t sufficient anymore. Use safety instruments—like McAfee Rip-off Detector—that take a look at full message context and assist flag superior scams, impersonation makes an attempt, and deepfakes earlier than they trigger hurt.
Thanks for studying—See you subsequent week with extra rip-off alerts, insights, and safety ideas from the McAfee staff.
