Episode 15: Scams Are Getting Smarter—Are You?
From fake IRS calls and toll ticket texts to AI voice clones—scammers are evolving, and fast. In 2024, U.S. consumers lost over $16.6 billion to scams. Globally, it’s more than $1 trillion.
We’re breaking down the latest scams, how they work, who they target—and how to protect yourself before your money (or identity) disappears.
Why Should We Care About Scams?
💸 $1 trillion lost globally to scams and fraud in 2024
🔐 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was gutted, just when we need it most
👵 Older adults lose the most money, but Gen Z is the most frequent target
⚖️ Fewer legal protections mean less help if you get scammed
What Can You Do?
🔒 Use VPNs on public Wi-Fi
🚫 Don’t click on sketchy texts, links, or emails
🧾 Freeze or lock your Social Security number
👀 Check the Better Business Bureau before buying from unknown sites
📣 Report fraud at ic3.gov or reportfraud.ftc.gov
💬 What In Your World? We want to hear from you!
- Have you ever fallen for a scam? What happened?
- Are there new scams we didn’t mention that people need to know about?
- Should financial institutions do more to help victims recover stolen money?
📢 Don’t forget to follow What In The World? for your weekly fun take on serious news:
📸 INSTAGRAM: @whatinworld_pod
🎵 TIKTOK: @whatintheworldpod
🌐 WEBSITE: whatintheworldpod.com
#news #fraud #scams #identitytheft #cybercrime #podcast #technews #whatintheworld
