SpaceX’s Starlink, which provides Internet service via satellites like those pictured being released into orbit around Earth, this week cut service to thousands of its internet service devices after Myanmar’s military shut down a scam center along the country’s border region. File Photo by SpaceX/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 23 (UPI) —SpaceX cut Starlink Internet service to thousands of its devices providing access to compounds in Myanmar linked to human trafficking and monetary scams worldwide.
The company said late Tuesday that it terminated more than 2,500 Starlink devices Chinese crime syndicates were using to contact and scam people globally.
“SpaceX continually works to identify violations of our Acceptable Use Policy and applicable law because — as with nearly all consumer electronics and services — the same technology that can provide immense benefits has a risk of misuse,” Lauren Dreyer, Starlink’s vice president of business operations, said in a post on X.
“In Myanmar, for example, SpaceX proactively identified and disabled over 2,500 Starlink kits in the vicinity of suspected ‘scam centers,'” she wrote.
The scam centers, which operated largely along the border between Myanmar and Thailand, lure people in with the promise of good jobs before often being taken captive and being forced to defraud people through fake investments and pretend romantic schemes, according to reports.
Myanmar’s military, which in 2021 staged a coup that has kept the country mired in a civil war, announced this week that it shut down a scam operation called KK Park, seizing 30 sets of Starlink Terminals and arresting more than 2,000 people.
The military earlier this year launched an operation to go after the scam centers after other nations, specifically Thailand and China, exerted pressure to ease the situation that has seen people from both countries trafficked and forced to work in the scam parks.
Although the military has moved to shut down some operations, reports suggest that many compounds in Myanmar remain active, with tens of thousands of employees and some protected by militia groups that are aligned with Myanmar’s military.
WE all like to think that we’d beat the scammers if they came knocking – but are you really that savvy?
After all, the latest Global Anti-Scam Alliance report warns that people in the UK lost £11.4billion to scams in the last year – up £4billion on the year before.
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We all think we’d beat the scammers – but even very simple modern cons can catch us outCredit: Getty
And the average loss per victim was £1,400, with just 18% recovering their money.
We spoke to several security experts who revealed five of the most simple-but-effective scams going – they’re all shockingly common AND easy to spot… but repeatedly catch out Brits.
This is a cheap and easy tactic that Brits do fall for.
“Blackmail scams claim to know damaging information about a victim, demanding payment to keep quiet,” said Chris Hauk, of Pixel Privacy, speaking to The Sun.
“Victims are told they have been recorded doing disgusting things while at their computer or using their mobile device, and that the video will be sent to friends, family, and employers if they do not pay up.”
These claims can be scary, and there’s a sinister trick that crooks pull to make them even more convincing.
Deepfakes more ‘sophisticated’ and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes
They’ll use fake email addresses that look like your own account to hoodwink you.
“Email extortion scams claiming to have compromising pictures of end-users in intimate moments are quite common, and remain some of the most prevalent scams on the internet these days,” said Michael Tigges of Huntress.
“An adversary will often spoof the email addresses in the mail and generate an email that appears as if it was sent from the user’s own email account and claim to have access to all accounts.
“They will ask for money, cryptocurrency, etc., to avoid ‘leaking’ these pictures or videos.”
Staying Safe
It’s important to not give in to the scammer’s demands.
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Email is still a classic way for crooks to reach Brits, and they’re not doing it for a laugh – it really still does catch people out in 2025Credit: Getty
In the first place, even if the material that the crook has is legitimate, paying them won’t help. They might just take your money and share it anyway.
But in most cases, the crooks have simply invented the dodgy material – and won’t show any real proof that they have it.
It’s best to just ignore these scam messages. Interacting with the crook shows that your email is active and that you’re willing to engage.
And that could lead to them targeting you with other scams down the line, or trying a different tactic on you.
SCAM 2 – TECH SUPPORT
Next up is the iconic tech support scam, which still successfully hoodwinks unsuspecting Brits.
“Tech support scams are another classic,” Proton’s Patricia Egger told The Sun.
She described it as “a pop-up or call pretending to be from Microsoft or Apple, pushing you to hand over control of your computer or bank details”.
It might sound obvious, but they often come out of the blue and catch you off-guard.
And with years of experience under their belts (and now the power of AI), scammers can generate highly convincing fake alerts.
“Fake tech support scams are also highly common,” Michael Tigges, a security analyst at Huntress, told The Sun.
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Tech support scams often start with a shocking pop-up, often in bright red and with a serious warning attachedCredit: Getty
“A website will generate a ‘notification’ prompt in modern browsers which mimics an anti-virus/Microsoft notification and asks the end-user to call a number controlled by the adversary.
“That person will then remotely access the computer and either install malware, or remotely fake a number of ‘tech issues’ that must be fixed for a fee.”
Staying Safe
Be extremely sceptical of any mysterious pop-ups.
Look out for typos, bizarre requests (for passwords or money), aggressive wording, and unusual styling (does it fit how your device normally looks?).
And if you’re unsure, check with your device maker to see if it’s legit.
This is extremely simple – and that’s what makes it so effective.
“The scams that catch people out most often are usually the simplest,” Proton’s Patricia Egger told us.
“Fake texts or emails saying you’ve missed a delivery, owe tax, or need to fix a bank problem are still everywhere.
“And they work because they create a sense of urgency that does away with calm and clear thinking.”
REPORTING SCAMS
Here’s the official advice on reporting scams from Action Fraud…
Have you spotted a suspicious email?
If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS):[email protected]
Have you received a suspicious text message?
Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to 7726. This free-of-charge short code enables your provider to investigate the origin of the text and take action, if found to be malicious.
Have you received a suspicious phone call?
If you’ve lost money or have been hacked as a result of responding to a call, you should report it:
In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, report it to us online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
In Scotland, report to Police Scotland by calling 101.
If you have not lost any money or responded to the call, you should report report scam call numbers free of charge to 7726. Your provider can find our where the call came from and block or ban the number.
To report a scam call, simply text 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the scam.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE SCAMMED
Here’s the advice from Citizens Advice:
Contact your bank immediately if:
there’s a payment from your bank account you don’t recognise – this is known as an ‘unauthorised transaction’
you’ve used your debit card and more money was taken than you expected
“Explain what’s happened and ask if you can get a refund,” Citizens Advice said.
“If you’re not happy with how the bank deals with your claim, you can complain to them. Find out how to do this by checking their website.
“If it’s been 8 weeks since you complained, and you haven’t got your money back, contact the Financial Ombudsman.”
You will need to give your bank as much detail about the scam as you can. That includes exactly what info you may have handed over to the scammers – or if you’ve downloaded any dodgy files.
That way, they can prevent more money from being taken from you in the future.
You should then contact the police about the scam.
Crooks can deliver this kind of scam in bulk – hitting hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of targets.
And they just need a fraction of those targets to bite, allowing them scoop up prized info or cash.
It can take many forms, but the style is always the same: you must act quickly, or you’ll be handed a bill.
“A victim is told they have several outstanding fines or payments that must be paid immediately or they’ll face prosecution,” Chris Hauk told us.
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Scammers will send you official-looking missives that claim you’ve got an unpaid bill, there’s a transaction you need to deal with urgently, or that you’re on the hook for a massive fineCredit: Shane O’Neill, Coalesce
“However, if they just go and buy several gift cards amounting to the outstanding sum and provide the information to the scammer, all will be forgiven.
“Emails and text messages claim that sums of money are owed either for a debt, or a fine, or even a toll road fee.
“They may also provide a link to pay that is actually to a malicious site designed to harvest financial information from the victim.”
Staying Safe
Scammers don’t want you to have time to think things over or to check out their story.
Chris HaukPixel Privacy
If you ever receive an urgent alert, pause – don’t act fast.
Instead, reach out directly to the company that the alert claims to be from.
Use the official phone number or email on the website, and not the one you’ve been sent with the alert.
And if the fine or charge comes from a suspicious company you’ve never heard of, do your research. Is it a real company? Does it have an online presence or reviews? Is it registered on Companies House? Who runs it?
SOCIAL ENGINEERING SCAM – HOW IT HAPPENS
Here’s a tale of how quickly £4,500 can be lost to crooks, as revealed by Action Fraud…
“Sophie, a 25-year-old marketing executive from Manchester, received a convincing email that appeared to be from her bank, alerting her to suspicious activity on her account,” Action Fraud said.
“The email included the bank’s official logo and a link to a website that looked identical to her bank’s online portal. Concerned about her finances,
“Sophie clicked the link and entered her login details, believing she was securing her account.
“Within minutes, she received a phone call from someone claiming to be a bank representative, who referenced the ‘suspicious activity’ and asked her to confirm her identity by providing additional personal information and a one-time passcode sent to her phone.
“Trusting the caller, Sophie complied, only to discover the next day that £4,500 had been withdrawn from her account in several unauthorised transactions.
“The scammers had used her credentials and the passcode to bypass the bank’s security measures. Despite reporting the incident immediately, the funds could not be recovered.”
Ask these questions before handing over any cash.
Chris added: “Scammers don’t want you to have time to think things over or to check out their story.”
SCAM 4 – THE FAKE JOB
The fake job scam is one of the most nefarious cons out there.
It’s almost unimaginable to think that you’d fall for such a wheeze. Surely you’d spot a fake job a mile off?
But it’s easy to forget that when you’re hunting for a new role, you might be feeling particularly desperate.
And as the cost of living goes up, Brits can be tempted by easy money or a more relaxed working environment.
Crooks know this, and capitalise on it.
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Fake job scams often come via WhatsApp – don’t fall for themCredit: PA
“Fake job offers are also becoming increasingly common, these often sound appealing at first, promising easy money, work-from-home roles, or a big windfall,” Proton’s Patricia Egger told us.
“They hook people with the promise of good news, then demand ‘processing fees’ or bank details.”
She continued: “These tricks work because scammers know how people act in response to emotions, both good and bad.
“And with increasing quantities of data about us online, ‘I’d never fall for that’ is just one data leak away from being untrue.”
Staying Safe
Patricia’s best advice is to watch out for red flags like:
Unexpected links or attachments in a chat about a job
Pressure to act immediately
Being asked to move money for a job or pay fees upfront
Any perk of the job that seems too good to be true
She added that you should always make sure to “slow down and stay sceptical”.
SCAMS IN 2025 – THE EXPERT VIEW
Here’s what Sean Keach, The Sun’s resident tech expert, thinks…
It’s never been easier to carry out scams.
Cybercriminals have the world’s arsenal of tech at their disposal.
And with AI, they can supercharge their efforts by crafting convincing scam materials in seconds – and then dispensing it to victims just as quickly.
It sounds terrifying, and in many ways, it is.
But there is some good news.
Although scammers can carry out scams more convincingly and at greater speed, they’re still the same classic cons at their core.
And that means the age-old rules you need to follow stay the same too.
Avoiding scams really is as simple as being as cautious as you can be.
If something seems too urgent or too good to be true, don’t be afraid to take a step back and give it a good think.
Ask your friends and family for advice. Do research online.
Money can disappear in the blink of an eye, and you’ll struggle to get it back. And the same is true for info, which can be used to defraud you or hoodwink those close to you.
So be extremely careful before you ever hand anything over online.
If something seems off, it probably is.
Picture Credit: Sean Keach
SCAM 5 – FRIEND IN NEED
There are lots of variations of this con, but it’s commonly known as the “friend in need” – or lately, the “hi mum, it’s me” scam.
This is when a crook pretends to be someone you know to hoodwink you.
It works because so often we expect scams to come from people we don’t know – or criminals posing as businesses.
“It’s not just strangers,” said Patricia Egger, of Proton.
“Criminals often pretend to be friends, colleagues or family by hacking accounts or stealing personal details.
“If you get an urgent request from someone you know that feels unusual, check with them through another channel before doing anything.”
These crooks might message you from a strange WhatsApp account, and say, “Hi mum, it’s me your daughter, I’m texting from a friend’s phone.”
And they’ll say that they’re in trouble and need money fast.
They might give the excuse that they’re in legal trouble, need cash for a taxi home, or have some other urgent money worry.
Many parents or pals will dismiss these texts out of hand.
But it only takes a little absent-mindedness and some luck on the part of the crook and you can easily fall for the con.
It’s increasingly common in the UK because so many Brits fall for it.
Worse still, some crooks will actually text you from your own family member’s phone number.
“Accounts can be taken over, and regularly are, by bad actors,” said Erich Kron, of KnowBe4.
“It can email, social media, or any number of other mediums, and attackers know that communications from known associates carry a lot of inherent trust.
“They can even hijack previous conversations, making it look even more legitimate.”
HOW THE ‘IN NEED’ SCAM REALLY HAPPENS
Here’s a case study from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute of a woman who tried to send £2,600 to criminals posing as her son…
“A member of the public named Alison received a message on the popular messaging platform WhatsApp: ‘Hi mum, I’ve dropped my phone down the loo (sad emoji) this is my new number’,” the CTSI said.
“Alison replied to the message and asked if it was her son, Will, to which the scammer replied in the affirmative.
“The very next day, Alison’s ‘son’ messaged her asking for £2,600 and explained that he had got mixed up with loan sharks and needed to pay up. Alison didn’t doubt the message for a moment.
“Alison tried to call her ‘son’ back, but the person on the other end kept saying they couldn’t take the call and continually put pressure on her to make the payment quickly.
“This worried Alison, who agreed to make the payment. The person gave the bank details of the alleged loan shark to pay.
“Fortunately for Alison, she forgot to click the final payment confirmation and, after some time, the scammer messaged asking for a picture to prove the payment had been made.
“This caused a wave of scepticism in Alison’s mind, and then it was confirmed that the message was indeed a scam.”
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Crooks will send messages pretending to be a loved one – be very wary if you ever receive a text like thisCredit: Alamy
Staying Safe
With this scam, your best defence is communication.
Be cautious whenever anyone asks you for money urgently – even a family member.
If they do, reach out to them by some other method, like calling them on the phone, to verify that it’s actually them asking for money.
Another good trick is to create a safe word or phrase that your family uses to verify that they’re really asking for cash.
“It’s important to establish an understanding between peers and family,” said Huntress’s Michael Tigges.
“Consider establishing ‘safe words’ or phrases that can be utilised when calling family members or peers from an untrusted number to confirm identity.
“And encourage family members, especially the elderly, to be highly sceptical of phone calls from untrusted numbers.”
Your safe word could be anything – even a silly phrase like “purple banana”.
It just needs to be something that you and your loved ones can remember, but that a criminal could never guess.
Don’t save it anywhere on your phone. Keep it as secret as possible.
It could mean the difference between avoiding a scam or losing thousands to a criminal – and then never getting it back.
Retirees are prime targets for scammers looking for money. Knowing how they work can help you protect yourself and your hard-earned assets.
There are banking scams, Social Security scams, and scams aimed at retirees searching for a work-from-home job. The thieves behind these scams will do whatever they can to separate you from your personal identity and money.
Scammers are particularly interested in contacting seniors because they assume retirees have the most money to steal. They want your money, whether it’s your Social Security benefits, pension, or retirement plan.
Keep in mind: It’s not always easy to realize you’re being scammed. Scammers create fake company websites or clone real websites. They even create documents that look exactly like real tax, personal information, and banking deposit forms. They can come off as professional and sincere and lull you into believing they have a legitimate job to offer.
Here are some of the most common work-from-home scams and how to avoid them.
Image source: Getty Images.
The “you got the job” scam
Imagine you post your resume on an employment site, like Monster, Indeed, LinkedIn, or ZipRecruiter. Someone posing as a business owner or recruiter contacts you and initiates an online interview through video chat, email, or text message. Shortly after the interview, you’re told you’ve got the job and are provided with employment documents to fill out.
It can be challenging to tell a scam from the real thing because new employees at legitimate companies are also asked to fill out job-related documents. However, if asked to provide a picture of your driver’s license, bank account numbers (so the company can “pay“ you via direct deposit), your Social Security number, and your home address, don’t do it until you’ve vetted them and know it’s a legitimate job.”
Once you’ve provided that personal information, the scammer has all they need to assume your identity, empty your savings account, open credit cards, and take loans out in your name. The scammer disappears, and you never hear another word about the job.
The “reshipping“ scam
The person behind this scam may offer you a job as a quality control manager or virtual personal assistant. Once “hired,” you’re told part of your job is to receive packages at home, get rid of the original packaging and receipts, repackage the products, and reship them to a specific address provided by your employer. The address may be in the U.S. or overseas.
The products you reship are often high-priced items, like name-brand electronics. Reshipping is never a legitimate job. Anything you’re repacking and sending to a third-party has likely been purchased using stolen credit cards.
Often, the company will promise you a paycheck after one month of work, but when the check doesn’t arrive and you attempt to contact them, they’re gone. In addition, depending on how much personal information you provided them, you may find yourself dealing with identity theft.
The “mystery shopper“ scam
To be clear, there are legitimate mystery shopper jobs, and they can be a perfect fit for a retiree. Thanks to scammers, though, you have to be careful. If asked to pay for anything upfront, including certifications, directories of jobs, or a job guarantee, it’s a scam. A real employer will never require you to pay for a job.
The “job placement service“ scam
Speaking of upfront payments, the job placement service scam involves someone pretending to be from a temporary agency, staffing firm, or headhunter. Typically, they’ll promote outdated or fake job listings and charge upfront fees for their “services.“
Again, if you’re asked to pay a fee, walk away. It’s a scam.
Red flags
The following signs should serve as red flags, warning you that you might be getting scammed:
The job sounds too good to be true, and grand promises are made.
The wage offered is notably higher or lower than the average wage for that job (you can check current wages online).
You never applied to the company’s official career website.
You can’t find the job posting on the real company’s job page (if there is a real company).
The interview is conducted through Google Hangouts, Telegram app, TextFree app, TextNow app, or WhatsApp.
Emails are sent from free accounts, such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail.
The potential “employer“ requires you to provide personal information. For example, you may be asked for a copy of your driver’s license, passport, or Social Security number during your interview.
You’re required to supply your bank account or credit card information. From this account, the scammer can steal your pension, annuity payments, or other retirement income.
You’re required to pay something up front to get the job.
You’re asked to purchase equipment and told the company will reimburse you. The scammer tells you whom to send the money to for the purchase.
You must deposit money into your personal bank account and transfer it to someone you don’t know.
If you’re hoping to land a work-from-home job, they are available. As you search, pay special attention to any situation that feels “off“ because it just might be. No scammer has the right to reduce your net worth through fraud.
When Mukhtar Dahiru saw a TikTok video promising he could make money on WhatsApp, he clicked without hesitation. Within days, after he shared a one-time password with the “recruiters”, his WhatsApp account was hijacked, his cryptocurrency wallets drained. He later realised the “opportunity” had been a scam.
“The road is tricky, and this time I fell for it,” he said.
Behind his loss lies a wider scam network preying on thousands. For several Hausa-speaking social media users across northern Nigeria, the promise of making money has become a lure into a sprawling fraud that turns ordinary people into unwitting accomplices and casualties.
On TikTok, the promise appears in dozens of videos, usually featuring a speaker in Hausa urging viewers to join a WhatsApp group to start earning. “Click on the link below to learn how to make money,” one of the videos says. “I’ve made a large amount on WhatsApp, and so can you.”
HumAngle’s month-long monitoring revealed that many of these accounts belonged to real users, while others used deepfakes or manipulated videos. Nearly all featured genuine human faces to strengthen credibility and lure victims.
What makes the scheme particularly effective is TikTok’s algorithmic boost. The clips are upbeat, under a minute, tagged with captions like “samu kudi ta WhatsApp” (“earn money on WhatsApp”), and often promoted through paid sponsorships. This visibility pushes them into thousands of feeds, magnifying their reach.
As of January 2025, TikTok had an estimated 37.4 million users in Nigeria. Meanwhile, WhatsApp remains the country’s most widely used messaging app, with over 51 million active users — about one in four mobile lines nationwide. Together, these figures show how even a small fraction of TikTok’s audience clicking through can funnel hundreds of thousands of people into WhatsApp scam networks.
A screenshot of one of those sponsored posts on TikTok.
The funnel of fraud
Once viewers click the link from the videos, they are funnelled to hastily built websites or directly into WhatsApp groups, which present themselves as “training hubs” offering “tasks” or “affiliate opportunities”.
One WhatsApp group, named Daily Updates, had more than 400 members when archived by HumAngle. These groups act as the glue of the operation; hundreds of recruits are placed into shared chat rooms, where the scam is scaled and coordinated.
Inside these rooms, the onboarding phase is simple: surrender your credentials in exchange for small, regular payouts. This is where the exploitation sets in. LetShare.ng, a central website in the network, even promises ₦2460 instantly through QR codes that secretly grant scammers control of users’ WhatsApp accounts.
LetShare.ng was registered in December 2024, according to WhoIs.com, a website that documents who owns and registers a website. The registrant details are hidden, typical of scam operations. Several other related websites were created within weeks of each other and masked by privacy-protected registrars, giving the network a veneer of legitimacy through glossy logos and testimonials.
A screenshot of LetShare.ng’s domain details.
The glue holding this ecosystem together is referrals. On the LetShare site, recruits are promised ₦300 for every person they bring in. One man told HumAngle he had earned over ₦30,000 this way, meaning he had introduced more than 100 people.
The ‘Daily Updates’ WhatsApp group was created in 2023.
This referral model fuels relentless promotion on TikTok, as each recruit scrambles to register others under their name. “Everyone is looking for someone to register through them,” he explained.
‘It looked like a real job’
The abstract funnel becomes devastatingly real in people’s lives.
This was how Aminu Usman nearly lost money. He told HumAngle that someone posing as his friend asked him for ₦5000, promising a quick repayment. Suspicious, Aminu called his friend, who denied sending the message. His friend later admitted he had been hacked after joining a so-called digital hustle group.
Others were less fortunate. One young man, who declined to give his name, told HumAngle that he had handed over his WhatsApp credentials after being promised steady commissions. “It looked like a real job,” he said. “They paid me ₦12,000 the first week after I gave them access to my WhatsApp account.”
However, within a short period, his WhatsApp number was suspended. He later learned it had been used to spread fraudulent offers to strangers, mostly among his contacts and which forced him to make a disclaimer.
For recruits like these, the cycle almost always ends the same way: suspension, blacklisted numbers, and reputations in tatters, while the operators move swiftly to fresh victims. The people caught in this web are sometimes referred to as “mules.”
“The motivation is always greediness,” Mahmud Labaran Galadanci, a cybersecurity expert, told HumAngle. “In reality, the people who join such schemes end up becoming victims through phishing attacks and leverage scams.”
The Hausa connection
What makes this operation distinctive is its local tailoring. Hausa is one of Africa’s most widely spoken languages, with more than 60 million speakers across Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and beyond. On platforms like TikTok, it bridges anglophone and francophone audiences, giving scammers both reach and trust.
HumAngle found dozens of Hausa-language TikTok videos promising ways to “make money on WhatsApp.” Some had racked up thousands of views, with comments reinforcing the illusion of legitimacy.
By using Hausa and familiar slang, operators project trust and cultural proximity. Viewers see themselves reflected on screen, searching for opportunity in a region where unemployment is high and digital literacy is low.
“It is not just about language,” said Mahmud. “It is about trust. These messages are crafted to convince people to click and join the long trail of the scheme.”
However, it is not happening only in Nigeria’s North. Similar schemes are targeting social media users in the country’s South and around the world, where authorities describe them as “task scams” — small paid actions that lure people into larger fraud.
Globally, platforms are struggling to respond. Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, periodically reports banning millions of accounts linked to scams.
TikTok, meanwhile, insists it is stepping up enforcement. Announcing new safety guidelines that came into effect on Sept. 13, Sandeep Grover, the company’s Global Head of Trust and Safety, said: “Over 85 per cent of the content removed for violating our Community Guidelines is identified and taken down by automation, and 99 per cent of that content we remove before anybody reports it to us.”
“We want to make sure that our community is able to safeguard against such scams,” Grover added. In August 2024, the company also launched a Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council.
Yet, HumAngle found that TikTok had accepted sponsored promotions for scam videos of this kind, despite policies that claim to prohibit it.
Back in Northern Nigeria, the consequences are particularly severe. Weak digital literacy and high unemployment make communities vulnerable, while the absence of Hausa-language moderation on TikTok has allowed scammers, like jihadists before them, to exploit the platform unchecked.
Mukhtar Dahiru fell victim to a scam after clicking on a TikTok video promising monetary gain through WhatsApp, leading to his account being hijacked and his cryptocurrency drained.
This incident is part of a wider network targeting Hausa-speaking social media users in northern Nigeria, exploiting an enticing scheme amplified through TikTok’s algorithm, which features promises of money-making opportunities that actually funnel victims into WhatsApp-based scams.
The fraudulent schemes often involve hastily built websites and WhatsApp groups masquerading as training hubs, offering small payouts in exchange for credentials. A central website, LetShare.ng, uses referral incentives to draw more victims, presenting a facade of legitimacy through convincing visuals and testimonies. Victims like Aminu Usman and another unnamed participant were drawn into giving up their credentials under false pretenses, resulting in suspended accounts and reputational damage.
The fraud targets populations with low digital literacy and high unemployment, using Hausa language to build trust and credibility among potential victims.
Social media platforms like TikTok are struggling to combat these scams, claiming to enforce strict guidelines, though instances of accepting sponsored scam promotions have been reported. The combination of cultural familiarity, economic challenges, and digital vulnerabilities creates a fertile ground for these scams to thrive in affected regions.
Country steps up crackdown on online scammers, who lure victims using promises of romance to invest in fake cryptocurrency investments.
Nigeria has deported 102 foreign nationals, including 60 Chinese and 39 people from the Philippines, who were convicted of “cyber-terrorism and internet fraud”, according to the country’s anticorruption agency.
The announcement by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday comes as the country steps up a crackdown on online scam operations, which lured victims through online romances to hand over cash for fake cryptocurrency investments.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale later told the AFP news agency that another group of 39 Filipinos, 10 Chinese and two people from Kazakhstan had also been deported since August 15.
More deportations were also scheduled in the coming days, he added.
The anticorruption agency released pictures of Asian men wearing surgical face masks, lined up at airport check-in counters.
The deportees were among 792 suspected cybercriminals arrested in a single operation in the affluent Victoria Island area of Lagos in December. At least 192 of those arrested were foreign nationals, of whom 148 were Chinese, the EFCC said.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has a reputation for internet fraudsters known in local slang as “Yahoo Boys”, and the EFCC has busted several hideouts where young crime suspects learn online scamming skills.
According to the agency, foreign gangs recruit Nigerian accomplices to find victims online through phishing scams. The attackers typically try to deceive victims into transferring money or revealing sensitive information such as passwords to accounts.
The scams target mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans and Europeans, the EFCC said.
Experts say the fraudulent investment schemes used by cyber-scammers have become increasingly sophisticated and dynamic as they leverage the latest technologies and digital tools.
The schemes ultimately leave victims – many of whom invest their savings, business capital, and borrowed money – unable to do anything but watch their hard-earned money disappear.
Experts also warn that foreign “cybercrime syndicates” have set up shop in Nigeria to exploit its weak cybersecurity systems.
Brits heading on Ibiza holidays to enjoy the island’s world-famous clubs, bars and boat parties are being warned of a simple scam that’s leaving them out of pocket
10:18, 18 Aug 2025Updated 10:23, 18 Aug 2025
Brits are being sold bogus tickets and packages(Image: Daily Mirror)
Brits heading to Ibiza this summer to make the most of its epic boat parties are being warned of a common scam that could leave them out of pocket, staring at an empty dock.
Ibiza Town is famous for its epic nightlife from the packed clubs and bars to boat parties where revellers can soak up the views and sunshine while listening to live music and DJ sets. However, one insider has warned that Brits planning Spain holidays should stay vigilant when trying to make the most of the atmosphere.
“Living in Ibiza opened my eyes to how sophisticated these scams have become.” He said. “The operators know exactly what buttons to push with British tourists, so they’ll promise VIP treatment, exclusive access, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences. But there are always telltale signs if you know what to look for.”
He adds that boat party scams “have exploded in recent years”. Fraudsters set up websites and social media pages to promote incredible events complete with celebrity DJs, unlimited drinks and VIP packages. Only, these events are completely made up; when people turn up to the docks or venues, there’s nothing there.
James warned: “These scammers are getting smarter with their online presence. They’ll steal photos from legitimate boat parties and create convincing websites. But when you turn up at the supposed departure point, there’s no boat – and no refund.”
Brits are being warned of ‘bogus’ boat parties(Image: ,Humphrey Nemar)
He urged Brits to keep an eye out for red flags such as vague meeting locations, requests for full payment upfront via bank transfer, and reluctance to provide official booking confirmations or company registration details.
It’s also worth noting that in recent years, Ibiza officials have introduced strict rules around boat parties in a bid to crackdown on unruly tourists. This includes a ban on party boats sailing within one nautical mile of a number of towns on the island, with captains also prevented from picking up and disembarking passengers in the regions.
Other common scams according to James include approaching tourists with ‘discounted’ tickets to clubs such as Pacha or Amnesia.
“They’ll show you what looks like a genuine ticket and claim they can’t use it,” he explained. “The story is always the same: they’re leaving the island early, their friend cancelled, or they double-booked. But these tickets are either completely fake or already used.”
If they won’t let you check the ticket or refuse to provide contact details, be wary. They may also use high pressure tactics such as telling you someone else is interested.
Meanwhile if you’re promised unlimited drinks and queue skips, proceed with caution, especially if you’re being approached in the street. “The legitimate venues don’t work this way,” James pointed out. “Real clubs sell their own packages through official channels. These street sellers are either selling fake vouchers or massively overcharging for basic entry.”
July 31 (UPI) — Nearly three quarters of U.S. adults experience some kind of online scam or cyber attack every week, data from the Pew Research Center showed Thursday.
“While Americans see older adults as more vulnerable to these crimes, significant portions of both older and younger adults have been scammed and targeted online,” the report said.
Nearly half of the respondents reported that online hackers made fraudulent charges on their credit or debit cards, the most common form of attack.
More than a third reported purchasing an item online that never arrived or that was a counterfeit item for which they never received a refund.
Nearly a third said personal information was hacked through a bank, social media, email or bank account, and a quarter of respondents said they received a scam text message or phone call that resulted in them providing personal information to a scammer.
People heading abroad this summer are being warned to beware of a growing airport scam targeting holidaymakers’ precious items, with thieves going for those who’ve just arrived on holiday
You don’t want to end up feeling like this at the airport(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Brits warned of airport scam where most people don’t realise they’ve been robbed
People heading abroad this summer are being warned to beware of a growing airport scam targeting holidaymakers‘ precious items.
Jeweller, designer goods and high-end watches are all in the sights of sticky-fingered thieves who operate at airports. Security experts say distraction thefts and “switch” scams – where a thief subtly swaps your real item with a fake – are rising in hotspots like baggage claim areas, duty-free counters and outside taxi ranks.
And it’s not just obvious valuables like Rolexes or diamond jewellery at risk. Mid-range watches are also being eyed up by organised thieves who strike when tourists are tired, distracted or unaware.
Don’t get caught day-dreaming at the airport(Image: Busakorn Pongparnit via Getty Images)
Danny Toffel, managing director at Watches2U, says there are a few simple ways to protect your valuables when travelling.
“We’re seeing more reports from customers who’ve had close calls or actual thefts at airports abroad. It often starts with a small distraction – someone asking for directions, offering to help with bags or creating a minor commotion,” Danny said.
“While you’re looking the other way, they or an accomplice take the opportunity to grab a loose bag or swap an item.”
The most common locations for watch and jewellery thefts in airports include baggage reclaim areas, especially if you step away from your trolley or bags even momentarily.
Duty-free counters are another hotspot, particularly when people are distracted trying on jewellery or inspecting items behind glass. Outside taxi ranks and pick-up zones, thieves often work in pairs, using the moment someone is loading luggage to make a move on a visible item or unsecured bag.
Danny warns that visibly wearing high-end items, or placing watches in easily accessible bag pockets, makes you a prime target.
“Scammers tend to look for signs that someone is carrying something expensive – and whether they’re too distracted to notice something being taken or switched,” he said.
The security expert recommends keeping your watch on your wrist or in secure hand luggage rather than in jacket pockets or checked bags. Tourists should also be wary of helpful strangers at baggage belts or taxi queues who seem unusually interested in assisting with bags or directions.
“Wearing a cheaper travel watch is a smart move if you’re flying into busy tourist hubs. Keep your expensive pieces for secure evenings or hotel safes – not airport terminals,” Danny said.
He also stressed that most thefts are opportunistic, adding: “Being aware of your surroundings and keeping valuables close – and discreet – can make all the difference.”
After she was assaulted by her romantic partner in 2000 while living in Los Angeles County, Maria Gutierrez Saragon turned to a family friend who said he could help her secure immigration papers.
Because she had been the victim of a crime, the friend said, he could help her obtain authorization to stay in the U.S.
While it’s true that immigrant crime victims qualify for special benefits in some instances, the promise to get Gutierrez Saragon citizenship within three months at a discount dragged on for more than a decade. A housekeeper with a modest income, she was slowly bled for more than $100,000 through a mix of false assurances and threats.
“I had to give him all my money instead of being able to buy my children what they need,” she said between sobs in an interview. “It was like torture. Every time the phone rang or every time a paper arrived for me, they were asking for more money.”
She was a victim of so-called notario fraud, in which scammers acting as lawyers extract large sums from vulnerable immigrants.
The swindle is not a new one. But despite longstanding campaigns to raise awareness, advocates and law enforcement officials say they are concerned about a resurgence under the second Trump administration. Sweeps by federal agents and the deployment of troops to Los Angeles, they say, have created a climate of fear ripe for exploitation.
The hundreds caught up in the recent raids will be seeking affordable legal help as they fight to keep the lives they have built in the United States. Compounding matters, attorneys who specialize in immigration law say there is a shortage of qualified people working in the field. Unless separately appearing in state or federal court on criminal charges, people in civil immigration proceedings are typically not entitled to a court-appointed lawyer.
The scam that bilked Gutierrez Saragon, a native of Mexico, hinges on confusion over what a notary public does in the U.S., and how it differs from Latin America and elsewhere, where “notarios” have far more legal standing.
A notary public in the U.S. serves as an impartial witness when important documents are signed. But in other parts of the world, the term refers to an attorney with special credentials who has received the equivalent of a law license and who is authorized to represent others before the government, according to Victor D. Lopez, a professor of legal studies at Hofstra University.
The type of fraud can vary. Some victims pay money to notarios who promise to represent them in hearings with immigration officials and never show up. Others see valid asylum claims end with deportation orders because the information submitted was false, bearing no resemblance to the harrowing experiences that forced them out of their home countries.
“It’s the type of crime that preys upon the most needy and desperate people,” Lopez said, adding that few places outside of Colorado have taken meaningful steps to crack down on immigration-related abuses.
Because of underreporting, he and others said, there is little reliable data on how many fraud victims there are each year. Many who have suffered losses are afraid to contact law enforcement because of their immigration status.
Gutierrez Saragon recounted in Spanish how she was duped by her notario, whom she and an attorney she found to help unravel the scheme identified as Fidel Marquez Cortes.
It started small, Gutierrez Saragon recalled: A few hundred dollars to process her fingerprints. Several hundred more for background checks. Trips to New York and Washington, D.C., which he claimed he needed to take to collect her passport. Each time, she gave him money to pay for the flight, hotel, rental car and gas, she said, but he always came back with an excuse for why he needed more time and cash.
Whenever she pushed back, she claimed, Marquez Cortes warned that she’d lose her chance at citizenship. She recalled how he would show her official-looking documents that he claimed were from a law firm in Orange County — all written in English and full of legal jargon she didn’t understand.
Only later did she learn that he had created a fake letterhead for the law firm, and was using the money she gave him to pay for his back taxes, child support and even a speeding ticket, she said.
Eventually, in February 2011, Gutierrez Saragon found a lifeline in the Immigrants Rights Project, a Los Angeles nonprofit that offers pro bono services for people seeking a path to citizenship or permanent residency. She came into their office terrified that it was her last day in the country, attorney Gina Amato Lough recalled.
“She was trembling,” Lough said.
Her new client’s first words, Lough said, suggested she thought she was turning herself in to the authorities rather than seeking free legal counsel: “I know that you’re the immigration service and you have the power to deport me. But the day has come where I just have to know what’s happened to my case.”
Lough encouraged her to file a police report the following day at Olympic Division station. But an officer at the front desk turned her away, saying it wasn’t a crime and that she needed to go to a courthouse to file a civil complaint. Lough accompanied her the following day and was told by another officer that they didn’t take reports for such cases “because it’s so common in L.A. that we couldn’t possibly prosecute it.”
After Lough protested, police agreed to take a report and eventually, the man was charged with grand theft and convicted.
Despite what Lough described as “a lack of reputable immigration attorneys” to help people through the labyrinthine U.S. immigration process, her group fought against a proposal by the state bar association to help bridge the justice gap by creating a paraprofessional classification, which would lower the bar to entry in the field.
Lough worried such a change would create more confusion and lead to more fraud. She called for local authorities to take seriously an issue that is often overlooked.
Most district attorneys are reluctant to prosecute unless there are “multiple cases and hundreds of dollars in losses,” she said. “There is a huge lack of enforcement within L.A. County.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis echoed that sentiment.
Solis said she has fought for stronger regulations for a problem that isn’t confined to the Latino community, pointing to recent cases in the county involving immigrants from Asian and European countries.
“How do you deter the behavior if there is no teeth in the law?” Solis asked.
Some attorneys who practice immigration law say they are coming across scams that play out entirely online, allowing perpetrators to vanish before authorities even have a chance to investigate.
Lindsay Toczylowski, executive director of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, said she recently had a client arrive saying they were expecting to collect a green card after sending money to someone they had been communicating with on WhatsApp.
The person on WhatsApp told the client they could pick up the proof of permanent residency status with Toczylowski’s organization, which was a lie.
“Essentially that person was masquerading as a nonprofit organization,” Toczylowski said, adding that her group is preparing a public service announcement to warn about the scam.
Other times, immigration consultants aren’t out to defraud their clients, but still sometimes “make promises that they can’t keep,” she said.
Toczylowski’s center relies on local, state and federal funding, the latter of which has been threatened — a troubling development that comedian John Oliver highlighted on his show “Last Week Tonight.” After the episode aired, Toczylowski said the center received a flood of online donations, but not nearly enough to offset potential cuts to federal funding.
The center is also a plaintiff in an ongoing federal lawsuit out of Northern California against the Department of Human Services over slashed funding, she said.
When the case involving Marquez Cortes, the man who defrauded Gutierrez Saragon, finally went to trial, he was found guilty and a superior court judge ordered him to pay three installments totaling $66,000 in restitution or face a two-year prison sentence.
He eventually fled to Mexico, where a bail bondsman tracked him down and he was arrested by local police, according to Lough.
Lough said she pushed for the man to be extradited back to the U.S. to serve out his sentence, but to this day she’s not sure what his fate was. Gutierrez Saragon hasn’t recovered her losses.
“She’s never seen a dime,” Lough said. “And he’s never spent not a day in jail.”
