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FBI warns of scam targeting victims with fake hospitals and police

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FBI warns of scam targeting victims with fake hospitals and police

The FBI warns that scammers are impersonating doctors, police and banks using spoofed numbers, while “smishing” texts impersonating toll agencies and delivery services surge nationwide.

In one elaborate scheme, fraudsters posing as hospital staff claim victims’ identities are linked to Chinese crime rings, then transfer calls to fake police demanding wire transfers, complete with fake IDs and encrypted app requests.

These cons often target previous fraud victims through social media groups, where fake profiles like “Jaime Quin” promise fund recovery to steal more data. With AI and deepfakes making scams harder to spot, here’s how to fight back.

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FBI building in Washington, D.C. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How these scams work

The FBI says that these scams often target people who have already been victims of fraud, which makes them especially cruel. Scammers reach out through phone calls, emails or even social media, pretending they can help you recover money you’ve lost.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

One common trick involves someone posing as an official from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, using fake names like “Jaime Quin,” who asks for sensitive information such as your Social Security number or bank details.

In other cases, scammers create fake female profiles to join online support groups for fraud victims, gaining trust before directing people to contact their “recovery experts.” While the details may change, the goal is always the same: to steal your personal information or money all over again.

A woman working on her laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING WRONG WHEN SCAMMERS CALL

How to keep yourself safe

Protecting yourself from scams starts with these critical defenses; each is designed to shut down fraudsters before they gain a foothold on your personal information or money.

1. Stay calm: If you think a scammer is calling you, it’s important to stay calm and not let yourself get emotional. It’s very easy to get worked up when you’re in the middle of this situation. If it happens, you can always say you will get back to them and hang up the phone. If they become aggressive and try to exploit you, tell them you will report them and hang up.

2. Avoid unknown contact numbers: Never call phone numbers that appear in pop-ups, unsolicited texts or emails. These numbers often belong to scammers trying to trick you into sharing personal information or making payments. Instead, always verify contact details through official websites or trusted sources before reaching out.

3. Download warning: Do not download software at the request of unknown individuals who contact you. Installing unknown programs can introduce malware or give scammers a way to steal your personal information.

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4. Security precaution: Do not allow unknown individuals access to your computer. Granting remote access can give scammers control over your files and personal information, putting your security at serious risk.

5. Don’t click that link and have strong antivirus software: Do not click on unsolicited pop-ups on your computer, links sent via text messages or email links and attachments. As scammers weaponize AI and deepfake technologies, strong antivirus software becomes your first line of defense. The best way to protect yourself from clicking on malicious links that install malware that may access your private information is to have strong antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you to any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks of the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

6. Remove your personal information from the web: Your personal information is out on the web. If you want to make your personal information inaccessible, you might want to look into removal services. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.

7. Never send money or valuables to strangers: Avoid wiring cash, sending gift cards, cryptocurrency or any other assets to people you’ve only met online or over the phone. Scammers often pressure victims for these untraceable payments, so always be cautious and verify who you’re dealing with before sending anything.

8. Consider identity theft protection services: These services monitor your personal information across credit reports, the dark web and public records, alerting you quickly if your data is exposed or misused. These services offer valuable early warnings and access to experts who can help recover your identity if fraud occurs. Choose a reputable provider that offers comprehensive monitoring, timely alerts and support for resolving identity theft issues. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.

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FBI working to stop scams (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

TOP 12 ELDERLY FRAUD SCAMS

What to do if you’re targeted

If you believe you’ve been contacted by scammers impersonating the FBI, hospitals, police or other trusted entities, it’s crucial to act quickly.

  • Stop all communication immediately. Do not engage further or provide any personal or financial information.
  • Report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. Provide as much detail as possible, including contact information, methods used by the scammer and any financial transactions.
  • Notify your bank or financial institutions if you’ve shared any account information or sent money.
  • File a police report with your local law enforcement to document the crime.
  • If you’re an older adult or need assistance filing a complaint, contact the Department of Justice Elder Justice Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).

Reporting scams not only helps protect you but also assists law enforcement in identifying and stopping these criminals. 

FBI WARNS ABOUT NEW EXTORTION SCAM TARGETING SENSITIVE DATA

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Kurt’s key takeaways

As scams grow more sophisticated, your best weapons are skepticism and proactive security measures like those we listed above. When in doubt, ask yourself: Would this agency really pressure me for payments via Signal or another app? Report all attempts to ic3.gov and trust your gut. If it feels off, it probably is.

Do you trust today’s cybersecurity policies to shield your identity when scammers weaponize AI and critical infrastructure remains a target? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

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Use this map to find the data centers in your backyard

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Use this map to find the data centers in your backyard

When Oregon resident Isabelle Reksopuro heard Google was gobbling up public land to fuel its data centers in her home state, she didn’t initially know what to believe. “There’s a lot of misinformation about data centers,” she said. “Google has denied taking that land.”

Technically, she explains, The Dalles, a city near the Washington state border, sought to reclaim that land, “and Google is just a big, unnamed power user.” The city had in fact asked for ownership of a 150-acre portion of Mount Hood National Forest, claiming it needs access to Mount Hood’s watershed to meet municipal needs as its population — 16,010 as of the 2020 census — grows. But critics, including environmentalists, say the city is trying to secure more water for Google, which has a sprawling data center campus in The Dalles that already consumes about one-third of the city’s water supply.

This controversy made Reksopuro curious about the backlash to data centers being built in other communities. So Reksopuro, a student at the University of Washington who studies the connections between tech and public policy, decided to map it out. Using information collected by Epoch AI and data scraped from legislation on data centers, she built an interactive map tracking AI policy around the world. She designed it to be simple enough for anyone to use. “I wanted it to be something that my younger sisters could play through and explore to understand what are the data centers in the area and what’s actually being done about it,” Reksopuro said. She hoped to shift their opinions that way, “instead of like, through TikTok.”

Four times a day, the map searches for new sources and checks them against the existing database Reksopuro built out. “Once it does that, it will write a new summary, add it to the news feed, and populate it on the sidebar,” she said. “I wanted it to be self-updating, since I’m also a student.”

Reksopuro isn’t against data centers, but she thinks tech giants benefit from a lack of transparency around data center policies. “Right now, it’s this really opaque thing — and all of a sudden, there’s a facility,” she said. “I think that if people knew about data centers beforehand, it would give them leverage. They would be able to negotiate: ask for job training programs, tax revenue, environmental monitoring, things to improve their community.”

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Fox News AI Newsletter: Graduation speaker praises AI, gets instantly booed

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Fox News AI Newsletter: Graduation speaker praises AI, gets instantly booed

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

 

Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:

– UCF graduates clobber commencement speaker with boos after she says AI is the ‘next Industrial Revolution’

– OPINION: DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: We brought the FBI out of the past and into the AI age

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– OpenAI backs creation of global AI governance body led by the U.S. that would include China as a member

TOUGH CROWD: During a recent commencement ceremony at the University of Central Florida, a speaker was met with loud boos from the graduating class after declaring that artificial intelligence represents the next industrial revolution. Fox News Digital reporting captures this tense cultural moment, illustrating the mixed public sentiment and skepticism surrounding AI’s growing footprint in daily life.

A statue on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. (iStock)

BADGE MEETS BYTE: Reflecting on the modernization of national security in a Fox News op-ed, FBI Director Kash Patel explores how the bureau must adapt its strategies to address modern threats and advance beyond the artificial intelligence age.

TECH DIPLOMACY: OpenAI is throwing its support behind the establishment of a new global artificial intelligence governance organization that would be led by the United States while notably including China as a member. Fox News Digital reporting examines the geopolitical dynamics and regulatory implications of this proposed framework as global powers race to set the standards for AI development.

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EQUITY ELEVATION: The massive wave of wealth generated by the explosive growth of ChatGPT and the broader AI industry is driving a sudden surge in the San Francisco Bay Area’s luxury real estate market. Fox News Digital reporting breaks down how the influx of new tech capital is reshaping local housing dynamics and fueling a high-end property frenzy.

FBI Director Kash Patel listened as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke during a press conference at the Department of Justice on April 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

STRATEGY RESET: Tech giant Cisco is planning to eliminate thousands of jobs as the company shifts its primary focus to accelerate its artificial intelligence initiatives, a move that comes despite the company beating earnings expectations. Fox News Digital reporting details the corporate restructuring and broader economic trends pushing legacy tech firms to aggressively pivot toward AI.

ROAD HAZARD: Waymo is issuing a sweeping recall of its autonomous vehicle fleet following a concerning incident that highlighted significant safety issues with the self-driving technology. Fox News Digital reporting outlines the specifics of the recall, the nature of the safety flaw, and what this setback means for the future of fully autonomous transportation on public roads.

BOTS IN THE BAY: A newly developed, artificial intelligence-powered robot has been engineered to seamlessly change and balance vehicle tires without human intervention. Fox News Digital reporting showcases this latest innovation, exploring how automation and AI mechanics could soon revolutionize the automotive service and repair industry.

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the 2026 Infrastructure Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 11, 2026. (Kylie Cooper/Reuters)

 

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Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.

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Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

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Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

Microsoft Edge is adding a new feature that will allow its Copilot AI chatbot to gather information from all of your open tabs. When you start a conversation with Copilot, you can ask the chatbot questions about what’s in your tabs, compare the products you’re looking at, summarize your open articles, and more.

In its announcement, Microsoft says you can “select which experiences you want or leave off the ones you don’t.” The company is retiring Copilot Mode as well, which could similarly draw information from your tabs but offered some agentic features, like the ability to book a reservation on your behalf. Microsoft has since folded these agentic capabilities into its “Browse with Copilot” tool.

Several other AI features are coming to Edge, including an AI-powered “Study and Learn” mode that can turn the article you’re looking at into a study session or interactive quiz. There’s a new tool that turns your tabs into AI-powered podcasts as well, similar to what you’d find on NotebookLM, and an AI writing assistant that will pop up when you start entering text on a webpage.

You can also give Copilot permission to access your browsing history to provide more “relevant, high-quality answers,” according to Microsoft. Copilot in Edge on desktop and mobile will come with “long-term memory” as well, which can tailor its responses based on your previous conversations. And, when you open up a new tab, you’ll see a redesigned page that combines chat, search, and web navigation, along with the Journeys feature, which uses AI to organize your browsing history into categories that you can revisit.

Meanwhile, an update to Edge’s mobile app will allow you to share your screen with Copilot and talk through the questions about what you’re seeing. Microsoft says you’ll see “clear visual cues” when Copilot is active, “so you know when it’s taking an action, helping, listening, or viewing.”

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