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Valentine's Day is here, and so are romance scams — WTOP asks experts about dodging red flags 02/13/2022 12:20pm • Valentine's Day may be a time for chocolates and sweethearts to some, but scammers are looking for much more than dates with a significant other this year. For years — no, really — reporters at WTOP and organizations such as the FBI have spent the hours before Valentine's Day warning listener Cybersecurity report finds lack of risk assessments by Maryland state agencies 01/19/2022 10:23am • This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today. A report released by the Maryland Cybersecurity Coordinating Council on Tuesday found that over 60% of surveyed state agencies have not pe Fairfax Water warns customers of ongoing utility scams 01/08/2022 08:37pm • In light of a rise in utility scams, Fairfax Water has issued a warning to protect its customers. In a message to its customers, Fairfax Water said to avoid giving personal or financial information to anyone claiming to represent the utility over the phone, or in person. "We are aware that som Cloned Virginia State Police Loudoun County office phone number used in scam 12/03/2021 11:38pm • A scam is using a valid Virginia State Police phone number and authorities are warning people to beware. Police said its Loudoun County/Leesburg Area 11 Office has received three calls verifying that the state police called them asking for payment due to outstanding warrants. A phone scammer h Data Doctors: 2021 Online shopping tips 11/19/2021 04:30pm • Q: What are the latest online shopping safety tips? A: The holiday season always drives online purchase volume to the highest levels of the year, which also means that those with malicious intent step up their tactics as well. Elaborate phishing scams One of the more sophisticated scams incorpo DC police warn about impersonators calling to extort money 10/28/2021 05:52pm • Scammers have been posing as D.C. police officers trying to get your money — and the real police are warning the public not to fall for it. The D.C. police said they’ve been notified of multiple calls in which scammers impersonate a member of the Metropolitan Police Department and try to exto Data Doctors: When not to reply 'STOP' 10/01/2021 05:18am • Q: Does replying with "STOP" on unwanted text messages really work? A: If it feels like you’re getting a lot more text messages these days, both legitimate and questionable, it’s not your imagination. Every study on text messaging shows that people respond at a significantly higher rate an Scammers using texts to target unemployment benefits 08/06/2021 11:24am • This screenshot from the Federal Trade Commission shows the kind of alarming texts people are receiving from scammers trying to steal their unemployment benefits. Click to enlarge. (Courtesy Federal Trade Commission) You look on your phone and see an urgent text that says: “We’ve noticed the Keeping your business safe from cyberattacks 07/27/2021 04:01pm • This content is sponsored by TD Bank.  Do you think your business is safe from cyberattacks? Think again. Cyberattacks against businesses have become so prevalent that many believe it is no longer a matter of if, but when a business will come under attack. It is estimated that a ransomware attac DC makes moves to combat 'aggressive debt collection' after COVID protections expire 07/12/2021 11:29am • D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Attorney General Karl Racine are putting forward legislation to protect District consumers against "unfair and abusive debt collection practices." Mendelson introduced the bill Monday, which was written in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney Gene Home improvement scammers fleece Montgomery Co. woman 07/09/2021 09:01am • Montgomery County police are warning residents of scammers that are claiming to be home improvement specialists. They already scammed over $10,000 from one woman in Wheaton, Maryland. On May 4, two men approached a 63-year-old woman living on Horde Street in Wheaton. Police said they told her she Unemployment scams reach record levels across the US 07/06/2021 06:15am • FBI officials began sounding the alarm on a wave of scams, including unemployment fraud, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, concerns have only grown as new levels of fraud are uncovered across the United States. During the pandemic, about 50% of unemployment claims, or $400 bi T-Mobile works to give small businesses a boost 06/08/2021 10:57am • As the small business community slowly emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, T-Mobile has laid out a series of plans specifically designed to help business owners stay connected and reach more customers. "They are tailored to the different types of needs that small businesses have," said Ste St. Mary's man who stole nearly $300K in dating site scams pleads guilty 05/21/2021 06:35pm • A St. Mary's County, Maryland, man pleaded guilty to crimes related to posing as a service member and scamming several women using online dating sites, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. According to a news release, 39-year-old Eugene Johnson, of Leonard Data Doctors: An update on anti-robocall technology 03/12/2021 11:20am • Q: I’m fed up with robocalls; wasn’t there supposed to be a new system to take care of this annoying problem? A: The technology used to make robocalls and texts is cheap and easy to use, which is why the problem persists despite all the efforts to fight them. Last year actually saw a drop