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3 busted in Loudoun Co. messaging app extortion scheme 02/16/2017 09:21am • WASHINGTON ��� Three people have been arrested in connection with a mobile phone messaging extortion scam, police in Loudoun County, Virginia, said. Yogesh K. Sharma, 56, of Sterling, Virginia, and two teenagers have been charged. Police said the three pretended to be a female on the Kik messa What to Do If Someone Files a Fraudulent Tax Return in Your Name 02/08/2017 07:00pm • Here's a message you really don't want to receive from the Internal Revenue Service: Someone has already received your tax refund. More than 237,500 taxpayers filed affidavits with the IRS in the first nine months of 2016 reporting that they had been victims of identity theft, according to the agenc Potential phone scam preys on those who say 'yes' 01/28/2017 10:46am • WASHINGTON ��� Falling victim to a scam, apparently, can be as simple as just saying "yes." The Better Business Bureau and several law enforcement agencies are warning of a potential phone scam that involves a caller asking, "Can you hear me?" As the victim answers "yes," his or her��reply is Tax scams and how to fight them 01/26/2017 06:49am • Q: What tax scams should I be watching out for this year? A: Many in the cybersecurity business refer to tax season as ���Christmas for Criminals,��� because of the amount of sensitive personal information that will be in circulation. The IRS reported a nearly 400 percent surge in phishing and Data Doctors: New Microsoft scam fooling many users 01/13/2017 11:33pm • Q: I got a message from Microsoft saying that my computer has been blocked because the Zeus virus was detected. Is this legit and what should I do? A: The ongoing game by scammers to convince people that their computer is infected has taken some seriously convincing turns in recent months. On Year in Review: the Biggest Financial Headlines of 2016 12/29/2016 07:00pm • The year 2016 did not want for financial news. A comprehensive accounting of the business stories that broke over the last 12 months could fill a book -- but since most people would rather move on with their lives and see what 2017 has in store, a brief recap is probably more appropriate. With that What You Need to Know About the Latest Airbnb Regulations 11/22/2016 07:00pm • With high-profile lawsuits in New York City, San Francisco, Barcelona and Berlin, it's no secret that Airbnb has faced resistance from local governments across the globe. In October, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law that imposes fines up to $7,500 for hosts who advertise illega Shining a Light on Elder Financial Abuse 11/16/2016 07:00pm • Many of us have heard about it or even have our own stories. Often, it is discussed within families and by friends in hushed tones about "so and so" having lost some or all of their savings in a scam or as a result of being victimized. The "it" is elder financial abuse and the extent of its occurre Don't Fall for These Cyber Scams 10/24/2016 08:00pm • Internet scams used to be like the villain in a low-budget children's show. You could spot the bad guy a mile away, and you were probably more amused than afraid. Remember the Nigerian prince who insisted you were due an inheritance, if you'd send in your personal information? Or the email declarin 8 Ways to Safeguard Your Financial Life as You Age 10/19/2016 08:00pm • We've all heard the horror stories about elderly people being fleeced of their life savings, falling prey to con artists or losing their homes because they never got a bill for their real estate taxes. We all think it could never happen to us. But you may want to think again. Research shows that ev UMd. police investigate extortion claim involving photos 10/10/2016 11:11am • WASHINGTON ��� The University of Maryland Police Department is investigating an extortion case that involves nude photos of a college student. The student, from the College Park campus, told police that during an online video chat with someone on Saturday, the other person started removing her cl Police warn of phone scammers posing as Dominion Power 10/05/2016 04:10pm • WASHINGTON ��� Phone scams in Northern Virginia that appear to come from a major utility company have prompted a warning from police. The Leesburg Police Department said Wednesday it has recently seen an increase in the number of phone scams targeting area residents. The scammers are posing as re Phone scammers demand money for missed jury duty 10/05/2016 09:16am • VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) _ Authorities in Virginia Beach are investigating dozens of reports that involve a jury duty scam. The Virginian-Pilot reports (http://bit.ly/2d0RcaU) that scam artists have called several people in Virginia Beach and demanded a fee for missing jury duty. The most rece IRS scam nets Arlington residents by deceiving caller ID 08/23/2016 07:41pm • WASHINGTON ��� Fraudsters��running a scam in Arlington are tricking��caller ID to convince residents they are speaking with the Internal Revenue Service or law enforcement to gain access to their money. Reports from victims say the caller kept them on the phone while they went to load up an iTune When a Collector Calls About a Debt You (Possibly) Don't Owe 08/22/2016 08:00pm • Getting a call from a debt collector is always worrying. But it's even more unsettling when the collector is calling about a bill you don't remember owing. Is it a loan that you forgot exists? Did the collector mix you up with someone else? Is it a scam? Here's how to clear up the confusion. 1. Ask