WASHINGTON, December 8th.
A formal alert has been issued by THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, urging Americans to exercise heightened caution throughout the holiday season, for this is the time of year when fraudsters and confidence artists increase their schemes and prey upon citizens who are hurried, hopeful, distracted, or unfamiliar with the deceptive tactics used in the present age. According to the first hand statement released by THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION NATIONAL PRESS OFFICE, callers who pressure individuals to act quickly or to provide personal or financial information must be treated with suspicion, and every such attempt should be met with a pause, a verification, and a careful consultation with trusted family or friends.
The Bureau explains that criminals have begun using artificial intelligence tools to create convincing voices, images, and messages that imitate loved ones, government officials, or familiar institutions. These deceptions have appeared across social media, email, text messages, and telephone calls, and have been used to manipulate victims into financial loss. The Bureau notes that many citizens feel too embarrassed to report these crimes, and the agency’s first hand notice urges them to come forward, for silence only emboldens the criminal.
In the first seven months of the present year, more than nine thousand complaints submitted to the Bureau’s Internet Crime Complaint Center involved frauds carried out with artificial intelligence. The Bureau further reports that last year the Center received five hundred thirty five thousand three hundred fourteen complaints, and the total reported losses amounted to thirteen point seven billion dollars. Over the course of the past five years, reported losses have exceeded fifty point five billion dollars. Older Americans remain among the most targeted and most vulnerable, and the Bureau encourages families to reach out to elderly relatives to help shield them from deceit.
According to the Bureau, citizens may protect themselves by remembering several simple cautions, any request that demands immediate payment should be treated with care, particularly if the caller demands payment through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or other unusual means. Personal information should never be shared with unknown individuals, whether they appear online, in a text message, or through an unsolicited telephone call. Organizations should be verified through their official channels before donations, purchases, or investments are made. Any suspected fraud or victimization should be reported at once to the Bureau’s Internet Crime Complaint Center so that investigators may track, identify, and pursue those responsible.
The Bureau concludes its message by reminding Americans that the holidays are a time of generosity, fellowship, and family, and that such qualities must not be exploited by those who seek profit through deceit. Vigilance, patience, and careful attention remain the best defenses against fraud, and the Bureau urges the public to take these warnings seriously so that the season may remain one of peace rather than loss.
The Appalachian Post is an independent West Virginia news outlet dedicated to clean, verified, first-hand reporting. We do not publish rumors. We do not run speculation. Every fact we present must be supported by original documentation, official statements, or direct evidence. When secondary sources are used, we clearly identify them and never treat them as first-hand confirmation. We avoid loaded language, emotional framing, or accusatory wording, and we do not attack individuals, organizations, or other news outlets. Our role is to report only what can be verified through first-hand sources and allow readers to form their own interpretations. If we cannot confirm a claim using original evidence, we state clearly that we reviewed first-hand sources and could not find documentation confirming it. Our commitment is simple: honest reporting, transparent sourcing, and zero speculation.
Primary First Hand Sources
• THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION official holiday season fraud warning
• THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION NATIONAL PRESS OFFICE public statement on scam activity
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