Here are the slides for New Scams in 2026
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Summary
Meeting Setup and Logistics Review
George and Dorothy talked about updating to Windows 11 and the need to sign in to Microsoft accounts regularly. The meeting room setup was reviewed, with George noting that attendees should sign up in advance due to limited seating. They briefly discussed the change in meeting location to a new room.
Scam Awareness
The group discussed upcoming scams, particularly AI-driven frauds and romance scams on dating apps, highlighting the importance of using official dating app channels to avoid falling victim to such schemes.
Evolution of Historical Scams
George showed videos presenting a historical overview of various scams and cons, starting with street cons like three-card monty and the shell game, which have been around for centuries. We then discussed the evolution of counterfeiting, from ancient Rome to modern banknotes, and highlighted notable forgers such as Han van Meegeren, who successfully forged works by Johannes Vermeer. Finally, we covered real estate scams, including Viktor Lustig’s famous sale of the Eiffel Tower and George C. Parker’s attempts to sell iconic New York landmarks, before mentioning Gregor McGregor’s scheme to sell a non-existent country.
Scam Awareness and Prevention Tips
George shared a presentation on scams, including a historical example of a fake Central American country and recent scams involving fake Geek Squad calls where Lori was nearly tricked into transferring $15,000 to scammers posing as the Geek Squad, but was saved by a bank manager who recognized the scam. The discussion emphasized the importance of never providing unsolicited callers with remote access to computers and always verifying suspicious calls by contacting the bank’s official number.
AI-Generated Bank Scam Demonstration
George showed a common scam technique where fraudsters use AI to create North American accents and manipulate bank websites to steal money. He showed how scammers can edit the source code of a bank website to display false balances, but emphasized that victims can protect themselves by refreshing the page, which reveals the actual account balance. The demonstration was conducted using a TD Bank website, with George explaining that this type of scam only works on computers, not phones, and requires victims to share their login credentials while allowing the scammer to control their screen.
Debit Card Scam Awareness
In a video, Sarah fell victim to a $5,000 debit card scam at Ralph’s grocery store, where a stranger convinced her to return a $20 bill while stealing her PIN and card. The scammers made multiple withdrawals within 30 minutes, targeting both Sarah and her daughter’s linked accounts. The discussion then shifted to credit card safety, with George warning against using debit cards for purchases bvnk’s rising $8 fees for seniors accounts. The conversation ended with a warning about travel scams, including a story about someone losing $17,000 to a fake airline booking and another about an Airbnb host falsely claiming $16,000 in damages.
Travel Scams and Safety Tips
The group discussed various travel scams and safety tips. George shared a video on protecting oneself from rental property damage scams by creating forensic video evidence of a property’s condition upon arrival and departure. Dorothy and George discussed experiences with Airbnb and hotel stays, including a successful refund from Airbnb during a Kelowna fire incident. The conversation concluded with Dorothy and George exchanging tips on credit card safety and passport security during travel, including the practice of hotels in Europe taking guests’ passports for safekeeping.
Travel Safety and Scam Prevention
Dorothy shared her experience with a difficult passport renewal process and emphasized the importance of having multiple devices and backup copies of important documents when traveling. She advised against using debit cards in foreign countries, recommending credit cards instead for better protection against fraud. George then played a video about common online scams, including fake tech support pop-ups and bank impersonation, and provided tips for avoiding these scams, such as using trusted antivirus software and verifying bank communications through official channels.
Future Scams and Protection Strategies
George shared a video discussing the top scams expected in 2026, including impersonation scams, investment scams, and job scams, emphasizing the role of technology and artificial intelligence in making these scams more convincing. He highlighted the importance of recognizing the urgency in scam requests and advised taking a step back to evaluate such situations. George also discussed new banking protections, noting an increase in bank messaging and notifications, which some participants found overwhelming. The group briefly touched on the topic of pickpocketing scams, comparing it to the oldest profession.
Scams and Security Awareness
The group discussed various scams and security concerns, including bank fraud, credit card theft, and the use of AI in scams. Dorothy shared her experience with setting up bank notifications and emphasized the importance of being cautious with personal information. The participants also talked about the changing landscape of banking rules and the need to stay informed about new scams. George mentioned her recent experience with pickpocketing and the importance of photographing credit cards for security. The group agreed to cover topics like phone apps, device settings, and AI in future sessions, with a focus on Android smartwatches for fall detection.
