Why scammers are increasingly turning to bitcoin ATMs to carry out their cons
Consumer losses in bitcoin ATM scams skyrocketed nearly tenfold to $114 million annually between 2020 to 2023, according to data from the Federal Trade Commission.
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Google finds 10,000 fake listings on Google Maps, sues alleged scammers
A small business owner flagged a possible impersonator on Google Maps. Google's investigation found it was just the tip of the iceberg.
How pop-up auctions scam people with phony goods
One auction attendee spent $6,000 on what was supposed to be an "authenticated" Picasso. It was actually a reproduction worth about $70.
How to spot pop-up auction scams
Signs luring customers to pop-up auctions with the possibility of getting fancy cars and fine jewelry at bargain prices have been showing up across the U.S., but the goods aren't always what they seem. Dorothy Tucker reports.
Las Vegas woman accused of defrauding older men in deadly romance scam
Aurora Phelps was indicted in Nevada over a series of romance scams that allegedly led to at least two deaths and one disappearance in Mexico.
Wildfires spark misinformation online
As wildfires continue in Southern California, false claims and scams are spreading online, including rumors about the Hollywood sign and looting. Melissa Mahtani joins to help separate fact from fiction.
Woman says she lost $850,000 to scammers posing as Brad Pitt
The woman said she had believed she was in a romantic relationship with the Hollywood star, leading her to divorce her husband and transfer $850,000.
FCC warns of 50-state scam by fraudsters posing as mortgage lenders
Callers spoof the caller ID number of the victim's actual lending institution, swindling money from those seeking financial relief.
Officials warn against price gouging, looting amid Los Angeles wildfires
California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned of bad actors who seek to use the trauma and chaos created by the wildfires in California for their own gain.
How to avoid falling victim to online ticket scams
Americans lost over $2.3 million to online ticket scams this year, according to the FBI. Lucas Gutterman from U.S. Public Interest Research Group shares tips to protect yourself.
AI grandma tool helps fend off phone scams
British phone company Virgin Media O2 has developed an AI-generated grandmother to talk to scammers all day and waste their time so you don't have to. CBS News Confirmed executive producer Melissa Mahtani has more on the "grandma" and how you can protect yourself from phone scams.
Deepfakes of Elon Musk contribute to billions in fraud losses
A study found that Elon Musk is the most common celebrity used in deepfake scams.
Report probes phone companies over robocalls
While scam phone calls have slightly decreased in the last three years, scam texts have tripled. A consumer report found that phone companies need to do more to prevent robocalls and texts for customers. CBS News correspondent Nancy Chen has more.
CBS News investigates online romance scams
A CBS News investigation looks into internet romance scams that are targeting Americans, tracking them to Ghana, where many of the scams begin. Debora Patta shows how men and women who are looking for love online are tricked into sending money.
Inside look at Ghana romance scam operations
Men and women in the U.S. looking for love online are being tricked by young men trained to scam them. CBS News foreign correspondent Debora Patta followed the money all the way to Ghana.
An inside look at an elaborate romance scam
Operating out of underground boiler rooms across Ghana, online criminal syndicates prey on older Americans, running sophisticated scams that break hearts and empty bank accounts. Ghanaian scammers told CBS News they prefer targeting men as they are easier to trap and less likely to report the scam because of their deep shame. Debora Patta reports.
Gov. Newsom vetoes bill to protect California seniors from scammers
Credit card companies are responsible for fraud loss, under federal law. But there's no penalty for big banks when victims wire thousands of dollars to scammers.
Inside a romance scam targeting American men
Scammers overseas are targeting Americans' hearts and their wallets. Men, who believe they're speaking with women online, are lured into sending them money -- but that money often ends up in the hands of young men in the West African nation of Ghana. CBS News foreign correspondent Debora Patta reports on her yearlong investigation into these operations.
Scammers hire models to fool Americans
A group of romance scammers based in Ghana have been hiring models and escorts to fool Americans. Debora Patta was given an inside look at the operation.
92-year-old loses life savings in online scam
Earlier in 2024, CBS News shared a story about the growing epidemic of overseas online scammers robbing vulnerable Americans. There is now an update on the billions of dollars being taken. CBS News' Jim Axelrod spoke with a woman whose elderly mother lost her life savings.
Elderly woman becomes target of overseas gold scam
A 92-year-old Los Angeles woman became the target of overseas scammers, who convinced her to put her life savings into gold and then hand the precious metal over. Now, her daughter is looking to hold the bank that allowed the transactions responsible. Jim Axelrod reports.
How to protect yourself against blackmail email scams
A blackmail email scam relies on public information, using a person's name, address and even a street view image of where they live.
How criminals are targeting job seekers
Employment scams surged by 118% last year, costing victims over $70 million, according to the FBI. Criminals are using tactics like fake job offers and AI-generated text messages to steal personal information and money. Senior consumer investigative correspondent Anna Werner shares tips on how to avoid falling victim to these scams.
3 tips to spot misinformation online
It's more important than ever to scrutinize what you see online. These three tips from CBS News Confirmed will help you know what to trust.
Did you receive an unsolicited package? It might be a brushing scam.
Receiving a product in the mail you didn't order can indicate a scam, consumer advocates warn. Here's what to know.
FEMA hiring overhaul drives fears of agency dismantling
The decision to reshape the hiring process for the agency's disaster relief foot soldiers comes just months before hurricane season.
Pope Francis leaves hospital after 5-week hospital stay
The 88-year-old made his first public appearance in five weeks at the hospital on Sunday after surviving a life-threatening bout of pneumonia.
Venezuela reaches deal to accept deported migrants from U.S.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had suspended flights on March 8, after the U.S. Treasury Department announced the withdrawal of Chevron's license to export Venezuelan oil.
Former federal prosecutor found dead in Virginia home
Jessica Aber served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia for approximately three years before resigning in January.
Wildfires in the Carolinas prompt evacuations, emergency declarations
It is the second time in less than a month that residents in one North Carolina county have faced evacuations due to wildfires.
Second lady Usha Vance to visit Greenland
According to the White House, Usha Vance will visit "historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland's national dogsled race."
Pentagon announces leak investigation that could include polygraph tests
Polygraph tests were also used by the Department of Homeland Security to identify potential leakers.
2 arrested in New Mexico shooting that left 3 dead, at least 15 injured
Police announced the arrests of two suspects accused in the Friday shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Both face murder charges.
12-year-old accused in hate crime at Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student faces a hate crime charge for her alleged involvement in an attack on Muslim sisters at their Connecticut middle school.
U.S.
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Full transcript of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," March 23, 2025
On this "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" broadcast, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Rep. Rand Paul join Margaret Brennan.
U.S. runner Shelby Houlihan earns silver medal after 4-year burrito ban
Houlihan was forced to sit out of the Paris Olympics because she tested positive for performance-enhancing drug nandrolone during the lead-up to the Olympic trials in 2021.
12-year-old accused in hate crime at Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student faces a hate crime charge for her alleged involvement in an attack on Muslim sisters at their Connecticut middle school.
Mahmoud Khalil's wife Noor Abdalla in her first TV interview
In her first TV interview, Noor Abdalla, a U.S. citizen, says the White House is mischaracterizing Khalil and his role in campus protests against Israel's attacks on Gaza, as the Trump administration seeks to deport him – a legal resident.
Is carbon capture a solution to the climate crisis?
Carbon capture chemically removes CO2 from the air, to store or recycle into products. But is this technology – underwritten by the fossil fuel industry – an effective means to address climate change?
MoneyWatch
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In U.S. auto market, uncertainty reigns over the potential impact of tariffs
A 25% tariff on imported vehicles and vehicle parts from Canada and Mexico is set to take effect on April 2.
ABLE accounts allow Americans with disabilities to save and invest
Named for the 2014 law that created them, the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, ABLE accounts have been available since 2016 to those eligible.
Tesla trade-ins spike amid anti-Elon Musk backlash, Edmunds data shows
More motorists are trading in their used Teslas for other vehicles, as the Musk-owned car company faces a "brand crisis tornado."
Chomps beef and turkey sticks recalled after metal fragments found
Chomps, a maker of protein snacks, is recalling beef and turkey sticks after consumers report metal fragments.
Boeing whistleblower's family accuses company of hounding him before suicide
Barnett was subjected to a "campaign of harassment, abuse and intimidation" after he raised safety concerns, lawsuit alleges.
Politics
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Full transcript of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," March 23, 2025
On this "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" broadcast, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Rep. Rand Paul join Margaret Brennan.
Transcript: Sen. Rand Paul on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," March 23, 2025
The following is the transcript of an interview with Sen. Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on March 23, 2025.
Transcript: Dr. Scott Gottlieb on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," March 23, 2025
The following is the transcript of an interview with Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on March 23, 2025.
Transcript: National Security Adviser Mike Waltz "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," March 23, 2025
The following is the transcript of an interview with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on March 23, 2025.
Transcript: Rep. Jim Himes on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," March 23, 2025
The following is the transcript of an interview with Rep. Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on March 23, 2025.
HealthWatch
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HealthWatch
Gottlieb: RFK's suggested MMR vaccine alternatives are "not viable"
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former FDA commissioner, tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s suggested alternatives to the MMR vaccine are "not viable" and "'I'd much prefer if he made a full throated recommendation to parents to get kids vaccinated, especially in a setting of the regions" where measles is spreading.
Doctors diagnosed a grandma with the "silent killer" of cancers. She survived.
Irene Wells didn't ask just how bad her pancreatic cancer was — she just wanted aggressive treatment so she could do "a little bit more" in her life.
ABLE accounts allow Americans with disabilities to save and invest
Named for the 2014 law that created them, the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, ABLE accounts have been available since 2016 to those eligible.
Chomps beef and turkey sticks recalled after metal fragments found
Chomps, a maker of protein snacks, is recalling beef and turkey sticks after consumers report metal fragments.
Health agencies brace for layoffs with RFK Jr.'s restructuring of HHS
HHS Secretary RFK Jr., with help from DOGE, is planning a restructuring with sweeping cuts expected at multiple agencies.
World
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Expelled ambassador says he wears U.S. sanction as "badge of dignity"
Ebrahim Rasool was expelled for comments he made on a webinar that included him saying that the MAGA movement was partly a response to "a supremacist instinct."
U.S. runner Shelby Houlihan earns silver medal after 4-year burrito ban
Houlihan was forced to sit out of the Paris Olympics because she tested positive for performance-enhancing drug nandrolone during the lead-up to the Olympic trials in 2021.
Death toll in Gaza rises to 50,000, territory's health ministry says
Israel previously threatened Gaza with "complete destruction and devastation" if Hamas didn't hand over the remaining hostages.
Pope Francis leaves hospital after 5-week hospital stay
The 88-year-old made his first public appearance in five weeks at the hospital on Sunday after surviving a life-threatening bout of pneumonia.
Venezuela reaches deal to accept deported migrants from U.S.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had suspended flights on March 8, after the U.S. Treasury Department announced the withdrawal of Chevron's license to export Venezuelan oil.
Entertainment
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Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on their record-breaking "Othello"
The stars of a new Broadway production of Shakespeare's tragic tale about friendship and betrayal explain why they say they've worked their whole careers for this moment.
Extended interview: Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on "Othello"
In this web exclusive, Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington, starring as Iago and Othello in a new Broadway production of Shakespeare's tragedy, talk with "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker about performing a story in which life and death are "ever-present in every moment of the show." They also discuss becoming familiar with Shakespeare's language; aging into the character; and the challenge of playing a villain.
Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on their Broadway "Othello"
In this new Broadway production of Shakespeare's "Othello," set in "the near future," Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal play military compatriots whose relationship is riven with feelings of betrayal and revenge. "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker talks with the actors about their histories of playing Shakespeare; how Washington's lifetime of experience informs his performance of a role he first played in college; and why they say they've worked their whole careers for this moment.
Graydon Carter on life "When the Going Was Good"
The former editor of Vanity Fair for 25 years, and cofounder of Spy Magazine, Graydon Carter recounts a career as a tastemaker quietly shaping pop culture in his new memoir, "When the Going Was Good."
Graydon Carter on life "When the Going Was Good"
The former editor of Vanity Fair for 25 years, and the cofounder of Spy Magazine, Graydon Carter had talent as a tastemaker quietly shaping pop culture. It's a career he recounts in his new memoir, "When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines." He talks with "Sunday Morning" anchor Jane Pauley about hosting Vanity Fair's exclusive Oscar parties; his past history with Donald Trump; and why today he feels "very strongly Canadian."
Technology
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Is carbon capture a solution to the climate crisis?
Carbon capture chemically removes CO2 from the air, to store or recycle into products. But is this technology – underwritten by the fossil fuel industry – an effective means to address climate change?
Keeping your data safe at the airport
Experts warn that hackers are trolling free connections like airport Wi-Fi networks and sometimes impersonate the networks in an effort to get your credit card numbers and other sensitive information. Cybersecurity expert Matthew Hicks joined CBS News with tips on how to protect yourself.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
Smartphone addiction is leading to "brain rot," doctors say
Research has shown that smartphone addiction causes major increases in brain activity, requiring the brain to work harder to complete simple tasks.
How smartphone addiction may be hurting our brains
Research is showing that smartphone addiction can lead to "brain rot," requiring the brain to work harder to complete simple tasks. Meg Oliver has more on why doctors are saying it is important for our mental health to learn to unplug.
Science
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Is carbon capture a solution to the climate crisis?
Carbon capture chemically removes CO2 from the air, to store or recycle into products. But is this technology – underwritten by the fossil fuel industry – an effective means to address climate change?
Is carbon capture a solution to the climate crisis?
As a tool to address rising greenhouse gas emissions, carbon capture chemically removes carbon dioxide from the air, to store or recycle into products. The company behind a new plant to be opened this summer claims the facility will remove 500,000 tons of CO2 a year. But is this form of carbon capture – underwritten by the fossil fuel industry – an effective means to address climate change? Correspondent David Pogue looks at the technology behind this initiative, and the controversy it has raised.
Bones of mammoths butchered for their tusks unearthed by archaeologists
Remains of five mammoths were found archaeologists from the Austrian Academy of Sciences said Thursday in a news statement.
Venus will pass between the Earth and sun on Saturday
Our planet's closest and brightest neighbor will pass approximately between the Earth and sun this week, in what's called an inferior conjunction.
New evidence about dark energy may be "cusp of a major discovery"
The new findings come from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which sits on a telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.
Crime
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12-year-old accused in hate crime at Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student faces a hate crime charge for her alleged involvement in an attack on Muslim sisters at their Connecticut middle school.
2 arrested in New Mexico shooting that left 3 dead, at least 15 injured
Police announced the arrests of two suspects accused in the Friday shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Both face murder charges.
Was death of a doctor's wife an accident or staged to look like one?
Susann Sills' body was found at the bottom of the staircase of her family's San Clemente, California home. What led up to her death?
Slain DEA agent's family sues Sinaloa cartel, drug kingpins over 1985 murder
A lawsuit was filed Thursday under a new designation by President Trump that classifies several drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
Idaho murders suspect selfie puts focus on "bushy eyebrows" evidence
Prosecutors say they intend to introduce what appears to be a selfie Bryan Kohberger took on his phone just hours after the killings.
Space
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Venus will pass between the Earth and sun on Saturday
Our planet's closest and brightest neighbor will pass approximately between the Earth and sun this week, in what's called an inferior conjunction.
Tom Hanks takes viewers through immersive experience to the moon
"The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks" tells the story of the Apollo missions.
New evidence about dark energy may be "cusp of a major discovery"
The new findings come from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which sits on a telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.
Sunset on the moon seen in stunning images taken by lunar lander
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1 lander marked the first successful commercial moon landing.
SpaceX return went well, says astronomer
When Starliner astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams were launched into space in June 2024, they were planning on an 8-day mission. They have now spent 286 days in space, orbited the Earth more than 4,500 times and traveled more than 121 million miles. Chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute Derrick Pitts and former NASA astronaut Dr. Tom Marshburn describe the mission. CBS News' Mark Strassmann and Bill Harwood report.
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Notable Deaths in 2025
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
The Scott Peterson case: New evidence?
Peterson's death sentence for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci has been overturned. Now his supporters are pushing for a complete retrial.
The troubled marriage of Ashley and Doug Benefield
The seesaw marriage between the former ballerina and her much older husband only lasted four years, until she shot him on Sept. 27, 2020.
Texas couple investigates teen daughter's unusual death
Cayley Mandadi's mother and stepfather go to extreme lengths to prove her death was no accident.
Serial killer Rodney Alcala's secret photos
See some of convicted serial killer Rodney Alcala's photographs that were discovered by detectives in a Seattle storage locker.
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
Unpacking the legal process unfolding with the Venezuelan deportations
CBS News correspondents Scott MacFarlane and Camilo Montoya-Galvez, who acquired the list of the 238 Venezuelans deported, join to discuss the unfolding legal process regarding the deportations.
Himes: Waltz "distorted the law" in Venezuelan deportations
After the Trump administration deported 238 male Venezuelan citizens last weekend despite a legal battle, Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz "distorted the law" in the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, which requires a declaration of war.
Gottlieb: RFK's suggested MMR vaccine alternatives are "not viable"
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former FDA commissioner, tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s suggested alternatives to the MMR vaccine are "not viable" and "'I'd much prefer if he made a full throated recommendation to parents to get kids vaccinated, especially in a setting of the regions" where measles is spreading.
Paul: SCOTUS will uphold the Alien Enemies Act for deportations
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that amid the "huge legal challenges" for the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelans, he believes ultimately that the Supreme Court will uphold the Alien Enemies Act for deportations. But he said he thinks "there is going to be some process afforded by the courts for representation before you're deported in most cases," although he said he "doesn't know" how that fits in with the Alien Enemies Act.
Waltz: White House seeks "full dismantlement" of Iran's nuclear program
Mike Waltz, the Trump administration national security adviser, tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that U.S. airstrikes have "taken out key Houthi leadership, including their head missileer." Waltz says the Trump administration is seeking "full dismantlement" of Iran's nuclear program.