Phone Fraud is an International Problem

Social engineering via the phone comes in every possible form. Below are some examples, with victims from Taiwan to Canada.   Phone fraud is easily accomplished across international borders, making it difficult for local law enforcement to stop. Scammers using VoIP spoofing, a good story, and a little personal information (usually available on the internet) are victimizing people across the world.  Here are a few stories:
In Manila, 385 Taiwanese and Chinese expatriates were arrested for phone fraud and deported back to their home country.
In Vetovo, Bulgaria, a prisoner, already serving a six year sentence for fraud, was re-arrested in prison for conducting phone fraud from inside the prison.
In Taipei, a criminal syndicate has defrauded more than 100 Taiwanese men.  The men gave money to women who “seduce” them over the phone.  The woman claims to be destitute or has large medical bills for her family, and sweet talks the lonely man into helping her.  An increasing number of men are falling for this scheme because, according to the Taiwanese report they are “desperately looking for love and are easily exploited by a charming woman who calls them several times a day and showers them with affection.”
And in Montreal, a phone fraud ring targets Canadian immigrants (particularly Indian immigrants) unless they transfer money to the callers that are posing as immigration lawyers.  The phone scam makes the victims believe they are guilty of immigration fraud and could be expelled from the country if they don’t pay a lawyer to fix their citizenship status.  The phone number is spoofed, registered in Colorado, and the callers claim to be in New York.