Some Americans are taking matters into their own hands to prevent scammers. The Free Press' Maya Sulkin joins "CBS News Mornings" to discuss. The Free Press is a Paramount publication.

Washington

Americans lost more than $16 billion to scams in 2024, with elderly citizens being frequent targets. In response, individuals known as 'anti-scammers' have launched initiatives to protect vulnerable groups, including technology platforms, lobbying efforts, and enterprise solutions.

These efforts address challenges such as underreporting of scams and the international nature of many fraud operations. Experts emphasize the importance of public awareness, supporting less tech-savvy individuals, and adopting preventative measures already used in other countries.

"Anti-scammers" target fraudsters to protect Americans

Well, Americans lost more than $16 billion to scams in 2024 alone, according to the FBI. Now a growing wave of scams aimed at the elderly is inspiring citizens to take action. A new article from the Free Press highlights the so-called scam vigilantes who want to protect Americans. They're hoping to bolster safeguards against fraud through legislation, education, and new technology. And joining us now, the Free Press reporter behind that article, Maya Sulkin. Now we should note that the Free Press and CBS News are both owned by Paramount Skydance. Maya, good morning. Thanks so much for joining us. This is interesting stuff. These anti-scammers you spoke with, they all have different intentions and stories. Tell us about them. Yeah. Thank you so much for having me. So I spoke to three anti-scammers, and they're all coming at this, like you say, from a different perspective, but really to fill the gap that the government has left behind from protecting especially elder Americans from scams. One girl I spoke to is 17 years old, and she started a site called Shield Seniors after her grandfather was targeted by a scam. And that site really helps older Americans input things they're seeing online, and LLM tells them if it should cause concern. Another person I spoke to is an ex-CIA officer whose mom lost really like all of her life savings to scams, and he started a program called Stop Scams Alliance. And they are really trying to create lobbying efforts to get the government to pay more attention to this. And the third person I spoke to is an ex-Palantir engineer who started a software company called Outtake, and he is really trying to work with big enterprise companies to protect their employees and their users. These scammers are everywhere. Maya, why is it so difficult to catch these guys? Yeah. So this is really a big part of the problem, and the problem is twofold. First, it's really hard to handle a crime that is not reported well. And most scam victims do not report the crimes because they're embarrassed, and they also don't think the government is going to do anything. The second reason is that most of these scammers are abroad. They're in Cambodia. They're in India. And so the FBI can't really seize the assets or even arrest the criminals because they're overseas. What can we do to protect ourselves and prevent these scams? You know, part of it is really trusting your gut and also helping, you know, non-internet natives around you. You read some of these stories and alarm bells go off in your head, but that's because people like you or me are native to the Internet. But that's not true for a lot of Americans. And so there are implementations that have happened in the U.K. and in Australia, like blocking spoof numbers that the U.S. just hasn't implemented yet. But you know, your bank means it when they say that they're never going to call you and ask for information. So if you get that call, just don't pick up the phone. Good advice. Maya Salkin, thanks so much for joining us. Thank you for having me.

President Trump approved a 28-point plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a senior White House official confirms to CBS News. Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Ukraine Invasion

Trump approved 28-point plan to end Russia-Ukraine war

There are reports that the U.S. and Russia have drafted a plan that would end the war in Ukraine, but it proposes that Kyiv give up territory and some weapons.

Kyiv

Ukraine expected to give up land, some arms under U.S. peace plan

All 267 people on board a South Korean passenger ferry that ran aground off the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula on Wednesday (November 19) have been rescued, in an incident that revived memories of the major ferry disaster in 2014 in which 300 people died.

Mokpo-si

Ferry runs aground off South Korea, crew negligence suspected

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the bill that forces the Justice Department to release the files from its investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill was passed by the U.S. House and Senate on Tuesday.

Trump signs bill to release Epstein files

U.S. officials are now in Kyiv for the Trump administration's renewed push to end the Russia-Ukraine war. CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent and "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan has the details.

U.S. officials in Ukraine to push for renewed peace talks

Harvard University is opening a new inquiry into faculty connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Cam Srivastava, college administration reporter for The Harvard Crimson, joins CBS News with more.

Cambridge

Harvard announces new probe into faculty ties to Jeffrey Epstein

U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized a plan for the CIA in Venezuela, according to a New York Times report. CBS News' Charlie D'Agata has more details.

Trump authorizes plans for CIA covert operation in Venezuela: report

An Israeli strike on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed 13 people and wounded several others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Wednesday. The Israeli military said it struck Hamas militants who it said were operating in a training compound there.

Beirut

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike on Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon kills 13

The Epstein files bill is expected to reach President Donald Trump's desk for his signature on Wednesday (November 19). CBS News' Taurean Small reports.

Trump set to sign bill to release Epstein files

Microsoft and Nvidia plan to invest a combined $15 billion into Anthropic. Bloomberg Intelligence's Mandeep Singh discusses why two of the biggest backers of OpenAI are putting money into its rival.

San Francisco

Microsoft, Nvidia to invest up to $15 billion in Anthropic

Hamas rejects the US-drafted UN resolution for a Gaza ceasefire and international stabilisation force.

New York

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President Donald Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday, with the Saudi de facto ruler seeking to further rehabilitate his global image after the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi and deepen ties with Washington.

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The Senate, through the process of unanimous consent, agreed to send the bill to President Trump's desk for his signature without any amendments once it's received from the House.

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The House has approved a bill that would require the Justice Department to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill, which received bipartisan support, now awaits consideration in the Senate.

House passes bill that would force release of Jeffrey Epstein files

Hopes for a strong G20 declaration on climate and debt relief are slim as South Africa readies to host the summit from Saturday (November 22). Global tensions and a boycott by the United States threaten to overshadow the gathering.

Johannesburg

South Africa readies for G20 despite U.S. boycott

At least one person is dead and three others were injured after an attack in the West Bank, Israeli forces said. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council backed the U.S. plan for Gaza. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Jerusalem

Tensions escalate as U.N. Security Council backs Trump's plan for Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump will host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, his first visit since Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in 2018. The crown prince has denied any involvement.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visiting White House

The sale of the fighter jets is one of several major deals between the two countries expected to be announced during the visit.

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The U.K. government has proposed a major overhaul of its asylum rules, making it easier to deport people and quadruple the amount of time it takes to become a permanent resident.

London

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In a blistering opinion, a federal judge in Virginia accused Justice Department prosecutor Lindsay Halligan of misconduct, saying there was a "disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps."

Virginia

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The United Nations Security Council has voted to adopt a U.S. resolution outlining President Trump's peace plan for post-war Gaza. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams has the details.

U.N. Security Council adopts U.S. resolution on Gaza plan

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford has arrived in the Caribbean, giving the United States the ability to strike inside Venezuela if President Trump gives the order. The U.S. has also sent thousands of troops to the region.

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President Trump now says Republicans should vote to release all of the files related to the federal investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi and Nikole Killion have the latest on what could happen next.

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Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called an explosion on a railway line “an unprecedented act of sabotage.” Donald Tusk did not say who he believed had carried out the attack, but a government minister said "foreign intelligence agencies" were responsible.

Warsaw

Railway line blast in Poland ‘unprecedented act of sabotage’

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signed a landmark deal in Paris on Monday to buy 100 Rafale jets, drones, and air defense systems from France.

Paris

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The Federal Aviation Administration ended mandated cuts in domestic flights at 40 major U.S. airports, easing restrictions that had been imposed over air traffic control concerns during the federal shutdown.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to oppose any attempt to establish a Palestinian state, a day before the UN Security Council will vote on a U.S.-drafted resolution on Gaza that leaves the door open to Palestinian independence.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

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A Bangladesh court sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity on Monday (November 17), concluding a months-long trial that found her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.

Dhaka

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President Donald Trump now appears to support the release of all Jeffrey Epstein files as the House of Representatives readies for a vote on the matter. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.

Breakdown