Sports
Job scams are on the rise and more people are falling for them. Protect yourself with these tips
NEW YORK (AP) — As job-seekers look for work in a challenging environment, an increasing number are falling victim to job scams that promise good pay for completing easy online tasks, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The scams start innocuously, often with a tailor-made text or WhatsApp message, and the scammers take time to […]


NEW YORK (AP) — As job-seekers look for work in a challenging environment, an increasing number are falling victim to job scams that promise good pay for completing easy online tasks, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
The scams start innocuously, often with a tailor-made text or WhatsApp message, and the scammers take time to build trust with the victim before cashing in on the relationship.
“Most of the people who end up losing money to a scammer are behaving pretty rationally,” said Kati Daffan, assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission’s division of marketing practices. “Scammers are sophisticated, and they keep changing their tactics.”
Reported losses to job scams increased more than threefold from 2020 to 2023. In the first half of 2024, they topped $220 million, according to the FTC. Gamified job scams, or task scams, represented a significant portion of that growth. About 20,000 people reported experiencing gamified scams in the first part of 2024, compared to 5,000 in all of 2023.
Daffan said that that the number is certainly an underestimate, because many people don’t report their experiences of job scams to law enforcement or government trackers.
“Only 4.8% of people complain,” she said.
Here’s what to know:
How the scams work
The scam typically begins with an unexpected text or WhatsApp message from a “recruiter” offering online work, according to the FTC. The mystery texter will say you can “make good money” by “product boosting” or doing “optimization tasks” for an online platform or in an app, which might involve liking videos or rating product images.
This “job” promises to earn you money from “commissions” per click. Once you complete the tasks, you’ll see an increasing tally of “earnings” on the platform or in the app. These earnings are fake.
Eventually, the app or platform will ask you to deposit your own money, typically in crypto, to complete more tasks and withdraw your (non-existent) earnings. But if you do make the deposit, you lose your real money, and you never receive the illusory pay.
Who gets targeted
Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, said these types of scammers typically prey on job-seekers who are new to the job market, people who have been out of the job market for some time (such as homemakers re-entering the workforce, whose children are grown), and immigrants, who may be less familiar with the employment landscape or who face language barriers.
“Often the job will have an easy interview or no interview, promise to let you work from home, and let you start right away,” Velasquez said. “Sometimes they’ll start with praise, and the person will feel their skills are recognized. ‘Oh, you think I’m great? Tell me more.’”
Velasquez emphasized the vulnerability of people looking for work, especially given ongoing economic uncertainty, who may choose to accept a role even if it initially feels shady.
“Sometimes the ask is to leave phony reviews for products,” she said. “The scammers are probably selling those reviews illegally, but a job-seeker might look at a line and say, ‘I’ll cross that line. I’ve got to eat.’”
Tips for spotting a task-based scam
— Ignore any generic and unexpected texts or WhatsApp messages about jobs, no matter how specific or complimentary the messages.
— Never pay to get paid, or to get a job. That requirement is a red flag that the position is a scam.
— Don’t trust employers who says they’ll pay you to rate or like things online, without an above-board process for using the actual products or services you’re rating.
The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
Sports
North Florida Athletics Celebrates 25 Summer Graduates
Story Links JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida Athletics recognizes its 25 summer graduates across 12 different programs on Friday afternoon. A total of 20 student-athletes were awarded bachelor’s degrees, while the other five graduates earned their master’s degrees. The Ospreys put together an impressive 3.73 GPA during the summer semester. Graduates & […]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida Athletics recognizes its 25 summer graduates across 12 different programs on Friday afternoon.
A total of 20 student-athletes were awarded bachelor’s degrees, while the other five graduates earned their master’s degrees. The Ospreys put together an impressive 3.73 GPA during the summer semester.
Graduates & Degrees
Destiny Fratianni (Cheerleading) – Child Psychology
Cydne Woodley (Cheerleading) – Health Science
Camilla Holmes (Cheerleading) – Sociology
Lauren Bevis (Softball) – IDS Health
Ashley Connor (Softball) – Kinesiology
Savannah Channell (Softball) – MHA: Executive Health Admin
Aidan O’Gorman (Cross Country / Track & Field) – MS in Civil Engineering: Coastal and Port Engineering
Seth Martinez (Cross Country / Track & Field) – ITS
Kameron Wallizada (Cross Country / Track & Field) – Public Health
Hayden Wooldridge (Beach Volleyball) – Kinesiology
Mariana Feliciano Sanchez (Beach Volleyball) – Management/International Business
Taylor Pierce (Beach Volleyball) – IHS
Madison Espy (Beach Volleyball) – Kinesiology
Nestor Dyachok (Men’s Basketball) – Interdisciplinary Studies
Nate Lliteras (Men’s Basketball) – Master of Health Informatics and Executive Health Administration
Allie Larrimore (Swimming) – Biomedical
Gabby Reeves (Swimming) – Kinesiology/Spanish
Amelia Hildebrand (Swimming) – Kinesiology
Aydan Horrigan (Swimming) – Kinesiology
Jame Oman (Baseball) – Sport Management
Brett Schell (Men’s Golf) – MSM
Kaitlynn Washburn (Women’s Golf) – MS: Business Analytics
Joaquin Acuna (Men’s Soccer) – Transportation and Logistics
Spencer Dorosheff (Men’s Tennis) – Sport Management
Maddie Millar (Women’s Basketball) – Marketing
Sports
George Mason Track & Field Earns 2025 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and Individual Honors
Fairfax, Va.- All-Academic Teams and Athletes for the 2025 NCAA Division I Track & Field seasons were announced today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Both George Mason men’s and women’s programs were named All-Academic Teams. The women have earned the award every season for the last 14 […]

Fairfax, Va.- All-Academic Teams and Athletes for the 2025 NCAA Division I Track & Field seasons were announced today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Both George Mason men’s and women’s programs were named All-Academic Teams. The women have earned the award every season for the last 14 campaigns, while the men have collected the honor in 13 of the past 14 years, including ten straight years.
In order to be recognized as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, a team must have at least a 3.0 cumulative team GPA. The women’s team finished with a cumulative GPA of 3.29. The men finished the academic year with a 3.26 cumulative GPA.
In addition, three Patriots were named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track & Field Team. On the women’s side; Kailynn Tyson, Kennedy Drish, and Alina Florou Dimitriadou earned the honor for the first time. Men’s track & field student-athletes Geni Roberts and Arsalan Yaqubi are second-time honorees. Wesley Bond and Davian Burke were also honorees to be named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track & Field Team as an individual, student-athletes must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25. For the indoor season, student-athletes must have finished the season ranked in the top 96 in any championship individual event, or in the top 48 in any championship relay event.
Sports
Moss Strengthens Coaching Staff with Addition of Assistant Coach Kim Meadows
Story Links CLINTON, S.C. – Presbyterian College head volleyball coach Maddie Moss has announced the addition of Kim Meadows as an assistant coach for the Blue Hose. Meadows comes to Clinton after a successful stint at Columbia International University, where she helped guide the Rams to a 35-4 record and […]

CLINTON, S.C. – Presbyterian College head volleyball coach Maddie Moss has announced the addition of Kim Meadows as an assistant coach for the Blue Hose.
Meadows comes to Clinton after a successful stint at Columbia International University, where she helped guide the Rams to a 35-4 record and both the Appalachian Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships in 2024.
“I am thrilled to add Coach Kim to the Blue Hose family,” said Coach Moss. “Her experience and dedication to student-athlete development and championship mentality aligns perfectly with my vision for the growth of the program. She will be an asset in every sense of the word, and we are excited to hit the ground running!”
At CIU, Meadows handled a wide range of responsibilities, including practice planning, skill development, travel logistics, recruiting strategy, nutrition education, and strength training oversight. She also played a key role in the team’s spiritual development, leading team devotionals and Bible studies.
In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Meadows has been active in the club circuit, most recently serving as the head coach of the 15 National Team for Intense Volleyball Club in Columbia, S.C. She has also been on staff at summer camps hosted by Wofford and the College of Charleston.
Prior to her time at CIU, Meadows led the volleyball program at Richard Winn Academy, where she served as the varsity head coach, program director, and interim athletic director. She previously held coaching roles at Charlotte Country Day School, Carolina Juniors Volleyball, Carolina Union Volleyball Club, and Davies High School, among others.
A former collegiate setter, Meadows played at Bluefield University and has remained active in the volleyball community for nearly three decades. She holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a concentration in health and physical education from James Madison University, where she also earned a minor in coaching.
“I’m excited and honored to join Coach Maddie in leading, supporting, and developing this program,” said Coach Meadows. “It’s a privilege to be part of the Blue Hose family, and I’ve already felt the warmth and support of the community here.”
Sports
Summer sale on Mikasa balls
VolleyStore is running a limited-time offer on Volleyballs starting today, 1st August 2025. Now is your chance to grab some new volleyballs with Mikasa V200W balls now just £65 (plus postage) on VolleyStore. This exclusive online offer is live from the 1st August, but with only a limited number available, they won’t be around for […]

Now is your chance to grab some new volleyballs with Mikasa V200W balls now just £65 (plus postage) on VolleyStore.
This exclusive online offer is live from the 1st August, but with only a limited number available, they won’t be around for long. Don’t miss your chance—once they’re sold out, that’s it!
Ideal for players, coaches, and clubs looking to gear up for the new season,
Keep an eye out on our social media channels for more deals as the new season fast approaches.
Sports
USA Track and Field Championships: Tara Davis-Woodhall, Nico Young lead day 1 winners
Olympic gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall and American record holder Nico Young led the winners on the first day of the four-day Toyota USA Track and Field Outdoor and Para National Championships. Davis-Woodhall unleashed the world’s two farthest long jumps of 2025 — 7.12 and 7.11 meters, beating her Olympic-winning jump of 7.10 — to repeat […]

Olympic gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall and American record holder Nico Young led the winners on the first day of the four-day Toyota USA Track and Field Outdoor and Para National Championships.
Davis-Woodhall unleashed the world’s two farthest long jumps of 2025 — 7.12 and 7.11 meters, beating her Olympic-winning jump of 7.10 — to repeat as national champion at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Davis-Woodhall fouled her first two jumps, which meant she needed a fair third jump to stay in the competition. She delivered in the same position at the 2024 Olympic Trials.
“When I come out to these meets, it’s glorified practice for me,” she said. “I know what I do at practice. Just do it at the meet.”
USATF OUTDOORS: Results | Broadcast Schedule
Davis-Woodhall will lead a U.S. women’s long jump team at September’s World Championships in Tokyo that also includes world indoor champion Claire Bryant and Tokyo Olympian Quanesha Burks.
Jasmine Moore, who won Olympic bronze medals in the long jump and triple jump, finished sixth in the long jump at nationals. She is entered in Saturday’s triple jump in Eugene.
Nico Young outkicks Grant Fisher in 10,000m
Nico Young earned his first national title in the 10,000m, one month after breaking the American outdoor record in the 5000m.
Young, 23, outkicked Olympic bronze medalist Grant Fisher for the win — 29:02.12 to 29:02.37. Graham Blanks took third to round out the world championships qualifiers.
Young, 12th in his Olympic debut in 2024, is the youngest U.S. men’s 10,000m champion since Dan Browne in 1998. He beat Fisher for the first time in six career head-to-heads, according to Tilastopaja.info.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence going into worlds, and I possibly could medal,” Young said.
The 10,000m is the only men’s track event where the U.S. has never won a world medal.
Young, Fisher and Blanks are all entered in Sunday’s 5000m. As is Olympic 1500m gold medalist Cole Hocker.
Emily Infeld wins first U.S. women’s 10,000m title at 35
Emily Infeld won her first national title on the track in the women’s 10,000m, a decade after winning a World Championships bronze medal in the event.
Infeld, 35, clocked 31:43.56 to win over two-time Olympian Elise Cranny (31:44.24) and Taylor Roe (31:45.41). None have the minimum qualifying team for World Championships qualification, so they will have to see if they get in on world rankings.
Infeld is the oldest U.S. women’s 10,000m champion since Lynn Jennings in 1998. She was 16th in the 2024 Olympic Trials 5000m, then took time off to heal her Achilles.
“Especially after my last two years, a lot of people are probably like, ‘Yeah, she’s getting kind of on the downhill,’” Infeld said.
In the women’s hammer, 2019 World champion DeAnna Price won her fourth U.S. title with a 78.54-meter throw.
She’ll be joined on the world team by 2022 World champion Brooke Andersen, Rachel Richeson, who goes to her first worlds after missing the Olympic team by one spot, and two-time world medalist Janee’ Kassanavoid.
Olympic silver medalist Annette Echikunwoke placed sixth.
Noah Lyles, Sha’Carri Richardson debut in 100m
Olympic champion Noah Lyles, world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and the rest of the biggest 100m stars all advanced out of the 100m heats.
Lyles, though, only ran the 100m first round as a tune-up for Sunday’s 200m, where he’s bidding for a record-tying fifth U.S. title. Lyles will not run Friday’s 100m semifinals or final.
Richardson, coming back from a February injury, posted her best time of 2025 (11.07). Like Lyles, she has a bye onto the world team in the event as defending world champion from 2023.

The men’s 800m at the Toyota USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships is shaping up to be a classic.
Sports
Alabama’s top high school volleyball teams: Meet the best in 7A
With volleyball practice starting Monday, the final AL.com analysis of the state’s top high school teams ends with AHSAA Class 7A. The two teams with the most state titles in history, Bayside and McGill-Toolen, both play in Class 7A. Bayside has 31 championships in classes 1A-6A while McGill-Toolen has 24 championships, all in the biggest […]

With volleyball practice starting Monday, the final AL.com analysis of the state’s top high school teams ends with AHSAA Class 7A.
The two teams with the most state titles in history, Bayside and McGill-Toolen, both play in Class 7A. Bayside has 31 championships in classes 1A-6A while McGill-Toolen has 24 championships, all in the biggest classification.
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