InvestigateTV+: More cities are using incentives to lure in remote workers

Communities across the U.S. are competing to attract new residents who are fully employed but can live anywhere
Published: Oct. 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM CDT
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(InvestigateTV) — As some smaller communities work to lure remote workers, InvestigateTV+ uncovers why it could be a solution to reverse decades of population decline.

Plus, a pop-up message on their computer costs a couple their life savings. We reveal how scammers convinced them to hand over gold bars to strangers at their front door.

Then, seemingly innocent party supplies could have costly consequences for a city’s power supply.

Relocation offers on the rise as cities try big cash incentives to attract remote workers

(InvestigateTV)

Remote work opportunities continue to thrive more than five years after the COVID-19 pandemic made working from home mainstream.

ZipRecruiter’s 2024 employer survey revealed about 22% of companies are actively recruiting remote workers, particularly in the tech sector where employers cite access to a wider talent pool without geographic boundaries.

Now communities across the U.S. are competing to attract new residents who are fully employed but can live anywhere, offering increasingly large cash incentives to lure remote workers.

FBI issues warning to seniors after South Carolina couple scammed out of life savings

(InvestigateTV)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning seniors about a scam that has cost South Carolinians nearly $10 million this year.

“We know there are multiple people in the Upstate that have experienced this or people who have attempted to scam them out of their hard-earned money,” FBI Public Affairs Specialist, Kevin Wheeler said.

Michael and Roxanne Chrisman are two of the victims of a very advanced and in-depth tech scam.

Six months ago their life turned upside down when they were instructed to withdraw their life savings and turn it into gold.

“This would be like a spy novel. If somebody were writing a spy novel, this would be the perfect storyline,” Michael Chrisman said.

It all started with a pop-up message on Michael Chrisman’s computer. The notice said the computer was locked and all of his information had been compromised. It gave him a phone number to call, and when he did, the person on the other end identified himself as someone who worked for a large tech company.

Costly Consequences: How mylar balloons can cause power outages, harm to animals

(InvestigateTV)

Colorful, shiny and sometimes covered in messages, mylar balloons can help celebrate or commemorate a life event. However, when the party’s over, these eye-catching inflatables can also have serious infrastructure and environmental impacts.

Mylar balloons can spark fires and cause citywide power outages that affect hundreds of thousands of people.

The party favors have also proven deadly for wildlife.

‘Sidewalk Joy’: Navigating some of the quirkiest stops in Portland

(InvestigateTV)

Neighbors in Portland, Oregon created a map to help people explore unique displays in their community, from little free libraries to unusual decor that might otherwise be hard to find.

The PDX Sidewalk Joy map, developed by Grant Brady of Portland Free Little Art Gallery and Rachael Harms Mahlandt of Dinorama, showcases quirky neighborhood installations designed to bring joy to passersby.