Sextortion / Blackmail Scams

The RCMP is warning residents of potential romance scams and sextortion. Police say romance scams and sextortion aren’t new types of fraud, however, the way fraudsters are combini...

If you are a victim of a fraud scheme involving Apple gift cards, federal authorities want to hear from you. Victims of the sophisticated gift card fraud scheme are being sought f...

CONCORD, N.H. — If you are a victim of a fraud scheme involving Apple gift cards, federal authorities want to hear from you. Victims of the sophisticated gift card fraud scheme ar...

Sextortion — when a scammer forms an online relationship with someone, gains their trust and persuades them to send intimate photographs that are then used to blackmail them — has ...

Sextortion. Nonconsensual image sharing. Catfishing. College students are at significant risk for online sexual exploitation — and this includes students at Christian universities...

A 53-year-old tech professional and fraud specialist named Tracy Cray intentionally strung along a romance scammer for nine months after recognizing classic con tactics on a dating site, including love bombing, requests to move to private messaging, and eventually requests for money. The scammer, posing as "Richy," used stolen photos from a real businessman in Florida and employed typical romance scam methods to try to extract money from victims. For people using dating apps, key warning signs include pressure to move conversations off-platform quickly, excessive declarations of love from someone you've just met, vague employment details with no online presence, and sudden requests for money due to emergencies or business problems.

# Romance Fraud Summary Romance scams are costing Ghanaian women hundreds of thousands of dollars as fraudsters create fake online identities to build trust and then manipulate victims into sending money for fabricated emergencies or investments. A 2025 pan-African cybercrime operation across 14 countries resulted in 260 arrests, with 68 in Ghana alone and 108 identified victims who lost approximately $450,000, though authorities recovered $70,000. To protect yourself, be cautious of online relationships that quickly ask for money, verify identities through video calls, never send funds to strangers or for unexpected emergencies, and report suspicious activity to local authorities.

Romance scammers and imposter fraudsters cost Americans billions annually—the FTC reported $12.5 billion lost in 2024, though actual losses may exceed $158 billion due to underreporting. These criminals use fake online identities to build trust and emotional connections before requesting money or personal information, with 11 million Americans age 50+ and residents in Rockaway/Broad Channel reporting such schemes, though no age group is immune. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited romantic advances online, especially from people claiming to be overseas with high-profile jobs, and never send money or share personal/financial information with someone you've only met online.

Romance scams cost victims and organizations over $670 million in the US and £106 million in the UK in 2024, with criminals using fake online identities and emotional manipulation to pressure victims into sending money or revealing confidential company information. Employees who fall victim to these scams can inadvertently expose their organizations to financial and data security risks, particularly if they've already exhausted personal finances and are pressured to access company assets or confidential information. Organizations can protect themselves by educating employees about common romance scam tactics like catfishing and sextortion, helping them recognize warning signs before they become victims.

Romance scammers are increasingly tricking Americans into taking out home equity loans against their homes or stealing their personal information to apply for these loans themselves, putting victims at risk of losing their homes if they can't repay. The scammers typically build fake romantic relationships over weeks or months, then claim an emergency to pressure victims into borrowing money, with seniors over 55 being particularly targeted. To protect yourself, be suspicious of online romantic interests who quickly ask for money, never share personal financial information with people you've only met online, and verify any loan applications you don't remember submitting by contacting your bank directly.