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Manaseh Mintah, 43, of Massachusetts, was convicted of laundering approximately $1.2 million stolen from romance scam victims across the United States through bank accounts and a shell company called Dazionking LLC. He was found guilty of money laundering conspiracy, three counts of money laundering, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, with sentencing scheduled for March 2027. Romance scams particularly targeted vulnerable and older Americans who lost their life savings to the scheme.

A Massachusetts man lost $400,000 in a romance scam involving AI-generated communications and deepfakes, believing he was investing money through a woman he met on Facebook who may have been powered by ChatGPT. Romance scams nationwide cost victims $929 million in 2025, up 38% from 2024, with seniors accounting for $584 million of losses; the FBI reports that scammers operating from compounds in Myanmar use AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to automate fake profiles and target thousands of victims simultaneously. The FBI warns the public to keep social media accounts private, verify video calls for AI artifacts like distorted hands, and move slowly in online relationships to avoid falling

Twenty Massachusetts communities have banned cryptocurrency kiosks due to their increasing use in scams where fraudsters direct victims to deposit cash and convert it to crypto, making recovery difficult. Massachusetts residents reported over $6.8 million in crypto kiosk scam losses in 2025, with one case involving a cancer patient losing $5,500, and the state attorney general alleges that more than 80 percent of high-value customers at one major operator's kiosks were involved in scams totaling $10.6 million. All 14 Massachusetts county sheriffs have urged statewide legislation to ban the machines, though the state Senate and House have not yet agreed on the measure.

A home health aide admitted in civil court to exerting undue influence over Dr. Louis Braida, an MIT professor, and taking over $1.4 million from him before his death in 2022, yet no criminal charges were filed in the case. Democratic candidate David Solet is criticizing the incumbent Middlesex District Attorney for failing to prosecute this elder exploitation case and is calling for stronger Massachusetts laws similar to Florida's to better protect vulnerable seniors from financial crimes.

Lawrence, Massachusetts Mayor Brian DePeña was arrested and charged with wire fraud and money laundering for allegedly obtaining over $1.5 million in pandemic-era Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) through fraudulent applications and misusing the funds for his political campaign, personal taxes, and paying off approximately $880,000 in mortgages. The funds were intended to help his tire business recover from pandemic-related economic impacts, not for personal or political purposes. DePeña stated he would not resign from his position while facing the charges.

A 43-year-old Massachusetts woman lost $56,000 in a phone scam where callers impersonated her bank's fraud department and convinced her that her account was compromised. The scammers instructed her to visit her bank branch and wire the money to a "safe account" while staying on the phone with them, falsely assuring her the funds were FDIC-insured. The woman only realized she had been defrauded hours later when she called her actual bank to verify the transaction.

A Waltham, Massachusetts attorney and at least 20 other lawyers were targeted in a scam where perpetrators posed as clients, requested legal services, then asked the attorneys to hold large sums of money in escrow before pressuring them to quickly disburse the funds to third parties. The scammers deposited fraudulent checks (averaging $100,000 payouts, with one victim losing over $500,000) that initially appeared to clear but were later reversed by the banks, leaving the attorneys responsible for replacing the missing funds from their personal accounts and client trust accounts.

A 51-year-old Massachusetts man lost over $400,000 in a pig-butchering scam, where a scammer posing as "Emily" on LinkedIn cultivated a false relationship before persuading him to invest in fake cryptocurrency opportunities. Pig-butchering scams are a rapidly expanding transnational fraud industry concentrated in Southeast Asia, responsible for $7.2 billion in reported U.S. losses in 2025, often perpetrated by organized criminal enterprises using trafficked workers forced to conduct scams under threats of violence. The scams involve criminals contacting victims through social media, building trust over time, then directing them to fraudulent investment platforms that display fake profits before the funds disapp

Bitcoin and other digital currency scams targeting elderly people have reached epidemic levels, with five victims losing $128,000 at a single Bitcoin ATM location in Haverhill over 24 months. Scammers use various tactics including posing as family members, law enforcement, debt collectors, or financial institutions to pressure victims into sending money via digital payment platforms, gift cards, or Bitcoin. In one Massachusetts jurisdiction, police received 393 elder fraud reports over 21 months but successfully pursued charges in only 15 cases, highlighting the difficulty of tracing assets and prosecuting these crimes.

Massachusetts residents lost over $77 million to cryptocurrency kiosk scams in 2024, with scammers targeting victims by impersonating customer service representatives and convincing them to deposit cash into Bitcoin ATMs to transfer funds to criminal-controlled digital wallets. Lawmakers are considering a statewide ban on crypto ATMs to eliminate this key mechanism used by fraudsters, as law enforcement officials report that recovering stolen funds is extremely difficult once scammers move cryptocurrency through mixing services and foreign exchanges. One notable case involved a Middleton woman who lost over $11,000 after being deceived by someone posing as PayPal customer service, though police were able to recover some funds through a search warrant.

Scott Kelley, a former Boston postal inspector who led the Mail Fraud Unit, pleaded guilty to stealing over $330,000 from nearly 2,000 packages sent by elderly victims (averaging age 75) and using the funds for personal expenses including escorts, home renovations, and Caribbean cruises. Kelley intercepted cash meant to be recovered from scammers and faces 44 federal counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and false tax filings. The case reveals significant vulnerabilities in mail-handling processes designed to protect elderly fraud victims and their recovered funds.

A 38-year-old Chinese national living in Massachusetts was indicted for operating a scheme that involved stealing gift cards from American victims through romance scams, elder fraud, and hacking, then using those cards to purchase Apple products and electronics in New Hampshire (which has no sales tax) before shipping them to China and Hong Kong. The conspiracy, which defrauded victims of approximately $5 million, coordinated purchases via WeChat and cryptocurrency, with stolen merchandise funneled through a warehouse in Salem. To protect yourself, be cautious about unsolicited romantic advances online, monitor gift card usage, enable two-factor authentication on accounts, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.

Four Dominican nationals pleaded guilty to operating a "grandparent scam" call center that defrauded over 400 elderly Americans, primarily targeting victims in their 80s with fake emergency pleas for money, resulting in losses exceeding $5 million. The scammers posed as distressed grandchildren or attorneys claiming relatives needed urgent cash for accidents, arrests, or medical emergencies, then used U.S. operatives and money-laundering networks to move the stolen funds back to the Dominican Republic. Elderly people should be wary of urgent calls from supposed family members requesting money and should verify such claims by contacting family directly; victims can report suspected elder fraud to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or through [email protected].

Scammers posing as Federal Trade Commission agents targeted an elderly Massachusetts woman, convincing her not to call police and persuading her to withdraw thousands of dollars by falsely claiming her finances were compromised and promising government reimbursement. Police arrested Suqi Chen of New York in connection with the scam after detectives coordinated with the victim to intercept a second cash pickup on June 22. To protect yourself: be suspicious of unsolicited calls claiming financial fraud, never withdraw cash based on phone instructions, verify caller identity independently using official numbers, and always report such incidents to local police rather than following caller instructions not to do so.

Authorities in Florida and Massachusetts recovered $5.4 million stolen through "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, where victims across multiple states were defrauded with amounts ranging from thousands to over $450,000 per person. The recovered funds have been distributed back to victims, with $700,000 returned to Florida residents and $1.3 million to Massachusetts residents. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, especially those involving cryptocurrency or promises of quick returns, and verify any investment offers through official channels before sending money.

Florida authorities recovered $5.4 million stolen from romance and investment cryptocurrency scams that primarily targeted seniors across Florida and Massachusetts, with victims receiving refunds totaling $2 million. The scam affected residents in six Florida counties and Massachusetts, with one victim losing over $450,000 before learning their funds were recovered. To protect yourself, be cautious of romantic relationships that quickly pivot to investment opportunities, especially involving cryptocurrency, and report suspected scams to local law enforcement immediately rather than assuming your money is gone.

Florida's attorney general recovered millions in cryptocurrency from a romance scam scheme where fraudsters posed as romantic interests to lure victims into fake investment opportunities, marking the largest single state-wide cryptocurrency recovery. The scam affected victims across six Florida counties and as far away as Massachusetts. To protect yourself, be cautious of online romantic connections that quickly pivot to investment opportunities, verify investment opportunities through official channels, and never send money or cryptocurrency to people you've only met online.

A Marion County resident recovered $450,000 after falling victim to a "Romance-Turned-Investment" scam, part of a larger operation that defrauded victims across six Florida counties and Massachusetts, resulting in over $5 million in recovered cryptocurrency. The scams primarily targeted seniors and individuals who lost their life savings through fraudulent investment schemes initiated through romantic relationships. Authorities urge people to be cautious of online romantic connections that quickly pivot to investment opportunities, and to report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the Florida Attorney General's office.

A Ghanaian national named Kofi Osei was arrested in Massachusetts for operating a sophisticated romance scam ring that defrauded over $8 million from victims between 2016 and 2020, primarily targeting elderly people through fake dating profiles. Osei opened at least 77 fraudulent bank accounts using fake passports to launder money stolen by his co-conspirators, who posed as romantic interests online to manipulate victims into sending cash. He was sentenced to 54 months in prison and ordered to pay $4.1 million in restitution; as protection, be cautious of online dating profiles that quickly ask for money or claim to need financial help, and verify requests through independent contact with the person.

Three people in Haverhill, Massachusetts were scammed out of $20,000 through cryptocurrency ATMs, prompting the city to ban them entirely. One victim, Mary Mbugua, lost $5,500 after scammers impersonated authorities and falsely accused her of drug trafficking, pressuring her while undergoing cancer treatment to withdraw cash and deposit it into a cryptocurrency ATM at a convenience store. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected messages about orders you didn't make, never withdraw money based on threats from callers claiming to be government officials, and report suspicious activity to authorities immediately.

BOSTON (WWLP) – A Dominican national has been extradited to Massachusetts for allegedly laundering proceeds from a call center operation that defrauded hundreds of elderly victims, resulting in over $...

BOSTON – A Dominican national has been extradited to the United States for his alleged role in a transnational “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic that tricked hundreds of elderly victim...

A former local official accused of using city funds to pay for 153 pounds of bourbon steak tips, a Toyota Prius and more has pleaded guilty. Thomas Clasby, Jr., 61, who used to be the Quincy director...

# Romance Scam Warning Law enforcement in New Hampshire and the broader Northeast are warning residents about romance scams, which have cost over 700 victims approximately $20 million across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Scammers typically target people seeking companionship—especially recent widows—by creating fake online personas, quickly professing love, and then requesting money for emergencies via gift cards or cryptocurrency. Authorities advise people to watch for red flags like refusals to video call or meet in person, and urge victims not to feel ashamed but to reach out to loved ones and law enforcement for help.

# Crypto Scam Summary A Massachusetts man defrauded a Tinder user of $200,000 in a "pig butchering" scam, where he posed as a financial advisor named "Nino Martin" and convinced her to invest in fake cryptocurrency through fake platforms like a fraudulent Coinbase account. The Department of Justice is now working to recover the stolen funds in Tether stablecoin. To protect yourself, be suspicious of romantic connections who quickly pivot to financial opportunities, verify investment advisors through official channels, and never send money to unknown individuals or unverified platforms, especially those accessed through dating apps.

Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts are seeking to recover over $200,000 in cryptocurrency from a "pig butchering" scam where a victim was deceived by a Tinder match posing as a financial advisor into investing in a fake crypto trading platform, ultimately losing over $500,000. Pig butchering scams combine romance and social engineering tactics, with scammers building trust online before directing victims to fraudulent investment sites and extracting repeated payments until victims realize their "profits" are fake. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited investment offers from online matches, never transfer money to unknown platforms, and use moderated communication channels rather than switching to private apps like WhatsApp with strangers.

A Cambridge, Massachusetts resident lost over $500,000 in a "pig-butchering" romance scam after matching with someone on Tinder who posed as a financial advisor and convinced them to invest in cryptocurrency. The scammer, operating under the alias "Nino Martin," built trust through WhatsApp before directing the victim to a fraudulent trading platform, and when transfers were flagged as suspicious, instructed them on how to bypass security restrictions to continue sending money. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited investment offers from online matches, verify the legitimacy of any trading platforms independently, and never send money to someone you've only met online—especially if they push you to bypass security measures or move communications off dating apps.

A Massachusetts resident lost over $500,000 in a "pig-butchering" scam where a fraudster posing as a financial adviser named "Nino Martin" contacted them on Tinder, built trust, and convinced them to transfer money to a fake cryptocurrency trading platform. Federal prosecutors have recovered approximately $200,000 in Tether cryptocurrency and are seeking additional funds through civil forfeiture. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment offers from online contacts, especially those who ask you to move conversations to private messaging apps like WhatsApp, and report any suspected cryptocurrency or romance scams to authorities at [email protected].

A Massachusetts woman has been arrested in connection with a Publishers Clearing House scam that defrauded a North Carolina man of approximately $500,000 by falsely claiming he had won $4 million and a Mercedes-Benz, then pressuring him to pay fake IRS and FDIC fees. The victim liquidated his retirement and investment accounts to pay the scammers through checks and gift cards, with about $215,000 going to a suspicious company linked to previous fraud cases. Authorities warn that legitimate prize organizations and financial institutions never require upfront payments, fees, gift cards, or wire transfers to claim winnings, so recipients of such requests should hang up and contact the organization directly through official channels.

A Massachusetts couple in their seventies lost their entire life savings after falling victim to a common scam that exploited their concern over fraudulent charges—a scammer posing as their bank convinced them to withdraw $7,000 and purchase Apple gift cards, then disappeared with the codes. Americans aged 60 and older lost $4.8 billion to scams last year, making seniors nearly twice as vulnerable to fraud as the next age group. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited calls claiming to be from your bank, never purchase gift cards at a scammer's request, and verify caller identity by hanging up and calling your bank directly using the number on your card.

Former U.S. Postal Inspector Scott Kelley, 51, of Massachusetts, was indicted on 45 counts for stealing over $330,000 in cash from packages mailed by elderly victims of a Jamaican lottery telemarketing scam between 2019 and 2023. Kelley, who led the Mail Fraud Unit investigating senior citizen scams, used his position to intercept approximately 1,950 flagged packages, launder the proceeds through money orders and multiple bank accounts, and even framed a subordinate for a separate $7,000 evidence locker theft. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each wire fraud and mail frau

A former U.S. Postal Inspector in Massachusetts was indicted on 45 counts for stealing over $330,000 in cash from nearly 1,950 packages mailed by elderly victims (average age 75) who had been duped by lottery scams originating in Jamaica. Scott Kelley used his position as Mail Fraud Unit team leader to intercept packages containing $1,400 to $19,100 in cash each, launder the proceeds through home improvements and personal expenses, and falsely blame a subordinate for theft from an evidence locker. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $25,000 bond.

Scott Kelley, a 51-year-old former U.S. Postal Inspector in Massachusetts, was indicted on 45 counts for stealing over $330,000 in cash from nearly 1,950 packages mailed by elderly victims between January 2019 and August 2023, with seven identified victims averaging 75 years old who mailed between $1,400 and $19,100 each. Kelley, who previously led the Mail Fraud Unit investigating scams targeting seniors, used postal employees to intercept packages, stole cash from an evidence locker, and laundered the money on personal expenses including pool upgrades, Caribbean cruises, and escort services while filing

Tech support scams cost consumers $1.464 billion in 2024, with scammers impersonating major tech company representatives and tricking victims—particularly Millennials and Gen Z—into believing their computers have security problems requiring expensive paid services. Common tactics include fraudulent pop-ups with phone numbers, phony calls with spoofed caller IDs, and requests for remote computer access or cryptocurrency payments; legitimate tech companies never initiate contact about security problems, request remote access, or demand cryptocurrency payment. One Massachusetts man was nearly defrauded of $12,000 through a cryptocurrency ATM before an off-duty police officer intervened.

A 51-year-old former postal inspector in Massachusetts was arrested and charged with 45 counts, including stealing over $330,000 from elderly victims (average age 75) who had been defrauded by lottery scams and mailed cash to scammers. Kelley, who ironically led the Mail Fraud Unit investigating such scams, intercepted packages flagged by the Postal Service's anti-fraud algorithm, stole the cash from victims attempting to recover their losses, and laundered the money through money orders and multiple bank accounts to fund personal expenses including a pool patio and Caribbean cruise. He also stole $7,000 from an evidence locker and falsely blamed another inspector

Debora A. Siler, 68, of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, was charged with bank fraud for stealing approximately $61,685 in Social Security benefits over five years by fraudulently accessing the account of a deceased beneficiary. From June 2015 through September 2020, Siler forged checks and made debit card withdrawals from the account after the beneficiary died in May 2015, without reporting the death to authorities. She faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Adams Community Bank announced a partnership with Carefull, a financial safety platform, to offer free fraud and scam protection to its account holders, making ACB the first bank in Western Massachusetts to provide this service. The Carefull platform monitors accounts for unusual activity, detects romance scams and other financial exploitation, analyzes suspicious communications, and provides secure storage for important documents and records with $1 million identity theft insurance. This initiative reflects ACB's commitment to protecting seniors and their families as elder fraud cases continue to rise.

A 53-year-old woman, Andrea Hull-King, was extradited to the U.S. Virgin Islands to face charges after defrauding an elderly relative of $26,730 between October 2021 and January 2022. Hull-King unlawfully registered the victim's Banco Popular account for online access and transferred funds to her personal account using her relative's credentials. She was apprehended in Massachusetts in August 2025 on an outstanding warrant and charged with multiple offenses including grand larceny, identity theft, and financial exploitation of an elderly person.

A married elderly couple in Throop, New York lost nearly $25,000 in a grandparent scam after receiving a call claiming their grandchild was in trouble; the couple's local case was part of a larger federal investigation that charged 13 people involved in a transnational elder fraud scheme operating from the Dominican Republic that defrauded over 400 victims of approximately $5 million nationwide, with at least 50 victims in Massachusetts averaging 84 years old. Local deputies arrested three suspects and recovered the couple's money, while federal authorities determined the scammers used call centers in the Dominican Republic and unsuspecting rideshare drivers as intermediaries to funnel stolen funds

An off-duty police officer in Waltham, Massachusetts prevented an elderly man from losing $12,000 to a Bitcoin scam after recognizing a fraudulent caller impersonating Apple Customer Support and the FTC who instructed him to deposit money into a Bitcoin machine. The incident highlights a broader problem, as federal investigators recently charged 13 people involved in a separate scam targeting hundreds of elderly victims with an average age of 84, who were deceived by callers posing as grandchildren.

A transnational grandparent scam operation based in the Dominican Republic defrauded over 400 elderly victims (average age 84) of more than $5 million, with at least 50 victims from Massachusetts, using fake calls claiming grandchildren needed emergency money. Thirteen suspects, including alleged mastermind Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, faced charges after a two-year FBI investigation, with the scheme involving "opener" and "closer" call center employees who posed as family members and lawyers, directing victims to hand cash to rideshare drivers for delivery. The operation highlights the emotional and financial devastation of elder fraud and the importance of bank scrutiny for unusual senior withdrawals

Scammers posing as grandchildren are targeting elderly individuals by claiming emergencies (car accidents, arrests, etc.) and requesting urgent money transfers; thirteen Dominican Republic nationals were recently charged with defrauding approximately 400 U.S. grandparents of nearly $5 million across Massachusetts, California, New York, Florida, and Maryland. To protect themselves, grandparents should verify callers' identities through personal questions or video calls, avoid sharing financial information over the phone, and refrain from sending money immediately even if the caller claims to be a distressed family member.

A transnational grandparent scam operating from the Dominican Republic was dismantled following a two-year investigation, with suspects from New York, Massachusetts, and the Dominican Republic charged after defrauding at least 400 elderly victims of over $5 million. The sophisticated operation used call centers with "openers" posing as grandchildren in emergencies and "closers" impersonating lawyers demanding cash, with unwitting rideshare drivers recruited to transport victims to banks and deliver money; the scheme was uncovered when Uber flagged suspicious rides and alerted federal authorities. At least nine suspects were arrested facing wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering charges carrying up to 20

Thirteen people were charged in a sophisticated transnational elder fraud ring that operated from call centers in the Dominican Republic and defrauded over 400 Massachusetts senior citizens of approximately $5 million in combined losses. The defendants used a coordinated system of "openers" posing as distressed grandchildren, "closers" impersonating lawyers, and "runners" collecting cash, often making repeated calls to victims to extract additional payments for fabricated emergencies. Alleged mastermind Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia and other defendants used rideshare drivers as unwitting money couriers, with nine suspects arrested, two remaining at large in the U.S., and two at large in the Dominican Republic.

Thirteen Dominican Republic citizens have been charged with operating a sophisticated grandparent scam that defrauded approximately 400 U.S. seniors out of $5 million by posing as their grandchildren in distress and repeatedly extracting money from victims. The victims, averaging 84 years old and located across Massachusetts, California, New York, Florida, and Maryland, were targeted with calls claiming emergencies such as car accidents or arrests, with fraudsters sometimes contacting the same victims multiple times. Nine suspects are in custody while four remain at-large, each facing conspiracy charges for mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering with potential sentences up to 20 years in prison.

Federal authorities dismantled a transnational "grandparent scam" operation based in the Dominican Republic that defrauded over 400 victims nationwide, including at least 50 in Massachusetts with an average age of 84, stealing more than $5 million. The scheme involved call center employees posing as grandchildren in distress or their attorneys, instructing elderly victims to send cash via rideshare drivers or mail, with some victims targeted multiple times for additional funds. Thirteen individuals were charged, with eleven arrested on Tuesday, after a two-year joint investigation by the FBI and Dominican Republic authorities, and the stolen proceeds were laundered back to the Caribbean.

Thirteen individuals, led by Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, were charged for operating a transnational "grandparent scam" call center in the Dominican Republic that defrauded over 400 elderly victims (average age 84) across the United States, resulting in more than $5 million in losses, including at least 50 victims in Massachusetts. The scheme involved callers posing as grandchildren in distress or their attorneys, instructing victims to send cash via rideshare drivers or mail, and often requesting additional payments through fabricated stories. The defendants allegedly laundered the illicit proceeds back to the Dominican Republic through money launderers and bank accounts in the United States.

A transnational elder fraud ring based in the Dominican Republic was disrupted after a two-year investigation resulting in nine arrests and four additional charges, with 13 suspects identified in total. The scheme defrauded over 400 victims (average age 84) of more than $5 million across Massachusetts, Florida, California, Maryland, and New York by using bilingual callers posing as distressed grandchildren in accidents or legal trouble, followed by a "closer" impersonating an attorney, then a "runner" collecting cash via rideshare services. Alleged ringleader Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia and associates face charges including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering,

A transnational elder fraud ring operating a call center in Santiago, Dominican Republic, defrauded over 400 elderly victims (average age 84) out of more than $5 million through "grandparent scams," with at least 50 victims in Massachusetts. Thirteen individuals have been charged in connection with the scheme, which involved callers posing as grandchildren in distress and then as attorneys requesting emergency funds; four suspects remain at large while nine are in custody. Federal authorities shut down the operation following a two-year investigation and are urging victims to come forward without shame, noting that such schemes are increasingly sophisticated, sometimes aided by AI.

Two Nigerian nationals, Osakpamwan Henry Omoruyi (37) and Osaretin Godspower Omoruyi (36), were convicted by federal jury in Boston of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and money laundering conspiracy for operating romance scams and pandemic unemployment assistance fraud schemes. Between 2019 and 2021, the defendants used fraudulent passports to open fake bank accounts that collected over $1.7 million in proceeds from romance scams, which they then transferred overseas. Both face sentencing in September 2023, with potential sentences up to 30 years in prison for the fraud charges.