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Americans lost over $1 billion to romance scams last year, with many Arizona residents targeted. The three most prevalent romance scam tactics involve deepfake video calls using face-swapping technology (employed by Nigerian crime groups), cryptocurrency investment schemes that promise high returns once trust is established, and celebrity deepfakes using artificial intelligence. Victims can protect themselves by watching for unnatural video call indicators like inconsistent blinking, mismatched skin tones, and words not synchronizing with mouth movements.

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Meta is testing facial recognition technology to combat celebrity impersonation scams on Facebook and Instagram, which have cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars. The technology will identify and remove fraudulent celebrity endorsement ads and help users securely regain access to locked accounts. The initiative addresses a growing industry-wide problem that has accelerated since the pandemic began.

A 74-year-old woman from Frisco was scammed out of $600,000 by 56-year-old Jeffrey Monahan Jr., who impersonated Elon Musk and befriended her on Facebook in 2023, promising a $55 million return on investment in Musk's business ventures. Monahan has been charged with Grand Theft, and financial records showed the funds were directed to his painting business; he claimed his online girlfriend was the mastermind behind the scheme.

Elder fraud schemes—including grandparent scams, romance scams, and government impersonation scams—have become increasingly sophisticated through AI technology like deepfake videos and robocalls, making them difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications. In 2022 alone, approximately 88,000 people aged 60 and older lost $3.1 billion to fraud, with victims over 70 losing an average of nearly $42,000; scammers typically exploit emotions rather than intelligence, and experts advise victims and their families to watch for financial requests as the key indicator of fraud. The AARP Fraud Watch Network received nearly 100,000 calls last year from victims of all

Actor Jamie Dornan recounted how Warren Beatty nearly fell victim to an email scam in which a fraudster impersonated Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, sending messages to Redmayne's contacts requesting cash. Beatty was the only one of Redmayne's email contacts who responded positively to the scam message, offering to wire money before the fraud was revealed.

**Death-Hoax Scam Using AI-Generated Obituaries** Scammers are creating fake AI-generated obituaries of real, living people and posting them on low-quality content sites to generate ad revenue through clicks and search traffic, a scheme recently discovered when Los Angeles Times reporter Deborah Vankin found a false obituary about herself online. The scam targets high-traffic names and fills obituaries with keywords to rank in Google searches; while not directly targeting victims for money, the scheme exploits ad networks and has the potential to significantly impact public figures and celebrities. Users should verify the legitimacy of online obituaries, as personal information is readily available on the

In 2023, Virginia residents lost over $200 million to scams according to the Federal Trade Commission. The Better Business Bureau warns that AI-generated content is making scams increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect, with scammers using AI to create fake celebrity endorsements in shopping and investment schemes. The BBB recommends verifying legitimacy through reverse image searches, checking for audio/visual irregularities, and conducting thorough research before engaging with unfamiliar offers.

**Celebrity Impostor Scams Enhanced by AI Technology** Criminals are leveraging artificial intelligence to make celebrity impostor scams increasingly convincing, moving from fake social media profiles and messaging to deepfake videos that impersonate celebrities like Dolly Parton, Elon Musk, and Tom Hanks. Scammers use these fraudulent schemes to establish false connections with fans, offering personal access, investment opportunities, or charity support to steal money. Consumers should be cautious of any personal contact claims from celebrities and report suspected scams to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.

A National Australia Bank teller in Melbourne prevented a woman in her 60s from losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam by identifying red flags in her plan to transfer money to an overseas "boyfriend" she had met on social media. The scammer, posing as someone in Turkey needing medical treatment, had convinced the woman to send funds to an intermediary in Sydney, but the teller's intervention and private counseling stopped the transaction. According to NAB, romance scam reports have increased nearly 30 percent year-over-year, with Australians losing an estimated $33 million to such scams annually.

The FTC enacted a new rule effective immediately that prohibits impersonation scams involving government, businesses, and their officials, and grants the agency authority to file federal court complaints to recover stolen funds from perpetrators. Impersonation scams cost victims $1.1 billion in 2023, including schemes involving fake business communications, spoofed emails and websites, and fraudulent use of government seals and logos. The FTC is also accepting public comment through April 30th on expanding the rule to cover impersonation of individuals through deepfakes and AI voice cloning technology.

Scammers are increasingly using AI technology, including deepfake videos, to impersonate celebrities and defraud fans by offering fake personal connections, VIP access, investment opportunities, or charity support. Victims should be cautious of unsolicited celebrity contact on social media or messaging platforms, as legitimate celebrity interactions are rare, and should report suspected scams to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.

A Hong Kong finance worker lost $25.6 million after being deceived in a video conference where the CFO and executives were entirely computer-generated deepfakes, representing a sophisticated AI-enabled fraud scheme. Criminals are increasingly weaponizing generative AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E to create convincing fake voices, videos, and identities for various scams including celebrity endorsement frauds, romance schemes, sextortion, and phishing emails. Experts warn that AI technology has dramatically lowered the barrier for fraud perpetration, enabling an "industrial revolution for fraud criminals" with potentially endless victims and losses.

Deepfake videos featuring celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift, and Selena Gomez have been circulating on social media to scam consumers into revealing personal or financial information through fake endorsements for products like MacBooks and cookware. To identify these AI-generated scams, consumers should examine the video for unusual movements or facial expressions, distorted backgrounds, suspicious sources, and lack of context, and can use reverse image searches and hover over links before clicking. The general rule remains that if a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is, and suspicious activity should be reported to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

This article examines cryptocurrency fraud threats, particularly as Bitcoin's value surges and a halving event approaches, attracting both legitimate interest and malicious actors. The main threats include malware like Lumma Stealer and crypto drainers (which stole $59 million and $47 million respectively), phishing scams using spoofed social media accounts and fake investment platforms, and social engineering attacks such as celebrity impersonation schemes. The article advises cryptocurrency users to protect themselves against these unregulated market threats through awareness and digital security practices.

AARP identifies four emerging scams to watch for in 2024: check cooking (using software to digitally alter stolen checks rather than chemical washing), voiceprint scams (using deepfake technology to impersonate victims' voices for financial fraud), delayed-action sweepstakes scams (collecting personal information for identity theft that may be exploited gradually), and virtual celebrity scams (exploiting fans' connection to online celebrity presence). Prevention strategies include using safer payment methods, avoiding phone calls from unknown numbers, never providing personal information to unsolicited callers, and remaining skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.

CBS News conducted a year-long investigation into romance scams, airing a weeklong series from April 21-28, 2024, revealing the epidemic affects victims across the country and constitutes a billion-dollar crime wave. The investigation, led by correspondent Jim Axelrod, features the story of a woman whose mother died after losing her life savings to a romance scam, and includes interviews with victims, scammers, dating app executives, and law enforcement across seven states. The series explores trends in online dating, the role of Match Group, how scammers operate (many originating from Ghana), and the psychological manipulation tactics used to defraud victims.

A Citi survey reveals that while 90% of U.S. adults believe they can spot financial scams, 27% have actually fallen victim to one, highlighting a significant gap between confidence and reality. The FTC reported $10 billion in losses to scams in 2023, with scammers using email, text, phone calls, and mail to target victims. The article outlines five emerging scam types—QR code scams ("quishing"), student loan forgiveness schemes, peer-to-peer payment fraud, and virtual celebrity impersonations—and provides protective measures for each.

A South Korean woman lost 70 million won (approximately ₹41 lakh) in a romance scam after being deceived by a scammer impersonating Elon Musk using deepfake video technology. The scammer built trust over Instagram by sharing fabricated details about Musk's life, conducting a deepfake video call to appear authentic, and then convincing the victim to transfer money to a Korean bank account with promises of investment returns. This incident reflects a growing trend of scammers exploiting the identities of high-profile figures like Musk to defraud vulnerable targets.

A South Korean woman lost $50,000 to a scammer who used deepfake videos to impersonate Elon Musk on Instagram, convincing her to transfer funds through a fake investment opportunity. The scammer built credibility by sharing fabricated photos, identification documents, and intimate details about Musk's life, ultimately conducting a convincing video call using deepfake technology. The victim later appeared on South Korean television to warn others about the dangers of this sophisticated fraud technique.

In 2023, Australian seniors aged 65 and above lost more than $2.7 billion to scams across over 601,000 reported cases, representing a significant increase from 2022's 507,000 reports. Investment scams were the leading threat, accounting for $1.3 billion in losses, followed by remote access scams ($256 million), romance scams ($201.1 million), and phishing scams ($137.4 million), with tactics including deepfake videos and celebrity impersonations. The ACCC reports that the true scale is likely much larger, as an estimated one in three victims never report their fraud, and the government has launche

This article is an educational overview of online fraud tactics, particularly on social media platforms. In 2024, 70% of authorized push payment (APP) fraud originated online, with criminals impersonating legitimate businesses, charities, or loved ones to manipulate victims into sending money through fake profiles and targeted ads. The UK introduced new consumer protections in October 2024, including up to £85,000 reimbursement coverage and a five-day claims process, as social media's anonymity, ease of account creation, and access to personal information make it an ideal environment for fraudsters to operate at scale.

AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline director Amy Nofziger discusses six fast-growing scams identified through thousands of annual helpline calls, including celebrity impersonation, check fraud, sweepstakes and grandparent scams, voice printing fraud, and Olympics-related schemes. The Fraud Watch Network offers free resources to consumers of any age, including a helpline staffed by 150 trained fraud specialists who provide support and guidance to scam victims and those seeking fraud prevention advice.

A 70-year-old Parkinson's patient lost approximately $50,000 to scammers impersonating baseball player Trea Turner after she defended him on social media. The fraudsters convinced her over Google Chat that Turner needed financial help with personal and property issues, using persistent and convincing tactics that exploited her trust. Law enforcement believes the scammers may be operating outside the United States, and authorities recommend avoiding engagement with unsolicited messages from celebrities and being cautious about posting on public figures' social media pages.

AI technology is making romance scams increasingly common and harder to detect in online dating, with artificial intelligence enabling scammers to impersonate real people more convincingly through chatbots and deepfakes. Australians lost over $5.8 million to dating and romance scams in the first three months of 2024, with 27% of dating app users targeted and nearly 40% of those becoming victims. Experts advise vigilance for warning signs including avoidance of video calls, sparse profile images, and rapid relationship progression to protect against these AI-enhanced scams.

Google announced upcoming AI-powered scam-detection tools for Android phones that use its Gemini AI to alert users in real-time when a phone conversation contains suspicious wording commonly used by scammers, with alerts displaying on-screen and an audio notification to warn users. The feature, still in testing with no official release date, processes audio analysis locally on the device to maintain privacy, and comes as Microsoft announced a similar competing feature, while scammers increasingly use AI-generated voice impersonations of celebrities and public figures to deceive victims. On average, phone users receive approximately 14 spam calls per month, prompting regulators like the FCC to declare AI-generated impersonation calls illegal in an effort to

A cyber security expert warns that AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney are enabling increasingly sophisticated romance scams on dating apps—described as "catfishing on steroids"—by allowing scammers to create AI-generated or enhanced photos and personalized messages that are harder to detect. One in four Australian singles surveyed reported being targeted by dating scams, with Australians losing over $40 million to dating app and social media scams in the previous year, particularly affecting people over 55. The article provides detection tips including looking for unrealistic photo features, using reverse image searches, and testing text with AI-detection tools, while noting that dating apps employ varying safety measures such as identity

Nottinghamshire Police warned online daters about romance fraudsters impersonating celebrities on dating apps and social media platforms. A woman lost approximately £5,000 to a scammer posing as TV chef James Martin, while other victims were deceived by impersonators of Il Divo singer Urs Buhler and Take That frontman Gary Barlow, with perpetrators obtaining money, gift cards, and explicit images through manipulation and coercion. Police advised victims to be vigilant about requests for money, avoid sending funds to people they haven't met in person, and consult trusted friends or family members when online relationships take financial turns.

Based on 2023 FTC data, the five most-impersonated brands in scams are Best Buy's Geek Squad, Amazon, PayPal, Microsoft, and Publishers Clearing House, with Microsoft impersonation scams causing the highest financial losses at $60 million and Publishers Clearing House scams at $49 million. Common scams include fake tech support pop-ups claiming to be from Microsoft that trick victims into calling scammers, and fraudulent calls impersonating Publishers Clearing House claiming victims have won prizes and must pay upfront fees or taxes; some victims have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to these schemes.

A scam-baiter named Jim Browning exposed a cryptocurrency investment scam operation based in Georgia, Eastern Europe, that targets victims worldwide by posing as financial advisors and recovery services. The scammers use fake celebrity endorsements and fraudulent websites to lure victims, then display fake cryptocurrency portfolios to convince them their money is growing, with some victims—including an Australian man Browning monitored in real-time—losing thousands of dollars. Australians reported losing over $2.74 billion to scams in the previous year, with attackers particularly targeting older adults with retirement savings.

Consumer protection agencies are warning about a shift in social media scam tactics, where impostors now impersonate major brands like Best Buy's Geek Squad (52,000 reports), Amazon (34,000 reports), and PayPal (10,000 reports) rather than federal agencies to steal money and personal information. Key protective measures include ignoring unsolicited calls, texts, and emails requesting financial or account information; monitoring credit reports regularly; and verifying communications directly with known company phone numbers or websites. Organizations including the FTC, AARP, and Better Business Bureau are providing resources in multiple languages to combat these increasingly sophisticated impersonation scams.

The Tennessee Attorney General's Office and Secretary of State issued a warning about scammers impersonating celebrities through fake charities, bogus product endorsements, and phishing schemes on social media. Victims are targeted to donate money or provide personal information under the false pretense of legitimate charitable organizations or celebrity endorsements. Authorities recommend verifying charities through tools like Charity Navigator, contacting organizations directly using known contact information, and never sending money or personal details to unknown individuals regardless of their claimed celebrity status.

Joyce, a 74-year-old Massachusetts woman, lost over $400,000 to scammers impersonating country star Vince Gill over nearly a year in 2022-2023, after she engaged with fake accounts that contacted her following a comment she posted on his Instagram page. Her daughter Jessica discovered the fraud involving romantic manipulation (the scammers posed as Gill and claimed to be her spouse) and discovered it was exacerbated by Joyce's undiagnosed cognitive decline, though experts note cognitive impairment is not required for someone to fall victim to such scams. The case highlights how celebrity impersonation scams exploit vulnerable individuals through manipulative tactics on social media

Celebrity scams use artificial intelligence tools like deepfakes and voice cloning to impersonate trusted public figures and celebrities, tricking victims into investing money, sharing personal information, or signing up for fraudulent platforms. To identify these scams, consumers should examine deepfake videos for unnatural movements, facial expressions, background distortion, and verify sources through official channels, while also recognizing red flags in voice cloning scams such as unusual speech patterns and urgent requests for personal information. These scams pose significant risks to victims' identity and finances.

A network of fraudulent investment platforms linked to Cyprus uses fake celebrity endorsements and fabricated news articles to lure victims into investing money that is never actually invested in stocks or real financial products. The scam, which includes platforms such as InvesaCapital, OBRInvest, and ForexTB, targets investors internationally—including many in Switzerland—who are pressured by manipulative phone calls to deposit increasingly larger sums, resulting in total losses ranging from tens of thousands to over CHF100,000 per victim. Swiss authorities have confirmed dozens of criminal charges related to this network, though prosecution is often difficult due to perpetrators operating abroad.

Smishing attacks in South Korea have surged dramatically, with scammers impersonating financial institutions, investment firms, and government agencies through fake promotional text messages containing malicious URLs. These sophisticated schemes trick victims into visiting counterfeit websites or downloading malware-laden apps that steal personal information, enable remote device control, or lock data with ransomware demands; spam texts increased nearly 10-fold from 31.12 million in 2019 to over 168 million cases by mid-2023, with projections exceeding 400 million annually. The attacks exploit improved spam reporting visibility, regulatory changes affecting investment advisory services, and compromised text reseller companies to distribute fraudulent messages imp

Arizona ranked fifth nationally for online romance scams in 2023, with more than 800 victims losing over $22 million, averaging $27,000 per victim—significantly higher than the national average of $2,000. The most dangerous emerging scams involve deepfake video calls, cryptocurrency investment schemes, and fake celebrity profiles using artificial intelligence technology. To protect themselves, potential victims should verify identities through reverse image searches, watch for signs of deepfakes like unnatural blinking and mismatched mouth movements, and never send money or cryptocurrency to unknown online contacts.

Martin Lewis and other high-profile figures including Taylor Swift, Elon Musk, and Adele have had their identities misused in celebrity profile scams, with analysis of Action Fraud data from 2022-2023 revealing that scammers impersonating Lewis's profile alone were responsible for over £20 million in reported losses, with individual victims losing up to £500,000. Scammers use these celebrity endorsements in fake investment and product advertisements to increase click-through rates and deceive victims into parting with money. The article advises victims to contact their bank, police, or Action Fraud immediately, and notes that many banks now offer a 159 hot

In 2023, cryptocurrency users lost nearly $2 billion to rug pulls, scams, and hacks, with losses exceeding $1.4 billion in the first half of 2024. Common crypto scams include phishing attacks (fake websites and emails stealing login credentials), romance scams (emotional manipulation leading to fraudulent investment requests), impersonation and giveaway scams (fake celebrity endorsements and deepfakes), and investment scams (Ponzi schemes and pump-and-dump schemes). Users can protect themselves by understanding these scam types, remaining alert, and staying informed about threats in the cryptocurrency sector.

This educational resource from DISB (District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking) provides information on common scam types to help consumers protect themselves during financial transactions. The tracker includes detailed examples of advance fee scams, affinity scams by licensed professionals, and credit card phishing scams, with specific case narratives and protective strategies such as verifying information directly with legitimate agencies and being cautious of unsolicited financial offers.

**Summary:** YouTuber Fuslie fell victim to a "smishing" scam impersonating USPS, clicking a malicious link in a text message and entering her credit card information multiple times before realizing the website was fraudulent. She subsequently canceled all her cards to prevent unauthorized charges. The incident highlights the prevalence of these phishing scams, which attempt to steal personal and financial information by posing as legitimate government agencies or companies.

Deepfake technology, powered by AI advances, is increasingly used in fraud schemes targeting individuals and businesses. Criminals employ deepfake videos, face-swapping, and voice cloning to impersonate celebrities, executives, and recruiters in romance scams, job recruitment fraud, and investment schemes, with deepfake content increasing 900% between 2019-2020 and an estimated 26% of small companies and 38% of large companies experiencing deepfake-related fraud in 2023. Notable cases include a Japanese manga artist losing nearly $500,000 USD to a fake video call impersonating actor Mark Ruffalo, while experts warn that by

Criminal scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to impersonate celebrities online, creating realistic videos and fake social media profiles to defraud fans through fraudulent investment opportunities, product endorsements, and ticket sales. Consumers should be skeptical of any personal connection or financial opportunity presented by celebrities on social media, as these are likely scams. AARP recommends reporting suspected scams to the Fraud Watch Network at 877-908-3360 or visiting aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to impersonate celebrities in fraud schemes targeting fans, offering fake investment opportunities, product endorsements, and bogus VIP tickets. These AI-enhanced scams make impersonations more realistic and convincing than traditional fake celebrity profiles. Consumers should be skeptical of direct personal contact from celebrities on social media and other platforms, recognizing that such opportunities are likely fraudulent.

Scam victims in Malaysia often face repeated targeting by the same scammers who retain their personal information for follow-up frauds, and many victims lack awareness of protective measures and support resources. Key vulnerabilities include poor data protection practices and low public understanding of scams, particularly among seniors and youth, while only 35% of survey respondents knew to contact the National Scam Response Centre (997) within 24 hours to report fraud. Experts recommend improved public education about specific scam types, stronger legal frameworks against mule account schemes, and collaborative community action to combat online fraud.

Deepfake technology powered by AI is fueling a rising tide of scams in 2024, with deepfake content increasing 900% between 2019 and 2020. Cybercriminals use deepfakes to impersonate celebrities, recruiters, and romantic partners through fake video calls, job interviews, and investment schemes to steal money and personal information from victims. Key scams include romance fraud (where scammers conduct convincing video calls using face-swapping), recruiting scams (impersonating employers on LinkedIn to extract payment and data), and investment scams (using fake celebrity endorsements to promote cryptocurrency schemes).

Between January and June 2024, Scamwatch received 143,113 reports and documented over $139 million in losses, with people aged 55 and over accounting for 48.7 percent of losses despite representing only a portion of reports. A key finding shows that 30 percent of people do not report serious scams, and social media scams cost Australians $80.2 million in the previous year, with common tactics including fake accounts, fraudulent investment opportunities, and requests for personal information. Banks emphasize the importance of reporting scams and sharing awareness to collectively prevent fraud, particularly targeting vulnerable populations including older adults, non-English speakers, and people with

This educational piece outlines four emerging fraud schemes targeting seniors: check cooking (digitally altering stolen checks), voiceprinting (using deepfake voice technology to impersonate victims and access financial accounts), celebrity impersonation (scammers posing as celebrities or their agents on social media to solicit loans), and multistage grandparent scams (organized call centers with young operatives posing as grandchildren in distress). The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including using electronic bill payments, avoiding phone conversations with non-family members, being skeptical of celebrity direct messages, and verifying caller information through independent contact methods.

This article identifies three common Instagram scams: fake retailers using artificial urgency and limited comments to sell non-existent or overpriced products; celebrity impersonators requesting money via direct message for charity donations or travel expenses; and romance scammers who build relationships with victims before requesting money for bills, flights, or medical expenses. The article advises users to verify company registration through Companies House, research products before purchasing, recognize that real celebrities won't solicit money via DM, and never send money to people met only online, as doing so risks both direct financial loss and identity theft through personal information misuse.

Moira Stuart, a 75-year-old BBC News presenter, fell victim to a sophisticated phone scam where fraudsters impersonated her bank and instructed her to transfer money to catch an alleged "inside job" at her branch. A vigilant bank cashier prevented her from losing thousands of pounds by questioning the transaction and alerting the bank's anti-fraud team. Stuart publicly shared her experience to combat the shame surrounding fraud victimization and to raise awareness, noting that nearly three million instances of bank fraud costing £1.2 billion were recorded the previous year, with authorized fraud victims losing an average of nearly £2,000.