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finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating FTC agents are stealing an average of $7,000 per victim in 2024, more than double the $3,000 average from 2019, according to FTC warnings. The scheme typically involves fraudsters posing as government agents who pressure victims to move money to protect their accounts, often directing them to withdraw cash, purchase cryptocurrency or gold, or transfer funds—tactics the FTC explicitly states it never employs. The FTC received 228,282 complaints about government impersonation scams in 2023, highlighting a broader fraud crisis that cost Americans $10 billion in losses last year.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Regina Smith, a 34-year-old experienced real estate investor, fell victim to wire fraud in January 2023 when she sent a $60,000 down payment to a scammer who had spoofed emails from her title company for a Memphis property purchase. The fraudster had hacked into the title company's system to access transaction details and create a convincing fake email, causing Smith's home purchase to fall through and resulting in a total loss of her down payment. This case illustrates how real-estate wire fraud is increasing significantly, with the FBI reporting that one in 20 homebuyers and sellers experienced such scams in recent years, with median losses exceeding $70
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating FTC agents are increasingly successful in 2024, stealing an average of $7,000 per victim—more than double the $3,000 average from 2019. The FTC warns that legitimate agents never demand money transfers, direct victims to Bitcoin ATMs or gold purchases, or threaten arrest, and the agency received 228,282 complaints about government impersonation scams in 2023. Overall fraud losses reached a record $10 billion in 2023, with data showing that while younger adults are more susceptible to scams, those over 40 typically lose larger amounts.
hermoney.com
· 2025-12-08
Contrary to common stereotypes, younger adults (ages 18-59) are 34% more likely than older adults to report losing money to fraud, with particular vulnerability to online shopping and investment scams. Financial columnist Charlotte Cowles fell victim to an elaborate scam involving fake Amazon and FTC calls that threatened arrest and her child's safety, ultimately resulting in her handing over $50,000 in cash from her emergency fund. The key takeaway is that victims should speak with a trusted person before transferring money, as interruption by someone else is often what prevents financial loss rather than recognizing red flags.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Lynn Schofield, age 60, from Louisiana, was sentenced to 12 months in prison (with 6 months home detention) in March 2024 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications. Schofield and her two adult children submitted false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications that misrepresented nonexistent or low-earning businesses and falsely claimed loan proceeds were for business purposes, resulting in approximately $282,650 in losses to the Small Business Administration. She was ordered to repay full restitution and serve three years of supervised release.
columbian.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple paid $6,500 for toilet installation—approximately six times the average cost—to a licensed plumber, illustrating how seniors can be exploited by service providers who target their vulnerability and trust. Elder financial abuse remains a widespread problem, often unreported due to victims' shame and embarrassment, and can be prevented through community awareness and education about common exploitation tactics.
alaskapublic.org
· 2025-12-08
Alaska experienced a 91% surge in internet scam losses from 2022 to 2023, jumping from $16.5 million to $31.5 million—nearly double the national average increase of 21%—with seniors over 60 representing about 300 victims but accounting for over $8.7 million (more than a quarter of total losses). The FBI identified the three main fraud types affecting Alaskans as compromised business emails, investment fraud, and romance scams, while emphasizing that actual losses are likely underreported. Authorities stress prevention through strong passwords, anti-virus software, caution with virtual relationships, and reporting incidents to the FBI's Internet Crime
wach.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned South Carolina residents about escalating romance scams that target vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals, through social media, email, and text messaging by building trust over weeks or months before requesting money. Losses from these scams in South Carolina increased dramatically from $5 million in 2016 to $59 million in 2023, with 2024 projections exceeding that figure. The FBI advised potential victims to pause contact, consult trusted friends or family, and reconsider why they trust the person reaching out.
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
A 64-year-old woman in Leisure World, Maryland was defrauded of nearly $800,000 after a caller posing as a federal investigator convinced her to convert her savings into gold bars under the guise of protecting her from identity thieves. The suspect, Wenhui Sun, collected the gold bars in multiple parking lot exchanges before fleeing with the stolen assets. This cash-to-gold scam has affected at least a dozen seniors in Montgomery County, though police arrested Sun after setting up a sting operation with a decoy victim and $376,000 in gold bars.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Albertans reported losing over $156 million to fraud since 2020, with losses reaching $62.5 million in 2023 alone—a fivefold increase from 2020—though experts estimate only 5-10% of incidents are reported due to victim reluctance and embarrassment. Investment scams, particularly cryptocurrency fraud, accounted for nearly 58% of 2023 losses ($35.9 million), followed by spear-phishing attacks that took $8.5 million, with technological advancements and the unregulated nature of cryptocurrency enabling fraudsters to operate across borders with relative anonymity.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Clinton Chukwudi Uchendu, 26, of Georgia, was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering, mail fraud, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business for his role in a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $600,000 between February and October 2018. As a "picker," Uchendu provided U.S. bank accounts to receive funds from romance scam victims who were deceived by "Yahoo Boys" operating from Nigeria posing as soldiers, businessmen, or celebrities, then laundered the money to Nigeria while retaining a portion. He received funds from dozens of victims across the United States, several of whom testified to losing hundreds of
aba.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. The text provided appears to be a navigation menu or table of contents from a banking industry website (likely the American Bankers Association), not an article or transcript about elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
To create a summary for the Elderus database, please provide the actual article or transcript content about a specific fraud case, scam scheme, or elder abuse incident.
ojp.gov
· 2025-12-08
This National Institute of Justice report analyzes data from the 2017 National Crime Victimization Survey to examine financial fraud victimization among adults aged 60 and older. The study addresses limitations in prior fraud research by providing nationally representative estimates that include both reported and unreported cases, revealing that older adults' fraud victimization profiles differ from younger adults' patterns. The findings highlight the need for continued research on unreported fraud cases to better understand the full scope of financial fraud targeting seniors.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a consumer alert in March 2024 warning renters and homebuyers about fraudulent real estate listings on platforms like Zillow and Facebook Marketplace. The scams involved non-existent properties, artificially low prices, and upfront deposit demands, with one example requiring a $4,500 deposit before viewing and another property used for four separate scams. The alert advises consumers to watch for red flags including wire transfer requests, requests for verification codes or personal financial information, spelling/grammar errors, and prices significantly lower than comparable properties in the area.
kyuk.org
· 2025-12-08
Alaska's internet fraud losses nearly doubled from $16.5 million in 2022 to $31.5 million in 2023—a 91% increase that far outpaced the national 21% rise—with the FBI noting actual losses are likely underreported. While older adults (60+) represented only about 13% of Alaska's 2,338 fraud victims that year, they accounted for over $8.7 million in losses (more than 25% of the total), with the top fraud types being compromised business emails, investment scams, and romance scams. The FBI emphasizes prevention through strong passwords, caution with virtual relationships and suspicious links,
gephardtdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Clinton Chukwudi Uchendu, a 26-year-old from Georgia, was convicted by federal jury in March 2024 for operating as a "picker" in a $600,000 romance scam conspiracy, laundering money from victims who were deceived by overseas "Yahoo Boys" posing as soldiers and businessmen. Uchendu provided U.S. bank accounts to collect victim funds and transfer money to Nigeria while concealing the transactions' origins, and was found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering, mail fraud, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. He is scheduled for sentencing in June 2024.
kstp.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The Blaine Police Department is warning residents about a Bitcoin scam in which fraudsters impersonate bank security and Microsoft support to trick victims into withdrawing thousands of dollars and converting them to Bitcoin at gas station kiosks. The scammers, who possess victims' account balances and bank ID information, instruct victims not to contact police, but once funds are transferred to the scammer's digital wallet, the transactions cannot be reversed. Officials recommend contacting your bank directly rather than responding to unsolicited notifications about suspicious account activity.
ncdoj.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Guilford County Sheriff's Office warned of a rising phone scam in which callers impersonate deputies using real officer names and spoofed phone numbers to demand immediate payment of fines under threat of arrest. The article provides guidance that legitimate law enforcement will never call to threaten arrest, victims should independently verify callers' identities, and payments via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency are red flags indicating fraud.
25newsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Bartonville held its annual Safety for Seniors event, which attracted over 200 attendees—triple the previous year's attendance—featuring 50 vendors and educational sessions on common scams. Local police and fire departments warned seniors about phone scams impersonating relatives requesting bail or legal fees, and highlighted wire fraud as a prevalent threat affecting elderly residents. The event, now in its 20+ year history, aimed to educate both seniors and younger generations about fraud prevention and the importance of avoiding unknown callers.
times-georgian.com
· 2025-12-08
Former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health-care fraud after ordering unnecessary medical tests through a Texas lab in exchange for $260,000 in kickbacks, working with Dr. Jeffrey Gallups. The scheme involved submitting fraudulent insurance claims exceeding $2.5 million to private insurers, which paid the lab nearly $700,000, and included obstruction of justice when Oxendine instructed Gallups to lie to compliance officers and federal agents. Oxendine faces sentencing in July.
thirteen.org
· 2025-12-08
FBI and IRS special agents visited the Pemberton Senior Center in Browns Mills to warn seniors about increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes targeting their age group. The agents provided education on common fraud tactics and prevention strategies to help seniors protect themselves from these growing threats.
sundayworld.com
· 2025-12-08
The Black Axe gang, a West African organized crime network with approximately 1,100 members in Ireland, has amassed a fortune primarily through cyber fraud rather than drug trafficking. The gang specializes in investment scams, romance fraud, and Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes, with 226 Irish victims of investment fraud losing an average of €40,000-€50,000 each in the past year, while €7 million has been stolen through romance fraud targeting vulnerable women over the past five years. Irish law enforcement has made over 377 arrests as of last June and continues weekly operations under Operation Skein, which contributes to Interpol's international Operation
cybershack.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old tech-savvy reader named John fell victim to an online scam after clicking on a fake ad-blocker offer, compromising his credit card and personal information; scammers made several fraudulent purchases within 24 hours before he took corrective action. The article outlines common online scam types—including email phishing, SMS fraud, malware/ransomware, and fake websites—and provides protective measures such as using clean email addresses, running malware detection software, maintaining backups, and remaining skeptical of unsolicited offers. The key message is that online scams affect people across all technical skill levels, and awareness combined with proactive security practices can help
blogto.com
· 2025-12-08
Toronto residents are experiencing a surge in scams targeting seniors and vulnerable citizens, including fraudulent speeding ticket texts, rental listing scams (with victims losing up to $3,600), 407 ETR toll highway payment scams via text message, and grandparent scams that have defrauded over 200 Toronto victims of more than $1 million since 2021. Recent cases include an 87-year-old who lost $10,000 when scammers falsely claimed her grandson needed bail money for drug possession charges, highlighting how fraudsters exploit urgency and trust in authorities to manipulate victims.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in phone scams over a 10-day period targeting medical and education professionals. Scammers impersonated legal authorities, claiming victims missed jury duty or court testimony and threatened arrest unless they paid fines via gift cards or payment apps. Authorities identified requests for gift card or app-based payments as a red flag indicator of fraudulent calls and urged victims to report them to the sheriff's office.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
A 34-year-old woman lost $60,000 in a wire fraud scam when she received a fraudulent email impersonating her title company to send a down payment for a home purchase in Memphis, Tennessee in January 2023. Scammers had hacked the title company's system to obtain property details and mimic the agent's communication style, making the fake email appear legitimate until she noticed a misspelled realtor's name an hour after wiring the funds. Although the Secret Service eventually recovered her money, she missed out on the property purchase, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated nature of wire transfer fraud targeting real estate transactions.
floridadaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Taufiq Mohammed Kailani of Daytona Beach was arrested for using a business email imposter scam to defraud two construction companies of $60,725 by posing as an employee and sending a counterfeit bank letter to trick one company into wiring funds. Kailani exploited an elderly victim he met through a romance scam to open a fraudulent bank account and withdraw the stolen money, which the victim unwittingly facilitated. He was charged with organized fraud, fraudulent use of personal identification information, and money laundering, with bail set at $1.5 million.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three New Jersey residents pleaded guilty to operating a romance fraud scheme from 2016 to 2020 that defrauded over 100 victims of millions of dollars. Martins Friday Inalegwu and Steincy Mathieu, along with co-conspirator Oluwaseyi Fatolu, worked with accomplices in Nigeria to pose as romantic partners on dating sites, convincing victims to send money while evading taxes on their illegal proceeds. The defendants face charges including unlawful money transmitting, tax evasion, and conspiracy related to the multi-million dollar scheme.
hawaiipolice.com
· 2025-12-08
The Hawai'i Police Department issued a warning after receiving multiple reports of scammers calling Big Island residents while impersonating police officers or court officials using spoofed caller ID numbers displaying HPD phone numbers. The fraudsters claim victims have outstanding warrants and attempt to extract personal information or payments, though legitimate HPD officers never request such information or money over the phone. Residents are advised to verify caller identity through official channels, refuse to share personal details, remain skeptical of urgent threats, and contact police dispatch at (808) 935-3311 to verify suspicious calls.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), a Mexican drug cartel, orchestrated a sophisticated timeshare fraud scheme that defrauded Americans of approximately $40 million in 2022 alone, with the scam now estimated to steal hundreds of millions annually. The operation targeted elderly U.S. citizens, using high-pressure tactics to collect upfront fees for timeshare sales, then became evasive; scammers later posed as lawyers offering false restitution to keep victims engaged through repeated wire transfers. The FBI received over 600 complaints in 2022, and the U.S. Treasury imposed multiple rounds of sanctions against cartel members and Mexican companies involve
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG) orchestrated a sophisticated timeshare scam that defrauded Americans of approximately $40 million in 2022, with many elderly victims losing their life savings. The scheme, originating in Puerto Vallarta and expanding to tourist destinations like Cancun, involved high-pressure sales tactics, upfront fees, and years-long follow-up scams posing as recovery lawyers—one victim alone lost nearly $1.8 million through 99 wire transfers. The U.S. Treasury and FBI responded with sanctions and warnings starting in 2023, freezing assets and restricting dealings with identified companies and fugitives involve
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), a violent Mexican drug cartel, orchestrated a sophisticated timeshare scam that defrauded Americans of approximately $40 million in 2022, with victims including many elderly citizens who lost their life savings. The scheme, which evolved from Puerto Vallarta to popular tourist destinations like Cancun, involved multiple layers of deception including high-pressure sales tactics, upfront fees, and fake recovery lawyers making restitution promises over years-long periods. The FBI received over 600 complaints with losses of $39.6 million in 2022, prompting federal sanctions against the cartel's network and a multi-agency
highlandcountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Indian nationals, Anil Mangukia, 39, and Yash Navadia, 25, were indicted on money laundering conspiracy charges for their roles in an elder fraud courier scam targeting older Americans, including a victim in Warren, Ohio. The defendants and coconspirators stole more than $127,000 and attempted to steal an additional $650,000 by posing as bank employees and government agents, falsely claiming victims' accounts were compromised and instructing them to transfer money, purchase gold, or meet in person to hand over cash and valuables. The perpetrators employed multiple deception tactics including cryptocurrency transfers, direct bank transfers, and physical courier exchanges of
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
John Sapienza, 60, of the Bronx was sentenced to 38 months in prison for aggravated identity theft and attempted bank fraud, along with co-defendant Tyshawn Wilson, who received 44 months. Between January 6-11, 2023, the pair travelled to multiple bank locations in New York and Kentucky attempting to withdraw funds from customer accounts using counterfeit IDs bearing Sapienza's photograph with victims' identifying information, until their arrest by Fort Thomas Police on January 11, 2023.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three Los Angeles County men were sentenced to federal prison (15, 10, and 8 years respectively) for laundering gift cards stolen from telephone scam victims, acquiring over 5,000 Target gift card numbers from a Chinese fraud operation called "Magic Lamp" and using runners to quickly liquidate them at retail stores. The scheme targeted mostly older adults between June 2019 and November 2020, with victims defrauded through impersonation scams by government officials and tech support, and the defendants ordered to pay restitution totaling $194,387.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three men—Blade Bai, Bowen Hu, and Tairan Shi—were sentenced to 15, 10, and 8 years in prison respectively for laundering gift card fraud proceeds between June 2019 and November 2020. The defendants acquired over 5,000 Target gift card numbers (typically valued at $500 each) from a Chinese fraud ring called "Magic Lamp," then used runners to quickly liquidate the cards by purchasing high-value electronics, targeting mostly elderly victims who had been deceived by telephone scammers posing as government officials or tech support personnel. The scheme involved a transnational network designed to prevent Target from reimburs
nationalpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Richmond, B.C. residents lost over $16 million to romance-investment scams in 2023, with 87 reported cases involving criminals who groomed victims over weeks or months through dating websites and social media before convincing them to invest in fraudulent schemes, typically involving cryptocurrencies. Police noted an alarming continuation of the trend with 12 additional cases reported in early 2024 resulting in nearly $500,000 in losses, and suspect actual victim numbers are higher due to underreporting stemming from embarrassment or fear. Authorities advise the public to be skeptical of unsolicited romantic contacts, especially from unusually attractive profiles or strangers promising investment returns.
vancouversun.com
· 2025-12-08
Richmond RCMP reported a significant rise in romance-investment scams in 2023, with victims losing over $16 million across 87 reported cases, and an additional 12 cases reported in early 2024 resulting in nearly $500,000 in losses. These "long-con scams" involve criminals grooming victims over weeks or months through dating websites and social media, building trust before convincing them to invest in fraudulent schemes, often involving cryptocurrencies and fake investment returns. Police advise the public to be skeptical of unsolicited romantic contacts, especially from attractive profiles, and note that legitimate romantic interests should not involve requests for money.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering scams are a sophisticated investment fraud scheme in which scammers create fake online identities to build trust with victims before stealing their money, often through fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. The scams use social engineering, AI-generated content, and emotional manipulation to exploit victims' vulnerabilities, with billions of dollars in global losses reported. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited messages, verify financial advice independently, and immediately report any suspected scam to your bank and law enforcement.
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
Loan fraud is surging as financial pressures from inflation and rising costs push vulnerable populations to seek credit, with scammers exploiting this desperation through various schemes. Common tactics include advance-fee fraud (requesting upfront payments for loans that never materialize), student loan forgiveness scams, phishing for personal information, and malicious loan apps—with victims in the UK losing an average of £255 ($323) per incident. Those most at risk are young people, seniors, low-income households, and individuals with poor credit scores who are targeted because they're most likely to be desperate for quick funding.
ktemnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece provides five key scam prevention tips for Texas residents: legitimate prizes do not require upfront payment; real law enforcement will not threaten arrest or deportation by phone to collect debts; legitimate businesses allow time for decision-making rather than pressuring immediate commitment; scammers use untraceable payment methods like wire transfers and gift cards; and government agencies will never call unsolicited to request sensitive personal information. The advice emphasizes recognizing pressure tactics, verifying caller identity, and avoiding irreversible payment methods as primary safeguards against common fraud schemes.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Jo O'Brien lost her $500,000 divorce settlement after being deceived by scammers who impersonated AMP employees through a fake comparison website and convinced her to transfer funds into what she believed was her own investment account but was actually controlled by a fraudulent shell company called Supercheap Security. Over $1.3 million from multiple victims was funneled through a NAB bank account, and O'Brien alleges the bank was slow to freeze the account even after she reported the fraud, allowing an additional $275,000 to be transferred overseas. The account operator, Hassan Mehdi, was arrested attempting to leave Australia but charges were later dropped, with the case highlighting vulner
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Angel Giancarlo Bellido Cosio and Angel Eugenio Bances Chaponan, both Peruvian citizens, were indicted on federal charges of credit card fraud and identity theft for operating a distraction theft scheme at Trader Joe's and other retail stores across the United States. The defendants rented vehicles using fraudulent passports, stole wallets from victims, and then used the stolen credit and debit cards to purchase electronic devices and other merchandise. Both men were arrested on March 13, 2024, and face up to 10 years imprisonment for access device fraud plus a mandatory 2-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
Former licensed insurance agent Brett E. Lovett was found guilty of 29 felony counts including grand theft, elder abuse, and money laundering for defrauding at least nine victims, including senior citizens, of approximately $1.2 million between 2011 and 2016. Lovett befriended vulnerable victims at places of worship and through a legal aid business, then misappropriated their money intended for nonexistent investments or financial management by using powers of attorney and promissory notes. This conviction followed a prior 2007 CFTC case in which Lovett was ordered to pay over $675,000 in restitution for commodity futures fraud, penalties he never
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian social media influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting older Americans, facing up to five years in prison and ordered to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41. The scams victimized elderly Americans through fraudulent romantic relationships that resulted in financial theft. Montrage was arrested abroad and her case was prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice's Southern District of New York.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Between January 2023 and March 2024, Richmond, B.C. RCMP reported 99 romance scam cases totaling over $16 million in losses, with scammers using dating websites and social media to build trust with victims over weeks or months before convincing them to invest in fraudulent schemes, often involving cryptocurrencies. The article also warns of a separate "speeding ticket scam" where fake text messages direct victims to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and financial information by impersonating official government traffic violation notices.
nj.com
· 2025-12-08
A New Jersey married couple, Martins Friday Inalegwu (35) and Steincy Mathieu (27), admitted to stealing at least $4.5 million from over 100 victims through an online romance scam operating from October 2016 to May 2020, using dating websites and social media to build fake relationships before requesting money for fabricated emergencies. The perpetrators received funds via wire transfers, checks, Western Union, MoneyGram, and international bank accounts in Turkey and Nigeria, and also failed to pay taxes on the stolen money. Inalegwu pleaded guilty to money transmitting violations and tax evasion, while Mathieu
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Richmond, B.C. RCMP warned of a significant rise in romance investment scams in 2023, with 87 reported cases resulting in over $16 million in losses, continuing into 2024 with 12 cases and nearly $500,000 lost in just three months. These "long-con" scams involve fraudsters grooming victims through dating websites and social media over weeks or months, building trust before convincing them to invest in fake schemes often involving cryptocurrencies and displaying fabricated returns. The RCMP also warned of a separate "speeding ticket" phishing scam using text messages with fake government websites designed to steal personal and financial information.
summitdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
The Summit County Sheriff's Office warned residents of ongoing telephone fraud schemes in which callers impersonate law enforcement and claim victims have outstanding warrants or missed jury duty, demanding payment via prepaid credit cards or gift cards. The Sheriff's Office emphasized that legitimate law enforcement will never call to demand electronic payments and advised residents to hang up on suspicious calls and verify caller identity by independently calling non-emergency dispatch.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
Three New Jersey residents—married couple Martins Friday Inalegwu and Steincy Mathieu, plus Oluwaseyi Fatolu—pleaded guilty to operating a romance scam from 2016 to 2020 that defrauded over 100 victims of $4.5 million. The defendants posed as romantic interests on dating sites and social media to convince victims to send money for fictitious emergencies, with funds wired to U.S. bank accounts, mailed as checks, or transferred overseas to accomplices in Nigeria and Turkey, while the defendants spent proceeds on personal expenses and cash withdrawals.