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businesslive.co.za
· 2026-09-01
AI is drastically reshaping banking fraud tactics, with criminals using deepfakes, synthetic identities, and automated scam bots to conduct sophisticated scams at scale and lower costs. Customer fraud accounts for approximately 98% of banking fraud incidents, primarily through account takeovers and authorized push payment fraud such as romance and impersonation scams. While traditional banks have strong security measures, vulnerabilities in the broader financial ecosystem—including digital wallets, remittance companies, and payment aggregators—are being exploited by criminals to move stolen funds.
sports.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-01
Daejon Love was arrested on federal wire fraud charges for allegedly defrauding over a dozen women out of $1.6 million by impersonating a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver on social media. Former NFL player LeSean McCoy defended Love's actions on social media, comparing the scam to women misrepresenting themselves online, though Love's charges specifically involved criminal wire fraud and conspiracy rather than simply presenting a false lifestyle.
thesuntimesnews.com
· 2026-09-01
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of an increase in impersonation scams where callers, emails, and texts falsely claim to be from law enforcement, using AI and other technology to appear legitimate. Scammers demand money, gift cards, or financial compensation while threatening victims with arrest or incarceration if they don't comply. The Sheriff's Office emphasizes it never requests money or gift cards and advises residents to verify any such communications by calling Metro Dispatch at 734-994-2911 or 911.
cachevalleydaily.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah's Attorney General has launched the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) to coordinate investigations across jurisdictions and financial institutions, targeting identity theft, account takeovers, romance scams, elder fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, and money laundering. Utahns have lost approximately $450 million to financial crimes since 2020, with $108.4 million lost in 2025 alone and nearly $60 million reported so far in 2026. The FCIC will bring together investigators, prosecutors, and financial analysts to identify fraud patterns, connect related cases, and provide specialized training and resources to law enforcement and financial institutions statewide.
fincrimecentral.com
· 2026-08-31
Five men were charged with laundering over $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly fraud victims through a network of 21 shell businesses registered in Washington State between October 2024 and March 2026. The defendants used false identities, fictitious business descriptions, and commercial mailboxes to obscure the flow of funds obtained through tech-support and impersonation scams that targeted seniors nationwide. The money was deposited into accounts and quickly dispersed through domestic and international wire transfers, ATM withdrawals, and money orders to conceal its criminal origin.
americascreditunions.org
· 2026-08-31
This article discusses credit union advocacy meetings with policymakers during congressional recess, not an actual fraud case or scam. The article mentions that credit unions raised fraud concerns, including elder fraud schemes, as a policy priority during meetings with representatives from Virginia, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, and Illinois, but does not describe a specific fraud incident or victim impact.
communitynews.org
· 2026-08-31
Patricia Lindo-Ahono, a 60-year-old nursing director at Crystal Lake Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Bayville, pleaded guilty to assaulting a 77-year-old resident with a broom on June 24, 2023, and attempting to cover up the incident by falsifying an incident report and tampering with witnesses. She will permanently lose her nursing license and face three years of probation, anger management classes, and 50 hours of community service with no recommended prison time. The case highlights ongoing elder abuse issues in care facilities, as another nursing home worker was also prosecuted that same week for assaulting an elderly dementia patient with pepper spray.
kvnutalk.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah's Attorney General's Office launched a Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) to investigate and prosecute financial crimes across the state, citing that Utahns have lost nearly $450 million to fraud and scams since 2020, with $108.4 million lost in 2025 alone and nearly $60 million reported so far in 2026. The FCIC will coordinate investigations across jurisdictions involving identity theft, romance scams, elder fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, and other financial crimes by bringing together investigators, prosecutors, financial analysts, and financial institutions to identify larger criminal networks. Attorney General Derek Brown emphasized that financial criminals are increasingly sophisticated and target various victims including business owners, investors, and financial
dailynk.com
· 2026-08-31
A former North Korean provincial official arrested in August ran an elaborate job placement scam targeting wealthy parents in Sariwon, extracting $5,000 to over $10,000 per child by falsely promising to secure coveted state positions for their children using forged documents and mock interviews. The scam exploited parents' desperation to prevent their children from being assigned to hardship postings, but victims have remained silent out of fear of prosecution for bribery rather than reporting the fraud. The scheme unraveled when some victims presented the worthless assignment papers at government agencies, prompting authorities to investigate and confiscate related documents.
operationsports.com
· 2026-08-31
Daejon Love, 35, and co-conspirator Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested for running a romance scam targeting over two dozen women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California, defrauding them of $1.3 million. Love impersonated an NFL player and posed as a Swiss real estate developer on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, while Chan posed as a wealth manager to convince victims to transfer funds or take out loans for fake investments. Both men face federal charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with investigators confirming 26 victims identified so far.
audacy.com
· 2026-08-31
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged with wire fraud for operating a romance-and-investment scam that defrauded at least 26 women of approximately $1.3 million between February 2022 and August 2024. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player or wealthy real estate investor on dating apps, while Chan impersonated his financial adviser to show fake investment gains; victims were blocked when they ran out of money or asked questions. Both suspects were arrested on August 24 at Boise airport, and federal authorities believe there are additional victims across California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
theshadowleague.com
· 2026-08-31
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, was arrested by the FBI for orchestrating a multi-state romance and investment fraud scheme targeting at least 26 women across California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, defrauding them of approximately $1.3 million by posing as a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver with an accomplice who posed as his financial adviser. Love and co-conspirator Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged in federal court with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The article also highlights a similar case involving Uras Agee IV, who fraudulently posed as an NFL safety for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on social
batamnewsasia.com
· 2026-08-31
A 48-year-old man in Kuala Lumpur allegedly killed his 47-year-old wife and two children (ages 9 and 7) before falling to his death from their condominium, with investigators linking the tragedy to RM260,000 (approximately $56,000 USD) in financial losses the family incurred from a love scam and illegal investment scheme that his wife was reportedly involved in. Police recovered a note referencing the scam-related debts, a knife, and gloves from the home, and post-mortem examinations confirmed the wife and children died from sharp-force injuries including wounds to the neck and chest. The case highlights the severe psychological and
mikebolhuis.co.za
· 2026-08-31
South African authorities warn that criminals increasingly use AI-generated content—including phishing emails, WhatsApp messages, and voice-cloned deepfakes—to conduct more convincing fraud schemes. Common tactics include impersonating police, bank officials, and family members through realistic fake communications to pressure victims into providing personal information or transferring money, with one reported case involving an impersonation of a Hawks official that resulted in over R100,000 being stolen. The threat is particularly effective because AI does not need to be perfect to deceive victims; it only needs to be convincing enough to trigger an emotional or urgent response, exploiting human psychology rather than requiring sophisticated technical attacks on systems.
ksl.com
· 2026-08-31
Two men, Daejon Labrayae Love (35) and Taylor Jamie Chan (18), were arrested at Boise Airport in connection with a $1.3 million romance and investment scam that targeted at least 26 women across multiple states starting in February 2022. Love posed as a wealthy investor or NFL player on dating apps to build romantic relationships with victims, while Chan posed as his financial adviser; together they convinced women to invest in fake opportunities and manipulated them into sending large sums of money, which they never recovered. The FBI believes there may be additional victims and is seeking information from anyone who encountered the men or has details about the scheme.
nbcwashington.com
· 2026-08-31
Janey Sears, 72, was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for defrauding a Montgomery County man of over $400,000 through a dating app romance scam. Sears posed as a CEO with fabricated credentials and convinced the victim, a federal employee, to let her invest his money, claiming she would place it in Goldman Sachs and Pfizer stocks, but instead spent the funds on casinos and a $55,000 vehicle. She was ordered to pay approximately $407,000 in restitution at $10,000 monthly after her release.
wdbj7.com
· 2026-08-31
Scammers are impersonating deputy sheriffs in Roanoke, Virginia and calling family members of recently arrested individuals claiming bail or bond money is needed immediately to release their loved ones from jail, with payment requested through digital methods like Venmo, Cash App, or gift cards. At least one person has lost money to this scam, and the Roanoke City Sheriff's Office warns that legitimate law enforcement will never call demanding immediate payment for release.
blockclubchicago.org
· 2026-08-31
A scam targeting Chicago White Sox fans outside Rate Field involved fraudsters posing as parking attendants in official-looking uniforms and vests, collecting credit cards for the stated $35 parking fee but charging victims between $3,000 and $5,040. Chicago police records show at least 10 incidents since August 2025, though no arrests have been made and investigations have been suspended. The White Sox acknowledged the problem occurs outside their lots and urged fans to use pre-paid parking and report incidents to stadium security, but frustrated victims questioned why more preventive measures weren't in place.
cbsnews.com
· 2026-08-31
Former New York congressman George Santos has been permanently banned from prediction market platform Kalshi and penalized $71,356 for allegedly engaging in insider trading by placing bets on his own attendance at the 2026 State of the Union address and making public statements to influence contract prices, earning over $17,500 in the process. Santos, who had previously agreed to pay $35,000 to settle a federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission investigation and received a three-year trading ban, refused to cooperate with Kalshi's compliance investigation, making him the first person to receive a lifetime ban from the platform.
utahnewsdispatch.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah has established a new Financial Crimes Intelligence Center in the attorney general's office to combat increasingly sophisticated scams, with state residents losing $108 million to financial crimes last year and nearly $60 million so far this year. The center, funded at $1.7 million annually, aims to connect disparate reports from banks, police departments, and victim hotlines to identify patterns and organized crime rings, utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance detection capabilities. The center's team includes prosecutors, investigators, a forensic accountant, and other specialists working to return restitution to victims and prevent future fraud.
einpresswire.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah has launched the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center to combat the state's rapidly growing fraud problem, where residents lost nearly $450 million since 2020 and $108.4 million in 2025 alone. The center brings together investigators, prosecutors, financial analysts, and financial institutions to identify fraud patterns, connect related cases, and support multi-jurisdiction investigations across the state. Attorney General Derek Brown emphasized that financial criminals are sophisticated and organized, and the center aims to help law enforcement stay ahead of evolving threats and hold criminals accountable.
ksl.com
· 2026-08-31
Utah launched its first Financial Crimes Intelligence Center with $1.7 million in annual funding to investigate and prosecute financial fraud after the state experienced a five-fold increase in fraud losses over five years, reaching $108 million in the past year and $59.8 million already in the current year. The center will coordinate with federal agencies and financial institutions to investigate identity theft, elder fraud, romance scams, investment scams, and other financial crimes that are often perpetrated by sophisticated international crime rings. Howard Headlee, executive director of the Utah Bankers Association, noted that consumers nationwide reported losing over $20 billion to online scams last year, with three in four adults experiencing some form of online scam
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-30
An Alva police officer and his wife are charged with exploiting an 82-year-old elderly man by siphoning over $74,000 from his bank accounts and through unauthorized Cash App transfers after he allowed them to live in his home and granted the officer power of attorney. Andrew McVicker, 28, and Abbigale McVicker, 24, face felony charges of exploitation of an elderly person and conspiracy, with the alleged thefts occurring between January 2024 and May 2026. McVicker has been placed on administrative leave from the Alva Police Department pending the investigation's outcome.
foxnews.com
· 2026-08-30
A cyberattack on CareCloud, a company providing electronic medical records technology to healthcare providers, exposed personal information and medical records of over 3.75 million people after hackers gained unauthorized access to an Amazon Web Services environment between March 10-16, 2026. The stolen data included Social Security numbers, financial information, and medical records, putting victims at risk for identity theft, financial fraud, and medical identity theft. Affected individuals may have been exposed through their healthcare provider's use of CareCloud's services, even if they never directly created an account with the company.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-30
A man captured on surveillance camera withdrew cash using a stolen debit card at an ATM in the 10500 block of Culebra Road on August 12, and Bexar County deputies are seeking the public's help identifying him and locating the dark-colored SUV he fled in. The suspect, described as a Black male wearing a Jordan tank top, green pants, and light brown hat, faces potential charges under Texas law that carry sentences up to two years in state jail, or significantly longer if the victim is 65 or older. Deputies did not disclose the cardholder's identity or the amount withdrawn, nor explain how the debit card was originally stolen.
moneywise.com
· 2026-08-30
Daejon Labrayae Love and Taylor Jamie Chan allegedly defrauded 26 women of $1.3 million through a romance and investment scam, with Love posing as an NFL player or wealthy real estate investor on social media and convincing victims to invest in fictitious opportunities. The scam, known as "pig butchering," targeted women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California, with both men arrested in Boise and charged with wire fraud conspiracy.
nationalinsightnews.com
· 2026-08-30
Oluwasegun Baiyewu, a 40-year-old Nigerian national based in Houston, was sentenced to 95 months in prison for leading a money laundering conspiracy involving over $3.1 million in fraud proceeds from 2020-2021. The scheme involved at least six co-conspirators who used illicit funds from business email compromise, romance scams, and unemployment insurance fraud to purchase vehicles in the United States for export to Nigeria, including one case where a Puerto Rican renewable energy company was defrauded of approximately $280,000.
focusonafrica.info
· 2026-08-30
Operation Jackal IV, a coordinated international law enforcement effort involving 22 countries, resulted in 58 arrests and the seizure of $2.67 million in assets targeting West African criminal networks including Black Axe, which operate romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and Business Email Compromise schemes. The eight-month investigation across six continents identified 263 additional suspects and disrupted extensive Crime-as-a-Service networks that provide logistical and money laundering support to cybercriminals globally.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-30
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, allegedly defrauded 26 women of $1.3 million by posing as a San Francisco 49ers player or wealthy real estate investor on social media, then convincing them to invest in fictitious opportunities with accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan. Love would forge romantic relationships with victims in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California before directing them to fake investments that promised large returns, ultimately blocking them once their money ran out. Both men were arrested in Boise, Idaho and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.
sports.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-30
Daejon Love, age 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, age 18, were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud after running a dating app scam for over four years, defrauding more than two dozen women out of over $1.3 million by posing as a San Francisco 49ers player and financial advisor. Love created fake personas on dating apps to convince women to lend him large sums of money before cutting off communication with victims. Former NBA champion Stephen Jackson defended Love on social media, drawing comparisons between Love's deception and other forms of everyday fakery, though the charges against Love remain serious.
sports.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-30
A 35-year-old man named Daejon Love and his 18-year-old accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan were arrested by the FBI for wire fraud, allegedly defrauding 26 women of approximately $1.3 million since 2022. Love used fake personas, including posing as a San Francisco 49ers player and real estate investor, to convince women to invest money through dating apps and social media. The pair was apprehended at an airport in Boise, Idaho, where they remain in federal custody.
1news.co.nz
· 2026-08-30
Cambodia's government claims to have completely eliminated online scam compounds that have operated across the country, announcing the eradication at a meeting with foreign diplomats; however, independent anti-trafficking experts and organizations express skepticism, asserting that significant scamming operations and recruitment of foreign workers continue. These scam operations—primarily "romance" and cryptocurrency scams involving thousands of trafficked foreign nationals working under near-slavery conditions—caused an estimated US$88.3 billion to US$114.1 billion in losses globally in 2025, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
sports.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-30
A man named Daejon Love is facing federal charges for allegedly impersonating an undrafted San Francisco 49ers player and real estate investor to defraud at least 26 women of over $1.3 million through dating platforms across multiple western states. Love and accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan allegedly used fabricated bank statements showing $30 million balances, custom 49ers merchandise, and fake online profiles to convince victims to invest money. Both defendants were arrested at Boise Airport in August and face wire fraud charges carrying maximum 20-year sentences.
theguildng.com
· 2026-08-30
INTERPOL's eight-month Operation Jackal IV (November 2025-June 2026) arrested 58 people and identified 263 suspects across 22 countries involved in West African organised crime networks perpetrating romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, investment scams, and business email compromise. Key operations included dismantling a €143 million investment scam in Romania, seizing $2.67 million in South Africa from romance and investment fraud targeting retirees, and uncovering a €845,000 money-laundering network in Italy. The investigation also exposed emerging threats including sextortion schemes targeting minors as young as 14 years old via social media.
pulse.ng
· 2026-08-30
A 35-year-old man was arrested in August 2024 for running a four-year romance and investment scam, posing as a San Francisco 49ers player to defraud 26 women of $1.3 million. He created a fake Instagram presence with photos of rented luxury cars and false bank statements, manipulated online search results to support his fabricated NFL career, and convinced victims to invest in non-existent schemes before disappearing with the funds. An 18-year-old accomplice posed as his financial advisor, and both face wire fraud charges carrying up to 20 years in prison.
emeraldbook.org
· 2026-08-30
Daejon Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested in Boise, Idaho in August 2026 after scamming 26 women out of approximately $1.3 million through romance fraud on dating apps. The pair posed as wealthy NFL players and financial advisors, using fake social media profiles, fabricated banking screenshots, and AI-generated false information to build emotional connections and manipulate victims into transferring money and taking out loans for fake investments. Not a single victim recovered any funds, and the scheme exploited structural vulnerabilities in social media platforms and AI search engines that inadvertently validated their false identities.
bbc.com
· 2026-08-30
Jersey police report that 75 Revolut customers lost approximately £180,000 in a surge of impersonation scams over four weeks, with the majority of incidents involving fraudsters posing as bank or Revolut support staff to trick victims into sharing security information or transferring funds. The scammers typically claimed suspicious transactions or account compromise risks to persuade victims to provide access to their accounts. Revolut has urged customers to remain vigilant and reminded them that the company will never request passwords, security codes, or transfers to "safe accounts."
ekathimerini.com
· 2026-08-30
Three suspects in western Greece were identified for a phone scam targeting an elderly woman who lost €76,500 in savings after being deceived by callers posing as electricity company employees. In a similar scheme on Crete, five suspects were arrested for defrauding nine elderly people of €21,450 in cash and €38,000 in jewelry using the same method of impersonating utility workers. These scams, which persuade victims to leave valuables at their home entrances for false safety reasons, remain effective despite public awareness campaigns.
bgdailynews.com
· 2026-08-30
The Bowling Green Police Department is hosting a scam prevention seminar on Thursday featuring law enforcement and FBI professionals to help residents identify fraud red flags and common scam tactics. The seminar comes as local agencies report increased incidents of impersonation scams, including criminals posing as police officers demanding payment via Bitcoin or gift cards for fake fines or warrants, and a recent case where a Glasgow woman lost over $150,000 to a hacking scam.
newsmakerslive.org
· 2026-08-30
A federal jury in Puerto Rico convicted Nigerian national Oluwasegun Baiyewu for his role in a money-laundering conspiracy that processed proceeds from romance scams, pandemic unemployment fraud, and business email compromise schemes targeting elderly and vulnerable Americans between 2020 and 2021. Baiyewu and four co-defendants laundered funds generated from victims across multiple states through hundreds of financial transactions, using some proceeds to purchase vehicles shipped to Nigeria. The case marks the fifth conviction in the conspiracy, with sentencing pending before U.S. District Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach.
hoodline.com
· 2026-08-29
Two Los Angeles men, Sergio Romero and Franklin Florez, have been charged with elder fraud and related felonies after targeting seniors aged 60-80 at ATMs in Lemon Grove and across Southern California by swapping their debit cards for fake ones while watching them enter their PINs. The pair bilked at least five Lemon Grove victims of nearly $6,000, with investigators linking them to approximately 15 similar crimes in San Diego County and an estimated $120,000 in total losses across Southern California, including incidents in Orange, Los Angeles, and potentially other counties.
thegardenisland.com
· 2026-08-29
The Legal Aid Society of Hawai'i is hosting a free Kaua'i Elder Law Fair on September 4, 2026, to provide seniors and their families with information on elder abuse, financial scams, and estate planning. The event will feature presentations from AARP elder fraud expert Paul Greenwood, an estate planning attorney, and local social service agencies offering resources and guidance to help kupuna protect themselves from exploitation.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2026-08-29
New York's Department of State issued a consumer alert warning that AI-powered investment scams cost Americans over $8 billion in 2025, with 144,041 reported victims and a 38% surge in fraud compared to 2024. Scammers use AI-generated deepfakes of celebrities and voice cloning to promote counterfeit cryptocurrency platforms and trading sites that show fake profits before disappearing with victims' money, a tactic known as "pig butchering." The median individual loss reached $10,560, with victims directed to fraudulent platforms mimicking legitimate exchanges, often through social media, dating apps, and email, with particularly high losses occurring through romance-investment fraud schemes.
nypost.com
· 2026-08-29
Daejon Love, 35, allegedly stole $1.3 million from over 26 women across multiple states by impersonating a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, creating an elaborate online persona using fake contract videos, custom 49ers gear, helmets, and social media posts over four years. Love and accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested at Boise Airport in August 2024 and charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with investigators believing there are additional victims beyond the identified 26.
crypto.news
· 2026-08-29
A 22-country INTERPOL operation arrested 58 suspects and identified 263 additional individuals involved in West African organized crime networks running romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment schemes, and money laundering operations, resulting in $2.67 million seized. The eight-month Operation Jackal IV targeted criminal groups including Black Axe, with major enforcement actions in South Africa (39 arrests), Argentina (17 arrests), and Romania (11 arrests), dismantling call centers and Crime-as-a-Service networks that defrauded victims globally of approximately €143 million.
kucoin.com
· 2026-08-29
INTERPOL's Jackal IV operation, conducted across 22 countries from November 2025 to June 2026, resulted in 58 arrests and 263 identified suspects targeting online financial crimes including romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and investment schemes. Major actions included South African police seizing $2.67 million from romance and investment scams targeting retirees, Argentine dismantling of a Crime-as-a-Service network with 17 arrests, and Romanian authorities shutting down an investment fraud syndicate. Italian authorities also identified a suspect involved in a €845,000 money laundering operation across Europe.
saharareporters.com
· 2026-08-29
Oluwasegun Baiyewu, a 40-year-old Nigerian national residing in Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 95 months in prison for laundering over $3.1 million in fraud proceeds through a conspiracy involving business email compromise, romance scams, and unemployment insurance fraud between May 2020 and October 2021. Baiyewu led a network of at least six co-conspirators across the U.S. and Nigeria who used encrypted messaging to coordinate the purchase of used and salvaged vehicles in America, which were then exported to Nigeria to convert the illicit proceeds into physical assets. The scheme included laundering approximately $280,000 stolen from a Puerto R
newsmobile.in
· 2026-08-29
A 35-year-old man and his 18-year-old accomplice were arrested in Idaho for allegedly posing as a San Francisco 49ers player on dating apps to defraud 26 women of approximately $1.3 million through romance scams and fake investment schemes. The perpetrators used fake identities, social media photos, and false promises of romantic relationships and investment returns to manipulate victims across California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, then disappeared once victims ran out of money. Authorities believe there may be additional unreported victims and continue investigating the scheme.
bantugazette.com
· 2026-08-29
Interpol's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report warns that artificial intelligence is enabling criminals to create synthetic identities using stolen photographs and personal data, which have successfully defeated biometric verification systems in Kenya and Tanzania to commit fraud including SIM swap scams and mobile money theft. Reported cybercrime losses across Africa more than doubled to $484 million in 2025 from $192 million in 2024, affecting 87,000 identified victims, with AI now involved in 55% of reported cybercrimes on the continent. Kenya experienced a 327% surge in SIM swap fraud in 2025, with over 123,000 fraudulent SIMs issued and an estimated $3
punchng.com
· 2026-08-29
Oluwasegun Baiyewu, a 40-year-old Nigerian national based in Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 95 months in prison for laundering over $3.1 million in proceeds from business email compromise, romance, and unemployment insurance fraud schemes targeting US citizens between May 2020 and October 2021. Working with at least six co-conspirators in the US and Nigeria, Baiyewu used encrypted messaging apps to coordinate the purchase and shipment of salvaged vehicles to Nigeria, including laundering $280,000 stolen from a Puerto Rican renewable energy company through a business email compromise scam.