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in Financial Crime
boston.com
· 2025-12-08
Chukwunonso Umegbo, a 38-year-old former New Bedford man, was sentenced to over three years in prison for operating a romance scam fraud scheme that defrauded victims of more than $568,000. Umegbo used fake identities and online personas to create fraudulent romantic relationships, then funneled the stolen money through bank accounts under false names, converting it to cash and cashier's checks. He was ordered to pay approximately $578,000 in restitution and forfeiture after his arrest in London in April 2022 and extradition to the U.S. in February 2023.
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers have stolen tens of millions of dollars in SNAP benefits from EBT cardholders nationwide using card skimming devices placed on payment terminals and phishing scams. To protect themselves, users should inspect card readers for loose or mismatched faceplates, never share their PIN, and utilize the new ConnectEBT app feature that allows them to lock their cards when not in use. New York has approved nearly 12,000 stolen benefit claims and reimbursed over $6.1 million to victims through its benefit recovery program since August 2022.
nola.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP highlights that fraud schemes targeting older Americans persist in the digital age, with scammers continually developing new tactics to impersonate legitimate entities and access personal financial information. The organization provides comprehensive protective measures including securing sensitive documents, monitoring credit reports, using strong passwords, and verifying businesses before sharing personal information. In 2023 alone, Louisiana residents lost nearly $47 million to fraud with identity theft being the most common type, reflecting a broader national problem where known fraud losses reached between $10-43 billion.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between January 2020 and December 2023, investment fraud in the UK resulted in £2.6 billion stolen from 98,525 victims, with an average loss of £26,773 per person. Boiler Room fraud and Ponzi schemes were the most common types, accounting for £553 million and £499 million respectively, with 2023 marking the worst year at £527 million lost across 26,740 victims. The FCA advises people to be wary of unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, and promises of unusually high returns as key warning signs of investment scams.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
Mumbai Police released guidelines addressing a surge in online investment fraud schemes targeting residents through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where fraudsters pose as trading "experts" and lure victims into fake stock and IPO investment classes via video apps, ultimately freezing their funds and demanding additional payments to release them. Over the past year, police recovered Rs. 8.3 crores from victims and arrested multiple individuals involved in these schemes, with cases continuing to rise. Citizens are advised to verify investment platforms independently, avoid downloading unauthorized applications, refrain from sharing financial information online, and report suspicious activity to Mumbai Police at 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.
theolivepress.es
· 2025-12-08
Spanish police dismantled a criminal gang operating in Malaga province that defrauded 155 British expats out of approximately €1.8 million through fake timeshare and leisure club schemes. Seven suspects were arrested and €2.5 million was frozen in bank accounts, with the investigation revealing a sophisticated network of companies spanning the UK, Spain, and tax havens; the gang even created a fake legal claims service to further exploit victims seeking refunds.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
In Greater Manchester, 15,623 fraud cases were reported to Action Fraud in the past year, with online shopping/auction fraud being most common (3,100 cases), followed by advance fee fraud (1,500 cases). Notable cases included serial fraudster Cieran McNamara, who manipulated four women into sending over £300,000 through romance scams before being sentenced to seven years in prison, and a separate case where a man defrauded a woman of £50,000 on a widows' dating site. Other scams included pet fraud, concert ticket fraud, and designer goods schemes targeting victims through emotional manipulation and online platforms.
amlintelligence.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud is the second most common activity among Europe's most threatening criminal networks, with approximately one-fifth of organized crime groups engaging in fraud as their primary criminal activity, according to a Europol report. These criminal networks often strategically diversify into other crime areas alongside their fraud operations.
capenews.net
· 2025-12-08
This educational article discusses aging in place and the rising threat of elder fraud, reporting that seniors age 60+ filed 88,262 fraud complaints in 2022 resulting in $3.1 billion in losses—an 82% increase from 2021. Scammers target older adults due to accumulated savings, daytime availability, lower tech literacy, and potential cognitive vulnerabilities, with the five most common scams being government imposter schemes (Medicare, IRS, Social Security), sweepstakes/lottery fraud, phishing/vishing/smishing, tech support scams, and grandparent scams. The article emphasizes that seniors may underreport scams due to fears
longisland.com
· 2025-12-08
A 94-year-old man in Valley Stream was defrauded of $246,968 in September 2022 after receiving a phone call from someone posing as a Publishers Clearing House representative who claimed he had won a prize but needed to pay taxes first. The victim wrote multiple cashier checks before realizing the scam and contacting police; after an investigation spanning nearly two years, 27-year-old Jamario Smellie of Brooklyn was arrested in April 2024 and charged with Grand Larceny in the second degree.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
During tax season, scammers increasingly impersonate the IRS through phishing emails, text messages, and fraudulent communications to trick taxpayers into revealing personal information or clicking malicious links. Identity theft remains a major threat, with scammers using stolen personal data to fraudulently file tax returns in victims' names and claim refunds; the IRS received 294,138 identity theft complaints in 2023, and victims typically wait approximately 19 months for resolution. Taxpayers can protect themselves by being suspicious of unsolicited communications, remembering that the IRS primarily contacts people via mail, independently verifying any requests for personal information, and never clicking links in unsolicited messages.
salemnews.net
· 2025-12-08
Columbiana County Sheriff's Office warns residents of a spoofing scam where criminals impersonate sheriff's deputies using the civil office phone number and real deputies' names, threatening arrest and demanding payment via cryptocurrency or gift cards. Sheriff Brian McLaughlin emphasizes that legitimate law enforcement will never request money for warrants or court dates, and advises residents to hang up and call the sheriff's office directly at 330-424-7255 if they receive such calls. One victim avoided losing money when she encountered the sheriff in person after a scammer directed her not to contact the office.
turnto10.com
· 2025-12-08
Chukwunonso "Douglas" Umegbo, 39, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for his role in laundering money from romance scams, having pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Between 2018 and 2019, Umegbo opened fraudulent bank accounts using fake identity documents in Greater Boston to receive funds from romance scam victims, ultimately processing over $568,000 in stolen money before withdrawing it in cash or converting it to cashier's checks. He was ordered to pay $570,000 in restitution and forfeiture.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Chukwunonso Umegbo, a former New Bedford man, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering related to romance scams between 2018 and 2019. Umegbo used fake identities to open bank accounts in the Boston area that received over $568,000 from romance scam victims, which he then withdrew as cash, converted to cashier's checks, or spent; he was arrested in London in 2022 and extradited to face charges in 2023. He was ordered to pay $578,954.78 in restitution and forfeiture.
abc6.com
· 2025-12-08
Chukwunonso "Douglas" Umegbo, 39, a former New Bedford resident extradited from the United Kingdom, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for operating romance scams between 2018 and 2019. Umegbo created fake online personas to develop romantic relationships with U.S. victims, then solicited money and property from them, obtaining over $568,000 across multiple scams by depositing fraudulently obtained funds into bank accounts he opened using false identity documents. He was ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $578,954.78.
thv11.com
· 2025-12-08
An Arkansas woman was arrested following an FBI raid in Little Rock on federal charges of mail fraud and money laundering related to fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. According to court documents, she falsified employee counts and payroll amounts to obtain four separate PPP loans, which are designed to help businesses maintain payroll during economic hardship.
firstpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore reported a record 46,563 scam cases in 2023, resulting in SGD 651.8 million in losses, with an 18 percent increase in cases targeting migrants, particularly domestic workers from India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar who fall victim to phishing, romance, and loan scams. The government is responding through mandatory anti-scam education programs for foreign workers during settlement orientation and ongoing awareness training to help them recognize and report scams within their communities.
connexionfrance.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes multiple fraud schemes targeting people in France, including overpayment scams where fraudsters pose as robbery victims to trick people into withdrawing cash on their behalf, and text message phishing scams impersonating official agencies like ANTAI (driving fine collection) and La Poste with fake links to fraudulent websites. The article also mentions that French authorities detected over 40,000 home renovation fraud cases in 2024 and notes that scammers often exploit victims' desire to help others or comply with authority by creating artificial urgency.
abc11.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI in North Carolina is warning consumers about a surging cryptocurrency investment scam that has cost North Carolina victims over $65 million in 2023, with investment fraud involving crypto rising 53% nationally from $2.57 billion in 2022 to $3.944 billion in 2023. Scammers use social media research and fake websites/apps to build trust with victims, displaying fake profits to encourage larger investments, then disappear with all funds when victims attempt major withdrawals. The FBI advises victims not to be embarrassed and to report scams quickly, though recovery is difficult since cryptocurrency is unregulated.
sandiegouniontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
New York City authorities disrupted an online "pig butchering" cryptocurrency fraud operation that stole millions of dollars by gaining victims' trust through dating apps and social media, then directing them to fake investment platforms. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez seized 21 web domains used in the scheme; reported victims in Brooklyn alone lost over $4 million, with individual losses ranging from $22,680 to $118,000, though actual losses likely total billions nationally due to underreporting. Investigators traced stolen funds through multiple cryptocurrency addresses to foreign exchanges, with at least one perpetrator operating beyond U.S. jurisdiction.
veronapress.com
· 2025-12-08
On March 28, Verona Police arrested 23-year-old Jiale Yang after receiving an anonymous tip that he would commit elder fraud that afternoon; Yang falsely identified himself as an IRS agent and obtained $30,000 in cash from the victim, who had been deceived by a pop-up claiming her computer had a virus and directed her to "Apple Support" where she was told her money was involved in criminal activity. The article also outlines five common types of elder fraud schemes: grandparent scams, government impersonation scams, phishing scams (which increased from 114,702 reports in 2019 to 298,878 in 2
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Indian nationals are being targeted by human traffickers who lure them with fake high-paying job offers in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, then coerce them into participating in online financial scams and forced labor. The Indian government has issued warnings urging job seekers to use only legitimate employment channels and thoroughly verify employer credentials, following recent arrests of key cybercrime syndicate members and incidents where victims were smuggled into forced cybercrime operations in Laos and Cambodia. Authorities recommend exercising caution with online job offers, researching companies through embassies, avoiding sharing personal information, and informing family of travel plans when seeking employment abroad.
sfstandard.com
· 2025-12-08
On March 27 in San Francisco, 68-year-old Vickie Wong lost $50,000 in gold and over $1,000 in cash to a "blessing scam" perpetrated by three Cantonese-speaking women who convinced her she was cursed and needed a purification ceremony. The scammers switched Wong's valuables with another bag during the ritual; this incident is part of a pattern of such crimes targeting monolingual, superstitious older Chinese women in San Francisco's Chinese community, with over 60 recorded victims. Law enforcement has launched an education campaign, though the true number of victims may be higher due to underreporting, and some scamm
umaine.edu
· 2025-12-08
MoneyGeek published expert guidance from University of Maine social work professor Lenard Kaye on two topics affecting seniors: protecting loved ones from elder financial fraud and navigating the process of choosing and paying for senior care. The articles draw on Kaye's professional expertise as director of the Center on Aging to provide practical information for families managing financial and care decisions for older adults.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Yolanda Brooks, a 52-year-old Medicaid Supervisor in Indianapolis, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for stealing approximately $920,148.51 in checks intended for healthcare reimbursements. Between March 2018 and July 2021, Brooks deposited roughly 486 checks into two personal bank accounts opened under her maiden name, falsely representing herself as authorized to negotiate them, and spent the stolen funds on personal expenses including shopping, gambling, and vacations. The court ordered Brooks to pay full restitution of $920,148.51 and serve three years of supervised release following her prison term.
portlandoregon.gov
· 2025-12-08
On April 2, 2024, Portland Police Bureau officers conducted an eight-hour enforcement mission in North Portland's Jantzen Beach and Delta Park areas, resulting in 13 arrests, 3 recovered stolen vehicles, 1 seized firearm, and drug seizures. One arrest involved a subject wanted for Aggravated Identity Theft and Elder Abuse Fraud, apprehended in coordination with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
z100portland.iheart.com
· 2025-12-08
On Tuesday, Portland Police conducted an enforcement operation in the Jantzen Beach and Delta Park areas, resulting in 13 arrests including one individual wanted for aggravated identity theft and elder abuse fraud. Officers also recovered three stolen vehicles, one stolen firearm, and narcotics during the eight-hour mission targeting chronic criminal activity.
thepointsguy.com
· 2025-12-08
Advances in technology and social engineering are enabling sophisticated scams that cost consumers billions of dollars annually. Visa's 2024 Threats Report identifies four major scams on the rise, including pig butchering (romance) scams where fraudsters use AI and deepfake technology to build trust with victims over weeks or months before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms—affecting 10% of surveyed adults and resulting in billions in losses. The report notes that beyond financial victims, these scams often involve human trafficking victims forced to participate in the fraud operations.
spotonflorida.com
· 2025-12-08
Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill was suspended by Governor Ron DeSantis after being arrested on charges of elder exploitation, personal identification fraud, and mortgage fraud. Hill pleaded not guilty to seven felony counts related to the charges. The suspension came shortly after her arrest on Thursday.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Romanian national Marius Oprea was sentenced to six years in federal prison for leading an ATM skimming operation that used pinhole cameras and card readers to steal bank information from low-income individuals receiving unemployment benefits in California. The sophisticated scheme, which involved smuggling skimming devices from Austria and cloning over 100 ATM cards, reflects a nationwide rise in skimming fraud—with a 96% increase in compromised debit cards in 2023 and estimated annual losses exceeding $1 billion to financial institutions and consumers.
chinaglobalsouth.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a meaningful summary of this content. The text provided is primarily website navigation and subscription information for The China-Global South Project, not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. While the title mentions "More Than 800 Suspected Scammers Arrested in Myanmar-China Joint Operation," the actual article content is not included—only the website header and promotional material. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text.
patriotledger.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Hingham woman lost $9,500 to a grandparent scam in which a caller impersonated her grandson, claiming he needed money for hospital bills after a car accident, then a fake federal agent arranged for a driver to pick up the cash from her home. When the scammer called requesting an additional $5,000 the next day, the woman became suspicious and contacted police, who intercepted the second pickup and arrested no one, though the investigation remains ongoing.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Two retired Georgia law enforcement veterans with combined 75+ years of experience—Joe Gavalis and Dan Flynn—volunteer with the North Georgia Elder Abuse Task Force Foundation to combat elder fraud through training, education, and prevention work. They have facilitated over 60 law enforcement trainings and reached approximately 8,000 older adults with fraud prevention presentations covering common scams like credit card fraud, grandparent scams, and romance schemes. Their work addresses a critical gap, as Americans reported 2.6 million fraud incidents in 2023 with $10 billion in losses, with elder victims often experiencing catastrophic financial impact.
myprimetimenews.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational resource from Social Security highlighting five key scam awareness articles designed to help protect vulnerable populations from fraud. The articles cover government imposter scams, identity theft prevention, fraud risks for people with dementia, scams targeting veterans and military families, and emerging scam tactics like fake QR codes. Social Security encourages the public to review these resources and share them with friends and family to raise awareness about common fraud schemes.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell established a new Elder Justice Unit to combat the frequent and pervasive fraud targeting older residents, with director Mary Freeley coordinating resources across multiple bureaus to enhance prosecution and education. In 2023, Massachusetts consumers reported over 87,000 fraud cases resulting in $142.3 million in losses, though experts note significant underreporting due to shame and lack of awareness. Common scams include impostor fraud targeting bank and government agency impersonation, grandparent scams, and cryptocurrency schemes, with prevention experts recommending victims slow down and avoid emotional reactions that bypass logical thinking.
fallriverreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Massachusetts woman lost $9,500 to a "grandparent scam" in which a caller claimed to be her grandson in need of emergency cash for a car accident involving a pregnant woman. When scammers attempted to extract an additional $5,000 by impersonating a federal agent, the victim became suspicious and contacted police, who intercepted the second pickup and apprehended the driver (who was unknowingly hired through a ride-share app). The case remains under investigation, and police are urging public awareness to help prevent this common scheme targeting seniors.
greenwichfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency investment fraud grew 53% in 2023 to $4.5 billion (potentially $75 billion since 2021), primarily driven by "pig butchering" scams where fraudsters build trust with victims through dating apps and social media before directing them to fake investment platforms. Once victims see fabricated profits, scammers pressure them to invest more before disappearing with the funds; the Connecticut State Police recovered nearly $4 million in 2023, though this represents a fraction of total losses. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact, promises of guaranteed high returns, pressure to invest quickly, unregistered investments, and requests for personal information or unconventional payment methods like cryptocurrency
sourceofthespring.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Marshals Service warned against scammers impersonating law enforcement officials who use spoofed government phone numbers, fake badge numbers, and names of real judges to demand payment via Bitcoin ATMs, claiming victims face arrest for identity theft or missed jury duty. The agency clarified that legitimate marshals never demand payment by phone or request financial information, credit card numbers, or wire transfers. Victims should report incidents to the Federal Trade Commission and local law enforcement.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Suzanne Famula, a 39-year-old hairdresser from Hertfordshire, lost £20,810 to Christopher Harris, a 41-year-old serial fraudster she met on dating app Hinge in 2020, who posed as a vulnerable man needing money for medical expenses over five months before she discovered his deception in August 2021. Harris was jailed for 29 months after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation, and Famula is now advocating for romance fraud to be recognized as a specific crime, citing inadequate victim support and a lengthy three-year legal process that significantly impacted her mental health.
shawlocal.com
· 2025-12-08
This letter describes two scams targeting consumers: fake purchase confirmation emails with suspicious attachments designed to trick recipients into clicking links or opening files, and phone impersonators claiming to be from medical facilities who request personal information to "update patient profiles" and likely file fraudulent insurance claims. The writer advises deleting suspicious emails without opening attachments, monitoring bank accounts regularly, and never providing personal information to unsolicited callers—particularly warning that elderly patients with frequent medical visits are vulnerable targets.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
On March 30th, RPF Titwala and the Mumbai division crime branch arrested Nandu Bhikan Jadhav for operating a ticket touting scam in which he fraudulently obtained railway tickets using fake email IDs and resold them at inflated prices, with 16 tickets seized from approximately 20 affected passengers. Railway authorities warn the public to purchase tickets only through official channels, as unauthorized purchases can result in penalties and leave buyers vulnerable to exploitation, and are urging passengers to report suspicious ticket sales activities.
mexicodailypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a major Mexican drug organization, ran a sophisticated timeshare fraud scheme that extracted approximately $40 million from Americans in 2022, with many elderly victims losing their life savings. Operating from call centers in Puerto Vallarta, Cancún, Acapulco, and other tourist destinations, the cartel systematically targeted U.S. timeshare owners over the past decade, generating hundreds of millions annually—revenue now rivaling their drug trafficking operations. The U.S. Treasury and FBI have worked to disrupt the scheme through sanctions and warnings, as the complex fraud continues to victimize thousands of Americans, particularly seniors.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Social Security Scams and AI-Enabled Fraud**
Americans aged 60 and older reported $3.1 billion in scam losses in 2022, representing an 84% increase from the previous year, with 88,262 fraud complaints filed that year at an average loss of $35,101 per victim. Fraudsters are increasingly using artificial intelligence to steal Social Security numbers and benefits by creating fake accounts, impersonating public figures through AI-generated videos, and manipulating personal records, with seniors particularly vulnerable due to accumulated savings and lower technological literacy. Experts advise verifying the legitimacy of Social Security communications and watching for AI-generation errors such
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Hingham woman lost $9,500 in a "grandparent scam" in which a caller impersonated her grandson claiming he needed money after a car accident, followed by a second caller posing as a federal agent who arranged for pickup of the cash via ride-share driver. When the scammers attempted to solicit an additional $5,000 the next day by claiming a miscarriage and legal involvement, the victim became suspicious and contacted police, who intercepted the second payment and apprehended the unknowing ride-share driver. Hingham Police note this mirrors a 2022 incident in which an 87-year-old lost $
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Kofi Osei, a 30-year-old Ghanaian national, was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for orchestrating a romance fraud scheme that stole over $8 million from elderly victims between 2016 and 2020. Working with accomplices, Osei created fake identities and opened 77 bank accounts to receive and launder fraud proceeds, with specific victims deceived into sending $200,000 and $65,000 based on false claims about overseas emergencies involving fictitious romantic partners. In addition to his prison sentence, Osei was ordered to pay $4.1 million in restitution.
natwest.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational resource from NatWest Bank outlining fraud prevention strategies and reporting procedures. The bank provides tools including security scoring, biometric authentication, and step-by-step guides to help customers identify and avoid common scams such as holiday fraud and romance scams, while offering support through Victim Support services for those who have been defrauded.
thethaiger.com
· 2025-12-08
A 51-year-old South Korean fugitive was arrested in Thailand after orchestrating a sophisticated call centre scam from China that defrauded six South Korean victims of approximately $150,000 (200 million won) in just two weeks through manipulated phone calls and text messages. In related enforcement actions, Thai authorities dismantled a major call-centre syndicate operating across Thailand, China, and Russia, arresting 71 suspects (52 Chinese nationals and 19 Thai accomplices), and also arrested five individuals for operating a romance scam that swindled a Thai millionaire of over 63 million baht over six years.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 40-year-old man from Thane was defrauded of Rs 23 lakh in an online stock market investment scam after encountering a Facebook advertisement that led him to a fraudulent WhatsApp group promising lucrative trading returns. The scammers provided fake training, instructed him to invest in specific stocks, and routed his money through their own bank accounts under the guise of legitimate investments. When the victim attempted to withdraw his funds, he was told of a technical glitch and the scammers subsequently became unreachable.
usaherald.com
· 2025-12-08
In September 2022, Bridlewood Estates HOA's treasurer fell victim to a wire fraud scheme and transferred $124,000 to a hacker impersonating an Aztec Paving project manager. State Farm denied coverage under the HOA's directors and officers (D&O) insurance policy, but a California federal court ruled against the insurer, finding that the treasurer's negligent acts fell within the policy's coverage scope. The ruling emphasizes that insurers must carefully evaluate underlying facts before denying claims and that D&O policies without explicit contractual liability exclusions may provide coverage for fraud-related losses.
wmtv15news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 23-year-old Chicago man was arrested in Verona, Wisconsin after nearly defrauding an elderly woman of $30,000 through a tech support scam. The suspect posed as an IRS agent after the victim received a fake virus warning on her computer, was directed to call fake "Apple Support," and was told she needed to withdraw cash to prove she wasn't involved in criminal activity. Police arrested the suspect after receiving an anonymous tip and conducting surveillance of the victim's residence.