Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 22,013 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
5,810 results
in Romance Scams
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman from Hokkaido, Japan lost $6,750 (1 million yen) to a romance scam in which a fraudster posing as a stranded astronaut claimed to need oxygen money while "under attack in space." The scammer built emotional trust over months of social media messaging before fabricating the emergency, exploiting the victim's isolation and the platform's lack of fraud detection. Romance scams cost Americans over $1 billion in 2023, and the case highlights how social media platforms fail to protect vulnerable elderly users from increasingly sophisticated psychological manipulation schemes.
islandernews.com
· 2025-12-07
Florida residents lost $243.1 million to romance scams and confidence fraud between 2021-2024, ranking ninth nationally in per-capita losses at $11 per person, with 2021 being the worst year at $70.5 million in reported losses. Romance scams involve criminals using fake online profiles and emotional manipulation to build trust with victims before fabricating crises and requesting money, often isolating victims from their support networks. North Dakota experienced the highest per-capita losses at $21 per person despite its smaller population, while California had the largest total losses at $555.1 million.
cosmopolitan.com
· 2025-12-07
Cecilie Fjellhøy was defrauded of £188,000 by Simon Leviev (real name Shimon Hayut), a con artist who posed as a wealthy diamond mogul's son on Tinder and lured her into providing money by claiming his accounts were frozen due to attacks by enemies. Following her appearance in Netflix's 2022 documentary *The Tinder Swindler*, Fjellhøy partnered with private investigator Brianne Joseph to create the series *Love Con Revenge*, which helps other romance scam victims recover funds and reclaim their lives, as Leviev is believed to have swindled approximately $10
cosmopolitan.com
· 2025-12-07
Norwegian woman Cecilie Fjellhøy was scammed out of £188,000 by Tinder romance scammer Shimon Hayut (alias Simon Leviev) in a sophisticated fraud involving luxury lifestyle fabrications. After speaking out in Netflix's 2022 documentary *The Tinder Swindler*, Fjellhøy partnered with a private investigator for a new docuseries called *Love Con Revenge* to help other victims of romance scams, which can result in losses exceeding $2 million and severe psychological consequences including depression and suicidal ideation.
thesun.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Cecilie Fjellhoy met Simon Leviev (real name Shimon Hayut) on Tinder in 2018, who posed as a wealthy diamond company CEO and convinced her to lend him money for travel expenses over 13 weeks, ultimately stealing £200,000 from her credit card. Leviev defrauded an estimated £7.4 million from numerous women using the same romance scam tactics before being arrested in Greece in 2019 on unrelated charges; he was never prosecuted for the Tinder scheme. Fjellhoy, who experienced severe psychological trauma and required psychiatric care and therapy, has since released a Netflix documentary called "
drgnews.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman in Japan in her 80s lost approximately $6,700 (1 million yen) to a romance scam in which an online impostor claimed to be an astronaut in distress on a spaceship needing oxygen. The scammer's implausible story illustrates how anyone, regardless of age or intelligence, can fall victim to fraud, and Japanese officials warned the public to be suspicious of money requests from online contacts.
people.com
· 2025-12-07
A woman in her 80s in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 (1 million yen) in a romance scam that began on social media in July, when a con artist posed as an astronaut claiming to be in space under attack and in need of oxygen, convincing her to send money for his survival. The incident reflects a broader trend: in 2024, over 7,600 people over 60 in the United States fell victim to romance and confidence scams, resulting in more than $389 million in losses, with elderly victims being particularly vulnerable due to their trustworthiness, financial resources, and reluctance to report fraud.
wild941.com
· 2025-12-07
A Port Richey, Florida senior lost $47,000 in an AI-powered romance scam after being deceived by a fake Facebook profile using deepfake videos of a person named "Bonnie Fleck" who claimed to need funds for work in Australia; the scammer, traced to Nigeria, used computer-generated video chats to build trust before convincing the victim to wire cash and send Bitcoin. The victim now faces an additional $22,000 bank liability and risks losing his home, and the case highlights Florida's growing senior fraud problem, with reports reaching 9,000 yearly and increasing 40% since 2019.
97x.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman in her 80s from Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 after being targeted by a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut claiming his spaceship was under attack and needed money for oxygen. The victim, who lived alone and met the scammer on social media in July, developed emotional attachment through online conversations that made her vulnerable to his fabricated crisis. This case reflects a broader surge in romance scams globally, with the U.S. reporting over 64,000 victims and $1 billion in losses in 2023 alone, prompting authorities to urge the public to avoid sending money to online contacts and report suspicious requests immediately.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
A Japanese woman on Hokkaido was defrauded of ¥1 million (£5,000) in a romance scam after meeting a fraudster on social media who claimed to be an astronaut under attack on a spaceship in need of oxygen. The article also highlights a separate investment fraud case where an elderly UK man lost £120,000 of his and his wife's life savings to a fake Bitcoin scheme falsely endorsed by financial journalist Martin Lewis, involving manipulative phone contact three times weekly over an extended period.
bluewin.ch
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Japan was defrauded of approximately 5,780 francs in a romance scam where a fraudster posing as an astronaut claimed to be under attack in space and needed money for oxygen. The woman met the scammer online in July, developed emotional feelings for him, and transferred the funds based on his fabricated emergency. Police warn that romance scams use elaborate stories and fake identities to manipulate victims into sending money, and advise people to remain suspicious of online acquaintances requesting funds and to contact authorities if targeted.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 of her life savings to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut stranded in space and claiming to need money for oxygen after meeting her on a social media app in July. Local police classified the case as a typical romance scam targeting vulnerable elderly individuals, noting that similar schemes victimize older adults across the United States and other countries.
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2023, older Americans lost over $3.4 billion to scams, with the problem escalating in 2024 when individuals over 60 represented the largest group of cybercrime victims in the U.S., losing more than $1 billion since the start of the year through increasingly sophisticated schemes including tech support fraud, romance scams, investment fraud, and government impersonation. Experts recommend seniors protect themselves by never sharing personal information unsolicited, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, consulting family before financial decisions, and recognizing red flags such as urgent requests for money via gift cards or wire transfers, pressure to act quickly, and threats from callers.
inkfreenews.com
· 2025-12-07
Indiana ranks second nationally for senior fraud complaints at 76.9 per 100,000 residents, with seniors age 60+ losing $4.8 billion to fraud nationwide in 2023. The state experienced a sharp 240% increase in elderly fraud complaints over three years, driven partly by its growing senior population expected to exceed 20% by 2030. The most common scams involved tech support impersonation, while cryptocurrency fraud proved most costly, with victims averaging losses exceeding $108,000 per case.
koaa.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
Colorado author Josh Kern lost over $100,000 to a romance and investment scam involving an AI-generated persona who conducted convincing video calls on WhatsApp, then lost an additional $50,000 to a fake recovery scam. FBI Special Agent Eric Burns confirmed that scammers now use AI technology downloaded from the dark web or smartphone apps to disguise their voices and faces during video chats to appear as different people and target vulnerable individuals on dating websites. The FBI recommends meeting people in person before sending money and filing reports through the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center if victimized.
news18.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old Japanese woman living alone lost approximately ¥1 million (₹5.5 lakh) to a romance scam in which a fraudster posing as an astronaut convinced her he was stranded in space and needed money to purchase oxygen. The victim met the scammer on social media in July and developed an online relationship before sending the funds when he claimed to be under attack in a spaceship. This case reflects a broader surge in romance scams targeting elderly populations globally, with Japan reporting 3,326 such cases in the first 11 months of 2024—double the prior year—resulting in ¥34.6 billion in losses.
thetab.com
· 2025-12-07
Netflix's new documentary series "Love Con Revenge" features Cecilie Fjellhøy, a victim of romance scammer Simon Leviev (real name Shimon Hayut) who defrauded her of over £200,000 on Tinder by posing as a billionaire's son. The six-part series pairs Fjellhøy with private investigator Brianne Joseph to track down romance scammers, expose them, and help other victims rebuild their lives and seek revenge. The show premiered on Netflix on September 5th and highlights the methods used by digital predators targeting victims through fake romantic relationships.
hola.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 of her life savings to a romance scam in which a man posed as an astronaut claiming his spaceship needed oxygen money. The article highlights the growing epidemic of romance fraud targeting vulnerable elderly populations, noting that in the U.S. alone over 7,600 seniors were scammed through romance and confidence fraud in 2024, losing nearly $389 million, and that seniors remain prime targets due to isolation, trusting nature, and available savings.
tribunact.com
· 2025-12-07
Jackie Crenshaw, a Connecticut resident, lost nearly $1 million to a cryptocurrency romance scam in which a fraudster built emotional trust to manipulate her into making false investments. She testified before the Connecticut legislature in support of House Bill 6990, which passed and was signed into law, establishing a legal framework for law enforcement to seize virtual currency used in criminal offenses—legislation designed to help recover stolen funds from future victims. Crenshaw's advocacy highlights how romance scams, which exploit emotional connections for financial gain, have become increasingly prevalent, with the FTC estimating true annual fraud losses at $137 billion despite only $9 billion being reported.
northwestgeorgianews.com
· 2025-12-07
The Elder Justice Initiative highlights common financial scams targeting seniors age 60 and older, including Social Security impostor scams (false suspension claims), tech support scams (fake virus/hacking warnings), lottery scams (foreign sweepstakes requiring upfront fees), and romance scams (online dating schemes requesting money). Digital technology has increased seniors' vulnerability to these schemes, which exploit personal information and trust, making elder fraud a recognized threat requiring public education and awareness efforts.
digitalterminal.in
· 2025-12-07
Quick Heal Technologies' report reveals that cybercrimes against seniors in India surged 86% from 2020 to 2022, with projected losses exceeding ₹1.2 lakh crore by 2025, as the senior population increasingly adopts digital platforms. The report identifies three primary fraud schemes targeting elders: impersonation and authority scams (fake police arrests, court sessions), technical deception scams exploiting digital unfamiliarity, and investment scams that can devastate life savings, exemplified by a Telangana case where a 75-year-old lost ₹13 crore. The company recommends combating this epidemic through
japantimes.co.jp
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately ¥1 million ($6,700) in a romance scam after meeting a fraudster on social media in July who posed as an astronaut claiming to be stranded in space and needing money for oxygen. The victim, who lived alone, developed romantic feelings for the scammer during their online communications before he successfully extracted the funds from her. Police emphasized that elderly individuals should remain suspicious of any requests for cash from social media contacts and report such incidents to authorities, noting that Japan's aging population is frequently targeted by organized fraud schemes.
independent.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old Japanese woman lost £5,000 to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut claiming to be stranded in space and needing money for oxygen. The scammer contacted her on social media in July, built a romantic connection, and eventually convinced her to transfer funds for his alleged distress. Romance scams are surging globally, with Japan reporting over 3,300 cases in 2024 (double the previous year) totaling £173.8 million in losses, while UK victims aged 61+ lost an average of £19,000 in 2024.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A 67-year-old man lost his entire $400,000 life savings to scammers impersonating federal agents who falsely claimed his identity had been stolen and promised to protect his money if he transferred it to them. This case reflects a troubling trend: seniors age 60 and older lost $4.8 billion to online scams in 2024, a 43% increase from the previous year, with the most common scams involving fake federal agents, investment fraud, tech support schemes, and romance scams. To protect yourself or elderly relatives, be skeptical of unsolicited contact from supposed government officials, never transfer money or cryptocurrency based on identity theft claims, and verify any official communication by contacting the agency directly using a phone number from their official website rather than one provided by the caller.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
A 67-year-old man lost his entire $400,000 life savings to scammers impersonating federal agents who claimed his identity had been stolen and promised to protect his money if he transferred it to them. This case highlights a growing problem: seniors lost $4.8 billion to online scams in 2024, a 43% increase from the previous year, with impersonation scams being among the most common. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited contact from government agencies, remember that legitimate federal agencies will never ask you to transfer money or buy gift cards, and verify any claims by contacting official agencies directly through their published phone numbers.
sun-sentinel.com
· 2025-12-07
Florida launched Operation Senior Shield, a free statewide alert system designed to warn seniors about emerging scams targeting their phones, computers, and homes before criminals can exploit them. The program provides education from cybersecurity experts and "ethical hackers" who teach seniors how scammers operate, helping them recognize and avoid common fraud tactics like utility shutoff threats, fake accidents, and insurance scams. Seniors are encouraged to stay informed through community conversations, report suspicious activity, and remember that hanging up on unknown callers is acceptable and may protect their savings.
gazettengr.com
· 2025-12-07
A 40-year-old Nigerian national, Leslie Chinedu Mba, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $4 million fraud scheme from 2018 to 2023 that included business email compromise scams and romance fraud targeting victims across the United States. The scheme involved hackers gaining unauthorized access to business email accounts and redirecting payments to fraudulent accounts controlled by Mba and his co-conspirators, causing significant financial harm to small businesses, elderly individuals, and their retirement savings. To protect yourself, verify payment requests through independent contact with businesses using known phone numbers or websites, be cautious of unsolicited romantic advances online, and report suspicious financial activity to your bank and the FBI immediately.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A 67-year-old man lost his entire $400,000 life savings to scammers impersonating federal agents who claimed his identity had been stolen and promised to protect his money if he transferred it to them. This case reflects a troubling trend: Americans age 60 and older lost $4.8 billion to online scams in 2024, with impersonation scams being among the most common types targeting seniors. To protect yourself or older relatives, be skeptical of unsolicited contacts claiming to be from government agencies, remember that the FBI and IRS will never ask you to transfer money or buy gift cards, and verify any suspicious claims by contacting official agencies directly using numbers from their legitimate websites.
dailyinterlake.com
· 2025-12-07
Internet crimes cost Americans $16.6 billion in 2024, a 33% increase from the previous year, with scammers particularly targeting seniors over 60 who may be more trusting or isolated. Montana residents have been hit hard by various schemes including cryptocurrency scams, Ponzi schemes targeting elderly investors, and romance scams, with one state resident losing $4 million over six years to an online romance fraudster. To protect yourself, report suspected fraud to authorities, be skeptical of unsolicited contacts claiming computer or financial emergencies, verify investment opportunities independently, and avoid depositing money into cryptocurrency ATMs based on scammer instructions.
hindupost.in
· 2025-12-07
Over 100 girls and women have gone missing from Bihar's India-Nepal border region in six months, with a recent rescue exposing an organized trafficking network that uses social media romance scams to target young women. A 16-year-old girl was intercepted at the Raxaul border after being lured online into a fake romantic relationship, sexually exploited, pressured to convert religions, and prepared for trafficking into Nepal. To protect themselves, young people should be cautious of online relationships with strangers who quickly profess love or make promises of marriage and jobs, and should report suspicious activity to local authorities or the SSB anti-trafficking unit.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-06
Two Nigerian men face lengthy prison sentences in the United States after pleading guilty to serious crimes: Leslie Mba, 40, admitted to orchestrating romance scams and business email fraud schemes that stole $4 million from American victims between 2018 and 2023, along with fraudulent immigration applications, while 22-year-old Godson Oghenebrume pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm while on a student visa. Mba faces up to 20 years in prison with potential fines, with sentencing scheduled for February 2026, while Oghenebrume faces separate charges. To protect themselves, people should be cautious of unsolicited romantic advances from strangers online, verify requests for money or personal information directly with known contacts, and report suspicious emails or communications to authorities.
loveballymena.online
· 2025-12-06
Northern Ireland's Trading Standards Service is warning consumers about increasingly sophisticated Christmas scams targeting online shoppers during the busy holiday season, with fraudsters using fake deals, counterfeit goods, and non-delivery schemes to steal payment details and money. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald urges shoppers to exercise caution, verify trusted sellers, and carefully protect personal payment information before making online purchases. To stay safe, consumers should shop only from reputable retailers, be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, and avoid sharing sensitive details with unverified sellers.
theborneopost.com
· 2025-12-06
Online scams in Sarawak, Malaysia have surged dramatically, with reported cases rising from 1,888 to 2,295 and financial losses climbing from RM78.41 million to RM85.45 million in just over a year, affecting victims across multiple scam categories including love scams, investment fraud, and fake job offers. The article highlights the emotional and financial devastation caused by these crimes, including a tragic case of an elderly woman who lost money to a romance scammer and died still believing his promises, while emphasizing that official statistics likely undercount the true number of victims since many never report their cases. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited messages from strangers, especially those asking for money; verify job offers and investment opportunities independently; and report suspected scams to authorities rather than suffering in silence, as official reports help track the problem and potentially prevent others from becoming victims.
abc7news.com
· 2025-12-06
A San Jose widow in her 70s lost nearly $1 million to a "pig butchering" scam, a romance fraud scheme where scammers pose as potential romantic partners to gain victims' trust before manipulating them into sending money for fake cryptocurrency investments. The victim, Margaret Loke, was connected with a man claiming to be a businessman from Texas through Facebook, and after building what seemed like a genuine relationship through messaging, he convinced her to wire her entire life savings to overseas accounts. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious of online romantic connections offering investment opportunities, verify identities through video calls before any financial discussions, and never send money to anyone you haven't met in person—especially for cryptocurrency or investment schemes.
mebaneenterprise.com
· 2025-12-05
# Romance and Extortion Scams in North Carolina
A tragic case in North Carolina has exposed the deadly risks of online romance scams, where a Jonesborough man was manipulated and extorted by scammers posing as romantic interests before taking his own life in October 2023. North Carolina has seen a surge in various scams affecting over 500 victims and $17 million in losses, including romance fraud, impersonation schemes, and sextortion targeting vulnerable individuals—ranging from elderly residents to teenagers. To protect yourself, authorities advise verifying any unsolicited contact by independently calling known numbers, never sharing personal or financial information with unverified callers, and being cautious of online profiles pressuring you for money, cryptocurrency investments, or wire transfers.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-05
Vietnamese police arrested three South Korean men in December 2024 who operated an international romance scam network using deepfake technology to impersonate women and lure male victims into forced online fraud schemes. The scammers gained victims' trust through fake romantic relationships, then tricked them into traveling to Southeast Asia under false pretenses, confiscated their passports, and forced them to participate in fraud operations, allegedly stealing approximately $1 million between August and December 2024. To protect yourself, be cautious of online romantic contacts who quickly push for investment opportunities or travel plans, verify identities through video calls, and never surrender your passport or travel documents to anyone.
crr.bc.edu
· 2025-12-04
Seniors ages 60+ lost nearly $5 billion to scams in 2024, with over 140,000 complaints filed to the FBI, and experts believe actual losses are even higher. Scammers specifically target older adults because they typically have more savings, may be less tech-savvy, and are less likely to report fraud, using tactics like impersonating grandchildren claiming emergencies or posing as financial institutions. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited emails and calls asking for personal information or urgent payments, verify requests by contacting organizations directly using official numbers, and never send money via gift cards or wire transfers to unknown parties.
wmbfnews.com
· 2025-12-04
The Better Business Bureau warns that romance scams spike during the holiday season, with criminals using fake online profiles to build relationships with lonely people before requesting money through emotional sob stories like military hardship. The scams particularly target seniors, and victims often lose money through untraceable methods like wire transfers and gift cards. To protect yourself, avoid sharing personal information or sending money to online contacts, watch for red flags like people avoiding video calls, and if you meet someone in person, choose a public location and tell a trusted friend where you'll be.
itweb.co.za
· 2025-12-04
# Romance Scams Summary
Romance scammers create fake online profiles to build emotional relationships with victims, ultimately tricking them into sending money or personal information by exploiting people's desire for connection. Red flags include someone moving too fast in a relationship, requesting money, or refusing video calls—scammers often hide on dating apps and social media platforms where they can easily maintain false identities. To protect yourself, be cautious of online connections who you've never met in person, verify identities through video calls, and never send money to someone you haven't met; according to the FTC, consumers lost over $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023 alone.
wbir.com
· 2025-12-03
Three people were sentenced to prison for orchestrating a romance scam that impersonated celebrities and government officials to defraud elderly victims, including a retired Jonesborough teacher who lost his entire life savings of $87,000 and subsequently died by suicide in October 2023. The scammers, Stephen O. Anagor, Chinagorom Onwumere, and Salma Abdalkareem, targeted multiple victims across the United States by pretending to be celebrities or falsely claiming to be FBI and Justice Department officials to pressure victims into paying fabricated fines and fees. To protect yourself, be cautious of romantic advances from celebrities online, never send money to people you haven't met in person regardless of their claimed identity, and verify any official government communications directly through official channels rather than through email or unsolicited contact.
wjhl.com
· 2025-12-03
# Article Summary
Three individuals—two from New Jersey and one from Washington—have been sentenced to a combined 20 years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that targeted elderly Americans, including a Tennessee man who lost his entire $86,900 life savings and later died by suicide. The scammers impersonated celebrities and government officials online to convince victims they were in romantic relationships, then extorted money by posing as law enforcement claiming investigations were underway. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious of unsolicited romantic advances online, never send money to people you haven't met in person, and verify claims by contacting official organizations directly through their published phone numbers rather than using contact information provided by the scammer.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-03
Three individuals—two from New Jersey and one from Washington—were sentenced to a combined 20 years in prison for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded a Tennessee victim of nearly $87,000 in 2023, ultimately contributing to his suicide. The scam involved criminals in Nigeria impersonating celebrities and government officials online to trick elderly victims into sending money, with U.S.-based conspirators receiving the funds and using harassment tactics to extract additional payments. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected romantic connections online, never send money to someone you haven't met in person, and report suspicious communications to authorities immediately.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-03
Fraudsters target shoppers during Christmas by creating fake websites and social media ads that mimic legitimate retailers, offering counterfeit or non-existent products at unrealistically low prices. Consumers should be wary of suspicious web addresses, pressure tactics like limited-time offers, and deals that seem too good to be true, as scammers use social media, email, text, and WhatsApp to steal money and personal information. To protect yourself, verify store URLs carefully, avoid urgent "flash sales," and shop only on verified legitimate websites.
orlandoweekly.com
· 2025-12-02
Florida ranked 8th among U.S. states for romance scams, with residents losing over $44 million to catfishing schemes in 2025—more than any other top 15 state—with the average victim losing $25,707. The scams disproportionately target older adults aged 60-79, though young adults aged 20-29 are also frequently victimized. To protect yourself, be cautious of online relationships that move quickly to requests for money, verify identities through video calls before deepening connections, and research unfamiliar contacts on social media.
aol.com
· 2025-12-02
An 83-year-old author and former university professor became the victim of a catfishing scam on Facebook in 2023, where someone pretended to be someone else to defraud her emotionally and financially. According to a 2023 Pew report, nearly half of women over 50 who use online dating have encountered scammers, making this a widespread problem affecting vulnerable populations. To protect yourself, experts advise trusting your instincts, being cautious about online relationships that seem too good to be true, and guarding personal and financial information from people you haven't met in person or verified through independent means.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-02
# AI-Powered Holiday Scams on the Rise
Artificial intelligence is making holiday scams increasingly sophisticated and dangerous, allowing criminals to create convincing fake voices and complex fraud schemes that have cost Georgians millions of dollars, according to the U.S. Secret Service. Romance and investment scams are among the costliest threats, with romance fraud causing over $800 million in losses nationwide and one metro Atlanta victim losing more than $3 million to AI-enhanced investment scams. To protect yourself, the Secret Service recommends being skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from family members, extraordinary sales offers, and suspicious online coupons—always verify directly through official company websites before responding to requests for money.
cm.asiae.co.kr
· 2025-12-02
Side job scams are targeting financially vulnerable people—particularly those seeking extra income to pay for children's education or medical expenses—by exploiting their guilt and pressuring them to make deposits under the false premise that their teammates will suffer losses if they don't comply. Victims have lost millions of won in these schemes, which are widespread on social media platforms where scammers pose as legitimate side job opportunities and use fake "team missions" to manipulate people into transferring money. To protect yourself, be wary of side job offers on social media that require upfront deposits, demand screenshots or personal information, or create pressure by claiming others depend on your participation—legitimate work opportunities don't operate this way.
bernama.com
· 2025-12-01
International police agencies are warning of a dangerous surge in transnational scam operations across Southeast Asia that are linked to human trafficking, forced labor, and serious crimes including torture and sexual exploitation. Victims are often lured with fake job promises and then forced into compounds where they operate fraud schemes like romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency scams targeting people worldwide. Law enforcement is increasing coordination and information sharing to dismantle these criminal networks, with Myanmar recently destroying hundreds of illegal scam buildings, and regional authorities are emphasizing joint efforts to combat the cross-border crime problem.
coasttv.com
· 2025-11-30
A 79-year-old Delaware widow lost $7,000 in a romance scam after a man she met online claimed to work for the Department of Defense in Israel and requested money for medication, travel, and other expenses to eventually meet her in person. The scammer exploited her loneliness and emotional vulnerability by expressing love and promises of a future together before asking for money via gift cards and Bitcoin. Police warn that romance scammers intentionally target vulnerable people, particularly lonely seniors, so it's important to be skeptical of online relationships that quickly escalate to declarations of love and requests for money, and to never send funds to people you haven't met in person.
ppc.land
· 2025-11-30
Internal documents reviewed by Reuters revealed that Meta's platforms display approximately 15 billion higher-risk scam advertisements daily, with projections suggesting 3-4% of the company's $200 billion 2024 advertising revenue came from fraudulent ads. Users of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other Meta platforms are exposed to these scams, which include banned goods and deceptive schemes that Meta only removes when it reaches 95% certainty of fraud. While experts debate whether stricter detection could help, the challenge remains balancing fraud prevention with protecting legitimate small businesses from being wrongly blocked by automated systems.