Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
6,239 results
in Phishing
phillyvoice.com
· 2025-12-07
**Article Type:** Educational/Awareness Piece
This educational article outlines common business fraud schemes targeting small business owners, including phony invoices, vendor impersonation, fake consultant services, and fraudulent online advertising schemes. The piece advises business owners to implement protective measures such as verifying vendor legitimacy, requiring multi-party invoice approval, avoiding signing blank documents, and recognizing urgency-based pressure tactics as red flags, noting that over 60% of businesses encountered scammers in 2024.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
An 85-year-old grandmother nearly fell victim to an imposter scam when scammers posing as her bank claimed she owed $50,000 in fraudulent charges, then connected her with someone impersonating an FTC official who pressured her to purchase prepaid debit cards for payment. According to the FTC, fraud losses for seniors have surged dramatically, with losses of $10,000 or more quadrupling between 2020 and 2024, as scammers exploit fear and use untraceable payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, and prepaid cards. Key protective measures include recognizing red flags such as unexpected contact from institutions, requests for unusual payment
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-07
The IRS warned of a rise in fraudulent tax schemes circulating on social media that encourage improper use of tax credits like the Fuel Tax Credit and Sick and Family Leave Credit. Thousands of taxpayers filed inaccurate returns following misleading posts and false "tax experts," resulting in over $162 million in penalties and 32,000 enforcement actions, with individuals risking denied refunds and up to $5,000 civil penalties for frivolous returns. The IRS recommends consulting legitimate tax professionals, following verified IRS accounts, and reporting suspected scams to avoid being misled.
al.com
· 2025-12-07
Cybercriminals are exploiting iCloud Calendar invites to send phishing emails that impersonate Apple's official servers, making fraudulent messages appear legitimate and bypass spam filters. Victims receive fake PayPal receipt notifications directing them to call a "support team," where scammers attempt to extract personal information to compromise accounts and steal money. Apple users are advised to delete unexpected calendar invites with suspicious messages and avoid responding to these phishing attempts.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Criminals are exploiting QR codes by mailing unsolicited packages containing malicious QR codes that, when scanned, direct victims to fraudulent websites to steal personal and financial information or install malware on their devices. This evolved form of the traditional "brushing scam" takes advantage of people's curiosity about mystery packages and the difficulty in identifying suspicious codes before scanning. The FBI warns the public to avoid scanning QR codes from unknown sources and to use strong antivirus protection on mobile devices.
twistedsifter.com
· 2025-12-07
A TikTok user named Samantha warned viewers about a "text buddy" scam after nearly falling for it herself. Someone contacted her via DM asking personal questions (where she lived, her age, occupation) before offering to pay her to be a "text buddy" and be "spoiled," which she recognized as a known scam. She blocked the person and posted the warning to alert others.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-07
Text message job scams have surged in recent years, with reported losses rising from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million by 2024. Contrary to expectations, younger Americans—particularly Gen Z (20%) and millennials (16%)—are more vulnerable to these scams than older generations, with young men being especially susceptible due to financial pressures, career inexperience, and the appeal of fast remote income. Among victims who engaged with scam texts, approximately 30% had money stolen from their accounts and 45% shared personal information with scammers.
globalpolicywatch.com
· 2025-12-07
In August, the FTC announced a $14 million settlement with Match Group, the parent company of dating platforms including Match.com, OkCupid, and PlentyOfFish, for deceptive marketing and unfair billing practices. The settlement resolved a 2019 complaint alleging that Match sent misleading notifications from fraudulent accounts to non-subscribers to induce paid subscriptions, promoted unclear "free" guarantee offers with hidden eligibility conditions, and employed burdensome cancellation procedures—practices that resulted in nearly 500,000 subscriptions purchased through deception between 2016 and 2018. The settlement includes injunctive provisions requiring Match to address these consumer protection
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, with adults over 60 being frequent targets due to their savings, limited digital experience, and trust in official-sounding communications. The article provides 10 protective strategies for seniors, including not answering unknown numbers, rejecting unsolicited calls from government agencies, never sharing personal information over the phone, resisting pressure tactics and unusual payment requests (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), verifying impersonators through independent sources, consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious requests, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Seventeen-year-old Tejasvi Manoj, honored as TIME's 2025 Kid of the Year, founded Shield Seniors, an AI-based platform protecting older adults from online scams and fraud. Motivated by her grandfather's near-experience with a phishing scam and research showing seniors lost over $3 billion to cyber fraud in 2024, Tejasvi created a user-friendly tool with features for learning cybersecurity, analyzing suspicious messages, and reporting fraud. Through her platform, TEDx talks, and community workshops, she is addressing a critical vulnerability in seniors' digital literacy.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article explains why credit monitoring remains important for retirees and provides protective strategies against identity theft. Seniors lost $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, with scammers targeting retirees who neglect credit monitoring, as stolen identities can be used for loans, credit cards, or insurance applications. The article recommends four steps: monitor credit reports monthly (free weekly reports now available), place a fraud alert if suspicious activity occurs, freeze credit with all three bureaus for maximum protection, and secure personal data online.
upworthy.com
· 2025-12-07
A Canadian bank teller prevented a senior citizen from losing $9,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam. The elderly customer had clicked on a Facebook advertisement months earlier, deposited a few hundred dollars, and was now being told he needed to pay $9,000 upfront to access supposedly generated earnings of $90,000 USD—a classic advance-fee cryptocurrency fraud. The alert teller recognized the scam, showed the customer evidence from Reddit's scam community, and successfully convinced him not to proceed, limiting his actual loss to the initial small deposits.
phillyvoice.com
· 2025-12-07
**Article Type:** Educational/Awareness
**Summary:**
Over 60% of businesses fell victim to scams in 2024, with common frauds including phony invoices, vendor impersonation, fake business consultants, and advertising schemes that target business owners and their employees' financial information. Scammers exploit business automation, credit card processing, and growth opportunities through tactics like spoofed websites, fake testimonials, and demands for immediate payment. Businesses can protect themselves by verifying all communications, checking fine print on agreements, avoiding signing blank documents, and staying alert to red flags such as urgency and promises that seem too good to be true.
ag.ny.gov
· 2025-12-07
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned of the "Phantom Hacker" scam, a three-phase coordinated fraud targeting seniors that has stolen over $1 billion since 2024 by impersonating banks and government agencies to gain remote computer access and convince victims to transfer retirement savings via wire, cash, or cryptocurrency. The scam begins with a fake security alert prompting victims to download malware, followed by impersonators claiming to be from the victim's bank and a government agency, creating a false sense of legitimacy to steal funds. The AG advises New Yorkers to avoid clicking unsolicited links, calling provided numbers, granting remote computer access, or transferring
foodtruckoperator.com
· 2025-12-07
Multiple Milwaukee food truck operators were targeted by scammers who posed as event organizers and demanded vendor fees ($500 per incident) via peer-to-peer payment apps to secure spots at festivals and events that often did not exist. Once victims sent money through these apps, the funds were generally unrecoverable, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection advised vendors to verify events independently and avoid unsolicited communications before making payments.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-07
In February 2024, 16-year-old Tejasvi Manoj from Frisco, Texas, was inspired to create Shield Seniors—a comprehensive cybersecurity platform—after her 85-year-old grandfather nearly fell victim to an email scam requesting $2,000 from a fake relative. According to FBI data, seniors face escalating threats, with fraud targeting individuals over 60 reaching $5 billion in losses in 2024, a 32% increase year-over-year. Shield Seniors offers educational resources, an AI-powered scam analyzer with 95% accuracy, a chatbot for cybersecurity questions, and reporting tools to help older adults
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman from Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately 1 million yen (US$6,700) in a romance scam after a fraudster posing as a distressed astronaut contacted her on social media in July, gradually building trust before requesting money for "life-saving oxygen" through convenience store transfers. Police in Sapporo classified the case as a romance scam and warned residents of similar schemes. The article provides guidance on protecting oneself from romance scams, including avoiding money transfers to strangers, verifying profile pictures, recognizing red flags like platform-switching requests, and consulting trusted individuals before sharing personal information or funds.
the420.in
· 2025-12-07
In February 2024, 16-year-old Tejasvi Manoj from Texas was inspired to act after her 85-year-old grandfather nearly fell victim to a $2,000 impersonation scam. She launched Shield Seniors, a web platform with AI-powered tools that help seniors recognize, analyze, and report online scams through educational resources, a chatbot, email/text analysis (95% accuracy), and direct reporting options. The initiative addresses a critical need, as seniors lost nearly $5 billion to online scams in 2024—a 32% increase from the previous year.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Idaho's Attorney General warned of a surge in cryptocurrency ATM scams targeting seniors, with reported losses jumping from $19 million in 2023 to over $35 million in 2024. Scammers use fake tech support calls and government imposter schemes to trick victims into depositing cash at cryptocurrency ATMs located in gas stations and convenience stores, where transactions are untraceable and recovery is nearly impossible. One alert convenience store employee prevented two seniors from losing over $30,000 in a single week by unplugging the machine and calling police.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article warns seniors about Medicare scams that surge during fall open enrollment periods. Scammers impersonate Medicare or medical providers via phone calls to trick beneficiaries into revealing Social Security numbers, Medicare card numbers, and other personal information—which criminals use to submit fraudulent claims worth tens of thousands of dollars. The article advises that Medicare will never call unsolicited, recommends hanging up on suspicious callers, and directs victims to call 1-800-MEDICARE for assistance.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-07
The "Phantom Hacker" scam, which has stolen over $1 billion in the past year, uses a three-phase impersonation scheme targeting seniors and others by posing as tech support, financial institution, and government representatives to trick victims into transferring funds to fraudulent "safe" accounts via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash. The scam's effectiveness lies in its elaborate layering of trusted personas, remote computer access, and official-looking communications that convince victims to move money while remaining silent about the transactions. Experts warn that artificial intelligence will make such scams increasingly convincing and scalable, requiring stronger security controls at the vendor and service provider level to protect vulnerable populations.
adanews.ada.org
· 2025-12-07
The American Dental Association warned members of a phishing scam using fraudulent emails claiming membership suspension unless recipients clicked links to update payment information within 24 hours. At least one member received the deceptive email, which the ADA reported to the hosting company, resulting in the scammer's account being shut down. The ADA recommends member dentists implement cybersecurity measures including staff training, data backups, email vigilance, and anti-virus software, and to report suspicious emails to their email provider or the ADA Member Service Center.
news.usps.com
· 2025-12-07
The U.S. Postal Service is warning employees and contractors about smishing scams—text message-based cyberattacks where criminals impersonate USPS leadership to steal personal data by requesting credential verification through suspicious links. The advisory recommends employees avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts, be wary of messages from unknown numbers, and report suspicious communications to the Postal Inspection Service.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Quishing—a scam combining QR codes with phishing techniques—is rapidly increasing, with 784 reported incidents between April 2024 and April 2025 resulting in nearly £3.5 million in losses across the UK. Fraudsters replace phishing links with QR codes to trick victims into visiting malicious websites that steal banking credentials, personal data, or install malware, with cases ranging from small parking fees to major identity theft and loan fraud affecting victims of all ages.
gov.mo
· 2025-12-07
Macao Polytechnic University partnered with the Judiciary Police to conduct anti-fraud education for approximately 3,000 new students through seminars and an interactive "Anti-Scam Promotion Vehicle." The activities educated students about common fraud schemes including police impersonation, romance scams, brushing scams, and phishing, using real-world case simulations and engaging games to strengthen fraud awareness and prevention capabilities. The university plans to continue these anti-fraud initiatives as part of the Macao government's "On-campus Anti-scam 'Vaccination' Programme."
onlineathens.com
· 2025-12-07
Dorian Wilkerson, a former math instructor from Georgia, scammed his wife Shareza Jackson out of more than $2 million by falsely claiming to be a cosmetic surgeon at Emory Hospital and convincing her to take out loans to fund a fake clinic called The Best U Now. The scheme was featured in Netflix's docuseries *Love Con Revenge*, which premiered in 2024, and revealed how Wilkerson used romantic manipulation and false credentials to exploit his spouse. Despite Jackson filing a civil suit and the national exposure from the documentary, Wilkerson was never criminally charged, remains free in Atlanta, and has not repaid the stolen funds.
vpnmentor.com
· 2025-12-07
Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old Indian American, was named TIME's "Kid of the Year 2025" for creating Shield Seniors, a website educating older adults about online scams after her grandfather nearly lost $2,000 to a fraud scheme in 2024. The FBI received 860,000 scam reports in 2024 with potential losses exceeding $16 billion, with seniors aged 60+ being heavily targeted by schemes like the "Phantom Hacker." Tejasvi's awareness campaign and educational platform aim to address the widespread lack of scam literacy in the senior community.
broadview.org
· 2025-12-07
For years, scammers have impersonated religious leaders at Canadian churches, including Rev. Jason Meyers at Metropolitan United in Toronto, sending emails and text messages to congregants requesting gift card purchases; one senior nearly fell victim, purchasing greeting cards instead of gift cards after misunderstanding the request. Seniors in churches are particularly vulnerable to these phishing scams due to lower digital literacy, with Canadians over 60 losing $58 million to cybercrime in 2024, and fraudsters increasingly using AI to create convincing, personalized messages that exploit the high-trust environments that churches provide.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-07
This article discusses how modern fraud tactics have evolved to become more sophisticated and technology-driven, with criminals using AI-powered tools and social engineering techniques to compromise accounts before transactions occur. Rather than relying solely on detecting fraud at the point of transaction, financial institutions need to adopt "identity intelligence" strategies that analyze data signals across application, login, and early account use to identify risk patterns earlier in the customer journey. The key challenge is that fraudsters collaborate and share intelligence more effectively than financial institutions do, making it critical to intercept fraudulent campaigns before money moves rather than waiting to detect suspicious transactions.
fox32chicago.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly Vernon Hills resident lost $27,000 in a sophisticated impersonation scam in July when scammers posing as federal agents convinced her that her social security number had been misused to purchase firearms; the victim made two cash deliveries totaling the amount after being manipulated through fake emails, pop-up messages, and promises that her money would be returned. Police arrested Dmytro Kariev, 54, of Wheeling on September 2 and charged him with Class 2 felony theft after investigators used the victim's description and vehicle photos to identify him as the man who collected the initial $20,000 cash payment. Detectives believe additional victims may exist
fox5vegas.com
· 2025-12-07
Cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to create highly personalized phishing emails by analyzing victims' online activity and social media profiles, making fraudulent messages appear to come from trusted contacts. Additionally, unsecured smart home devices and networks lack uniform security standards, creating vulnerabilities that allow hackers to access and steal personal data. To protect yourself, use strong passwords on routers, keep devices updated with security patches, and limit what personal information you share online.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are targeting seniors with fraudulent emails claiming their Social Security numbers are involved in criminal activities and threatening to suspend benefits. The emails do not originate from legitimate Social Security Administration sources (which only send letters from .gov addresses) and the scammers use phone calls with threats of fines to extract victims' personal information and Social Security numbers.
citationneeded.news
· 2025-12-07
**Type:** Cryptocurrency/Financial Fraud Alert
The Trump family's World Liberty Financial (WLFI) cryptocurrency project has raised significant concerns about conflicts of interest and market manipulation, with the project team blocklisting major investor Justin Sun from selling his tokens shortly after trading commenced, potentially to prevent price decline. The Trumps have profited approximately $412.5 million from early token sales and indirect payments, though media reports claiming $5 billion in gains are misleading since these represent unrealized "paper" profits and insider selling would likely cause market collapse. Congressional Democrats are pushing for stronger oversight language in proposed crypto legislation to prevent similar presidential conflicts of interest in financial ventures.
kclyradio.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational piece outlines common elder fraud tactics and prevention strategies. Scammers impersonate trusted organizations like Social Security, the IRS, and Medicare, using spoofed phone numbers and creating artificial urgency to pressure victims into paying via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards. Experts recommend resisting immediate action, independently verifying claims, and protecting oneself through blocking suspicious contacts, updating devices, and never sharing personal or financial information without verification.
echolive.ie
· 2025-12-07
A 20-year-old student, Darragh Sutcliffe, pleaded guilty to money laundering and giving a false statement after allowing scammers to deposit €16,350 in stolen funds from a smishing/phishing scam into his bank account between May 23-25, 2023, in exchange for a promised €400 he never received. The proceeds came from three victims, including a Cork woman who lost €9,350 through an E-flow text scam, and €3,500 was withdrawn before the account was frozen; Sutcliffe admitted to filing a false police report but was considered a "non-complicit money mule" by
the420.in
· 2025-12-07
An organized gang in Agra, Uttar Pradesh was arrested for systematically blackmailing young men through dating apps and social media, using female accomplices to lure victims into compromising situations that were recorded and used for extortion. In one case, a victim was coerced to pay 200,000 rupees after being recorded at a hotel under false pretenses, with the gang continuing demands even after partial payments. Police emphasize awareness and caution as safeguards, while national data shows a 28% increase in online sexual exploitation and blackmail crimes in India in 2022.
gobankingrates.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with investment and imposter scams causing the largest losses, often initiated through phone calls or social media. Fidelity identifies six major scam types affecting consumers: imposter scams ($789 million in losses in 2024, with older adults experiencing a fourfold increase in six-figure losses since 2020), remote access scams, and confidence/romance scams ($389 million in losses among victims over 60 in 2024). Protection strategies include ignoring unsolicited contact requests, never granting remote access or sharing security codes, avoiding suspicious links and downloads, and refusing to send money to people met
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article outlines six prevalent scams targeting Americans: phishing emails and texts impersonating legitimate companies; online shopping fraud through fake websites (accounting for nearly one-third of reported scams in 2023); fake job offers requiring upfront payments (16,000+ complaints in 2023 totaling $81 million in losses); romance scams costing victims $1.14 billion in 2023; tech support scams resulting in $600 million in losses primarily affecting older adults; and fake check/overpayment scams targeting online sellers. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including verifying communications directly with companies, using secure payment methods, and avoiding clicking
buckscountyherald.com
· 2025-12-07
I cannot provide a summary of this content. The text appears to be a collection of generic website error messages, account registration confirmations, and subscription prompts rather than an article about fraud, scams, or elder abuse. To create an appropriate summary for the Elderus database, please provide an actual news article or transcript about elder fraud or abuse.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A Boise, Idaho gas station clerk named Avalon Hardy intervened to stop at least seven cryptocurrency scams targeting elderly customers by questioning suspicious Bitcoin ATM transactions and unplugging the machine to prevent a 79-year-old from losing $15,000 and a 75-year-old from losing $19,000. Crypto fraud has become increasingly prevalent, with scammers using tactics like impersonation, fake government agencies, and AI-powered deepfakes to target older adults, who reported losses exceeding $1.6 billion in 2023 alone and are the most vulnerable demographic to these schemes.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in the past year, with investment and imposter scams causing the largest losses, often initiated via phone calls or social media. Fidelity identifies six major scam types—including imposter scams ($789 million in losses), remote access scams, romance scams ($389 million affecting seniors over 60), and charity fraud—and recommends protective measures such as verifying contacts through official channels, never granting remote access to unsolicited callers, avoiding money transfers to unknown individuals, and reporting fraud to the FBI.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-07
A new QR code package scam has emerged where recipients receive mysterious packages with QR codes but no sender information; scanning these codes can lead to malware installation, phone lockdowns, extortion, or credential theft through fake login pages. To protect yourself, avoid scanning QR codes on unfamiliar packages and instead contact the carrier with any tracking numbers; if you've already scanned one, immediately change passwords, enable Airplane Mode, and consider a factory reset if malware was downloaded.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in the last year, with investment and imposter scams causing the greatest losses, according to the FTC. Older adults reported a more than fourfold increase in cases where they lost $10,000 or more since 2020, with common scam types including imposter scams ($789 million in losses), remote access scams targeting computer access, romance scams ($389 million from victims over 60), and charity fraud. Protection strategies include ignoring unsolicited contact requests, verifying organizations directly through official channels, never granting remote access to unknown parties, and being cautious of romance solicitations that progress quickly or
fallriverreporter.com
· 2025-12-07
A former U.S. Postal Inspector in Massachusetts was indicted on 45 federal charges for stealing over $330,000 from mail sent by elderly scam victims between 2019 and 2023, with victims averaging 75 years old and losing amounts between $1,400 and $19,100. Scott Kelley, who headed the Mail Fraud Team investigating scams targeting seniors, allegedly intercepted approximately 1,950 suspicious parcels and pocketed cash from them, then laundered the funds through money orders and personal accounts while spending on luxury items including a pool deck, Caribbean cruises, and other goods and services. He also allegedly stole $7,000
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-07
An 89-year-old Hingham, Massachusetts woman lost $19,000 in a phishing and impersonation scam after receiving a fraudulent email posing as her bank. The scammer instructed her to withdraw cash from multiple branches while staying on the phone, claiming her account was compromised, and later sent someone to her home to collect the money under the pretense of depositing it into a secure account. The Hingham Police Department is investigating and urging anyone with information to contact Detective Heather Hermida.
webpronews.com
· 2025-12-07
The Bank of Thailand froze over 3 million bank accounts and imposed daily transfer limits of 50,000-200,000 baht in September 2025 to combat online scams that have cost victims an estimated 6 billion baht. While targeting fraudulent "mule accounts," the measures have inadvertently affected innocent users including small businesses, vendors, elderly citizens, and foreign residents, causing widespread economic disruption and panic. Critics argue the automated detection system casts too wide a net, and the BOT has promised expedited account reviews but faces skepticism over implementation delays and insufficient victim support mechanisms.
barristerng.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational guide explains how AI-powered deepfake scams work, including voice cloning, CEO fraud, and video impersonation schemes that use synthetic media to impersonate trusted individuals and extract money or sensitive information. Key protective measures include spotting subtle technical glitches and emotional manipulation tactics, using family "safe words" for verification, limiting personal content online, enabling two-factor authentication, and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC or local authorities.
news.ssbcrack.com
· 2025-12-07
In September 2025, Thailand's Bank of Thailand froze over 3 million bank accounts and imposed daily transfer limits of 50,000-200,000 baht to combat online scams that had stolen approximately 6 billion baht from victims. While the freeze targeted "mule accounts" used for money laundering, it inadvertently froze accounts of innocent users including small business owners and elderly individuals, causing widespread panic and economic disruption. The BOT committed to expedited account reviews but faced criticism over insufficient victim support systems, bureaucratic delays, and broader impacts on Thailand's digital economy and expatriate communities.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-07
"Boss scams," a spear-phishing variant where fraudsters impersonate supervisors to trick new employees into purchasing gift cards that are then resold on the dark web, are increasing as job markets remain competitive. Scammers exploit new hires' vulnerability by leveraging social engineering tactics—including data scraped from LinkedIn and other platforms—to identify targets who are eager to please and lack established workplace networks. Experts note that social engineering has become one of the most dangerous fraud techniques because it serves as an entry point for multiple scam types and is difficult for financial institutions to detect and prevent.
vice.com
· 2025-12-07
Karen lost $65,000 across loans and credit cards after being targeted by a romance scammer on a fitness app who initially posed as a supportive friend named "Charles Hillary" before manipulating her into funding fake money retrieval schemes with escalating requests for shipping and processing fees. When she attempted to break away, the scammer threatened violence against her family and deployed multiple personas—alternating between pressure and false sympathy—to maintain control. The article outlines warning signs of romance scams including platform switching, suspicious timing, pressure tactics, and the use of multiple characters to psychologically manipulate victims, emphasizing that victims should report to law enforcement and break their silence to prevent others from falling victim.