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in Romance Scams
statesman.com
A PrivacyJournal study ranking online dating safety across U.S. states found Nevada, Georgia, and Alaska to be the most dangerous for romance scams and related fraud, while Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine emerged as the safest. Texas ranked 43rd out of 50 states, placing it in the top 10 most dangerous, based on per capita metrics including reported romance scams, identity theft, fraud, sex offenders, and STD cases.
justice.gov
Uwemedimo Umoren, a Georgia man, was sentenced to three years in prison for laundering over $8 million in proceeds from a Nigeria-based fraud enterprise that operated from 2016 to 2021. The criminal scheme primarily targeted vulnerable elderly Americans through investment, business email compromise, and romance scams, with at least 17 victims suffering significant financial and emotional harm, including one elderly man whose stress-induced stroke contributed to his death. Umoren was ordered to forfeit $8.23 million and pay $1.24 million in restitution for his role in receiving and laundering the fraud proceeds through shell company bank accounts he controlled.
abc11.com
The Wake County Animal Center warned of a scam targeting owners of lost pets, in which scammers impersonate center employees, call after hours, claim to have found the pet injured, and demand emergency surgery payments via electronic transfer or payment apps. The scammers spoof the animal center's phone number to appear legitimate and exploit desperate pet owners' emotional vulnerability. The genuine animal center never requests immediate phone payments, only accepts in-person payments (cash, check, or credit card), and does not perform medical procedures on private animals.
patch.com
Solano County launched the Solano Senior Fraud Prevention Center (SolanoScamCenter.org) through its Older & Disabled Adult Services division to help residents prevent financial elder abuse and report scams. The center provides resources and five key prevention tips, including verifying government communications, watching for fake social media identities, being skeptical of prize/investment offers, avoiding suspicious account compromise notices, and monitoring finances and Power of Attorney documents. Victims can call ODAS for assistance filing reports and contacting law enforcement.
the-sun.com
Bank manager Andrea Nicole Hopkins stole $328,273 from four elderly customers (ages 80-95) at Commerce Bank in St. Louis between February 2020 and May 2021 by transferring funds into cashier's checks and prepaid cards, forging signatures, and altering account statements to fund her personal expenses and debts. Hopkins pleaded guilty to four counts of bank fraud and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison in May 2023; Commerce Bank returned all stolen funds to the victims.
justice.gov
Between 2018 and 2022, six collegiate track and field athletes at U.S. universities received and transferred over $820,000 in proceeds from Nigerian-based fraud schemes (romance, goods, and military scams) that targeted more than 100 American victims. Aniekeme Etim, a 24-year-old from Georgia, was sentenced to three years of probation, a $74,847.52 fine, and $123,116.50 in restitution for her role as a money conduit, while her co-defendants received prison sentences ranging from 36 to 46 months and remain subject to deportation.
stories.td.com
**Gift Card Scams Overview**
Gift card scams are increasingly prevalent, with fraudsters posing as grandchildren, IRS agents, or bank employees to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards and sharing the numbers. Scammers prefer gift cards because they are difficult to track once the card number and PIN are compromised, making them an "easy depletion method" for accessing funds. Common variants include bank investigator scams, IRS impersonation scams, grandparent scams, and lottery scams, all of which exploit urgency, authority, or emotional appeals to manipulate victims into sending money via untraceable gift cards.
beaconjournal.com
A Tallmadge police sergeant investigated a 2019 online dating scam that defrauded a local woman of $60,000 and uncovered a multi-state money-laundering operation involving victims across Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas, including one couple who lost $375,000. The investigation led to the arrest of six people in Rhode Island who were processing fraudulent funds through compromised bank accounts and money orders. The FBI reported 19,000 romance scam complaints nationally in 2022 with losses exceeding $739 million, typically targeting women over 40.
aol.com
Romance scams target vulnerable individuals, particularly older adults who are lonely, widowed, or divorced, with scammers posing as romantic interests and eventually requesting money through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers for fabricated emergencies like overseas travel or legal fees. A New Hampshire senior experienced this scheme firsthand, enduring months of emotional manipulation before the scammer attempted blackmail, highlighting how perpetrators exploit victims' emotions and are typically difficult to prosecute as they operate from overseas. Law enforcement emphasizes that victims should not blame themselves, as scammers deliberately prey on emotional vulnerability, and success in prevention often depends on family intervention to prevent further financial loss.
southcoasttoday.com
Chukwunonso "Douglas" Umegbo, a 39-year-old former New Bedford man, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for operating a romance scam between 2018 and 2019, defrauding victims of over $568,000 by creating fake online personas and romantic relationships to solicit money through fraudulent bank accounts. He was arrested in London in April 2022 and extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and false statements to banks, and must pay $578,954 in restitution and forfeiture.
aol.com
Chukwunonso Umegbo, a former New Bedford man, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for operating a romance scam between 2018 and 2019, defrauding victims of over $568,000 by creating fake online personas to develop romantic relationships and extract money. Umegbo used multiple aliases and bank accounts in the Greater Boston area to receive and launder victim funds through cash withdrawals and cashier's checks, and continued the scheme even after leaving the U.S. by coordinating with co-conspirators. He was arrested in London in April 2022, extradited to the U.S. in February 2023, and ordered to pay
chinadaily.com.cn
A Hainan man surnamed Xu was sentenced to over 12 years in prison and fined 200,000 yuan ($27,600) for conducting online romance scams against six women between October 2021 and May 2023. Xu fabricated online identities and false stories about financial emergencies or medical crises to defraud his victims of a total of 3.09 million yuan ($430,000), which he used for online gambling. The court's harsh sentencing was influenced by Xu's prior fraud conviction and the significant financial and emotional harm caused to his victims.
justice.gov
Three men were charged with money laundering conspiracy and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business after laundering over $4.5 million in proceeds from business email compromise schemes and romance scams targeting elderly victims between 2020 and 2023. The defendants directed victims to wire funds into bank accounts they controlled, then depleted those accounts through multiple withdrawals and transfers, including to overseas accounts, while keeping a percentage of the fraudulent proceeds. One co-conspirator has already pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
wdam.com
Six collegiate track athletes, including former William Carey University athlete Aniekeme Etim, were prosecuted for operating an unlicensed money transmission business that facilitated overseas fraud schemes between 2018 and 2022. Nigerian-based fraudsters used romance scams, fraudulent goods scams, and military scams to target over 100 U.S. victims, with the athletes receiving and transferring more than $820,000 overseas; Etim received a three-year probation sentence, a $74,847.52 fine, and was ordered to pay $123,116.50 in restitution.
justice.gov
Darlington Akporugo, 46, a Nigerian resident of Fulshear, Texas, was charged with conspiring with Jasmin Sood to defraud over a dozen elderly Americans in a romance scam that operated between 2015 and 2022, resulting in approximately $3.1 million in losses. The perpetrators created fictitious online personas on dating platforms to build trust with elderly, often widowed victims before convincing them to transfer money to fraudster-controlled accounts, and in at least one case, approached a victim in person to drive her to banks and gain control of her banking access devices. Both defendants face up to 30 years imprisonment on wire frau
f-secure.com
This article is an educational resource from F-Secure promoting their scam protection service. It highlights that U.S. citizens lost an estimated $12.5 billion to cybercrime in the previous year (a 12% increase), and provides prevention advice across common scam vectors including phishing emails, SMS "smishing," fake delivery alerts, contact spoofing, and fraudulent online shopping sites. The resource emphasizes that legitimate organizations do not request sensitive information via email or text, and recommends verification through separate trusted channels before responding to suspicious communications.
khou.com
Darlington Akporugo, 46, and Jasmin Sood, 35, from Fulshear, Texas, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for operating romance scams targeting elderly victims, particularly widows, through social media and online dating sites between 2015 and 2022. The pair used fake identities to build trust with over a dozen victims nationwide before requesting money, defrauding them of a total of $3.1 million; in at least one case, they approached a victim in person and gained control of her banking access devices. If convicted, both face up to 30 years in prison on wire fraud charges, with
timeslive.co.za
In 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams with combined losses totaling $1.3 billion. The article provides fraud prevention tips including recognizing spelling errors and urgency in messages, verifying sender identities and profiles, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and being cautious when requests are made for sensitive information such as passwords or financial details.
wdam.com
Six collegiate track and field athletes, including four from William Carey University, were prosecuted for operating an unlicensed money transmission business as part of overseas fraud schemes originating in Nigeria between 2018-2022. The athletes received funds from over 100 victims and transferred more than $820,000 abroad through romance scams, fraudulent goods scams, and military scams; Aniekeme Etim, the last defendant sentenced, received three years probation and was ordered to pay $74,847.52 in fines plus $123,116.50 in restitution. All six defendants face potential deportation and were ordered to make restitution to their respective victims
cpr.org
While younger adults are statistically more likely to fall for fraud, people over 70 lose significantly more money overall. An 80-year-old man in Aurora lost $20,000 after scammers posed as his bank's fraud department over several weeks, convincing him to withdraw cash and convert it to Bitcoin at a gas station ATM. Deputy Ryan Falkner of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office identifies the most prevalent current scams targeting older adults as popup virus warnings and jury duty/arrest warrant phone scams, recommending that victims turn off their computers and never pay via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
newstalkzb.co.nz
Police warned the public about phone and email scams in which fraudsters impersonate police officers and request victims' financial details by claiming they are fraud victims. New Zealand Police clarified they never contact people requesting banking information, card numbers, PINs, or passwords, and advised the public to verify any suspicious calls by hanging up and dialing 105 to confirm the officer's identity. The scams, primarily targeting landline users, are believed to be operated overseas.
indiatvnews.com
This educational article outlines major cybercrime threats targeting smart device users, including phishing, fake online stores, banking scams, impersonation scams, and romance scams. It provides guidance on recognizing red flags—such as unsolicited requests for personal information, suspicious payment methods, and poor grammar—and recommends preventative measures including verifying website legitimacy, avoiding unknown links and attachments, and monitoring financial accounts for unauthorized activity. The article advises reporting suspected scams to authorities like the FTC and contacting financial institutions immediately if fraud is suspected.
the-sun.com
Ellen Hickton, a senior from Ontario, Canada, lost $16,542 CAD ($12,195.84 USD) to a sophisticated phone scam in which a fraudster impersonated a CIBC bank employee and convinced her she was helping investigate fraudulent activity on her account. The scammer instructed Hickton to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, and invest in Bitcoin under the false premise that the bank would reimburse her. CIBC clarified that legitimate banks never ask customers to help investigate fraud, make cryptocurrency transfers, or buy gift cards, and urged customers to verify callers by contacting their bank directly using official phone numbers.
bbc.com
A 60-year-old widow from Warrington, Cheshire, lost her £50,000 life savings to a romance fraud scam after meeting a man posing as "Derek," a Manchester businessman, on a social media page for widows in May 2021. The fraudster gradually built trust over several months before requesting money for various emergencies, with the victim eventually realizing the deception only when police informed her that "Derek" did not exist and was part of an organized fraud gang. Romance fraud cases in England and Wales have surged from 4,842 in 2019 to 7,660 in the most recent year, with the North West experiencing a
krocnews.com
Sharon Ann Schmalzriedt, 61, a bookkeeper in Wabasha, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to felony theft after stealing over $3.7 million from her employer between October 2019 and March 2020 to send to an online romance scammer posing as "Erik Lockwood," who claimed he needed funds to access $7 million from work in Dubai. She also stole more than $17,000 from a vulnerable adult in her care, and her actions contributed to her employer's bankruptcy. She is scheduled for sentencing in June with a plea agreement recommending a stayed prison sentence and probation.
irishstar.com
Chukwunonso "Douglas" Umegbo, a 39-year-old Massachusetts man, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for laundering over $568,000 obtained through romance scams between 2018 and 2019. Using fake identities and fraudulent bank accounts in the Boston area, Umegbo received funds from romance scam victims, withdrew the money in cash, and purchased cashier's checks to obscure the funds' origin. He was arrested in London in April 2022, extradited to the U.S. in February 2023, and ordered to pay $578,954.78 in restitution and forfeiture.
bbc.co.uk
A 60-year-old widow from Warrington lost £50,000 in life savings to a romance fraudster who posed as "Derek," a Manchester businessman, after meeting him on a social media page for widows in May 2021. The scammer manipulated her over several months with false promises and stories before requesting cash, which eventually escalated to her transferring her entire retirement fund. Romance fraud cases across England and Wales have risen significantly, with 7,660 reported cases in the most recent year compared to 4,842 in 2019, costing North West residents an estimated £36 million over five years.
rexburgstandardjournal.com
Madison County residents, particularly those 50 years old and older, have been targeted by a jury duty summons scam where callers impersonating sheriff's office deputies demand payment or attempt to arrange in-person meetings. The Madison County Sheriff's Office clarified that deputies never contact residents by phone regarding warrants, fines, or tickets, and do not accept payment via gift cards or digital payment methods. Other prevalent scams in the area include IRS impersonation, sweepstakes fraud, fake scholarships, and romance scams, all designed to extract money from victims.
wareham.theweektoday.com
District Attorney Timothy Cruz will present an educational program on April 18 at the Wareham Free Library addressing various types of scams, including telephone, romance, internet, and financial scams. The presentation is designed for adults seeking to learn protective measures against fraud, and will feature the Wareham Police Department's comfort dog Lexi.
patch.com
Brick Township police warn residents, particularly seniors, about active scams in their community, including gift card/cryptocurrency fraud, grandparent scams, email phishing, tech support fraud, and romance scams. The department urges residents to verify caller identities, avoid unsolicited payment requests, maintain strong cybersecurity practices, and report suspected fraud to local police immediately.
nevalleynews.org
Scottsdale Community College hosted a cyber security awareness event featuring speakers from the U.S. Secret Service and Scottsdale Police Department who educated students and community members about online scams, including AI-voice impersonation schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, and romance scams targeting vulnerable populations. The presentation emphasized protective measures such as staying calm during suspicious calls, verifying caller identity through questions only loved ones would know, and strengthening passwords and security practices, noting that seniors and widows are particularly targeted by romance scammers who exploit loneliness and unfamiliarity with social media.
inews.co.uk
Cyber crime expert Jake Moore discusses rising online fraud threats in the UK, where online fraud doubled in 2023 to cost £2.3 billion, with romance scams and identity theft among the fastest-growing categories affecting 1.4 million people. Moore advises individuals on essential security practices including using encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp or Signal instead of SMS texts, keeping software and apps updated automatically to patch vulnerabilities, and being cautious about downloading apps like TikTok that pose data privacy risks. He emphasizes that consistent application of basic cybersecurity habits is the most effective defense against increasingly sophisticated scams and hacking attempts.
michigan.gov
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reissued a cryptocurrency alert during Financial Literacy Month, warning consumers about investment fraud risks. According to the FTC, over 46,000 people reported losing more than $1 billion to cryptocurrency scams (60 times the 2018 figure), with $575 million involving fraudulent investment schemes that promise unrealistic returns and use fake tracking websites or demand additional "fees" to withdraw funds. The alert advises potential investors to research thoroughly, avoid high-pressure sales tactics, never invest more than they can afford to lose, and be wary of anyone demanding cryptocurrency payments or guaranteeing profits.
kxii.com
Jason Leach from Communication Federal Credit Union discusses common scam types, specifically grandparent and romance scams, and provides guidance on how to avoid becoming a victim. The segment, part of a "Dollars and Sense" educational series, focuses on awareness and prevention strategies for these prevalent fraud schemes.
wired.com
This article explains the emerging threat of AI-powered voice cloning scams, where fraudsters use artificial intelligence to impersonate family members or trusted contacts in urgent calls requesting money. The article provides expert advice on protection strategies, including hanging up and calling the person back using a verified number, establishing pre-agreed safe words with loved ones, and asking personal questions that only the real person would know to verify authenticity.
azfamily.com
This is an educational podcast series covering consumer protection topics rather than a specific fraud or elder abuse incident. Key episodes address red flags in standard contracts, risks associated with rewards credit cards that can lead to debt, vehicle recalls affecting safety, and credit denial trends affecting consumers. The podcast provides advice on identifying problematic contract clauses, understanding credit card pitfalls, and navigating consumer financial decisions.
masslive.com
Chukwunonso "Douglas" Umegbo, 39, a former New Bedford resident, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to running romance scams between 2018 and 2019 that defrauded victims of over $568,000. Umegbo used fake identities to open bank accounts and receive money from fictitious online relationships, then withdrew the funds in cash, purchased cashier's checks, or spent the money directly, and continued directing victim funds to co-conspirators' accounts even after fleeing to London. He was arrested in London in April 2022, extradited to the U.S.
silicon.co.uk
Google filed a lawsuit against two alleged cryptocurrency scammers based in mainland China and Hong Kong who uploaded 87 fraudulent apps that were downloaded by over 100,000 people, defrauding victims of tens of thousands of dollars each through "pig-butchering" romance scams. The developers used fake cryptocurrency investment apps that promised high returns but prevented withdrawals and demanded additional fees of 10-30 percent, ultimately severing contact once victims' funds were exhausted. Google seeks to block the defendants from accessing its services and claims $75,000 in damages from the investigation.
hamlethub.com
**Summary:**
This educational piece outlines key strategies for protecting against hacking and scams. It advises securing internet-connected devices against malware, recognizing common scam tactics (phishing, romance scams, fake tech support, and demands for wire transfers or cryptocurrency), and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
cryptotimes.io
Millions of dollars in fraudulent funds were seized at Evolve Bank and Trust after the bank discovered that entities including Parallel Design Limited, Gatcha Pictures Limited, and Bytechip LLC were facilitating crypto scams and pig-butchering schemes operated by a network of 26 Chinese nationals. Evolve froze over $15 million in virtual accounts linked to these fraudulent activities and subsequently severed relationships with the implicated firms due to unsatisfactory banking practices.
gript.ie
**Romance Scam Case:** A 37-year-old man in Dublin was charged under money laundering laws in connection with a suspected romance scam involving over €255,000 that was deposited into his bank account between February 2017 and February 2020; the alleged victim is believed to be a resident of Finland, and the case is under consideration for referral to Circuit Criminal Court.
boston.com
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.
postandcourier.com
This opinion piece highlights multiple types of elder and consumer fraud affecting South Carolina residents, including gift card scams, cryptocurrency schemes, the "grandparent" impersonation scam, and account takeovers, with documented losses ranging from $30,000 to $39,000. The author provides red flags to recognize scams (requests for gift cards or cryptocurrency, unsolicited requests for personal information, phishing emails) and recommends protective measures such as using strong passwords, utilizing password managers, and paying with credit cards rather than debit cards to limit liability. The piece emphasizes that while individuals have limited recourse, large institutions continue to suffer major data breaches that put personal information into criminals' hands.
cbs19news.com
Virginia experienced 491 tax scam victims in 2023 who lost over $12 million to government impersonation schemes, ranking the state 11th nationally. Scammers primarily target older adults by impersonating the IRS through fake websites (using .com or .net instead of .gov) to steal login credentials and redirect tax refunds within minutes, with potential access to accounts lasting years. The article features a reformed scammer who warns that verifying URLs and protecting IRS account information are critical defenses against these schemes.
dlnews.com
Google filed suit against two Chinese developers, Yunfeng Sun and Hongnam Cheung, for creating at least 87 fake cryptocurrency exchange apps (including TionRT and SkypeWallet) that defrauded over 100,000 downloaders globally since 2019. The developers used "pig-butchering" scams, initiating contact via Google Voice to build trust before convincing victims to invest in fraudulent projects; at least one victim lost over $75,000, with approximately 8,700 U.S. victims affected. Google seeks a permanent ban on the defendants' use of its services and damages to be determined at trial.
startribune.com
The Federal Trade Commission warns that fraud losses exceeded $10 billion in 2023, with common scams targeting older adults including investment, grandparent, romance, tech-support, tax, and business impersonation schemes. The article emphasizes that anyone can fall victim to sophisticated fraud and recommends slowing down and resisting pressure to act immediately as a key protective measure against scammers.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
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.
thecable.ng
The FBI is seeking six Nigerian nationals indicted for their involvement in business email compromise (BEC) schemes that resulted in over $6 million in losses to U.S. citizens. The suspects—Uzuh Richard, Alex Ogunshakin, Felix Okpoh, Micheal Olorunyomi, Benson Nnamdi, and Abiola Kayode, aged 32-37—defrauded victims through manipulative means and sensitive financial information, with some also indicted for romance scams.
namibian.com.na
An AI-powered fraud crisis is escalating on dating apps, with a 2,000% increase in bot attacks between January 2023 and January 2024, according to cybersecurity firm Arkose Labs. In 2023, 64,000 Americans reported losses of $1.14 billion to romance scams perpetrated through dating apps, though actual cases are believed to be significantly higher. The article argues that while online dating provides societal benefits, dating app companies have been slow to address longstanding fraud problems and must implement stronger safeguards such as account verification, AI-powered fraud detection, and background checks to protect users from increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled scams.
abc7news.com
A Los Gatos, California skincare shop owner charged an early-onset Alzheimer's patient over $7,300 for unwanted skincare products during a two-hour visit in which she was not aware she was making a purchase. The shop, Elements, has an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau, and the owner refused to issue a refund despite the victim's family explaining her cognitive diagnosis and her explicit lack of consent to the transaction.