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wislawjournal.com
· 2025-12-07
Ankurkumar Patel, a Brookfield man, was indicted on money laundering charges for his role in a "phantom hacker scheme" that defrauded elderly victims across multiple states by posing as customer service and law enforcement agents to trick victims into transferring funds. Patel allegedly personally retrieved over $1 million from victims and conspired to launder the money through anonymous transactions, with one victim from Sheboygan identified in the case. He faces up to 20 years imprisonment and fines up to $500,000 if convicted on the money laundering conspiracy charge.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-07
A 95-year-old North Carolina woman lost $18,000 to a door-to-door driveway repair scam in May, where a man falsely claimed to represent the city government and promised subsidized repairs; the work cracked immediately after completion. Brian Alexander Taulton, 57, was arrested in September after defrauding multiple elderly victims of over $100,000 combined through similar home repair schemes across multiple states, and is facing 22 felony charges including exploiting disabled/elderly persons and obtaining property by false pretense.
wdbj7.com
· 2025-12-07
A 70-year-old Virginia man lost thousands of dollars in a year-long romance scam in which he believed he was communicating with Canadian actress Amber Marshall on Facebook and messaging app Zangi, ultimately losing money meant for rent. According to Virginia Tech elder mistreatment expert Pam Teaster, seniors are disproportionately targeted by romance scams that exploit loneliness; the FBI reported 17,910 romance scam complaints in 2024 resulting in over $672 million in total losses. The victim is sharing his story to educate others, emphasizing that combating these scams requires both education and addressing societal loneliness among elderly individuals.
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.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-07
An elderly couple in New Zealand lost tens of thousands of dollars after being contacted by phone and tricked into providing their PIN and placing their bank card in their mailbox for collection. Law enforcement and online safety experts described the scam as increasingly sophisticated, noting that scammers use psychological manipulation tactics and that anyone—not just older adults—can fall victim, though only about 17% of scam victims successfully recover their money. The incident highlighted the importance of technology education and warned against allowing family members to assist with online banking, as they may access sensitive information.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost $4.9 billion to fraud in 2024, a 43% increase from the previous year, with older adults filing 142,000 internet crime complaints—more than any other age group. AARP's Senior Planet in Denver offers free digital literacy classes that teach older adults cybersecurity skills including password management and online safety practices to combat fraud and build confidence using technology. Participants report gaining independence and empowerment, moving from fear and intimidation to actively protecting themselves online.
philstarlife.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman in Hokkaido, Japan was defrauded of approximately 1 million yen (about $382,764) in a romance scam after meeting a person claiming to be an astronaut on social media who convinced her he needed money for oxygen while stranded in space. The woman developed romantic feelings during their online exchanges, making her vulnerable to the scammer's fabricated crisis. Police warn that Japan's aging population is frequently targeted by various organized fraud schemes and recommend being suspicious of any social media contacts requesting cash payments.
businessworld.in
· 2025-12-07
Cybercrimes against India's elderly surged 86% between 2020 and 2022, with criminals exploiting vulnerabilities including loneliness, cognitive decline, and digital illiteracy through impersonation scams, investment fraud, romance scams, and technical deception. Notable cases include a retired colonel losing Rs 3.4 crore after fraudsters impersonated law enforcement and a 75-year-old losing Rs 13 crore through a WhatsApp investment scam, with digital payment fraud projected to exceed Rs 1.2 lakh crore by 2025. Experts emphasize that protection requires a blend of technological safeguards (AI
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-07
Eight individuals were sentenced to federal prison for operating an international "phantom hacker" scam that defrauded victims across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana of tens of millions of dollars between May and November 2023. The conspirators posed as company officials and law enforcement agents to convince victims their financial accounts were compromised, then persuaded them to withdraw cash or gold bars for alleged safekeeping, which was then distributed among the scammers. The defendants were ordered to pay nearly $4 million in restitution, with sentences ranging from 24 to 72 months in prison.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-07
On September 8, the District of Columbia's Attorney General filed a lawsuit against a bitcoin ATM operator for violations of consumer protection and elder abuse laws, alleging the operator charged excessive fees (up to 26 percent) and failed to protect vulnerable elderly customers from fraud. The complaint detailed how 93 percent of deposits during the operator's first five months were linked to fraud schemes targeting elderly residents with a median age of 71 and median losses of $8,000 per transaction, while the operator refused refunds despite awareness of the scams. The Attorney General sought injunctive relief, restitution, damages, civil penalties, and implementation of proper consumer protections and refund processes.
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.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
Yveler Marcellus was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering and mail/wire fraud for his role in a transnational "tech support" scam operating between January 2022 and December 2023. The scheme, orchestrated with co-conspirators based in India and the U.S., targeted vulnerable victims by convincing them to send money via checks and money orders, which Marcellus and his associates then laundered through bank accounts before sending proceeds to India, defrauding victims across the United States of over $12 million. Marcellus faces up to 40 years in prison, and seven co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty.
newsmeter.in
· 2025-12-07
A 75-year-old resident of Yakutpura, Hyderabad, lost Rs 21,01,650 to a digital arrest scam in August-September when fraudsters posing as police officers via WhatsApp video calls claimed his Aadhaar had been misused in a money laundering case and threatened him with arrest and imprisonment. The scammers used fake documents, forged government letters, and impersonated an IPS officer to pressure him into transferring funds for "verification," ultimately deceiving him across five transactions before he realized the fraud and filed a complaint. The case highlights the common tactics of digital arrest scams that exploit fear and secrecy to target
kcrg.com
· 2025-12-07
The Iowa Insurance Division's "Stop the Scammers" statewide tour visited 22 communities to educate Iowans about fraud prevention and reporting, resulting in investigations of over $10 million in fraud during the first eight months of 2025, with $2.7 million stopped before reaching scammers and nearly $270,000 recovered. Officials emphasize that scammers are professionals who exploit victims over extended periods, and that anyone pressured to make quick financial decisions should hang up and seek advice from family or authorities rather than feel shame about potential victimization. Reporting fraud is crucial as victims may recover some or all of their money, with reporting available through the Iowa Insurance Division at
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.
bernama.com
· 2025-12-07
A 61-year-old trader in Miri, Malaysia lost RM588,000 in savings after scammers impersonating National Scam Response Centre and police officers convinced her to transfer her assets to a bank account for fraudulent "auditing purposes." The victim made multiple over-the-counter transfers before realizing the deception when the scammers demanded additional payments, and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
lethbridgepolice.ca
· 2025-12-07
Lethbridge Police warned the public about the grandparent scam following an attempted fraud against a local elderly woman who received a call from someone claiming to be her son requesting $8,500 for an accident-related emergency. The scammer instructed the victim to withdraw cash and keep the matter secret, but a family member intervened and brought her to police before any money was lost. Police advise seniors to verify caller identities by contacting family members directly, recognize that officials never collect bail in cash at homes, and never provide payment or personal information to unknown callers claiming to be relatives in distress.
midislandtimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly and the Town of Oyster Bay partnered to host educational seminars in fall 2024 to help senior citizens recognize and prevent scams, which disproportionately target older adults due to limited technology familiarity and vulnerabilities like loneliness. The seminars, held at community centers in Hicksville and Massapequa, covered common scam tactics, personal information protection, reporting procedures, and steps to take when fraud is suspected.
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.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-07
This article is a financial investment newsletter promoting Charlie, a fintech platform targeting Americans 62+, rather than reporting on actual fraud or elder abuse cases. While it acknowledges that seniors faced over $3.1 billion in scam losses in 2023 and are vulnerable to fraud, the piece focuses on Charlie's features (voice navigation, AI fraud detection, educational modules) as a market opportunity aligned with demographic trends. The article presents general fintech industry trends toward age-friendly financial services but does not document specific elder fraud incidents or outcomes.
hometownstations.com
· 2025-12-07
Eight defendants, all Indian nationals except one Ohio resident, were prosecuted for operating a transnational money laundering conspiracy that defrauded victims across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana of their life savings between May and November 2023. The scheme involved "phantom hacker" scams where fraudsters falsely claimed victims' accounts were compromised, then impersonated law enforcement to pressure victims into transferring funds for supposed "protection," resulting in nearly $4 million in restitution ordered and prison sentences ranging from 2 to 6 years. The last defendant, Kishan Vinayak Patel, 26, received a 46-month sentence after conviction on money
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
chillifm.com.au
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Hokkaido, Japan, lost approximately $10,000 AUD between July and August after meeting a man online who claimed to be an astronaut stuck in space needing money for oxygen—a romance scam that exploited her emotional attachment to the fraudster. Police confirmed the scam and reported the case as a warning, noting this was not an isolated incident, as another elderly Japanese woman had paid $30,000 in a similar astronaut-themed scam in 2022. The case illustrates how online romance scammers manipulate victims' emotions and create false urgency to extract money, with recovery of funds being nearly impossible once transferred.
futurism.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Sapporo, Japan lost approximately $6,750 (1 million yen) in a romance scam after meeting a scammer on social media who claimed to be an astronaut trapped in space and suffocating, requiring urgent funds for oxygen. The article notes that romance scams are surging globally, with U.S. victims losing $1.14 billion in 2023 with a median loss of over $2,000 per person, and warns that elderly populations are particularly vulnerable as scammers increasingly use AI deepfakes, voice synthesizers, and chatbots to make their schemes more convincing.
nz.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Sapporo, Japan, lost approximately 1 million yen ($6,750) to a romance scam in which a fraudster posing as an astronaut claimed to be stranded in space and urgently needed money to buy oxygen. The article notes that romance scams are surging globally, with US victims losing $1.14 billion in 2023, and that elderly people are particularly vulnerable due to advancing AI technologies enabling increasingly convincing deepfakes, voice synthesis, and chatbot interactions.
m9.news
· 2025-12-07
A 25-year-old Indian University of Toledo student, Vedantkumar Bhupenbhai Patel, was arrested in Michigan for defrauding an elderly couple of $50,000 through an impersonation scam in which he posed as a government official claiming their credit card was used to purchase child pornography, then convinced them to withdraw cash and hand it to a fake Treasury Department agent. Patel faced multiple felony charges including larceny over $20,000 and false pretenses over $50,000, with investigators determining he may have targeted additional victims and transferred stolen funds to India. The case is part of a broader trend of scams targeting senior citizens
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly man in Sheffield lost £6,000 in a courier fraud scam in September after fraudsters impersonated police detectives, claimed his credit card had been compromised, and convinced him to withdraw cash under the pretense of checking for counterfeit notes. The scammers exploited a technique where they remained on the line after the victim attempted to call 999, redirecting him back to them when he called again, ultimately convincing him to hand over the money to a courier. South Yorkshire Police warned vulnerable elderly people and their families to verify any suspicious calls by using a different phone or waiting 20-30 minutes before calling back, and reminded the public that police and banks never request financial details
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.
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
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.
newsmobile.in
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams are a growing global fraud where perpetrators create fake online identities to build emotional trust with victims before requesting money for fabricated emergencies. Americans lost nearly $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023, with notable cases including a California woman losing over $2 million and a Bengaluru tech professional losing ₹35 lakh, while scammers typically disappear after extracting funds. Protection strategies include reverse-image searching profiles, avoiding money requests regardless of circumstances, using reputable dating platforms with verification, and reporting fraud to authorities like the FBI's IC3 or India's National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
the420.in
· 2025-12-07
An investigation into Uttar Pradesh's public sector recruitment revealed that hundreds of candidates secured government jobs over the past decade using falsified documents and forged educational certificates, particularly through a fraud network centered in Kanpur, with some fraudulent employees continuing to draw salaries undetected for years. Structural weaknesses in India's hiring system—including delayed university verification, lack of post-recruitment checks, and bureaucratic bottlenecks—allowed the fraud to persist, with some suspects retiring before prosecution could occur. Experts emphasize that systemic reforms including mandatory time-bound verification, digital record-matching, and transparent accountability mechanisms are necessary to prevent continued exploitation of the public hiring process.
ahmedabadmirror.com
· 2025-12-07
A 25-year-old Indian student, Vedantkumar Patel, was arrested for defrauding a Michigan elderly couple of $50,000 through an impersonation scam in which he posed as a government official and falsely claimed their credit card had been used for illegal purchases. The FBI took over the federal prosecution after Patel, who was in the US on a student visa, was extradited from Ohio to Michigan, where he faces felony charges and ICE placed a detainer on him. This case is part of a rising trend of scams targeting American seniors, with similar incidents involving Indian students also recently prosecuted.
wifr.com
· 2025-12-07
"Ghost tapping" is a contactless payment fraud scheme where scammers use handheld wireless devices to steal from victims' debit or credit cards by tapping them from a few feet away, either through physical contact in crowds or by posing as legitimate vendors at events. Thieves often make small, undetected withdrawals over several days to avoid triggering fraud alerts. The BBB recommends using RFID-blocking wallets, setting up transaction alerts, and verifying payment totals before tapping to prevent unauthorized charges.
thehindu.com
· 2025-12-07
A 79-year-old man in Kollam, India lost ₹3.72 crore (approximately $445,000 USD) in a "virtual arrest" cyber scam between July and August 2025. Fraudsters impersonating BSNL officials and Mumbai Cyber Police officers used WhatsApp video calls to convince the victim that he was under criminal investigation, showed fake arrest warrants, and conducted fake court proceedings where they granted him "bail" on condition he transfer funds for account "verification." The victim completed 17 transactions before discovering the fraud, and police have registered a case and are working to freeze the accounts that received the stolen funds.
positivelynaperville.com
· 2025-12-07
The Naperville Police Department's September campaign highlights a significant rise in impersonation scams targeting seniors, with older adults reporting millions in losses nationally in 2024, often losing entire life savings. Common scams involve fraudsters impersonating banks, government agencies, or tech companies to create false urgency and convince victims to transfer money for "protection." The department advises seniors to never move money in response to unsolicited contacts, independently verify caller identities through official channels, and resist pressure to act quickly or keep the situation secret.
ca.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A 36-year-old Canadian man, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested in July at a Louisville airport after defrauding seniors across multiple U.S. states of approximately $309,000 through in-person and attempted scams. Liu targeted vulnerable seniors by convincing them to withdraw cash, with one Charlestown, Massachusetts resident losing $27,000; family members prevented an additional $70,000 in losses by intervening in other attempts. The article notes that seniors are particularly vulnerable to fraud due to factors including significant savings, lower familiarity with digital scams, cognitive decline, and social isolation, with 2024 Canadian fraud losses alone exceeding $638
the420.in
· 2025-12-07
Prithvi Singh, a dairy operator in Haryana, lost ₹7.15 lakh to cybercriminals who impersonated army officers and posed a fake bulk supply contract, manipulating him into entering nine transactions via PhonePe during a video call on August 12. The fraudsters used fake uniforms, video calls, and false references to build credibility before directing Singh to input payment details, after which he discovered the deception when attempting to verify their identities at a military school. Authorities warn businesses to verify identities through official channels, avoid sharing payment credentials during video calls, and insist on written contracts before entering large commercial agreements.
cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-07
Reshma Vasu, a senior product manager at Singapore's Open Government Products, led an AI-powered upgrade of the ScamShield app after her aunt lost her entire S$500,000 retirement savings to a sophisticated 2021 OCBC phishing scam. The upgraded ScamShield app, launched in August 2024 and downloaded 1.35 million times, helps Singaporeans combat the growing sophistication of tech-driven scams including investment schemes, AI voice-cloning, and phishing attacks across SMS, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Singapore saw reported scam cases fall 26% in the first half of 2025, though total losses
christianindex.org
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are increasingly targeting vulnerable older adults, particularly widows and widowers, with fake identities designed to extract money and personal financial information. Scammers typically initiate contact, move conversations to encrypted messaging apps to avoid detection, and create elaborate stories (such as being stranded overseas or in jail) to justify requests for money, with victims losing thousands of dollars. The nonprofit Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS) established World Romance Scam Prevention Day to raise awareness, noting that victims often experience psychological manipulation and financial hardship with little recourse for recovering lost funds.
thebaptistpaper.org
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams targeting vulnerable older adults, particularly widows, are increasing on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, with scammers using fake identities and emotional manipulation to extract money and financial information. One victim lost at least $40,000 after meeting a scammer through a Words With Friends game who claimed to work on an offshore oil rig and requested funds for various emergencies. The nonprofit Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS) established World Romance Scam Prevention Day to raise awareness, noting that scammers typically initiate contact on social media, move conversations to encrypted messaging apps to avoid law enforcement, and employ elaborate stories about foreign locations or financial hardships to justify requests for