Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
7,717 results
in Romance Scams
channelnewsasia.com
Singapore's Minister of State for Home Affairs criticized Meta for repeatedly refusing to implement government-recommended safety features on Facebook, despite the platform accounting for nearly half of the 9,783 e-commerce scams reported in 2023, which resulted in S$13.9 million (US$10.3 million) in losses—more than double the prior year. Meta has rejected recommendations including government ID verification and secured payment options for Marketplace users, causing Facebook to rank lowest (one tick) in Singapore's E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings for the second consecutive year, while competitors like Shopee and Carousell have cooperated and seen scam reductions of up to 71
decrypt.co
"Pig butchering" romance scams using cryptocurrency surged 85 times higher from 2020 to 2023, with revenue doubling between 2022-2023, according to Chainalysis research. These scams involve fraudsters building fake romantic relationships before tricking victims into cryptocurrency investments they don't understand, resulting in an average loss of $4,593 per victim in 2023—the highest financial impact of any scam type. The scammers, often organized criminal groups, frequently operate through human trafficking networks in Southeast Asia and use sophisticated money laundering techniques to hide their activity, though a December 2023 Interpol operation arrested 3,500
thebamabuzz.com
Alabama college students are vulnerable to common fraud schemes including fake apartment listings, online marketplace scams, dating app fraud, and credit card loan scams that specifically target their lifestyle needs and desires. A banking fraud expert emphasizes that scammers use phishing via email and text to initiate contact, then tailor their approach based on publicly available personal information, making password management, multi-factor authentication, and privacy settings critical defensive measures.
beincrypto.com
Romance scams have surged 85-fold since 2020, with scammers using fabricated personal narratives and cryptocurrency to steal millions from vulnerable victims seeking companionship. Notable cases include an Indian software engineer losing $120,500 to a fake investment scheme on a matrimonial website and a Myanmar operation ("KK Park") linked to over $100 million in stolen funds through "pig butchering" scams that exploit victims' emotional vulnerabilities. Cryptocurrency's anonymity features make it the preferred payment method for scammers, with scam wallets accumulating at least $4.6 billion in 2023, though actual losses are likely much higher due to undetecte
nypost.com
Undercover video obtained by software engineer Jim Browning reveals a "pig butchering" scam operation based in Dubai employing hundreds of people, including real models, to pose as glamorous individuals on dating apps and romance-bait victims into fake cryptocurrency investment schemes. The scammers use VPNs, multiple messaging platforms, and scripts to target victims globally across countries ranging from South America to Central Asia, with workers operating from eight-story buildings under exploitative conditions. The operation, run primarily by Chinese nationals using migrant workers from North Africa and Southeast Asia, commits romance and investment fraud to extract large sums of money from unsuspecting victims worldwide.
pembinavalleyonline.com
The Grandparent Scam, currently prevalent in Manitoba, involves criminals calling seniors pretending to be relatives who need bail money for a supposed arrest, then arranging cash pickup at the victim's home. RCMP Sergeant Joanne Ryll advises recipients to hang up, verify the story by calling other family members, never share personal information, and establish a family safety word, noting that fraudsters often make multiple calls requesting additional money once they identify a vulnerable victim. Recovery of money lost to these scams is nearly impossible once handed over to the criminals.
mha.gov.sg
During Singapore's 2024 budget debate, the government announced a comprehensive anti-scam strategy in response to scam cases increasing nearly 50% in 2023, driven primarily by social engineering and deception targeting money transfers. Key initiatives include the "Add, Check, Tell" public awareness campaign, targeted programs for vulnerable groups like the elderly through Silver Generation Ambassadors, a consolidated one-stop anti-scam information portal, and enhanced community partnerships to build cyber vigilance. The government is also introducing legislation to deter misuse of local SIM cards for scams, requiring online platforms to implement stronger user verification and anti-scam measures, and pursuing international cooperation through participation in the Global
kpmg.com
Canadian organizations of all sizes face evolving fraud risks driven by technological advances like generative AI, cryptocurrency, and digital payment systems, with SMBs particularly vulnerable due to limited fraud prevention resources and awareness. Fraudsters employ increasingly sophisticated tactics including crypto scams, online payment fraud, social engineering attacks targeting elders, and ESG misrepresentation, with 88% of victimized Canadian SMBs experiencing internal fraud and 75% experiencing external fraud over the past five years. Organizations must strengthen their fraud prevention strategies through risk assessment, robust controls, and cross-sector partnerships to effectively counter these threats.
news.bloomberglaw.com
A new study estimates that pig-butchering scam networks have stolen over $75 billion globally between January 2020 and February 2024, significantly exceeding previous estimates. Pig-butchering schemes typically involve romance or investment fraud where scammers build trust with victims before manipulating them into sending large sums of money. The scale of these criminal operations underscores the widespread nature of this fraud type affecting victims worldwide.
palmcoastobserver.com
The Ormond Beach Police Department reported 246 fraud cases in 2024, with victims losing thousands of dollars in schemes including fake investments (Belgian mine), romance scams (Gaza war), and tech support fraud using gift cards and cryptocurrency. Elderly victims over 60 are disproportionately targeted, with national data showing losses increased 84% and cryptocurrency-related losses surged 350%, with victims averaging $35,101 in losses. Police note that cryptocurrency fraud cases have grown from roughly one per month to several per week, as criminals increasingly exploit digital payment methods and cryptocurrency ATMs to evade detection.
thesandpaper.net
Romance scams, which involve fraudsters creating fake online profiles to build emotional relationships with victims before requesting money, are increasing in frequency according to the U.S. Secret Service. A Long Beach Township resident recently fell victim to this type of scam, though police intervention helped in the case. These cyber crimes exploit emotional trust to manipulate victims into financial transfers.
khou.com
A financial advice columnist lost $50,000 to a scam, illustrating that fraud victims span all demographics and expertise levels. According to Deloitte research, Gen Z actually reports higher rates of identity theft, romance scams, phishing, and social media hacking than older generations, likely due to their comfort with online engagement and reduced exposure to internet safety warnings compared to earlier generations.
taipeitimes.com
A 37-year-old Philadelphia tech professional lost $450,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam after being wooed for months on a dating app by someone posing as a French wine trader using deepfake videos and sophisticated manipulation tactics. The fraudster gained her trust through romantic attention, then convinced her to invest in cryptocurrency through a fake trading app, with initial fake gains encouraging larger investments including her retirement funds and loans. The scam, run by Southeast Asian crime syndicates, has caused billions in losses across the US with little recourse for victims to recover their money.
justice.gov
Noel Chimezuru Agoha, age 40, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for orchestrating business email compromise (BEC) and romance scams that defrauded victims of over $1.5 million between 2015 and 2018. Operating with co-conspirators, Agoha used fraudulent emails impersonating business contacts and fake dating profiles to trick victims into transferring funds to drop accounts he controlled, personally obtaining approximately $111,242 in BEC proceeds and over $1 million in dating scam proceeds, and was ordered to pay $1 million in restitution.
kjrh.com
The Federal Trade Commission warns that cryptocurrency scams cost victims over $1 billion last year, with scammers posing as investment managers who convince people to withdraw retirement funds and deposit them into cryptocurrency ATMs under false pretenses of protection. Key red flags include unsolicited calls promising risk-free returns, celebrity endorsements on social media, demands for cryptocurrency payments, and romance scams requesting crypto transfers. Experts advise searching online for company reviews, complaints, and scam reports before engaging with any cryptocurrency investment opportunity, as funds transferred to crypto ATMs are virtually impossible to recover.
natlawreview.com
The FTC has proposed expanded regulations to combat impersonation fraud, which has surged due to emerging technologies like deepfake AI. The proposed rule changes would prohibit impersonation of individuals (extending beyond current government and business protections) and hold companies liable if they knowingly provide services—such as payment processing or AI platforms—used in impersonation schemes including romance scams and grandparent scams. The rule will enter a 60-day public comment period before implementation.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Video call scams are fraudulent schemes conducted via platforms like WhatsApp where scammers use impersonation, deepfakes, and emotional manipulation to target victims through four main methods: blackmail (threatening to release recorded calls), investment fraud, tech support deception, and romance schemes. India's CERT-In recommends safeguards including avoiding video calls from unknown contacts, not sharing personal information, verifying identities, using secure platforms, and maintaining restricted privacy settings on social media.
m.facebook.com
Military romance scams involve fraudsters posing as service members who emotionally manipulate victims into sending money, gift cards, or personal information. These imposter scams harm both victims and legitimate service members, and can be identified through awareness of common manipulation tactics.
gmanetwork.com
A 37-year-old Philadelphia tech professional lost $450,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam involving a fake online suitor who used deepfake videos and sophisticated social engineering to build romantic trust before directing her to a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment app. The scammer, operating from Southeast Asia as part of an organized crime syndicate, convinced the victim to invest her savings and retirement funds by showing fake profitable trades and gradually escalating pressure to invest more. This type of romance-based cryptocurrency fraud has resulted in billions of dollars in losses across the United States with minimal victim recovery options.
todayonline.com
Love scams in Singapore are increasing despite public awareness, with 913 cases reported in 2023 compared to 868 in 2022, and average losses rising to S$43,677 per victim. Contrary to assumptions that only older people are vulnerable, 73 percent of victims are aged 49 and under, and scammers now employ sophisticated tactics including AI-generated profiles and deepfake videos to create convincing fake identities. To protect yourself, stay informed about scam tactics, scrutinize online profiles using reverse image searches and AI detection tools, and remain vigilant for inconsistencies in language, photos, and behavior that may indicate a fraudulent romance.
irishmirror.ie
Gordon Gallagher, a 49-year-old Irish man, is wanted by English police after failing to appear in court on multiple romance fraud charges involving alleged financial swindles of several women. Gallagher reportedly contacted victims through dating apps like Tinder and Match.com, established relationships with them, and then defrauded them of money; he has no fixed address but has links to Sussex and Surrey in southern England.
m9.news
Shreya Datta, a 37-year-old Indian-American tech professional in Philadelphia, lost $450,000 to a sophisticated "pig butchering" romance scam in which a fraudster posing as a French wine trader named Ancel used deepfake videos and emotional manipulation on the dating app Hinge to lure her into a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme. The scammer requested increasing investments and ultimately asked for a "tax" when Datta attempted to withdraw profits, revealing the fraud. Dating scams accounted for over $3.5 billion in losses in 2023, and victims often experience significant emotional distress compounded by social stigma and shame that disc
knoe.com
Scammers are convincing victims to liquidate assets into cash or precious metals under the guise of protecting their funds, then arranging courier pickups to steal the converted assets. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center reported over $55 million in aggregated losses from this scam between May and December 2023. The BBB advises avoiding unsolicited pop-up ads and unknown phone numbers associated with these ads.
therecord.media
Investigators traced nearly $100 million in cryptocurrency payments to a criminal scam compound in Myanmar (KK Park) operating pig butchering romance scams and worker trafficking ransoms over less than two years. Two cryptocurrency addresses linked to a Chinese front company received $24.2 million from known scam wallets and additional funds from ransoms, with families often extorted for $30,000+ to secure trafficked workers' release. The investigation reveals how romance scams and ransom extortion are interconnected operations generating significant profits for organized crime syndicates in Southeast Asia.
clickorlando.com
A Miami man lost $42,000 in a romance scam involving a fake woman posing as an Estee Lauder executive named "Mandy Li" who connected with him via Instagram in December 2023. The scammer used a stolen photograph and initially showed small investment returns on Crypto.com to build trust, then convinced the victim to transfer funds to a fraudulent cryptocurrency platform where he was promised 1% daily gains; when he attempted withdrawal, he learned the funds were gone. This case exemplifies "pig butchering" scams, part of a broader trend where the FTC reported $1.14 billion in romance scam losses in 2023,
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A Philadelphia tech professional named Shreya Datta lost approximately $450,000 in savings and retirement funds to a "pig butchering" romance scam, in which a man posing as a French wine trader named "Ancel" built trust over months using deepfake videos and manipulated screenshots before convincing her to invest in cryptocurrency through a fraudulent trading app. The scammer used emotional manipulation, gifts, and fabricated investment profits to gradually increase her investment until she attempted withdrawal and discovered the scheme; the FBI reported that over 40,000 people lost more than $3.5 billion to dating scams in 2023.
avpress.com
A man met a woman from the Philippines through a dating service who repeatedly made excuses not to visit the United States and continuously requested money for various emergencies (bail, medical surgery, travel costs), eventually asking for amounts up to $30,000 before he ended contact. The victim recognized the pattern as a romance scam and advises others to be cautious when anyone requests money or asks detailed questions about finances, noting that foreign scams typically target lonely men with false promises until they finally refuse to send more money.
mainichi.jp
In 2023, social media scammers defrauded residents of Osaka Prefecture out of 4.9 billion yen ($32.6 million) through remote investment scams and international romance schemes, with victims in their 40s and 50s losing an average of 10 million yen ($66,500) each. The 256 investment scam cases resulted in 3.18 billion yen in losses, while 163 romance scams—often combining romantic manipulation with investment pitches—caused 1.72 billion yen in damages, with the largest single loss reaching 234 million yen ($1.55 million). Instagram was the primary
healthjournalism.org
Elder fraud schemes—including grandparent scams, romance scams, and government impersonation scams—have become increasingly sophisticated through AI technology like deepfake videos and robocalls, making them difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications. In 2022 alone, approximately 88,000 people aged 60 and older lost $3.1 billion to fraud, with victims over 70 losing an average of nearly $42,000; scammers typically exploit emotions rather than intelligence, and experts advise victims and their families to watch for financial requests as the key indicator of fraud. The AARP Fraud Watch Network received nearly 100,000 calls last year from victims of all
wcti12.com
Carteret County, North Carolina is experiencing a surge in elder scams involving cryptocurrency and phone-based fraud, including impersonation of law enforcement, fake bail/accident schemes, and romance scams. County officials warn against sending money to unknown contacts claiming legal authority, investing in cryptocurrency without research, clicking suspicious links, and falling victim to online relationship scams, while noting that cryptocurrency and gift cards are preferred by scammers because they are difficult for law enforcement to trace. Residents are advised to verify suspicious claims with local law enforcement before sending any funds.
chainalysis.com
Romance scams ("pig butchering scams") generated over $700 million in reported losses to Americans in 2022, with scammers building fake relationships and coercing victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency and fiat investments before disappearing. Beyond victimizing romance scam targets, criminal gangs operating compounds in Myanmar and Southeast Asia have kidnapped and trafficked individuals forced to work 12+ hour days executing these scams, with gangs also collecting ransoms from victims' families in cryptocurrency, effectively mixing scam proceeds with extortion payments.
thegazette.com
An 83-year-old Iowa woman avoided a gift card scam where a caller claimed she had won $2 million and demanded a $150 gift card to claim the prize. Iowa reported nearly 13,000 fraud cases in 2023 resulting in $42.6 million in losses, with gift card scams accounting for $228 million stolen nationally, prompting AARP and state officials to launch an 18-stop awareness tour and push for legislation requiring stores to post gift card scam warnings.
aol.com
Online scams in the United States reached record losses of $6.9 billion in 2021, nearly doubling since 2019, with Pennsylvania ranking fifth among most-scammed states at $207 million in losses affecting 17,262 victims who lost an average of $11,991 each. Romance, cryptocurrency, and investment scams are increasingly sophisticated and affecting educated individuals across all socioeconomic levels, with teens experiencing the highest percentage increase in losses (1,125% over five years) and seniors seeing a 390% increase. The article recommends avoiding money transfers to strangers met online, refusing requests for personal information, performing reverse image searches to verify identities,
daijiworld.com
A Myanmar-based company operating in KK Park defrauded victims of over $100 million in less than two years using "pig butchering" romance scams, where perpetrators engineer false romantic relationships to manipulate victims into sending cryptocurrency payments, often mixed with ransom demands from trafficked workers. Blockchain researchers tracked Tether cryptocurrency tokens flowing to the scam operation, with the single Chinese company transferring over $100 million through just two digital wallets, while the compound reportedly holds over 2,000 trafficked romance scam workers. In 2022 alone, U.S. citizens lost more than $700 million to romance scams and nearly $2
pgurus.com
A company operating in Myanmar's KK Park defrauded victims of over $100 million in less than two years using Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency, primarily through "pig butchering" romance scams where fraudsters build false romantic relationships to manipulate victims into sending money. The operation, which housed approximately 2,000 trafficked workers, also received ransom payments from families of trafficking victims, with a single Chinese company transferring over $100 million through just two digital wallets. In 2022 alone, U.S. citizens reported losses exceeding $700 million to romance scams and nearly $2.5 billion to cryptocurrency investment scams overall.
spotonflorida.com
In 2022, Florida residents lost over $53 million to romance scams conducted on dating and social media platforms, prompting an FBI warning about the dangers of these schemes. The perpetrators are sophisticated fraudsters who pose as sincere and trustworthy individuals to manipulate victims emotionally before exploiting them financially. The FBI cautioned the public to be aware of these deceptive practices on online dating platforms.
the-sun.com
Artificial intelligence is enabling cybercriminals to create increasingly sophisticated scams, including deepfake voice and video fraud that can be generated in real-time using minimal audio or video clips from social media. Security experts warn that criminals need only about three seconds of audio to recreate someone's voice with 70% accuracy, and traditional fraud detection methods may no longer be sufficient against AI-generated attacks. To protect themselves, people should watch for unnatural language patterns, unusually quick responses, lack of empathy, and can ask specific open-ended questions or request predetermined code words to detect whether they're communicating with a scammer using deepfake technology.
yen.com.gh
Socialite Hajia4Reall pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money in a romance scam case involving over $2 million in fraudulent funds from vulnerable older victims between 2013 and 2019; she agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison. Following her guilty plea, Ghana's Economic and Organised Crime Office announced plans to implement lifestyle audits to target individuals with unexplained wealth, seeking to shift the burden of proof onto suspects to explain the source of their assets.
steinbachonline.com
Steinbach RCMP responded to four grandparent scam incidents in two days, with two victims losing money. Scammers called elderly residents impersonating relatives in legal trouble and requesting bail money, which victims were instructed to hand over to couriers at their homes. Police advise recipients to hang up, verify the story by calling the alleged family member, never share personal information, and establish a family safety word to prevent falling victim to this fraud.
wset.com
Bedford Police reported an increase in scams targeting elderly residents, including romance scams, grandparent scams requesting money or gift cards, and fraudsters impersonating organizations in person. Community Resource Officer Travis Thomas advised victims to request contact information and verify claims through independent research before donating or sending money, and encouraged residents to contact Bedford Police's non-emergency line to report scams or confirm legitimacy of requests.
fijitimes.com.fj
Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022, with scammers creating fake online identities through social media to exploit victims emotionally and financially. Perpetrators gradually build trust with targets before requesting money under various pretexts (medical emergencies, travel costs, promised packages), and they commonly avoid video calls or in-person meetings. The scam affects people of all ages and backgrounds globally, with women reported as particularly vulnerable, though many cases remain underreported.
cnet.com
Tinder is implementing an enhanced verification process requiring users to submit both a government-issued photo ID and a video selfie to receive a blue checkmark, with the rollout expected by summer 2024 in the US. The company states it will delete the redacted ID image and video selfie after 30 days, though two screenshots from the video will be retained indefinitely for auditing purposes. Security experts note that uploading government IDs online carries identity theft risks, and users can alternatively submit only a video selfie for a camera icon badge instead of the full checkmark.
ghanaweb.com
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy related to romance scams targeting elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She knowingly received stolen funds from vulnerable victims and was arrested abroad; she faces up to five years in prison and must forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million.
states.aarp.org
Kate Kleinert, an AARP Pennsylvania volunteer, lost her entire life savings of $39,000, her home, and her six dogs to a romance scam involving a man posing as a surgeon in Iraq who she met on Facebook. After the scammer failed to appear as promised and a subsequent house fire destroyed her remaining possessions, Kleinert rebuilt her life and now volunteers as a Fraud Watch Network Speaker, educating seniors and community groups about recognizing and avoiding romance scams. Her advocacy work demonstrates how victims can transform their experience into meaningful action to protect others from similar financial and emotional devastation.
montereyherald.com
This educational column outlines four prevalent scams targeting seniors: elder financial abuse (where trusted individuals gain unauthorized access to finances), romance scams (where online/phone relationships lead to requests for money), tech support scams (fraudulent calls claiming computer or banking problems), and bereavement scams (scammers targeting grieving family members by posing as funeral homes). The article estimates that over 10% of U.S. elderly are victimized annually and recommends protective measures including adding trusted contacts to financial accounts, establishing estate plans, verifying unexpected calls by contacting organizations directly, and reporting fraud to law enforcement.
citizensadvice.org.uk
This educational guide describes common scams affecting people in Scotland, including phishing emails and texts impersonating TV Licensing, HMRC, PayPal, banks, and Ofcom, as well as dating and romance scams. The advice emphasizes verifying sender information, avoiding clicking suspicious links, never providing personal or financial details to unsolicited contacts, and immediately contacting your bank and police (101) if details have been compromised. Key prevention strategies include checking official websites for legitimate communication, using trusted contact methods, and consulting trusted friends or relatives when suspicious of a scam.
justice.gov
The U.S. Attorney's Office partnered with Winchester and Waltham Police Departments to host financial fraud awareness seminars for older adults, featuring presentations from federal prosecutors, the IRS, and U.S. Postal Service on common scams and protective measures. According to FBI data, victims over 60 experienced an 84% increase in losses from 2021 to 2022, totaling over $3 billion, with nearly 5,500 victims losing more than $100,000 each to schemes including tech support, romance, and sweepstakes scams.
publicnewsservice.org
AARP Connecticut is launching a new educational series to address the growing complexity of scams targeting older adults, with 400 different scam types reported in 2022. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to have more financial resources, and losses can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with emotional and psychological impacts extending beyond financial harm. The free online series will cover topics including artificial intelligence and voice cloning scams, with a Connecticut man recently indicted for defrauding Wisconsin seniors of $200,000 through grandparent impersonation scams.
georgeherald.com
Romance scams exploit loneliness and love-induced emotional vulnerability to defraud victims of substantial sums. In 2023, the US reported over 70,000 romance scam cases, while South Africa reported 190 cases in 2020 but lost R178 million (averaging nearly R1 million per victim), with scammers using fabricated profiles, promises of visits and gifts, and escalating requests for money under various pretexts. Victims—often educated and otherwise financially prudent—include a divorced woman in her 40s and a 77-year-old widow from Mossel Bay who sent money and purchased expensive gifts despite red flags, as oxytoc
gbcghanaonline.com
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She faces up to five years in prison and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41. The criminal conspiracy specifically targeted older Americans through fake online romantic relationships to steal their money.