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adomonline.com
· 2026-07-30
Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department has warned of a surge in digitally-enabled human trafficking, with criminals using social media, smartphones, and encrypted messaging to lure victims with fake job offers, scholarships, romance scams, and travel opportunities. Traffickers exploit economic hardship and unemployment among young people, deceiving victims into surrendering passports and savings before subjecting them to forced labor, sexual exploitation, and modern slavery. Law enforcement officials stress that combating this evolving threat requires digital intelligence, cyber investigations, and comprehensive support services for rescued victims, alongside international collaboration and public awareness.
dailypioneer.com
· 2026-07-30
Researchers from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham found that artificial intelligence is accelerating online scams and human trafficking networks, particularly in Southeast Asia where victims are forced to conduct romance, cryptocurrency and investment fraud under threat and violence. The study of over 115 trafficking survivors revealed that AI tools are being used to generate personalized messages and automate trust-building in scams, with AI complying with victim requests 46% of the time compared to 18% for human operators. Scams targeting East and Southeast Asia caused losses between $18 billion and $37 billion in 2023, with the research highlighting how trafficking victims themselves are often forced to perpetrate the fraud.
ambcrypto.com
· 2026-07-30
The U.S. government seized $2.12 million in USDT cryptocurrency from a wallet linked to a "pig-butchering" investment scam that used dating apps, social media, and fake job offers to lure victims to fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms promising guaranteed returns. Scammers displayed fictitious profits to encourage larger deposits and charged victims fake tax and verification fees when they attempted withdrawals, with investigators identifying multiple victims who lost significant sums. The seized funds were recovered through blockchain analysis after being transferred across multiple wallets to obscure their origins, with the FBI reporting over 41,000 cryptocurrency investment fraud complaints totaling $5.8 billion in 2024.
ppc.land
· 2026-07-30
HUMAN Security research reveals that AI-powered phone farms have dramatically lowered the barrier to entry for large-scale scams, with threat actors able to launch romance scams, investment fraud, and fake-account campaigns for as little as $5,000 upfront or rent 25 virtual phones for approximately $2,970 monthly. The "FunFoneFarm" ecosystem combines cheap secondhand phone circuit boards, orchestration software like Auto.js, and AI tools to create fleets that mimic human behavior and evade platform detection. This technological infrastructure enables fraudsters to capitalize on an estimated $27.8 billion lost annually to romance and investment scams.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2026-07-30
Sri Lanka's authorities are investigating a violent gang murder in Colombo Port City involving Chinese nationals allegedly connected to a transnational cyber fraud network linked to organized crime syndicates. Three Chinese fishermen were ambushed by approximately 20 armed men; two were found tied in an abandoned van while the third was discovered dead and blindfolded hours later. The incident reflects a broader pattern of Chinese triad-linked cybercrime operations, including "pig butchering" investment schemes, that have reportedly shifted to Sri Lanka following international crackdowns in Dubai, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
local10.com
· 2026-07-30
A 67-year-old retired Florida man lost $700,000 in a "pig butchering" scam in which a fraudster posing as a woman named "Aileen" built his trust over time and gradually convinced him to invest in fake gold market opportunities using cryptocurrency. The scammer convinced Geissler to liquidate his inherited home and vehicle before disappearing with his money, leaving him living in a hotel. The FDIC warns that this type of confidence scam targets victims by slowly increasing investment requests in cryptocurrency under the guise of legitimate opportunities.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-07-30
Research from four universities found that AI chatbots using ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are now more effective at romance scams than human scammers, with nearly 50% of test subjects agreeing to download apps when groomed by AI versus only 18% when interacting with humans. Romance scammers typically build trust over months on dating apps before requesting money for fake emergencies or cryptocurrency investments, and AI could enable scam operations to scale dramatically by conducting thousands of simultaneous conversations. The study raises concerns that scam centers could use AI chatbots to automate the trust-building phase while only requiring human intervention when requesting final payments from victims.
wealthprofessional.ca
· 2026-07-30
Investment fraud cost Canadians $351 million in 2025, the highest loss among all scam types, yet 89% of survey respondents expressed confidence they could spot such scams while simultaneously engaging in risky behaviors like using public Wi-Fi for financial accounts and clicking unverified links. The disconnect highlights what fraud experts call "overconfidence," with only 41% of Canadians actively educating themselves on fraud prevention despite 46% encountering scams weekly or daily and 24% having fallen victim in the past year. Across all fraud categories, Canadians reported over $704 million in losses from 112,000 reports in 2025, with authorities estimating only 5
namibian.com.na
· 2026-07-30
Young Namibians were recruited into an alleged N$8-billion international romance scam syndicate by Raylon Investment CC, which promised them iPhones, cars, and houses to lure foreign victims—primarily wealthy men from the United States and Europe—into fake cryptocurrency investments. Employees were housed in a compound under strict control, issued fake social media identities, and instructed to send at least 150 direct messages daily to potential victims, with performance bonuses tied to investment amounts secured. Chinese nationals, Namibian citizens, and recruits from other countries were arrested in 2023 and charged with 65 serious offences including human trafficking, racketeering, money laundering, and fraud,
wired.com
· 2026-07-30
Researchers from four universities conducted a study showing that AI chatbots are more effective than human scammers at building trust during "pig butchering" scams, which are romance-based text fraud schemes that lead to fake cryptocurrency investments stealing six-figure sums from victims. In simulations with test subjects, nearly half complied with requests from AI chatbots compared to fewer than one in five for human scammers, with victims also rating the AI chatbots as significantly more trustworthy. The findings suggest that AI could autonomously handle the trust-building phase of these scams, with human scammers only taking over at the final investment solicitation stage to evade AI safeguards.
spacedaily.com
· 2026-07-30
In 2022 and 2023, Americans reported losing over $1.3 billion and $1.14 billion respectively to romance scams, affecting approximately 70,000 and 64,000 people with median individual losses of $4,400 and $2,000. Older adults aged 70 and over experienced the highest median losses at $10,000, with total fraud losses among people aged 60 and over rising fourfold from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024, largely driven by high-value scams involving investment schemes and romance fraud. Romance scams operate through prolonged relationship-building and incremental payment
americanbanker.com
· 2026-07-29
A 76-year-old New Jersey retiree, Jeffrey Maas, lost nearly $400,000 to scammers who impersonated PNC Bank employees and convinced him to wire money for gold purchases; he is suing PNC for negligence, claiming two bank employees failed to question suspicious large withdrawals despite red flags. The case highlights the legal gap in the U.S. where federal law does not require banks to reimburse customers who voluntarily transfer funds to fraudsters, though Maas is pursuing the lawsuit under state law. Elder fraud is a growing crisis, with Americans over 60 losing $4.9 billion in 2024 alone, prompting calls for banks to
cachevalleydaily.com
· 2026-07-29
Box Elder County officials are warning of ticket scams targeting the Golden Spike Rodeo, with fraudulent tickets being listed online for up to $11,000. Scammers are posting fake tickets on Facebook and third-party resale websites, using red flags like incorrect dates, inflated prices, and non-existent seating rows. Authorities recommend purchasing tickets only through the official website rodeoticket.com or trusted individuals, and caution that legitimate ticket emails won't be sent until about one week before the event.
kvnutalk.com
· 2026-07-29
Box Elder County officials are warning the public about ticket scams targeting the Golden Spike Rodeo, with fraudulent tickets listed online for up to $11,000. Scammers are posting fake or misleading tickets on Facebook and third-party resale websites, using red flags like incorrect dates, inflated prices, and nonexistent seating rows. Officials recommend purchasing tickets only through the official website rodeoticket.com or from trusted individuals, and caution that legitimate ticket emails won't be sent until about one week before the event.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2026-07-29
Americans lost an estimated $11.4 billion to cryptocurrency fraud in 2025 according to FBI data, with the true toll potentially reaching $81 billion when accounting for underreporting, representing a 22% increase from the prior year. Seniors aged 60 and older were disproportionately victimized, filing 44,555 complaints and losing $4.4 billion combined—a 57% increase from 2024—as they are targeted through investment scams, impersonation schemes, and "pig butchering" operations that exploit their savings and trust in authority figures. The professionalization of crypto fraud operations and concentration of losses among older Americans is driving regulatory pressure and bipart
8days.sg
· 2026-07-29
A 61-year-old Hong Kong actress was targeted in a "pig-butchering" romance scam by a man in his 20s who cultivated a fake romantic relationship over two months before requesting HK$300,000 (S$49,000) for a supposed business investment. The actress recognized the classic scam red flags, including promises of quick returns and interest, and refused to send money, causing the scammer to cease contact. The case highlights how scammers often target older single women assuming they are lonely and vulnerable, though the actress's alertness and life experience allowed her to avoid becoming a victim.
coingeek.com
· 2026-07-29
A UNODC report reveals that scams in Southeast Asia and surrounding regions have caused losses of $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion in 2025, with criminal networks operating like "corporate franchises" across multiple illicit markets including investment fraud, romance scams, and cryptocurrency money laundering. The report warns that these interconnected criminal ecosystems exploit forced labor, use AI-generated deepfakes, and evade law enforcement through satellite internet and blockchain networks, with cybercriminals increasingly targeting victims with language skills from Western countries.
modernghana.com
· 2026-07-29
A 41-year-old Ghanaian man, Derrick Van Yeboah, was sentenced to 85 months in prison for leading a transnational cybercrime network that defrauded victims of over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes. Van Yeboah personally orchestrated fraud totaling more than $10 million, including $4.2 million from women in Ohio and Delaware between 2019-2020, and was ordered to forfeit over $10 million. The Ghana-based syndicate targeted dozens of victims, particularly elderly individuals, by building fake romantic relationships and impersonating business executives to extract money that was then laundered and transferred
citinewsroom.com
· 2026-07-29
Derrick Van Yeboah, a 41-year-old Ghanaian man, was sentenced to 85 months in prison for leading a transnational cybercrime syndicate that defrauded victims of over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes. The Ghana-based criminal network targeted dozens of victims, particularly elderly men and women, using fake online relationships and impersonation of company executives to steal funds, with Van Yeboah personally accountable for over $10 million in fraudulent proceeds. In addition to prison time, he was ordered to forfeit $10,149,429.17 and serve two years of supervised release.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2026-07-29
Researchers warn that threat actors can now launch sophisticated phone fraud operations for as little as $2,790 per month using off-the-shelf AI-enhanced phone farm kits that automate romance scams, investment fraud, and account takeovers. The "FunFoneFarm" ecosystem dramatically lowers barriers to entry by combining readily available hardware, orchestration software, and AI tools that can manage hundreds of fraudulent conversations simultaneously without requiring coerced workers or specialized technical skills. Romance fraud alone cost victims nearly $930 million in the past year, with cyber-enabled fraud costing the UK economy approximately £14 billion annually.
mikebolhuis.co.za
· 2026-07-29
Romance scams are predominantly operated by organized criminal syndicates rather than individual actors, with some involving human trafficking victims forced to conduct fraud in overseas compounds. These operations employ sophisticated psychological manipulation tactics, often involving teams of criminals sharing fake identities who build emotional relationships with victims over months or years to extract money and personal information. The global illicit industry generates billions of pounds annually through deceptive practices that exploit victims' trust and emotional vulnerabilities.
newrepublic.com
· 2026-07-29
The Democratic National Committee was defrauded of nearly $29,000 in February 2025 when a staffer fell for a phishing email impersonating Chair Ken Martin and processed an unauthorized disbursement. Only $7,000 of the $28,860.92 has been recovered, and the incident adds to the DNC's existing financial troubles, including an $18.5 million debt and recent internal dysfunction. The scam occurred amid growing calls for Martin's resignation following reports of poor financial management and organizational chaos within the committee.
clintonnc.com
· 2026-07-29
Star Communications is hosting a free community event on August 12 in Clinton to educate senior citizens about recognizing scams, protecting personal information, and staying safe online, in response to reports from the Sampson Sheriff's Office documenting increased scam activity targeting local elderly residents. The training will cover tactics used by scammers, including phishing emails, voice impersonation using advanced technology, and phone calls posing as law enforcement or hospital staff seeking urgent money transfers, with attendees taught practical prevention strategies like hovering over email addresses and requesting to call suspicious callers back.
clintonnc.com
· 2026-07-29
Star Communications is hosting a free educational event on August 12 in Clinton to help senior citizens recognize and protect themselves from scams, which have become increasingly prevalent in the area according to the Sampson Sheriff's Office. The training will cover common scam tactics including phishing emails, fraudulent phone calls using voice imitation technology, and impersonation schemes where scammers pose as law enforcement or hospital staff to extract money. No specific dollar amounts of losses are mentioned, but the event aims to teach seniors how to verify email addresses, recognize urgency tactics, and safely handle suspicious communications.
wpbf.com
· 2026-07-29
"Pig butchering" scams target victims through social media, dating apps, and text messages, where scammers build trust over weeks or months before directing them to fake cryptocurrency investment schemes. Victims are guided to convert cash into cryptocurrency and deposit it into fraudulent digital wallets or fake investment websites, after which their money becomes inaccessible. Digital forensics experts warn that approximately 90% of victims never recover their funds, and advise reporting such scams to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
kucoin.com
· 2026-07-29
In 2025, Americans reported $11.366 billion in cryptocurrency fraud losses across 181,565 complaints, a 22% increase from the prior year, with seniors aged 60 and older accounting for $4.4 billion in losses—a 57% jump from 2024. Older Americans are disproportionately targeted through investment scams, impersonation schemes, and "pig butchering" operations because they hold more savings, are less familiar with crypto, and are more trusting of authority figures. The FBI report highlights organized criminal enterprises conducting increasingly sophisticated fraud operations, putting significant regulatory pressure on crypto exchanges and platforms.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-07-29
Online scams cost Americans approximately $150 billion in the past year, roughly seven times more than the $21 billion reported to the FBI, according to the Consumer Federation of America, with cryptocurrency investment scams accounting for the largest portion of losses. The dramatic underreporting stems from most victims never contacting law enforcement, with only about 14% of financial fraud victims filing reports, while scammers increasingly use AI-generated deepfakes and fake documents to impersonate family members and conduct investment fraud. Meta-owned platforms—Facebook (57%), Instagram (22%), and WhatsApp (8%)—are the primary channels used by scammers to target victims.
livingstonenterprise.com
· 2026-07-28
Montana State Auditor James Brown warns that older adults are increasingly targeted by scammers due to larger savings, social isolation, and unfamiliarity with emerging technologies, with reports of losses exceeding $100,000 increasing sevenfold from 2020 to 2024 according to the Federal Trade Commission. Brown's office has partnered with financial institutions to stop over $2 million in fraud losses for 16 Montanans this year, with 15 cases involving seniors over 60 who were tricked into sending money to fraudsters. The state offers up to $50,000 in restitution through its security fraud fund to help victims recover losses and stabilize their finances.
fincrimecentral.com
· 2026-07-28
Scott Kelley, a former U.S. Postal Inspector and Mail Fraud Unit Team Leader, pleaded guilty to stealing over $330,000 in cash from approximately 1,950 mail parcels sent by elderly scam victims between 2019 and 2023, then laundering the funds through luxury purchases including home renovations and vacations. The scheme exploited his position to intercept packages flagged as likely containing money from fraud victims, with seven identified elderly victims averaging 75 years old who lost between $1,400 and $19,100 each. Kelley faces a statutory fine up to $500,000 and potential decades of imprisonment for money laundering and related financial
einpresswire.com
· 2026-07-28
Montana State Auditor James Brown warned that elder fraud targeting seniors over 60 has surged dramatically, with reports of $100,000+ losses increasing sevenfold from 2020-2024, and his office received 54 fraud complaints in 2026 with three-quarters involving victims over 60. Common scams include romance schemes, grandparent impersonation, and fake tech support, with perpetrators manipulating emotions and creating urgency to pressure victims into sending money via gift cards or cryptocurrency. Montana's auditor's office has blocked over $2 million in fraud losses this year and provides up to $50,000 in restitution through a security fraud fund.
capeargus.co.za
· 2026-07-28
Two suspects in Cape Town were arrested for orchestrating a R14 million romance fraud scheme that targeted an elderly woman between 2017 and 2018 through fake dating profiles and requests for money under false pretenses. The scammers created fake online identities, built romantic relationships with the victim, and repeatedly extracted money by inventing emergencies like failed trips and urgent fines. The suspects are appearing in Muizenberg Magistrate's Court alongside five other previously arrested co-accused as part of the larger money laundering investigation.
iol.co.za
· 2026-07-28
Two suspects, Sikelelwa Nqunu and Chibuzor Joseph, were arrested on July 24 in connection with a R14 million romance fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted an elderly woman between 2017 and 2018. The fraudsters created fake dating profiles to build trust with the victim, then repeatedly requested money under false pretenses such as failed trips and urgent fines. The arrests are part of a larger investigation involving seven suspects total, with the case proceeding through the Muizenberg Magistrate's Court.
threatfabric.com
· 2026-07-28
This article describes ThreatFabric's multi-model behavioral analytics approach to fraud detection that analyzes user behavior patterns rather than just transaction data. The system uses two parallel models—one tracking individual user baselines and another identifying patterns from confirmed fraud cases—to detect authorized push payment (APP) fraud and scams where genuine customers are manipulated by fraudsters. The dual-model approach reportedly improves fraud detection rates by 20% or more when combined with transaction-based signals.
thevibes.com
· 2026-07-28
Malaysian police dismantled two major transnational scam syndicates operating from luxury properties in Forest City, arresting over 330 suspects in the country's largest coordinated crackdown on illegal call centers. The networks allegedly targeted victims across China, Indonesia, Japan, the United States, and Europe through romance scams, investment fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, and impersonation plots, with elderly individuals among primary targets. Police seized approximately RM2 million worth of electronic equipment and are investigating suspects for cheating and immigration violations.
ksl.com
· 2026-07-28
Utah victims of romance and job scams have unknowingly become "money mules" by transferring stolen funds and merchandise, with some facing criminal charges despite being defrauded themselves. Law enforcement struggles to distinguish between willing participants and manipulated victims, leading prosecutors to charge first and investigate later, though Utah law requires proof that defendants knew property was stolen. Victims can protect themselves by immediately ceasing suspicious activities, preserving all communications and records, and reporting to banks, local police, and the FBI.
record-bee.com
· 2026-07-28
In 2023, elder fraud targeting individuals aged 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses, with the average victim losing $33,915, according to FBI data. More than 101,000 seniors reported scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, with investment scams being the costliest type at over $1.2 billion in losses, followed by tech support scams, romance scams, and government impersonation scams. The author shares her experience nearly falling for a fake Bill Gates video promoting fake Alzheimer's cure supplements, illustrating how professionally designed scams can deceive even cautious consumers.
uniteddaily.my
· 2026-07-28
A 70-year-old man in Miri was defrauded of over RM360,000 through a high-return investment scam. Scammers promised unusually high investment returns to lure the victim into sending money through multiple transactions. The elderly victim lost his savings to the fraudulent scheme before the scam was uncovered.
wpbf.com
· 2026-07-28
A 67-year-old Jupiter man lost over $700,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam after being contacted by a woman claiming to be "Aileen" who eventually lured him into fake cryptocurrency investments promising high returns. Over nearly a year, the scammer built a romantic relationship with the victim, convincing him to liquidate his home, vehicle, and 28-year pool maintenance business to fund the fraudulent investments before cutting off contact. The victim now relies on a bicycle for transportation and is unemployed while attempting to rebuild his life.
ktul.com
· 2026-07-28
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced that her office has returned over $800 million to victims through a "Strike Force" crackdown on international romance and investment scams, with federal prosecutors now seeking to seize an additional $25 million in cryptocurrency tied to these schemes. The scams primarily target Americans through social media platforms and cryptocurrency fraud, orchestrated largely by criminal organizations from China and Southeast Asia, though recovering stolen funds remains challenging as some cryptocurrency is irretrievably lost on the blockchain. Pirro urged victims to report suspected cryptocurrency fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
iol.co.za
· 2026-07-28
Two suspects, Sikelelwa Nqunu and Chibuzor Joseph, were arrested in Cape Town for their role in a R14 million romance fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted an elderly woman from 2017 to 2018. The scam involved creating fake dating profiles to establish false romantic relationships and manipulate victims into transferring money for fabricated expenses like failed trips and urgent fines. The suspects are appearing in Muizenberg Magistrate's Court alongside five other co-accused who were arrested earlier in the year.
ua.news
· 2026-07-27
Scammers are impersonating Ukrainian singer Nikita Kiselev on TikTok and Telegram, using AI-generated photos and fake documents to deceive fans into sending money for alleged advertising and promotional campaigns. The fraudsters establish trust by posing as the artist or his representatives, then request funds and personal financial information from victims. Kiselev has publicly warned fans not to transfer money or share sensitive information with anyone claiming to be him outside of official channels.
programminginsider.com
· 2026-07-27
Cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create highly sophisticated scams including deepfake videos, cloned voices, and personalized phishing emails that appear legitimate and are difficult to distinguish from authentic communications. AI tools enable scammers to analyze personal information from social media, automate social engineering, and generate convincing fake investment platforms and impersonations of trusted contacts or public figures at scale. As AI technology continues to advance, scams are becoming more elaborate and harder to identify using traditional warning signs like poor grammar or suspicious design.
it-online.co.za
· 2026-07-27
South Africa recorded the highest rate of suspected digital fraud in Africa, with 3% of consumer transactions flagged as potentially fraudulent and digital banking fraud surging 86% year-on-year with R1.9 billion in losses, driven by scams like SIM-swap fraud, investment schemes (including one that defrauded 2,000 South Africans of R492 million), and AI-enabled impersonation schemes operating on trusted social platforms. A third of fraud victims report the scams originated on legitimate e-commerce or social platforms rather than fake sites, with 46% encountering fraud first on social media, while 88% of South Africans believe they can spot scams
unodc.org
· 2026-07-27
Over 300,000 people are trapped in Southeast Asian scam centers where human traffickers force them to commit online fraud through deception and coercion, generating an estimated $18-$37 billion in losses across East and Southeast Asia in 2023 alone. Victims are recruited via fraudulent job postings offering salaries of $1,000-$1,500 with free accommodation, then have their passports confiscated and are forced to manipulate people into cryptocurrency scams, romance fraud, and other schemes. This form of human trafficking for forced criminality is rapidly expanding beyond Southeast Asia to nearly 80 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, with operations increasingly using
tokenpost.com
· 2026-07-27
U.S. authorities seized over $25 million in cryptocurrency linked to cross-border fraud schemes targeting residents in the U.S. and Canada, with the largest case being a romance scam affecting more than 200 victims and causing $12.1 million in losses. A second major case involving fraudulent investment platforms accounted for $10.4 million, with investigators identifying over 270 suspicious transactions and tracing suspected money launderers to Southeast Asia, including operatives in China, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Prosecutors filed five civil forfeiture complaints to permanently confiscate the assets recovered through the Cyber Fraud Task Force investigations.
newsbreak.com
· 2026-07-26
A retired journalist lost his entire life savings of $270,000 to a romance scam that gradually evolved into a fake gold-investment scheme, exploiting his trust and professional skepticism. This type of fraud—where scammers build emotional connections before pitching fraudulent investments—is one of the fastest-growing consumer crimes in the U.S., with billions lost annually according to FTC data. To protect yourself, be wary of romantic interests who quickly pivot to investment opportunities, verify any trading platform independently with regulators, and never transfer large sums of money to someone you've only met online, regardless of how legitimate their investment pitch sounds.
pulse.ng
· 2026-07-26
The United States has implemented a new visa ban targeting foreign nationals involved in cybercrime—including online fraud, romance scams, and phishing schemes—with the restriction also applying to their immediate family members in an effort to disrupt international criminal networks. This policy comes after Americans lost an estimated $10 billion to scams in 2024, and will be enforced through visa denials, sanctions, and asset seizures as part of a broader international law enforcement effort. To protect yourself, remain vigilant against unsolicited messages requesting personal information or money, verify the identities of people you meet online before engaging financially, and report suspected fraud to the FBI or FTC.
news.bitcoin.com
· 2026-07-26
The U.S. Secret Service and federal prosecutors seized over $25 million in cryptocurrency from five international fraud schemes that victimized thousands of people across the United States and Canada, including major romance scams and fraudulent investment platforms. The largest case involved $12.1 million from romance scammers targeting over 200 victims, while another $10.4 million was traced from a network moving illicit proceeds through fake investment platforms. To protect yourself, verify investment platforms are legitimate before depositing funds, be cautious of romantic partners asking for cryptocurrency transfers, and never trust platforms that prevent you from withdrawing your money.
mirror.co.uk
· 2026-07-26
Martin Lewis is urging UK bank customers to use the 3-digit number 159 to verify they're speaking with their legitimate bank, as fraud cases have surged to over 4 million incidents annually with nearly £1.3 billion stolen in 2025. Criminals are increasingly sophisticated, using AI and social engineering tactics to manipulate victims into revealing sensitive information that empties accounts and creates massive debts. The actionable advice: if you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from your bank, hang up and dial 159 to reach an official switchboard that will connect you to your bank's genuine number—this protects you even if scammers spoof your phone line.
cryptotimes.io
· 2026-07-26
A 33-year-old CFO in Ahmedabad lost ₹79 lakh after being targeted by a "pig butchering" scam—where a scammer posing as a woman on a matrimonial app built romantic trust over months before luring him into a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme that blocked all his withdrawal attempts. This case exemplifies a growing trend in India where fraudsters cultivate emotional relationships to manipulate victims into depositing money on fabricated trading platforms that show fake profits but refuse withdrawals. To protect yourself, be cautious of investment opportunities introduced by new romantic connections, verify investment platforms independently, and never transfer money to accounts recommended by people you've only met online.