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ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
Michael Zidell filed lawsuits against East West Bank and Cathay Bank in California federal court, alleging the institutions failed to prevent fraudulent wire transfers totaling approximately $16.7 million that he sent to scammers' accounts after being deceived by a romance scam involving a fake NFT investment scheme. Zidell, who met a woman claiming to be "Carolyn Parker" on Facebook in early 2023, was instructed to make multiple transfers across the banks before the fraudulent trading platform disappeared in April 2023, and he seeks compensatory damages for the banks' alleged failure to monitor suspicious transaction patterns.
thegeorgiavirtue.com
· 2025-12-08
Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. consumers of more than $6 million. The scheme used personalized letters falsely claiming to be from Spanish bank representatives offering unclaimed inheritances, then requested upfront fees for delivery and taxes before victims could receive funds that never materialized. Akhimie faces up to 20 years imprisonment, and seven co-conspirators from Nigeria, Spain, and the United Kingdom have already been convicted and sentenced in connection with this international fraud ring.
grantspasstribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadian national Gareth West was arrested and faces federal charges for allegedly masterminding a $30 million telemarketing scam targeting seniors across 46 states through fake investment offers, sweepstakes claims, and impersonation of attorneys and federal agents. The sophisticated operation exploited vulnerable elderly individuals living alone or with cognitive decline, leaving many victims destitute and losing their homes and retirement savings. West laundered millions through offshore accounts and cryptocurrency, with additional accomplices under investigation and authorities urging families to monitor elderly relatives and report suspicious communications to the FTC or law enforcement.
vibesofindia.com
· 2025-12-08
A CBI investigation into bribery at a Raipur medical institute uncovered one of India's largest medical college scams spanning multiple states, involving 35 individuals including senior officials, educationists, and a self-styled godman who allegedly paid Rs 3-5 crore to secure fraudulent National Medical Commission approvals for substandard institutions. The scheme employed fake inspections, ghost faculty, forged credentials, internal data leaks via WhatsApp, and hawala transfers to obtain regulatory recognition for unqualified medical colleges across cities including Indore, Gurgaon, Visakhapatnam, and Warangal. Only one person—director
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service's Global Investigative Operations Center (GIOC) has seized nearly $400 million in digital assets over the past decade by investigating cryptocurrency investment scams and related digital crimes. The team uses open-source tools and blockchain analysis to trace fraudulent activities across borders, such as fake investment platforms that lure victims with small initial profits before disappearing with their money, as well as extortion schemes involving cryptocurrency payments. The Secret Service has expanded its efforts globally, conducting training workshops in over 60 countries to help local law enforcement and prosecutors identify and combat digital financial crimes.
gulfnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Dubai Police warns the public against transferring unexpected bank deposits from unknown sources, as criminals use this method to launder money from illegal activities like fraud, theft, and drug trafficking. Transferring such funds to another account, even if the caller claims it was sent by mistake or provides emotional justification, can make the recipient legally liable as an accomplice to the crime. The advised response is to leave the money untouched, report it immediately to your bank and police through Dubai Police's e-Crime platform, and never rely on the caller's explanation regardless of the stated reason.
shawlocal.com
· 2025-12-08
State Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel and other Illinois elected officials hosted a fraud prevention seminar for seniors to educate them about common scams and financial exploitation tactics. The program covered protection strategies against scams, fraud, identity theft, and phone spoofing, with a presentation from the Illinois Attorney General's Office included.
thegazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A reshipping scam targeting job seekers has resurged, where applicants believe they are hired for remote "warehouse distribution coordinator" positions with attractive salaries ($3,000+) and minimal hours, but are instead asked to share personal information (Social Security cards, driver's licenses) and unknowingly repackage and ship items purchased with stolen credit cards and banking information. The scam provides no actual paychecks while victims become complicit in moving illegally obtained goods, with employment scams ranking second in BBB Scam Tracker reports for 2024. Red flags include requests for personal/financial information, email-only interviews, unrealistic pay-to-work ratios, and the
golocalprov.com
· 2025-12-08
A Boston truck repair company, Middlesex Truck and Coach, discovered that Chase Bank had fraudulently opened an account under its name without identification verification, which was then used by foreign scammers to collect proceeds from victims of "pig-butchering" schemes—elaborate investment scams that defraud victims of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The account was part of a sophisticated international money laundering operation linked to Asian crime syndicates that funnel stolen U.S. funds through fake bank accounts and cryptocurrency, with pig-butchering scams alone generating an estimated $44 billion annually across Southeast Asia and affecting millions of victims worldwide.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security Administration phishing scams use urgent, alarming messages impersonating government agencies to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or downloading files that steal personal data or install malware. These scams leverage fear and false authority by falsely claiming SSNs are suspended due to serious crimes like money laundering, and often include multiple geographic references and official-sounding details to overwhelm victims into panic-driven action before they can verify the threat.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are exploiting high demand for summer concert tickets, particularly Oasis gigs, by posing as sellers on social media platforms like Facebook and X. Over 1,000 Lloyds Bank customers lost an average of £436 each to ticket fraud in 2024, with the UK government recording £1.6 million in losses and 3,700 reports to Action Fraud, with nearly half involving social media offers. To protect themselves, buyers should verify sellers directly, use official venue websites and credit cards for purchases, check email addresses carefully, and only buy from Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (Star) members.
onesafe.io
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Americans lost $9.3 billion to crypto-related scams, prompting the US Secret Service to seize nearly $400 million in cryptocurrency through their Global Investigative Operations Center using blockchain analysis techniques. The article highlights the rising threat of crypto fraud—including romance scams and fake investment platforms—and recommends that companies implement advanced fraud detection, strengthened identity verification, and real-time transaction monitoring to protect digital assets. The Secret Service has also trained officials from over 60 countries on combating online financial crimes as part of a broader international effort to combat crypto fraud.
english.radio.cz
· 2025-12-08
Czech police reported a 5% decline in cybercrime cases in 2024, with 18,500 incidents investigated—the first decrease since the pandemic began. Online fraud remained the most prevalent cybercrime type, encompassing fake bank alerts, investment scams, and romance fraud, though authorities attributed the overall decline partly to increased awareness campaigns by police, banks, and state institutions.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
The US Secret Service has seized nearly $400 million in digital assets over the past decade by tracking cryptocurrency fraud schemes, with crypto scams now representing the top driver of US internet crime losses at $9.3 billion stolen in 2024. Common schemes include fake investment platforms that show initial profits before disappearing with deposits, romance-investment scams, and sextortion cases, with the agency using blockchain analysis and open-source tools to identify perpetrators across multiple jurisdictions. The Secret Service has trained law enforcement in over 60 countries and coordinated with crypto exchanges like Tether to freeze wallets and recover stolen assets, including a notable $225 million recovery linked to romance scams.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice seized $225.3 million in cryptocurrency linked to a romance scam syndicate that defrauded over 430 victims, marking the largest cryptocurrency seizure in U.S. Secret Service history. The scam involved criminals convincing victims to invest in fraudulent crypto platforms and then laundering the funds through the OKX exchange, with operations coordinated from the Philippines. This enforcement action highlights the growing trend of crypto-based romance and investment scams and is expected to prompt tighter regulatory compliance measures and anti-money laundering standards at centralized cryptocurrency exchanges globally.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Job scams target people seeking employment by impersonating legitimate companies and recruiters, typically through personal email addresses or text messages. Scammers move quickly to request sensitive personal and financial information (Social Security numbers, bank details, driver's licenses) before conducting actual interviews, claiming it's needed for employment paperwork or direct deposit. To avoid job scams, verify the recruiter's corporate email address, be wary of requests for personal information before interviews, and research the recruiter and company online for complaints or scam reports.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau reports that impostors are costing businesses billions of dollars through data theft and fake services, with the FBI documenting nearly $1.4 billion in losses related to data breaches across the United States in 2024. Common red flags include unexpected invoices, requests for gift card or prepaid card payments, and urgent demands to renew licenses or domain names. The BBB recommends businesses implement employee training, verify vendor information, use multi-factor authentication, avoid wire transfers and gift cards, and maintain detailed records to protect against fraud.
wdrb.com
· 2025-12-08
A 36-year-old Canadian citizen, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in July after a multi-state scam targeting elderly victims, with confirmed losses exceeding $309,000 across Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, and Tennessee. In the initial Charlestown, Kentucky case, an elderly resident was defrauded of $27,000 after being tricked into withdrawing funds from his retirement account; three additional elderly victims in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan were nearly victimized for an additional $70,000 before family members intervened. Liu was charged with theft, fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, and police believe there are
vermontjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Black River Good Neighbor Services hosted a "Fraud Awareness" presentation by M&T Bank's senior branch manager Art Randolph on July 17 in Ludlow, Vermont, covering identity theft, common phone scams, check fraud, email impersonation, caller ID spoofing, and strategies for protecting personal information and recognizing fraudulent schemes.
amac.us
· 2025-12-08
Older Americans are increasingly targeted by fraud schemes, with seniors losing over $3.4 billion in 2023—an average of $33,915 per victim—according to the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report. Many of these scams, including impersonation schemes and "pig butchering" cryptocurrency frauds, are allegedly coordinated or tolerated by the Chinese Communist Party, with recent indictments in Ohio and California involving Chinese nationals charged with defrauding elderly victims out of thousands to millions of dollars. Experts emphasize that only 10-15 percent of senior fraud victims report their losses, suggesting the actual problem is far larger than reported figures indicate
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service has seized nearly $400 million in cryptocurrency over the past decade, including a record $225 million from a money laundering network, with many funds traced to romance scams and fake investment schemes targeting victims through catfish tactics. Despite these enforcement successes, crypto-related crimes continue to surge, with Americans losing $9.3 billion to crypto scams in 2024 alone and wallet hacks, phishing attacks, and protocol exploits causing over $2.47 billion in losses in the first half of 2025, indicating that criminal tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
news9.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines common cybercrime threats targeting consumers, including romance scams on social media and fraudulent text messages about unpaid tolls, and emphasizes protective measures such as installing software updates, using strong authentication methods, and avoiding personal transactions on public Wi-Fi. According to recent data, U.S. consumers received 18.9 billion robocalls in 2025 and lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with text message scams alone accounting for $470 million in losses.
staysafeonline.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines five common cryptocurrency scams affecting Americans, who lose over $9 billion annually to crypto investment fraud. Key scam types include too-good-to-be-true investment promises, romance scams (often called "pig butchering"), phishing attacks, pump-and-dump schemes, and fake cryptocurrency apps, with red flags provided for each. The article advises avoiding high-pressure tactics, never sharing private wallet keys, being skeptical of online romantic interests who introduce crypto investments, and downloading apps only from official stores.
playstationlifestyle.net
· 2025-12-08
A scam developer called "PublishMe Agency Ltd" deceived thousands of PlayStation Store users by selling a fake clone of the popular PC game Schedule 1 for $14.99 in April, then evaded Sony's initial enforcement by renaming the game "Weed Drug Empire" and removing identifying references. Sony has now permanently removed the developer and all of its fraudulent games, including another clone titled "Report Extraction," from the PS Store.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A UK survey of 1,000 adults found that 60% have had to help elderly relatives stay safe online, with 41% believing their older loved ones could be duped by scammers. The study revealed that 26% of older Brits have encountered scams and 21% have been victims of financial fraud, with common unsafe practices including clicking dubious links (68%), answering unknown calls (60%), and using simple passwords (51%). Experts emphasize that digital safety education and family conversations about cyber threats are essential to protecting vulnerable seniors from evolving online scams.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A UK poll of 1,000 respondents found that 41% of those with older loved ones believe they would fall for a scam if targeted, with 26% of older Brits having already experienced a scam and 21% falling victim to financial fraud. Common risky online behaviors among seniors include clicking suspicious links (68%), answering unknown calls (60%), oversharing personal information (55%), using weak passwords (51%), and poor password management practices such as writing them down or reusing them across accounts. Experts emphasize that online safety education and intergenerational conversations about cyber security are critical to protecting vulnerable older adults from increasingly sophisticated threats.
signalscv.com
· 2025-12-08
Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a 41-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming to represent Spanish banks and promising nonexistent inheritances, then convincing victims to send upfront fees for taxes and delivery costs through a network of U.S.-based intermediaries. Akhimie faces a maximum 20-year prison sentence, and the case highlights the broader crisis of elder fraud in the U.S., with 147,127 complaints totaling $4.
fox5ny.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams targeting seniors are rising and stealing billions of dollars, with scammers using impersonation, urgency tactics, and AI-generated voice cloning to manipulate victims into revealing personal information or transferring money through digital payment services. Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable targets because they are often more trusting, less tech-savvy, and less likely to report fraud, while also possessing strong credit and substantial savings. The FBI recommends protecting yourself by refusing to share sensitive information with suspicious callers, verifying contact information through official company websites, and immediately ceasing communication if a scam is identified.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
During Amazon's Prime Day sale, cybercriminals are launching coordinated phishing and impersonation scams at increased rates, with email impersonation reports up 50% compared to 2024, over 1,000 malicious websites mimicking Amazon detected, and more than 36,000 fake Amazon sites identified ahead of the event. Common scams involve fake emails claiming account problems or payment issues to steal login credentials and payment information, with 15% of American shoppers surveyed reporting prior Prime Day scam losses. AI-powered tools have made these scams more sophisticated and widespread, allowing criminals to quickly create convincing fake websites and grammatically correct phishing messages tailored to individual targets
ksat.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational alert warns residents following natural disasters like the Hill Country floods to watch for common scams including fake charities, fraudulent contractors, and phony government aid calls. Key protective measures include donating only through verified charities, requesting signed contracts before paying contractors, and verifying government assistance directly through official ".gov" websites rather than responding to unsolicited calls or emails. The National Center for Disaster Fraud provides a hotline (866-720-5721) for reporting suspected fraud.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Michigan woman lost $400 after clicking on a fraudulent Geico phone number in Google search results and unknowingly calling scammers who impersonated the insurance company. The fraudsters obtained her driver's license, VIN, and Social Security number, then instructed her to make a payment via Xfinity using a fake Google Docs form. The victim discovered the scam when she contacted the real Geico and learned no legitimate policy had been created; her bank refunded the $400 pending investigation, though scammers also attempted to contact her adult sons for their personal information.
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
Amazon warned customers of a surge in phishing scams ahead of Prime Day (July 8-11), where fraudsters send fake emails claiming Prime membership renewals or requesting purchase verification, attempting to steal login credentials and banking information through fake Amazon login pages. Scammers also use phone calls and spam emails offering fake early deals that redirect users to fraudulent sites, and Amazon emphasized it never requests payment via phone or email outside its official app, website, or stores. Customers can verify legitimate Amazon communications by checking for the Amazon smile logo in email headers and reporting suspected scams to the company.
macaudailytimes.com.mo
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old woman was arrested for money laundering after receiving approximately MOP3 million in fraudulent funds through her personal bank account for a "pig butchering" romance scam operation. Two local victims lost MOP1.3 million and MOP700,000 respectively after being deceived by an online romantic partner into investing in a fraudulent scheme promising high returns. Police report eight total victims of this scam since July, with combined losses exceeding MOP3.56 million, and warn the public to verify investment opportunities and exercise caution in online relationships.
abc7chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating celebrities, particularly using fake Elon Musk identities, are defrauding victims through cryptocurrency investment schemes that employ AI voice cloning and deepfake technology. Richard Lyons, a Vietnam veteran, lost $10,000 to a fraudster posing as Musk on social media, who used fake caller ID spoofing, AI-generated voice messages, and a fraudulent investment webpage showing fake profits to convince him to send crypto. The FBI reports that cryptocurrency scams resulted in $9 billion in losses in 2024, with $6 billion specifically lost to people tricked into sending funds to fraudsters, and advises potential victims to
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
Over one-third of Americans have experienced financial fraud since January 2024, with baby boomers and Generation X most vulnerable, and phishing scams alone costing consumers $12.5 billion in 2024—a 25% increase from the prior year. Romance scams and relationship investment schemes are particularly prevalent, with fraudsters building trust through social media and dating platforms before exploiting victims. Banks are urged to implement multi-layered defenses including real-time transaction monitoring, staff training with clear communication, fraud playbooks, and directing victims to support resources like the BBB Scam Survival Toolkit and AARP's Fraud Support Group.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Adults over 60 lost over $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, with impersonation, romance, tech support, and emerging "grandparent scams" using AI voice cloning being the most common threats. The article provides six protective practices: avoid unknown calls/texts, never share personal information with unsolicited callers, recognize urgency and emotional manipulation tactics, and refrain from sending money to unknown contacts via any payment method.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Montreal woman lost $14,510 to a bank investigator scam where fraudsters spoofed an RBC phone number and convinced her to make account changes while logged into her banking app, claiming to protect her from fraud; RBC initially denied her refund claim, stating she was responsible because she actively participated in the transactions. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported 677 victims of this scam in the first half of 2024 with $11.7 million in losses—nearly double the previous year—while Montreal police identified at least 220 RBC customers victimized with estimated losses of $1.5 million.
pa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed SB 649 into law, establishing third-degree felony charges for using artificial intelligence to create non-consensual deepfakes or voice clones to defraud or harm residents. The law specifically targets AI-generated scams affecting older adults, such as fake grandchild voice impersonations used to extort money, with Pennsylvania's Department of Aging reporting nearly 18,500 financial exploitation cases in FY 2023-24—nearly double the number since 2017. This legislation strengthens protections for Pennsylvania's fifth-largest older adult population by giving law enforcement new tools to prosecute AI-driven fraud schemes.
kjzz.org
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency ATM scams are increasingly targeting older adults, with scammers using phone calls, social media, and text messages to direct victims to deposit cash into Bitcoin ATMs via fraudulent QR codes under the pretense of protecting funds or making investments. Scammers now operate as organized criminal networks rather than isolated actors, with reported losses ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per victim—including cases of a woman losing $700,000 and another losing $200,000. A particularly sophisticated variation called "pig butchering" begins as romance scams on social media before morphing into cryptocurrency investment schemes designed to extract all available funds from victims.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
As AI advances, traditional scam detection methods like spotting poor spelling and grammar are no longer reliable, according to cybersecurity experts. An Avast survey of 1,001 New Zealand adults found that while 74% worry about older loved ones falling victim to scams and 84% have warned them about online threats, only 53% of seniors actually change their behavior—with common vulnerabilities including writing passwords on paper (44%) and ignoring advice about suspicious links. The most prevalent scams targeting older adults are tech support scams, phishing, and fake invoices, with phone calls remaining a primary entry point for fraud.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Ohio woman with no criminal history, Ann Mayers, robbed a credit union at gunpoint in April 2024 after losing her life savings to an online scam in which a fraudster posing as a U.S. Customs official convinced her to send thousands of dollars; she also borrowed $65,000 from a friend to cover what she believed were legitimate fees. Mayers was arrested within two hours, confessed immediately, and was sentenced to 4–5.5 years in prison after pleading guilty, highlighting how financial fraud can drive vulnerable individuals to desperate and criminal actions.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, fraud cost Americans an estimated $158.3 billion according to the FTC—equivalent to $434 million daily—with consistent year-over-year increases in reported fraud incidents. Recognizing this crisis, policymakers and organizations including AARP and the Aspen Institute are developing a national fraud strategy, while the newly launched National Elder Fraud Coordination Center aims to investigate and prosecute fraud criminals using organized crime investigative techniques. The article emphasizes that individuals can help combat fraud by reporting scams and educating others to prevent victimization.
gillibrand.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, American consumers lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud, with older adults losing a record $4.8 billion, according to FBI data. Senators Gillibrand and Warren called for a Government Accountability Office investigation into how recent federal budget cuts—including the elimination of 90% of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's staff—have impaired the government's ability to protect seniors from scams and implement recommended inter-agency coordination measures. The senators cited testimony from fraud victims whose losses resulted in devastating financial and health consequences.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Fraud theft in the United States reached an estimated $158.3 billion in 2023, equivalent to $434 million daily, according to the Federal Trade Commission. In response to the escalating fraud crisis, new initiatives are emerging, including the Aspen Institute's national fraud strategy (with AARP involvement) and the April launch of the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center, which applies organized crime investigation techniques to build cases against fraud perpetrators. The article emphasizes that individuals play a crucial role by reporting suspected scams and sharing information about fraud schemes to protect potential victims.
mcafee.com
· 2025-12-08
UK concert and festival ticket fraud resulted in losses exceeding £1.6 million in 2024, more than double the previous year, with approximately 3,700 reports to Action Fraud—nearly half originating from social media platforms. Oasis Live '25 reunion tour tickets became a prime target for fraudsters, accounting for roughly 70% of reported concert ticket fraud cases from August 2024 onward, with victims losing an average of £436 (up to £1,000 in some cases). Scammers exploit high demand, limited supply, and emotional urgency by creating fake ticketing websites, posting counterfeit tickets on social media, and selling duplicate digital tickets
nbcchicago.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams promising easy online work have surged dramatically, with reported losses exceeding $220 million in the first half of 2024—more than triple the 2020 level—according to the Federal Trade Commission. These scams typically begin with personalized text or WhatsApp messages offering commission-based tasks like rating videos or liking images; victims see fake earnings accumulate in an app before being asked to deposit their own money (often in cryptocurrency) to withdraw funds they never actually earned. Vulnerable targets include job-seekers new to the workforce, people re-entering employment, and immigrants, with only about 5% of victims reporting their losses to authorities.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Scammers pose as utility companies during summer months, threatening to shut off electric service due to unpaid bills and demanding immediate payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or mobile payment apps to exploit consumers' need for air conditioning. Legitimate utility companies do not threaten immediate shutoffs without notice or request unusual payment methods; consumers should verify any such claims by contacting their utility directly using the phone number on their bill. Those who suspect utility scams can contact AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 for assistance.
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scams targeting work-seekers, particularly through text or WhatsApp messages promising easy online tasks like "product boosting," have surged dramatically, with reported losses exceeding $220 million in the first half of 2024—more than triple the losses from 2020. Scammers build trust before directing victims to deposit money (often cryptocurrency) to access fake earnings that appear in apps, resulting in complete financial loss. The scams disproportionately target job-seekers new to the market, homemakers re-entering the workforce, and immigrants, exploiting economic vulnerability through offers of remote work with no interviews and immediate start dates.
dexerto.com
· 2025-12-08
Actor Keanu Reeves pays thousands of dollars monthly to an AI company to remove fake impersonator accounts and protect fans from romance scammers, as he is reportedly the most impersonated celebrity online due to his lack of social media presence. Romance scams using celebrity impersonations are rising in prevalence, with recent victims losing substantial sums—including a woman who lost $850,000 to a scammer posing as Brad Pitt—and the company handling Reeves' takedowns has issued nearly 40,000 account removal orders on his behalf in the past year.
hollywoodreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old woman in the rural South lost approximately $100,000 in bitcoin to scammers impersonating actor Kevin Costner over several months, luring her with romantic messages and promises of a production company job before standing her up at a hotel meeting. The scam is part of a larger billion-dollar celebrity impersonation scheme that exploits lonely victims through AI-generated deepfakes, fake messaging accounts, and social media, prompting Hollywood to pursue legislation like the "No Fakes Act" to protect artists' likenesses and voices from unauthorized use.