Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 22,013 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
11,667 results
in Scam Awareness
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
During Australian tax season, scammers are targeting residents with sophisticated phishing scams impersonating government agencies like the Australian Taxation Office and myGov; Commonwealth Bank data shows 24 percent of Australians have already been exposed to tax-related scams, with only 69 percent able to identify them correctly. Scammers use robocalls, emails, and SMS messages containing malicious links to trick victims into providing personal information or payment under false pretenses of urgent debts or refunds. To protect themselves, Australians should recognize that legitimate ATO communications never include unsolicited links or QR codes, request passwords, show a caller ID, or threaten immediate arrest.
djournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Cyber scams targeting elderly people are increasing, with common schemes including fake Microsoft security alerts, phishing text messages spoofing legitimate companies, and tax refund fraud that uses stolen taxpayer information to file fraudulent returns. Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable because they tend to trust callers claiming to represent government agencies and are susceptible to tax-related scams. The article advises consumers to verify email, text, and phone communications before clicking links or providing information, remain suspicious of unsolicited contact, and consult resources like the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity tips to learn detection and avoidance techniques.
lavanguardia.com
· 2025-12-08
Digital fraud targeting seniors in Spain has surged dramatically, with scam cases against people over 65 increasing 78% between 2019 and 2022 (from 7,568 to 13,479 cases), and digital fraud cases alone rising 21.73% in 2022 compared to 2021. Seniors are vulnerable targets due to lower technology familiarity, trustfulness, and susceptibility to social engineering tactics such as fake investment schemes and fraudulent shopping charges, with 15% of victims losing over €10,000 according to one survey. Experts emphasize that enhanced digital education and protection measures are needed to help older adults navigate the internet safely and avoi
al.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers exploit emotional connections formed on dating apps and social media to lure victims into fake investment schemes, particularly cryptocurrency fraud. In 2021, romance scams cost Americans $547 million, with cryptocurrency-based scams being the most expensive, and victims have lost tens of thousands to millions of dollars. Red flags include promises of guaranteed profits, "no risk" investments, offers to teach investment strategies, and requests for payment via gift cards, payment apps, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency—anyone meeting online who pitches cryptocurrency investment is running a scam and should be reported immediately to the platform and the FTC.
sebastopoltimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial exploitation of elderly residents in Sonoma County increased significantly, with Adult Protective Services reporting a 9% rise in abuse reports and 14% increase in investigations from 2022 to 2023, with 19% of over 7,800 allegations involving financial exploitation. Common scams targeting seniors include investment fraud, tech support scams, phishing schemes, and romance scams, which collectively cost victims $3.4 billion nationally in 2023, with romance scams proving particularly damaging due to the emotional manipulation involved. Experts advised seniors to avoid clicking links in suspicious emails or calls, contact companies directly to verify account issues, and be wary of requests for money from online dating
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, major consumer protection organizations reported that elder real estate fraud losses increased 14 percent since 2022, with nearly 1,500 Americans ages 60 and older losing $65 million in real estate scams in 2023 alone. The fraud includes forged documents, Power of Attorney abuse, deed theft, and deceptive financial schemes targeting seniors' property and money. Organizations including AARP, the National Association of Realtors, and the National Consumer Law Center are urging states to implement stronger protections such as uniform power of attorney laws, multi-factor authentication, property record monitoring, and enhanced enforcement by adult protective services and law enforcement.
fincen.gov
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN released an analysis of elder financial exploitation (EFE) showing approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity reported by financial institutions between June 2022 and June 2023, based on 155,415 filings. The agency reminds financial institutions to remain vigilant in identifying and reporting EFE, which damages victims' savings, retirement accounts, and overall financial security, and directs victims and reporters to resources including the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-FRAUD-11), the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the FTC.
wtop.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud cases are rising nationally, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics including fake caller IDs and AI voice mimicry to target older adults through lottery scams, tech support fraud, IRS impersonation, and grandparent scams. Prosecution faces significant challenges including overseas perpetrators, underreporting (only 1 in 41 victims report), victim incapacity due to dementia or death, and lack of documentation, with conservative estimates placing annual losses at $3 billion nationally. Authorities recommend victims keep detailed records of financial arrangements, verify callers independently before providing information or money, and report fraud promptly rather than delaying due to embarrassment.
bctv.org
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use high-pressure tactics and spoofed caller IDs to demand immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency for fictitious tax debts or false refunds. The IRS advises recipients of unexpected calls claiming to be from the agency to hang up immediately and instead contact IRS customer service directly at 800-829-1040 to verify any legitimate tax issues.
wgem.com
· 2025-12-08
Quincy Police arrested a suspect for residential burglary at a retirement home who allegedly stole credit and debit cards from elderly residents' apartments. Police and senior advocates warn that criminals target seniors due to their trust and desire for connection, though most crimes against the elderly involve scams conducted via phone, online, or mail. Authorities recommend family members help protect seniors by reviewing their mail and accounts for suspicious charges, discussing scam recognition, monitoring for unauthorized contact, and maintaining regular check-ins to catch fraud early.
sf.gov
· 2025-12-08
San Francisco's Mayor London Breed joined city, state, and federal leaders on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to announce that over 1,200 seniors were reached through a multi-agency fraud prevention campaign, with presentations delivered in six languages across 37 locations. The coalition educated seniors on identifying red flags for scams including blessing scams, AI-based impersonation, grandparent schemes, and "pig butchering" cryptocurrency fraud, while highlighting that elder fraud caused over $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023, with the average victim losing $33,915. The effort aimed to help seniors and families recognize fraudulent schemes and report crimes to prevent victimization.
wuky.org
· 2025-12-08
Elder Kentuckians lost $12.8 million to scams in the previous year, with projections to double to $12.7 million by May of the current year, according to FBI officials who warn the problem is not declining. The three most common scams targeting Kentucky elders are investment fraud (including cryptocurrency and precious metals schemes), tech support fraud (phishing and fake security alerts), and romance fraud, with a detailed case study showing a 72-year-old woman losing nearly $200,000 to a military officer imposter who cultivated a romantic relationship with her over months before requesting money for military contract payouts and travel expenses. The investigation resulted in the indictment of three U
milfordlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Delaware Hospice reported that elder fraud is rising nationwide, with the "phantom hacker" tech support scam being particularly successful against seniors; between January and June 2023, $542 million was fraudulently transferred, with two-thirds of victims over age sixty-five. Common scams include fake tech support calls requesting remote access to computers, fraudulent bank/brokerage contacts directing victims to transfer funds to "protected" accounts, and impersonation of government agencies (IRS, Federal Reserve) urging fund transfers via wire, cash, or cryptocurrency. To protect elderly family members, avoid responding to unsolicited hacker alerts, never allow unknown parties remote computer access, verify company contact information independently
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina authorities report that seniors lost approximately $7 million to scams in 2023, with over 500 elder fraud complaints resulting in an average loss of $50,000 per victim, though many cases go unreported due to shame or embarrassment. Tech support, investment, and romance scams are the most prevalent schemes, and a new helpline (2-1-1) has been launched to assist victims and provide fraud prevention resources. State officials emphasize that scammers employ increasingly sophisticated tactics and urge community members to support victims while maintaining healthy skepticism of unsolicited offers that sound too good or too urgent.
kfvs12.com
· 2025-12-08
Phishing scam reports doubled in 2023, reaching a record high of over 9,000 cases according to a BBB study, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence and chatbots to target victims through text messages and steal personal information. Both individuals and businesses were affected, with businesses alone losing $2.9 billion to these scams in 2023. The BBB warns that phishing links can install malware on devices and urges people to be cautious of unsolicited messages with suspicious links.
plantcityobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
After hurricanes, scammers target disaster victims through fake contractors demanding upfront payment or using misleading Assignment of Benefits documents, fake government/utility workers requesting personal information, non-existent rental listings, and fraudulent charities. Victims should verify all contractors' credentials and insurance, avoid cash/wire transfer payments, never pay for FEMA assistance, and check charity legitimacy before donating.
advantagenews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns of a Facebook scam where legitimate-appearing posts about lost pets or missing persons are shared by users with good intentions, then altered by scammers to promote deceptive rental ads or fraudulent surveys promising cash prizes. Since the beginning of 2021, the BBB received over 23,000 phishing-related reports, with more than 9,000 in the previous year; users should be suspicious of posts lacking comment options.
euronews.com
· 2025-12-08
Deepfakes are being weaponized by cybercriminals and fraudsters faster than anticipated, with politicians representing nearly 40% of targets (primarily for election interference) and celebrities/businesses increasingly victimized in scams worth millions of euros. Trading scams using deepfakes are the most prevalent (35%), followed by retail and gambling, with recent incidents including a €23 million fraudulent transfer and impersonations of public figures like Tom Hanks and Elon Musk to promote investment schemes.
legends1063.fm
· 2025-12-08
A BadCredit.org report found that 78% of Millennials and Gen Z have been targeted by debt collection scams, with young adults losing an average of $3,067 to scams over their lifetime. The most common scam types affecting this demographic are phishing, identity theft, and mobile payment scams, with the FTC receiving over 124,000 debt collection scam reports in 2023 alone.
news.bloomberglaw.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting older adults, in which fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money. The alert highlights an increasing threat to seniors from scammers using government impersonation as their primary tactic.
effinghamradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about impersonation scams targeting seniors in Illinois and nationwide, where fraudsters pose as IRS or other government agency officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics such as spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or refunds), threats of arrest, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to pressure victims into immediate action. The IRS advises recipients of unsolicited calls claiming to be from the IRS to hang up immediately and contact legitimate IRS customer service at 800-829-1040 to verify any communications.
wdam.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting Mississippi seniors, where fraudsters pose as IRS or government agency representatives to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use pressure tactics, fake urgency, and demand payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, often spoofing caller IDs to appear legitimate. The IRS advises that anyone receiving an unexpected call claiming to be from the IRS should hang up immediately and not return the call, as the IRS initiates contact by mail about account issues.
carolinajournal.com
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina's Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force held a press conference highlighting the rising epidemic of elder fraud, with statistics showing that approximately 1 in 10 seniors becomes a victim, resulting in $3.1 billion in losses nationwide in 2022 (an 84% increase from 2021), with individual victims losing an average of $40,000. The task force identified five major scam types targeting seniors: sweetheart scams, sweepstakes scams, impostor scams, tech support scams, and grandparent scams, while warning that scammers increasingly use AI to replicate voices. Victims can report fraud to local authorities, the FBI's Internet Crime
chicagocrusader.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about impersonation scams targeting seniors in Illinois and nationwide, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics such as spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or refunds), threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS recommends hanging up on unexpected calls claiming to be from the IRS, never returning calls using provided numbers, and verifying legitimacy by contacting IRS customer service at 800-829-1040.
wabi.tv
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are affecting Maine residents at an increasing rate, with scammers using social media and dating sites to build fake relationships and convince victims to send money for plane tickets or other expenses that never materialize. According to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams in 2022, losing over $1 billion with a median loss of $4,400 per victim. Experts advise potential victims to watch for red flags such as requests for money, isolation from friends and family, and broken promises to meet in person, and emphasize that prevention through awareness is more effective than law enforcement recovery efforts.
picketfencemedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Online dating romance scams targeting seniors have increased dramatically over the past five years, with vulnerable and lonely older adults losing significant sums, sometimes their entire life savings, to scammers posing as potential romantic partners. The article details a case of a 75-year-old man who lost his life's savings to a scammer claiming to be a 37-year-old woman who contacted him via LinkedIn and later WhatsApp, using red flags such as a large age gap, refusal to meet in person, and requests for financial investments. The author advises seniors to approach online dating cautiously by being aware of warning signs, trusting their instincts, and insisting on in-person meetings before
hudsonvalleycountry.com
· 2025-12-08
New York officials are warning residents about a rising "pig butchering" scam targeting romance seekers on dating apps and social media. Scammers build trust with victims over time before convincing them to invest money in cryptocurrency or foreign currency schemes, often moving conversations to encrypted platforms like WhatsApp to evade law enforcement. New York Attorney General Letitia James recommends verifying people's identities, avoiding wire transfers to unvetted contacts, and being suspicious of those who resist video calls, pressure for investments, or request personal financial information.
californiademocrat.com
· 2025-12-08
Sherry Cox of California, Missouri lost $20,000 to a tech support scam after clicking a cancellation link in a fraudulent "Geek Squad" email. A scammer posing as "Justin" manipulated her through remote access and psychological coercion—claiming she had mistakenly authorized a $40,000 refund and threatening to lose his job—to withdraw cash, wrap it in a book, and overnight it to California, before attempting to solicit an additional $10,000 wire transfer to Thailand, which was prevented by her bank's intervention. Cox publicly shared her story to raise awareness that anyone, regardless of intelligence or caution, can fall victim
thv11.com
· 2025-12-08
In May, 86-year-old Sandra Jung fell victim to a fake Microsoft support scam after a malware warning prompted her to search for Microsoft's phone number online. A scammer posing as a Microsoft representative convinced her that an accidental $15,000 refund had been deposited and pressured her into sending back nearly $10,000 to "fix" the error. Jung lost approximately $10,000 that she had intended to use for her partner's care, and although she reported the fraud to the Attorney General's office, the money could not be recovered; experts recommend bypassing sponsored search results and contacting companies directly through their official websites.
saga.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Four people over 50 are victims of fraud every minute in the UK, according to Age UK research, yet most cases go unreported due to stigma and shame surrounding fraud victimization. The article identifies common scams targeting older adults including QR code fraud (fake codes redirecting to fraudulent payment sites), ATM skimming (devices that capture card details and PINs), and card trapping, while emphasizing that fraud is a crime of manipulation by criminals rather than a reflection of victim vulnerability. Experts recommend checking for tampered codes, protecting PINs at ATMs, reporting suspicious activity, and learning to recognize warning signs across emails, social media, phone calls, and in-person interactions
indianweekender.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
New Zealand Police warned of a resurgence in phone scams where fraudsters impersonate officers, targeting landlines and claiming to investigate counterfeit banknotes or cloned credit cards to pressure victims into withdrawing cash or revealing banking details. At least two elderly individuals in Auckland lost significant sums after withdrawing cash and handing it to individuals posing as police at their doors. Police advise hanging up suspicious calls, contacting 105 to verify legitimacy, and remembering that legitimate police never request bank details, passwords, or money over the phone.
connexionfrance.com
· 2025-12-08
France launched Cybersecure, a free online portal operated by Orange Cyberdéfense that allows users to check URLs and emails against a database of known scams and fraudulent sites. The service provides instant results for flagged links or human expert review within 12 hours for unknown URLs, though Orange acknowledges it is not 100% effective and users should remain vigilant. The article also provides guidance on avoiding email and website scams, including never clicking suspicious links directly and verifying requests independently with relevant organizations.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Gary and Cindy Wilbur fell victim to two separate elder fraud scams: a utility company impersonation call attempting to extract credit card information, and a fake Amazon customer service scam accessed through a fraudulent Google search result that resulted in unauthorized bank withdrawals. After reporting these incidents to their bank, attorney general, and credit bureaus, the family adopted an open dialogue about finances and regularly communicate about emerging scams, helping them avoid future victimization.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning on June 12, 2024, about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors who are deceived by fraudsters posing as IRS or other government agency representatives. Scammers use manipulated caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios, and pressure victims to make immediate payments via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to steal personal information and money. The IRS recommends that anyone receiving unsolicited calls from alleged IRS representatives should hang up immediately and verify legitimacy by calling the official IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040.
newarkadvocate.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud cases are rising significantly across Ohio, with the Ashland Police Department reporting a 62% increase in fraud and forgery cases, while the FBI documented a 14% increase in fraud allegations against older adults in 2023, resulting in average losses of $33,915 per victim and over $3.4 billion in total losses. Scammers target all demographics—including business professionals and online daters—using tactics such as requesting gift card payments, threatening account hacks, and romance manipulation. Police recommend avoiding unsolicited money transfers to unknown individuals, using buyer-protected payment services, recognizing deals that seem too good to be true, and contacting local police if feeling uneasy
katc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors nationwide, particularly in Louisiana, where fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use advanced tactics including spoofed caller IDs, fabricated debt claims, and pressure for immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers to exploit victims. The IRS recommends hanging up on unexpected calls about tax issues and verifying legitimacy by calling official IRS customer service at 800-829-1040.
wcbcradio.com
· 2025-12-08
During Maryland's "Protect Week" in June 2024, state officials highlighted that one in five seniors over 65 have been victims of fraud, with the elderly losing nearly $3 billion annually to identity theft and scams perpetrated by both external criminals and family members. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown emphasized his office's commitment to combating elder fraud and abuse through enforcement efforts.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Attorney General Merrick Garland addressed the Elder Justice Coordinating Council at the Department of Justice, highlighting the agency's commitment to combating elder abuse and fraud. Over the last five years, the Justice Department has pursued more than 1,500 criminal and civil cases targeting older adults, provided services to over 1.5 million elder victims, and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution. Garland emphasized the critical role of interagency coordination and partnerships in addressing evolving threats to elders, including emerging challenges from artificial intelligence and transnational fraud schemes.
wcpo.com
· 2025-12-08
Phishing scams are increasingly prevalent, with the Better Business Bureau reporting over 9,000 phishing scam reports in the past year—nearly double the previous year. One woman nearly fell victim to a scam posing as her cable company offering a discount, only to be asked to purchase a Target gift card and read the numbers aloud. Key warning signs include unsolicited messages creating panic, unexpected account issues, payment links, suspicious typos, and urgent language; consumers are advised to slow down and verify messages before responding, especially text messages which scammers increasingly exploit.
blackhillsfox.com
· 2025-12-08
The Pennington County Sheriff's Office warned of a delivery app scam in which fraudsters cancel orders, then impersonate company support staff and call drivers requesting bank account information or personal details. A DoorDash driver in Rapid City nearly fell victim to this scheme when she received a call claiming to be from "DoorDash Support," but she hung up before providing any information. Law enforcement advises delivery app users to immediately disconnect calls requesting account or personal information and report suspicious activity to the FTC or local police.
stltoday.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this submission. This appears to be a list of country names rather than an article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
Please provide an actual article or transcript about fraud, scams, or elder abuse for me to summarize according to the Elderus database guidelines.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 91-year-old Rockland woman became a victim of credit card fraud when over $3,000 in fraudulent charges from Texas energy companies appeared on her statement in late 2022, shortly after she vacationed in Florida. Her daughter spent more than a year attempting to dispute the charges with Citibank, but the case was closed due to insufficient information, highlighting challenges elderly fraud victims face in resolving disputes. The incident reflects a broader trend in Massachusetts, where residents over 60 lost over $70 million to fraud in 2022, with seniors being significantly more vulnerable to online scams, investment fraud, and imposter schemes.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
This article does not contain content related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The news briefs cover unrelated topics including a body found in a canal, a dog shooting incident, school funding decisions, and a bicycle crash. It is not suitable for the Elderus fraud research database.
highlandcountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "Raising awareness about fraud targeting seniors"
The FBI reported seniors lost $3.4 billion in 2023, an 11-percent increase from 2022, through scams including romance fraud, fake tech support, cryptocurrency schemes, and investment fraud. The article outlines six warning signs of scams and provides guidance on prevention measures and reporting channels, including contacting local police, the FTC, FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
supertalk.fm
· 2025-12-08
The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens nationwide, including in Mississippi, where fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money. These scams use tactics such as fabricating urgent debts or prize claims, threatening arrest or deportation, and demanding payment through untraceable methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency. The IRS advises seniors to hang up on unexpected calls claiming to be from the agency and to report suspected scams to the IRS at 1-800-366-4484.
abcnews.go.com
· 2025-12-08
Travel expert Katy Nastro advises travelers to protect themselves from summer travel scams, particularly frequent flyer mile theft, which she personally experienced when hackers accessed her American Airlines account and redeemed a large portion of her accumulated miles for an unauthorized Asia ticket. To prevent fraud, travelers should use strong passwords with password managers, regularly monitor account balances, avoid clicking suspicious links even if branded by airlines, and contact airlines directly rather than through social media customer service numbers. The scams are increasing because many people have accrued substantial points during the pandemic while using outdated passwords, making their accounts vulnerable to hacking.
steinbachonline.com
· 2025-12-08
**Jewelry Scam Alert - Southern Manitoba**
Steinbach RCMP is warning the public about a resurgent roadside jewelry scam where fraudsters pose as stranded motorists selling jewelry at discounted prices, claiming car trouble or financial hardship. One victim purchased a gold ring for $200 from a scammer claiming to be a stranded traveler from Dubai along Provincial Road 311; similar incidents have been reported across southern Manitoba with vehicles bearing out-of-province license plates, and authorities advise the public never to purchase items roadside or feel pressured into transactions.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer warning about romance scams involving cryptocurrency, in which scammers build emotional relationships with victims over time before convincing them to invest in crypto schemes with false promises of guaranteed profits and expert guidance. The FTC noted these scammers have stolen millions of dollars and advised consumers to watch for warning signs such as promises of large returns, guaranteed risk-free investments, and requests to send money. Canada's Anti-Fraud Centre similarly reported a surge in crypto romance scams on dating apps and social media, urging consumers to be cautious of online contacts promoting cryptocurrency investments.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers are increasingly targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly widows and widowers, through social media by building emotional connections before requesting money for investments, emergencies, or other financial needs. The Federal Trade Commission reports these scams stole billions of dollars last year, with recent victims in the Susquehanna Valley losing up to $40,000 or more. To protect themselves, people should verify online profiles, move slowly in relationships, avoid sending money to online contacts, and be suspicious of those who avoid meeting in person or push for isolation from friends and family.
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued a warning about the rise of "romance scams" (also called "pig butchering scams"), in which scammers pose as romantic interests to trick victims into making fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, with over $75 billion lost to these schemes between January 2020 and February 2024. The FTC advised that scammers establish emotional connections, conduct background checks on victims, promise unrealistic risk-free returns, and disappear after obtaining funds, and recommended that victims cut off contact and report incidents to the FTC. Notable cases include a Philadelphia woman who lost $450,000 in 2024 and crypto exchange Debiex, which allegedly solicite