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in Romance Scam
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance investment scams have surged dramatically, with the FTC reporting increases from 11,000 victims in 2016 to 70,000 in 2022, resulting in $1.3 billion in cumulative losses, and the FBI documenting $652.5 million in romance scam losses in 2023 alone. Scammers create fake online profiles posing as wealthy professionals or socialites, build emotional connections with victims, and then manipulate them into investing in fake opportunities or trading platforms where funds are immediately lost. Key warning signs include requests for money or cryptocurrency, pressure to keep relationships secret, and persistent avoidance of in-person meetings or video calls.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Emmanuel Quamey, a 36-year-old Ghanaian national, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for money laundering connected to romance scams that defrauded over a dozen vulnerable and elderly U.S. victims between September 2019 and March 2023. Quamey received and laundered approximately $3.8 million in fraud proceeds through multiple bank accounts in the United States and Ghana, and was ordered to pay $3.3 million in forfeiture and restitution to victims. Romance scams involve perpetrators posing as romantic partners on social media and dating websites to trick victims into sending money under false pretenses.
tampabay.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 50 elderly Americans in Broward County fell victim to lottery scams between 2020-2021, losing more than $6.6 million collectively after being told they won prizes and asked to pay upfront fees for shipping and taxes. Florida ranked second nationally for elder fraud in 2023 with residents over 60 losing nearly $300 million, reflecting a broader U.S. trend where elderly victims lost $3.4 billion that year to investment fraud, romance scams, tech-support scams, and government impersonation schemes. The crimes remain significantly underreported due to victim embarrassment and fear of losing independence, with experts estimating only one-
indystar.com
· 2025-12-08
Indiana seniors over 60 reported $26.5 million in financial losses across approximately 1,170 fraud cases in 2023, driven primarily by investment schemes ($12 million), tech support fraud ($8.9 million), and romance scams. Nationally, seniors suffered over $3.4 billion in losses—an 11% increase from 2022—with tech support fraud being the most commonly reported crime type and investment scams proving the costliest. The FBI released this data to educate the public and prevent further victimization, noting that some victims have taken extreme measures such as remortgaging homes and depleting retirement accounts to cover losses.
timesnewsgroup.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian losses to scams totaled $2.74 billion in 2023, a 13.1% decrease despite a surge in reported incidents (601,000+), with investment scams causing the most damage at $1.3 billion. Older Australians are disproportionately affected, experiencing a 13.3% increase in losses to $120 million, including cases involving deepfake videos and fake investment schemes on social media. The government's National Anti-Scam Centre, established in 2023 with $86.5 million in funding, has already achieved a 29% reduction in scam losses within six months of operation.
ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Okechukwu Nwofor, a 32-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to approximately six years in prison for leading a romance and business email compromise scam network that defrauded victims of nearly $1 million between July 2018 and November 2019. The scheme, which involved money mules transferring stolen funds through multiple accounts, devastated victims—causing one woman's inability to care for her disabled son, another's home foreclosure, and one victim's suicide—resulting in a restitution order of nearly $400,000. Four of Nwofor's co-conspirators pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy, with three
cbs12.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Florida seniors lost nearly $300 million to scams in 2023, ranking the state second-highest in the nation for elderly fraud, according to FBI data showing over 101,000 seniors filed fraud complaints—a 14% increase from 2022. Tech support scams led reported incidents, while romance scams caused significant unreported losses, with victims often losing tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars due to shame and embarrassment. Law enforcement warns of evolving schemes including AI-assisted voice cloning and impersonation of law enforcement, urging seniors not to answer unknown numbers and to report suspicious activity through available channels.
ca.movies.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A U.K.-based influencer with 4 million followers was extradited to the U.S. and accused of running romance scams targeting older Americans between 2013 and 2019, earning approximately $2 million. Prosecutors allege she deceived victims into believing they were in romantic relationships with her, then convinced them to send money under false pretenses—including one victim who transferred $89,000 across 82 wire transfers after the influencer claimed she needed funds to save her father's farm in Ghana. Montrage has been charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and related conspiracy counts, each carrying up to 20 years in prison; she pleaded not guilty and bail
fox17.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams, including "pig butchering" schemes, are defrauding Americans out of billions of dollars, with perpetrators using tactics like building trust over time and creating fictional personas with AI technology. One Middle Tennessee resident lost $40,000 in such a scheme, and hundreds of additional victims are falling prey to these scams, which are nearly impossible to recover money from once lost.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
New Mexico seniors reported losing over $17.7 million to scams in 2023, with the FBI receiving more than 750 complaints about elder fraud in the state. The most prevalent scam types include romance scams, tech support fraud, and cryptocurrency investment schemes, with scammers often posing as representatives from major companies or creating fake online relationships. The FBI recommends family members check in regularly with elderly relatives, watch for red flags like unsolicited calls from companies, and report suspected fraud immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
columbian.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from Americans over 60 last year, representing an 11% increase from the previous year, according to an FBI report. The FBI received over 100,000 complaints from older victims, with common schemes including tech support scams, romance fraud, investment fraud, and increasingly sophisticated courier-based schemes where criminals trick victims into withdrawing cash or precious metals for pickup. The rise in losses reflects organized criminal enterprises exploiting vulnerable populations through multiple tactics, with the FBI warning that actual losses are likely higher than reported.
ladailypost.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, 759 New Mexico residents over age 60 lost more than $17.7 million to online fraud, with the costliest scams being confidence/romance schemes ($4.9 million), investment fraud ($4.6 million), and tech support scams ($3.1 million). The FBI emphasizes that older adults are vulnerable targets due to financial stability, potential isolation, and lower awareness of online threats, and urges seniors and families to educate themselves about these scams and report incidents through ic3.gov or their local FBI office.
thegardenisland.com
· 2025-12-08
Hawai'i seniors over 60 lost $27.96 million to fraud schemes in 2023, a dramatic increase from $10 million in 2021, with 453 complaints filed to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, ranking the state 37th nationally. The most common scams targeting older Americans include investment fraud, tech support schemes, romance cons, and extortion, with nationwide losses exceeding $3.4 billion in 2023. Law enforcement officials urge seniors and their families to report suspected fraud to the FBI and educate themselves about these schemes, noting that many cases go unreported.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennesseans over age 60 lost $43 million to scams in 2023, representing an 18% increase from 2022, with tech support fraud being the most common scheme and investment scams causing the largest financial losses at nearly $15 million. Nationally, elderly victims reported over $3.4 billion in losses across 101,068 complaints, reflecting a 14% increase in elder fraud, with romance scams and data breaches also significantly affecting seniors in Tennessee.
parkrapidsenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
Minnesota's senior financial fraud investigator Lisa Lovering states that awareness of scam tactics reduces victimization risk by 80% and significantly loss severity by 40%. According to AARP's 2023 data, seniors lost $28.3 billion to elder exploitation and fraud, with those over 80 experiencing average losses of $1,674 compared to $548 for young adults, though underreporting is widespread. Lovering advises avoiding payments via cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to unknown contacts; being skeptical of unsolicited calls from government agencies or businesses; and recognizing common tactics like imposter scams, romance scams, and lottery schemes that
tucson.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers stole over $3.4 billion from Americans over age 60 last year, an 11% increase from the previous year, with the FBI receiving more than 100,000 complaints and nearly 6,000 victims losing over $100,000 each. Tech support scams remain the most common fraud, with criminals impersonating officials to convince victims their accounts are compromised and directing them to transfer funds or withdraw cash/gold for in-person courier pickup. The FBI warns that these increasingly sophisticated schemes represent organized, transnational criminal enterprises using romance scams, investment fraud, and other tactics that can leave vulnerable seniors financially destitute.
cbs12.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida seniors lost nearly $300 million to scams in 2023, ranking the state second-highest in the nation for elderly fraud, according to FBI data showing over 101,000 seniors filed fraud reports. Tech support scams led the reported incidents, though romance scams caused significant unreported losses, with victims losing life savings totaling tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Law enforcement warns seniors not to respond to unsolicited calls claiming to be from police or courts and advises reporting scams through local sheriff's offices.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, at least 500 domestic helpers in Singapore lost $800,000 to scams, representing an 18% increase from 2022, with phishing scams being the most common type followed by job and e-commerce scams. One maid, "Jane," was targeted by a fraudulent moneylender who obtained her work permit details and threatened to contact her employer and appear at her home, extracting weekly payments until she reported the crime. Experts note that actual scam numbers may be significantly underreported due to victims' fears of job loss, deportation, and embarrassment, and recommend that employers remain vigilant for signs of distress among
thetimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Olamide Shanu, a 33-year-old Nigerian, was arrested and faces extradition to the United States on charges related to a sextortion scam that allegedly generated up to £2 million. Shanu is accused of posing as a teenage girl online to coerce boys into sending sexually explicit images, then blackmailing them with threats to share the photos with their families and friends unless they paid money; his cryptocurrency account received over 6,000 payments from hundreds of victims over three years. The case coincides with a surge in sextortion scams targeting minors in the UK and US, with at least three British children having taken their own lives after being vict
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A romance scam targeting women used stolen photos of Sigi Fink, an Austrian weatherman, to impersonate an attractive man on Instagram; the actual scammer admitted to being a 26-year-old Nigerian using the stolen images to prey on women. Additionally, Loblaw reported $13.58 billion in Q1 revenue with a 9.8% profit increase, prompting a consumer boycott on Reddit over high grocery prices, with the retailer responding that it is working to combat inflation.
deccanherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams are evolving in complexity, with "pig butchering" emerging as a particularly manipulative fraud tactic where perpetrators build trust with victims over time before extracting significant financial losses. This scam, along with loan frauds, represents a broader trend of increasingly sophisticated schemes designed to cause both financial and psychological harm to victims.
cw34.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida seniors lost nearly $300 million to scams in 2023, ranking the state second-highest in the nation for elderly fraud, according to FBI data showing over 101,000 seniors filed fraud reports. Tech support scams led the fraud types, though romance scams resulted in the largest individual losses (tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars), with many cases going unreported due to victim shame. Law enforcement warns seniors to avoid answering unknown calls and clarifies that legitimate authorities do not call ahead about warrants or missed jury duty.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning technology to perpetrate scams targeting seniors and families, with one Canadian man using cloned voices to defraud at least eight seniors of $200,000 in three days. Similar "grandparent scams" and fake kidnapping calls claiming children need bail money or ransom are proliferating across the United States, with families losing an average of $11,000 per incident. Experts recommend establishing a family password phrase and verifying callers' identities through independent phone numbers before sending money or sharing personal information.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman from Sullivan County, Tennessee was defrauded of over $130,000 after scammers used a fake Microsoft pop-up warning to trick her into purchasing Apple gift cards and eventually withdrawing cash from her bank account. The scheme involved multiple contacts claiming to remove illegal content from her computer, and culminated with a man collecting $130,000 in person at her home. A 29-year-old suspect, Hang Zhan, was arrested and charged with theft and financial exploitation of an elderly person, though as of May 2, no funds had been recovered.
westerniowatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
An FBI report found that over 100,000 Americans aged 60 and older lost an average of $34,000 each to computer money scams in 2023, totaling more than $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from the previous year. Tech support scams were the most common fraud type, followed by data breaches, romance scams, non-payment schemes, and investment fraud, with over 12,000 victims reporting cryptocurrency was used to facilitate their scams.
digitalinformationworld.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reports that cyber scams targeting seniors aged 60 and above caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year, with common schemes including tech support, investment, romance, and cryptocurrency fraud. Elderly victims averaged $34,000 in losses per person, with Florida and California experiencing particularly high losses ($620 million and $181 million respectively), and seniors are less likely to report these crimes due to embarrassment and underreporting. The FBI recommends seniors verify suspicious offers, avoid unknown contacts, and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Peter Gray, a 35-year-old from West Yorkshire, defrauded four women of approximately £80,000 through an atypical romance scam involving identity theft rather than direct financial requests. Meeting victims on Tinder, Gray would gain their trust through love-bombing and gifts, then photograph their personal documents during dates to secretly take out loans and credit in their names, ultimately being sentenced to 56 months in prison in February. His victims reported feeling uneasy about his behavior but were manipulated by his calculated charm, with one woman discovering £9,000 in loans taken out in her name and another losing her mortgage approval when he fraudulently secured a £10,000
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Peter Gray, 35, was convicted and sentenced to 56 months in prison in February for defrauding four women of approximately £80,000 through romance scams on Tinder. Rather than directly requesting money, Gray gained victims' trust as a romantic partner, then secretly photographed their identification documents and bank cards to steal their identities and take out loans in their names, with individual victims losing between £9,000 and £20,000. His victims reported feeling intuitive red flags about his behavior, including suspicious gestures like sending flowers to addresses he shouldn't have known and taking unauthorized photos of personal documents.
tyla.com
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to provide a summary as the text provided appears to be only a website navigation menu without any actual article content about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
Please share the full article text or transcript you'd like me to summarize for the Elderus database, and I'll provide a concise 2-3 sentence summary focusing on the key details about what happened, who was affected, the type of scam involved, and any relevant outcomes or dollar amounts.
marshallradio.net
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to elder fraud or elder abuse. It describes a social media user named Becky Holmes who trolls men sending unsolicited explicit photos by pretending to be a dermatologist and fabricating health concerns as a deterrent tactic. This is a general interest piece about online dating behavior and does not involve elder fraud, financial scams, or elder abuse.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2021, Illinois residents lost over $19.7 million to romance scams across 591 reported cases, with the FBI noting that similar scams cost the U.S. $739 million in preliminary 2022 losses. The FBI identified common red flags including requests to move communication off dating apps, quickly professed love, isolation from friends and family, canceled visit plans, and requests for money or personal information. The agency advises victims to go slow in online relationships, never send money to people met online, verify photos independently, and report suspected scams to the FBI Springfield office or online.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Peter Gray, a 35-year-old from Yorkshire, UK, was sentenced to 56 months in prison in February for romance fraud against three women he met on Tinder, scamming them out of over $100,000 by stealing their identifying information and taking out loans in their names without consent. The victims reported that Gray used information from their driver's licenses obtained during dates to fraudulently secure loans ranging from $11,000 to $25,000, exploiting their trust through love-bombing tactics. This case reflects broader trends in romance scams, with Americans losing $1.3 billion to such schemes in 2022, up 164% from 2019.
losalamosreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, 759 New Mexico residents over age 60 lost more than $17.7 million to online fraud, with the costliest schemes being romance scams ($4.9 million), investment scams ($4.6 million), and tech support scams ($3.1 million). The FBI emphasizes that older adults are particularly vulnerable due to financial stability and potential isolation, and urges prevention through awareness and family education, with victims encouraged to report incidents to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
homelandprepnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans over 60 lost more than $3.4 billion to fraud—an 11 percent increase from 2022—with tech support scams ($600 million), investment fraud ($1.2 billion), and call center schemes ($770 million) being the most costly. California alone reported over 11,000 complaints totaling $620 million in losses, and the FBI noted that some victims were forced to remortgage homes, deplete retirement accounts, or take their own lives due to financial devastation. The FBI recommends seniors verify contact information independently, avoid quick decisions, never share personal information with suspected scammers, and report fraud immediately to law enforcement
scdemocratonline.com
· 2025-12-08
On April 24, the Sullivan County Retired Teachers' Association attended an educational presentation by Jeff Bank security officers on scam prevention. The speakers discussed how scammers use sophisticated technology—including caller ID spoofing, tech support scams, and romance scams targeting older adults—with particular emphasis on "Romance Scams" perpetrated by groups like the "Yahoo Boys/Girls" who send hundreds of messages daily via dating apps and social media impersonating others to build trust before requesting money. The presenters advised against accepting friend requests from unknown individuals and recommended checking new profiles for warning signs such as recent creation dates or minimal activity.
thetimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Peter Gray, 35, defrauded at least four British women he met on Tinder by secretly photographing their driving licences during dates and using them to take out loans totaling approximately £80,000 in their names. Gray was sentenced to 56 months in prison in February, with victims discovering fraudulent loans ranging from £9,000 to £20,000 opened without their consent, and one victim's mortgage being pulled due to unauthorized borrowing in her name. Tinder responded by implementing AI-based fraud detection tools, photo-verification options, and warning features to alert users of potential scams.
dailycourier.com
· 2025-12-08
CBS News's "Anything for Love" series documented romance scams on dating sites and apps that facilitate human trafficking. A 57-year-old widow in Illinois named Laura Kowal was targeted by a trafficker who coerced her into money laundering before she went missing and was found dead. The FBI reports an estimated 27.6 million people are trafficked globally, generating approximately $140 billion annually, with sex traffickers exploiting dating apps to recruit victims—efforts aided by lax security measures on these platforms.
marcumllp.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's 2023 IC3 Elder Fraud Annual Report shows that fraud targeting individuals over age 60 is increasing significantly, with this age group reporting $3.4 billion in losses—an 11% increase from 2022 and more than all other age groups combined. The 101,068 complaints filed by seniors represented a 14% year-over-year increase, with tech support fraud, personal data breaches, and romance scams being the most common crimes, while investment fraud produced the highest individual losses and increased over 400% in two years. The report emphasizes that actual fraud figures are likely higher than reported, as many elderly victims fail to report crimes due to embarrass
wthitv.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans over age 60 are increasingly targeted by sophisticated online scammers who stole $3.4 billion from older Americans in the previous year—an 11% increase from the prior year—with seniors filing over 100,000 complaints to the FBI. Scammers use various schemes including romance scams, investment scams, tech support scams, and cryptocurrency scams, often impersonating legitimate companies or institutions to trick victims into giving away their savings. To protect themselves, older adults should verify unexpected messages, avoid acting under pressure, double-check suspicious requests, and immediately contact trusted contacts or authorities if they suspect fraud.
consumerwide.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigeria is a global center for romance scams, particularly targeting foreign victims, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reporting 1,129 victims and approximately $14 million in losses in 2021. The EFCC identified rapid growth in cyber-crime among young Nigerians, noting that societal acceptance of these crimes—including parental support of scammers—enables the criminal activity to flourish despite existing laws. Romance scams extend internationally, with documented cases involving Nigerian perpetrators defrauding victims across the US, UK, and Europe, ranging from financial extortion to cases resulting in victim suicides and prison sentences.
winnipegfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams ranked sixth in the Better Business Bureau's riskiest scams report, with a median loss of $4,240 per victim—significantly higher than the median loss of $300 for all scams combined. Scammers, known as "catfishers," use fake profiles and fabricated stories to build emotional relationships with victims on dating apps before requesting money, personal information, or assistance under false pretenses. To protect themselves, people should avoid sharing personal information with online dating contacts, verify profile photos through reverse image searches, watch for inconsistencies in stories, and be suspicious of profiles that seem too perfect or excuses preventing in-person meetings.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This AARP podcast episode features romance scam survivor Kate Kleinart discussing how she was deceived by a scammer she met on Facebook who used charm and false affection ("love bombing") to gain her trust before requesting money. Kleinart emphasizes that romance scams can happen to anyone and advises people to trust their instincts and remain vigilant about suspicious online behavior. The episode serves as an educational resource highlighting warning signs of romance scams and encouraging victims to recognize and report such fraudulent schemes.
wdbj7.com
· 2025-12-08
The Lynchburg Police Department is warning about romance scammers who manipulate victims—often lonely individuals met on dating apps and social media—into becoming "money mules" that launder proceeds from human trafficking and drug trafficking, sometimes over months or years. Victims who are exploited this way have been prosecuted as criminals in Lynchburg despite being manipulated, with charges potentially reaching felony level depending on amounts involved; last year Virginians lost $205 million to fraud overall. Police advise victims to immediately cut contact with scammers and report to local law enforcement.
theamericangenius.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** Elder Fraud Report 2023: FBI Data on Senior Scams
The FBI's Elder Fraud Report 2023 documents $3.43 billion in losses from 101,068 seniors over 60, averaging $33,915 per victim with an 11% increase from 2022—though actual figures likely exceed these numbers due to underreporting. Tech and customer support scams were most common, while investment scams caused the largest losses at $1.2 billion, with romance, identity theft, and personal data breach scams also prevalent in the top five. Protection strategies include avoiding suspicious links and ads, using only legitimate company websites for contact information
jcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Jeremy Cook, a security officer with Exchange Bank, presented information on financial fraud prevention to seniors at the Jones County Senior Center on April 17, covering common scams including government imposter, grandparent, charity, romance, and technical support scams. Cook advised attendees to ignore unknown callers, never share personal information or send wire transfers, verify charities before donating, and conduct transactions in person when possible, while noting that romance scams alone generated $2.1 billion nationally in 2022. The presentation materials were designed for distribution at churches and other community venues to raise awareness among seniors about financial security threats.
thecyberwire.com
· 2025-12-08
This podcast episode discusses job board scams and social engineering tactics targeting job seekers. The hosts highlight techniques scammers use to impersonate legitimate companies and government agencies, including spoofed phone numbers and vague claims about background investigations, and emphasize the importance of verifying caller information independently rather than calling back suspicious numbers directly.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
A Nigerian man expressed frustration after a Polish bank refused to open an account for his child, citing a blanket policy against Nigerian customers. He attributed the discriminatory policy to reputational damage caused by Nigerian nationals involved in scams and fraud schemes abroad, including documented cases of Nigerians convicted of money laundering, bank fraud, and romance scams in countries like the United States.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Dan Michalski from Hawaii lost over $30,000 from his bank account after receiving a spoofed call appearing to be from his bank; the scammer used knowledge of his recent transactions to establish credibility, then tricked him into providing a verification code that allowed unauthorized transfers to Zelle. Though Michalski recovered $10,000, he remains uncompensated for the remaining loss, highlighting how sophisticated caller-spoofing fraud can bypass even verification attempts like checking the phone number online.
aspentimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scammers stole $188 million from over 11,000 victims across Colorado, with Summit County experiencing 80 fraud reports so far this year totaling tens of thousands in losses. Common scams include phone and email schemes where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement, the IRS, tech support, or claim urgent family emergencies or warrant arrests. Victims are advised to be suspicious of unsolicited messages offering unrealistic rewards, report suspicious activity to law enforcement, and file complaints with StopFraudColorado.gov or IC3.gov, though most stolen funds are unrecoverable once scammers operate from overseas jurisdictions.
dunyanews.tv
· 2025-12-08
This educational article warns that scammers increasingly use AI chatbots to automate fraud schemes, including romance scams and phishing attacks, making them difficult to distinguish from real people. Readers should watch for three warning signs: impeccable spelling but wooden phrasing, consistently fast response times, and unusually quick detailed replies that suggest no thinking time. The article also advises establishing a "safe word" with loved ones and asking for shared personal memories to detect AI voice clones used in phone scams, particularly when callers request money via cryptocurrency or gift cards.