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thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old woman in Muar lost RM229,050 (over RM200,000) across 30 transactions after being added to a Facebook group in January where she was recruited into a fake investment scheme promising high returns via a fraudulent app. She discovered the scam on March 25 when asked to deposit additional funds to withdraw her supposed earnings, prompting her to file a police report.
coinfomania.com
· 2025-12-08
Westlake, Ohio residents have fallen victim to multiple cryptocurrency scams involving fraudsters posing as police officers, Microsoft support, and Social Security Administration officials, demanding victims withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin ATMs. Losses ranged from $5,500 to $20,000, though one couple was saved by an alert bank manager who prevented a $17,000 loss by contacting police. Police advise residents never to wire money or use cryptocurrency based on unexpected calls, and to verify requests by contacting official company websites rather than phone numbers found through online searches.
fallriverreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old Massachusetts resident lost $30,000 after scammers convinced him his bank account was at risk due to a virus and instructed him to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin machine at a gas station, claiming it was an "FDIC machine." When the scammers later asked him to convert additional stock funds and arrange for someone to pick up cash from his home, he became suspicious and contacted his bank before losing additional money. Hingham Police warn that scammers use extended phone calls, fear tactics about compromised accounts, and instructions to avoid telling bank staff to manipulate victims into transferring funds.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), comprised of officers from London and Metropolitan police forces, combats sophisticated payment fraud across the UK, recovering luxury goods and criminal tools from raids. The National Crime Agency estimates 40% of crime is fraud-related with billions lost annually, complicated by victim under-reporting due to shame and embarrassment, as well as criminals' use of advanced technology, AI-generated content, and international operations to evade detection. Law enforcement emphasizes that fraud victims experience significant psychological harm beyond financial loss, and encouraging reporting through family and community support networks is critical to combating these crimes.
hinghamanchor.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old Hingham resident lost $30,000 in a tech support scam after scammers convinced him his bank account was at risk, instructing him to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin machine at a gas station under the guise of an "FDIC machine." The resident became suspicious only when the scammer requested an additional $35,000 and arranged for someone to pick up cash at his home, at which point he realized the fraud and contacted his bank. Police warn that scammers typically keep victims on the phone for extended periods while directing them through withdrawal and deposit steps, using fear tactics to prevent victims from verifying information with trusted contacts.
rbcroyalbank.com
· 2025-12-08
During Canadian tax season, criminals exploit vulnerable taxpayers through multiple scams including CRA impersonation phone calls demanding immediate payment via untraceable methods, phishing emails and texts with malicious links requesting personal information, fake CRA websites created using AI technology, and fraudulent tax companies that file false returns to steal refunds and data. Protection strategies include validating CRA communications through official channels, monitoring your CRA account, avoiding sharing personal information unsolicited, recognizing threatening language as a red flag, using only registered tax professionals, and refusing to click suspicious links or provide payment through cryptocurrency or gift cards.
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
Modern scammers increasingly employ generative AI tools, data breaches, and app data collection to target victims through romance scams and online job frauds. If victimized, individuals should immediately change passwords and enable multi-factor authentication, use a password manager for unique credentials, monitor account activity, contact their financial institution's fraud department, and report the incident to law enforcement and agencies like the Internet Crime Complaint Center and Identity Theft Resource Center.
drinksindustryireland.ie
· 2025-12-08
Bank of Ireland warns that fraudsters continuously employ multiple scam tactics beyond April Fool's Day, with the most common schemes including investment fraud, smishing texts, vishing calls, purchase scams, romance scams, family impersonation, rental/holiday fraud, money mule recruitment, malware, and phishing emails. The bank emphasizes that victims should watch for red flags such as promises of unrealistic returns, pressure to act quickly, celebrity endorsements of investments, and demands for secrecy, while never sharing PINs, activation codes, or other sensitive credentials. Bank of Ireland offers 24/7 fraud support at 1800 946 764 to help customers identify
daytondailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes four common scams targeting seniors: Social Security Administration impostor scams that use caller ID spoofing to trick victims into moving money to gift cards; tech support scams where criminals pose as representatives from recognized companies to gain remote device access and obtain banking information; lottery scams where perpetrators impersonate officials and extract fees from supposed foreign lottery winners; and romance scams conducted through dating sites and social media where scammers build relationships to solicit money. These represent a small fraction of the scams seniors face, with detailed information available through the Department of Justice's elder justice resources.
zdnet.com
· 2025-12-08
A cybersecurity journalist deliberately clicked on four common online scams in isolated virtual environments to demonstrate how they operate. The scams included fake security upgrades (distributing malware disguised as Wells Fargo security updates), fake Captcha challenges designed to execute malicious PowerShell commands, and other phishing tactics that exploit users' trust in legitimate security protocols. The article serves as an educational warning, emphasizing that users should never click suspicious links or download unexpected files, and should immediately close any page requesting software downloads.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies six common online scams and their warning signs: phishing scams (impersonating trusted companies via email/text to steal credentials), investment scams (promising unrealistic returns through unregulated platforms), job offer scams (requesting upfront payments or personal information for fraudulent positions), and tech support scams (using fake alerts to trick users into paying for unnecessary services or granting device access). Key prevention strategies include verifying sender information directly with companies, researching investment opportunities with licensed professionals, being skeptical of unsolicited offers, and avoiding clicking links or granting remote access to unknown parties.
bluewin.ch
· 2025-12-08
Over a dozen senior citizens in Aargau, Switzerland were defrauded of CHF 272,000 through an elaborate telephone scam in which perpetrators impersonated police officers or prosecutors, claiming to investigate bank fraud and instructing victims to withdraw cash for a courier. A courier driver and an Aargau guardian who assisted in collecting the money were convicted; the man received three years' partial imprisonment and the woman received 14 months plus a fine of CHF 300 and damages of approximately CHF 50,000, though she was allowed to retain her guardianship position.
brainandlife.org
· 2025-12-08
Philip Lehman's 80-year-old mother and 85-year-old stepfather experienced financial mismanagement due to early-stage cognitive impairment, including unpaid bills, missed tax filings, and excessive duplicate online purchases, prompting Lehman to obtain power of attorney and eventually move them to assisted living. A 2022 study found that over 7 million older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia manage their own finances despite difficulty doing so, and Americans 60 and older lost approximately $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with average losses near $34,000 per case. Natural age-related changes in the brain's prefron
news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
On March 19, Simi Valley police arrested 21-year-old Ruishan Liu for his alleged role in a "large-scale" financial scam that defrauded an elderly resident of $200,000 by posing as bank representatives and convincing the victim to withdraw and hand over cash under the guise of a bank security measure. Liu was caught during a sting operation when he arrived to collect a decoy package of cash at an undisclosed location. The arrest highlights a growing trend of financial scams targeting vulnerable elderly victims through various methods including cryptocurrency and gift cards.
kttn.com
· 2025-12-08
The Trenton Police Department issued a public advisory on social engineering scams, which use psychological manipulation rather than technical hacking to exploit trust, fear, and urgency in order to steal personal information and valuables. Common scam types include phishing, vishing, smishing, baiting, pretexting, quid pro quo schemes, and scareware, all of which exploit gaps in user awareness and cybersecurity knowledge. The department recommends verifying requests through official channels, remaining skeptical of urgent demands, carefully checking URLs, protecting sensitive data, and reporting suspected scams immediately.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Debbie Crisp's mother, Donna, died suddenly in North Carolina, and while sorting through her belongings, Debbie's daughter discovered evidence that Donna had been the victim of a romance scam that stole over $400,000 from her. Donna had hidden this painful secret, leaving behind correspondence with the US Postal Inspection Service and a victim's advocate. A US Postal Inspector is now investigating the elaborate romance scam operation responsible for stealing millions from dozens of victims, with hopes of catching the ringleader and achieving justice for Donna and others affected.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 54-year-old homemaker in Mumbai lost approximately Rs 54 lakh (about $6,500 USD) to an investment scam orchestrated by fraudsters posing as representatives of "Nisha Financial Services Consultant Company" via WhatsApp. The scammers lured her with promises of stock market returns, showed her fake profits, and systematically extracted money through a fake trading app called "Anisha," eventually imposing hidden fees and taxes that prevented her from withdrawing funds between November 2024 and January 2025. The scheme involved a WhatsApp group of 118 members and multiple administrators who pressured her to take loans and pay additional commissions to facilitate withdraw
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Impersonation scams cost nearly $3 billion in reported losses during 2024, with the FTC receiving approximately 850,000 reports of such fraud that year. The FTC's Impersonation Rule, which marked its one-year anniversary in April, has enabled the agency to file multiple lawsuits against scammers impersonating government agencies, utility companies, banks, and delivery services, and has successfully shut down over a dozen fake FTC websites designed to trick victims. The FTC advises consumers to avoid sending money or personal information to unexpected contacts, not to trust caller ID (which can be faked), and to verify requests by contacting organizations directly using independently verified contact information
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly targeting 401(k) retirement accounts through multiple methods including phishing emails, fake investment platforms, impersonation phone calls and text messages, robocalls with AI voice impersonations, and fraudulent rollover schemes. To protect retirement savings, individuals should use two-factor authentication, create strong unique passwords, monitor account notifications, and only conduct rollovers with trusted financial institutions while remaining vigilant against suspicious communications and fake investment opportunities.
johnsoncitytn.org
· 2025-12-08
The Johnson City Police Department reported a rise in phone scams where callers impersonate law enforcement, government agents, or company representatives to pressure victims into purchasing gift cards, sending cryptocurrency, or sharing financial information by claiming urgent issues like pending arrests or compromised bank accounts. Victims have been contacted via phone, social media, text, and other platforms, with scammers requesting gift card numbers after purchase to access funds immediately. The JCPD emphasizes that legitimate law enforcement never demands payment to avoid arrest and advises the public to hang up on suspicious callers and report them to Crime Stoppers, noting that older adults are particularly targeted in these scams.
marketplace.org
· 2025-12-08
Frank Abagnale, a former con artist, identifies red flags for detecting phone scammers, including suspicious bank activity. The Federal Trade Commission received over 500,000 imposter scam complaints in 2018, though prosecuting perpetrators remains rare, prompting federal regulators to develop new strategies to combat coordinated fraud efforts targeting victims.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, scammers targeted elderly residents and visitors in Beaufort County, South Carolina, stealing over $3.1 million across 62 cases by impersonating law enforcement and demanding cryptocurrency transfers via Bitcoin ATMs. The scams exploited urgency and fabricated threats of arrest or legal consequences, with victims directed to convert cash to cryptocurrency at predatory ATMs with high transaction fees. Officials across South Carolina are calling for government oversight of cryptocurrency ATMs, as these machines have become primary tools for targeting aging communities, with the FTC noting that cryptocurrency scam losses in the U.S. increased tenfold between 2020 and 2023.
koco.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Echohawk, 53, of Pawnee, Oklahoma, was arrested and charged with laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) across Utah, Texas, and Florida. One victim sent over $600,000 between April 2023 and March 2025 to a man using the alias "Edward Lotts," who claimed he needed to pay off a debt to access $2 million, and she sold her house to fund the payments. Echohawk facilitated the fraud by opening multiple bank accounts to receive the funds, converting them to cryptocurrency, and transferring them to wallets controlled by
nationalseniors.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Older Australians are disproportionately targeted by scams, accounting for 31% of losses reported to Scamwatch despite representing only 17% of the population. CommBank's "Talk to a Loved One" campaign encourages families to have open conversations about scams to raise awareness and reduce vulnerability, though research shows only 8% of Australians feel comfortable discussing their own scam experiences with family members despite 90% believing such discussions are important. The campaign recommends using the "Stop. Check. Reject." approach and highlights that confidence in recognizing scams drops from 33% for those under 60 to just over 20% for those over 60.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Cyber police in Jammu and Kashmir uncovered approximately 7,200 fraudulent "mule accounts" in 2025, with estimates potentially reaching 30,000, which scammers use to launder stolen money and evade detection. Mule accounts are opened by unwitting victims (tricked into sharing identity documents for fake schemes) or willing participants (who sell account access for small commissions of Rs 500–3,000), and when fraud occurs, the legitimate account holders face frozen accounts and legal consequences while actual scammers remain hidden. Students are increasingly targeted with promises of two percent commissions, making them vulnerable to becoming unknowing participants in financial crimes that ultimately victimize them
wfaa.com
· 2025-12-08
An 87-year-old Richardson, Texas woman lost $17,600 in a sophisticated tech support scam that began with a phishing email spoofing her son. Scammers impersonating Apple and bank representatives used fear tactics—falsely claiming unauthorized charges for ammunition and child pornography—to isolate her from legitimate help and manipulate her into withdrawing cash and depositing it into a Bitcoin ATM. Her son is sharing the story to raise awareness about increasingly complex elder fraud schemes that exploit emotional manipulation and urgency.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are conducting a widespread fake invoice scam via emails, text messages, and phone calls, falsely claiming recipients have been charged hundreds of dollars for unauthorized purchases to provoke panic and quick responses. The fraudsters then pose as refund representatives and request bank account or credit card information, ultimately stealing money from victims. To protect against this scam, consumers should verify messages for red flags such as lack of personalization, independently check their own accounts, and avoid responding to or calling back suspicious communications.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity researcher David Maimon discovered scammers selling access to Social Security accounts online, with the goal of taking over victims' benefit payments by changing account details and redirecting funds to fraudulent accounts. Scammers gain access through stolen login credentials and phishing attempts, and the Social Security Administration is implementing new in-person identity verification requirements (as of April 14) to combat the fraud. To protect accounts, beneficiaries should regularly monitor their "my Social Security" accounts, avoid clicking suspicious links, enable two-factor authentication, and never provide cash or personal information to unsolicited callers claiming to be law enforcement.
techbullion.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "As cybercriminals develop increasingly sophisticated techniques, elderly individuals have become prime targets for fraud"
Cybercriminals increasingly target elderly individuals with sophisticated fraud schemes, prompting development of AI and network security innovations designed specifically to protect seniors. Key prevention technologies include real-time threat detection using machine learning to identify anomalous transaction patterns, personalized behavioral analysis that adapts to individual user habits, enhanced authentication methods like voice biometrics and fingerprint recognition, AI-driven call and message filtering to block scams before reaching victims, and predictive fraud prevention systems. These interconnected security measures aim to create robust digital defenses that balance strong protection with user-friendly interfaces accessible to less
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Dating app users face increasing risks from romance scams, catfishing, and fraudulent profiles, prompting platforms to implement identity verification technologies. Users can protect themselves by verifying identities through multi-layered verification tools, avoiding profiles that seem too perfect or pressure quick money transfers, keeping personal information private, staying alert to bots, and reporting suspicious activity to the platform. Choosing dating apps with strong safety records and privacy protections is essential for fostering a secure online dating experience.
paymentsjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Consumers face increasingly common scams such as fake toll bill texts and fraudulent service provider listings, yet many financial institutions fail to adequately budget for scam prevention and detection technology. While the Federal Reserve's free ScamClassifier system helps standardize fraud documentation and tracking, many banks remain unaware of or reluctant to adopt it due to the significant integration costs and legacy system modifications required. The article emphasizes that prioritizing fraud prevention in organizational budgets is essential to combating the growing sophistication and persistence of scam tactics.
chadronradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Nebraska is experiencing an increase in "pig butchering" scams, a relationship-based fraud scheme where criminals slowly build trust with victims over weeks or months before luring them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. These scams can affect anyone regardless of financial sophistication, with the FTC reporting that Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, including a notable case where a Kansas banker lost $47 million. Warning signs include unexpected contact from strangers, emotional manipulation, requests for financial information, and promises of guaranteed high returns; victims should avoid sharing personal information with unknown contacts and report suspected fraud to authorities.
hastingstribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Nebraska is experiencing increased reports of "pig butchering" scams, a cryptocurrency-based fraud in which criminals build relationships with victims over weeks or months through social media, dating apps, or fake text messages before luring them into bogus cryptocurrency investments. The scam—also called a confidence scam or financial grooming—can target anyone regardless of financial knowledge, and in 2024 Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud and scams overall. Warning signs include unsolicited contact, emotional manipulation, requests for financial information, and exaggerated investment returns; victims should avoid sharing personal information with unknown contacts and contact the Nebraska Department of Banking an
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Chinese-speaking smishing syndicates have operated the world's largest text message phishing operation over the past three years, sending millions of fraudulent SMS messages impersonating postal services, tax authorities, and financial institutions to steal personal information and bank card details. The criminals use realistic fake websites and harvest one-time passwords to clone cards into digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Wallet, with one major group (the Smishing Triad) impersonating brands in at least 121 countries and generating over 1 million page visits to scam sites in a single 20-day period. These sophisticated, well-organized syndicates continue to develop new techniques and sell their ph
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains romance scams, which involve scammers creating fake dating profiles to build romantic relationships with victims—particularly older Americans—before requesting money for fabricated emergencies or opportunities. Older people are targeted because they typically have more savings, less familiarity with online scams, and may experience isolation, making them vulnerable to the emotional manipulation of promised romantic connections. The article provides guidance for adult children whose parents fall victim, including stopping communications, reporting to authorities and platforms, attempting to recover funds through banks and financial institutions, and protecting against identity theft.
theglobeandmail.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced a proposed "Stop Scamming Seniors" act to combat fraud targeting seniors, including mandatory minimum jail sentences (1-5 years depending on fraud amount) and fines of 10 times the amount defrauded, along with penalties up to $5 million for banks and cellphone companies that fail to detect suspicious activity. The announcement highlighted recent scams including "grandparent scams" and fraud schemes involving impersonation of banks, with Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre data showing Canadians lost $638 million to fraud in 2024, though only 5-10 percent of incidents are reported.
newschannel5.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers are using AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate family members in phone calls to elderly grandparents, requesting money in urgent situations. Consumer Reports found that four of six popular voice-cloning apps lacked meaningful consent safeguards, and deepfake technology has become so advanced that even experts struggle to detect it. Protection measures include enabling two-factor authentication on financial accounts, verifying unexpected calls through other means, and maintaining healthy skepticism about requests for personal or financial information.
munsifdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
A Maharashtra government employee, Shridhar Mahuli, lost Rs 2 lakh (approximately $2,400 USD) after a scammer impersonating an AU Small Finance Bank representative called claiming a health insurance payment needed to be linked to his credit card. The fraudster obtained Mahuli's card details through the fake call and made multiple unauthorized transactions, highlighting the sophistication of identity spoofing tactics used by modern scammers targeting financial information.
legit.ng
· 2025-12-08
A Nigerian doctor nearly lost $250 (approximately N400,000) to scammers who impersonated an international organization on social media, using tactics including fake credentials, high-follower profiles, and fabricated official documents. He avoided the loss by becoming suspicious when the contact repeatedly claimed to be unavailable by phone, and after consulting a friend working at a legitimate multilateral organization who confirmed it was a scam. The incident highlighted how scammers research victims' interests and vulnerabilities over time to create convincing fraudulent schemes.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "The Surprising Truth About the Age Group Most Likely to Fall for Financial Fraud"
Recent FTC data reveals that younger adults (ages 20-29) are losing money to scams at nearly twice the rate of older adults, with 44% experiencing financial losses compared to 24% of those aged 70-79. Younger adults are primarily targeted through online scams including fake shopping sites, cryptocurrency fraud, and social media job offers, with their "digital native" status and tendency toward impulsive decision-making making them particularly vulnerable despite overconfidence in their tech savviness. The study emphasizes that scammers exploit age-specific psychological factors and online
lexology.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, text message scams caused $470 million in reported losses to consumers—more than five times the 2020 amount—according to FTC data, with the top five scams being fake package delivery notices, phony job offers, fraudulent fraud alerts, bogus toll notifications, and "wrong number" romance/investment schemes. These scams employed tactics such as impersonating legitimate companies, stealing financial information through fake fees, and building fake relationships to manipulate victims into transferring money. The FTC recommends consumers avoid clicking links or responding to unsolicited texts and use blocking tools to prevent fraud.
thv11.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using AI voice-cloning technology to create deepfakes that impersonate loved ones in emergency scams, asking victims to send money immediately. Consumer Reports found that four of six popular voice-cloning apps lacked meaningful consent protections, allowing users to clone voices without permission, and experts say these deepfakes are becoming difficult to distinguish from real audio. Protection measures include recognizing deepfake scams exist, enabling two-factor authentication on financial accounts, being suspicious of unsolicited requests for personal or financial information, and applying critical thinking before responding to unexpected calls or messages.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, reported text scam losses reached $470 million—more than five times the amount from 2020—according to the FTC's Data Spotlight. Common text scams targeting businesses include fake fraud alerts redirecting victims to move money to scammer-controlled accounts, bogus toll notices designed to collect financial information, and phony job offers impersonating legitimate companies. The FTC recommends verifying unexpected texts by contacting businesses directly through official channels, avoiding clicking links or calling numbers provided in texts, and pausing before responding to urgent demands.
weirdkaya.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old German man lost RM3,089,800 after being duped by scammers impersonating Malaysian tax and central bank officials who used official-looking documentation to convince him to open a bank account and make 25 transfers. In a separate case, a 54-year-old Malaysian company manager was defrauded of RM2,652,000 through a Facebook-advertised investment scheme that used fake platforms and a WhatsApp contact named "Wendy Wong," initially paying him RM100,000 to build confidence before requesting tax fees to withdraw his non-existent profits.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
One in eight romance scam victims are in an existing relationship when they fall victim to fraudsters, according to research by the National Fraud Helpline, with the vast majority meeting scammers on dating sites like Match.com and Tinder. Scammers typically target vulnerable individuals by building emotional connections over months before requesting money through elaborate false scenarios. A 68-year-old retired care worker was defrauded of £22,000 by a scammer posing as a widower from Cambridge, who used stolen photographs and fabricated emergencies to manipulate her into sending money between June and November.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An Ojai, California resident lost his life savings after scammers posing as U.S. Marshals Service agents called him and instructed him to send money to an out-of-state location. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office issued a warning about this government impersonation scam, which is part of a nationwide trend; in 2023 alone, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported a 60% spike in such scams that defrauded over 14,000 people (mostly older adults) of more than $390 million. The article advises victims to act quickly by contacting their financial institutions, freezing credit, and reporting to authorities,
nltimes.nl
· 2025-12-08
Bank helpdesk fraud in the Netherlands declined significantly in 2024, with reported victims dropping 30% to approximately 6,900 people and total losses falling 20% to €23 million. Despite this improvement, the Dutch Banking Association warned that scammers continue evolving their tactics—including coaching victims to ignore legitimate bank warnings and exploiting social media platforms—and stressed the need for ongoing consumer vigilance and stronger identity verification measures by digital service providers.
leeds-live.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Barclays reported a 20% surge in romance scams during the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2024, with victims losing an average of £8,000—up from £5,800 in 2023. These scams predominantly originate from social media and dating platforms, where fraudsters exploit emotional vulnerability to manipulate victims into transferring money. Barclays and 76% of surveyed consumers are calling for tech companies to implement stronger safeguards to prevent scammers from operating on their platforms.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Barclays Bank reported a 20% increase in romance scams in early 2025, primarily occurring on social media and dating platforms, with the average loss rising to £8,000 per victim in 2024 (up from £5,800 in 2023). Adults aged 61 and over are most vulnerable, losing an average of £19,000 per scam, with scammers typically building trust before requesting money under false pretenses such as emergencies, travel costs, or medical bills. The data shows 12% of UK adults have been targeted by or know someone affected by romance scams, and Barclays is calling for tech companies to implement stronger frau
wyomingnews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
In 2025, Sheridan County law enforcement has received 91 combined fraud reports, with scammers increasingly impersonating law enforcement and medical officers using scare tactics to coerce victims into sending money, and exploiting Facebook Marketplace. The elderly and people over 50 are disproportionately targeted, with at least two victims losing over $150,000 each, though recovered funds are rare since money is typically sent electronically to overseas servers beyond law enforcement jurisdiction.