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in Money Mules / Laundering
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Janine Williamson, administrator of the Larry W. Cook Estate, is advocating for stronger protections against elder financial fraud following her uncle's loss of millions of dollars in a phishing scam. Williamson has met with banking industry leaders and is lobbying federal lawmakers to support legislation like Virginia's "Larry's Law," which would require financial institutions to train employees to identify and report senior exploitation, while also pursuing a $3.6 million negligence lawsuit against Wells Fargo and Navy Federal Credit Union. She is calling for a government-appointed Fraud Task Force to disrupt fraud schemes and help victims.
mainichi.jp
· 2025-12-08
A man in his 70s in Sapporo, Japan lost 3.7 million yen (approximately $24,400) in a "special fraud" scam in January when three individuals posing as police officers and government officials convinced him he was involved in money laundering and needed to transfer funds to prove his innocence. The scammers used multiple tactics including fake arrest warrants, international phone calls with fabricated explanations, claims of confidential investigations, and persistent demands for daily ATM transfers, exploiting the victim's anxiety and social isolation over 10 days before he realized the deception. The victim, who lost his retirement savings, continues to experience psychological trauma including heart palp
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 62-year-old former Chinese businessman in Seremban lost RM4.2 million to a scam syndicate posing as police officers, who contacted him via WhatsApp claiming he was involved in a money laundering case and instructed him to make transfers and deposits to company accounts. Police data shows that from January to December the previous year, there were 105 investigation papers filed related to Macau scam cases involving RM1.89 million in losses. Authorities advise the public to be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages from individuals claiming to represent agencies and requesting payments, and to never share banking information.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five defendants were convicted in a conspiracy to steal $1.1 million in retirement funds from 25 different 401(k) accounts belonging to elderly retired Florida school district employees between January and March 2022, with insider Vargas, who worked for the retirement fund company, orchestrating fraudulent withdrawal forms faxed to the company. The conspirators face up to 20 years in prison, with four defendants facing a mandatory minimum of two years, and sentencing is scheduled for April 28, 2025.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two brothers, Zubair and Muzzammil Al Zubair, and Michael Leon Smedley, the chief of staff to the mayor of East Cleveland, were charged in a 32-count superseding indictment with fraud, money laundering, tax fraud, and public corruption spanning from June 2020 through August 2023. The Al Zubair brothers executed multiple schemes including investment fraud, SBA COVID-19 loan fraud, cryptocurrency mining scams, and international arms trafficking fraud while falsely claiming to be a member of the UAE royal family and a legitimate hedge fund manager. Smedley allegedly leveraged his city position to provide official letters, city business
indicanews.com
· 2025-12-08
An Indian national, Moinuddin Mohammed, 34, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison in Austin for conspiracy to commit money laundering related to a scheme that defrauded elderly victims of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold. The defendant played a role in laundering the proceeds from this elder fraud operation.
indicanews.com
· 2025-12-08
Akash Kumar Singh, a 48-year-old man from Sacramento, was indicted by a federal grand jury on seven counts: four counts of bank fraud and three counts of money laundering. Singh was arrested on February 20, with the indictment unsealed following his arrest and announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
moonstone.co.za
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" is a rapidly growing romance scam that combines fake romantic connections with cryptocurrency fraud schemes, primarily targeting victims on dating platforms and social media. South Africans lost over R125 million to online dating scammers in 2022, with scammers now using AI and deepfake technology to create increasingly convincing fake profiles and lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes. These operations, run by international crime syndicates that often exploit trafficked workers, build long-term emotional trust before pressuring victims to send cryptocurrency, which is then laundered through shell companies and criminal networks.
nationthailand.com
· 2025-12-08
Metropolitan Police arrested five suspects, including Chinese national "Boss Zhou" and former Thai teacher Alisa, for operating a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded victims of over 91 million baht. The operation created fake online profiles to establish romantic relationships, then coerced victims into investing in a fictitious Singaporean TikTok shop, with funds ultimately laundered through cryptocurrency exchanges. A raid on their Bang Phli residence—identified as the operation's "nerve centre"—uncovered 102 active bank accounts, 70 debit cards, and links to 132 reported fraud cases.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
An Indian national, Moinuddin Mohammed, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for his role as a courier in an international money laundering conspiracy that defrauded elderly victims of nearly $6 million. The scheme involved fraudsters impersonating U.S. government officials to convince victims to surrender cash, gold, and savings; identified victims lost between $151,500 and $470,000 each, with 21 total victims nationwide. Mohammed was ordered to pay approximately $960,000 in restitution and forfeit an additional $36,000 in seized assets.
ft.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, a UK sustainability consultancy lost £324,634 to an authorized push payment (APP) fraud scam where criminals impersonated a client's email to trick an employee into transferring funds; the victim spent 11 months and £100,000 in legal fees attempting recovery and ultimately declared the company insolvent. While new UK regulations implemented in October 2024 now mandate reimbursement up to £85,000 for APP fraud victims, fraud experts and affected individuals report the system remains broken due to police inaction, regulatory gaps, and inconsistent bank treatment of claims. APP fraud accounted for 40 percent of all fraud losses in the UK in 2
midmichigannow.com
· 2025-12-08
A federal grand jury indicted two people from Jamaica—Monique Clarke, 28, and Jon-Michael Hudson, 33—for operating a lottery scam conspiracy that defrauded at least 51 elderly victims of more than $6.6 million between October 2020 and January 2021. The scheme involved calling victims claiming they'd won lottery prizes, then demanding upfront payments for taxes and fees, with money mules depositing victim checks into accounts and funneling cash to the defendants; Clarke alone received over $500,000 and used part of it to purchase a Mercedes-Benz in Jamaica. Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, and authorities
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
Employment termination scams are phishing attacks that exploit workers' fear of job loss by impersonating HR departments or other authorities, attempting to trick victims into clicking malicious links or opening infected attachments. These scams can lead to malware installation, credential theft, corporate data breaches, or account hijacking, with attackers leveraging stolen work logins for extortion or further fraudulent activity. The scams are effective because they create urgent psychological pressure, and victims can protect themselves by verifying sender addresses, checking for generic greetings, and being cautious about unexpected termination notifications.
coppercourier.com
· 2025-12-08
Online romance scams in Arizona resulted in over $47 million in losses during 2022-2023, with victims ranging from elderly individuals to people in their 30s, making the state the fifth-highest in the nation for such fraud. Key warning signs include scammers professing "instant love," quickly moving communication off dating platforms, refusing to share photos, and requesting money, sometimes stringing victims along for extended periods. Law enforcement and AARP Arizona warn that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence and new technology to impersonate people, and encourage vigilance especially around Valentine's Day when people are most vulnerable to romance-based fraud.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
A 52-year-old man from Pune was defrauded of Rs77.74 lakh over four months by scammers who lured him with promises of high returns in gold mining and forex trading investments. After registering on a fraudulent trading portal and making 51 transactions, he saw his account balance grow to Rs2.57 crore but was unable to withdraw funds starting in December, when scammers demanded an additional Rs26 lakh as a "risk security deposit." He reported the scam to cyber crime police, and a case was filed under cheating and IT Act violations.
thescottishsun.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Kirsten Wood, a 65-year-old widow from Glasgow, lost £150,000 over two years to a romance scam perpetrated by a fraudster who posed as "Steve from Burnley" on Match.com, exploiting her vulnerability following the deaths of her husband and son. The scammer employed emotional manipulation with fabricated sob stories about a sick child and legal troubles to extract money via MoneyGram, and escalated to threats when questioned, eventually revealing he was actually from Nigeria. Wood was unable to recover her losses because she reported the fraud to her bank too long after the 2016-2017 scam occurred.
en.cryptonomist.ch
· 2025-12-08
Stablecoins are now involved in 65% of cryptocurrency-related scams, including investment scams and elder fraud schemes that exploit their liquidity and speed for financial crimes. Stablecoin issuers face compounding risks from treasury vulnerabilities, regulatory compliance challenges, and cross-chain security exploits that enable asset theft and fund tracing difficulties. Blockaid offers monitoring and protection solutions including real-time transaction tracking, threat detection, and automated incident response to mitigate these risks and maintain regulatory compliance.
aba.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. This appears to be a navigation menu or sitemap from a banking association website (likely the American Bankers Association), listing various topics, training programs, conferences, and committees. It does not contain an article about a scam, fraud incident, or elder abuse case.
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bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 250 foreign workers from 20 nationalities were freed from telecom fraud centres operating in Myanmar's Karen State by an ethnic armed group and transferred to Thailand, where they are being assessed for human trafficking. The workers had been lured or coerced into conducting online scams including "pig butchering" romance frauds, cryptocurrency schemes, and money laundering, with some reportedly tortured and held for ransom by their employers. Thailand and China have increased pressure on armed groups controlling the border region to shut down these operations by cutting power and fuel access and tightening banking and visa rules.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency fraud reached record levels in 2024, with scam wallets receiving an estimated $9.9-$12.4 billion, driven largely by a 40% surge in "pig butchering" romance scams where criminals build fake relationships to lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes. Scammers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence and organized platforms like Huione Guarantee (which received $375.9 million in crypto in 2024) while expanding geographically from Southeast Asian compounds to locations like Nigeria, often employing human trafficking victims to conduct the fraud. The report warns that the scam ecosystem is becoming more professionalized, with criminal groups creating specialize
moodys.com
· 2025-12-08
Moody's identified 1,193 new entities and people globally with potential ties to romance scams in 2024, marking a six-year high and 14% increase from 2023. Romance scammers build fake online identities to manipulate victims into sending money or financial information, with older adults and emotionally vulnerable individuals (such as those experiencing divorce or grief) being particularly targeted. Financial institutions must strengthen their anti-fraud screening processes using advanced technologies like AI and machine learning, robust anti-money laundering protocols, and cross-sector collaboration with regulators and law enforcement to detect and prevent these schemes.
cronkitenews.azpbs.org
· 2025-12-08
Arizona experienced over $47 million in losses from online romance scams during 2022-2023, ranking fifth nationally, with elderly residents particularly targeted by scammers who build false relationships to extract money. Common tactics include professing instant love, moving conversations off dating platforms to private channels, refusing to share photos, and requesting money—sometimes stringing victims along for extended periods. Authorities warn that scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to create convincing false identities, and many victims remain unreported due to embarrassment.
digit.in
· 2025-12-08
A family in Noida fell victim to a "digital arrest" scam in February when scammers posing as telecom regulators and police officers threatened them with fake arrest warrants and money laundering charges. Over five days, the family transferred Rs 1.10 crore (approximately $132,000 USD) to the fraudsters after receiving intimidating calls and video messages targeting multiple family members. The scam exemplifies the growing sophistication of cyber fraud and highlights the importance of remaining cautious about unsolicited calls claiming to be from government or law enforcement agencies.
advisorhub.com
· 2025-12-08
Marjorie Kessler, a senior investor in Tampa, Florida, lost nearly $1.75 million to scammers impersonating government officials who convinced her to withdraw funds for safekeeping in a U.S. Treasury account. Morgan Stanley was ordered to pay $843,000 in compensatory damages for failing to investigate her unusual withdrawal requests and neglecting to establish a trusted contact on her account as required by regulations, though the arbitration panel deducted the first transfer amount due to insufficient evidence of negligence.
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
In February 2024, an elderly woman lost approximately $550,000 to a computer support scam impersonating Microsoft customer support through two wire transfers. Following a quick report to local police, ICE Homeland Security Investigations traced and recovered $328,573 in seized funds, while the bank reversed an additional $221,000, ultimately returning nearly all the victim's money by February 2025. This case demonstrates the importance of reporting cyber scams immediately to law enforcement, as quick action enabled recovery of most of the stolen funds through coordinated federal and banking efforts.
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
In February 2024, an elderly woman lost approximately $550,000 in a computer support scam where criminals impersonated Microsoft customer support; she promptly reported the crime to police, enabling ICE Homeland Security Investigations to trace and seize the remaining funds after one wire transfer was reversed by the bank. Through a civil asset forfeiture action coordinated with the U.S. Attorney's Office, $328,573 was recovered and returned to the victim in February 2025, representing a rare successful recovery of nearly all stolen funds.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Skimming scams, which involve criminals stealing credit card data through devices placed on ATMs, fuel pumps, and point-of-sale terminals, increased 96% in 2023 and cost U.S. consumers over $1 billion annually. Major enforcement actions include a three-year FBI investigation targeting Romanian organized crime that resulted in 48 arrests and recovery of 8,000 stolen card numbers and approximately $1 million in seized currency. Consumers can protect themselves by inspecting card readers for tampering, using chip or tap-to-pay technology, monitoring accounts for unauthorized transactions, and choosing well-lit fuel pumps near store attendants.
keremeosreview.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. What you've shared appears to be a website homepage or navigation menu from a news publication, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
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poconorecord.com
· 2025-12-08
Skimming scams—where criminals install devices on ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and fuel pumps to steal card data—increased 96% in 2023 and cost U.S. consumers over $1 billion annually. Recent law enforcement operations have targeted organized crime groups, including a three-year FBI investigation resulting in 48 arrests and recovery of over 8,000 stolen credit card numbers. The FBI advises consumers to inspect card readers for tampering, use chip/tap-to-pay technology, pull at keypads for overlays, monitor accounts regularly, and choose fuel pumps visible to attendants.
wtol.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance and confidence scams are rising in Ohio and nationwide, with fraudsters creating fake profiles on dating sites and social media to build trust before requesting money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or valuable items under false pretenses such as medical emergencies or legal fees. Ohioans lost over $15.3 million to these scams in 2023, while nationwide losses exceeded $652 million in romance fraud complaints and $823 million in 2024, with scammers primarily targeting women over 40 who are divorced, widowed, elderly, or disabled. The FBI and Ohio Department of Commerce advise the public to remain vigilant online, avoid sending money to unknown contacts, and verify investment tips through
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
Fabrisio Arias was sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay $395,536 in restitution to 22 victims for his role in an international sweepstakes scam that operated from November 2020 to September 2022. Scammers in Costa Rica used spoofed phone numbers to impersonate IRS and FTC officials, convincing elderly victims (many in their 70s-90s) that they'd won prizes and needed to pay fees; Arias received the victims' checks and money orders at his California home, laundered the funds through his bank accounts, and transferred over $237,000 to co-conspi
fox40.com
· 2025-12-08
A California man, Fabrisio Arias, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role in an international sweepstakes fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans between November 2020 and September 2022. Operating with co-conspirators in Costa Rica, Arias received fraudulent payments from 22 victims (many in their 70s-90s) who were tricked into paying fake taxes or fees to claim non-existent prizes, with perpetrators impersonating IRS and FTC officials using spoofed phone numbers. Arias was ordered to pay $395,536 in restitution after laundering over $395,000 through his bank accounts, keeping
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Connecticut woman recovered approximately $328,573 after falling victim to a computer support scam in February 2024, where criminals posing as Microsoft support tricked her into sending $550,000 via wire transfers. Local police and Homeland Security Investigations traced and recovered the funds through bank reversal and asset seizure, with the U.S. Attorney's Office facilitating the return to the victim. Law enforcement emphasized the importance of reporting such cybercrimes immediately to banks and authorities, noting this case represents a rare best-case scenario where nearly all stolen money was recovered.
philstarlife.com
· 2025-12-08
A Thai-British beauty queen lost 4 million baht after two scammers, Ramil Pantawong and 31, and Thanawut Kanyaphanthe, 28, impersonated Thai Department of Special Investigation officers and falsely accused her of money laundering to trick her into transferring funds. The two suspects were arrested as part of a 50-member gang operating from Cambodia that used AI technology to alter their faces during video calls and had victimized at least 163 people with similar schemes involving fake narcotics and money-laundering accusations. The suspects revealed they had been recruited under false pretenses and forced to work for Chinese gang leaders who controlled the operation through threats
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Fabrisio Arias was sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay $395,536 in restitution for laundering money in an international sweepstakes scam that defrauded at least 22 elderly victims between November 2020 and September 2022. Scammers based in Costa Rica used spoofed phone numbers to call seniors, impersonating IRS and FTC officials, convincing victims they had won prizes but needed to pay fees first; victims sent cashier's checks and money orders to Arias in California, who deposited the funds and transferred most to co-conspirators abroad. Many victims in their seventies to n
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three U.S. citizens were sentenced to prison for operating sweepstakes fraud schemes from Costa Rica that targeted hundreds of victims, many elderly, between 2007 and 2015. The defendants falsely claimed victims had won cash prizes and repeatedly demanded "refundable insurance fees" and other charges, with Bonner's scheme alone causing approximately $10 million in losses; Bonner received 180 months in prison and was ordered to pay $9.7 million in restitution, while Schiavone and Ricker received 48 and 42 months respectively and were ordered to pay $399,852 each in restitution.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
James Watt, 26, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 3 years of probation after pleading guilty to unlawful document production and money laundering for manufacturing over 30,000 fraudulent driver's licenses between 2019 and 2023. Watt was paid more than 14 Bitcoin (worth $1.3 million as of January 2025) to produce and mail fake IDs through U.S. Postal Service collection boxes, with customers uploading their photos and addresses to receive the false identification documents. While many fake IDs were purchased by underage individuals, others were bought by adults for fraudulent purposes including boarding planes, obtaining prescriptions, r
hometownstations.com
· 2025-12-08
A federal jury in Ohio convicted two Indian nationals, Pranay Kumar Mamidi (27) and Kishan Vinayak Patel (26), of money laundering conspiracy for their role in distributing proceeds from phantom hacker scams that defrauded victims across four states of their life savings from May to November 2023. In these scams, victims are contacted by fraudsters posing as customer service representatives, FTC agents, and DEA officials who trick them into withdrawing cash or gold bars under false pretenses of account fraud investigations, with the laundered funds estimated in the tens of millions of dollars. Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison per count, an
hoodline.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Indian nationals were convicted in federal court for operating a massive money laundering scheme that defrauded victims across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana through "phantom hacker" scams between May and November 2023. Pranay Kumar Mamidi and Kishan Vinayak Patel posed as customer service representatives and fake law enforcement agents (impersonating Amazon, FTC, and DEA) to trick elderly and unsuspecting victims into converting their life savings to cash or gold bars for purported "investigations," with tens of millions of dollars laundered through their U.S.-based operation connected to a criminal network in India. Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison for each money
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A federal jury convicted two Indian nationals, Pranay Kumar Mamidi (27) and Kishan Vinayak Patel (26), of money laundering conspiracy tied to a "phantom hacker scam" that defrauded victims across four states of their life savings between May and November 2023. In this scam, perpetrators impersonated bank employees, FTC agents, and DEA special agents to trick victims—particularly elderly—into withdrawing savings and surrendering cash or gold bars at drop-off locations, with investigators estimating tens of millions of dollars laundered through the U.S.-based operation directed by co-conspirators in India. Six additional co-conspi
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
Attorney General Kris Mayes warned Arizona sports bettors ahead of Super Bowl Sunday to avoid illegal sportsbooks that lack regulatory oversight, fair play testing, security standards, and anti-money laundering compliance. Red flags include sportsbooks based outside the U.S., deceptive bonus offers, suspicious ads, and "risk-free" bet claims, while consumers should verify licensed operators through the Arizona Department of Gaming website and avoid sharing personal information with unapproved services. Those who fall victim to sports betting scams can report activity to the Department of Gaming or file complaints with the Attorney General's Office.
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly widow lost approximately $8.4 million over four years when her son, Brett Thomas Graham—a securities industry-barred individual—moved money from her accounts at multiple financial firms (JPMorgan Securities, Schwab, and Francis Financial) without proper detection or intervention. The woman, who had memory loss and was living in assisted care, had invested nearly $9 million from the sale of her Upper East Side townhouse, but the financial institutions failed to implement adequate safeguards such as flagging suspicious large withdrawals, conducting proper due diligence, or contacting trusted family members to verify the transactions. Her family only discovered the fraud after she was evicted from her assiste
vcstar.com
· 2025-12-08
George Ronald Russell, a 68-year-old former Thousand Oaks resident, was sentenced to over one year in prison and ordered to pay $600,000 in restitution for a $1.1 million investment fraud scheme targeting elders. Russell pleaded guilty to 18 felony counts including elder grand theft, grand theft over $500,000, attempted grand theft, and money laundering, with the scheme connected to a DUI awareness booklet.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
James Henley, 35, of Greenwood, Indiana, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for orchestrating complex fraud schemes over three years that defrauded homeowners, government agencies, a bank, and an attorney of approximately $2.9 million. His crimes included COVID-19 unemployment fraud ($1.1 million), home title theft (5 homes stolen and sold), mortgage fraud, and auto loan fraud, all facilitated through five fake businesses used to mask his identity and launder proceeds. Henley was ordered to pay $1,887,426.63 in restitution, with co-conspirators including his wife and an associate also facing
ky3.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that romance scams are increasingly dangerous, with 532 reports in 2024 showing a median loss of $6,125, and seniors over 65 particularly at risk. Scammers are now using AI tools to create more realistic fake profiles and chatbots that eliminate grammatical errors, while also targeting victims through cryptocurrency investment schemes. The BBB recommends online daters watch for red flags such as excuses to avoid meeting, moving conversations to other apps, requests for money, and suspicious photos—and to verify profiles through reverse image searches and consult trusted friends and family before sending any money.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
A 52-year-old Thai woman was arrested at Hat Yai International Airport for her alleged role in a $182.8 million romance scam—Thailand's costliest on record. The woman, Orathai, was accused of opening bank accounts at the direction of her Nigerian boyfriend that were used to launder embezzled funds from EssilorLuxottica; the scam's original victim, the company's CFO, had been deceived over three months into transferring $182.8 million to 112 accounts across 17 countries after being romance-scammed via LinkedIn. The operation involved at least 23 suspects across Thailand, Malaysia, and Nigeria, highlighting how
banburyguardian.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Neighbourhood Watch in the Banbury and Bicester area has issued a warning about romance scammers who build fake romantic relationships with online dating users to manipulate them into sending money or sharing financial information that enables theft. The advisory outlines common warning signs including rapid romantic escalation, inconsistent stories, refusal to video call or meet in person, and eventual requests for money, sometimes involving money laundering schemes. The guidance recommends using reputable dating sites, avoiding sharing personal details, refusing money transfers with online contacts, and not accepting friend requests from strangers to protect against these scams.
mb.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
In the Philippines, over 8,000 people lost more than PHP 155 million to online scams in the first eight months of 2023, prompting Senator Mark Villar to champion the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act—legislation designed to address emerging digital fraud threats including phishing, smishing, vishing, and quishing. The proposed law creates specific penalties for financial account fraud and money muling schemes while empowering the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to investigate suspicious transactions more swiftly and without traditional banking secrecy constraints.
thegazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are growing on online dating and social media platforms, where fraudsters create fake identities to build romantic relationships with victims before requesting money or personal financial information. Red flags include profiles that seem "too perfect," attempts to move communication off-site quickly, moving the relationship forward rapidly, reluctance to meet in person, and hard luck stories preceding financial requests. The BBB recommends protecting yourself by never sending money or personal information, asking detailed questions about profile details, conducting reverse image searches, and stopping contact immediately if asked for financial or banking information.
bangkokpost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 52-year-old Thai woman was arrested at Hat Yai International Airport for her alleged role in Thailand's largest romance scam, which defrauded a multinational company's CFO of 6.3 billion baht (US$186 million) in 2022 using a fake LinkedIn profile of a US Army doctor. Orathai admitted to opening multiple Thai bank accounts for her Nigerian partner, who she claimed wanted to start a business, though the accounts were actually used to receive and transfer stolen funds from the fraud scheme. Warrants have been issued for approximately 100 Thai and Nigerian suspects involved in the transnational operation, with ongoing arrest efforts.