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in Tech Support Scam
dlnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Chainalysis partnered with law-enforcement agencies across six countries (US, UK, Canada, Spain, Netherlands, and Australia) to combat "approval phishing" scams that have defrauded victims of $2.7 billion in cryptocurrency since May 2021. Operation Spincaster generated over 7,000 leads between April and June, resulting in account closures, fund seizures, and intelligence-building related to approximately $162 million in reported losses. The initiative brought together 12 public sector agencies and 17 crypto exchanges to disrupt scams through public-private collaboration and blockchain analytics.
b985.fm
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts are exploiting the July 2024 Microsoft outage (caused by a CrowdStrike software update affecting 8.5 million Windows machines) through phishing emails and text messages that either request personal information or send malware-infected files under the guise of computer fixes. Residents are advised to rely on official sources for information, verify email addresses and links carefully, and check on elderly relatives, as the legitimate fix was deployed automatically without user interaction needed.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Following a global tech outage caused by a faulty CrowdStrike software update that affected 8.5 million Windows computers, scammers are now exploiting the chaos through phishing schemes and fraudulent offers of technical support. Security experts warn that malicious actors, some impersonating CrowdStrike employees or IT support specialists, are using email, social media, and phone calls to target vulnerable individuals and businesses attempting to recover from the outage, with confirmed phishing attempts already reported in Latin America and the United Kingdom. Cybersecurity analysts note that scammers routinely capitalize on major disruptions when people are most distracted and uncertain.
interest.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" is a cryptocurrency investment scam originating in China where fraudsters build personal relationships with victims through fake handlers (like "Mr Glenn Hutchins" and "Sophia") to convince them to deposit cryptocurrency into bogus trading platforms and transfer funds for promised high returns and 20% commissions. The scam operates globally through WhatsApp groups and spoofed websites (such as btcs-alpha.com mimicking legitimate sites), targeting victims who are lured by fake screenshots of profits from other group members. Victims lose money when the promised trades and profits never materialize, with billions lost globally to this form of online fraud.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Bengaluru woman lost Rs 1.2 crore over 20 days in a scam where criminals impersonated telecom department and Mumbai Crime Branch officials, threatening her with arrest for alleged money laundering and demanding she transfer funds for "verification." The scammers used fabricated documents and intimidation tactics to manipulate the victim into sharing her bank details, then disappeared after the transfer. The article advises staying vigilant against such calls, verifying caller identities through official channels, never sharing financial information with unknown callers, and remembering that genuine officials do not threaten immediate arrest or demand money transfers.
kxxv.com
· 2025-12-08
A healthcare administrator in Texas highlights that seniors born before 1950 are particularly vulnerable to scams due to their trusting nature, with the most common frauds involving Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, home repairs, and grandparent impersonation schemes. The FBI reported that scams targeting people over 60 caused over $3.4 billion in losses last year, and experts recommend seniors avoid sharing personal information over the phone, resist pressure to act immediately, and consult trusted contacts before transferring money.
theintermountain.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS and Security Summit partners warn tax professionals to remain vigilant against evolving phishing scams and cloud-based schemes designed to steal sensitive taxpayer information, with email attacks numbering in the hundreds targeting the tax professional community year-round. The advisory details various phishing tactics including spear phishing, clone phishing, and whaling attacks that trick recipients into disclosing passwords, account numbers, and Social Security numbers. These security warnings are part of an ongoing public-private partnership effort to protect the tax system against identity theft and fraud.
tech.hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru lost ₹1.2 crore after fraudsters impersonated telecom and Mumbai crime branch officials, claiming she was involved in illegal activities and money laundering, then pressured her to transfer funds by presenting forged documents including a fake FIR and arrest warrant. The victim transferred the money believing it would be returned after an investigation, but the scammers became unreachable. The article recommends protective measures including verifying requests through official channels, avoiding unsolicited contact, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and monitoring bank accounts for suspicious activity.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 CelcomDigi survey of 10,839 Malaysians found that 65.5% had encountered scam attempts, with phone calls being the primary method at 52.6%, and 73% reported being actual victims. Most scams involved phone impersonation where callers posing as bank or government representatives requested personal information and payments. The survey revealed low incident reporting rates, with only 6.5% contacting the National Scam Response Centre and 64% unaware the service existed, indicating a significant gap in fraud mitigation despite 87% of respondents claiming increased scam awareness.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old woman from Bengaluru lost Rs 1.28 crore in a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme where scammers impersonated telecom and police officials, falsely accusing her of money laundering and threatening arrest using forged documents to extract her banking information. After she transferred the substantial sum under the pretense it would be returned following a fabricated investigation, the fraudsters became unreachable and she filed a police complaint. The article advises victims to verify requests through official channels, avoid sharing personal information with unsolicited callers, use strong passwords with two-factor authentication, install security software, and monitor bank accounts regularly for suspicious activity.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens lose approximately $3 billion annually to elder fraud, with scammers increasingly targeting seniors due to their financial security and trusting nature. The article identifies eight common scams affecting elderly individuals, including tech support/home repair fraud, grandchild impersonation schemes, government agency impersonation, fake sweepstakes, phishing emails (particularly fake Geek Squad invoices), overpayment scams, and unsubscribe email phishing attempts. Key prevention strategies include verifying caller identities independently, confirming stories with family members before sending money, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and researching companies before making purchases.
saudigazette.com.sa
· 2025-12-08
**Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) Ban Announcement**
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators effective immediately, ordering the closure of 46 licensed operators and dozens of illicit gambling hubs by year-end. The decision targeted an industry primarily serving Chinese gamblers that has been linked to organized crime, financial scamming, money laundering, human trafficking, kidnapping, and murder, with many scam syndicates operating from converted malls and offices as fronts for fraud centers.
riskandinsurance.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are using AI-generated deepfakes to conduct sophisticated fraud, including a notable case where fraudsters impersonated finance leaders in a video call to trick an employee into transferring $25 million. In 2023, funds transfer fraud and business email compromise accounted for 56% of cyber claims with an average loss of $275,000 per claim and total losses reaching $2.9 billion, with over 90% of survey respondents unable to distinguish real people from deepfakes. Organizations are advised to implement employee training, authentication protocols like code words, advanced security tools, and strict financial transaction policies to combat this threat.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
Online scammers in India are increasingly targeting elderly individuals through sophisticated fraud schemes, including impersonation of government officials and threats of arrest. Notable cases include a 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru who lost Rs 1.28 crore after scammers posing as telecom and police officials coerced her into sharing bank details, and a Chandigarh woman defrauded of Rs 72 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam. Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to limited digital literacy, natural trust in authority figures, and financial stability, making awareness, verification of unsolicited contacts, and updated device security essential protective measures.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Portland couple lost $44,000 in a Facebook-related scam after the husband searched for Facebook customer service and was directed to a fraudulent website with a fake tech support number. The scammers convinced them their credit card had been hacked, gained remote access to their devices, and manipulated them into wire transferring their life savings to "resolve" fabricated fraudulent activity. The incident reflects a growing trend: FBI data shows fraud complaints from seniors increased 14% in 2023, with total losses reaching $3.4 billion.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article describes 12 common scams targeting seniors, including government impersonation (IRS, Medicare, Social Security), fake charity donations, lottery/sweepstakes schemes, phishing emails, voice recording scams, grandchild emergency requests, computer repair scams, and romance scams. The article advises seniors to verify requests independently, never provide personal information to unsolicited callers, hang up without responding to suspicious calls, and confirm the identity of family members before sending money.
jcsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, elder fraud reports to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 14 percent, with over 101,000 victims aged 60 and older losing more than $3.4 billion—an average of $33,915 per victim. The most common scams included tech support fraud, investment schemes (costing $1.2 billion alone), government impersonation, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, with scammers often using spoofed caller IDs and posing as agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration. TARCOG hosted a Fraud & Scam Summit in Alabama to educate the community about these schemes and provide resources to
sandiegouniontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
At a California senior scam awareness seminar, officials warned that seniors remain the primary target for financial fraud due to their assets, with losses exceeding $3.4 billion reported to the FBI in 2023 alone. Common scams targeting older adults include online romance fraud (median loss over $9,000 for those 70+), annuity schemes, imposter calls impersonating government agencies and companies, tech support scams, and home remodeling fraud. Experts advised seniors to verify caller information independently, recognize high-pressure sales tactics and false urgency, and remember that government agencies do not initiate contact by phone.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian criminals are conducting widespread sextortion scams targeting American men on social media platforms, with Meta removing approximately 63,000 Nigerian accounts, 200 Facebook pages, and 5,700 groups used to coordinate these schemes. In these scams, criminals pose as attractive women to manipulate victims into sending nude photos, then extort money by threatening to release the images; the FBI reports at least 20 teen victims have died by suicide as a result. Meta is implementing protective measures including an auto-blur feature for nude images in Instagram DMs and recommends users exercise caution with unsolicited messages from accounts with highly polished photos.
fairfaxhs.fcps.edu
· 2025-12-08
Four Fairfax High School students—Advik Atyam, David Nam, Nathan Kim, and Yousif al Atbi—created ScamCops, an award-winning educational website and AI chatbot designed to help seniors identify common scams, after each experienced personal scam losses. The project, which won first place in the 2024 Fairfax Area Student Shark Tank Technology Challenge, has expanded into a nonprofit with 2,000 website views and users across 36 countries, featuring a scam identification quiz, educational blog, and student volunteer "cops" who present at retirement homes. The initiative addresses a critical problem: according to the FTC, consumers lost over
illawarramercury.com.au
· 2025-12-08
A former police officer turned private investigator in Australia estimates that romantic scams are significantly under-reported due to victims' shame and embarrassment, with her agency having contacted 25-30 victims who never reported losses through official channels. Her clients have lost between $100,000 and $500,000 each to romance scammers, with one 86-year-old man losing $200,000 in savings, while reported romance scam losses in Australia total approximately $200 million. She advises the public to watch for red flags including poor grammar, premature declarations of love, scripted conversations, and requests to keep the relationship secret—and to walk away if the person cannot meet in person
haveagonews.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Edith Cowan University researcher Dr. Oliver Guidetti developed the Fake Date Game, an educational simulation that teaches users to identify romance scammers on dating apps by analyzing animated conversations and predicting outcomes. Romance scams cost victims $40 million collectively in 2023 with over 480 reports to Scamwatch, and the game addresses this by teaching users to recognize manipulative tactics, respect boundaries, and engage in genuine interactions. Dr. Guidetti plans to expand the game into a smartphone app with diverse age and LGBTQ+ scenarios for use in educational settings and dating platforms to promote safer online dating.
bankinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
During a Senate hearing, Senator Richard Blumenthal revealed that Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo reimbursed only 38% of unauthorized Zelle transaction claims from 2021-2023, leaving consumers responsible for approximately $100 million in fraud losses, though the banks disputed these findings and claimed 100% reimbursement rates. The three largest banks collectively rejected scam disputes worth $560 million during this period and facilitate 73% of all Zelle transactions on the platform, which now handles $806 billion annually across 2,100 financial institutions. Bank representatives defended their fraud prevention efforts through technology and consumer education, while experts noted that
live5news.com
· 2025-12-08
Two separate lawsuits have been filed by Lowcountry senior citizens who lost thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency scams involving Bitcoin ATMs. In one Berkeley County case, a victim lost over $11,000 after scammers impersonating bank officials instructed them to withdraw savings and deposit them into a Bitcoin ATM; in another Dorchester County case, a couple nearly lost their entire savings through similar tactics. The plaintiffs are suing financial institutions and Bitcoin ATM operators for alleged negligence in failing to prevent or warn about these suspicious transactions, with scammers exploiting elderly victims' unfamiliarity with cryptocurrency technology.
inkl.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts based in Nigeria that were conducting sextortion scams, primarily targeting adult men in the US and some minors, with threats to expose private sexual content unless financial demands were met. The takedown included a network of 2,500 accounts managed by roughly 20 individuals, with most sextortion attempts being unsuccessful, though cases targeting minors were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Meta's crackdown follows multiple tragic incidents where sextortion victims died by suicide, and the company has since developed AI-powered protection tools and automated systems to identify and block sextortion accounts.
cbs12.com
· 2025-12-08
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office warned residents of a sophisticated remote access scam where victims contact what appears to be legitimate customer service for help with tech issues, only to be directed to download a VPN app that grants scammers full remote access to their phones and personal data. A local woman nearly fell victim to the scheme after being instructed by a fake customer service representative to download the malicious app, which exposed her personal information and photos to criminals.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian internet fraudster Marcel, a 26-year-old "Yahoo boy" based in Abuja, destroyed evidence by hiding his phone in a toilet pipe when Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials raided his apartment building in May following a tip-off about suspected cybercriminals in the area. Though officers searched his room and discovered his phone charger, they did not locate the hidden device, and Marcel was not arrested during the raid, though he admitted to using the phone for "bombing and grinding" (finding and defrauding online victims) for over two years.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing scams use text messages to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or calling scammer-operated numbers, often impersonating legitimate delivery services or popular companies to steal login credentials and personal information. These scams are cheap and effective for criminals, potentially leading to identity theft, financial loss, and malware installation on victims' devices. To protect yourself, avoid clicking unknown links, enable two-factor authentication, contact companies directly using verified numbers, and report suspicious texts to the FTC by forwarding to 7726.
picketfencemedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Assemblymember Laurie Davies hosted two senior scam awareness seminars in Oceanside and Vista that drew over 300 participants, highlighting that seniors in San Diego County lost $97.3 million to scams in 2023. The article outlines six common elder fraud schemes—including tech support, romance, grandparent, government impersonation, sweepstakes, and home repair scams—and advises seniors to verify suspicious calls directly with institutions, never share financial information over the phone, and report scams to local police to increase recovery chances and help law enforcement stop fraudsters.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
Eight major digital tech companies (Google, Meta, Yahoo, X, Snap, TikTok, Discord, and Twitch) have voluntarily adopted an Australian Online Scams Code to combat fraud while the government develops mandatory legislation, committing to verify advertisers, screen for suspicious content, and increase intelligence sharing with regulators. The code addresses growing scam losses, particularly social media scams which reached $95 million in reported losses in 2023—a 250% increase since 2020—with most fraud originating from WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and online dating platforms.
mugglehead.com
· 2025-12-08
Visa Inc. is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to combat fraud, preventing $40 billion in fraudulent activity from October 2022 to September 2023 by analyzing over 500 transaction attributes in real-time to detect enumeration attacks that cost the industry $1.1 billion annually. Simultaneously, cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging generative AI, voice cloning, and deepfakes to execute romance scams, investment scams, and pig butchering schemes that are more convincing than ever, with scammers able to clone voices from less than three seconds of audio to deceive victims and banking employees.
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
Connecticut police have warned consumers about "shimming," an evolved fraud technique where criminals insert paper-thin devices into chip card readers to steal payment information and PINs for fraudulent purchases. The Connecticut Better Business Bureau recommends protecting yourself by monitoring accounts regularly, using contactless payment methods like Apple Pay or tap-and-go features, being alert for card readers with unusual resistance, and using ATMs located inside banks rather than standalone machines.
wilx.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing scams use text messages to trick people into clicking malicious links or calling scammer numbers, often impersonating delivery services or well-known companies to steal login credentials and personal data. These scams can result in identity theft, financial loss, and malware installation on devices. To protect yourself, avoid clicking unknown links, enable two-factor authentication, contact companies directly using verified numbers, and report suspicious texts to the FTC by forwarding to 7726.
wcpo.com
· 2025-12-08
Following the global CrowdStrike outage, security experts warn that scammers are exploiting the incident by contacting people while impersonating tech support representatives and offering assistance with the problem. Tech support scams are particularly effective because they use fear tactics and fake pop-ups to pressure victims into buying gift cards or granting remote computer access, which allows criminals to steal personal information and financial data. To protect yourself, avoid calling numbers in pop-ups, ignore unsolicited contact about device problems, and report suspected scams to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.
independent.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Barclays reported a 139% increase in romance scam reports between March-April and May-June 2024, with scammers targeting victims through dating apps, websites, and social media. While men report romance scams more frequently, women lose significantly more money on average (£8,900 compared to £3,500 for men), and female reports increased 43% during the period studied. The bank advises verifying the identity of online romantic interests before sending money and emphasizes that victims should report scams without shame, as scammers use sophisticated tactics to build trust.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that children are increasingly vulnerable to online scams due to their inexperience and trust, with more than half of American children under 11 now owning smartphones. Common scams targeting kids include social media contests requesting personal information, deceptive free ringtone offers with hidden subscription fees, malware-infected video games, and webcam security breaches. The BBB recommends parents educate children about scams, establish internet safety rules, monitor downloads, use security software, and report suspected fraud to the BBB Scam Tracker or FTC.
gantnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, banks reported over $27 billion in suspicious elder fraud activity, with FBI reports indicating average losses exceeding $33,000 per case, driven partly by advanced AI technologies like voice cloning that enable realistic impersonation. Common scams targeting elders employ two main strategies: creating urgency (tech support, government imposter, grandparent scams) or offering attractive opportunities (investment, romance, lottery scams). Protective measures include pausing when rushed, verifying identities through independent channels before acting, avoiding nontraditional payment methods, and consulting trusted confidants about unusual requests.
euroweeklynews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old widower lost £85,000 in a romance scam after being introduced online to a woman named "Anita," who promised love and a shared future but proved to be a fabricated identity designed to exploit his emotions and finances. When Rodrick travelled to Kenya to meet his supposed soulmate, he discovered the deception, as Anita did not exist. Experts warn that romance scams targeting vulnerable, trusting individuals—particularly older adults—are increasing, and advise people to approach online relationships cautiously and never share personal or financial information quickly.
birminghammail.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Barclays reported a 139% year-on-year increase in romance scams from March-June 2024, with female victims losing significantly more money on average (£8,900) compared to male victims (£3,500), despite men representing the majority of romance scam reports. The scams typically originate on dating apps, social media, and dating websites, where perpetrators build trust before manipulating victims into sending money or personal information. The bank urged customers to verify the identity of new online contacts before transferring funds and emphasized the importance of reporting incidents without shame, as scammers use sophisticated tactics to exploit victims.
metro.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams peak during summer months, with a 139% increase in reported scam value from May to June compared to March to April, according to Barclays analysis. While men report romance scams more frequently, women lose significantly more money per incident—averaging £8,900 compared to men's £3,500—as scammers build trust to extract financial assistance. The bank also warns of wedding-related invoice scams and advises online daters to verify identities and be cautious of money requests from people they haven't met in person.
gbnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Barclays Bank warns of a sharp rise in romance scams, with a 139% increase in reported cases between March-June 2024 and losses reaching up to £9,000 per victim. While men report romance scams more frequently, women lose significantly more money on average (£8,900 vs. £3,500 for men), with female victims reporting a 43% increase in cases. The bank advises potential victims to verify the identity of online dating contacts before sending money, perform reverse image searches on profile photos, and seek advice from trusted contacts before transferring funds for urgent-sounding requests.
chroniclelive.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Barclays reported a 139% increase in romance scam reports comparing March-April to May-June 2024, with women losing significantly more money on average (£8,900 versus £3,500 for men), though men report these scams more frequently. The bank found that romance scams, where perpetrators build false relationships to extract money or personal information, frequently originate on dating apps, social media, and dating websites, with a 43% increase in reports from women during the peak period. Barclays urged potential daters to verify identities before transferring money and emphasized the importance of reporting scams without shame, while calling for industry-wide collaboration to prevent fraud.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Barclays bank reported a 139% increase in romance scam claims between March-April and May-June 2024, with a 43% rise specifically among female victims who lose an average of £8,900 compared to men's average loss of £3,500. While men report romance scams more frequently, the analysis found that men are more willing to send money to newly-met online contacts, and the bank urged people to verify identities before transferring funds, emphasizing that scammers use sophisticated tactics and victims should not feel ashamed to report incidents.
halesowennews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Barclays reported a 139% increase in romance scam claims between March-April and May-June 2024, with women losing an average of £8,900 compared to men's £3,500 per incident, despite men reporting scams more frequently. Romance scams involve fraudsters posing as romantic interests to manipulate victims into sending money or personal information, often originating on dating apps, social media, and dating websites. The bank advises people to never send money to unmet individuals, verify identities before transfers, and report suspected scams to their bank and Action Fraud.
unionleader.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 100,000 Americans fell victim to scams in the past year, with two-thirds being seniors; in New Hampshire alone, over 400 residents aged 60+ lost more than $11 million to scams in 2023. Seniors are targeted because they are often polite, trusting, financially stable, and own homes, making them attractive to scammers who use impersonation tactics (posing as bankers, government agents, IT experts, romantic partners, and relatives) and increasingly sophisticated online methods like phishing and email scams. Tech support scams were the most common type nationally, while romance and confidence scams caused the highest losses in New Hampshire
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A businessman in Muzaffarpur, Bihar lost Rs 89.9 lakh in a sophisticated impersonation scam where fraudsters posed as TRAI officials and police officers via phone and video call, claiming his number was linked to money laundering and that an arrest warrant had been issued. The scammers directed him to a fake Supreme Court website (http://www.main-scoi.in/) where he unknowingly entered his bank details, allowing them to steal the funds. The article advises avoiding unsolicited calls, never sharing sensitive information with unknown contacts, verifying suspicious claims directly with official sources, and remaining skeptical of video calls used to appear legitimate.
techtarget.com
· 2025-12-08
**Pig butchering** is a romance scam where fraudsters build false romantic or friendship relationships with victims, then convince them to invest in cryptocurrency on fake platforms controlled by the scammer, resulting in theft of the victim's money. In 2022, crypto scams caused $5.9 billion in losses. To avoid this scheme, people should be suspicious of unsolicited contact, promises of guaranteed high investment returns, fake investment apps on legitimate app stores, and should verify website legitimacy before investing.
english.hani.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers are using AI-generated deepfake voices to conduct voice phishing fraud, requiring only brief voice recordings (as little as 2-5 seconds) to impersonate victims and defraud their family members. Notable cases include a 2021 incident where a UAE bank was deceived into transferring $35 million based on a cloned executive's voice, and a 2022 case where a Canadian couple lost CA$21,000 to scammers using a deepfake of their son's voice. Experts advise people to avoid speaking during calls from unknown numbers, as even simple phrases like "hello" can provide sufficient audio samples for creating convincing frau
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A mechanical engineer from Visakhapatnam lost Rs 28 lakh to an organized romance scam gang operating from Telangana, who created fake dating profiles, built emotional trust, and manipulated the victim into transferring money while threatening to release compromising photos. The article advises protection strategies including identity verification through reverse image searches, caution against rapid relationship escalation, safeguarding personal information, recognizing red flags like money requests and avoided video calls, and reporting suspicious profiles to platforms and authorities.
standard.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Barclays Bank reported a 139% increase in romance scam reports between March-April and May-June 2024, with scammers posing as romantic interests to manipulate victims into sending money or personal information. While men report romance scams more frequently, women lose significantly more money on average (£8,900 versus £3,500 for men), and reports from female victims increased 43% during the period. The bank urged people to verify the identity of online romantic interests before sending money and emphasized that romance scams often originate on dating apps, social media, and websites.