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investx.fr
· 2026-09-29
Two men in Southern California used a card-swapping scheme at ATMs, memorizing victims' PINs and replacing their cards with duplicates during withdrawals, resulting in approximately $120,000 in losses across multiple counties with at least 30 documented incidents. Sergio Romero and Franklin Florez targeted at least five victims in Lemon Grove alone, with individual losses ranging from $100 to over $2,700, and two elderly victims led to elder fraud charges against Romero. Both men were identified through surveillance cameras and license plate readers; Romero faces charges including elder fraud, robbery, and identity theft, while Florez faces robbery, identity theft, and conspiracy charges.
punchng.com
· 2026-09-29
A Nigerian federal court ordered the permanent forfeiture of 431 mobile phones to the government that were seized from Chinese cyber-fraud operators and their accomplices. The phones were part of an elaborate international scam network operating in Lagos that conducted romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and investment swindles targeting victims in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe, with over N3.4 billion in fraud proceeds traced to the operation. A massive December 2024 sting operation arrested over 700 suspects involved in the scheme, including 148 Chinese nationals and 500 Nigerians, leading to convictions of the ringleader and his company on charges including cyber-terrorism and money laundering
wdio.com
· 2026-09-29
A fraud specialist at Park State Bank spoke at Duluth's Senior Go Show about three prevalent scams affecting the community: check fraud targeting rural customers through mail theft, romance scams that exploit the elderly by building trust before requesting money, and tech support scams using fake pop-ups to compromise bank information. In 2025, the Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 201,000 complaints totaling nearly $8 billion in losses, with the specialist emphasizing that scammers exploit urgency and AI sophistication to deceive people of all ages and intelligence levels. He advised victims and potential targets to pause before acting, verify requests by calling their bank or trusted contacts, and remember that legitimate financial matters rarely require immediate action
cbsnews.com
· 2026-09-29
This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or financial exploitation. It is a transcript of an interview between financial expert Jill Schlesinger and former NFL player Nate Burleson discussing his childhood, family values, and early financial decision-making regarding college scholarships. It does not contain information relevant to an elder fraud research database.
yonkerstimes.com
· 2026-09-28
An elderly Tarrytown resident was defrauded of approximately $29,000 through a sophisticated scheme in which scammers impersonated Apple's financial department, gained remote access to the victim's computer, and falsely claimed an erroneous $50,000 deposit required repayment in cash. Benny Cai was arrested on September 24, 2026, after receiving a second fraudulent payment from the victim and was found in possession of cocaine; investigators believe he is part of an organized group targeting elderly victims. Cai was charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a
wsbtv.com
· 2026-09-28
A suspect connected to a Georgia prison-based scam ring was arrested after a Florida woman lost $15,000 in Bitcoin in the scheme. The scam involved fraudsters operating from within a Georgia prison who targeted victims and convinced them to send cryptocurrency. This case highlights the growing problem of organized fraud operations being run from correctional facilities.
shockya.com
· 2026-09-28
FinCEN identified nearly $13 billion in illicit activity tied to a new China-linked money-laundering scheme that uses digital-asset guarantee marketplaces on Telegram to funnel drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cyber-fraud proceeds into U.S. banks by mimicking Mexican peso-credit structures. The overlay, exemplified by networks like the sanctioned Xinbi platform (which facilitated over $24 billion in illicit activity before relocating to Singapore), exploits regulatory gaps in AML oversight of cryptocurrency and cross-border transactions to move cartel cash through U.S. financial institutions with minimal detection. Major U.S. banks including JPMorgan and Citigroup have processed
kttn.com
· 2026-09-28
A Vietnamese national, Trung Nguyen Van, faces federal money laundering charges for his alleged role in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency fraud scheme that defrauded victims of millions of dollars. One victim alone transferred approximately $16 million in cryptocurrency between June and August 2024 after being deceived into believing funds were being invested through a platform called "Triangle," with investigators tracing over $53 million in cryptocurrency assets connected to wire fraud schemes targeting U.S. citizens passing through Van's wallets. Pig butchering scams typically begin with romance-focused contact through dating apps or social media, where scammers build trust before directing victims toward fraudulent cryptocurrency investment opportunities that appear profitable initially
fincrimecentral.com
· 2026-09-28
Vietnamese national Trung Nguyen Van, 37, was charged with money laundering in connection with a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scam that defrauded a victim of approximately $16 million between June and August 2024. Prosecutors allege Van received and laundered portions of victim funds through cryptocurrency wallets attributed to him, and attribute approximately $53.3 million in total receipts from schemes targeting U.S. citizens to wallets linked to him over nearly seven years. The scam involved building trust with victims through dating and social media before directing them to fake investment platforms where they could not withdraw their funds.
pymnts.com
· 2026-09-28
According to PYMNTS Intelligence research, scam victims exhibit varied payment timelines—63% pay within a day of contact, while 18% take at least two weeks—with romance scams averaging $27,587 in losses and investment scams averaging $14,225. FinCEN identified victims of digital asset and cryptocurrency scams liquidating savings accounts, investments, retirement accounts, and taking on debt to fund fraudulent payments, creating opportunities for banks to detect suspicious financial behavior. The research found that 11% of scam victims report their fraud to no one, rising to 40% among romance scam victims, indicating significant gaps in fraud reporting and awareness.
hindustantimes.com
· 2026-09-28
Romance scams are confidence tricks where criminals build emotional trust through fake online profiles over weeks or months, then request money after establishing dependence. These scams occur across dating apps and social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, targeting vulnerable individuals experiencing life changes such as divorce or loneliness, as well as financially literate professionals. Warning signs include constant messaging, avoidance of video calls, requests to move conversations to private channels, and elaborate excuses for why they cannot meet in person.
modernghana.com
· 2026-09-28
Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi (Abu Trica) has allegedly provided US investigators with eight names of people linked to laundering proceeds from a romance scam targeting over 80 elderly Americans of more than $8 million since 2023, though the claim remains unverified and disputed by his associates. Kumi was arrested in Ghana in December 2025 and extradited to face federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, with prosecutors alleging he and co-defendant Daniel Yussif used AI-driven video tools and fake personas to defraud victims. The broader investigation involves at least five Ghanaians accused of defrauding over 130
guardian.ng
· 2026-09-28
Access Bank launched a financial crime awareness campaign called "Spot the Scam" targeting Nigerian students to educate them on identifying and avoiding fraud schemes, which commonly include fake giveaways, job offers, celebrity impersonation, and investment scams. The campaign, running through December 2026, was prompted by concerns about young Nigerians' involvement in financial crimes, including a December 2024 incident where 792 young people were arrested for romance scams, hacking, and money laundering targeting overseas victims. The initiative includes nationwide financial education and a debate competition for secondary schools in Lagos State to help young people avoid becoming victims or perpetrators of financial crimes.
wabi.tv
· 2026-09-28
The Penobscot County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about scammers posing as law enforcement officials who call, text, or email demanding money and threatening arrest if payment is not made. These fraudsters impersonate sheriff's office or correctional facility staff to appear legitimate. Authorities emphasize that real law enforcement will never demand money or immediate payment by phone.
tovima.com
· 2026-09-27
Voice cloning scams are increasingly targeting families through deepfake technology, with scammers using just seconds of audio from social media to impersonate relatives and conduct virtual kidnapping schemes that pressure victims into sending money. Greek police reported a case where a 14-year-old was deceived by callers using a cloned recording of her father, and one in four Americans report receiving deepfake voice calls in the past year. Experts recommend families establish a "secret word" or phrase that only they know to verify identity during suspicious calls, combined with a backup plan to call or message the person back through verified contact information.
dailykos.com
· 2026-09-27
Across Southeast Asia, criminal networks operate compounds where trafficking victims are forced to run online scams, particularly "pig-butchering" investment schemes that manipulate victims into depositing money into fake trading platforms and cryptocurrency accounts. Traffickers lure people with false job promises, confiscate their passports, and use debt, threats, and violence to coerce workers into building fake relationships with targets and extracting billions of dollars, with victims like Indian engineer Mohammad Muzahir and Filipino mother Lily trapped in these facilities and subjected to physical abuse and fines for failing to meet quotas.
the420.in
· 2026-09-27
Global financial fraud losses reached approximately $442 billion in the last year, with organized criminal syndicates operating from Southeast Asia (particularly Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar) conducting sophisticated romance scams, cryptocurrency investment fraud, and other online financial crimes targeting victims worldwide. Interpol warns that these operations have evolved from regional networks into international criminal organizations employing thousands of people, causing not only massive financial losses but also leading victims to take their own lives and forcing businesses to close. The complexity of cross-border operations, use of cryptocurrency and digital platforms, and involvement of well-financed criminal networks have made enforcement efforts increasingly difficult for authorities.
malaymail.com
· 2026-09-27
Interpol warns that online romance and investment fraud linked to organized syndicates are draining billions from Asian economies, with global financial fraud losses estimated at $442 billion annually. Criminal networks operating from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar employ thousands to perpetrate scams including cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams via social media and dating apps, with Interpol's Operation Haechi uncovering $342 million in illicit funds and blocking 68,000 bank accounts across 40 countries.
newswire.lk
· 2026-09-27
Pakistani authorities arrested 212 people, including Chinese nationals, during raids on three illegal call centres in Islamabad that operated an international fraud network targeting victims in Pakistan and overseas. The scams included impersonating Google representatives, fake online task schemes, and romance scams, with investigators seizing over 300 mobile phones and nearly 400 computers and related equipment. Authorities are investigating financial links and potential connections to similar operations in India and Brazil.
tribune.net.ph
· 2026-09-27
The National Capital Region Police Office arrested two individuals in Pasay City for an alleged romance scam that exploited emotional manipulation and trust to extort money from victims. Police officials warned the public to be cautious of financial schemes using romantic relationships, emotional appeals, and unverified identities, and urged victims to report fraud immediately through the 911 hotline rather than remain silent out of embarrassment.
thestar.com.my
· 2026-09-27
Interpol warns that online financial fraud and romance scams linked to organized criminal syndicates are threatening Asian economies, with millions of dollars lost daily worldwide. Criminal networks operating from Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar use social media and dating apps to defraud vulnerable victims globally, with Interpol's 2023 assessment estimating US$442 billion in worldwide financial fraud losses annually. Operation Haechi (April-August 2023) uncovered US$342 million in illicit funds and blocked 68,000 bank accounts across 40 countries, targeting investment fraud, romance scams, voice phishing, and money laundering schemes.
jpost.com
· 2026-09-27
Pakistani authorities arrested 212 people, including Chinese nationals, in raids on three illegal call centers in Islamabad that allegedly ran international fraud schemes using tactics such as impersonating Google representatives, tasking fraud, and romance scams targeting victims in Pakistan and abroad. Investigators recovered 306 mobile phones, 383 computers, and 299 monitors and laptops, with ongoing investigations revealing possible links to fraud networks in India and Brazil. The operation is part of a broader crackdown on illegal call centers in Pakistan, following similar arrests in July 2025 (149 people in Faisalabad) and August 2026 (258 and 114 foreigners in separate Islamabad operations).
vietnam.vn
· 2026-09-27
Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi, founder of Prince Group, has been indicted by the US Department of Justice for operating forced labor camps in Cambodia that conducted "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scams, defrauding billions of dollars from victims worldwide. The scheme involved contacting victims via text and social media with false investment promises, stealing their cryptocurrency, and laundering proceeds through gambling and crypto mining. Federal prosecutors are simultaneously seeking to seize approximately 127,271 Bitcoin (valued at $15 billion) as illicit gains—the largest asset seizure in DOJ history—with Chen currently at large.
cryptorank.io
· 2026-09-27
A 37-year-old Vietnamese national, Trung Nguyen Van, has been charged with money laundering after wallets linked to him received approximately $53.3 million from "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, including one U.S. victim who lost roughly $16 million in summer 2024. Pig butchering schemes involve scammers building trust with victims over time before directing them to fake investment platforms, with cryptocurrency enabling rapid cross-border fund transfers that leave blockchain traces helpful for investigation but difficult for recovery. The case demonstrates how crypto fraud networks have become increasingly industrialized, though blockchain records can provide investigators with transaction trails even as funds move through multiple wallets and exchanges before authorities interv
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-26
Many brokerages offer view-only account access and trusted contact designations that allow adult children to monitor aging parents' financial accounts for signs of fraud or exploitation without controlling them directly. However, visibility alone is insufficient protection; a power of attorney document is needed to grant the legal authority to actually intervene when suspicious transactions are detected. Financial institutions like Fidelity and Charles Schwab enable this monitoring in real time, helping families catch potential elder fraud before significant savings are lost.
247wallst.com
· 2026-09-26
The article discusses how adult children can monitor their aging parents' brokerage accounts to detect elder fraud by using view-only access settings offered by major financial institutions like Fidelity and Charles Schwab. This monitoring tool allows family members to see account statements and transactions in real time without taking control away from their parents, while additional safeguards like trusted contact designations and powers of attorney provide additional layers of protection. Elder fraud can silently drain retirement savings, particularly affecting seniors aged 62 and older who may fall victim to sophisticated phone scams or unauthorized withdrawals.
hoodline.com
· 2026-09-26
Oklahoma has enacted Senate Bill 2067, which takes effect in November and grants banks and credit unions legal immunity to freeze suspicious transactions and report suspected elder exploitation to authorities. The law addresses a growing crisis in which Oklahoma seniors lost $53.3 million to financial scams in 2025, including $24 million from investment fraud alone, representing a 32% increase in elderly victims year-over-year. The measure removes previous legal barriers that prevented financial institutions from alerting law enforcement and Adult Protective Services to potential fraud without risking privacy lawsuits or regulatory penalties.
watfordcitynd.com
· 2026-09-26
Americans over age 60 filed more than 201,000 internet-crime complaints in 2025 with losses exceeding $7.7 billion, representing a 37% increase in complaints and 59% increase in losses compared to 2024, with average losses of $38,000 per victim. Scammers target seniors through various schemes including grandparent scams, fake law enforcement calls, technical support fraud, and romance scams, often manipulating caller ID and using urgency to prevent victims from verifying requests. North Dakota residents and authorities have reported increasing incidents of these fraud schemes, and law enforcement urges families to establish safeguards and teach seniors that legitimate government agencies will never demand immediate
crowdfundinsider.com
· 2026-09-26
A Vietnamese national, Trung Nguyen Van, has been charged with money laundering for allegedly moving over $53 million in stolen cryptocurrency from pig-butchering romance scams between February 2018 and December 2024. In one documented case, a victim lost approximately $16 million after being lured to a fake investment platform called "Triangle," with Van accused of quickly funneling nearly $568,000 of those proceeds into private, untraceable wallets. The case highlights how cryptocurrency enables rapid movement of stolen funds outside regulated exchanges, making recovery difficult for victims who have lost billions globally to this increasingly sophisticated fraud scheme.
news.bitcoin.com
· 2026-09-26
A Vietnamese national was charged with money laundering in connection with a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded one victim of approximately $16 million between June and August 2024, with investigators tracing transfers through his digital wallets. The suspect's accounts received an estimated $53.3 million in cryptocurrency tied to wire fraud schemes targeting Americans between February 2018 and December 2024, which was then moved off the blockchain to conceal its origin. Pig butchering schemes manipulate victims by establishing fake romantic relationships online before directing them to fraudulent crypto investment platforms where they are encouraged to deposit increasingly larger sums based on fabricated returns.
berkshireeagle.com
· 2026-09-26
This article discusses how scam victimization results from both criminal activity ("homicide") and victims' own vulnerabilities ("suicide"), identifying three key factors that make people susceptible to fraud: hardwired behaviors like automatic compliance, curiosity triggered by clickbait, and emotional distortion that clouds judgment. The author recommends combating scams through financial monitoring, software updates, and adopting protective behaviors such as slowing down and questioning requests from unknown sources.
ursinusgrizzly.com
· 2026-09-26
Collegeville, Pennsylvania currently does not use Flock license plate reader cameras, though the police department uses other types of LPR technology that have helped locate stolen vehicles, find missing elderly drivers, and identify suspects in crimes including jewelry store burglaries, robberies, and fraud cases. Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering legislative measures to regulate LPRs with safeguards for data privacy and civil liberties, and Collegeville officials have indicated that Flock cameras may be considered for future implementation in the area.
cryptonews.net
· 2026-09-26
Vietnamese national Trung Nguyen Van was charged with laundering approximately $53 million in cryptocurrency stolen from U.S. victims through romance scams between February 2018 and December 2024. The scams typically began on dating apps, social media, or text messages, with fraudsters gaining victims' trust before directing them to fake investment platforms like "Triangle" that displayed fabricated profits to encourage additional deposits. One Missouri victim alone lost about $16 million between June and August 2024, with investigators tracing Van's movement of stolen funds through various cryptocurrency wallets to conceal their illegal origins.
wbng.com
· 2026-09-26
Pennsylvania State Police are warning of a nationwide organized fraud scheme where scammers pose as federal agents, convincing victims their identities and bank accounts are involved in criminal investigations and directing them to purchase gold or withdraw cash to hand over to couriers. The scheme has stolen approximately $6.5 million from victims across multiple states, with two suspected couriers arrested in Pennsylvania in September. Authorities urge potential victims who were contacted during August or September to report the scam, emphasizing that legitimate law enforcement never directs people to buy gold or surrender assets to couriers.
wired.com
· 2026-09-26
Despite the rise of AI-powered digital fraud, old-school credit card scams remain costly threats worldwide, including fake replacement cards mailed to victims in Europe that direct them to fraudulent banking websites, and magnetic stripe skimming targeting government EBT debit cards in the United States. The US Attorney's Office recently indicted two Romanian nationals for EBT card skimming, while overall skimmer fraud causes over $1 billion in annual losses in the US alone, with scammers continuing to exploit outdated magnetic stripe technology because it remains profitable and vulnerable.
lex18.com
· 2026-09-26
Kentucky residents lost nearly $6.5 million to phone and text scams in 2025, with over 300 million robocalls placed in the state, according to Attorney General Russell Coleman's office. Scammers commonly use caller ID spoofing and AI voice cloning to impersonate law enforcement and create panic, with one documented case involving a woman losing her entire $128,000 life savings to a single call. Coleman and 49 other state attorneys general are urging the FCC to strengthen protections like STIR/SHAKEN protocols and implement stricter upstream provider monitoring to combat the escalating robocall threat.
pa.gov
· 2026-09-26
Scammers impersonating federal law enforcement officials have defrauded victims across multiple states of approximately $6.5 million through a scheme involving fake pop-up alerts claiming compromised identities, then directing victims to purchase gold bars or coins and hand them over to couriers. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the organized fraud ring and have identified a silver 2025 Honda Accord used in the scheme, with two suspects arrested in September 2026. Authorities warn that legitimate law enforcement will never instruct people to purchase gold or transfer cash or precious metals to couriers.
klin.com
· 2026-09-26
Two victims in Lincoln lost nearly $3,000 to scammers impersonating jail officials who demanded payment via digital payment apps, targeting both a recently released inmate told he had active warrants and a grandmother pressured to pay for her grandson's house arrest. Lincoln Police warn that Lancaster County Corrections never requests payments by phone, email, or text, and legitimate payments are made only in-person or through the official Access Corrections website.
newsbug.info
· 2026-09-26
The federal government loses between $116 billion and $304 billion annually to tax fraud, according to a Government Accountability Office report that found the IRS lacks an agency-wide anti-fraud strategy. The case of Carl Delano Torjagbo, who fraudulently claimed $3.3 million in tax refunds using false identities and spent proceeds on luxury items, exemplifies vulnerabilities in the system. GAO recommended the IRS develop a comprehensive anti-fraud strategy and designate a central entity to coordinate fraud risk management, though the IRS only partially agreed to these recommendations.
tradingview.com
· 2026-09-26
A 37-year-old Vietnamese national, Trung Nguyen Van, has been charged with money laundering after cryptocurrency wallets under his control received over $53 million linked to "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters cultivate relationships with victims before directing them to fake investment platforms. One victim alone lost approximately $16 million after being deceived into transferring crypto through a fraudulent platform called Triangle. The case demonstrates how cryptocurrency enables rapid cross-border movement of fraud proceeds while simultaneously leaving blockchain records that investigators can use to trace the illicit funds.
financefeeds.com
· 2026-09-26
The U.S. Department of Justice charged a Vietnamese national with operating a cryptocurrency investment scam that defrauded victims of at least $16 million between June and August 2024, with investigators tracing over $53 million in total fraudulent crypto assets flowing through wallets linked to the suspect since 2018. Victims were lured through online relationships to invest in fake trading platforms offering high returns, but were unable to withdraw their funds once deposited. The case highlights the sophisticated nature of relationship-based crypto investment fraud schemes that have caused billions in global losses, though prosecutors have not yet seized or frozen the identified $53 million in assets.
cryptonews.net
· 2026-09-26
Vietnamese national Trung Nguyen Van, 37, was charged with money laundering after allegedly orchestrating a "pig butchering" romance scam that defrauded victims of approximately $16 million in cryptocurrency between June and August 2024, with investigators identifying over $53.3 million flowing through his wallets between 2018 and 2024 from wire fraud schemes targeting Americans. In the primary case, a victim was lured into a fake crypto investment platform called "Triangle" through an online relationship and wired $16 million in cryptocurrency after being shown fabricated returns. Van allegedly received over $569,000 from a single victim transfer and subsequently moved the funds through multiple wallets
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-26
A North Carolina woman lost approximately $600,000 to a pig-butchering scam where she built a relationship with a fraudster online before sending him money from her retirement account. After discovering the fraud, she faced an additional $225,000 tax bill from the IRS for the withdrawn retirement funds, forcing her to file for bankruptcy. A bipartisan bill called the Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act, which would restore tax deductions for fraud victims lost in 2017 tax law changes, recently passed the House and awaits Senate action.
press-herald.com
· 2026-09-25
Webster Parish residents are reporting scams to authorities three to four times weekly, with scammers increasingly using sophisticated tactics including spoofing the Sheriff's Office phone number and impersonating law enforcement to solicit bail payments for arrested relatives. One notable case involved a local businessman losing nearly $500,000 in a fake Bitcoin investment scheme, while romance scams remain prevalent among older adults, with perpetrators sometimes spending months building trust before requesting money. Officials emphasized that skepticism, independent verification of requests, and consulting trusted contacts are critical defenses against these evolving scams, which are often perpetrated by overseas criminals.
aol.com
· 2026-09-25
A 70-year-old Michigan woman lost over $270,000 after a scammer impersonating an FTC agent threatened her with arrest for money laundering and drug trafficking. Believing the false charges, she initially purchased gold and later cashed out her own and her late husband's pension accounts to pay the fraudster, who was eventually arrested after she reported the crime to police. This case exemplifies a common government impersonation scam targeting seniors, who collectively lost $7.7 billion to fraud in 2025.
itweb.africa
· 2026-09-25
Cryptocurrency-enabled financial crimes in Africa are moving faster than law enforcement can respond, with illicit funds crossing borders in minutes while legal processes take months, according to Chainalysis data showing $17 billion stolen through crypto scams in 2025. Criminal networks are using shared infrastructure across multiple jurisdictions to launder proceeds from romance scams, investment fraud, trafficking, and other crimes, with AI-enhanced scams proving 4.5 times more profitable than traditional fraud. African agencies are urged to implement real-time fraud detection systems and increase cross-border cooperation, as demonstrated by a Ghana case where coordinated international effort froze approximately $15.1 million in illicit crypto assets.
foxbusiness.com
· 2026-09-25
Hackers physically stole a Flock Safety license-plate camera and reverse-engineered it, recovering approximately 1.6 million images, 50,200 vehicle records, and 27,000 video clips covering about 21 days of activity. A former Secret Service cybercrime expert clarified that while the stolen device was compromised, Flock's broader cloud network was not breached, characterizing the incident as an isolated physical theft rather than a systemic security vulnerability.
crypto-economy.com
· 2026-09-25
A 37-year-old Vietnamese national, Trung Nguyen Van, faces federal money laundering charges for his alleged role in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded a victim of $16 million in summer 2024. The scheme involved fraudulent investment platforms like "Triangle" that displayed fake account balances and capital gains to lure victims into depositing funds, then blocked withdrawal access. FBI investigators linked Van's wallets to approximately $53.28 million in wire fraud losses collected between February 2018 and December 2024, indicating involvement in a transnational criminal network based in Southeast Asia targeting multiple victims.
cryptotimes.io
· 2026-09-25
A 37-year-old Vietnamese man, Trung Nguyen Van, was charged with money laundering for his alleged role in a cryptocurrency pig-butchering scam that defrauded at least one victim of approximately $16 million between June and August 2024. Investigators traced the victim's funds through multiple crypto wallets and found that Van's accounts received about $53.28 million in cryptocurrency connected to wire fraud schemes targeting U.S. citizens from February 2018 to December 2024. Pig-butchering scams typically begin with online contact through dating apps or social media, where scammers build trust before directing victims to fake investment platforms that prevent withdrawal of funds
cryptorank.io
· 2026-09-25
Vietnamese national Trung Nguyen Van was charged by federal prosecutors with laundering approximately $53 million in cryptocurrency stolen from U.S. victims through romance scams, with one Missouri victim losing $16 million between June and August 2024 after being directed to a fake crypto investment platform called Triangle. Investigators traced over $569,000 of the victim's stolen funds to a digital wallet linked to Van, who allegedly moved the proceeds through crypto investments to conceal their source.