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KVUE
· 2024-10-21
Bait-and-switch scams on social media use emotional posts (hospital photos, crying children, mug shots, animals in distress) shared in community groups to gain likes and shares; once the post gains traction, scammers edit it to embed malicious links requesting donations or personal information. To protect yourself, verify information directly with local law enforcement, check if the original poster account appears fake, and avoid clicking links in widely-shared posts, as the high number of shares can create a false sense of legitimacy.
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Arizona’s Family (3TV / CBS 5)
· 2024-10-30
Impostor scams are intensifying as the holiday season approaches, with scammers posing as trusted entities like banks to steal money through deceptive tactics. A common scheme involves fraudsters calling or texting victims claiming fraudulent card activity, then convincing them to hand over debit cards to supposed bank representatives or mail cards to fraudulent addresses. Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to enhance their deception tactics, making these scams more sophisticated and harder to detect.
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CNBC-TV18
· 2024-10-31
Online trading scams have swept across India, affecting unsuspecting investors lured by social media ads and messaging apps that promise huge profits, resulting in losses exceeding 1,400 crore rupees. Scammers use fake photos of stock market experts and fake news articles to build trust, then direct victims to unregistered trading apps where they deposit funds that are never actually invested—instead, scammers show fake profits in the app wallet before eventually disappearing with the money. To protect themselves, investors should verify that trading apps are registered with SEBBI (the stock market regulator) and be wary of "insider tips" offered through social media and messaging groups.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2024-11-13
Three Nigerian men in their 40s were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating romance and investment scams that targeted victims across America from 2017 to 2021, including a Western Tennessee resident who lost $400,000. The perpetrators used fake identities on social media and dating sites, posing as romantic partners and repeatedly requesting emergency financial assistance from victims. Law enforcement urges scam victims to report incidents to police, as victims of romance scams often face additional risks including identity theft when they unknowingly share personal information with fraudsters.
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TheStreet
· 2024-11-19
Cryptocurrency and other online scams targeting Americans aged 60 and older reached alarming levels, with the number of seniors defrauded of $100,000 or more tripling between 2020 and 2023. The FTC reported $1.9 billion in confirmed fraud losses for this age group in 2023, though estimates suggest the actual figure may reach $62 billion when accounting for unreported cases. Common scams include romance schemes, impersonation of family members or government agencies like Social Security, lottery schemes, and cryptocurrency investment fraud.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2024-11-26
Scammers are increasingly using AI-powered tools including deepfake videos and synthetic voice technology to impersonate celebrities and trusted figures in order to defraud seniors, particularly during the vulnerable holiday season. Law enforcement agencies across multiple states report a widespread epidemic of elder fraud, with a recent case in Texas involving a scammer using deepfake video calls to steal $600,000 from a senior victim. These AI manipulation tools make it easier than ever for fraudsters to deceive vulnerable populations by creating convincing impersonations that are difficult to distinguish from authentic communications.
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FOX31 Denver
· 2024-11-27
A Denver man lost thousands of dollars after scammers gained access to his Venmo account by using a phishing email to change his password, exploiting his recent grief over his father's death. The hackers transferred funds from his linked checking account before he regained access, and while PayPal later confirmed the breach and pledged to make things right, the incident highlights vulnerabilities across cash transfer apps including Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App. Experts recommend users enable two-factor authentication, transfer money to bank accounts promptly, change passwords regularly, and remain vigilant against common scams like "paid by mistake" schemes and pyramid schemes on these platforms.
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12NewsNow
· 2024-12-03
The FBI warned the public about an increase in holiday season scams, including cryptocurrency investment schemes, tech support fraud, social media scams with fake contests, and charity scams targeting older adults. According to FBI official Connor Hagen, seniors are particularly vulnerable during the holidays when they are more likely to give gifts and donate to charities, though scammers also target younger people through social media ads and fake contests. Victims are advised to contact local law enforcement if they believe they have been defrauded.
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WPLG Local 10
· 2024-12-04
The FBI Miami issued a holiday season warning about the rise of online scams, which increased 22% between 2022 and 2023, with South Florida's online investment fraud losses jumping from $12 million to $300 million. Elderly individuals are particularly targeted for romance fraud, tech support fraud, and impersonation schemes, with AI increasingly used to facilitate scams; charity fraud also peaks during the holidays. The agency advises consumers to be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, as billions of dollars are lost annually to fraud schemes nationwide.
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CBC News
· 2024-12-06
Vietnamese billionaire Truong My Lan was sentenced to death for orchestrating one of the world's largest bank fraud schemes, in which she siphoned approximately $17 billion CAD (12 billion dong) from the Saigon Commercial Bank. However, Vietnamese law allows her to commute her death sentence to life imprisonment if she can repay 75% of the stolen funds, giving her a financial pathway to avoid execution.
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CBS Chicago
· 2024-12-09
Social media has become the leading platform for scams, with fraudsters generating $2.7 billion in reported losses since 2021—surpassing losses from texts, phone calls, and emails. Common social media scams include fake advertisements on Instagram and other platforms, which scammers exploit during peak shopping periods like the holidays by creating fraudulent accounts and websites to steal money and personal information from victims.
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KCENNews
· 2024-12-15
**Summary:**
"Secret Sister" and similar social media gift exchanges are pyramid schemes where participants send one gift expecting to receive multiple gifts in return. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service considers these exchanges a form of gambling and mail fraud, and participants risk fines, lawsuits, or criminal charges.
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KTVB
· 2024-12-16
"Don't Click December" is an awareness campaign aimed at protecting consumers from online fraud during the holiday shopping season, when scammers exploit increased internet usage for gift purchases and charitable donations. U.S. Attorney Josh Hert advises consumers to be cautious of suspicious emails, text messages, and popups that use fear tactics to trick people into clicking malicious links or providing personal information.
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TV360 Nigeria
· 2024-12-17
In a major enforcement operation in Lagos, Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested 792 suspects involved in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams, including 148 Chinese nationals and citizens from the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The foreign perpetrators operated from a facility disguised as a corporate office, where they trained Nigerian accomplices using scripts to conduct romance and investment fraud schemes while using the Nigerians' identities to carry out the crimes.
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WION
· 2024-12-17
Nigerian authorities arrested 792 suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, in a raid on a luxury office building in Lagos operating as a cryptocurrency romance scam hub. The operation targeted victims primarily from America and Europe through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, using fake romantic relationships to lure people into fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes. The EFCC seized computers, phones, and vehicles during the raid and is collaborating with international partners to investigate further links to organized crime.
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Scripps News
· 2024-12-22
In 2024, scammers are targeting all demographics with increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, as reported losses reached $10 billion—the highest annual total on record. The most common scams include impostor schemes, online shopping fraud, fake job opportunities, and investment scams, with 80% of investment scam victims losing money. The piece highlights how scammers exploit personal information and worst fears, noting that artificial intelligence is making these schemes even more difficult to detect and avoid.
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CNN-News18
· 2024-12-26
Cyber crimes in India surged dramatically in 2024, with the tech-driven region of Hyderabad experiencing a 64% rise in overall crime and an 882% increase in digital arrest scams, reaching losses of 80 crores compared to 6.2 crores the previous year. Cyber fraud cases accounted for 11,900 incidents (23% of all crimes in the region), with citizens losing over 700 crores to fraudsters through job scams, trading frauds, and SMS phishing schemes. The segment emphasizes the importance of avoiding calls from unidentified numbers and highlights ongoing efforts to combat the escalating digital crime problem across the nation.
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WCPO 9
· 2024-12-31
In 2025, the most common scams targeting everyone include impostor scams (posing as banks), online shopping fraud, fake job opportunities, and investment schemes, with reported losses reaching $10 billion in the most recent year. A woman lost nearly $10,000 to a banking impostor scam, while others have fallen victim to work-from-home scams involving fraudulent check deposits. Artificial intelligence is making these scams increasingly difficult to detect, and individuals should be more cautious about sharing personally identifiable information like names and addresses.
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ABC11
· 2025-01-01
**Summary:**
Experts warn that scammers are increasingly using generative AI in 2025 to create more realistic fraudulent websites, deepfake videos and audio, and fake social media content, making scams harder to detect. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, consumers lost over $1 trillion to scams in 2024, and the FBI has issued alerts about criminals exploiting AI to commit fraud at larger scales and increase the believability of their schemes. Consumers are advised to remain vigilant in protecting their money and personal information as scam tactics continue to evolve.
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PBS NewsHour
· 2025-01-04
Pig-butchering investment scams have cost victims worldwide an estimated $75 billion over the past four years, with Americans alone losing $4.6 billion in 2023, through fake romantic relationships that manipulate targets into investing in cryptocurrency on fraudulent platforms. The scams typically begin with a wrong-number text leading to conversation with a fake attractive persona who builds trust over 90 days before pressuring victims to invest increasingly large sums until they lose their life savings. Beyond the financial victims, the scammers themselves are often human trafficking victims forced by Asian organized crime syndicates (primarily Chinese, but including Yakuza and Korean groups) operating from compound cities built specifically to run these
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WGN News
· 2025-01-07
The Better Business Bureau released its top 10 local scams of 2024, with online purchases through fake websites ranking as the #1 threat, followed by phishing scams, employment scams, debt collection scams, and social media shopping scams involving counterfeit products. Consumers are advised to verify companies through the BBB before providing personal or financial information, avoid clicking suspicious links in emails or social media ads, be wary of unsolicited urgent requests, and recognize that legitimate debt collectors must notify in writing before taking action.
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Irish Independent
· 2025-01-14
Romance scams (also called "pig butchering") are surging in Ireland, primarily targeting middle-aged women through dating apps where scammers build emotional relationships over time before requesting money for bills, fees, and expenses. Detective Superintendent Michael Crry of Ireland's National Economic Crime Bureau explains that these online fraud schemes rely on social engineering, manipulation, and exploitation, with recent arrests highlighting law enforcement efforts to combat the crime, which is particularly prevalent during vulnerable winter months when people seek connection.
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KOMO News
· 2025-01-28
An elderly man from Shoreline lost $435,000 in a home repair scam perpetrated by brothers Patrick and Matthew McDonna, who used high-pressure tactics and false claims about roof and foundation damage to convince him to pay for materials they never purchased. The suspects, who targeted multiple victims across the Northwest, are now in federal prison, and the victim's family hopes sharing his story will warn others about this common construction scam.
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WKRN News 2
· 2025-02-06
Romance scams rank among the top 10 most perpetrated scams in the U.S., with individual losses increasing dramatically from $1,600 in 2021 to nearly $4,000 in recent years. Scammers create false profiles on dating apps to build emotional connections and exploit victims financially. Red flags include attempts to move communication off the app to unmonitored platforms, which allows scammers greater freedom to manipulate targets.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2025-02-06
Romance scams are prevalent and increasingly sophisticated, with the Better Business Bureau reporting a median loss of $6,000 per victim. Scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and social media to build trust over weeks or months before requesting money or pushing cryptocurrency investment schemes, and they now use AI to generate realistic photos and communicate with multiple victims simultaneously. To protect yourself, verify profile photos using reverse image search, trust your instincts if something seems too good to be true, independently research any investment opportunities, and avoid clicking links or sharing financial information provided by potential romantic contacts.
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Eyewitness News ABC7NY
· 2025-02-07
Romance scammers are targeting people seeking relationships online, with the FTC reporting these scams cost Americans $1.3 billion annually. Scammers employ "love bombing" tactics, building emotional connections over months or even a year before requesting money, increasingly through cryptocurrency to remain untraceable. One Connecticut woman lost nearly $1 million to this type of fraud.
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News 3 Las Vegas
· 2025-02-11
Federal agencies launched a "Dating or Defrauding" awareness campaign ahead of Valentine's Day to warn Americans about online romance scams involving fake dating profiles, fraudulent apps, and unsolicited text messages. Scammers build romantic relationships with victims and then convince them to invest money or trade cryptocurrency, claiming they can generate significant returns. The multi-agency initiative advises Americans never to send money or invest with people known only online.
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CBS Mornings
· 2025-02-11
Relationship investment scams, known as "pig butchering," are sweeping the nation by targeting people seeking romance on dating apps and social media. Sophisticated criminals use fake profiles, AI-generated images, and fabricated romantic connections to persuade victims to invest money in fraudulent business opportunities, resulting in nearly $159 billion in losses in 2023 alone according to one estimate. Federal agencies including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are partnering with state and nonprofit organizations to warn the public about this growing threat.
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WTKR News 3
· 2025-02-11
Relationship investment scams, a growing problem identified by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, involve perpetrators using dating apps, social media, and random texts to build romantic connections with victims before soliciting investment money. Scammers use fake profiles and voices to establish trust, then promise investment returns, showing fake websites displaying huge profits to convince victims to withdraw and send their savings. Victims should consult trusted contacts if they suspect they are being victimized and can report scams to the CFTC.
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NBC News
· 2025-02-15
**Romance Scams Using Cryptocurrency on the Rise**
Scammers, often from Southeast Asian crime syndicates, are perpetrating "pig butchering" romance fraud schemes where they pose as romantic interests online and manipulate victims into fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities. One victim, Barry May from Mississippi, lost $500,000 of his life savings after being deceived by a scammer posing as a woman named Anna who promised investment returns and marriage. According to a Wall Street Watchdog report, these cryptocurrency-based scams result in untraceable fund transfers that leave victims with irreplaceable financial losses.
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PBS NewsHour
· 2025-02-16
Online romance scams target victims across all demographics through psychological manipulation, with perpetrators using fake profiles to convince people to invest money, often via cryptocurrency. Investigative reporter Cezary Podkul notes that victims have lost billions of dollars annually, with some individuals losing over $1 million, and that many scam operations are run by Chinese cybercriminal gangs that recruit trafficked individuals. To protect oneself, people should watch for red flags like unsolicited contact offering investments, seek second opinions from trusted friends, and report suspected scams immediately to local police, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the U.S. Secret Service to aid law enforcement in tracing funds and identifying additional
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KTVH Helena
· 2025-02-19
Susan Hall Skinner, a former Capitol High cheer coach and property manager at Pheasant Glenn (a low-income senior housing complex), was sentenced to 5 years in detention plus 5 years suspended for embezzlement and exploitation of elderly residents. Skinner took cash rent payments from tenants without crediting their accounts and fraudulently applied for emergency rental assistance benefits on their behalf without consent, resulting in $71,000 in restitution ordered (with $40,000 paid at sentencing).
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KPAX-TV
· 2025-02-20
Susan Hall Skinner, a former Capitol High cheer coach and property manager at Pheasant Glenn (a low-income senior housing community in Montana), was sentenced to 5 years in custody plus 5 years suspended for felony embezzlement and elderly exploitation. She stole cash rent payments from residents without crediting their accounts and fraudulently applied for emergency rental assistance benefits on their behalf without consent, resulting in $71,000 in restitution ordered (with $40,000 paid at sentencing).
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CNBC Television
· 2025-02-24
Crypto-related scams generated nearly $10 billion in fraudulent revenue in 2024, with pig butchering scams surging 40% and representing 33.2% of overall crypto fraud schemes. Pig butchering scams involve fraudsters building trust with victims through romance or investment schemes before directing them to fake platforms to steal cryptocurrency funds. The surge is driven by increased professionalization of scam operations, easier access to sophisticated tools, and state actors using cryptocurrency to evade sanctions.
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THV11
· 2025-02-27
The FBI's Little Rock office is warning the public about a significant rise in cryptocurrency investment fraud, which they identify as the largest and most costly scam currently operating. Scammers use online platforms to build relationships with victims and convince them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes, exploiting the growing popularity and public unfamiliarity with digital currencies. The FBI has launched "Operation Level Up" to combat this fraud and educate consumers before they become victims.
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CTV News
· 2025-02-27
An Airdrie woman and an Ontario man fell victim to an investment scam impersonating PC Financial, losing $233,000 and $750,000 respectively. The victims were directed to fraudulent websites mimicking PC Financial and contacted by scammers posing as employees, who offered attractive GIC rates and provided convincing documentation before the victims transferred their money. PC Financial subsequently issued a warning clarifying that they do not sell GICs through phone, email, or in-person contact.
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News Channel 3-12
· 2025-02-28
Craig Case, a former private investigator and TV host, was found guilty on 63 of 64 charges in a Montecito elder fraud case, including conspiracy, theft from an elder, identity theft, and money laundering totaling over $690,000. The victim was Constance McCormick Fearing, an elderly Montecito resident, with accomplice Nancy Coger (who held power of attorney and had already pleaded guilty) facilitating the scheme. Case has been in custody since July 2023, and sentencing will be determined after the jury considers aggravating factors.
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CTV News
· 2025-03-01
March marks Fraud Prevention Month across Canada, during which law enforcement and community groups collaborate to educate the public about fraud prevention. According to Edmonton police and the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association, current fraud trends include investment fraud, online employment scams, and romance fraud, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated in targeting both money and personal identity. Key prevention advice includes being skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true and verifying whether you initiated contact with the person or organization reaching out.
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National Geographic
· 2025-03-02
Investigative journalist Mariana Van Zeller explores cryptocurrency "rug pull" scams, where fraudsters create fake crypto tokens to steal investor money—a scheme that victimized people of nearly $3 billion in 2021 alone. The episode follows Van Zeller's investigation into young, wealthy scammers who exploit cryptocurrency's unregulated decentralized finance space, and features interviews with victims like Xavier, who lost money across multiple rug pull schemes with no recourse in the largely lawless crypto market.
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CBS4 Indy
· 2025-03-04
A cybersecurity survey reveals that many Americans are overconfident in their ability to avoid online scams, with over a third believing victimization only occurs from oversharing and nearly half thinking misspellings easily identify scams—misconceptions that no longer hold true as scammers increasingly sophisticate their tactics. Despite 75% of respondents agreeing scams should be reported, actual reporting rates are significantly lower, dropping to 14% for romance scams, while seniors remain the most targeted demographic though younger age groups are experiencing the fastest growth in scam victimization.
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CBS TEXAS
· 2025-03-05
A North Texas man fell victim to a combined romance and cryptocurrency scam after meeting a woman named "Giana" on a dating site for seniors. The scammer built trust through daily communication, then persuaded him to invest in cryptocurrency, ultimately causing him to lose nearly everything. The scam exemplifies how romance fraud is often layered with investment schemes to exploit victims' emotional vulnerability and financial resources.
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WBNS 10TV
· 2025-03-09
A Central Ohio man lost over $42,000 in a romance scam involving cryptocurrency investments after meeting a woman on Facebook who convinced him to invest in her crypto business. The scammer used fake investment screenshots showing growth to encourage continued payments before disappearing with his money, personal information, and Social Security number. The Better Business Bureau reports that crypto investment scams facilitated through online relationships are increasingly common in the Central Ohio area.
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19 News
· 2025-03-13
According to a 2024 Better Business Bureau report, cryptocurrency and investment scams ranked as the leading consumer fraud scheme, with victims losing anywhere from $5,000 to over $1.3 million in individual cases. Scammers exploit people's desire for easy money by posing as investment advisors and falsely promising tenfold returns on deposited funds. The BBB advises consumers to be cautious of anyone offering seemingly easy investment processes and recommends reporting suspected scams.
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60 Minutes
· 2025-03-23
This 60 Minutes segment examines why investment fraud and Ponzi schemes continue to thrive despite public awareness of high-profile cases like Bernie Madoff's multi-billion dollar fraud. The piece features expert Ricky Jay discussing how con artists exploit human psychology—including greed and excessive trust—and identifies key warning signs such as dealings with well-established figures who rely on exclusive affiliations to build credibility. The segment highlights that despite financial disasters and skepticism, investors remain vulnerable to sophisticated scams, a phenomenon regulators refer to as "ponzi-monium."
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WIRED
· 2025-03-28
A WIRED article examines romance scams through the story of a victim who lost $300,000 after meeting someone on the dating app Hinge who posed as a cryptocurrency entrepreneur and convinced her to invest her savings and IRA funds. The piece explores how scammers use dating platforms to build trust over weeks or months before exploiting victims financially, and notes that romance scams are among the most personally and financially damaging online fraud schemes, with perpetrators constantly evolving their tactics.
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KETV NewsWatch 7
· 2025-04-04
Two brothers in their 70s in Lancaster County lost $1.3 million in a cryptocurrency online trading scam, while another victim lost nearly $50,000 over six months in a similar scheme. Law enforcement reports multiple cryptocurrency scams in the area this year resulting in substantial losses, with funds often transferred overseas, making recovery unlikely. Officials recommend exercising caution when investing online, particularly with unfamiliar people or platforms, and suggest consulting the FBI's website for more information.
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Graham Cluley
· 2025-04-16
This is a transcript excerpt from the Smashing Security podcast (Episode 413) featuring hosts Graeme Cluey and Carol Tero discussing cybersecurity topics, including a mention of a Swiss cybersecurity company launching a "CIS initiative" and references to Nigerian fraud schemes (419 scams). The transcript appears to be a partial, auto-generated recording with significant repetition and unclear audio quality, making it unsuitable for detailed summarization of specific fraud cases or elder abuse incidents.
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Al Jazeera English
· 2025-04-18
Romance scams are rising significantly, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting that approximately 70,000 people across the US fell victim to fake virtual romances in 2022 alone, resulting in $1.3 billion in losses. Scammers use fake profiles with AI-generated images to pose as attractive individuals on social media platforms like Facebook, targeting victims emotionally before requesting money. Gen Z is among the biggest targets of these scams, yet victims are often blamed and reluctant to speak openly about their experiences.
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CBS 13 News
· 2025-04-27
Maine residents lost $31 million to cybercrime and scams in 2024, a 65% increase from $19 million in 2023, according to FBI data. Adults aged 60 and older accounted for $13 million (40%) of these losses, with tech support scams, government impersonation, and investment fraud being the primary threats to this age group. The FBI recommends reporting wire transfer fraud within 72 hours through IC3.gov to trigger a financial fraud response.
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ABC 6 News - KAAL TV
· 2025-04-27
Online scams surged in 2024, with over 859,000 complaints to the FBI resulting in $16.6 billion in losses—a 33% increase from 2023. People over age 60 were disproportionately affected, losing $2.5 billion, with investment scams, business email compromise scams ($2.7 billion), and tech support scams ($1.4 billion) among the leading fraud types. Tech support scams remain particularly prevalent, using fake virus warnings to trick victims into providing computer access and sensitive financial information.