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in Money Mule / Laundering
smh.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An experienced traveler and financial advice columnist recount personal experiences being scammed or ripped off while traveling. The author was shortchanged by a Buenos Aires cab driver on a currency exchange during jetlag-induced exhaustion, losing approximately $20 USD, while Charlotte Cowles, a financial columnist, fell victim to an elaborate phone scam where she handed $50,000 in cash to someone posing as a CIA agent claiming to investigate her for money laundering. Both accounts illustrate how even knowledgeable people can be vulnerable to scams when tired, unfamiliar with local conditions, or manipulated through social engineering and authority impersonation.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
Monique C. Clarke, 28, and Jon-Michael Hudson, 33, were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering for their involvement in a lottery scam that targeted 51 elderly victims across the United States, resulting in total losses exceeding $6.6 million from October 2020 through January 2021. The scheme involved calling victims claiming they had won lottery prizes and requesting upfront fees; funds were then funneled through money mules who deposited checks and forwarded cash to Clarke and Hudson, with Clarke personally receiving over $500,000 and using approximately $150,000 to purchase a luxury Mercedes-Benz in Jamaica. Both defendants
nbc16.com
· 2025-12-08
A couple, Monique C. Clarke and Jon-Michael Hudson, were indicted on federal charges for an elder fraud conspiracy that defrauded dozens of victims of millions of dollars. Clarke, who used multiple aliases including Monique Clark-Mootoo, Rebecca White, and Mark Hilton, and Hudson each face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. The case was reported as of February 13, 2024.
mynbc15.com
· 2025-12-08
A federal grand jury indicted two Jamaica-based individuals, Monique C. Clarke (28) and Jon-Michael Hudson (33), for conspiracy to commit money laundering in a lottery scam that defrauded 51 elderly victims of more than $6.6 million between October 2020 and January 2021. The scheme involved callers falsely claiming victims had won lottery prizes and requesting upfront payments for fees; funds were then funneled through "money mules" who deposited checks and sent cash to the defendants, with Clarke personally receiving over $500,000 and using proceeds to purchase a luxury Mercedes-Benz. Both defendants face up to
asaaseradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian Instagram influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money for her role in laundering proceeds from romance scams targeting vulnerable older Americans between 2013 and 2019. She was extradited from the UK and admitted to receiving over $2.1 million stolen from victims through fake romantic relationships, and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41, facing up to five years in prison.
lrt.lt
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers in Lithuania defrauded hundreds of people of over 1 million euros in a coordinated scheme targeting lonely individuals, particularly elderly women, who believed they were communicating with military officers or sailors online. Banks recorded 350 confirmed cases last year, with victims losing significant amounts across multiple financial institutions (Swedbank: 300,000 euros from 148 customers; Luminor: 380,000 euros; SEB: 154,000 euros from 45 customers). Many victims delay reporting due to shame and embarrassment, allowing fraudsters to retain stolen funds, and banks emphasize that money requests from online romantic contacts should be treated as a major warning sign.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian social media influencer Mona Faiz Montrage pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive proceeds from romance scams targeting vulnerable older Americans between 2013 and 2019. Montrage, who operated the Instagram account "Hajia4Reall" with 3.4 million followers, received over $2 million in fraudulent funds through bank accounts used by a West African criminal enterprise that deceived victims into believing they were in romantic relationships and sending money under false pretenses. She agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million and faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.
caribbeannationalweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
On February 1st, a federal grand jury indicted Jamaican nationals Monique C. Clarke and Jon-Michael Hudson for money laundering conspiracy related to a lottery scam that defrauded 51 elderly U.S. victims of over $6.6 million between October 2020 and January 2021. The defendants allegedly posed as lottery winners and coerced victims to pay various fees through money mules, with Clarke receiving over $500,000 in proceeds, which she partially used to purchase a $150,000 Mercedes Benz. Both defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted, as part of the Biden administration's broader crackdown on
fox28savannah.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida couple, Monique C. Clarke and Jon-Michael Hudson, were indicted for operating a lottery scam that defrauded 51 elderly victims of over $6.6 million between October 2020 and January 2021. The scheme involved calling victims claiming they won lottery prizes, then pressuring them to pay upfront fees for taxes and shipping, with money mules depositing the victims' checks and forwarding cash to the conspirators; Clarke allegedly received over $500,000 and used part of it to purchase a Mercedes-Benz in Jamaica. Both defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
africanews.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans, and agreed to forfeit and make restitution of $2,164,758.41. She was extradited from the United Kingdom in May 2023 and faced charges for her role in an operation that used fake identities and various pretenses—including false gold transport and fake FBI investigation claims—to defraud vulnerable elderly victims.
gbcghanaonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Social media influencer Hajia4Real (Mona Faiz Montrage), a 31-year-old from Ghana, pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money derived from romance scams targeting older, single Americans between 2013 and 2019. She agreed to forfeit and provide restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces a maximum five-year prison sentence for this count, though she was originally charged with multiple fraud and money laundering offenses carrying up to 20-year sentences. According to prosecutors, she received funds through bank accounts she controlled that victims were tricked into sending via false pretenses involving gold transport payments, fake FBI investigations
citinewsroom.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (known as Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting older Americans and agreed to pay over $4.3 million in total restitution and forfeiture ($2.16 million to victims and $2.16 million to U.S. authorities). Montrage was arrested abroad and knowingly laundered proceeds stolen from vulnerable elderly victims through fake romantic relationships, with sentencing to follow before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A major telemarketing scam targeting American timeshare owners, operated by Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has defrauded thousands of victims—many elderly—of hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade. The scheme, which began in Puerto Vallarta and expanded to Cancún and other resort areas, uses fake offers to buy timeshares at inflated prices, then extracts fees for taxes and other costs that are never refunded; one victim lost nearly $1.8 million across multiple transactions. U.S. government officials believe the cartel now profits more from timeshare fraud than drug trafficking, though the operation remains difficult to prosecut
gna.org.gh
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting elderly Americans from 2013 onward. She agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
gnnliberia.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans, where she controlled bank accounts that received fraudulent funds obtained through fake romantic identities. She agreed to forfeit and make restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison upon sentencing by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. The scam, which exploited vulnerable elderly victims through false pretenses including fake gold transport payments and FBI investigation claims, resulted in her extradition from the United Kingdom in May 2023.
gbcghanaonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She faces up to five years in prison and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41. The criminal conspiracy specifically targeted older Americans through fake online romantic relationships to steal their money.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A YouTube content creator operating under the pseudonym "Neld Harris" poses as an elderly, tech-illiterate widow to infiltrate and expose scam operations targeting vulnerable seniors. Through his ScamSandwich channel, which has garnered over 8 million views since launching in January 2023, he lures scammers into elaborate traps, takes control of their computers, and publicly reveals their identities, locations, and tactics. This "scambaiting" effort addresses a significant problem: the AARP reports Americans over 60 lose $28.3 billion annually to scams, with only 1 in 10 cases reported to authorities.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy related to romance scams targeting elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She knowingly received stolen funds from vulnerable victims and was arrested abroad; she faces up to five years in prison and must forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Investigators traced nearly $100 million in cryptocurrency payments to a criminal scam compound in Myanmar (KK Park) operating pig butchering romance scams and worker trafficking ransoms over less than two years. Two cryptocurrency addresses linked to a Chinese front company received $24.2 million from known scam wallets and additional funds from ransoms, with families often extorted for $30,000+ to secure trafficked workers' release. The investigation reveals how romance scams and ransom extortion are interconnected operations generating significant profits for organized crime syndicates in Southeast Asia.
golocalprov.com
· 2025-12-08
A Nigerian-based conspiracy defrauded elderly U.S. citizens of over $1.7 million through multiple scam methods, including romance scams on dating sites, fake sweepstakes claims, and rental property fraud. Dotun Olawale Alonge, the fifth defendant convicted in the case, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for money laundering; he and four other convicted co-conspirators were ordered to pay approximately $455,750 in joint restitution to victims, with one fugitive still at large.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five foreign nationals, including Dotun Olawale Alonge (sentenced to 18 months in federal prison), were convicted for laundering over $1.7 million in proceeds from a Nigeria-based conspiracy that defrauded elderly U.S. citizens through romance scams, sweepstakes fraud, and rental property schemes. Victims were instructed to wire money or send cash to addresses in Rhode Island controlled by the defendants, who then moved the funds through multiple banks and businesses before sending most proceeds to Nigeria. The defendants have been ordered to pay approximately $455,750 in restitution to identified victims, with several facing deportation after their sentences.
abc6.com
· 2025-12-08
Five individuals were convicted and sentenced for operating a Nigerian-based conspiracy that defrauded elderly U.S. citizens across multiple states of over $1.7 million through romance scams, fake sweepstakes, and fraudulent rental schemes. The defendants used fake romantic relationships and false promises to manipulate victims into sending money, and each was ordered to pay approximately $455,750 in restitution with several facing deportation after serving their prison terms.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Noel Chimezuru Agoha, age 40, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for orchestrating business email compromise (BEC) and romance scams that defrauded victims of over $1.5 million between 2015 and 2018. Operating with co-conspirators, Agoha used fraudulent emails impersonating business contacts and fake dating profiles to trick victims into transferring funds to drop accounts he controlled, personally obtaining approximately $111,242 in BEC proceeds and over $1 million in dating scam proceeds, and was ordered to pay $1 million in restitution.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Investment scams continue to victimize Malaysians across all education and income levels, with recent cases including a trader losing RM6.2 million to a fake investment scheme and an elderly woman losing over RM10 million to a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. Phone scammers posing as officials also defrauded senior citizens of RM3.83 million in retirement funds and savings. Between 2019 and 2023, Malaysia recorded 14,488 investment-related fraud cases totaling RM1.34 billion in losses, prompting police and the Securities Commission to increase collaboration efforts to combat such crimes.
gobankingrates.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated phone scam cost journalist Charlotte Cowles $50,000 after scammers impersonating Amazon customer service, an FTC investigator, and a CIA agent convinced her that her identity had been compromised and linked to illegal activities. The perpetrators manipulated her through fear and urgency, instructing her to withdraw cash and hand it over to an unknown individual, falsely promising it would be secured and returned as a Treasury check. The article emphasizes the importance of skepticism toward unsolicited calls, verifying caller identities through official channels, and resisting pressure tactics commonly used by scammers.
kpmg.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadian organizations of all sizes face evolving fraud risks driven by technological advances like generative AI, cryptocurrency, and digital payment systems, with SMBs particularly vulnerable due to limited fraud prevention resources and awareness. Fraudsters employ increasingly sophisticated tactics including crypto scams, online payment fraud, social engineering attacks targeting elders, and ESG misrepresentation, with 88% of victimized Canadian SMBs experiencing internal fraud and 75% experiencing external fraud over the past five years. Organizations must strengthen their fraud prevention strategies through risk assessment, robust controls, and cross-sector partnerships to effectively counter these threats.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 66-year-old woman in Seremban lost RM173,500 in a phone scam involving callers impersonating a courier company and police officer who falsely claimed she was involved in money laundering and had an arrest warrant issued against her. The victim transferred her savings into accounts provided by the scammers before realizing the fraud when she could no longer contact them. Police are investigating the case and remind the public to verify suspicious calls through official channels.
investmentexecutive.com
· 2025-12-08
According to Chainalysis research, cryptocurrency crime declined significantly in 2023, with illicit activity dropping from $39.6 billion in 2022 to $24.2 billion, driven by a 29.2% decrease in crypto scams and a 54.3% drop in hacking losses. Scammers increasingly adopted romance scam tactics to target individuals with fraudulent investment schemes, and the decline in illicit activity correlated with reduced market enthusiasm for cryptocurrency. While scams and hacks fell, ransomware attacks and darknet market activity rose in 2023, with stablecoins becoming the dominant asset for criminals, surpassing Bitcoin.
nationalaccordnewspaper.com
· 2025-12-08
Six members of a fraud enterprise were arrested between October 2020 and February 2021 for orchestrating business email compromise scams, romance fraud targeting vulnerable elderly victims, and fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications, collectively controlling over 45 bank accounts with approximately $55 million in deposits. The defendants used spoofed emails, fake online identities, and fraudulent Small Business Administration loan applications to deceive victims and divert funds to accounts they controlled. Authorities seized luxury vehicles purchased with fraud proceeds, and the defendants face prosecution in federal court by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations division.
khmoradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has issued a warning to Missouri residents about 13 active scams currently targeting the state, including adoption fraud, investment schemes, business email impersonation, charity fraud, elder fraud, romance scams, ransomware attacks, and skimming at ATMs and gas stations. The advisory emphasizes that elderly Missourians are particularly vulnerable targets and recommends citizens verify legitimacy before responding to unsolicited contacts, providing funds, or clicking links from unknown sources.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 report on digital banking fraud in India reveals a sharp rise in "mule accounts"—bank accounts used to receive and transfer illegally obtained funds—with the majority going unreported by financial institutions. In one Bengaluru case, 126 mule accounts linked to cybercrimes were discovered, with at least Rs 18 million passing through them; analysis showed banks detected only 11% of mule accounts accessed from suspect devices, meaning 9 out of 10 went undetected. Individuals who rent their accounts to fraudsters, whether knowingly or unknowingly, can face prosecution, and experts advise against lending account credentials for payment regardless of promised rewards
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Noel Chimezuru Agoha, a 40-year-old Maryland man, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison in February 2019 for leading multiple fraud schemes that defrauded victims of over $1.5 million between 2015 and 2018. Agoha and his co-conspirators executed business email compromise scams by impersonating legitimate business contacts to trick victims into transferring money to fraudulent accounts, and operated romance scams on dating websites using fake profiles to extract money and property from victims. The court ordered Agoha to pay $1 million in restitution for his role in the conspiracy.
kiro7.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost over $1 billion to romance scams last year, and scammers are now using an evolving variation that involves tricking victims into becoming "money mules" by offering them money (as a fake sugar daddy/mama) and then asking them to transfer funds to third parties or charities. Victims who unknowingly move stolen funds can face criminal liability and be required to repay victims, even if they never received promised money themselves. The Better Business Bureau advises stopping communication immediately, preserving evidence, notifying banks and the FBI, and treating requests for financial discussions within the first weeks of online dating as major red flags.
malaymail.com
· 2025-12-08
A 47-year-old businesswoman in Terengganu lost RM202,400 to scammers who impersonated courier company representatives and police officers, claiming she was involved in money laundering and drug crimes. The perpetrators obtained her online banking credentials and instructed her to transfer funds, with 35 unauthorized transactions occurring before her family discovered the fraud in late February. Police emphasized the importance of rejecting unsolicited calls and never disclosing banking information to unknown callers.
channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
Chan Wing Onn, a 54-year-old Singaporean man, was sentenced to 16 weeks' jail after he helped launder S$48,090 ($35,820 USD) for a romance scammer posing as a South Korean woman named "Soo Kim" on Facebook. Despite receiving a police warning in June 2022 about the scam, Chan resumed contact with the fraudster and later offered his mother's bank account to receive S$20,000 stolen from victim Nicholas Choo, which he then converted to iTunes cards for the scammer. The case demonstrates how romance scams exploit victims' emotional connections to facilitate money laundering across borders.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Fairfax County police reported over a dozen cryptocurrency ATM scams since early 2024, with victims losing between $3,000 and $31,100 per incident. Scammers impersonated law enforcement, banks, and government agencies via phone calls to pressure victims into depositing money into Bitcoin ATMs or purchasing gift cards. The Fairfax County Police Department advises seniors to hang up on unsolicited calls, verify caller identities through official contact information, and consult trusted family members before making financial decisions involving unfamiliar technologies or large sums.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Fairfax County Police Department reported over a dozen cryptocurrency fraud cases since January totaling more than $150,000, with individual losses ranging from $3,000 to $31,100. Scammers impersonated law enforcement, banks, and government agencies via phone calls and emails to trick victims—often elderly—into depositing money into cryptocurrency ATMs. Police recommend verifying caller identity through official channels, consulting family before transferring large sums, and noting that legitimate law enforcement never requests payment by phone or crypto.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michael Watts, a 68-year-old former registered broker, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for participating in a securities fraud and market manipulation scheme involving Hydrocarb Energy Corp. and other companies from 2014 to 2016. Operating from a boiler room in Melville, New York, Watts and his co-conspirators used high-pressure cold calls and lies to defraud vulnerable investors, particularly seniors on fixed incomes, inflating the stock price by over $147 million and personally dumping over $2 million in shares before the company's 2016 bankruptcy. The court ordered Watts to pay $560,000 in forfeiture and $4.
fcpdnews.wordpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank imposter scams, ranked by the FTC as the top scam of 2022, involve fraudsters posing as banks via unsolicited calls or texts to request personal and banking information, with a median reported loss of $3,000 from 2019-2022. The Fairfax County Police Department advises against sharing financial information with unsolicited callers, recommends independently verifying bank contact information through official channels, and warns that legitimate institutions never request payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or remote computer access.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Prince Oduro, a 34-year-old former JPMorgan Chase employee in Columbus, was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for stealing $1.8 million from bank customers through wire fraud and money laundering between 2015 and 2020. Oduro accessed at least five customers' bank information and funneled stolen funds through PayPal accounts, which he also used to run concurrent romance scams where he posed as someone needing medical help or injured military personnel; one victim alone lost nearly $400,000. He was arrested in 2022, pleaded guilty in January 2023, but continued committing romance scams while awaiting sentencing, defr
myfox28columbus.com
· 2025-12-08
Prince Oduro, a 34-year-old from Westerville, Ohio, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for conducting romance scams and money laundering schemes between 2015 and 2020. During his employment at JPMorgan Chase Bank, Oduro stole personal information from at least five customers and used it to launder over $1 million obtained through online romance scams; he continued committing fraud even after his initial arrest in February 2022, resulting in an additional $709,500 in losses. He was ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution for his crimes.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Mona Faiz Montrage, a social media influencer with 3.4 million Instagram followers, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money for her role in laundering over $2 million from a West Africa-based romance scam operation targeting vulnerable older adults between 2013 and 2019. The scammers used fake identities and romantic narratives to convince lonely victims to send money for various schemes, including one victim who was defrauded of $89,000 through 82 wire transfers; Montrage faces up to five years in prison and must pay $2.1 million in restitution at her May 21 sentencing.
chroniclet.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a meaningful summary of this content. The text appears to be a collection of website interface elements (error messages, navigation prompts, and article headlines) rather than a complete article or transcript about a specific fraud case or scam. To summarize properly for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text or transcript with substantive details about the scam, victims, amounts, and outcomes.
golocalprov.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men from Florida and New York—Jason Rhodes, 34, and Robert Munoz, 29—were arrested in Warwick, Rhode Island in connection with a "grandparent scam" targeting elderly residents in Warwick and Coventry after police executed a controlled money delivery on March 8, 2024. During a search of a hotel room, detectives seized evidence linking the suspects to multiple grandparent scams and a large sum of cash, with the investigation ongoing. Warwick Police are urging other potential victims throughout Rhode Island to report similar scams to their local police departments.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
Prince Oduro, a 34-year-old former JPMorgan Chase employee in Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 8.5 years in federal prison for stealing $1.8 million from bank customers through wire fraud and money laundering, while simultaneously operating an online romance scam where he posed as a soldier, medical patient, or gold dealer to manipulate victims into sending money. One victim alone lost approximately $400,000 after Oduro convinced her that her deceased husband had stolen valuable artwork. Oduro was initially arrested in 2022, rearrested in November 2023 for continuing his scams, and has been ordered to repay all stolen funds.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
Prince Oduro of Westerville was sentenced to 102 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering schemes spanning multiple years, including stealing bank customer information while employed at JPMorgan Chase Bank and operating online romance scams that defrauded victims of over $1.8 million. Oduro continued committing romance fraud even after his initial arrest, causing an additional $709,500 in losses, and was ordered to pay approximately $1.8 million in restitution. Victims were deceived by elaborate stories involving medical emergencies, military service, overseas construction projects, and inherited assets, with one victim alone losing $390,300.
pbn.com
· 2025-12-08
A Georgia woman, Syretta Scherer, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for her role in a romance scam that defrauded seniors across multiple states, including Rhode Island, of at least $5.8 million. Scherer laundered nearly $1.1 million of the stolen proceeds by creating a fake company called Precise Carriers and opening multiple bank accounts at different banks to receive victim funds, primarily from widows who were deceived into sending money for fabricated medical emergencies. Two co-conspirators, Sade Mills and Dominique Golden, also pleaded guilty or were sentenced in connection with the scheme.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Syretta Scherer, a 42-year-old Georgia woman, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on March 7, 2024, for her role in a romance scam conspiracy that defrauded seniors across multiple states of at least $5.8 million. Scherer laundered approximately $1.1 million of the scheme's proceeds by creating a fake company called Precise Carriers, opening multiple bank accounts at different banks, and recruiting others to deposit victim funds that were primarily stolen from widows through online romance scams conducted via app-based communication platforms between February 2018 and November 2019.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Syretta Scherer, 42, from Georgia was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for her role in a multi-state romance scam that defrauded seniors of approximately $5.8 million. Scherer laundered close to $1.1 million of the conspiracy's nearly $3 million in stolen funds by creating fake bank accounts under a fictitious company and directing victims—primarily widows—to send money via wire transfer or mail based on fabricated emergencies. Operating from February 2018 to November 2019, she used structured transactions across multiple banks and recruited accomplices to open additional accounts to evade detection.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
An Auckland man lost $569,000 in a romance scam after meeting a woman on Tinder who posed as a Singaporean investor and convinced him to send money to a Hong Kong bank account for a Bitcoin investment scheme. Despite the victim's complaints that Westpac should have flagged red flags before processing the large international transfer, the bank initially denied liability but later made a confidential "goodwill" settlement payment. The case highlights the challenge victims face when scammers operate offshore—police declined to investigate, the Banking Ombudsman refused involvement due to the amount exceeding their $350,000 threshold, and recovery proved impossible.