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in Crypto Investment Scams
unchainedcrypto.com
· 2026-04-24
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Cambodian Senator Kok An and 28 associates for operating scam compounds that defrauded millions of dollars from Americans through cryptocurrency fraud and human trafficking schemes. Victims at these compounds were forced to run "pig-butchering scams"—where scammers build fake relationships with Americans to trick them into investing in fraudulent platforms—under threat of violence. Americans should be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities and romantic connections online, especially those involving cryptocurrency, and verify investment platforms through official regulatory channels before sending money.
cryptonews.net
· 2026-04-24
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a Cambodian senator and 28 others for operating "pig butchering" scam centers that have stolen billions of dollars from Americans. These scams work by building fake relationships with victims over months or years before tricking them into sending money, often through fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. Americans are advised to practice caution with unsolicited investment opportunities and romantic relationships online, verify the legitimacy of trading platforms, and be skeptical of promises of quick profits.
reason.com
· 2026-04-24
Tinder's new photo verification system, which uses "Face Check" technology to confirm user identities, has a critical flaw that scammers are exploiting: profiles only need one matching photo among many to be marked as "verified," allowing fraudsters to use eight photos of attractive decoys followed by one matching image to deceive potential dates. Journalist Christophe Haubursin discovered this vulnerability and confirmed that many of these "verified" profiles belonged to crypto scammers. Dating app users should be skeptical of profiles showing a sudden change in appearance partway through the photos, as this is a red flag for romance or investment fraud.
tradingview.com
· 2026-04-24
The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on a Cambodian senator and 28 other individuals accused of operating romance scams that trick victims into investing in cryptocurrency schemes. These scams typically involve criminals building romantic relationships with victims online before persuading them to transfer money for fake crypto investments, resulting in significant financial losses for those affected. Potential victims should be wary of online relationships that quickly escalate to investment opportunities, verify the identities of people they meet online, and never send money or cryptocurrency to strangers, especially for investment schemes.
justice.gov
· 2026-04-24
Cryptocurrency investment scams are causing billions of dollars in losses to Americans, with transnational criminal organizations based primarily in Southeast Asia running industrial-scale operations that traffic workers and force them to conduct scams under physical duress. The Department of Justice has established a Scam Center Strike Force in partnership with law enforcement agencies to identify, prosecute, and extradite the operators of these criminal compounds, while also working to seize stolen cryptocurrency and return it to victims. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious of unsolicited cryptocurrency investment opportunities, verify the legitimacy of investment platforms through official channels, and never send money to unknown individuals or platforms promising guaranteed returns.
home.treasury.gov
· 2026-04-24
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Cambodian Senator Kok An and 28 associates who operate scam networks that have stolen millions from American victims through romance and investment fraud schemes, using digital assets and operating from casinos and office parks across Southeast Asia under political protection. The fraudsters target vulnerable Americans by posing as romantic interests or investment advisors, convincing them to transfer savings that are then stolen and laundered through the network, while some perpetrators are themselves human trafficking victims forced to participate under threats. Americans should be extremely cautious of unsolicited online romantic or investment contacts, verify investment opportunities through official channels, and report suspicious activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
tomshardware.com
· 2026-04-24
Scammers are impersonating Iranian authorities and sending fake messages to ship captains transiting the Strait of Hormuz, demanding cryptocurrency payments as "clearance fees" to safely pass through the region. At least one vessel reportedly paid the fake fee in Bitcoin or Tether but was still fired upon, confirming it was a scam. Ship owners and maritime companies should verify any payment demands through official Iranian channels and be extremely cautious about cryptocurrency payment requests, especially during geopolitical crises when communication confusion can be exploited.
cbsnews.com
· 2026-04-23
# Summary
A 73-year-old former occupational therapist, Kyle Holder, lost her entire life savings of $300,000 to a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam that used artificial intelligence and social engineering over a three-month period starting in December 2024. A scammer posing as a friendly investment coach named "Niamh" built trust with Holder through WhatsApp before manipulating her into transferring funds across multiple crypto wallets. Holder's case is part of a larger trend in 2025 where Americans lost an estimated $20 billion to cyber theft, with over half involving cryptocurrency.
wknofm.org
· 2026-04-23
Impersonation scams are now the most common fraud reported to the FTC, with criminals pretending to be government agencies, banks, or companies to steal money and personal information through convincing text messages and emails—the FTC recorded approximately 850,000 reports with nearly $3 billion in losses in 2024. To protect yourself, verify any unexpected contact by independently looking up official contact information, never send money or share personal details with unsolicited callers, avoid clicking links in suspicious messages, and remember that caller ID can be easily faked. For help checking a business's legitimacy or reporting scams, visit bbb.org or call 800-222-8754.
wmur.com
· 2026-04-23
Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to impersonate people, create fake videos, and target consumers with personalized fraud schemes, with the FTC reporting over $5 billion lost to investment scams alone, plus hundreds of millions more lost to job and shopping scams. Pastor Alan Beauchamp experienced this firsthand when his hacked Facebook account was used to create a deepfake video promoting cryptocurrency in his likeness. To protect yourself, experts recommend enabling two-factor authentication, ignoring unsolicited urgent requests via email or phone, verifying contact through official channels before responding, and never sharing passwords or personal information with unknown contacts.
en.royanews.tv
· 2026-04-23
A tanker owner in the Strait of Hormuz has denied claims that its vessel fell victim to a cryptocurrency scam, stating the allegations are "completely false." According to maritime risk management firm Marisks, multiple shipping companies with vessels in the region have been targeted by fraudsters posing as Iranian authorities, who demand cryptocurrency payments in exchange for safe passage through the waterway. Shipping companies should verify any transit approval requests directly with official government channels rather than responding to unsolicited communications, and be extremely cautious of any demands for cryptocurrency payments.
mexc.com
· 2026-04-22
The House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on how transnational criminal organizations use cryptocurrency fraud, online scams, and digital extortion to steal billions from Americans, with the FBI reporting 859,532 scam complaints totaling $16.6 billion in losses in 2024. These sophisticated criminal networks—particularly those running "pig butchering" investment fraud schemes from Southeast Asia—operate like industrial enterprises with real estate and banking infrastructure, with elderly Americans (aged 60+) suffering the highest losses. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited romantic or investment contacts online, verify investment opportunities through official channels, and report suspected scams to the FBI's IC3 or local law enforcement immediately.
crypto.news
· 2026-04-22
A House committee heard testimony Tuesday about how transnational criminal organizations are using cryptocurrency and online scams to defraud Americans, with the FBI recording 859,532 scam complaints in 2024 resulting in $16.6 billion in losses—particularly through "pig butchering" investment fraud schemes targeting older adults. Sophisticated criminal networks operating from Southeast Asia use fake romantic relationships and cryptocurrency to steal money while making their activities harder to trace, prompting Congress to examine ways to combat these operations. To protect yourself, be wary of online romance or investment opportunities, verify investment platforms independently, and never send money or share personal information with people you've only met online.
bitdefender.com
· 2026-04-22
Instagram romance scammers target users by creating fake attractive profiles and building false emotional connections through direct messages and likes, often moving conversations to private platforms where manipulation is harder to detect. These scammers exploit personal information visible in posts and stories to make their approach feel personalized, then eventually pressure victims for money or sensitive data. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited romantic attention from attractive strangers, verify profiles before engaging emotionally, and never move conversations to private platforms or share personal/financial information with people you've only met online.
sbs.com.au
· 2026-04-22
Cybercriminals are forcing vulnerable women and girls—some as young as 11—into overseas scam centers through false job offers, where they're coerced into defrauding Australians while facing sexual assault, torture, and imprisonment. An Australian Institute of Criminology report revealed that victims like Eva are trafficked to countries like Laos under the pretense of legitimate work, then forced to surrender their passports and extorted into scamming to pay "debts." Australians are urged to be cautious about scams, as falling victim inadvertently funds these sophisticated human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable people internationally.
yahoo.com
· 2026-04-21
A "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scam defrauded an Austin resident of $1.4 million between October 2025 and March 2026, with a Taiwan-based courier arrested for his role in the international fraud ring. The scam operated by building trust with victims through messaging apps, impersonating investment advisors, and convincing them to invest in a fake trading platform that promised daily returns of 3-5%, collecting money through cash handoffs, wire transfers, and gold purchases. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited investment offers from strangers online, never send money to unknown trading platforms, and verify any investment opportunity through official channels before committing funds.
knue.com
· 2026-04-21
A man was arrested in Austin, Texas after being accused of orchestrating a $1.4 million "pig butchering" investment scam, where he posed as an investment advisor on a messaging app to convince a victim to invest in a fake trading platform that promised 3-5% daily returns. The victim lost over $1.4 million between October 2025 and March 2026 before realizing the scam when he was unable to withdraw funds and was asked to pay additional fees. To protect yourself: be cautious of unsolicited investment offers from strangers on messaging apps, verify the legitimacy of any trading platform through official channels before investing, and report suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
americanbanker.com
· 2026-04-21
Iran's plan to collect cryptocurrency tolls from ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz uses the same financial infrastructure—including Tether stablecoin and U.S. correspondent banks—that criminals exploit to launder proceeds from major cryptocurrency scams affecting Americans. Americans lost $7.2 billion to crypto fraud in 2025, with older adults (aged 50+) accounting for over $4 billion of those losses through schemes like "pig butchering," where scammers build false trust before stealing funds. Banks and regulators face compliance challenges in distinguishing between legitimate cryptocurrency transactions and illicit flows used by both foreign governments and criminal networks operating through the same digital channels.
gmanetwork.com
· 2026-04-21
The National Bureau of Investigation arrested 48 people in Parañaque City who were running an online scam operation involving "love scams," "pig butchering," and cryptocurrency fraud schemes that targeted victims through emotional manipulation and fake investment platforms. The suspects, including 41 Filipino women and 7 foreign nationals, used pre-written scripts to deceive victims into sending money by building fake relationships or promising false profits. To protect yourself, be cautious of online relationships that quickly turn romantic and request money, avoid unsolicited cryptocurrency investment opportunities, and verify any investment platforms' legitimacy before sending funds.
foxnews.com
· 2026-04-21
Cryptocurrency scammers are using increasingly sophisticated scripts to trick victims into sending money through crypto transactions, which are fast, irreversible, and hard to trace. The scams typically use psychology, urgency, and emotional appeals delivered through social media, email, or text messages to pressure people—especially seniors—into making quick decisions to send money. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment offers promising quick returns, verify contacts through official channels, and remember that legitimate investments don't pressure you for immediate cryptocurrency payments.
thred.com
· 2026-04-21
Dating app users have discovered that suspicious AI-generated photos are appearing on profiles, where third-party images (paintings, billboards, celebrity photos) are being altered with faces that don't match the profile owner. These fake or manipulated photos appear to be the result of facial verification systems malfunctioning, potentially created by AI to generate attractive profiles and boost user engagement. Users should be cautious about profile authenticity on dating apps and verify matches through video calls or reverse image searches before meeting in person.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-04-20
An 82-year-old retired journalist lost his entire life savings of nearly $300,000 in a "pig-butchering" scam, where a scammer posing as an attractive woman named "Daisy Miller" built a romantic relationship with him over text before convincing him to invest in a fraudulent gold-trading scheme. The scam exploited his trust by gradually escalating from casual conversation to financial requests, demonstrating how sophisticated romance scams can target vulnerable people, particularly seniors. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited online romantic connections, never invest money based on advice from people you've only met online, and verify investment opportunities through independent research before sending any funds.
capitalfm.co.ke
· 2026-04-20
Romance scams have surged dramatically, with Kirsty's case exemplifying how sophisticated modern fraudsters operate—she lost £80,000 after being deceived by a Nigerian scammer posing as a British businessman on a dating app, who used fake banking websites and voice disguisers to build trust before requesting money. Reports show romance scams rose 20% year-over-year between 2024-2025, with victims in the UK losing £106 million in 2024 alone, while global fraud losses now exceed half a trillion dollars annually. To protect yourself, be cautious of dating app matches who quickly request money, verify identities independently rather than trusting shared photos or banking screenshots, and never send money or expensive items to people you haven't met in person.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-04-20
An 82-year-old retired journalist lost his entire life savings of nearly $300,000 in a "pig-butchering" scam—a sophisticated fraud scheme where a stranger posing as an attractive woman named "Daisy Miller" built a romantic relationship with him over text before convincing him to invest in a fake gold-trading platform. The scam unfolded over just 10 weeks, starting with an innocent text about a cookout and gradually escalating into financial manipulation once trust was established. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited romantic connections online, especially those that quickly pivot to investment opportunities, and verify any investment platform independently before sending money.
escudodigital.com
· 2026-04-19
Law enforcement agencies from the U.S., U.K., and Canada jointly dismantled a major cryptocurrency fraud ring called "Operation Atlantic" that defrauded over 20,000 victims across 30+ countries of more than $45 million through approval phishing scams—a technique where victims are tricked into granting wallet access via fake websites. Authorities froze approximately $12 million in stolen crypto and worked with blockchain analysis companies to track the criminals' funds and identify victims. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited requests for wallet permissions, verify that websites are legitimate before entering credentials, and never grant access to your crypto accounts through suspicious links or pop-ups.
bbc.com
· 2026-04-19
Romance scams have surged dramatically, with a woman named Kirsty losing £80,000 after being deceived by someone posing as a wealthy British businessman on a dating website who was actually a Nigerian scammer using sophisticated fake banking websites and voice disguisers. Romance scam reports rose 20% year-over-year in early 2025, with UK victims losing £106 million in 2024 alone, as scammers operate internationally across multiple countries and use money transfer services to hide stolen funds. To protect yourself, be cautious of online dating matches who quickly ask for money, verify financial claims independently, avoid sending money to people you haven't met in person, and report suspicious activity to local police and your bank immediately.
sumnercountysource.com
· 2026-04-19
Scammers are exploiting the Iran conflict to conduct fraud through imposter calls pretending to be banks or government agencies, romance scams involving military personnel supposedly deployed to Iran, and fake charities soliciting donations. These scams aim to steal money and personal information from victims by creating false urgency and credibility. To protect yourself, remember that government agencies never ask for financial information over the phone, be suspicious of online contacts asking for money, verify charities through ftc.gov/charity before donating, and report any suspected scams immediately to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
kanivatonga.co.nz
· 2026-04-19
Tonga's central bank has warned the public about a rising wave of romance scams targeting vulnerable people through social media and messaging apps, where scammers use fake identities to build emotional connections before manipulating victims into sending money or financial information. Common warning signs include declarations of love within days, requests for money tied to fabricated emergencies or travel costs, avoidance of video calls with excuses about working overseas, and pressure to move conversations to private encrypted apps. The bank advises people to remain vigilant and watch for red flags like requests for untraceable payments via cryptocurrency or gift cards, unusual investment offers, or requests for fees to claim supposed gifts.
kcrg.com
· 2026-04-18
The U.S. Secret Service is warning about "pig butchering," a rapidly growing cryptocurrency investment scam where fraudsters lure victims with promises of easy profits, start them with small investments that appear to grow dramatically, then disappear with the money when victims try to withdraw. The scam exploits people's lack of understanding about cryptocurrency and their excitement over apparent gains, with scammers often using personal information gathered online and unsolicited messages to build trust. To protect yourself, ignore random investment messages from strangers, be skeptical of promises of quick profits, and avoid clicking suspicious links—especially from unfamiliar contacts on encrypted messaging apps.
wyff4.com
· 2026-04-18
Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime in 2025, with cryptocurrency scams accounting for about half of those losses and older adults (60+) losing over $7.7 billion. The FBI identified artificial intelligence as a rapidly growing threat, with over 22,000 AI-related complaints totaling $893 million in losses, as criminals use AI to create convincing deepfakes, cloned voices, and fake profiles for business email compromises, romance scams, employment fraud, and investment schemes. To protect yourself, verify requests for money through independent channels, be skeptical of unsolicited job offers or investment opportunities, and watch for signs of AI-generated content like unnatural speech patterns or video inconsistencies.
wbrc.com
· 2026-04-18
The U.S. Secret Service is warning about "pig butchering," a rapidly growing cryptocurrency investment scam where fraudsters lure victims with small initial investments that appear to grow quickly, then disappear when victims try to withdraw their money. The scam exploits people's lack of understanding about crypto and their excitement over apparent profits, with perpetrators using random messages, personal details, and promises of quick returns to build trust. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited investment messages (especially from unknown contacts), be suspicious of offers promising easy profits, and avoid clicking links from unfamiliar sources.
governor.hawaii.gov
· 2026-04-17
Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has warned residents about investment scams spreading on Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), where scammers use deceptive ads and deepfake technology to trick people into fraudulent schemes like pump-and-dump scams, confidence scams, and cryptocurrency fraud. Victims are losing their savings to these increasingly sophisticated schemes that promise guaranteed returns. Consumers should be skeptical of investment advice on social media, verify opportunities before investing, and report any suspected scams to consumercomplaint.hawaii.gov.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-04-17
Americans lost approximately $21 billion to online scams in 2025, with seniors over 60 particularly vulnerable, losing $7.7 billion combined, according to FBI data. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated by using AI tools to create convincing deepfakes and personalized messages, with the average American receiving 14 scam messages daily, making it difficult even for cautious people to spot fraud. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unexpected messages even from seemingly trusted sources, verify requests through direct contact with the organization, and be aware that one-third of people struggle to distinguish deepfakes from legitimate videos.
jdsupra.com
· 2026-04-17
Americans lost over $20 billion to cybercrime in 2025, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, with criminals increasingly using cryptocurrency for money laundering and generative AI tools to create sophisticated scams like deepfakes and voice cloning. Older adults were hit particularly hard, experiencing dramatic increases in romance scams (up 30%), phishing attacks (up over 100%), and government impersonation schemes (nearly doubled). To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contacts requesting money or personal information, verify requests through official channels before responding, and be especially wary of AI-generated audio or video that seems suspicious.
azcapitoltimes.com
· 2026-04-17
Americans lost over $11 billion to cryptocurrency fraud between 2024 and 2025, with complaints rising 21%, according to FBI data showing California residents were hit hardest, followed by Texas, Florida, and New York. Seniors aged 60 and older were particularly vulnerable, accounting for more than $4.4 billion in losses. To protect themselves, consumers should be cautious with cryptocurrency investments and digital asset transfers, and residents can look to new state regulations—23 states have now enacted crypto ATM laws to help prevent these scams.
times.co.sz
· 2026-04-17
Foreign nationals operating in Eswatini defrauded unsuspecting victims of millions of Emalangeni through online scams, including "pig butchering" schemes, while funneling the stolen money into bank accounts in South Africa, Brazil, and other countries outside the kingdom. Police arrested several suspects and recovered about E10.2 million, but investigators believe the masterminds of these organized crime networks remain based offshore, using local operatives as the visible face of their fraud operations. To protect themselves, residents should be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, especially those promoted online, and verify investment platforms independently before depositing money.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-04-16
Cyberscammers operating from money-laundering centers are using illicit hacking tools sold on Telegram to bypass banks' facial recognition security checks, allowing them to open fraudulent accounts and launder money by replacing live camera feeds with static images or deepfakes. Researchers identified dozens of Telegram channels selling these "bypass kits" and stolen biometric data designed to circumvent Know Your Customer (KYC) safeguards at major banks and crypto platforms worldwide. To protect yourself, use strong authentication beyond facial recognition where available, monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity, and be cautious about sharing identity documents online—report any suspicious account access attempts to your bank immediately.
panewslab.com
· 2026-04-16
Authorities in Florida and Massachusetts recovered $5.4 million stolen through "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, where victims across multiple states were defrauded with amounts ranging from thousands to over $450,000 per person. The recovered funds have been distributed back to victims, with $700,000 returned to Florida residents and $1.3 million to Massachusetts residents. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, especially those involving cryptocurrency or promises of quick returns, and verify any investment offers through official channels before sending money.
dailyhodl.com
· 2026-04-16
An international law enforcement operation called "Operation Atlantic" involving agencies from the UK, US, and Canada has frozen over $12 million in cryptocurrency tied to approval phishing scams and identified more than 20,000 victims across these countries. Approval phishing is a fraud tactic where scammers trick victims into signing blockchain transactions that grant them access to steal funds from wallets, often after weeks of grooming through fake investment schemes. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, verify requests through official channels before signing any blockchain transactions, and never grant wallet access to unknown parties.
aol.com
· 2026-04-16
Florida authorities recovered $5.4 million stolen from romance and investment cryptocurrency scams that primarily targeted seniors across Florida and Massachusetts, with victims receiving refunds totaling $2 million. The scam affected residents in six Florida counties and Massachusetts, with one victim losing over $450,000 before learning their funds were recovered. To protect yourself, be cautious of romantic relationships that quickly pivot to investment opportunities, especially involving cryptocurrency, and report suspected scams to local law enforcement immediately rather than assuming your money is gone.
tradingview.com
· 2026-04-16
A fake Ledger cryptocurrency wallet app on Apple's App Store scammed over 50 investors out of $9.5 million between April 7-13 by using a "bait-and-switch" tactic to trick users into sharing their security seed phrases. Apple has since removed the fraudulent app and terminated the developer, though the company notes it removed over 17,000 apps for similar deceptive practices in 2024 alone. Crypto investors are advised to verify apps through third-party platforms and be cautious of apps that suddenly change their appearance or descriptions, as scammers increasingly use sophisticated impersonation tactics to steal digital assets.
yahoo.com
· 2026-04-15
Florida's attorney general recovered millions in cryptocurrency from a romance scam scheme where fraudsters posed as romantic interests to lure victims into fake investment opportunities, marking the largest single state-wide cryptocurrency recovery. The scam affected victims across six Florida counties and as far away as Massachusetts. To protect yourself, be cautious of online romantic connections that quickly pivot to investment opportunities, verify investment opportunities through official channels, and never send money or cryptocurrency to people you've only met online.
forbes.com
· 2026-04-15
AI-generated scams are rapidly increasing, with the FBI receiving over 22,000 complaints in 2025 reporting AI fraud losses exceeding $893 million, though experts believe the actual number is much higher since many victims don't report due to shame. Common scams include romance/confidence schemes, banking fraud, sextortion targeting teenagers, and deepfake job interview scams, with vulnerable populations like seniors, isolated individuals, and young adults being particularly targeted. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact from people you know, verify requests through alternative channels before sharing personal information or funds, and report any suspected AI scams to authorities rather than staying silent out of embarrassment.
securityaffairs.com
· 2026-04-15
Law enforcement agencies from the US, UK, and Canada coordinated in Operation Atlantic to disrupt cryptocurrency theft schemes, identifying over $45 million in stolen digital assets and freezing approximately $12 million for return to victims. The operation targeted "approval phishing" scams, a fraud tactic where criminals trick users into granting unauthorized access to their cryptocurrency wallets through fake prompts and websites, affecting more than 20,000 victims across the three countries. To protect yourself, be cautious of unexpected approval requests for your crypto wallet, verify that websites and apps are legitimate before entering credentials, and never grant access permissions to unfamiliar sources.
nypost.com
· 2026-04-14
An 82-year-old retired sportswriter lost nearly $270,000 of his life savings in a "pig-butchering" scam after being contacted by someone posing as a young woman named "Daisy Miller" who built a romantic relationship with him before convincing him to invest in gold futures. The scammer used personalized details, glamorous photos, and emotional manipulation to gain his trust over 10 weeks, exploiting Levine's loneliness despite some of his own attempts to verify the person's identity. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited romantic advances from strangers online, especially those who quickly pivot to investment opportunities, and verify claims through official channels before sending any money.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2026-04-14
Law enforcement agencies from the UK, US, and Canada collaborated in "Operation Atlantic" to combat approval phishing scams, where criminals trick victims into granting access to their cryptocurrency wallets through fake alerts and popups. The week-long operation identified over 20,000 victims across 30+ countries, froze $12 million in stolen crypto, and shut down 120 fraudulent websites. To protect yourself, be cautious of unexpected alerts or requests for wallet access, verify communications directly with official apps or services rather than clicking links in messages, and use multi-factor authentication on crypto accounts.
southfloridareporter.com
· 2026-04-14
The FBI reported record cybercrime losses of $20.9 billion in 2025, with cryptocurrency fraud alone reaching $11.4 billion—more than half of all reported losses and representing a 400-fold increase since 2017. Victims of crypto scams lose an average of $62,604 per incident, far exceeding losses from other types of cybercrime, with investment fraud schemes being the most destructive category. The FBI warns that criminals are increasingly using AI to bypass security measures and exploit victims, so people should be extremely cautious about unsolicited investment opportunities, verify the legitimacy of platforms independently, and avoid sending money or crypto to unknown parties.
cryptopolitan.com
· 2026-04-14
Crypto exchange Kraken discovered that two of its support employees illegally accessed customer data on approximately 2,000 accounts, which criminals then used to extort the company by threatening to release sensitive videos unless paid. Kraken refused to negotiate with the attackers, terminated the employees, and is working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to identify the culprits. The incident highlights a growing threat across the crypto industry where criminals target company insiders to gain unauthorized access to customer information.
bitget.com
· 2026-04-14
A woman in her fifties in Hong Kong lost over $2 million to a romance scammer who posed as a "cryptocurrency investment expert" on Instagram, building trust through fake romantic interest before pressuring her to make multiple cash transfers for supposed risk-free investments. The scammer initially requested an account opening fee of $40,000, then convinced the victim to visit currency exchange shops seven times to buy cryptocurrency and transfer it to his account before disappearing. Hong Kong police are urging the public to be suspicious of online acquaintances claiming investment expertise and to pause before transferring money for any investment opportunity.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2026-04-14
Cryptocurrency fraud cost Americans $11.4 billion in 2025, with older adults aged 60 and above losing $4.4 billion—making them the primary targets due to their accumulated savings and unfamiliarity with digital assets. Scammers typically build trust through social media and email by posing as financial advisers, showing fake profit dashboards, then disappear once victims try to withdraw funds. The FBI recommends older Americans verify investment opportunities independently, avoid unsolicited crypto investment offers, and be suspicious of pressure to invest quickly or use unfamiliar platforms.