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in Money Mules / Laundering
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old South Florida woman, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for laundering over $2.7 million from romance scam victims, keeping a portion for herself while transferring the remainder to overseas conspirators. Romance scams involve fraudsters establishing fake online relationships to manipulate victims into sending money under false pretenses such as emergencies or investment opportunities. Petitfrere was ordered to forfeit $203,815.59 in personal proceeds.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Cristine Petitfrere, a Florida resident, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for laundering over $2.7 million from romance scams, earning hundreds of thousands in fees while working with a co-conspirator. Romance scams caused Americans $1.14 billion in losses in 2023, with elderly and vulnerable individuals disproportionately affected by both the financial losses and emotional harm.
wsvn.com
· 2025-12-08
Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old from Miramar, Florida, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for laundering over $2.7 million in proceeds from romance scams that defrauded American victims. She pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was ordered to forfeit $203,815.59 in personal profits after funneling victim funds to overseas co-conspirators through schemes involving fake online personas used to solicit money for false emergencies and investment opportunities.
cnbctv18.com
· 2025-12-08
YouTuber Ankush Bahuguna fell victim to a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonating law enforcement held him hostage for nearly 40 hours, claiming he was linked to illegal items and threatening arrest for money laundering and drug trafficking. The scammers used spoofed phone numbers, fake police officers in video calls, and personal information to manipulate him into isolating himself at a hotel and causing significant financial and mental distress. Bahuguna shared his experience publicly to raise awareness, urging people to verify suspicious calls directly with authorities and emphasizing that scammers use personalized research to exploit victims through panic and fear.
startupnews.fyi
· 2025-12-08
A victim named Bahuguna fell prey to a "digital arrest" scam after answering a spoofed international call claiming his courier delivery was cancelled. Scammers convinced him that a package in his name contained illegal items, fabricated an arrest warrant, impersonated a police officer via fake video call, and coerced him into isolating himself in a hotel while threatening serious consequences for money laundering and drug trafficking charges. The victim suffered financial losses and severe mental health impacts, but friends' intervention helped him recognize the fraud; he now advocates awareness and vigilance, noting that cybercriminals use personalized research and panic tactics to manipulate victims into complying with their demands.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Ankush Bahuguna, a popular YouTuber, fell victim to a sophisticated digital arrest scam lasting 40 hours after receiving a fraudulent call claiming a package in his name contained illegal items. The scammers impersonated police officers via video call, accused him of money laundering and drug trafficking, isolated him from outside contact, and attempted to coerce him into making suspicious bank transactions before a friend's intervention helped him recognize the fraud. Bahuguna publicly shared his experience to raise awareness about this type of threatening scam and encourage others to remain vigilant against similar fraudulent calls.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
YouTuber Ankush Bahuguna fell victim to a digital arrest scam in which scammers impersonated law enforcement, falsely claiming he was involved in illegal package shipping, money laundering, and drug trafficking, and held him under "digital arrest" for approximately 40 hours while coercing him to isolate from the outside world. The scam began with an automated call about a cancelled courier delivery, escalated through manipulation using his personal information, and resulted in financial losses and significant mental health impacts. Bahuguna publicly shared his experience to raise awareness and educate others about the sophisticated tactics scammers use to control and panic victims into compliance.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Vidya, a marketing consultant, lost Rs 6 crore to a "digital arrest" scam in September 2024 in which criminals posing as officials convinced her to liquidate assets and transfer funds while keeping her under fake video surveillance. Through persistent follow-up with law enforcement, bank connections, and court orders, she recovered approximately Rs 60.4 lakh (about one-tenth of the loss), though the case reveals significant systemic failures in money tracing, inter-agency coordination, and bank accountability in recovering scammed funds.
dnaindia.com
· 2025-12-08
Popular YouTuber Ankush Bahuguna fell victim to a digital arrest scam in January 2024, during which scammers held him hostage for approximately 40 hours by impersonating customs officials and police officers. The scammers manipulated him through fake calls claiming illegal items were found in a package sent to China, threatened him with serious criminal charges including money laundering and drug trafficking, and extracted money from him while causing significant financial and mental health damage. Bahuguna publicly shared his experience on Instagram to raise awareness about the growing threat of digital arrest scams and how extensively scammers can control victims.
dlnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong authorities dismantled a criminal syndicate that used deepfake technology and dating apps to defraud victims across Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia of over HK$34 million. The operation involved 31 arrested individuals who created fake online personas using AI-generated images to establish romantic relationships with victims, then manipulated them into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms where withdrawal attempts were blocked by fake fees. This "pig butchering" scam operation is part of a global trend that siphoned $4.4 billion in 2023, with authorities seizing HK$100 million in suspected criminal assets.
hongkongfp.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 31 people operating a deepfake-enabled romance and cryptocurrency investment scam that targeted victims in Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore, resulting in losses exceeding HK$34 million. The syndicate recruited local youth to pose as attractive women on dating apps using deepfake technology, building trust with victims before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms. Five leaders were charged with conspiracy to defraud and money laundering, while authorities plan international cooperation to pursue further investigations.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio highlighted its 2024 elder fraud prosecutions as part of the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiatives, noting that senior citizens lose billions annually to schemes exploiting their trust. Notable cases included a caregiver who forged power of attorney documents and stole $46,064 from a nursing home resident, a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 72 investors of $8.5 million, and various impersonation and money-mule schemes targeting elderly victims, with sentences ranging from 16 months to 37 months in prison and restitution orders totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Two retired government employees in Mumbai fell victim to separate digital arrest scams in November. A 68-year-old retired banker lost Rs 1.2 crore after being threatened with false allegations of money laundering and terrorism, while a 74-year-old retired Income Tax officer was defrauded of Rs 25 lakh through fake letters from the I-T department and RBI claiming involvement in a money laundering case. Both victims were isolated through video calls and threatened with arrest before liquidating their savings, though the second victim eventually recognized inconsistencies in the fraudulent documents and reported the scam to police.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Rebecca C. Lutzko announced her resignation as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, effective January 3, 2025, with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik assuming the role. During her tenure leading approximately 175 prosecutors and staff, Lutzko's office oversaw prosecutions involving violent crime, organized gang activity, financial crime, public corruption, drug trafficking, child exploitation, and cybercrime, while also recovering tens of millions of dollars in healthcare fraud and civil cases across Ohio's 40 northern counties.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old woman in South Mumbai lost Rs 1.51 crore to online fraudsters who impersonated Delhi Police officials and courier company staff, claiming her parcel to the US contained drugs and currency. The scammers coerced her into transferring the money by threatening arrest and showing forged legal documents during video calls. The Mumbai cyber police have registered a case for extortion, cheating, and criminal intimidation and are investigating through bank account details and call records.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old woman from Mumbai lost Rs 1.5 crore after scammers posing as Delhi police and government officials convinced her she was under investigation for money laundering and drug trafficking in connection with a food courier package sent to her daughter in the US. The fraudsters conducted video calls in fake police uniforms, showed fabricated arrest warrants and investigation reports, and pressured her into revealing banking details and transferring the money to their accounts. She discovered the scam only after discussing it with a family member and reported it to Mumbai Police's Cybercrime Cell.
livemint.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old woman from South Mumbai lost ₹1.51 crore in a cyber scam where fraudsters impersonated police officials and government representatives, claiming she was under investigation for money laundering and drug offenses. The scammers initiated contact by falsely claiming illegal items were in a courier package she sent to her daughter in the US, then convinced her to transfer funds to protect her assets through forged documents and video calls with actors in police uniforms. She discovered the fraud only after discussing the situation with family and reported it to authorities; police advise the public to verify caller identities and avoid sharing personal details over the phone.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old woman in Mumbai lost ₹1.5 crore to scammers posing as Delhi Special Investigation Team (SIT) officers in a "digital arrest" fraud, where they falsely claimed she was under investigation for money laundering and threatened her with criminal action. The fraudsters manipulated her through staged video calls with fake warrants and pressured her into transferring ₹1.15 crore to their accounts before she discovered the scam through conversation with a relative and reported it to police.
news9live.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old Mumbai woman lost Rs 1.5 crore (approximately $180,000 USD) to cybercriminals posing as Delhi Police Special Investigation Team officers who falsely accused her of money laundering and drug offences after she sent a courier package to her daughter in the United States. The scammers conducted fake video calls in police uniforms with forged documents, pressuring her to transfer funds to "secure" her assets during the purported investigation. She discovered the fraud only after discussing the incident with a family member and reported it to Mumbai Police Cybercrime Cell, which noted the scammers had distributed the stolen funds across multiple accounts.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old woman in Mumbai lost Rs 1.51 crore (~$182,000 USD) to a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonated Delhi police and accused her of money laundering involving a supposedly intercepted parcel containing drugs and cash. The perpetrators used fake video calls with forged warrants and coerced the victim into transferring funds by threatening arrest, exploiting psychological pressure despite awareness campaigns about such scams. Police have launched an investigation into what authorities believe is an organized cybercrime syndicate, while experts emphasize the need for elderly individuals to verify caller claims and avoid sharing sensitive financial information.
indepthnh.org
· 2025-12-08
This article is an editor's note and press release announcing the resignation of US Attorney Jane E. Young, effective January 17, 2025, after serving since May 2022. The piece details her office's prosecutorial achievements, including cases involving financial fraud (such as romance scams and pandemic relief fraud), elder and child exploitation, and violent crime, with notable cases resulting in significant prison sentences and restitution orders totaling millions of dollars to victims. While the article mentions Young's work on fraud and elder exploitation cases, it is not itself about a specific scam or fraud incident, but rather a personnel announcement highlighting her office's law enforcement accomplishments.
dvidshub.net
· 2025-12-08
An estimated $10 billion was lost to online fraud in the United States last year, with scammers targeting seniors through romance scams, government imposter schemes, tech support fraud, and investment scams that exploit emotions and fear rather than technical sophistication. Common tactics include posing as romantic interests to solicit travel costs, impersonating government agencies demanding immediate payment via gift cards or cash, displaying fake virus alerts on computers, and offering unrealistic investment returns before disappearing with victims' funds. Experts recommend verifying unexpected contacts independently, keeping emotions in check during high-pressure situations, and confirming urgent requests from family members by hanging up and calling them back directly.
etvbharat.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Cyber Police Kashmir recovered Rs 4.72 crore from victims of various online frauds and dismantled criminal networks by cracking down on 1,833 fake SIM cards and recovering 150 stolen phones. The unit resolved 577 complaints through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, registered 30 FIRs, and charge-sheeted 10 cases, while also conducting public awareness workshops across schools, universities, and government offices. Officials highlighted that investment scams (pig butchering schemes) remain prevalent, targeting vulnerable groups through social media platforms, and emphasized that public education is critical to preventing cybercrime.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old senior citizen in Mumbai was defrauded of Rs 8.5 lakh in December through a digital detention scam in which a fraudster impersonated a policeman, claimed the victim's Aadhaar number was linked to money laundering, and coerced him into making an immediate bank transfer while holding him hostage online for four hours. Mumbai police used unconventional tactics by stationing officers at the beneficiary bank account in Surat to apprehend four accused during withdrawal attempts rather than freezing the account, which led to arrests of account recruiters and a money facilitator, though the mastermind remains at large and cryptocurrency conversion is suspecte
siasat.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, India experienced a surge in digital scams targeting individual citizens, with reported losses of approximately Rs 1,750 crore (about $210 million USD) across over 740,000 complaints, according to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. Major scam types included digital arrest fraud (affecting 92,323 victims who were threatened by impersonators claiming to be law enforcement), TRAI fraud calls, online investment scams, and dating fraud schemes that exploited victims through social media and dating apps. The Indian government predicts losses could reach Rs 1.2 lakh crore ($14.4 billion USD) in 2025
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Bank employees, typically low-paid staff with access to customer data, have been selling personal information to online fraudsters through platforms like Telegram, facilitating sophisticated scams targeting Americans' savings. Notable cases include a Toronto-Dominion Bank employee who leaked information on 255 checks and 70 customers, and a Navy Federal Credit Union staffer whose data breach exposed approximately 50 accounts to over 2,700 subscribers; TD Bank faced a $3 billion settlement partly due to employee involvement in fraud schemes, including one branch manager who stole over $200,000 from an elderly deceased customer's account. Elder fraud complaints to the FBI increased 14% last year with 11
seattletimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto-Dominion Bank employee in New York used her access to customer data to distribute sensitive information to criminals on Telegram, a pattern that reflects a broader vulnerability in US banking where low-paid staff members are selling customer details to fraudsters. The scheme is particularly concerning given that US retirees face over $28 billion in estimated annual elder fraud losses, and con artists with insider information about wealthy customers can more effectively target victims. Banks have resisted stronger regulatory requirements to protect customers despite years of warnings about insider data breaches, with some cases involving sophisticated fraud rings operating on the dark web and social media platforms.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto-Dominion Bank employee in New York used her access to customer data to distribute sensitive information to criminals via Telegram, a case that exemplifies a broader pattern of low-paid bank employees selling customer details to fraudsters across the United States. Detectives found images of 255 customer cheques and personal information on approximately 70 others on her phone, with similar schemes documented at major financial institutions and credit unions. This insider vulnerability is particularly concerning given that US retirees face record elder fraud losses exceeding $28 billion annually, as scammers with inside knowledge of customers' finances can target victims more effectively.
siasat.com
· 2025-12-08
An 89-year-old retiree in Hyderabad lost Rs 9.55 lakhs in a digital impersonation scam in which a fraudster posed as a Mumbai Police officer via WhatsApp, falsely claiming the victim was involved in a money laundering case. The scammer used intimidation tactics including a video call in police uniform, forged documents allegedly signed by the Chief Justice of India, and threats of FIR and imprisonment to coerce the victim into transferring funds through RTGS. The victim reported the fraud to authorities after realizing the deception when the scammer demanded additional money.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On December 11, 2024, a federal grand jury in Tucson indicted Ahmed Maqbul Syed (57) and Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi (27), both Indian citizens, for conspiracy to launder money derived from tech support scams targeting elderly victims across the United States. The scheme used fake pop-up warnings to convince victims their computers were compromised, then directed them to fraudsters posing as tech support or government officials who instructed victims to withdraw cash, purchase gold and gift cards, and deposit money into bitcoin ATMs. Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 fines if convicte
ktvu.com
· 2025-12-08
An 84-year-old Santa Rosa woman lost over $600,000 to cyber fraudsters who impersonated the Department of Treasury and Wells Fargo, claiming her devices were hacked and threatening her with arrest if she didn't comply with their instructions. Over six weeks, she withdrew large sums from her bank account, purchased gold bars at a local rare coins shop, and unwittingly acted as a mule to transport additional gold purchased by another victim in Pennsylvania. The scheme relied on fear and isolation—she told no one about the "investigation"—and while bank employees and the coin shop flagged concerns, the transactions proceeded, ultimately depleting her accounts and financial security.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
New South Wales has the highest reported rates of dating and romance scams in Australia, with victims—predominantly aged 50-80—losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to fraudsters posing as romantic interests. One victim lost $400,000 over years of repeated scams, while a private investigator's clients have collectively lost $2.9 million, though cyber fraud remains significantly under-reported with victims often reluctant to come forward due to embarrassment and denial. Families frequently intervene on behalf of affected loved ones, and support from trusted people is crucial in encouraging victims to report scams to authorities.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 41-year-old bank clerk in Malaysia lost ₹20.29 lakh (RM115,950) in a Macau scam between September and November when fraudsters impersonating police officers and prosecutors convinced her to open a new bank account and transfer funds under the guise of an investigation into alleged money laundering. The victim filed a police report in December 2024, and authorities are investigating. Similar digital arrest scams are rising in India, where criminals impersonate telecom and police officials to pressure victims into transferring money by falsely claiming their phone numbers are being misused for illegal activities.
rappler.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercrime has evolved from isolated attacks into a sophisticated, organized industry using social engineering tactics (phishing, romance scams, identity theft) that exploit human psychology rather than technical complexity. Criminal networks operate like businesses with specialized roles and "crime-as-a-service" models, often employing lower-skilled workers—some coerced through human trafficking—while higher-tier operators profit substantially. Law enforcement faces significant challenges in tracing and prosecuting cybercriminals due to anonymity tools and cross-border operations, as demonstrated by Interpol's Operation Storm Makers II targeting Southeast Asian fraud networks in 2023.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
A 44-year-old technician in Johor Baru lost RM172,000 after being lured into a fake investment scheme via WhatsApp that promised 400% returns; he was directed to download a fraudulent app and make 13 transfers before the scammer demanded an additional RM620,000 to release his profits. In a separate incident, a 55-year-old woman was defrauded of RM70,000 by an impostor claiming to be from a police station who tricked her into linking her bank account for a fake money-laundering investigation. Police urged the public to verify unsolicited offers and calls, and reminded scam victims to contact
atg.wa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that Metropolitan Commercial Bank will pay $10 million to the state as part of a fraud recovery initiative that has collected over $52 million from financial institutions that accepted stolen COVID-19 pandemic unemployment funds. Criminals stole more than $15 million from Washington's unemployment fund in 2020 using fake identities and MovoCash, a fintech company sponsored by Metropolitan, which failed to implement adequate anti-fraud and money-laundering safeguards. This marks the second phase of Ferguson's investigation—the first to pursue fintech companies through state consumer protection laws—following an initial phase that recovered $42 million from 26 financial institutions through asset forfeiture.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides six free strategies for protecting finances from fraud, particularly during high-risk periods like the holiday season. The recommended safeguards include staying informed about trending scams (adoption, romance, grandparent, and elder fraud), freezing credit with major bureaus when not applying for loans, enabling multi-factor authentication on accounts, using password managers to create strong unique passwords, avoiding clicking links or calling numbers in unsolicited communications, and monitoring accounts regularly for suspicious activity. These preventive measures require no financial investment but can significantly reduce vulnerability to identity theft and fraud year-round.
aba.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for this content. What you've shared appears to be a navigation menu or table of contents from a banking industry website (likely the American Bankers Association), not an article or transcript about a specific scam, fraud case, or elder abuse incident.
To help you, please provide:
- An actual article or news story about a scam/fraud case
- A transcript of an interview or account of fraudulent activity
- An educational piece about fraud prevention tactics
Once you share the relevant content, I'll be happy to create a concise summary for the Elderus database.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Two former Cincinnati high school football players, Andrew Kerobo and Deonta Belser, both 25, have been indicted on 40 counts including aggravated theft, money laundering, and tampering with records in a $6.8 million COVID-19 unemployment fraud scheme. Kerobo, who worked for a state contractor processing unemployment claims, used his credentials to fraudulently release benefits even after being fired, while Belser recruited co-conspirators to file false claims; the two men and 15 other co-conspirators received portions of the fraudulent funds, with Kerobo personally obtaining nearly $119,000 in fraudulent benefits.
agassizharrisonobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary of this content. What you've shared appears to be a website navigation menu and headline listings from a British Columbia news publication, not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.
To help you, please provide the full text of an actual article related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse that you'd like summarized for the Elderus database.
fox19.com
· 2025-12-08
Two former Cincinnati high school football players, Andrew Kerobo, 25, and Deonta Belser, 25, were indicted on 40 counts including aggravated theft, money laundering, and tampering with records for their roles in a $6.8 million COVID-19 pandemic unemployment fraud scheme. Kerobo, who worked for a state contractor processing unemployment claims, used his login credentials after being fired to fraudulently access and release benefits, while Belser recruited co-conspirators to file false claims; the pair received portions of the fraudulent funds, with Kerobo obtaining approximately $119,000 on prepaid cards. The investigation involved multiple state and federal
cincinnati.com
· 2025-12-08
Two former Cincinnati high school football players, Andrew Kerobo and Deonta Belser, both 25, were indicted on 40 counts including aggravated theft, money laundering, and tampering with records for fraudulently obtaining $6.8 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits. Kerobo, who worked for a state contractor processing unemployment claims in 2020, continued accessing the claims database for three months after his termination using undeactivated login credentials, while Belser recruited co-conspirators to file fraudulent claims; Kerobo personally received approximately $119,000 in fraudulent benefits on prepaid cards.
fincen.gov
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN issued an alert warning the public about fraudsters impersonating FinCEN officials or misusing the agency's name, insignia, and authority to perpetrate financial scams, including schemes exploiting beneficial ownership reporting and the Money Services Business Registration tool. FinCEN emphasized that legitimate officials will never threaten, demand immediate payment, or contact people via unsolicited email, call, or text, and urged the public to report suspected impersonation to the Treasury Inspector General, FTC, and FBI. Victims aged 60 and older can report fraud to the Department of Justice's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Enorense Izevbigie, a leader of the "Black Axe" crime organization, was extradited from South Africa to face federal charges in New Jersey for operating a decade-long romance scam and advance fee fraud scheme from 2011 to 2021. Izevbigie and his conspirators used fake identities on social media and dating websites to defraud U.S. victims of money and valuables, sometimes threatening to distribute intimate photos to coerce payments, then laundered the proceeds through U.S. bank accounts to South Africa. He faces two counts of wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy, each carrying up to 20 years in prison
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old Bengaluru resident lost ₹1.94 crore from his fixed deposit after falling victim to a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonating Mumbai crime branch officers accused him of money laundering and held him under fake digital arrest for seven days. The scammers contacted him via WhatsApp video call on November 30, claimed his ATM card was seized in connection with Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, and coerced him into transferring funds in multiple installments while threatening him to remain silent. He discovered the fraud only when he confided in his daughter on December 7, who helped him file a police complaint with the southeast
india.com
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old senior citizen in Bengaluru lost Rs 1.94 crore (approximately $233,000 USD) in a "digital arrest" scam that occurred on November 30. The victim received a WhatsApp video call from a scammer posing as a Mumbai police officer who accused him of involvement in a money laundering case, then coerced him into transferring funds over seven days under the guise of a fake "digital arrest" investigation. The fraud was discovered when the victim's daughter learned of the scheme and reported it to police.
thelivenagpur.com
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old man in Nagpur lost Rs 5.08 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam between December 4-6, when fraudsters called claiming his mobile number was linked to money laundering and threatened immediate arrest. The victim was manipulated into transferring the funds online before realizing the deception. Ajni Police registered a case under BNS Section 318(4) and IT Act provisions, with the investigation ongoing.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Between January and September 2024, merchandise scams on platforms like Facebook Marketplace cost Canadians $7.1 million, with Ontario accounting for $2.6 million of losses. A Ontario woman lost $50 after a seller on Facebook Marketplace took her e-transfer payment for cast iron planters that were never delivered, and police note common red flags include sellers being overly eager, offering full price without negotiation, or requesting payment through third-party links. Authorities advise online buyers and sellers to question suspicious offers, verify addresses, and report fraud to help combat these scams that often involve money laundering schemes.
myjoyonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Ghanaian nationals, 34-year-old Wigbert Bandie and 30-year-old Adam Khadijah, were sentenced in November 2024 to 63 and 30 months in prison, respectively, by a U.S. federal judge in Tennessee for internet fraud and money laundering. From June through December 2019, the defendants conducted romance and advance-fee scams via social media, impersonating overseas individuals and fake gold shippers to defraud at least 11 victims, including one victim (Richard Coleman) who lost $73,550; Bandie was ordered to pay $2.18 million in restitution.
taipeitimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Educational/Prevention Advice
An expert psychiatrist in Taiwan recommends three preventive measures to protect elderly people from fraud: regular cognitive function assessments to detect early impairment, reducing alone time through social engagement and community activities, and holding major assets in trusts or guardianship arrangements. The advice comes amid rising elderly fraud cases in Taiwan, including a retired physician who lost over NT$10 million and actress Tan Ai-chen who lost over NT$1 million, with scammers typically targeting seniors during daytime hours when family members are at work.