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detroitnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Mohammad Gazi, 49, of Warren, was charged with defrauding a Waterford Township senior of over $40,000 through a computer security scam in which he posed as a representative and instructed the victim to withdraw and hand over cash in multiple transactions. In a separate case, Vedantkumar Bhupenbhai Patel, 25, of Toledo, was charged with scamming an elderly Macomb County couple out of $50,000 via a fraudulent email claiming they had pending child pornography charges and instructing them to withdraw cash for a supposed U.S. Treasury agent pickup.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old retired Maharashtra government official lost Rs 4.2 crore in a sophisticated digital arrest scam that began in April when fraudsters impersonated telecom and law enforcement officials, falsely claiming money laundering charges and an arrest warrant against him. The scammers used fake video calls simulating a Supreme Court hearing, the fabricated concept of "digital arrest" with threats of surveillance, and psychological pressure to coerce the victim into transferring his life savings to accounts they claimed were government-monitored. The fraud was only discovered when the victim's son investigated the transactions and confirmed the scam.
troutman.com
· 2025-12-08
On May 12, 2025, the DOJ's Criminal Division announced updated white-collar enforcement priorities and policies, including a revised Corporate Enforcement Policy and expanded Corporate Whistleblower Awards Program. The Division's new focus areas include rooting out fraud against government programs (healthcare, procurement), trade fraud, elder fraud, investment fraud (Ponzi schemes, securities fraud), and crimes involving transnational criminal organizations and money laundering. Companies are advised to strengthen compliance programs, internal reporting mechanisms, and review hiring practices and government program participation to align with the Division's heightened enforcement priorities.
mwe.com
· 2025-12-08
This document outlines the US Department of Justice's updated White-Collar Enforcement Plan announced in May 2025, which aims to balance corporate criminal enforcement with reducing burden on businesses. The revised approach maintains focus on priority areas including fraud (healthcare, federal programs, securities, and elder fraud), trade/customs violations, and national security threats, while implementing changes such as fee caps on monitors, shorter investigation timelines, and increased opportunities for early case termination. The policy shift reflects the administration's view that previous enforcement strategies were too costly to American enterprise, though DOJ reaffirms its commitment to white-collar crime prosecution.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reported that internet-related crime reached a five-year high in 2024, with victims losing $16.6 billion across approximately 860,000 complaints—a 33% increase from 2023. Individuals aged 60 and older suffered the largest financial losses at $4.8 billion, with the most common scams being phishing/spoofing, cryptocurrency fraud, and extortion, while investment fraud, business email compromise, and tech support fraud were the costliest schemes overall.
bostonglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
Craig Clayton, a 75-year-old Rhode Island accountant, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice for laundering over $35 million in proceeds from internet fraud schemes targeting elderly victims through romance and business scams between 2019 and 2021. Clayton used his consulting business and shell companies, including Providence Sanitizer Inc., to process the fraudulent funds and transfer money to accounts in multiple countries, while lying to authorities about his activities. Under his plea agreement, Clayton faces 2.5 to 6.5 years in prison, must pay $140,000 in restitution, and forfeit over $330,000 and a vehicle.
afslaw.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice announced updated white-collar enforcement priorities, identifying 10 "high-impact areas" for prosecution including investment fraud, elder fraud, health care fraud, and market manipulation schemes. The announcement included revised policies for corporate enforcement, voluntary self-disclosure, and a whistleblower awards program designed to incentivize reporting of misconduct and provide fairer, more transparent prosecution standards.
lexology.com
· 2025-12-08
On May 12, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced new enforcement priorities for white collar crime prosecution, emphasizing a balanced approach between prosecuting corporate wrongdoing and minimizing burdens on businesses. The announcement identifies 10 high-impact focus areas for prosecutors, including healthcare fraud, trade/customs fraud, and notably elder fraud schemes involving investment fraud and Ponzi schemes. The DOJ's revised guidance emphasizes fairness through alternatives to prosecution and efficiency in investigations, representing a significant shift in the current administration's approach to white collar enforcement.
seattletimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 29-year-old New Jersey man, Zabi Ullah Mohammed, was arrested for wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and impersonating a federal agent in connection with a scam that defrauded a Missoula, Montana woman of nearly $1 million. The scam began with a fraudulent call claiming to be from Amazon, which escalated into impersonation of federal officials (Social Security Department and a U.S. Marshal named Carlos Silva) who convinced the victim to withdraw her money for "legalization" and safekeeping. Between April 2-18, over $900,000 in cash and gold were picked up from the victim's home
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Researchers published 1,000 email addresses linked to North Korean IT worker scams targeting Western companies, while cryptocurrency money laundering platforms Xinbi Guarantee ($8.4 billion) and Haowang Guarantee ($27 billion in transactions) were dismantled following Telegram's crackdown. Additionally, Coinbase disclosed a data breach affecting less than 1% of its users where attackers compromised personal and financial information through bribed overseas support agents, with remediation costs expected between $180-$400 million.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division announced updated white-collar enforcement policies on May 12, 2025, focusing on ten high-impact areas including health care fraud, securities fraud, Ponzi schemes, and money laundering. The revised Corporate Enforcement Policy offers greater incentives for companies that voluntarily self-report misconduct, fully cooperate, and remediate, while also expanding opportunities for corporate whistleblowers. The DOJ's renewed emphasis on corporate criminal enforcement prioritizes cases involving senior-level personnel, demonstrable financial losses, and obstruction of justice, indicating continued robust prosecution despite earlier speculation of reduced white-collar enforcement activity.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Justice's Criminal Division issued a memorandum outlining new enforcement priorities for white-collar crime prosecution under the "focus" tenet, which directs prosecutors to concentrate on cases posing significant threats to U.S. interests. Elder fraud, securities fraud, health care fraud, money laundering, and crimes targeting U.S. investors are among the prioritized areas, with emphasis on cases involving senior-level personnel, demonstrable losses, and victim compensation through asset forfeiture. The Department also expanded its Corporate Whistleblower Awards Program to incentivize reporting of fraud in these priority areas.
lifestyle.thecable.ng
· 2025-12-08
Singer Peter "Mr P" Okoye testified in a fraud trial against his elder brother Jude Okoye and Jude's company Northside Music Ltd, which is accused of laundering N1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59. Mr P claimed that Jude's wife Ifeoma owns 80% of Northside Music while Jude owns 20%, and that the company operated illegally for two years before the Psquare group disbanded, allegedly using over 47 bank accounts to receive royalties. The case has been adjourned to May 23, 2025.
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an elder fraud news article. The document is a May 2025 Department of Justice policy memorandum outlining white-collar crime enforcement priorities for the Trump administration. While the memorandum lists "elder fraud" as one of several high-impact areas for prosecution alongside securities fraud, investment fraud, and Ponzi schemes, it provides no specific case information, victim details, or dollar amounts related to elder fraud incidents. This is a policy/enforcement guidance document rather than reporting on an actual fraud case or elder abuse event.
gibsondunn.com
· 2025-12-08
On May 12, 2025, the DOJ Criminal Division announced a new White-Collar Enforcement Plan and updated guidance documents that emphasize an "America First" approach prioritizing prosecution of fraud schemes targeting vulnerable populations, government program fraud, and crimes affecting national security and U.S. businesses. The guidance signals a shift toward considering the impact of investigations on legitimate businesses while maintaining focus on dishonest actors, foreign corruption, and trade enforcement violations.
aoshearman.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes a Department of Justice memorandum on white-collar crime enforcement that prioritizes "Focus, Fairness, and Efficiency" in corporate criminal prosecutions. The memo identifies ten high-impact enforcement areas, including fraud targeting investors and individuals (specifically naming Ponzi schemes, investment scams, and elder fraud), government program fraud, trade fraud, and financial crimes threatening national security. The policy aims to balance aggressive prosecution of serious corporate wrongdoing with avoiding overreach that would burden legitimate businesses and innovation.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
On May 12, 2025, the DOJ's Criminal Division issued a memorandum recalibrating white-collar crime enforcement around three principles: Focus (targeting the most urgent threats), Fairness (prioritizing individual accountability while providing clearer guidance for cooperating companies), and Efficiency (streamlining investigations). The DOJ identified 10 priority enforcement areas, including healthcare fraud, elder fraud, investment fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, and trade violations, signaling a targeted approach to white-collar crimes that harm public finances, investors, and national security.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced 22 new indictments against individuals and entities involved in a fraudulent sober living home scheme, with charges including money laundering, theft, conspiracy, fraudulent schemes, patient referral fraud, and forgery. The defendants' initial arraignment took place in Maricopa County Superior Court. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering," a financial grooming scam where perpetrators build trust over months before soliciting investments (often in cryptocurrency), has resulted in victims losing thousands to millions of dollars, with investment scam losses increasing from $3.3 billion in 2022 to $4.5 billion in 2023. One Kentucky victim lost $1.7 million in assets after being manipulated into selling her home and liquidating retirement accounts. AARP recommends victims research investments, ignore unsolicited messages, use reverse image searches, and work with certified financial advisers to protect themselves from these schemes.
turnto10.com
· 2025-12-08
Artificial intelligence-powered voice-cloning technology is making grandparent scams increasingly convincing, allowing scammers to impersonate family members using just one minute of audio from social media. A Canadian call center operation arrested in 2024 stole $21 million from Americans over three years by using AI-cloned voices combined with phone spoofing and money mules to collect cash, claiming victims' relatives needed bail money. Experts recommend asking security questions only family members could answer and establishing family code words to protect against these evolving scams.
umassd.edu
· 2025-12-08
Job scams targeting students and job seekers involve impersonation of real employers offering unrealistic pay, requiring upfront payments, and requesting sensitive personal information through unprofessional communication channels. Common scam types include fake check/money mule schemes, remote data entry tasks requiring software purchases, phishing, and company impersonation. Job seekers can protect themselves by researching companies on official sites, verifying recruiter identity through official phone numbers, never sharing SSN or financial information upfront, and requesting detailed written job descriptions and formal offers before proceeding.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
Tom Grauburger of Lakin, Kansas lost $30,000 to a sophisticated tech support scam that used fear tactics and constant phone monitoring to manipulate him over three weeks. The scammers posed as Microsoft Defender and the FTC, falsely claiming illegal activity was occurring on his computer and demanding cash sent to Boston as "proof of assets," while threatening him with a fake non-disclosure agreement to prevent him from telling family members. His bank ultimately prevented a larger loss by flagging a $100,000+ wire transfer attempt to his retirement fund, but Grauburger and his family are still fighting to recover the initial $30,000.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
On May 12, 2025, the DOJ released its white-collar crime enforcement priorities for the current administration, identifying 10 high-impact corporate crime areas for investigation and prosecution. Elder securities fraud is explicitly highlighted as a top priority alongside healthcare fraud, trade fraud, money laundering, and crimes linked to terrorism. Companies operating in these sectors should expect increased federal oversight and compliance requirements, particularly those involved in healthcare, international trade, and financial services.
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
On May 12, 2025, the DOJ's Criminal Division announced a new white-collar corporate enforcement plan prioritizing ten "high-impact areas," including elder fraud schemes involving variable interest entities, investment fraud targeting individuals, and Ponzi schemes. The plan offers clearer incentives for companies to self-disclose misconduct and cooperate with investigators, with assurances that proper self-disclosures will result in criminal prosecution declinations. Elder fraud is explicitly listed as a priority area for DOJ investigation and prosecution.
mintz.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses shifts in the Trump administration's white-collar enforcement priorities as of 2025, not elder fraud or scams affecting seniors. The DOJ has deprioritized enforcement in several areas including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (paused for 180 days), environmental litigation, and certain cryptocurrency regulations, while indicating it will focus on fraud involving cartels and transnational criminal organizations. This content is outside the scope of elder fraud research and is not relevant to the Elderus database.
thejournal.ie
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a subscription/donation appeal from a news publication requesting reader support. No summary relevant to the Elderus database is applicable here.
rlsmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
James J. Mastrogiovanni, a 44-year-old Washington Township man, pleaded guilty to multiple federal fraud charges for orchestrating schemes that included submitting false tax returns claiming over $1.4 million in pandemic-related employment credits (resulting in $545,692 disbursed) and stealing more than $180,000 from an 85-year-old customer through unauthorized bank withdrawals. His accomplice, tax preparer Leon Haynes, faces separate charges for submitting over 1,600 fraudulent returns totaling $150 million. Mastrogiovanni faces sentencing on November 6, 2025, with potential sentences ranging from 5 to
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Jon Patrick Kubler, 52, of California was charged with securities fraud and money laundering for operating a $4 million investment scheme from 2017 to 2023 that defrauded approximately 30 elderly and vulnerable investors. Kubler, who lacked proper licensing, allegedly made false representations about commercial real estate investments, used Ponzi-style payments to create the illusion of profitability, and misused investor funds for personal expenses while also attempting to conceal an SEC investigation. He faces up to 20 years in prison for securities fraud and 10 years for money laundering, and the SEC has already obtained a civil judgment requiring him to disgorge funds and pay penalties
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Eight individuals with ties to China were indicted for orchestrating a transnational elder fraud scheme that defrauded approximately 300 victims across at least 37 states and Canada, with confirmed losses exceeding $5 million and an additional $16 million in suspected laundered funds. The scheme involved sending fake pop-up messages to seniors' computers impersonating technology companies and government agencies, then convincing victims to transfer funds via wire, cryptocurrency, or cash to protect their assets from alleged fraud or criminal investigations. Victims were also deceived into purchasing gold bars and handing them over to purported government couriers.
cascadiadaily.com
· 2025-12-08
A Whatcom County resident lost more than $100,000 to a California man who impersonated federal agents (claiming to be from the Federal Office of the Inspector General) between April and May, convincing the victim that money needed to be transferred to a federal reserve for safekeeping due to alleged money laundering and drug trafficking concerns. The suspect was arrested on May 20 and charged with first-degree theft; he is believed to be part of a larger criminal organization perpetrating multi-million dollar fraud schemes nationwide. Law enforcement emphasized that legitimate agencies never request money or valuables over the phone and urged people to verify any official claims directly with the agency.
edition.mv
· 2025-12-08
During the week of May 13-19, the Maldives Police Service's Anti-Scam Centre reported 45 fraud cases resulting in MVR 481,520 in losses, with MVR 383,610 recovered; the majority of scams (80%) involved e-commerce and online business fraud across platforms including e-commerce sites, Facebook Marketplace, Viber, and other social media. Since its establishment in March of the previous year, the centre has handled 229 scam reports over six months totaling MVR 2.2 million in losses, leading police to freeze 125 bank accounts and urge the public to exercise caution with unfamiliar
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Australians lost $13.7 million to work-from-home job scams—more than all other scam types combined—with an average loss of $14,470 per victim. The scams, which often impersonate legitimate recruitment platforms like Seek and LinkedIn to lure job seekers with high-income remote work offers, disproportionately affected people with low incomes, those from culturally diverse backgrounds, people with disabilities, and international students, with many victims reporting loss of life savings and borrowed money. A six-month task force response led to blocking 836 cryptocurrency wallets, removing 29,000 fraudulent Facebook accounts, and identifying
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Bogus customer service scams are proliferating online, with scammers impersonating legitimate companies (airlines, banks, Amazon, etc.) by planting fake customer service numbers and accounts on social media to target frustrated consumers. Amazon reported a 33% increase in customer service impersonation scams between December 2024 and February 2025, with criminals monitoring public complaints, responding with fake accounts, and directing victims to fraudulent links or requesting personal information and payment. Consumer experts advise against posting complaints on social media and recommend using official company channels instead, as scammers exploit vulnerable moments—such as flight cancellations or lost packages—to manipulate victims into providing money or sensitive data.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old resident of Surat was defrauded of Rs 16.65 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam in which imposters posing as Delhi Police and senior government officials claimed he was involved in money laundering through a fraudulent bank account. The scammers used video calls, forged government documents with fake Supreme Court warrants and multiple agency seals, and fabricated detainee names to pressure the victim into liquidating a fixed deposit, promising a 15-minute refund that never occurred. The fraud was discovered when his daughter intervened, leading to a police complaint filed in May with the Surat Cyber Crime Police, who are investigating
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
This article does not relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It discusses the U.S. Department of Justice's 2025 white-collar crime enforcement strategy, focusing on trade violations, tariff evasion, sanctions evasion, and export controls—primarily targeting Chinese imports and activities. This content is outside the scope of the Elderus elder fraud research database.
emerj.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial institutions face mounting operational costs and resource challenges in combating cybercrime, which surged to 859,532 complaints and $16.6 billion in losses in 2024 according to the FBI. Effective fraud prevention requires sophisticated technology and stronger public-private collaboration between banks and law enforcement, as current anti-money laundering efforts are hindered by poor information-sharing and unclear coordination frameworks. The article emphasizes that banks must adopt holistic, data-driven approaches to suspicious activity detection while governments and regulators improve alignment to reduce conflicting compliance expectations.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Eight individuals with ties to China, including 24-year-old Fangzheng Wang of Massachusetts, were indicted in a transnational elder fraud scheme that victimized approximately 300 people across at least 37 U.S. and Canadian states. The conspiracy used pop-up messages impersonating technology companies and government agencies (FTC, Federal Reserve) to convince seniors their financial accounts were compromised, then persuaded victims to transfer funds via wire, cryptocurrency, or cash to accounts controlled by the scammers, resulting in confirmed losses exceeding $5 million with an additional $16 million in suspected laundered funds identified. All eight defendants have been arrested and remain in federal custody
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
Eight individuals with ties to China have been indicted for operating a transnational elder fraud scheme that victimized approximately 300 seniors across at least 37 states and Canada, with confirmed losses exceeding $5 million and suspected laundered funds totaling around $16 million. The scammers used fake pop-up messages impersonating technology companies and government agencies to trick elderly victims into transferring funds via wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash purchases of gold bars to accounts controlled by the fraudsters. Fangzheng Wang, a 24-year-old Chinese national in Massachusetts, was among the eight defendants arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and related offenses.
zanesvilletimesrecorder.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonate legitimate customer service for airlines, banks, retailers, and other companies by posting fake support numbers and accounts online, particularly targeting frustrated consumers posting complaints on social media platforms. Amazon reported a 33% increase in customer service impersonation scams between December 2024 and February, with criminals using fake accounts to direct victims to malicious links, request personal information, or demand payment via gift cards. Consumer watchdogs advise against posting complaints publicly online and warn that red flags include requests for upfront payment, gift card payments, or claims of fraud investigations.
prospect.org
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece argues that the rollback of federal enforcement against white-collar crime and corporate misconduct during the Trump administration creates conditions for widespread fraud and scams. With consumer protection agencies defunded or disabled, enforcement actions dropped, and corporate executives pardoned, the article warns that dishonest businesses now have a competitive advantage over honest ones, creating particular vulnerability in sectors like healthcare, higher education, and consumer lending where people are desperate for services or financing.
bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A senior citizen in Bengaluru lost Rs 4.7 crore to scammers who impersonated bank officials, government agencies, and judiciary members in a "digital arrest" fraud scheme spanning two months. The fraudsters used psychological manipulation, fear tactics, and fake WhatsApp video calls to convince the victim they were under investigation for money laundering and could not contact family or leave home. This marks the third similar case reported in the city within one week, highlighting gaps in awareness initiatives despite efforts by police and banks to educate the public about such scams.
lsj.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Transnational organized crime groups operating "scam factories" in Southeast Asian countries (Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia) force trafficked workers into sophisticated multilingual fraud operations targeting international victims. Between January 2024 and February 2025, Australia lost $384.2 million to scams, with investment scams causing the largest losses ($225.7 million), while over 300,000 people are estimated to be forced laborers in scam operations across the Mekong region, generating approximately $43.8 billion annually for criminal enterprises. These operations employ advanced technologies including deepfakes and AI language models to impersonate authority figures and craft convincing fraud scripts.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Nadine Jazimne Wade, a 30-year-old Bronx resident, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for laundering over $2 million in proceeds from romance scams targeting elderly victims across the United States between 2016 and 2021. Scammers based in Nigeria and South Africa used fake identities to build romantic relationships with victims online, then convinced them to send money to bank accounts controlled by Wade, who rapidly moved the funds through cash withdrawals, vehicle purchases, and transfers to other scheme members. Wade was ordered to pay $1,772,618 in restitution and forfeit $2,261,791.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
A Ghanaian man identified as Dada Joe (Nana Kojo Boateng) was arrested by Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) in collaboration with the FBI on allegations of romance fraud and cybercrime. The suspect faces potential extradition to the United States for prosecution in what represents part of an international effort to combat transnational romance scams that target vulnerable individuals for financial exploitation.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
A Ghanaian man known as Dada Joe (Nana Kojo Boateng) was arrested by Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office in collaboration with the FBI for alleged involvement in romance fraud and cybercrime. The suspect may face extradition to the U.S. for prosecution, marking part of an international effort to combat transnational romance scams that target vulnerable individuals by building fake online relationships to extract money from victims.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Funnull, a Philippines-based company run by Chinese national Liu Lizhi, for providing infrastructure to cybercriminals operating "pig butchering" crypto investment scams that defrauded American victims of approximately $200 million, with an average loss of $150,000 per victim. Funnull generated fraudulent domain names and website templates to help scammers impersonate legitimate brands, and also conducted the Polyfill supply chain attack to redirect website visitors to malicious gambling and scam sites. These services enabled criminals to quickly evade detection by switching domains and IP addresses when legitimate providers attempted to shut down their operations.
home.treasury.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Funnull Technology Inc., a Philippines-based company that provided computer infrastructure supporting hundreds of thousands of "pig butchering" virtual currency investment scam websites, resulting in over $200 million in reported U.S. losses. These sophisticated scams, often perpetrated by Southeast Asian criminal organizations using trafficked workers, deceive victims into fake investment platforms through elaborate romantic or trust-based schemes, with average individual losses exceeding $150,000. The FBI is publishing a cybersecurity advisory with technical details to help the private sector identify and dismantle Funnull-associated websites.
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Philippines-based Funnull Technology Inc. and its administrator Liu Lizhi for providing infrastructure to facilitate romance baiting and cryptocurrency investment scams that caused over $200 million in reported losses to American victims, with average individual losses exceeding $150,000. Funnull allegedly enabled thousands of fraudulent websites by bulk-purchasing IP addresses from major cloud providers (AWS, Microsoft Azure) and using domain generation algorithms to create scam websites impersonating legitimate brands, making it easy for criminals to quickly change domains when detected. The FBI linked Funnull infrastructure to over 332,000 unique domains since
asiaone.com
· 2025-12-08
A 36-year-old doctor in Singapore nearly fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam when fraudsters posing as Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and police officers convinced her to transfer nearly $4 million for a fake anti-money laundering operation. Bank employees flagged a $29,999 transfer to a suspicious account and alerted real police, who intervened with an SMS from an official government account, helping the doctor recognize the scam and avoid financial loss. The incident highlights the sophistication of such schemes, which use fake credentials, video calls with official backdrops, and psychological manipulation to gain victim trust.
crowdfundinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, cryptocurrency scams generated a record $12.4 billion in fraudulent revenue, with "pig butchering" romance and investment scams accounting for 33% of that total. Artificial intelligence has enabled scammers to operate at unprecedented scale through deepfakes, voice cloning, and automated phishing, with AI service vendors on illicit marketplaces earning $18 million alone. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Philippines-based Funnull Technology Inc. in May 2025 for facilitating scams that defrauded American victims of over $200 million by providing infrastructure to cybercriminals.