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defensenews.com
· 2026-08-03
Military members and their families are frequent targets of fraud schemes, and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is offering guidance to help this community recognize and avoid scams. The article highlights the vulnerability of the military and veteran communities to fraud but does not specify particular scam types, affected individuals, or dollar amounts in the available excerpt.
usatoday.com
· 2026-08-03
OnlyFans creators are being targeted by scammers using AI-generated deepfakes of their images and voices to impersonate them on social media, with fraudsters tricking fans into sending money via CashApp for fake "exclusive content" before blocking them. The scams have escalated with improved AI technology, causing financial losses to creators' income and creating safety concerns, as some fans have shown up at creators' homes after being misled by imposters. According to reports, deepfake fraud attempts occurred at a rate of roughly one every 5 minutes in 2024, disproportionately affecting women who comprise 90% of victims of non-consensual intimate imagery distribution.
crimewatch.net
· 2026-08-03
The East Lansdowne Police Department issued a warning alert about common scams targeting senior citizens, including phantom hacker scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation schemes, tech support fraud, lottery scams, and romance scams. The department emphasized that legitimate organizations never demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps, and advised seniors to hang up on suspicious callers, protect personal information, and report suspected scams to local law enforcement.
kenyanwallstreet.com
· 2026-08-03
Kenya's High Court has ordered the Central Bank of Kenya to defend itself against a lawsuit alleging systemic vulnerabilities and widespread fraud within M-Pesa's mobile money infrastructure, rejecting arguments that the case belonged in administrative channels. The court determined that the Central Bank is the sole regulatory body responsible for overseeing payment service providers and protecting consumer funds, and that forcing victims to seek relief from authorities without financial jurisdiction would undermine consumer protection. The case will now proceed to a full constitutional hearing that will test Kenya's entire digital financial regulatory framework.
interpol.int
· 2026-08-03
Cybercriminals in Africa are using AI to conduct 55% of reported cybercrimes, with losses more than doubling from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, according to INTERPOL's 2026 African Cyberthreat Assessment Report based on data from 36 African member countries. Online scams, business email compromise, romance scams, and digital sextortion—facilitated by AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic identities—are proliferating across the continent, with 72% of surveyed countries reporting the presence of scam centers. Despite these challenges, coordinated international operations led to over 1,500 arrests
bignewsnetwork.com
· 2026-08-03
An eight-episode drama series titled "Job Trafficking" starring Nimrat Kaur has begun filming on Prime Video, exploring industrialized online scams including "pig butchering" fraud where perpetrators build fake trust with victims over weeks or months before stealing their money. The series follows three characters whose lives intersect through various scams: young people trafficked across borders and forced into scamming, a defrauded housewife seeking answers, and a CEO caught in the scheme.
govtech.com
· 2026-08-02
Both the U.S. House and Senate have passed bipartisan bills to protect seniors from financial fraud and scams, including the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2025 and the Senior Security Act. These laws would allow financial institutions to pause transactions from older adults or people with disabilities when fraud is suspected, and establish a Senior Investor Taskforce at the SEC to identify challenges and trends affecting senior investors. The legislation represents rare bipartisan agreement on combating fraud targeting vulnerable populations, though specific dollar amounts of fraud losses are not mentioned in this overview of the legislative efforts.
facebook.com
· 2026-08-02
Colorado residents are increasingly reporting "You're Invited" scams involving fake Evite and Paperless Post emails that compromise email accounts through phishing. AARP ElderWatch has documented rising incidents of this scam targeting victims in the state, with fraudsters using legitimate-looking party invitation platforms to steal personal information.
americanbazaaronline.com
· 2026-08-02
AI-enabled investment scams cost Americans $632 million in 2025, representing the largest category of AI-related fraud with 4,356 complaints reported to the FBI. AI-assisted fraud grew 1,210% in 2025 compared to 195% growth in traditional scams, with criminals using deepfakes and AI technology to convincingly impersonate legitimate financial institutions and brokers. The FBI received over 22,000 total AI-related fraud complaints in 2025 with $890 million in losses, with investment scams, extortion, and data breaches accounting for the majority of cases.
theguardian.com
· 2026-08-02
Scammers are sending fake text messages impersonating RingGo parking app, claiming recipients owe parking fees and threatening enforcement action to pressure them into clicking malicious links that lead to counterfeit websites. If victims enter their login credentials or financial details on these fake sites, criminals can drain their bank accounts or steal their personal information. The scam specifically targets iPhone users by exploiting iMessage's security settings, and uses red flags like poor spelling and suspicious URLs to deceive recipients.
channelnewsasia.com
· 2026-08-02
A 20-year-old Singaporean woman reported missing after traveling to Cambodia with her passport and deleting her communication accounts claimed in a police video that she left voluntarily to work as an English teacher due to personal stress, denying involvement in scam activities. Her family had feared she was lured into an online fraud operation by scammers after discovering large unexplained transactions, but her brother confirmed she returned safely to Singapore and apologized for any offense caused to Cambodia by their public appeals.
pickr.com.au
· 2026-08-02
As Australia prepares for its August 11, 2026 Census, scammers are targeting households with phishing emails and fraudulent websites designed to steal personal information including banking details, logins, and identification data. The Census itself does not require financial or social media information, but criminals are exploiting the event's urgency and widespread participation to deceive Australians into providing sensitive details on fake government sites. Authorities warn residents to verify sender addresses, avoid clicking suspicious links, and be cautious of messages claiming overdue forms or pending fines.
businessreport.co.za
· 2026-08-02
Tax season in South Africa faces a rising wave of sophisticated scams targeting taxpayers, including phishing emails impersonating the South African Revenue Service (Sars), fake refund promises, and identity theft schemes that hijack eFiling profiles. Cybercriminals are exploiting modernized digital tax systems by creating convincing fraudulent communications with subtle variations in email addresses and website URLs to steal login credentials and banking information. Taxpayers are advised to verify sender email addresses use official @sars.gov.za domains, avoid clicking unsolicited links, and remember that Sars never requests sensitive information or payments via unsolicited messages.
nationthailand.com
· 2026-08-02
Thailand's Civil Court is hearing its first case testing digital platform liability for scams, with the Thailand Consumers Council suing 17 platform operators including Meta and LINE over fraudulent investment advertisements that caused consumers millions in losses. Between July 2021 and May 2026, the council received 11,815 complaints linked to online platforms—with Facebook accounting for nearly 60%—reporting at least 397 million baht in losses, of which over 84% remained unrecovered. The lawsuit targets overseas parent companies directly, arguing they bear responsibility for systemic safety failures and should share liability for crimes committed through their platforms.
yahoo.com
· 2026-08-02
New Hampshire lawmakers are advocating for a dedicated website to help fraud victims as the state ranks among the highest nationally for money lost to scams. The push comes as one New Hampshire woman shared her personal scam experience, highlighting the growing fraud risk facing residents in the state.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-02
Friends Against Scams has launched new protective tools including an updated website page with guidance on recognizing scams, safeguarding personal information, and reporting procedures, plus an enhanced mobile app featuring scam alerts, monthly quizzes, and AI-powered scam checking capabilities. These free resources are available to help the public and professionals identify common scam tactics and support victims, with access through their website, app stores, and helpline services.
khaosodenglish.com
· 2026-08-02
Cambodia's cyber scam networks have trafficked an estimated 100,000 or more people who are forced to operate online scams generating billions of dollars in illegal profits within prison-like compounds featuring torture, violence, and forced labor. UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews documented that while Cambodian authorities have closed over 600 scam locations and arrested operators, many victims face dire circumstances after escaping, often lacking support and being treated as illegal migrants rather than trafficking survivors. Andrews warned that thousands of trafficking victims remain in desperate situations in Cambodia with insufficient government assistance and humanitarian support.
mcknightsseniorliving.com
· 2026-08-02
The Senate Special Committee on Aging sent letters to nine major AI companies requesting information about safeguards they have in place to protect older adults from AI-enabled scams, with responses due by August 31. The committee hearing revealed that AI has significantly increased financial fraud against seniors, with $893 million of the $21 billion in 2025 cybercrime losses attributed to AI-enabled scams, and older adults reported nearly $8 billion in internet fraud losses overall, up 59% from 2024. The senators are demanding accountability on how AI companion products are tested, how adverse events are tracked, and whether older adults are included in product development to help combat what they call an "alarming and highly complex
kompas.id
· 2026-08-02
Young Indonesians are being trafficked to Cambodia and Myanmar through fake job offers promising salaries of 13-25 million rupiah monthly, then forced to operate online scams including romance and investment fraud schemes targeting wealthy Indonesians. Victims face torture, exploitation, and legal complications as illegal migrants, with rescued individuals like PU and Bumbum spending months or years trapped before repatriation, using sophisticated AI technology to conduct fraudulent video calls posing as romantic interests.
modernghana.com
· 2026-08-02
West African fraud networks operating primarily from Nigeria and Ghana have targeted millions of Americans, with the FBI reporting $16.6 billion in scam losses in 2024 alone, including over $1 billion from romance scams targeting American women. The "Yahoo Boys" and "Sakawa Boys" typically pose as White American men or military personnel on dating platforms and social media to defraud victims. While law enforcement operations like INTERPOL's Operation Red Card 2.0 resulted in over 650 arrests and $4.3 million recovered, the schemes persist due to high unemployment in West Africa, AI-enabled impersonation tools, and the transnational nature of the crime.
staradvertiser.com
· 2026-08-02
Hawaii's new law banning cryptocurrency kiosks that accept cash takes effect October 1, 2026, in response to a dramatic surge in crypto ATM fraud affecting state consumers. Hawaii residents lost $3.85 million through crypto ATM scams in 2025—nearly four times the $1 million lost in 2024—with fraudsters using the kiosks to launder money obtained through romance scams, impersonation of government officials, and tech support schemes. The law prohibits operators from owning or managing kiosks that accept U.S. currency or cash equivalents in exchange for cryptocurrency, with violators facing significant civil penalties.
techbullion.com
· 2026-08-02
Cryptocurrency scams exploit blockchain technology and social engineering to steal digital assets, with victims facing permanent losses since blockchain transactions are typically irreversible. Common schemes include fake investment platforms promising unrealistic returns, compromised wallets, and phishing attacks targeting personal information and account access. Victims should report incidents quickly, preserve evidence, and seek assistance from legitimate recovery services rather than delay reporting due to embarrassment or believing recovery is impossible.
pulse.com.gh
· 2026-08-02
Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi (Abu Trica) faces charges in a US federal court for allegedly orchestrating an $8 million romance scam targeting over 80 elderly Americans, using fake online identities to deceive victims into transferring money. A US court has designated the case as complex, granting his defense additional time to review extensive evidence, with a pretrial conference scheduled for August 25, 2026, and Kumi remaining in custody while pleading not guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges. The complex-case designation does not determine guilt or innocence but allows adequate preparation time for the defense to handle the voluminous digital and financial records involved.
theindependent.com
· 2026-08-02
Online dating app users frequently encounter romance scams where perpetrators pose as potential partners to manipulate victims into sending money. Dr. Barton Goldsmith provides guidance on recognizing red flags and protecting oneself from these high-tech dating scams that affect millions of people seeking genuine connections.
en.cryptonomist.ch
· 2026-08-01
Minnesota enacted a complete ban on cryptocurrency ATMs effective August 1, 2026, after state officials documented approximately $1 million in scam losses connected to crypto kiosks between 2023 and 2025, with seniors disproportionately targeted through schemes involving manufactured emergencies and pressure to send funds irreversibly. The law required operators to deactivate functioning machines immediately and physically remove them by December 31, 2026, joining Tennessee in adopting an outright ban rather than regulation, as federal data showed Minnesota residents lost over $151 million to crypto-related fraud in 2025 alone.
deccanchronicle.com
· 2026-08-01
A South Carolina Supreme Court judge highlighted that human trafficking convictions in India remain critically low at 5-10%, calling for comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, stronger victim protection mechanisms, and better law enforcement coordination. The judge noted that trafficking methods have evolved to include cyber fraud and online scams, with syndicates using phishing, malware, identity theft, and pig butchering schemes to exploit victims. The conference brought together 500 delegates from across Telangana to address procedural delays, witness intimidation, and inadequate evidence collection that contribute to poor conviction rates and to advance survivor-centered rehabilitation and justice.
ground.news
· 2026-08-01
OpenAI shut down a network of ChatGPT accounts linked to a Cambodian criminal organization that used the AI chatbot to perpetrate cryptocurrency investment scams, including "pig-butchering" fraud and labor trafficking. The criminals leveraged ChatGPT to create fake identities, fraudulent documents, and fraudulent trading platforms to deceive victims into fake cryptocurrency investments. This action reflects broader efforts by tech and financial companies to combat the rising tide of AI-enabled digital asset scams.
finance.biggo.com
· 2026-08-01
According to Solana Foundation's CISO Michael Coates, AI-powered deepfake scams and social engineering attacks have become a greater security threat to cryptocurrency than smart contract vulnerabilities, with techniques like "pig butchering" romance scams becoming increasingly sophisticated. Coates warned that advances in AI and deepfakes—including fake voice calls and false identities—could enable fraud to proliferate at massive scale, making it realistic for anyone to be deceived. He advocated for multi-layered security frameworks as a solution, emphasizing that industry success depends on building systems that protect users by default rather than expecting them to become security experts.
sent-trib.com
· 2026-08-01
Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn and Prosecutor Paul Dobson conducted educational presentations at senior centers to warn older adults about scams, noting that seniors are targeted three to five times more often than other groups due to loneliness, trust, and limited technology knowledge. From 2020 to 2024, cases involving losses of $10,000 or more increased four-fold, while cases with losses exceeding $100,000 increased seven-fold in the county, though authorities believe actual numbers are higher due to underreporting. The officials advised seniors to never provide personal information to callers, avoid clicking suspicious links, be wary of urgency and fear tactics, and recognize red flags such as
hypefresh.com
· 2026-08-01
Los Angeles influencer Adva Lavie, also known as Mia Ventura, was arrested in Beverly Hills on July 28, 2026, while out on bail and not wearing a required ankle monitor, after being accused of using dating apps to establish relationships with victims and then stealing cash, gold, jewelry, and designer goods from their homes between 2023 and 2025. Prosecutors allege she targeted wealthy individuals across multiple states and internationally, with over a dozen victims coming forward; a specific incident from the 2025 Coachella Music Festival involved stealing approximately $11,600 in items including a Rolex watch and Louis Vuitton accessories from a man's Tesla.
cryptopolitan.com
· 2026-08-01
OpenAI shut down ChatGPT accounts linked to a Cambodian criminal organization that used the chatbot to conduct cryptocurrency investment fraud targeting hundreds of victims with total losses in the thousands of dollars. The scammers used AI to create fake identities, generate marketing materials, and produce forged documents like passports and trading dashboards to lure victims into fake investment schemes through romance or friendship tactics, ultimately redirecting them to fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. The investigation also uncovered evidence of labor trafficking, with the criminal network recruiting workers in Cambodia through deceptive job postings that promised free housing and visas while entrapping them in debt-based servitude.
crypto.news
· 2026-08-01
A 50-year-old Hong Kong insurance professional lost HK$26 million ($3.3 million) after meeting someone online who posed as a car dealer, built a romantic relationship with her, and directed her to a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment platform that displayed fake profits. Hong Kong police reported 25 investment fraud cases involving online romantic relationships in a single week (ending July 30) with total losses of HK$70 million ($9 million), following a common scam pattern where fraudsters build trust through dating apps before introducing fake investment opportunities and blocking withdrawal requests. The case reflects a broader surge in online fraud affecting Hong Kong residents, including employment scams and cryptocurrency investment schemes that exploited 2,148
cryptopolitan.com
· 2026-08-01
Hong Kong law enforcement received 25 reports of romance and cryptocurrency investment scams in late July, with victims losing approximately HK$70 million (US$9 million). The scams typically begin with romantic relationship-building on social media or dating apps, then convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency trading platforms that show false profits before blocking withdrawals. In 2025, online investment fraud cases in Hong Kong rose 30.7% to 5,135 cases with losses jumping 58.4% to HK$3.58 billion, representing 44.1% of all deception-related financial losses despite accounting for only 11.9% of deception cases.
hypefresh.com
· 2026-08-01
Researchers from four universities found that AI chatbots are significantly more effective than trained humans at conducting romance scams, with nearly 50% of test participants agreeing to download a malicious app when chatting with AI compared to only 18% with humans. The study, based on interviews with 145 scam compound insiders across Southeast Asia and a controlled laboratory trial, reveals that organized crime syndicates are increasingly using AI language models like ChatGPT and Claude for romance-baiting operations that have laundered over $75 billion in cryptocurrency. These findings demonstrate how AI is being weaponized to exploit victims at scale through enhanced emotional manipulation and trust-building in coordinated fraud networks operating from trafficking compounds in Southeast
foxbusiness.com
· 2026-08-01
Minnesota enacted a ban on cryptocurrency ATMs that took effect Saturday after residents reported losing nearly $1 million in scams involving the machines since 2023, with criminals impersonating law enforcement to pressure elderly victims into sending money through the kiosks. In 2025 alone, there were 70 reported cases resulting in over $540,000 in losses with an average loss of nearly $6,800 per transaction, as crypto transactions cannot be reversed once sent to a scammer's digital wallet. The ban requires removal of all existing machines by December 31, addressing a scam disproportionately targeting seniors who are often too embarrassed to report their losses.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2026-08-01
Three defendants have been federally indicted for operating a gold-courier scam targeting elderly victims, involving approximately $3 million across multiple cases. The scheme involved impersonating FTC and Social Security Administration agents who convinced victims their savings were connected to criminal activity and needed to be converted to gold for "protection." An 87-year-old Michigan couple nearly lost $250,000 in gold before undercover deputies intervened and arrested two of the defendants during the attempted pickup.
escudodigital.com
· 2026-08-01
A German court held Google liable after user Harald K. was scammed through a fake online store advertised in Google search results, losing approximately 500 euros on a non-existent bike rack purchase. Google was ordered to reimburse the user the full purchase amount plus 200 euros in legal costs, despite the company's claim that a consumer protection organization had already flagged the fraudulent website. The ruling establishes a legal precedent holding search engines responsible for fraudulent advertisements and their damages to users.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2026-08-01
Minnesota banned cryptocurrency kiosks after residents lost nearly $1 million to scams between 2023 and 2025, with over 100 complaints filed and an 80-year-old victim losing $80,000 in a single incident. Governor Tim Walz signed the prohibition into law on May 5, 2026, making Minnesota the third state to fully outlaw the machines following Tennessee and Indiana. The scams typically involved fake emergency calls and impersonation schemes that pressured victims to convert cash to cryptocurrency through the kiosks, with funds then disappearing into untraceable wallets.
en.cryptonomist.ch
· 2026-08-01
A Cambodia-based scam network used ChatGPT extensively across all operations—from creating fake dating profiles and investment schemes to generating emotionally manipulative messages and forging documents—to run a diversified fraud enterprise including romance cons, fake investment platforms, gambling schemes, and law enforcement impersonation. OpenAI disrupted the network in 2024 after learning of its activities through WhatsApp reports, finding that individual victims lost thousands of dollars, though the total scale of the operation affecting multiple target types remains unknown. The operation demonstrated how organized crime groups are systematically integrating generative AI into both external victim-facing fraud and internal organizational functions like staff communications and recruitment.
nbcboston.com
· 2026-08-01
Massachusetts residents lost over $77 million to cryptocurrency kiosk scams in 2024, with scammers targeting victims by impersonating customer service representatives and convincing them to deposit cash into Bitcoin ATMs to transfer funds to criminal-controlled digital wallets. Lawmakers are considering a statewide ban on crypto ATMs to eliminate this key mechanism used by fraudsters, as law enforcement officials report that recovering stolen funds is extremely difficult once scammers move cryptocurrency through mixing services and foreign exchanges. One notable case involved a Middleton woman who lost over $11,000 after being deceived by someone posing as PayPal customer service, though police were able to recover some funds through a search warrant.
bitdefender.com
· 2026-08-01
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers about postcards claiming they qualify for free gas and grocery gift cards, which actually lead to unauthorized charges and personal information theft. Victims report paying small "processing fees" (around $5) that result in additional unauthorized charges totaling $50 or more, plus exposure to identity fraud and phishing attacks. Scammers use these tactics because physical mail appears legitimate, families seek ways to reduce expenses, and low upfront costs make victims less likely to question the offers before providing payment details.
tuberville.senate.gov
· 2026-08-01
Senator Tommy Tuberville held a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing discussing AI-enabled scams targeting seniors, featuring testimony from experts and an AI scam victim. Panelists emphasized education as a primary solution, recommending national awareness campaigns about AI deepfakes and fraud, particularly targeting Baby Boomers through trusted channels like banks, alongside technological filters to remove AI-generated media and prevent caller ID impersonation.
aarp.org
· 2026-08-01
I cannot provide a summary of this content because what you've provided is only the navigation menu structure of an AARP website, not an article about a specific scam or fraud incident. There is no actual article text describing what happened, who was affected, or any fraudulent activity.
Please provide the actual article content if you'd like me to summarize it.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2026-07-31
Texans lost approximately $57 million to cryptocurrency kiosk scams in 2025, primarily targeting elderly victims who are tricked into depositing cash into crypto ATMs to send funds to scammers' wallets. Texas lawmakers plan to ban crypto kiosks entirely, joining Indiana, Tennessee, and Minnesota in prohibiting the machines, as three states have already enacted or scheduled bans to take effect between March and August 2026. The scam typically involves fraudsters contacting victims with urgent stories about unpaid taxes or compromised accounts, directing them to withdraw cash and convert it to cryptocurrency that cannot be recovered once transferred.
latrobebulletinnews.com
· 2026-07-31
A jury duty scam targeting Westmoreland County residents for approximately two years has defrauded victims by posing as sheriff's office representatives and demanding payment via Bitcoin or gift cards to avoid arrest for missed jury duty. In one recent case, a 52-year-old Hempfield Township woman lost $11,250 in Bitcoin after receiving such a call. The scam is part of a broader trend of fraud in the county, including cases where a 69-year-old woman lost nearly $247,000 to romance and impersonation scams over three years.
dailyhodl.com
· 2026-07-31
Scott Kelley, a former Boston postal inspector who led the Mail Fraud Unit, pleaded guilty to stealing over $330,000 from nearly 2,000 packages sent by elderly victims (averaging age 75) and using the funds for personal expenses including escorts, home renovations, and Caribbean cruises. Kelley intercepted cash meant to be recovered from scammers and faces 44 federal counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and false tax filings. The case reveals significant vulnerabilities in mail-handling processes designed to protect elderly fraud victims and their recovered funds.
coronadonewsca.com
· 2026-07-31
San Diego County Credit Union is hosting a free educational webinar on August 5 led by Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello to help seniors and vulnerable adults recognize and prevent elder financial abuse, which affects approximately 10% of older adults annually in the United States. The webinar will cover common scams, warning signs, and protection strategies as part of SDCCU's Financial Wellness Wednesdays program.
herald-citizen.com
· 2026-07-31
Criminals are impersonating bank employees via phone calls, claiming fraudulent activity was detected and requesting account numbers and online banking credentials to gain access to victims' accounts. Americans lost an estimated $37 billion to telephone and internet fraud in 2025, though experts believe the actual figure is much higher due to underreporting, with only about 4.8% of victims reporting crimes to authorities. Bank officials warn customers to never provide account information over the phone and instead hang up and call their bank directly to verify any fraud alerts.
thestar.com.my
· 2026-07-31
Hong Kong actress Strawberry Yeung, 61, was targeted by a romance scammer who spent two months building trust through daily messages and photos before requesting she invest HK$300,000 (RM156,411) in his business, promising a 5% return and quick profit. Yeung recognized the "pig butchering" scam tactic and confronted the scammer, who then ceased contact. She publicly warned others, particularly older single women, about such schemes that exploit loneliness and the desire for companionship.
techtimes.com
· 2026-07-31
Researchers found that an AI chatbot built from commercial tools outperformed trained human romance scammers at building trust and extracting behavioral compliance from test subjects, achieving a 46% compliance rate versus 18% for human experts. When 250 simulated romance-baiting conversations were tested against safety filters from OpenAI, Google, and Meta, none of them were flagged or detected—revealing that major AI vendors' safety infrastructure fails to catch romance scam tactics despite their widespread threat. The study highlights a critical vulnerability where AI handles trust-building while human operators take over for financial extraction, making the criminal pipeline invisible to current AI safety systems.