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blog.google
· 2025-12-08
This policy white paper from Google addresses the rising threat of online scams, which affected over 21 million Americans last year and 78% of mobile users. Google recommends that governments, tech companies, and financial institutions strengthen collaboration through information sharing, cross-border cooperation, and international initiatives like the Global Anti-Scams Alliance to combat increasingly sophisticated transnational fraud networks. The recommendations also call for legal frameworks that incentivize companies to invest in AI-powered scam detection and prevention tools while protecting them from liability for good-faith protective actions.
blog.google
· 2025-12-08
Google's Trust & Safety team is launching a regular advisory to track and combat increasingly sophisticated online fraud schemes, which are often orchestrated by transnational crime organizations using combined online and offline tactics. The advisory highlights five current scam trends: deepfake-enabled public figure impersonation campaigns promoting fraudulent investments and apps, crypto investment schemes promising unrealistic returns, app and landing page cloning that deceives users into sharing personal information or downloading malware, tech support scams using fake customer service pages, and credential theft through spoofed employee login portals. Google is implementing countermeasures including updated policies against impersonation in ads, enforcement against crypto fraud, and tools like SynthID to identify AI-
dhs.gov
· 2025-12-08
A Danvers, Massachusetts man, Trung Nguyen, was convicted of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and money laundering after converting over $1 million in cash to Bitcoin through his unregistered company National Vending, LLC between 2017 and 2020. Nguyen deliberately evaded banking regulations and accepted cash from scam victims and a drug dealer, knowingly facilitating their criminal activities by converting their proceeds into cryptocurrency without filing required reports or registering with federal authorities.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Google's Trust & Safety teams identified five prevalent online scam trends: AI-powered deepfake impersonations of public figures promoting fake investments, cryptocurrency investment scams promising unrealistic returns, cloned apps and landing pages mimicking legitimate brands to steal personal information, cloaking techniques that hide malicious content from detection systems, and exploitation of major events like natural disasters and elections to launch timely frauds. The company advises users to scrutinize unnatural facial expressions in videos, verify investment claims, check for misspellings and unusual formatting on websites, confirm URLs match official sites, and use only established platforms for donations and purchases.
abc7chicago.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are creating fake login pages impersonating major brands like Microsoft, Google, Meta, USPS, and Netflix to steal user passwords and personal information through phishing emails, texts, and online search results. Once hackers gain access to accounts, they can steal financial data, credit card information, and other personal details stored in those accounts. To protect yourself, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, navigate directly to official websites, inspect URLs for suspicious characters, and use multi-layered security with strong authentication measures.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
Monroe County authorities are warning residents about a rising wave of cryptocurrency scams delivered via email, text, and phone calls that impersonate government agencies, lottery services, tech support, and romance schemes to trick victims into sending money or personal information. Michiganders lost nearly $80 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with one Northville Township resident defrauded of approximately $300,000. Authorities emphasize that legitimate government agencies never demand payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards and always offer cash payment options in person.
browndailyherald.com
· 2025-12-08
In early March, a Warwick grandparent couple lost $18,000 to a "grandparent scam" in which fraudsters impersonated their grandson needing bail money; when asked for an additional $40,000, the couple recognized the scheme and contacted police, leading to the arrest of two out-of-state men who were found with $60,000 in cash and allegedly collected $230,000 from similar schemes. Rhode Island has experienced a 22% growth rate in elder fraud cases between 2022 and 2023—the third-highest in the nation—prompting increased law enforcement investigations, legislative proposals to combat scams, and awareness campaigns by organizations like
metro.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Actor Alan Davies revealed he has been scammed "relentlessly" online, including losing £400 on a fake PlayStation 5 listing in 2022 and nearly losing £457 on a fraudulent website selling Christmas gifts. He also had his X (Twitter) account hacked by a Bitcoin scammer, resulting in the loss of 800,000 followers, and reported difficulty contacting human representatives to resolve the issue. The article additionally notes similar incidents involving other celebrities, including actor Tony Maudsley who was targeted in a Facebook ticket scam but whose bank stopped the fraudulent £600 payment.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
A J.D. Power study found that 29% of US bank customers and 22% of credit card users experienced fraudulent activity on their accounts within the past 12 months, with only 46% and 40% respectively reporting they were asked to take fraud prevention measures in the last 90 days. The study indicates that financial institutions have an opportunity to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty by better handling fraud cases and educating customers on protection measures. Additionally, regulators and major banks issued warnings about "quishing"—a QR code phishing scam where criminals embed malicious codes in emails and PDFs to steal passwords, financial details, and personal information.
thenationonlineng.net
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old internet fraudster named Patrick Akpoguma was arrested in Lagos after defrauding multiple victims through romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and identity theft, earning over $500,000 in three years by impersonating prominent figures like a U.S. Army Colonel and cryptocurrency expert using fake social media accounts and masks. During his arrest on November 7, 2024, Akpoguma attempted to bribe police with $100,000 to secure his release, but officers rejected the bribe, documented it as evidence, and proceeded with prosecution.
thesun.ng
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old internet fraudster, Patrick Akpoguma, was arrested in Lagos after police rejected his $100,000 USD (N174 million) bribe offer during investigation into his crimes. Akpoguma confessed to operating romance scams, identity theft, cryptocurrency fraud, and other cyber crimes over three years, during which he allegedly defrauded victims of over $500,000 USD and used proceeds to purchase multiple properties including houses and a vehicle worth N100 million.
indiacsr.in
· 2025-12-08
Over 21 million individuals in the United States fell victim to fraud in the past year, with 78% of mobile users encountering at least one scam, demonstrating the scale of online fraud perpetrated by transnational organized crime networks. Google has released a white paper recommending coordinated action across governments, industries, and technology providers, including enabling international cooperation and information sharing, incentivizing scam-fighting efforts through legal protections, and investing in public education and AI-driven detection technologies. Google's own efforts include blocking 99.9% of spam and malware on Gmail, removing over 5.5 billion policy-violating advertisements in 2023, and establishing collaborative intelligence-sharing
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-08
**"Pig butchering" investment scams** involve fraudsters building trust with victims over weeks or months—posing as romantic interests or investment coaches—before convincing them to invest in fake opportunities and ultimately stealing their money. According to 2023 FTC data, investment scams represented only 4% of fraud reports but accounted for over 30% of total losses, with an average loss of $7,000 per victim. Red flags include unsolicited investment pitches from online contacts, pressure to use cryptocurrency or special apps, displays of fake profits, and reluctance to meet in person or speak by phone.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Google's Vice President of Trust & Safety highlighted five emerging scam trends in November 2024, warning that fraudulent cyber attacks are increasing in volume and becoming more sophisticated through the use of AI and landing page cloaking techniques. The advisory addressed crypto investment schemes, app cloning, major event exploitation, AI-powered impersonation campaigns that create deepfakes and fake giveaways, and cloaking tactics that deceive both moderation systems and users by presenting different content to Google than what users see. Google recommends users watch for unnatural expressions in content, verify URLs before clicking, and report suspicious promotions from public figures.
zeenews.india.com
· 2025-12-08
Google identified five major online scams gaining traction: fake AI-generated celebrity IDs promoting fraudulent investments, cryptocurrency schemes promising unrealistic returns often with fake celebrity backing, cloned apps and websites targeting personal information, fake tech support and employee login portals, and event-based scams exploiting major events to promote counterfeit products or fake charities. To protect themselves, users should verify sources before engaging with offers, keep devices updated with security patches, and enable Safe Browsing features to block suspicious sites.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Ruchika Tandon, a 44-year-old Indian neurologist, lost approximately 25 million rupees ($300,000) to an elaborate "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials coerced her through video calls into believing she was under federal investigation for money laundering and trafficking. Over a six-day period, the scammers maintained constant surveillance via video call, manipulating her into draining her family's savings from multiple accounts including banks, mutual funds, and insurance policies. According to official figures, Indians lost over 1.2 billion rupees to this type of scam between January and April 2024, with over
tori.ng
· 2025-12-08
Patrick Akpoguma, a 28-year-old Nigerian internet fraudster, admitted to conducting romance scams, identity theft, and cryptocurrency fraud over three years, accumulating over $500,000 in illicit gains. He operated by impersonating high-profile individuals (including a U.S. Army officer and cryptocurrency expert) using fake accounts and a purchased silicone face mask to deceive victims into sending cryptocurrency payments, and later attempted to bribe police with $100,000 to avoid arrest. Akpoguma was arrested following complaints from residents in Lagos and faces court arraignment.
everythingzoomer.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud is now the leading crime against seniors in Canada, with scammers increasingly using advanced technology like voice simulation, AI, and fake profiles to perpetrate sophisticated schemes. Common scams targeting seniors include grandparent fraud (2,494 Canadian victims lost $9.4 million), romance scams (Canadians lost $59 million in 2022), and phishing attacks (approximately $58 million in losses in 2022). Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to social isolation, limited digital literacy (only 26% feel very confident with technology despite 67% using the internet), and accessible savings, making protection strategies essential as emotional manipulation often overrides caution.
pandasecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested nearly 30 members of a criminal organization that used AI-generated deepfake profiles of attractive women to defraud approximately 400 middle-aged men across Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India in a romance scam totaling $46 million. Victims were lured into fake romantic relationships, manipulated into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms, and unable to withdraw their funds. The article advises victims to watch for red flags such as investment solicitation from new online contacts and signs of manipulated media including unnatural body postures, flat-toned audio, and mismatched facial features.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Identity theft and fraud affect Americans at alarming rates, with the FTC estimating true losses at $137 billion in 2022 despite only $9 billion being officially reported, prompting AARP to urge stronger consumer protections before Capitol Hill lawmakers. Veterans face particular vulnerability, with one in three targeted by scammers who impersonated the VA or pitched fraudulent investments, resulting in $477 million in reported losses in 2023. The article provides practical prevention advice for common scams including holiday shopping fraud, solar panel schemes, and veteran-targeted impersonation scams, recommending consumers type website addresses directly, verify offers through trusted sources, and research companies before providing personal information or
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
The FBI is investigating a crypto romance scam that defrauded at least 71 victims of nearly $5 million, with federal prosecutors in North Carolina seeking to seize $4.99 million in recovered Tether cryptocurrency. Scammers posed as romantic interests on social media platforms using fake identities to lure victims into fake investments on a fraudulent exchange called Bitkanant, then froze accounts and demanded additional fees; two victims alone lost $2.75 million. The operation targeted seniors, particularly those over 60, reflecting a broader trend of crypto scams that exceeded $5.6 billion in losses during 2023.
africa.businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI targeted a romance scam operation linked to $5 million in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes affecting approximately 71 victims, including a 60-year-old from North Carolina and an 83-year-old from Minnesota. Scammers used fake identities on social media to build romantic relationships with victims before directing them to invest in a counterfeit cryptocurrency platform called Bitkanant, after which they cut off contact and disappeared with the funds. The U.S. Attorney's office seized nearly $5 million in Tether cryptocurrency in August, with one victim losing an entire retirement account, and the FBI is working to identify perpetrators and return assets to victims.
nairametrics.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI is investigating a crypto romance scam ring responsible for up to $5 million in fraud, with federal prosecutors in North Carolina seizing approximately $4.99 million from suspicious Tether wallets linked to the operation. The scammers, known as "pig butchering" schemes, built trust with at least 71 victims (including a 60-year-old from North Carolina and an 83-year-old from Minnesota) before luring them into fraudulent investments on a fake exchange called Bitkanant, where victims were then blocked from withdrawing funds unless they paid additional taxes and fees. Two victims lost over $2.75 million combined, and the scam rings
morningstar.com
· 2025-12-08
A reader was invited to join a VIP online investment club that initially showed profits through manipulated small-cap stocks to build trust, then pressured members to invest in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, ether, and dogecoin—causing most participants to lose all their money. The scam, known as "pig butchering," uses confidence tricks to gradually compromise victims' judgment through promises of returns before disappearing with funds, and commonly exploits psychological vulnerabilities through social media solicitations and fake cryptocurrency exchange websites.
wealthmanagement.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly individuals are increasingly targeted by sophisticated internet scams, with the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report documenting over 880,000 complaints from those over 60 totaling $3.4 billion in losses—an 11% increase from 2022. Notable cases include a 76-year-old retired lawyer (Barry Heitin) who lost approximately $740,000 after being manipulated into thinking he was assisting a government investigation, and a 79-year-old man (Alfred Mancinelli) who lost nearly $1 million in a romance scam. Tech support fraud generates the most complaints, followed by romance, cryptocurrency, and investment sc
kiplinger.com
· 2025-12-08
During Medicare's open enrollment period, seniors become vulnerable to scammers who exploit the need for personal information by impersonating Medicare officials, offering fraudulent card replacements, and promoting fake supplemental coverage plans. A 2023 data breach of 900,000+ Medicare beneficiaries' information from contractor Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation highlighted the risks, though Medicare has since implemented protective measures like the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier to replace Social Security numbers on cards. To protect themselves, seniors should shield government ID numbers, access Medicare.gov directly rather than through suspicious links, and be wary of unsolicited calls or visits claiming to represent Medicare.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta disclosed its multiyear effort to combat pig butchering scams, having removed over 2 million accounts linked to scam compounds in Southeast Asia and the UAE in 2024 alone. These scams, which have defrauded victims of approximately $75 billion globally since 2020, involve organized crime syndicates operating forced-labor compounds where over 200,000 trafficked people are coerced into impersonating romantic interests or investment advisors to extract money from victims worldwide. Meta stated it is collaborating with law enforcement and other tech companies to disrupt these criminal operations, though researchers note the company has been slow to publicly acknowledge the problem and engage with the
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams affect millions of Americans annually, with one in five adults losing money to online fraud, including romance scams, investment schemes, and identity theft. Beyond financial losses, scam victims often experience significant emotional trauma including feelings of betrayal, powerlessness, and reduced self-esteem, with effects extending to mental health, physical health, and personal relationships. Mental health organizations and fraud protection technologies are increasingly working to support victims and detect fraudulent activity, though scams continue to evolve with tools like AI-generated videos making deception more convincing.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed over 2 million accounts in 2023 linked to criminal gangs operating "pig butchering" scams from Southeast Asia and the UAE, which lure victims into fake investments through social engineering and cryptocurrency fraud. These scam operations, which cost victims globally an estimated $64 billion in 2023, often rely on coerced labor from hundreds of thousands of workers forced into scamming under threat of harm. Meta and partner organizations recommend victims use two-factor authentication, remain skeptical of unsolicited investment offers and impersonators, and verify the identities of unknown contacts reaching out through social media and messaging apps.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed over 2 million accounts in 2024 connected to pig butchering scams—fraud schemes originating from Southeast Asia and the UAE where criminals pose as romantic interests or investment advisors on messaging and dating platforms to lure victims into depositing money into fake cryptocurrency platforms. The scams are operated by transnational criminal groups running compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and the UAE using trafficked workers, with victims often losing their life savings before the fraudsters disappear. Meta collaborated with law enforcement, NGOs, and other tech companies through the "Tech Against Scams" partnership to combat these crimes, though the UN warns that scammers are increasingly adopting advanced tools like
socialmediatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta reported removing over two million accounts linked to scam centers in 2024, primarily originating from Southeast Asia and the United Arab Emirates, that were operating "pig butchering" romance scams—sophisticated frauds where scammers build trust with vulnerable individuals online before manipulating them into cryptocurrency investment schemes. The company is collaborating with law enforcement and NGOs to disrupt these criminal operations while recommending users enable two-factor authentication, verify email addresses and URLs, and remain cautious of suspicious links to protect themselves from such scams.
abcactionnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals have shifted focus to holiday shopping scams following the election season, with McAfee reporting a 495% increase in Black Friday-related scams and a 340% increase in Christmas scams since October. Common tactics include fake shopping websites (particularly for electronics like Apple products), fraudulent social media marketplace pages with fake reviews and AI-generated deepfakes, with nearly 1 in 3 Americans having fallen victim to online holiday shopping scams. Experts recommend verifying seller history and reviews, avoiding gift cards and cryptocurrency, and using credit cards for purchases to reduce fraud risk.
about.fb.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals operating forced-labor scam compounds primarily in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the UAE) systematically target people worldwide through text messaging, dating apps, and social media to perpetrate "pig butchering" and investment fraud schemes. These criminal organizations, estimated to control up to 300,000 forced workers, steal approximately $64 billion annually by building false trust with victims and manipulating them into depositing money into fake cryptocurrency and investment platforms. The article outlines how scam operators use deceptive personas, scripted social engineering tactics, and phased withdrawal schemes to exploit victims globally before disappearing with their funds.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering scams, which cost Americans billions of dollars annually, involve scammers building fake romantic or friendly relationships with victims over months before directing them to fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. Meta announced major countermeasures including taking down 2 million accounts in 2024, dedicating staff to identify scammer locations, sharing intelligence with law enforcement, and automatically flagging suspicious messages on Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, and WhatsApp. The FBI reported nearly $4 billion in crypto investment scam losses in September 2024, though actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting, and critics argue tech companies' responses remain insufficient given the scale of the problem.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies nine common scams expected to target people in 2025, including grandparent scams (using AI to impersonate relatives requesting money), mail fraud schemes, debt collection scams, and lottery/prize scams. The piece advises consumers to watch for red flags such as urgent language, requests for personal information, poor grammar, unsolicited contact, and suspicious links, while emphasizing that verifying identities directly and avoiding hasty decisions can protect against financial loss.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta announced the removal of over 2 million accounts related to "pig butchering" scams in 2024, elaborate fraud schemes where scammers build fake romantic or friendly relationships with victims over months before directing them to fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. The FBI reported victims lost nearly $4 billion to crypto investment scams in 2023, with actual losses likely much higher due to underreporting, and Meta is implementing new defenses including automatic flagging of suspicious messages from strangers on Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, and WhatsApp.
siliconangle.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 2 million accounts linked to "pig-butchering" scams, a sophisticated fraud scheme where scammers build trust with victims online before directing them to invest in cryptocurrency or fraudulent job opportunities. The accounts originated primarily from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines, and studies indicate these scams have stolen over $75 billion globally since 2020, with Americans losing a record $4 billion in crypto scams alone as of September.
listverse.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database. The content is a general listicle about various scams (cryptocurrency investment scams, online marketplace scams, phone scams, etc.) rather than a focused article about elder fraud, elder abuse, or scams specifically targeting older adults.
To be useful for Elderus, the article would need to specifically address scams affecting seniors, elder financial exploitation, or elder abuse cases. Please provide an article or transcript focused on elder-specific fraud or abuse for summarization.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed over 2 million accounts connected to pig butchering scams on Facebook and Instagram, which involve elaborate romance schemes designed to manipulate victims into cryptocurrency investment fraud before stealing their money. The scam centers, primarily located in Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, UAE, and Philippines), often employ victims who are coerced into fraud work under threat of physical abuse after responding to fake job postings. Key warning signs include unsolicited messages from attractive profiles offering investment opportunities and requests to invest in cryptocurrency or transfer funds to the scammer.
kaynewscow.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old Morrison woman lost her entire life savings after scammers posing as fraud experts convinced her to withdraw her money and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM in Ponca City following a fake email about a Bitcoin transaction. Her daughter established a GoFundMe campaign to help her mother, who has Parkinson's disease, recover from the financial loss and to raise awareness about the scam.
news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Florida man named Jeffrey Moynihan, Jr. was arrested for grand theft after scamming a 74-year-old Texas woman out of approximately $250,000 to $600,000 using a fake Facebook account impersonating Elon Musk. The victim befriended the fraudulent account in 2023 and was promised a $55 million investment return, but the funds were deposited into Moynihan's personal accounts and his painting business instead. This incident reflects a broader pattern of identity theft schemes exploiting Musk's name, including deepfake cryptocurrency scams that have defrauded victims worldwide of substantial sums.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Moynihan Jr., was arrested for defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of approximately $250,000–$600,000 through a fake Facebook account impersonating Elon Musk that promised high investment returns. The victim befriended the fake account in 2023 and sent money over several months, which went directly into Moynihan's personal bank accounts and his painting business rather than generating the promised $55 million return. This case highlights a broader pattern in which scammers frequently exploit Musk's identity through various schemes, including deepfake videos promoting fraudulent crypto investments.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Google identified five common online scams affecting its billions of users: deepfake content impersonating public figures to promote investment fraud, cryptocurrency investment schemes promising unrealistic returns, fake banking apps and websites designed to steal personal information, cloaking attacks that show different content to users than to Google's security systems, and fraudulent event ticketing pages that mirror legitimate sites to sell fake merchandise and tickets. The company recommends users verify app sources, examine URLs and website details carefully, watch for unnatural expressions in videos, avoid investment offers that seem too good to be true, and enable browser protections to identify malicious sites.
globenewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
This article announces The Assembly Caribbean 2024, a virtual anti-financial crime conference hosted by ACAMS on December 5-6, 2024, featuring over 40 experts and regulatory officials addressing compliance challenges in the Caribbean region. The conference will cover fraud risks including elder fraud, romance scams, and "pig butchering" schemes, alongside discussions of money laundering, sanctions enforcement, virtual assets regulation, and the fentanyl crisis. The event aims to provide compliance professionals with practical strategies to detect financial crimes and implement effective anti-money laundering measures tailored to the Caribbean's unique AFC landscape.
consumerreports.org
· 2025-12-08
Bank imposter fraud targeting customers is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using phishing schemes, hacked personal data, and affordable "phishing-as-a-service" cybercrime kits (costing as little as $150/month) to steal billions from Americans' bank accounts. Major banks like Wells Fargo have faced multiple class-action lawsuits, with documented losses exceeding $700,000 in individual cases, yet banks frequently deny reimbursement claims citing the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which does not require them to reimburse customers who are tricked into authorizing fraudulent transfers. Key advice includes being skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from banks,
afp.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) partnered with Philippine authorities in October 2024 to dismantle a romance and cryptocurrency scam operation in Manila, resulting in the arrest of over 250 suspected cyber criminals and the seizure of hundreds of computers and thousands of mobile phones. The scammers targeted Australian men over 35 through dating apps and social media, building trust before directing victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms while operating shifts aligned with Australian time zones. The AFP gathered intelligence on victim targeting methodologies and financial structures to help identify Australian victims and disrupt similar scam centers globally under Operation Firestorm.
examiner.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Over 260 people were arrested in Manila, Philippines during a raid on a romance scam operation that targeted Australian men over 35 through dating apps and social media. The scammers, working in shifts aligned with Australian time zones, built trust with victims before directing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms. Australian Federal Police worked with Philippine authorities to gather intelligence on the scam's structure and money laundering operations, with plans to identify victims and shut down similar operations globally.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
An Ohio man lost his entire life savings of $425,000 in a cryptocurrency fraud scam that began in October 2023 when he was contacted via a pop-up claiming a tech issue and told his retirement account had been compromised. The scammer convinced the victim to grant remote computer access and wire money to stop fraudulent transactions, then stole and converted the funds to Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency. Federal authorities seized approximately $947,883 in USDT tokens in July 2024 and filed a forfeiture complaint in November 2024, seeking to return recovered funds to the victim as compensation.
stimson.org
· 2025-12-08
Cyber scams targeting Americans represent a significant national security threat, with nearly a quarter of Americans victimized in 2023 and collective losses reaching $159 billion. Criminal networks operating from scam compounds in Indo-Pacific countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines) coordinate these operations while also engaging in modern slavery, with global annual profits from scams and fraud exceeding $3 trillion. The U.S. lacks coordinated government efforts to counter these operations and requires a whole-of-government approach including a national command center, improved interagency collaboration, and international partnerships to address this growing threat.
newscop.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian Federal Police conducted a significant raid on a scam compound in Manila, Philippines as part of Operation Firestorm, resulting in the arrest of over 250 individuals and seizure of hundreds of computers and thousands of mobile phones used to target Australian men over 35 through romance and cryptocurrency investment scams. The operation revealed how offshore scam centers operate in shifts aligned with Australian time zones to build rapport with victims before soliciting investments in fake trading platforms. The AFP and National Anti-Scam Centre will contact identified victims and advise Australians to remain vigilant against romance and investment scams by verifying identities, being skeptical of urgent requests, and reporting suspicious activity to authorities.