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in Financial Crime
oig.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Gino Rives, 36, of St. Louis County, was sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay over $1.1 million in restitution for defrauding the Social Security Administration's disability program and financially exploiting two elderly women. Rives falsely claimed mental health disabilities while concealing employment and assets, fraudulently receiving more than $721,000 since 2021, and obtained vehicles, a house, and over $855,000 in checks from elderly victims through construction fraud and unauthorized use of their financial accounts. Judge Stephen R. Clark also ordered him to return six vehicles and a house to the victims and imposed a $100,000 fine;
cleveland19.com
· 2025-12-08
More than a dozen residents in Lorain County, Ohio fell victim to phone scammers who spoofed the sheriff's office number and impersonated Captain Robert Vansant, claiming victims had outstanding warrants and demanding bond payments of up to $3,500 via digital payment apps like Venmo or Zelle. The scammers used convincing tactics including legal jargon, gag order claims, and text messages to pressure victims into paying quickly; some victims lost up to $30,000, and even a corrections officer was temporarily deceived. Captain Vansant warned that the sheriff's office never calls to request money and advised residents to verify calls by contacting the office directly.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with scammers increasingly using sophisticated tactics to steal banking information and money. The article outlines ten common banking scams—including check fraud, phishing, fake websites, automatic withdrawal schemes, and government imposter scams—and provides protective measures such as verifying URLs directly with banks, never clicking unsolicited links, and avoiding upfront fee requests. Knowing these common strategies helps consumers recognize and avoid fraudulent schemes before criminals can access their accounts and funds.
wwnytv.com
· 2025-12-08
Four people were arrested in Oswego County, New York in June 2024 for attempting to defraud senior citizens through phone scams that would have resulted in $78,000 in losses. In the first incident, a 75-year-old woman received a call claiming she was accused of a crime and needed to pay money; she became suspicious and alerted police, who arrested two suspects from Ontario, Canada at her home. A week later, two Brooklyn residents were arrested after attempting to convince a 72-year-old man that his Cash App account was hacked and he needed to withdraw $38,000, but the victim contacted police before handing over the money.
ghanamusic.com
· 2025-12-08
Mona Faiz Montrage, known as Hajia4real, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for her role in romance scams that defrauded over 40 victims, significantly less than the government's requested 37-46 months. Montrage, arrested in the UK in November 2022 and extradited to the US, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money and operated five foreign bank accounts to launder proceeds from the scams through fictitious business entities.
dailyguidenetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite and singer Hajia4Reall (real name Mona Faiz Montrage) was sentenced to one year and a day in a U.S. federal court on June 28, 2024, for her role in romance scams totaling over $2 million. She was arrested in the United Kingdom in November 2022 and extradited to the U.S. in May 2023, where she pleaded guilty to fraud charges that initially carried a potential five-year sentence. Her case highlights the international scope of romance scam operations and law enforcement efforts to prosecute perpetrators.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old businessman in Mumbai lost Rs 1.38 lakh to cyber fraudsters while attempting to purchase sweets online for Ganesh Chaturthi after finding a fake contact number for a sweet shop through Google search. The scammer used multiple deceptive tactics—claiming orders weren't confirmed, falsely stating transferred amounts were "codes" with no monetary value, and sending a nominal Rs 50 refund to establish credibility—eventually convincing the victim and his 74-year-old friend to transfer additional funds totaling Rs 29,875 and Rs 45,000 respectively. The Oshiwara police registered a case under the Indian Pe
tacomaweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
Since April 2022, Washington State's DSHS has tracked a surge in EBT card scams affecting 9,000 SNAP recipients, resulting in $5.5 million in total losses with an average loss of nearly $600 per household. To address this fraud, DSHS has processed over 8,000 claims and replaced $3 million in stolen benefits, while launching a multilingual education campaign translated into 15 languages to help immigrant and refugee communities recognize scam warning signs and protect their EBT card information.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 39-year-old Bronx man, Victor Anthony Valdez, was charged with wire fraud conspiracy for his role as a courier in an international "grandparent scam" that defrauded elderly residents of New York and New Jersey of tens of thousands of dollars between August 2020 and 2021. Scammers operating from call centers in the Dominican Republic posed as grandchildren or legal officials, convincing elderly victims their grandchildren had been arrested and needed bail money, then sent Valdez to collect cash from victims' homes. Valdez faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
examiner-enterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus fraud research database. It is a community events listing for Bartlesville, Oklahoma, featuring recreational and cultural activities such as farmers markets, museum exhibits, animal attractions, and family entertainment. It contains no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or financial exploitation.
forumdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Arlington, Texas police are investigating at least 20 suspicious deaths at nursing homes operated by Regla Becker, 49, owner of unlicensed Love and Caring for People LLC, who faces charges including abuse, negligence, theft, and fraud. One death has been ruled a homicide after the medical examiner found undescribed drugs (trazodone, tramadol, and mirtazapine) in client Steven Pankratz's body; police are also investigating whether Becker coerced client Karen Walker into signing a will leaving her house to Becker shortly before Walker's death in October 2022. The investigation is complicated by the
chroniclet.com
· 2025-12-08
This does not appear to be a complete article. The text provided consists primarily of website interface elements (notification messages, session prompts, photo editing tools) and incomplete headline fragments. While a headline mentions "British man sentenced for wine and whiskey investment scam that targeted older Americans," the actual article content is missing.
To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text.
krcrtv.com
· 2025-12-08
During Elder Abuse Awareness Month, law enforcement in Shasta County, California highlighted the prevalence of financial fraud targeting seniors in the region, with the Redding Police Department reporting approximately 175 cases of elder abuse to their detective division last year. Perpetrators often include family members, caregivers, and neighbors who exploit the trust of elderly victims, making detection and intervention difficult. State lawmakers are advancing SB 278, which would require financial institutions to hold transactions over $5,000 for at least three days when financial abuse is suspected, aimed at preventing scammers from quickly transferring stolen funds offshore or to cryptocurrency accounts where recovery is rare.
cxotoday.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common financial fraud tactics and prevention strategies, noting that bank frauds in India exceeded 302.5 billion rupees in fiscal year 2023. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, unrealistic investment promises, and demands for payment via unconventional methods. The article recommends staying informed about scams, verifying identities before sharing information, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious with app downloads to protect against fraud.
southfloridareporter.com
· 2025-12-08
In Operation First Light 2024, international police coordinated by Interpol arrested 3,950 people and seized $257 million in assets from online scammers engaged in phishing, investment fraud, fake shopping sites, and romance scams. The operation aims to disrupt transnational organized crime networks at a time when U.S. authorities report consumers lost over $10 billion to online fraud in the previous year.
news.abplive.com
· 2025-12-08
A Delhi IAS aspirant lost Rs 1.20 lakh in a "café con" dating scam where he was lured to Black Mirror Café by a woman he met on Tinder; she ordered expensive items, staged an emergency exit, and he was threatened into paying an inflated bill. The incident reveals an organized scam ring operating across major Indian cities involving dating app matches, cafés/pubs, and coordinated staff who split proceeds (15% to the woman, 45% to managers, 40% to owners), with many victims reluctant to report due to social stigma around dating app usage. Police arrested the café owner and the woman involved, uncovering similar cases
lavalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
An underage fraudster in Laval was arrested for targeting seniors and other victims through impersonation calls claiming to represent financial institutions, convincing them to write their PINs on debit cards placed in envelopes for supposed courier pickup. The suspect allegedly used the retrieved cards to commit fraud at ATMs and businesses, with police believing up to 30 incidents were connected to the same scheme, and in some cases accomplices posed as bank representatives during multi-party calls to further deceive victims.
wyff4.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned the public about a sophisticated scam in which fraudsters contact victims by phone or email claiming they failed to report for jury duty and face federal arrest warrants, then demand payment via virtual currency to avoid jail time. The scammers enhance credibility by using actual names of North Carolina law enforcement officers, manipulating caller IDs to appear as government agencies, and sometimes claiming offices are closed due to COVID-19 to discourage in-person payment verification. The FBI emphasized that legitimate arrest warrants are never issued via email or text and never require immediate payment, and recommends victims verify any legal claims directly with law enforcement or courts rather than paying unsolicited demands.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse. The provided text is Yahoo's standard cookie and privacy consent notice explaining how the company uses cookies and personal data for website functionality, security, analytics, and advertising purposes. It contains no information relevant to the Elderus fraud research database.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian actor Big Akwes warned that he would publicly name prominent musicians involved in romance scams if provoked, claiming they use their spouses to defraud foreigners. The warning came amid discussion of socialite Hajia4Real, who pleaded guilty in February 2024 to her role in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans and was extradited from the UK to the US; court documents suggest her ex-partner exploited her involvement in the scheme while she feared for her safety and her daughter's.
occrp.org
· 2025-12-08
Internet fraud losses in the United States exceeded $12.5 billion in the past year, a 22% increase from the previous year, with common scams including identity theft, phishing, romance scams, and investment fraud. INTERPOL's Operation First Light arrested 3,950 suspects and identified 14,643 potential suspects worldwide while intercepting $135 million in cash and seizing assets worth over $120 million. International collaboration has proven effective in combating cybercrime, including one case where coordination between Singapore, Hong Kong, and local banks prevented a 70-year-old victim from losing $281,200 in savings.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian social media influencer Mona Montrage ("Mona 4 Real") was sentenced to 12 months and one day in U.S. federal prison for receiving proceeds from romance scams targeting elderly Americans between 2013 and 2019. Montrage, a member of a West African criminal syndicate, received money from approximately 40 romance fraud victims through her bank accounts, totaling over $2 million in fraudulent funds, and was ordered to forfeit $216,475 and pay $1,387,458 in restitution. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money and money laundering in February.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Mona Faiz Montrage, a prominent Ghanaian Instagram influencer with 3.4 million followers, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison in June 2024 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance scams. From 2013 to 2019, Montrage received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from approximately 40 vulnerable elderly victims who were deceived into sending money under false pretenses such as gold transport fees and fake FBI investigations. In addition to her prison sentence, she was ordered to forfeit $216,475 and pay restitution of $1,387,458.
mcdowellnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to remain vigilant against scams targeting July 4th holiday celebrations, which typically include travel rental fraud, patriotic flag-buying scams, and fireworks purchasing schemes. Common tactics involve fake rental listings that prevent access to booked properties, overpriced flagpole items sold online at below-market prices, and illegitimate fireworks vendors who obtain banking information during transactions. BBB recommends trusting your intuition about deals that seem too good to be true, paying for fireworks with cash at temporary stands, and verifying rental property access before traveling.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission charged two groups of defendants with operating nationwide unauthorized billing scams that defrauded consumers out of millions of dollars. The defendants advertised "free" CBD and Keto personal care products, then secretly enrolled consumers in unwanted continuity plans and repeatedly charged their bank accounts without consent, while also using shell companies to launder credit card payments. The complaint names six defendants and entities: Harshil Topiwala, Kirtan Patel, and their companies (Legion Media LLC, KP Commerce LLC, Pinnacle Payments LLC), as well as Manindra Garg and Sloan Health Products LLC, with charges including violations of the F
midmichigannow.com
· 2025-12-08
Victor Valdez, a New York City man, was charged with conspiracy to defraud seniors through a "grandparent scam" in which call center operators in the Dominican Republic impersonated grandchildren claiming to need bail money between 2020 and 2021, with Valdez collecting the cash from victims' homes. The scheme resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in losses, and Valdez faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. The case reflects a broader trend: elder fraud reports to the FBI increased 14% annually, with seniors losing over $3.4 billion to scams, many of which go unreported.
cfpublic.org
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice charged 193 people nationwide in a health care fraud crackdown targeting elderly and disabled beneficiaries, including several Central Florida residents. The defendants included individuals who filed bogus medical equipment claims totaling millions in Medicare fraud ($9.3 million and $3.4 million in two cases), a nurse practitioner who illegally prescribed 1.5 million Adderall pills and received $800,000, and a hospital nurse accused of stealing fentanyl from patient IV bags. The cases involved conspiracy to commit health care fraud, illegal drug distribution, and theft of controlled substances from medical facilities.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Ellen Klem and Billie McNeely, working for Oregon's Attorney General's office and Adult Protective Services respectively, are leading efforts to combat rising elder fraud in the state, with recent scams increasingly involving cryptocurrency schemes that are difficult for law enforcement to trace. Elder fraud is growing nationally and particularly threatening to Oregon's aging population, with victims experiencing devastating financial losses and psychological harm that can be life-altering. Their prevention work includes training bankers and law enforcement, educating the public through campaigns like "Just Hang Up!," and providing dedicated prosecution support for complex financial exploitation cases.
wchstv.com
· 2025-12-08
Victor Valdez, a New York City man, was charged with wire fraud conspiracy for helping operate a grandparent scam between 2020 and 2021, in which call center operators in the Dominican Republic impersonated grandchildren, lawyers, and court officials to convince senior victims they needed bail money, with Valdez collecting the cash from their homes. The scheme defrauded grandparents of tens of thousands of dollars, and Valdez faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; the FBI reports that scams targeting people over 60 caused over $3.4 billion in losses last year.
cbsaustin.com
· 2025-12-08
Victor Valdez, a New York City man, was charged with wire fraud conspiracy for conspiring with Dominican Republic call center operators between 2020 and 2021 to defraud grandparents by impersonating their grandchildren, lawyers, and court officials claiming bail money was needed. Valdez collected tens of thousands of dollars from victims by picking up cash from their homes after the scammers convinced them to withdraw money, and he faces up to 20 years in prison. The case highlights a broader trend in elder fraud, with reports to the FBI increasing 14% annually and scams targeting seniors 60+ causing over $3.4 billion in losses.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
House Bill 692, "Larry's Law," took effect in Virginia on July 1, 2024, requiring financial institutions to train employees to identify and report potential elder financial exploitation and notify seniors' trusted contacts of suspicious activity. The law was named after Larry Cook, a retired Navy commander from Herndon, Virginia, who lost $3.6 million in a phishing scam; his niece and estate administrator, Janine Williamson, advocated for the legislation, which unanimously passed the Virginia General Assembly and aims to strengthen frontline defenses against elder financial fraud.
katu.com
· 2025-12-08
Victor Valdez, a New York City man, was charged with wire fraud conspiracy for helping operate a "grandparent scam" between 2020 and 2021, in which call center operators in the Dominican Republic posed as grandchildren, lawyers, or court officials to convince elderly victims they needed bail money, with Valdez collecting the cash from victims' homes. The scheme defrauded grandparents of tens of thousands of dollars, and Valdez faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case highlights a broader trend: elder fraud reports to the FBI increased 14% last year, with victims aged 60+ losing over $3.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Sweepstakes Mail Fraud Scheme**
Meagan E. Shine, 47, of Warwick, Rhode Island, was indicted in June 2024 on four counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud for operating deceptive sweepstakes schemes that defrauded seniors and vulnerable individuals across 41 states out of an estimated $10 million. Through businesses including Lucky Dog, LLC and Destiny Merchandise, LLC, Shine sent official-looking mailings falsely claiming recipients had won prizes or were entitled to cash, instructing victims to send $20-$30 processing fees to a Providence PO Box
theglobeandmail.com
· 2025-12-08
Megan E. Shine of Providence was arraigned in federal court on four counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy for operating fraudulent mail-order sweepstake schemes through shell companies Lucky Dog LLC and Destiny Merchandise LLC. The scheme defrauded elderly and vulnerable individuals out of approximately $10 million by sending personalized letters with forged government seals promising cash prizes and requesting $20-$30 "processing fees" from victims. Shine faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Wire transfers and large cash transfers are increasingly targeted by online fraudsters and should be conducted in person at bank branches rather than online, according to banking experts and the Federal Trade Commission. Common wire transfer scams include utility shut-off threats, romance scams, prize scams, family emergency scams (including AI voice cloning), and fake check schemes—all of which exploit the irreversible nature of wire transfers to steal money from victims. The FTC recommends never wiring money to anyone you haven't met in person, and emphasizes knowing both the recipient and the reason for the transfer.
graphic.com.gh
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) was sentenced to one year and one day in prison in June 2024 for her role in a West Africa-based romance fraud scheme operating from 2013 to 2019 that targeted approximately 40 vulnerable older Americans. Montrage and her criminal enterprise used social media, email, and text messages to deceive victims into romantic relationships with fake identities, ultimately defrauding them of over $2 million; she was ordered to pay $1,387,458 in restitution and forfeit $216,475. Her Instagram account had 3.4 million followers
dailyguidenetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Kumawood actor Big Akwes claimed on a Ghanaian television show that prominent musicians use their spouses to conduct romance scams against foreigners, threatening to publicly name them if provoked. He contextualized his warning while discussing the recent sentencing of socialite Hajia4Real for romance fraud, noting that such scams involve Ghanaians both domestically and abroad collaborating with swindlers, and some overseas Ghanaians unwittingly facilitate money laundering by lending their bank accounts to fraudsters.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Robert Louis Sanchez of New Mexico was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison as the fifth defendant in a grandparent scam that defrauded hundreds of victims across the United States, including Kentucky, of over $3 million between August 2020 and May 2021. The scheme involved callers convincing seniors that a grandchild needed emergency money, with co-conspirators posing as couriers to collect cash and launder proceeds through banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. Sanchez served as both a courier and "safehouse" keeper for stolen funds, with four other co-conspirators previously sentenced to terms ranging from 6 months to 6 years in prison.
thesmokymountaintimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Tammy Williams and Ginger Frady from United Community Bank conducted a senior fraud awareness program at Swain Senior Center, educating older adults on recognizing and avoiding scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission, older adults lost $1.6 billion to scammers in the previous year, with nearly half lost to fraudulent investments, lottery schemes, phishing, and grandparent scams being among the most common threats. The presenters advised seniors to use credit cards with low limits for online purchases, avoid clicking suspicious links, never send money for prizes they didn't win, hang up on pushy callers claiming to represent government or financial institutions, and consult with their banks when uncertain
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans lost $10 billion to fraud, with scammers employing increasingly sophisticated tactics that are difficult to detect. The article identifies 10 common banking scams—including check fraud, phishing, fake prize offers, advance fee schemes, and government imposter scams—and provides protective strategies such as verifying URLs before clicking links, never sharing banking details unsolicited, and using secure check writing practices. The key defense is awareness: recognizing these common schemes and understanding that legitimate institutions rarely request sensitive information through unsolicited messages or calls.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
A UK industry survey found that 65% of payments professionals identify fraud as their top financial crime concern, with authorized push payment (APP) scams—where fraudsters impersonate trusted entities to trick victims into transferring money—being the most impactful type, affecting 27% of respondents' organizations. APP fraud cases rose 12% year-on-year in 2023 with losses reaching £460 million, primarily through purchase scams (67% of cases) and online sources (76% of cases), though the scams are relatively unsophisticated and succeed through mass targeting rather than complexity. Payment service providers are concerned about upcoming liability rules that would require them to split responsibility for APP
westorlandonews.com
· 2025-12-08
Six fraudsters were arrested in Florida for stealing nearly $250,000 from seniors through grandparent scams, in which they posed as lawyers and claimed victims' grandchildren had been arrested and needed bail money. The perpetrators used courier services and ride-share drivers to collect cash from victims, some of whom were manipulated into making multiple payments totaling up to $54,000 each through elaborate false stories about escalating legal fees and additional charges. The defendants targeted seniors across seven counties and face multiple first-degree felonies including organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.
havredailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Psychologists have identified that older adults, who hold significant financial assets and make important decisions, are increasingly vulnerable to financial exploitation, with over 90,000 victims losing $1.7 billion to fraud in 2021 alone. Research shows that susceptibility to deception in aging depends on both individual factors—such as cognitive decline, memory problems, emotional state, and loneliness—and contextual factors related to how victims are targeted across various platforms including emails, social media, and deepfakes. The study emphasizes that understanding these psychological vulnerabilities is critical for developing interventions to protect older adults, whose losses from fraud are typically larger and more devastating than younger victims' losses.
decanter.com
· 2025-12-08
UK national Casey Alexander, 27, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $202,195.58 in restitution for his role in a wine and whiskey investment scam that defrauded over 150 elderly victims across the US of more than $13 million. Alexander and co-conspirators used cold-calling and aggressive tactics to convince victims to invest in fine wines and whiskeys purportedly held in European warehouses, then pressured them to make additional investments for higher returns. The scheme was uncovered after a victim's family member reported losses exceeding $300,000 over 18 months to police in 2020.
wvpublic.org
· 2025-12-08
Elder financial fraud is trending upward in West Virginia and nationally, with Americans aged 60 and older losing $3 billion annually to scammers. U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld advises seniors and their families to resist pressure to act quickly, avoid clicking unexpected links in texts and emails, and to contact law enforcement immediately if money is sent fraudulently, as funds can sometimes be recovered or frozen. The fraud targets vulnerable populations and often involves schemes using artificial urgency, such as lottery processing fees or fake emergencies from loved ones.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
A bank manager in Raipur, Chhattisgarh was defrauded of Rs 44 lakh (approximately $52,800 USD) by an online scammer who posed as a legitimate share trading and IPO platform, initially recruiting him through a WhatsApp survey group. Over nearly a month, the victim was manipulated by fake account statements showing fictitious profits and repeatedly solicited for increasing amounts under the guise of fees, penalties, and taxes, while withdrawal requests were denied. The Rajendra Nagar police have filed an FIR and are investigating the case, which highlights the risks of online investment schemes that promise high returns without proper verification.
ajc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2021, elderly couple Dorothy and George Williams of Southwest Atlanta hired contractor Steven Chastain for home repairs, paying him $147,000 (including a $60,000 upfront payment) after he promised quality work and claimed to be a man of God. Chastain, a known scam artist with a history of targeting homeowners, never obtained permits and abandoned the project after stripping the house down to its frame, leaving the couple unable to recoup their losses despite his later conviction for felony theft by deception and theft by conversion. The Williams family has spent three years displaced from their home, living without plumbing, running water, or proper walls, and Dorothy suffered health
pmg-ky1.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau's June Hot Topics report highlights ten prevalent scams affecting consumers, including employment fraud on Facebook ($5,000+ loss), fake family emergency calls, medical bill scams, customer service imposters, invoice scams, sweepstakes fraud, phishing schemes, online shopping and hotel booking scams, and used car parts fraud. The BBB advises consumers to verify businesses at www.bbb.org before transactions, never send money over the phone or to unverified callers, check official accounts and court websites to confirm suspicious claims, and always pay with credit cards to enable dispute protection.
click2houston.com
· 2025-12-08
On May 28th, a Pearland, Texas resident named Missy Edwards lost $17,633 to scammers who spoofed a Wells Fargo phone number and falsely convinced her there was fraudulent activity on her account, then tricked her into initiating a wire transfer herself. Because Edwards voluntarily sent the money under false pretenses rather than having it stolen outright, the bank may not reimburse her, and recovery is extremely difficult since the funds are typically converted to cryptocurrency, which law enforcement agencies struggle to track.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A sound engineer in Chennai was extorted by an eight-member gang after meeting a woman through a dating app, who filmed him in a compromising position and demanded 27,000 rupees; four suspects were arrested. Dating app scams in Chennai are surging, with criminals using AI chatbots, deepfake videos, sextortion, and impersonation of law enforcement to target victims—often shifting conversations to encrypted platforms like Telegram and stealing personal/financial information. Experts recommend caution when contacts request app transfers or money, and advise reporting scams despite potential embarrassment, as many incidents go unreported due to victim fear.