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in Romance Scams
au.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Australians are being targeted in a growing "money mule" scheme where individuals rent out their bank accounts to criminals who use them to launder illegally obtained funds, typically earning $200-$500 plus commissions per transfer. The Australian Banking Association and Australian Federal Police reported detecting nearly 13,000 mule accounts in 2024-25, with one Sydney woman jailed in April 2024 after her 10 accounts were used to launder almost $4 million in criminal funds that were transferred overseas. Criminals recruit mules through social media, gaming platforms, and employment, threat, or romance scams, but authorities warn this activity facilitates money laundering and exposes participants
afp.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian authorities are cracking down on money mules who rent or sell their bank accounts to criminals for $200-$500, with the AFP and Australian Banking Association warning that this activity enables money laundering and supports organized crime. Criminals recruit mules through employment scams, romance scams, and threats, routing illicit funds through legitimate bank accounts to obscure their origin; in one case, a Sydney woman was imprisoned in April 2025 for renting 10 accounts used to launder $3.8 million. Renting or selling bank accounts is illegal and can carry life imprisonment charges, and account holders risk being implicated in serious crimes including drug trafficking, extortion, and terrorism financing.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
**"Pig butchering" scam operations run by ethnic Chinese criminal gangs in Southeast Asia defrauded Americans of at least $5 billion in 2024 (a 42% increase from 2023), with global losses estimated at $63.9 billion in 2023.** The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission reports that Chinese government elements implicitly back these operations, which exploit thousands of human trafficking victims and have expanded to target wealthy countries like the U.S. after Chinese authorities cracked down on scams targeting Chinese citizens. The commission warns that without coordinated international action to raise awareness, equip law enforcement, and deter perpetrators
californiaglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, seniors lost an average of $33,000 each to online scams as part of a $159 billion total theft from Americans, with highly coordinated criminal networks—often operating from Southeast Asia—using tactics like romance scams, phishing, and imposter calls to manipulate older adults. The Golden Years Policy Council argues this represents a public safety and national security crisis requiring coordinated government response, including establishment of an interagency taskforce, increased law enforcement funding and tools to dismantle scam networks, and a centralized victim reporting system to track the problem's true scale.
dayakdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired businessman in his 70s in Sibu, Sarawak lost over RM800,000 to a fake online investment scheme called "GVD Coins" after discovering it on Facebook in mid-June 2025; despite warnings from family, he made multiple transactions to the scammer's bank account and received no returns. Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Mancha Ata warned the public to verify investment legitimacy through official sources such as Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia, and urged recent victims to contact the National Scam Response Center at 997.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors aged 60 and older face significant financial fraud threats, prompting the U.S. Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative to coordinate education and prevention efforts. Common scams targeting older adults include Social Security impostor scams (using caller ID spoofing to demand fund transfers to gift cards), tech support scams (requesting remote device access and fabricating charges), lottery scams (claiming foreign winnings while requesting fees), and romance scams (exploiting dating platforms to solicit money). Additional resources on these scams are available through the Justice Department's elder justice website.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams exploit emotional vulnerability and trust, with the FTC reporting at least 70,000 cases annually resulting in approximately $1.3 billion in losses. Common tactics include catfishing (using fake profiles and personas), military impersonation scams, oil rig worker schemes, and sugar daddy/mama cons—all designed to build trust before requesting money or sensitive information from victims. The article provides educational guidance on recognizing these scam variations to help people protect themselves when online dating.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
This research study examines harms experienced by LGBTQ+ users on dating apps, finding that participants encounter sexual harassment, emotional abuse, discrimination, catfishing, sextortion, and romance scams. Specific vulnerabilities include trans and non-binary users facing slurs and death threats, racialized users experiencing racist fetishization, and younger users being coerced into sexual acts by older users, with some reporting sexual assault or being drugged during in-person meetings. The study recommends safety strategies including identity verification through video calls and social media checks before meeting in person.
dakotanewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
North Dakota residents experienced the highest per-capita losses from romance scams and confidence fraud in the nation between 2021 and 2024, totaling over $16 million. Authorities attribute the vulnerability to limited fraud awareness, particularly among residents in isolated areas.
whbl.com
· 2025-12-08
Winnebago and Sheboygan County Sheriff offices are warning residents about two prevalent scams: romance scams involving fake online relationships that move to messaging apps and request money via Bitcoin or gift cards, and spoofed phone calls impersonating the Sheriff's office demanding payment for alleged fines or missed jury duty. Both scams exploit technology to appear legitimate while targeting victims' finances through cryptocurrency and gift card payments.
wrdw.com
· 2025-12-08
Military families lost $584 million to scams in 2024, a $100 million increase from 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with scammers targeting service members and veterans for their stable pensions and financial assets. Common schemes include the "update your file" scam (requesting personal information via calls, texts, or emails), PCS rental fraud (fake military housing listings demanding upfront deposits), and predatory lending offers targeting military members with unusually favorable terms that hide high interest rates and fees. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service partnered with AARP to launch Operation Protect Veterans, a crime prevention program providing education on recognizing and avoiding these scams.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Nineteen Korean members of an international romance scam operation were arrested in Pattaya, Thailand on the 21st following a joint raid by Korean and Thai police at a pool villa complex. The organized crime ring operated from the villa using dozens of computers to execute romance scams and voice phishing schemes, with members assigned specific roles in the fraud operation. Korean authorities dispatched an investigation team to analyze the electronic devices and evidence on-site, and are coordinating with Thai officials to repatriate the suspects and develop joint countermeasures against Southeast Asia-based international organized crime.
news.outsourceaccelerator.com
· 2025-12-08
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration warns that Filipino workers are being targeted by fake overseas call center job scams that actually operate as human trafficking schemes, forcing victims to impersonate romantic partners on dating apps to defraud users into cryptocurrency investments. Authorities have intercepted hundreds of Filipinos at borders and rescued victims including a 24-year-old man who was forced to work as a "love scammer" in Cambodia while facing physical intimidation from Chinese employers. The government advises citizens to verify employment opportunities through trusted sources, avoid sharing personal information early, and report suspicious job offers to authorities.
northfortynews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office issued a public alert about a surge in fraud targeting Northern Colorado residents, particularly seniors and small business owners, including romance scams, bank impersonation, fake government texts (DMV, law enforcement), and business invoice schemes that pressure victims to pay via Bitcoin, gift cards, or money apps. Common red flags include unsolicited requests for personal information, urgent threats, and payment demands via untraceable methods, with victims urged to verify requests directly with official sources and report fraud to law enforcement and agencies like the FTC and IdentityTheft.gov.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Perth grandmother Donna Nelson was sentenced to six years in prison by a Japanese court in December for importing two kilograms of methamphetamine, which she claims she was tricked into carrying through an elaborate romance scam where an online boyfriend convinced her the bag contained fashion samples. Her legal team is appealing the conviction with expert testimony on romance scams, with a hearing scheduled to determine if the case will be re-examined.
livemint.com
· 2025-12-08
A Belgian man drove 472 miles to meet French model Sophie Vouzelaud after being romantically deceived online, only to be confronted by her actual husband at her door. The victim had sent approximately $35,000 to someone impersonating Vouzelaud over the course of their online "relationship," a classic romance scam that exploited his emotional vulnerability. Vouzelaud subsequently warned her followers on Instagram about fake accounts using her identity and images, highlighting the risks of online romance fraud.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old Belgian pensioner was catfished into believing he was in a romantic relationship with beauty queen Sophie Vouzeland and traveled 500 miles to her home in France, where he was confronted by her actual husband. The victim had sent £25,000 to the scammer posing as Vouzeland over WhatsApp before discovering the fraud. The real Sophie and her husband posted the encounter on social media to raise awareness about romance scams and fake accounts.
newsmeter.in
· 2025-12-08
Digital arrest scams in Hyderabad decreased by over 75% in the first half of 2025 (34 cases) compared to the same period in 2024 (140 cases), attributed to increased public awareness efforts. Senior citizens aged 60-80, particularly retired professionals with children abroad, remain primary targets of these scams, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officers and coerce victims to liquidate assets through psychological manipulation and threats of arrest. Recent cases included an 84-year-old man defrauded of Rs 44 lakh and a 69-year-old woman defrauded of Rs 38.7 lakh, with police adv
kelly.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly led a bipartisan Senate effort urging federal agencies to coordinate against transnational criminal networks operating "scam labor camps" in Southeast Asia and elsewhere that traffic or coerce individuals into defrauding older Americans. According to the FBI, Americans over 60 lost more than $3.4 billion to online scams in 2023—an 80% increase in two years—through tactics including tech support scams, cryptocurrency fraud, romance scams, and government impersonation. The lawmakers requested that the Secret Service, State Department, and Treasury Department enhance international law enforcement partnerships, dismantle trafficking operations, strengthen public awareness campaigns, and improve interagency coordination while reporting back by July
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old Belgian widower traveled 500 miles to meet French beauty queen Sophie Vouzelaud after weeks of WhatsApp conversations, only to discover he was the victim of a romance scam and had sent £25,000 to a fraudster using a fake account impersonating her. The man showed up at Vouzelaud's home where her husband Fabien revealed the truth, and the incident was posted on social media as a warning about the dangers of romance scams and fake social media accounts.
lasvegassun.com
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece advocates for the bipartisan TRAPS Act (Task Force for Recognizing and Averting Payment Scams) to combat the surge in digital fraud, which cost Americans $12.5 billion in losses across 2.6 million fraud reports last year—a 25% increase from the previous year. The author, a former law enforcement executive, argues that payment scams disproportionately target older adults through romance schemes, fake investments, and AI-generated impersonation calls, and that the current fragmented approach leaves victims bouncing between agencies without effective coordination. The proposed legislation would unite the Treasury Department, FTC, Justice Department, FCC, and financial industry leaders
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A Belgian man named Michel lost $35,000 in a romance scam after being catfished by someone impersonating French model Sophie Vouzelaud online; he drove 472 miles to meet his "future wife" only to be confronted by her actual husband, Fabien Boutamine, at her home. The scammer had posed as Vouzelaud on fake social media accounts and fabricated stories including a false pregnancy to manipulate Michel emotionally. Vouzelaud advised Michel to report the fraud to police and preserve all evidence, though it is unclear if a report was filed.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old Belgian widower traveled 760km to France after falling victim to a romance scam, believing he was in a relationship with French beauty queen Sophie Vouzelaud and having paid €30,000 to scammers over several weeks of WhatsApp communication. He arrived at Vouzelaud's home only to be met by her actual husband, who explained the deception and encouraged him to report the fraud to police. The article also outlines common warning signs of romance fraud and provides advice for avoiding and supporting victims of such scams.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Jeffrey Kent, a romance fraudster, was designated a dangerous offender in June 2024 after defrauding five Alberta women of thousands of dollars (ranging from a few thousand to $300,000) over 1.5 years by posing as wealthy professionals and fabricating health crises like brain cancer to manipulate them. Kent's lawyer has filed a notice of appeal challenging the dangerous offender designation and indeterminate sentence, arguing that non-violent fraud should not qualify as a serious personal injury offense, though the judge determined his victims suffered severe psychological harm including depression and suicidal ideation.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Jeffrey Paul Kent, a 55-year-old Alberta serial romance scammer, defrauded five women of thousands of dollars between 2016-2017 by posing as wealthy professionals, faking illnesses like brain cancer, and manipulating victims into financial and emotional relationships, with one victim left with a $300,000 debt. In June 2023, an Edmonton judge designated Kent as a dangerous offender with an indeterminate sentence, finding that his elaborate schemes caused serious psychological harm including depression, shame, and suicidal ideation; Kent's lawyer is now appealing the designation, arguing it sets an unprecedented precedent for non-violent fraud cases.
theglobeandmail.com
· 2025-12-08
Jeffrey Kent, a serial romance fraudster from Alberta, defrauded five women of thousands of dollars between 2016-2017 by fabricating elaborate personas (lawyer, doctor, businessman), faking illnesses like brain cancer, and manipulating victims into real estate investments and credit card use, leaving one woman with a $300,000 debt. An Edmonton judge designated him a dangerous offender with an indeterminate sentence in June 2023, citing severe psychological harm to victims including depression and suicidal ideation; Kent's lawyer has since filed an appeal challenging both the dangerous offender classification and the sentencing. Kent has a history of similar fraud convictions dating back to the 1990s
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
An Asda security guard in Northern Ireland identified 10-15 potential romance scam victims over six months, where fraudsters impersonate celebrities or romantic interests on social media to manipulate victims into purchasing gift cards and sharing the barcodes. The guard intervened in cases involving hundreds of pounds in losses, successfully helping one customer recover £1,000 through police involvement and preventing another from losing £750, highlighting how this scam has become increasingly common in retail settings.
intelligentcio.com
· 2025-12-08
Tucoemas Federal Credit Union partnered with Carefull, an AI-powered financial safety platform, to provide real-time fraud detection and elder exploitation prevention for its older members and their families. The partnership enhances Tucoemas' existing PrimeTimers program by offering suspicious transaction monitoring, credit activity alerts, a secure document vault, scam analysis tools, and $1 million in identity theft insurance to help protect against the growing threat of elder financial abuse. This initiative reflects Tucoemas' commitment to serving California's rapidly growing population of adults over 65 with proactive financial security and family involvement in fraud prevention.
the-independent.com
· 2025-12-08
In early 2025, Chinese actor Wang Xing was abducted after being lured to Thailand under false pretenses and taken to a scam operation in Myanmar, sparking widespread panic about fraud on Chinese social media; Thai police rescued him within three days after he reported being forced into training for "pig butchering" scams. Pig butchering scams, operated by organized crime groups primarily since 2019, involve criminals building trust with victims online before manipulating them into making large fraudulent investments, with victims losing billions globally—including a U.S. banker who embezzled $47 million to cover losses from such a scam, and a Connecticut woman who lost nearly $1
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 42-year-old Chinese national, Zhigang Lian, was indicted for allegedly orchestrating an imposter scam that defrauded a 76-year-old Belleville, Illinois resident of over $70,000. The scheme began with a fake Apple text message, then escalated when scammers posing as federal agents convinced the victim their identity had been stolen and they needed to withdraw all their bank funds for protection; the victim handed over $25,000 on June 17 and $45,000 on July 1 before Lian's arrest by Illinois State Police. Lian faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, each carrying
tillamookheadlightherald.com
· 2025-12-08
An Eastern Oregon woman lost $600,000 in life savings to a "gold bar scam" in which scammers impersonated federal agents, claimed her accounts were at risk, and convinced her to purchase gold bars for "safekeeping"; local law enforcement prevented an additional $300,000 loss after her sister reported the scheme to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Hotline. The scam typically involves fraudsters creating false urgency about compromised finances, instructing victims to convert assets into gold, and dispatching couriers to collect the valuables before disappearing. The Oregon DOJ warns that no legitimate government agency requests gold purchases or home visits for money collection, and urges victims to hang up
observernews.net
· 2025-12-08
A man living in an assisted living facility was scammed out of over $800,000 in a romance fraud scheme that began in 2022 when a scammer posing as a woman on social media built a romantic relationship with him, then convinced him to invest in a fake cryptocurrency broker account. The perpetrator, 37-year-old Otiz Swinton Jr., a convicted felon with a prior history of targeting elderly residents, was arrested in May and now faces 20 pending charges with sentences of 5-30 years each. Romance scams cause lasting emotional and financial devastation to victims, often involving their entire life savings built over decades.
iberianlawyer.com
· 2025-12-08
Gary Miller, founder of the International Fraud Group, discusses how fraud investigations and asset recovery operate globally, emphasizing that nearly all scams begin with exploitation of trust. Miller identifies romance and investment scams via social media as the most difficult frauds to combat today, as victims readily believe deceptive messages on trusted platforms without verification, and stresses that effective fraud prevention requires speed, cross-border coordination, and psychological understanding alongside legal expertise.
anz.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian bank ANZ reports measurable improvements in scam detection through its partnership with BioCatch Trust, an inter-bank fraud intelligence network that uses behavioral biometrics and real-time risk scoring to identify sophisticated scams including impersonation, investment, romance, and business email compromise schemes. In 2024-2025, Australians lost over $2.03 billion to scams, with romance scams averaging AU$15,000 per victim and investment scams causing AU$59 million in losses; the BioCatch integration has enhanced detection of complex fraud while reducing false positives that inconvenience legitimate customers.
wjournalpr.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, older adults aged 60 and over suffered $4.9 billion in fraud losses nationally—a 43% increase from 2023—with Puerto Rico experiencing a dramatic 618% surge to $21.1 million in losses for the same demographic. The most financially damaging scams targeting seniors include investment fraud ($1.8 billion), tech support scams ($982 million), and romance scams ($389 million), with experts noting that perpetrators operate as sophisticated, organized call centers using psychological manipulation rather than amateur schemes. Seniors remain vulnerable due to a combination of limited digital literacy, available financial resources, social isolation, and reluctance to report crimes, particularly when perpet
crescentavalleyweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and FTC are warning the public about evolving scams that exploit advancing technology, including AI-generated voice impersonations of law enforcement and government officials. Elderly Americans are particularly vulnerable to romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation scams, sweepstakes scams, and home repair scams, with millions falling victim annually. The agencies also warn against business email compromise, charity fraud (especially after disasters), cryptocurrency job scams, VA benefits overpayment scams, and card skimmers, recommending victims verify charitable organizations through trusted databases and use credit cards rather than cash, gift cards, or wire transfers for donations.
theweeklyjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, older adults aged 60 and above reported $4.9 billion in fraud losses nationally—a 43% increase from 2023—with Puerto Rico experiencing a particularly sharp 618% rise to $21.1 million. The most costly schemes targeting seniors include investment fraud ($1.8 billion), tech support scams ($982 million), and romance scams ($389 million), which are considered especially dangerous due to their psychological manipulation tactics and emotional impact on victims. Experts attribute seniors' vulnerability to a combination of factors including the digital divide, lack of technical knowledge, availability of financial resources, social isolation, and the highly sophisticated, professional nature of modern fraud operations that use
idahocountyfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance and confidence fraud caused $601 million in damages to 16,504 victims across the United States in 2023, with an average loss of $36,459 per victim. Idaho was hit hardest, with 112 victims losing $6.9 million ($61,784 per person), while scammers posing as online pen pals or relatives in distress targeted victims primarily through email and social media. Elderly victims aged 60 and older comprised approximately 40% of victims and suffered $365.9 million in losses.
sequimgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece from a county sheriff outlines common scam tactics affecting communities nationwide, including phishing, imposter scams, investment fraud, romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and payment transfer schemes. The sheriff advises residents to verify sources independently, avoid urgent pressure to act, be cautious with untraceable payment methods, and report suspected fraud to the FTC, emphasizing that scammers exploit new technologies and crises to target vulnerable victims across all demographics.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired US Army colonel pleaded guilty to conspiracy after disclosing classified national defense information to someone posing as a Ukrainian woman on a foreign dating app between February and April 2022, exploiting emotional manipulation typical of romance scams. Slater, who worked as a civilian at US Strategic Command, provided details about military targets and Russian capabilities, and faces five to seven years in prison under his plea deal. The case illustrates how romance scammers exploit loneliness and the desire for human connection to manipulate even experienced, security-cleared individuals into compromising sensitive information.
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired US Army lieutenant colonel pleaded guilty to sharing classified military information with someone posing as a Ukrainian woman on a foreign dating site in 2022, in what appears to be a romance scam. The 64-year-old Franklin David Slater, who worked as a civilian contractor for US Strategic Command, disclosed defense secrets regarding military targets and Russia's capabilities after being emotionally manipulated by the scammer, who called him her "secret agent" and asked leading questions about NATO plans. Slater faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, highlighting how romance-based social engineering can exploit emotional vulnerabilities regardless of professional experience or security clearance.
theglobalfilipinomagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Filipino nationals are being trafficked into scam operations in Cambodia after being lured with false job promises abroad. A 24-year-old victim was rescued after being forced to operate fake romantic profiles on dating apps to defraud foreigners, enduring 15-hour shifts and physical abuse for failing to meet quotas; at least four additional Filipinos aged 27-46 were repatriated in July with similar accounts of trafficking and coercion into phishing and romance scam schemes. The Bureau of Immigration and Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking are working to dismantle the recruitment networks responsible for these human trafficking operations.
chaincatcher.com
· 2025-12-08
ZachXBT alleged that BigONE, a centralized cryptocurrency exchange, has processed numerous transactions related to "pig butchering" scams, romance fraud, and investment schemes. The blockchain analyst expressed lack of sympathy for the exchange's team due to their handling of these illicit transactions.
dallasnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, seniors aged 65 and older reported nearly $4.9 billion in losses to financial scams—a 43% increase from the previous year—with Texas seniors alone filing over 9,473 complaints averaging $489,000 in losses each. Seniors are targeted because they control significant national wealth and often struggle to keep pace with technology, making them vulnerable to romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation, and investment fraud. Family members and caregivers can help protect seniors by monitoring account activity, maintaining open communication about financial matters, and encouraging consultation before large transactions, while laws like the 2017 Elder Abuse Prevention
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Tucoemas Federal Credit Union partnered with Carefull, an AI-powered financial safety platform, to protect its older members and their families from fraud and scams through real-time transaction monitoring, credit activity alerts, and suspicious message analysis, backed by $1M in identity theft insurance. The partnership complements Tucoemas' existing PrimeTimers program for older adults and reflects the credit union's commitment to serving its growing population of members over 65 in California.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Massachusetts woman lost approximately $450,000 of her retirement savings in a year-long romance scam where perpetrators impersonated country music star Vince Gill and his daughter, fabricating a story about divorce and legal troubles to extract money through wire transfers, checks, and cash. Despite warnings from banks, law enforcement, and family members, the victim continues to believe the online relationship is genuine. Santa Barbara County District Attorney investigators emphasize that romance scams are particularly difficult to prevent due to emotional manipulation tactics like "love bombing," and recommend that concerned family members approach victims with empathy while asking non-judgmental questions and contacting authorities if suspicious activity is detected.
lfpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A Tillsonburg woman lost $5,000 in an online romance scam after sending money to someone she believed was her romantic partner to cover travel costs. Ontario Provincial Police warn that requests for money from online romantic interests—regardless of relationship duration—are a major red flag, and victims should consult trusted family or friends before sending funds. The police encourage vigilance when meeting people online and note that fraudsters are skilled manipulators, urging victims not to feel embarrassed about reporting suspected fraud.
theglobeandmail.com
· 2025-12-08
Footballer Jorginho partnered with secure messaging platform aOK to combat online abuse and romance scams through verified, non-anonymous user identification. The partnership addresses growing threats including online harassment of athletes (75% of sports federations report regular threats to athletes and their families), romance scams that cost victims $4.6 billion in 2023, and broader mental health concerns linked to online abuse, particularly among young users. aOK's invite-only platform with verification protocols aims to eliminate the anonymity that enables these crimes by ensuring all users interact with authenticated profiles.
manilatimes.net
· 2025-12-08
The Bureau of Immigration discovered a scam operation targeting Filipinos seeking overseas employment, which also involved romance scam elements. A 24-year-old Filipino male victim was successfully repatriated from Phnom Penh, Cambodia following a coordinated operation with the Philippine Embassy, marking the identification of this new fraud hub.
philstar.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scam hubs in Cambodia have been recruiting Filipinos through false job promises, forcing them to manage fake dating profiles and conduct love scams targeting foreigners while enduring physical abuse and intimidation. At least five Filipino trafficking victims have been repatriated from Cambodia after being lured with offers of high-paying jobs in Thailand, only to be taken to scam operations where they faced 15-hour shifts, violence, and coercion. The Bureau of Immigration is investigating the recruitment networks and coordinating with anti-trafficking agencies to dismantle these operations.