Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
4,783 results
in Romance Scam
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.
nigerianbulletin.com
· 2025-12-08
A South African woman lost R510,000 in a romance scam after meeting a man posing as "Deron Mundari" from South Sudan on Tinder, who was later identified as Joseph Ssekasi from Uganda. The scammer gained her trust over four months before convincing her to invest money in a scheme involving "ancestors" and prayers, then disappeared. Police closed the case due to insufficient evidence, but the victim has since come forward to warn others about red flags including rapid declarations of love and excessive interest in finances.
clintonherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A June 2024 Washington Post investigation revealed a massive scam operation centered in Myanmar's Kokang region, controlled by Chinese crime families, that employed approximately 120,000 coerced workers across over 300 call centers to perpetrate cryptocurrency investment scams and romance scams targeting US victims. Workers from 35 countries were lured under false pretenses and subjected to beatings, torture, and killings for attempting to escape or failing to meet quotas, demonstrating why legal consequences remain minimal for scammers operating from overseas jurisdictions.
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 romance scams that defrauded over 40 elderly American victims between 2013 and 2019. Montrage received more than $2 million in fraudulent funds through fake romantic relationships and fabricated stories about gold transport and military funds, and was ordered to pay $1,387,458 in restitution and forfeit $216,475.
click2houston.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans reported losing $10 billion to fraud, with imposter scams, phishing, investment scams, and romance scams being particularly prevalent. The FTC partnered with Houston Ethnic Media to educate community leaders about these threats, emphasizing that underserved and immigrant communities face heightened vulnerability due to language barriers and economic desperation. Experts stress that verification of recipients and sources is crucial to protecting oneself and one's family from fraud.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Victoria Melhuish, an Instagram user with nearly 20,000 followers, was hacked and extorted for $300 in cryptocurrency after clicking a fraudulent verification email that appeared to be from Meta. The scammers, allegedly college students, threatened to sell her account unless she paid the ransom; though she regained access after payment, her account was subsequently banned for suspicious activity, forcing her into a dispute with Meta to restore it.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
An X user shared screenshots of how he outsmarted a romance scammer who attempted to extract Rs 1,000 (approximately $12 USD) via Google Pay by posing as a dating app match. Instead of sending the requested amount, the user convinced the scammer to send Rs 20 first as a "test transaction," then blocked the scammer after receiving the money. The incident highlights the prevalence of dating app scams, which typically involve fake profiles building emotional connections before requesting money for emergencies or other expenses, and underscores the importance of skepticism, identity verification, and trusting one's instincts when using dating platforms.
nbcnewyork.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, consumers lost $1.14 billion to romance scams, with a median loss of $2,000 per victim—the highest for any imposter scam category, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Romance scammers build trust with victims over time, often through social media, to manipulate them into sending money or providing account access. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact, requests for money, refusal to meet in person, and attempts to isolate victims from family and friends.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers exploit emotional vulnerabilities to gain victims' trust and access to their financial accounts, with U.S. consumers losing $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023 and a median loss of $2,000 per victim—the highest among imposter scams. These scams typically develop over time on social media platforms, with about 40% of victims reporting initial contact there, and 73% of victims being men. Warning signs include requests for money, refusal to meet in person, isolation attempts, and pressure tactics, though victims often struggle to recognize the fraud because they trust the person manipulating them.
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.
secureworks.com
· 2025-12-08
The film "Thelma" depicts a 93-year-old woman who loses $10,000 to a grandson impersonation scam, reflecting a real crisis: the FBI reported over 101,000 elder fraud victims aged 60+ in 2023, with tech support, romance, confidence, and investment scams being the most common types. Social engineering attacks exploit human psychology and create artificial urgency to manipulate victims into divulging sensitive information or making payments, and victims often experience lasting emotional harm including shame and loss of confidence. Key prevention strategies include educating oneself about scams, trusting instincts when requests seem unusual, verifying the identity of callers, an
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to scams—a 10.6% increase from 2022—with 101,068 reports filed, according to FBI IC3 data. Criminals obtained victims' personal information through data brokers and used it to perpetrate tech support scams (18,000 victims, $589.8 million lost), investment fraud (6,400 victims, $1.2 billion lost), and romance scams (6,700 victims, $356.9 million lost). The article advises seniors to use data removal services, place fraud alerts with credit agencies, and remain cautious of phishing
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
An X user shared a story of successfully turning the tables on a romance scammer who attempted to con him out of Rs 1,000 via Google Pay by posing as a dating app match. The user outsmarted the scammer by pretending payment failed twice, then convincing the scammer to send Rs 20 first as a "test," after which he blocked them. The article outlines common dating app scams including romance scams, location scams, and fake investment schemes, while offering protective measures such as identity verification, skepticism toward early money requests, and use of app security features.
newsbytesapp.com
· 2025-12-08
An X user named Jay outwitted a romance scammer on a dating app who had requested ₹1,000 by pretending to attempt payment twice, then convincing the scammer to send him ₹20 as a "test transaction" before blocking them. The incident, which gained over two million views online, highlights the prevalence of dating app scams and demonstrates the importance of skepticism, identity verification, and reporting suspicious behavior to protect against romance fraud, investment scams, and other schemes on dating platforms.
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.
rogersbank.com
· 2025-12-08
Grandparent scams involve fraudsters calling seniors while impersonating a grandchild and claiming an emergency (accident, arrest) to create urgency and pressure victims into wiring money. Scammers may employ accomplices posing as police officers, lawyers, or bail bondsmen to increase credibility, and increasingly use fake dating profiles and social media to build trust before requesting funds. To protect against these scams, seniors should verify claims through independent contact with family members, stay alert to new acquaintances seeking financial involvement, and contact their bank if they suspect fraudulent activity.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder financial exploitation is trending upward in West Virginia and nationally, with seniors aged 60+ losing $3 billion to scammers last year and $27 billion in suspicious elder fraud activity reported by the U.S. Treasury Department. U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld emphasizes that while some cases can be reversed if reported immediately, prevention is critical—he advises seniors and their families to resist pressure to act quickly, avoid clicking unexpected links in texts or emails, and consult trusted loved ones before sending money.
newsregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans age 60 and older lost more than $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with elder fraud complaints to the FBI increasing 14% year-over-year, though actual losses are likely far higher due to underreporting and unreported crimes. Older adults are disproportionately targeted because they tend to be trusting, have savings, and may be less comfortable with technology, with tech-support scams, romance scams, and investment frauds being the most common schemes. Prevention through education—such as being cautious of unsolicited contacts, verifying businesses online, and never sharing personal information with unverified sources—can help mitigate the psychological and financial
collider.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes Angela Deem's relationship with Nigerian man Michael Ilesanmi from the TLC show "90 Day Fiancé," in which Angela, a 22-year-older woman, pursued a romantic relationship despite warnings from family and friends about potential romance scams involving Nigerian suitors. The couple eventually divorced after facing ongoing conflicts, with the relationship characterized by physical attraction on Angela's part but cultural and personal incompatibilities between the partners.
**Note:** While this article mentions romance scam warnings, it does not describe an actual elder fraud case but rather documents a reality television relationship.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This article contains two separate incidents: (1) In Bhopal, police registered a molestation case against a man and his wife after the wife allegedly slapped a 42-year-old neighbor woman who had complained about the husband's staring behavior. (2) In Mumbai, a woman defrauded her neighbor of approximately Rs 7 lakh ($840 USD) using an AI-generated male voice to create a fake romantic relationship and job opportunity scam.
**Note:** The primary article appears to be a general assault/molestation case unrelated to elder fraud. Only the secondary reference involves fraud relevant to the Elderus database (the AI voice romance scam).
lancasteronline.com
· 2025-12-08
**70-year-old Mark Heath lost his entire $161,000 retirement savings to a "pig butchering" romance scam** in which a woman named Libby Collins contacted him on Facebook, built an emotional relationship with him, and convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency and NFT schemes through multiple transfers. After his son identified the scam during the holidays, Heath contacted the FBI, but the money and the scammer had already disappeared, leaving him dependent on Social Security and his son's financial support.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian entertainment pundit A Plus expressed approval of the one-year-and-one-day prison sentence handed to socialite Hajia4Real (Mona Faiz Montrage) for her involvement in a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $2 million. He believes the penalty will serve as a deterrent to both Hajia4Real and others engaged in similar fraudulent schemes. Hajia4Real was arrested in the UK in November 2022, extradited to the U.S. in May 2023, and received a reduced sentence from a possible five-year term after pleading guilty in February 2024.
crozetgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Patsy Froehlich fell victim to a remote access scam when a fake PayPal representative tricked her into allowing screen-sharing access to her computer, manipulating her into attempting a $20,000 bank transfer she believed was a refund correction; her bank caught the suspicious transfer and prevented the loss. The article also describes a separate Publisher's Clearinghouse prize scam targeting Andrew Taylor, who was asked to purchase gift cards as a supposed legal requirement to claim a $5.1 million prize, and notes that scammers increasingly use urgency, emotional manipulation, and emerging technologies like AI to defraud victims.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a entertainment piece ranking the greatest country music singers of all time based on chart performance and accolades. It contains no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or elder financial exploitation.
backendnews.net
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals exploit emotions—fear, joy, and sadness—through social engineering tactics to manipulate victims into divulging sensitive information or money. Scammers use fear-based urgency (fake account suspension threats), joy-based lures (too-good-to-be-true investment offers), and sadness-based manipulation (romance scams) to target vulnerable individuals. The article advises the public to remain emotionally aware, verify requests independently, and remember that legitimate banks never request confidential information via unsolicited email, text, or phone calls.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Rosanna Lisa Stanley and Gina Guy were charged with running romance scams that defrauded at least 16 elderly men out of more than $7 million between 2009 and 2024. The women built trust with victims through personal relationships and online dating platforms, then manipulated them into sending money under false pretenses such as fake business ventures, medical procedures, and financial schemes, with one victim losing approximately $1 million. Both face charges of money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy, each carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Rosanna Lisa Stanley and Gina Guy were charged with operating romance scams that defrauded at least 16 elderly men out of more than $7 million between 2009 and 2024. The women built trust through romantic relationships and then convinced victims to send money under false pretenses, such as fake medical procedures, businesses, and financial schemes, while using the proceeds for luxury purchases and personal expenses. Both face charges of money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy, each carrying up to 20 years in prison.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Two women, Rosanna Lisa Stanley (48) and Gina Guy (37), were charged with running a romance scam from 2009 to 2024 that defrauded at least 16 elderly men of over $7 million through fake romantic relationships, false medical emergencies, and bogus investment schemes. Stanley allegedly scammed victims out of at least $555,000 by posing as a fortune teller and astrologer, while Guy targeted at least four men claiming to need money for kidney transplants; both women used the proceeds to fund luxury purchases including a boat and car. Both were arrested in June 2024 and charged with money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy
audacy.com
· 2025-12-08
Rosanna Lisa Stanley and Gina Guy were charged with money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy for operating a romance scam that defrauded at least 16 elderly men out of more than $7 million between 2009 and June 2024. The women built romantic relationships with their victims through in-person meetings and online platforms, then convinced them to send money under false pretenses such as business needs, medical emergencies, and spiritual protection, with one victim losing $555,000 and another $1 million. Both defendants face maximum sentences of 20 years for using the stolen funds to purchase luxury goods and vehicles.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with the vast majority of perpetrators escaping prosecution as law enforcement agencies become overwhelmed by the exponential growth in cases. Victims, particularly older adults targeted by romance, grandparent, and technical support scams, rarely recover their losses, and some cases result in tragic secondary consequences when victims become desperate or violent. The combination of low investigation priority at local police departments, difficulty tracking funds moved to cryptocurrency or foreign accounts, and federal prosecution thresholds means that scammers operate with minimal risk of being caught or held accountable.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with projections worsening as the population ages and AI technology advances fraud capabilities. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded to investigate these crimes, resulting in few convictions and minimal recovery of stolen funds, while victims—particularly older adults—lose life savings to romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud. A tragic Ohio case illustrates the crisis: an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after a scammer manipulated him into believing she was involved in a $12,000 bond extraction scheme, while the actual perpetrator remains
mb.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
Scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with sophisticated overseas criminals exploiting an aging population and increasingly using AI to evade detection and prosecution. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by the exponential growth in scams, with most perpetrators escaping capture and victims rarely recovering their money, while some police departments treat financial fraud as lower priority than other crimes. The article illustrates the crisis through cases including an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being targeted by a bond scam, and highlights how stolen funds are quickly converted to cryptocurrency or moved to foreign accounts, making recovery and investigation nearly impossible.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from elderly Americans through internet and telephone fraud schemes including romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, with perpetrators rarely caught or convicted due to law enforcement resource limitations and overseas origins making investigations difficult. The crime wave is projected to worsen as the population ages and AI technology advances, while victims—who rarely recover lost funds—are often discouraged from reporting due to police skepticism about voluntarily-sent money and the vast majority of cases going unreported.
apnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated international scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans, with law enforcement catching and convicting relatively few perpetrators due to resource limitations and investigation challenges, particularly for overseas crimes involving cryptocurrency and foreign accounts. Older Americans are especially vulnerable to romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, rarely recovering lost funds including life savings, while some police departments deprioritize financial fraud cases and victims often remain unreported. As the U.S. population ages and AI technology advances, experts warn the crime wave is projected to worsen, with scammers facing minimal consequences for crimes that are increasingly easy to commit and difficult to prosecute.
nbcnewyork.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted despite the exponential growth of such crimes. Victims—particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud—rarely recover their money, and law enforcement agencies lack sufficient resources to investigate cases, especially those involving cryptocurrency or foreign bank accounts. The article highlights a tragic Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being defrauded of $12,000, illustrating how scams can escalate to violence while the original scammers remain at large.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Smishing attacks in South Korea have surged dramatically, with scammers impersonating financial institutions, investment firms, and government agencies through fake promotional text messages containing malicious URLs. These sophisticated schemes trick victims into visiting counterfeit websites or downloading malware-laden apps that steal personal information, enable remote device control, or lock data with ransomware demands; spam texts increased nearly 10-fold from 31.12 million in 2019 to over 168 million cases by mid-2023, with projections exceeding 400 million annually. The attacks exploit improved spam reporting visibility, regulatory changes affecting investment advisory services, and compromised text reseller companies to distribute fraudulent messages imp
ibj.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted, according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network director. Victims—particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud—rarely recover their money, and law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and under-resourced to investigate cases, especially those involving cryptocurrency or foreign bank accounts. The article illustrates the crisis through an Ohio case where an 81-year-old man fatally shot an Uber driver after being manipulated by a scammer into believing she was involved in a $12,000 bond fraud, while the actual
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and phone fraud, with the crime wave expected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology create easier opportunities for perpetrators while law enforcement struggles to investigate and prosecute due to limited resources and cases originating overseas. Victims, particularly older adults targeted by romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, rarely recover their money, and many cases go unreported as victims feel discouraged by police who often mischaracterize fraud as "consensual transactions" and prioritize cases with higher dollar amounts or multiple victims.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams and online fraud operations, predominantly run by Chinese criminal organizations based in Southeast Asia (particularly Myanmar and Cambodia), have caused an estimated $1.26 trillion in global damage annually through impersonation schemes, investment fraud, and phishing. Approximately 220,000 people are mobilized across Myanmar and Cambodia for these crimes, with victims including those abducted from 35 countries who are coerced to impersonate others via social media, email, and phone calls. In response, China has blocked over $157 billion in fraudulent transactions since 2021, and Myanmar authorities rescued 19 kidnapped South Koreans in the previous year as international law enforcement intensifies crack
audacy.com
· 2025-12-08
Two women, Rosanna Lisa Stanley and Gina Guy, were charged with money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy for operating a romance scam that defrauded at least 16 elderly men out of more than $7 million between 2009 and June 2024. The defendants lured victims into fake romantic relationships and used false pretenses such as business needs and medical emergencies to extract money, which they spent on luxury vehicles, boats, and personal expenses. Each woman faces up to 20 years in prison, with one victim losing at least $555,000 and another losing approximately $1 million.
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with relatively few perpetrators caught or convicted, according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network director. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by the exponential growth of scams targeting older adults, who rarely recover lost funds from romance scams, grandparent scams, and technical support fraud, while victims are often discouraged from reporting due to misconceptions that voluntary money transfers constitute consensual transactions. The challenge is compounded by the use of cryptocurrency and foreign bank accounts, low federal prosecution thresholds, and the ease with which criminals operate with minimal consequences, with one Ohio case illustrating how fraud can
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, 2.6 million Americans fell victim to fraud with reported losses of $9 billion, though the Justice Department estimates true losses could exceed $137 billion annually since only 15 percent of victims report crimes. The surge in fraud—particularly investment scams and cryptocurrency schemes like "Pig Butchering" which increased 2,000 percent from 2019 to 2022—is driven by enforcement gaps, with federal agencies typically only investigating cases exceeding $1 million, leaving devastating losses to seniors in the tens of thousands unaddressed. Experts argue that the U.S. needs a coordinated national anti-fraud strategy similar to the UK's approach
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 23-year-old man in Hyderabad lost ₹12 lakh after receiving a spoofed call claiming to be from FedEx stating his Aadhaar was being misused for illegal courier shipments; the scammers then impersonated Mumbai Cyber Crime officials and coerced him into transferring funds under the guise of an "investigation" via Skype video call. A case has been registered with Hyderabad Cyber Crimes police, and FedEx issued a warning that they never request personal information through unsolicited calls or emails.
techstory.in
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost over $10 billion to scams in 2023, a 14% increase from the previous year, with investment scams ($4.6 billion) and imposter scams ($2.7 billion) leading the way. Older adults are disproportionately targeted, and the FTC estimates seniors lose $28.3 billion annually to fraud, with common schemes including romance fraud, grandparent scams, and technical support hoaxes. Law enforcement faces significant challenges combating overseas scammers who exploit cryptocurrency and other untraceable payment methods, highlighting the need for enhanced collaboration between government agencies and private industry to strengthen fraud prevention and victim support.
itechpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud in the U.S. is surging exponentially, driven by advancing AI technology and the technological gap exploiting older adults, with common schemes including romance scams and technical support fraud that often result in victims losing their life savings. Law enforcement faces significant challenges investigating these crimes—particularly when perpetrators operate overseas and convert funds to cryptocurrency—and many cases go unreported because victims hesitate to come forward or police dismiss financial fraud as consensual transactions. The FBI recorded a 14% increase in elder fraud cases in 2023, prompting experts to declare the situation a "crisis level" problem in society.
jamaica-star.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans, with losses to adults over 60 ranging from $3.4 billion to $137 billion depending on the source, as law enforcement agencies lack resources to investigate the exponentially growing crime wave. Common schemes include romance scams, grandparent scams, pig butchering, and technical support fraud, with victims rarely recovering their money and often reluctant to report due to shame and self-blame. The problem is expected to worsen as the U.S. population ages and criminals increasingly use AI and cryptocurrency to evade detection, requiring coordinated action from technology, banking, retail, and telecommunications sectors to make fraud harder to execute
newsandsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas criminals steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone scams, with the crime wave projected to worsen as the aging population and AI technology make fraud easier to perpetrate and harder to prosecute. Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed and underfunded to handle the exponential growth of scams—including romance, grandparent, and technical support fraud—with victims rarely recovering their stolen money and perpetrators rarely facing consequences. A notable case involved an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being defrauded by scammers attempting to extract $12,000, highlighting how these crimes can have devastating downstream effects even as the perpetrators remain
complex.com
· 2025-12-08
Two women, Rosanna Lisa Stanley (48) and Gina Guy (37), were charged with defrauding 16 elderly men out of $7 million through a romance scam spanning from 2009 to 2024. The suspects used fake romantic relationships and personal connections to gain victims' trust before persuading them to send money for fabricated reasons including business deals and medical procedures. Both face multiple federal charges including wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, each carrying up to 20 years in prison.