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in Romance Scam
kvoa.com
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to provide a summary of this article because the text provided only contains website header/footer information and weather data, not the actual article content about avoiding romance scams. Please share the full article text so I can create an accurate summary for the Elderus database.
miaminewtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Rosanna Lisa Stanley (48) and Gina Guy (37) were arrested for operating a 15-year romance scam targeting at least 16 elderly and vulnerable victims, defrauding them of over $7 million through fake romantic relationships and fabricated business opportunities. Stanley and Guy lured victims via dating platforms and in-person meetings, then solicited money for nonexistent organ transplants, businesses, and fake psychic services, using the funds for personal luxury purchases and debt payments. Both face federal charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, each carrying up to 20 years in prison.
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona ranked fifth nationally for online romance scams in 2023, with more than 800 victims losing over $22 million, averaging $27,000 per victim—significantly higher than the national average of $2,000. The most dangerous emerging scams involve deepfake video calls, cryptocurrency investment schemes, and fake celebrity profiles using artificial intelligence technology. To protect themselves, potential victims should verify identities through reverse image searches, watch for signs of deepfakes like unnatural blinking and mismatched mouth movements, and never send money or cryptocurrency to unknown online contacts.
engadget.com
· 2025-12-08
Bumble added a reporting option for AI-generated photos and videos to combat fake profiles and catfishing on its dating platform. The move responds to user concerns, with 71% of Gen Z and Millennial users viewing AI-generated content as deceptive and wanting limits on its use, particularly given that romance scams resulted in $1.3 billion in losses to nearly 70,000 victims in 2022.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
A concerned family member suspects their cousin is a victim of a romance scam involving an online relationship with a foreign woman he has never met and plans to marry after relocating. The advice columnist recommends verifying the woman's identity through reverse image searches, discussing the cousin's family obligations and financial implications (particularly concerning property ownership laws in the foreign country), and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC or FBI if necessary, while emphasizing that romance scams affected over 64,000 people in 2023, resulting in $1.14 billion in losses.
canoncitydailyrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
This advice column addresses two workplace and personal safety issues: (1) a 50-year-old technology worker experiencing age discrimination from her boss, with guidance to document instances, report to HR, and reference the Age Discrimination in Employment Act protecting workers 40+; and (2) a cautionary response to a man planning to marry a foreign woman he's never met, warning of common romance scam indicators and advising the concerned cousin to use reverse image searches, ask probing questions about family plans, and approach the conversation with kindness while emphasizing the victim would not be at fault if scammed.
effinghamradio.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, U.S. consumers lost over $1 billion to romance scams, with a median loss of $2,000 per victim, according to the Federal Trade Commission. About 40 percent of romance scam contacts originated on social media, and nearly three-quarters of victims were men. Romance scams involve criminals building trust with victims to gain access to their accounts or money, and suspected cases can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to the FBI.
journal-advocate.com
· 2025-12-08
This advice column contains two unrelated letters. The first addresses workplace ageism in the tech industry, where a 50-year-old worker fears job loss due to her boss's comments about older employees; the response advises documenting instances and reporting to HR or the EEOC, as age discrimination against those 40+ is illegal. The second letter warns about a potential romance scam targeting the writer's cousin, who plans to marry a foreign woman he's never met and relocate; the response recommends verifying the woman's identity through reverse image searches and probing the cousin's plans while emphasizing this may be a common scam tactic.
masslive.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS is warning taxpayers about a scam involving unscrupulous tax return preparers who misrepresent rules for claiming clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, falsely claiming credits for taxpayers who do not qualify. Taxpayers who claim these inappropriate credits are responsible for repaying the inflated amount plus interest and penalties, and the IRS urges individuals to consult reputable tax professionals before claiming complex credits.
jewishaz.com
· 2025-12-08
The National Council on Aging identifies five major scams responsible for over 65% of reported incidents targeting seniors, including government impersonation, sweepstakes/lottery schemes, robocalls, grandparent scams, and romance scams—with emerging threats like deepfake technology and pandemic-related fraud. Protection strategies include verifying caller identity, avoiding personal information sharing, and staying informed through resources like the FTC's "Pass It On" campaign and AARP Fraud Watch Network, while community education and family communication serve as the most effective defenses.
beavercountyradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The Beaver Police Department launched a Summer Scam Series Breakfast program on July 8, 2024, to educate seniors about common fraud schemes including elder fraud, romance scams, social engineering, and grandparent scams. Detective DeGori presented information at the Center at the Mall, with additional educational sessions planned for August 19 and September 23, 2024, sponsored by the police department, the Center at the Mall, and the County's Office on Aging.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Kansas enacted the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, joining over 40 states in authorizing financial advisers to pause transactions suspected of defrauding seniors. Older Americans lost an average of $33,915 to fraud last year with total losses exceeding $3.4 billion, with tech support scams being the most common fraud type against those over 60, followed by data breaches, romance scams, and investment schemes. The law requires financial institutions to notify the Kansas Department of Insurance when pausing transactions and includes timelines to prevent delays to legitimate transactions.
cjonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Kansas enacted the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, joining over 40 states in giving financial advisers the power to pause suspicious transactions when elder fraud is suspected. The law addresses a significant problem: older Americans lost an average of $33,915 to fraud last year, with total losses exceeding $3.4 billion, and constitute 30% of consumer fraud victims despite being only 12% of the population. When advisers pause transactions, they must notify the Kansas Department of Insurance to investigate, with safeguards in place to prevent delays to legitimate transactions.
mariblock.com
· 2025-12-08
Artur Schaback, co-founder and former CTO of peer-to-peer bitcoin exchange Paxful, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges for failing to maintain adequate anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) programs from 2015 to 2019, allowing the platform to be used for money laundering, fraud, romance scams, and other criminal activities. Schaback faces up to five years in prison with sentencing scheduled for November 4, 2024, and has resigned from Paxful's board. Paxful stated it has since implemented enhanced compliance measures and tripled in size under new management following the
news.sky.com
· 2025-12-08
Christopher Harkins, a 37-year-old Tinder user, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for defrauding nine women of over £214,000 and raping one victim between 2013 and 2019 across Scotland. Harkins posed as a successful businessman on dating apps, gaining victims' trust before fabricating financial emergencies and fake holiday bookings to extract money, which was rarely repaid. He was also convicted of filming two women without consent and has been added to the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
dlnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Huione Guarantee, a Cambodian online marketplace, operates as a bazaar for crypto scam software, money laundering services, and tools for "pig butchering" romance scams affecting Southeast Asia, with crypto wallets associated with the platform receiving over $11 billion since 2021 according to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. Hun To, cousin of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, serves as a director in one of the Huione Group units, implicating the prime minister's family in the crypto fraud scheme despite the government's stated commitment to stopping such scams. The platform facilitates transactions primarily in USDT stablecoin and acts as an esc
dailyguidenetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Ghanaian socialite Hajia4Reall accused her estranged partner Luvman Allison of orchestrating romance scams using her bank accounts, alleging he pressured her to receive and transfer funds while claiming legal restrictions prevented him from using his own accounts; she stated she complied out of fear for her safety and that of her daughter. Allison denied the allegations, claiming he never coerced her into fraudulent activities and asserting she was fully aware of her involvement in such schemes. The dispute centers on whether funds flowing through her accounts were connected to romance scam operations targeting victims.
dailyrecord.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Christopher Harkins, a 37-year-old Scottish man dubbed the "Tinder Swindler," was jailed for 12 years after defrauding 10 women of over £210,000 through romance scams conducted on dating apps between 2013 and 2019. He posed as a successful businessman, gained victims' trust, and convinced them to loan him money for fake holidays and fabricated emergencies, while also committing rape, sexual assault, and other violent crimes against his victims. Harkins was convicted on 19 criminal offences, added to the sex offenders register indefinitely, and issued non-harassment orders preventing contact with
nj.com
· 2025-12-08
A man plans to marry a foreign woman he has never met in person and travel overseas to do so, raising romance scam concerns from his family. The advisor confirms this is a common scam pattern and recommends the cousin verify the woman's identity through reverse image searches, discuss his family care plans, and report suspicions to the FTC or FBI if concerns persist, noting that the FTC reported over 64,000 romance scams totaling $1.14 billion in 2023.
oregonlive.com
· 2025-12-08
This advice column addresses a suspected romance scam involving a man planning to marry a foreign woman he has never met in person, potentially jeopardizing his assets and family obligations. Red flags include the online-only relationship, pressure to marry abroad in a country where foreigners cannot own property, and the scammer's likely need for money. The columnist recommends the concerned cousin use reverse image searches on photos, consult FBI resources on romance scams, and gently encourage the man to slow down the relationship, while noting that the FTC reported over 64,000 romance scams in 2023 resulting in $1.14 billion in losses.
darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Christopher Harkins, 37, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after defrauding nine women of over £210,000 through romance scams conducted between 2013 and 2019. He posed as a successful businessman on dating websites, gaining victims' trust before claiming financial emergencies and requesting loans, while also perpetrating sexual violence including rape and non-consensual filming. The judge noted the scams caused severe psychological and financial devastation to the victims, and Harkins was added to the sex offenders register indefinitely with non-harassment orders imposed.
theitem.com
· 2025-12-08
Sophisticated overseas scammers steal tens of billions of dollars annually from Americans through internet and telephone fraud, with law enforcement agencies overwhelmed and catching few perpetrators due to limited resources and difficulties investigating crimes that originate overseas. The article highlights the growing crisis as the U.S. population ages and AI technology facilitates fraud, illustrated by cases including an 81-year-old Ohio man who fatally shot an Uber driver after being targeted by a scammer demanding $12,000, and notes that victims rarely recover lost funds and often don't report crimes due to discouragement and shame.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
Artur Schaback, co-founder and former director of cryptocurrency marketplace Paxful, pleaded guilty to failing to implement required anti-money laundering and know-your-customer protocols from 2015-2019, which enabled the platform to be used for money laundering, sanctions violations, romance scams, extortion, and fraud. Schaback marketed Paxful as not requiring identity verification, presented fake AML policies to third parties, and failed to file any suspicious activity reports despite knowing users engaged in criminal activity. He faces up to five years in prison at sentencing on November 4th.
nippon.com
· 2025-12-08
Between January and April 2024, Japan's National Police Agency reported 2,508 incidents of social media investment fraud resulting in ¥33.4 billion in losses—over six times more incidents and eight times greater losses than the same period in 2023. Scammers used fake celebrity endorsements in social media advertisements to lure victims, then built trust through messaging apps like Line and Instagram before convincing them to invest in fraudulent schemes, with losses ranging from under ¥5 million to over ¥100 million per case. Victims were evenly split between men and women, with those in their sixties most vulnerable (26.9%), primarily transferring funds via
dailyrecord.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Christopher Harkins, a 37-year-old from Scotland, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for romance scams that defrauded nine women of over £214,000 between 2013 and 2019. He targeted single women on dating websites, posing as a successful businessman and fabricating stories about frozen bank accounts and unbooked holidays to extract money from them. Harkins was also convicted of rape, non-consensual filming, and other sexual offences against 10 victims across multiple Scottish areas.
trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, cryptocurrency-related crimes evolved significantly, with ransomware attacks reaching a record $1 billion in extorted payments despite impacting fewer victims, while money laundering via crypto decreased 29.5% to $22.2 billion and stolen cryptocurrency funds fell 54.3% to $1.7 billion compared to 2022. The shifts reflect criminals adapting methods—increasingly using DeFi protocols and gambling services for laundering—even as crypto platforms and law enforcement improved security and recovery capabilities.
standard-freeholder.com
· 2025-12-08
This editorial discusses common online scams affecting people of all ages, including e-transfer fraud (where scammers gain access to bank accounts after sending overpayments), dating site romance scams (where scammers build false relationships to solicit money), credit card theft, cryptocurrency investment schemes, and Facebook account duplication scams. The author emphasizes the need for vigilance when conducting online transactions, dating, and financial dealings, recommending verification of identities, use of secure platforms, and skepticism toward offers that seem too good to be true.
paymentsjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial advisors play a critical role in protecting affluent clients from rising cyber fraud and scams that target investment and retirement accounts. The article advises advisors to take a proactive approach by educating clients about common scams (particularly romance and wealth management scams), positioning themselves as trusted first contacts for victims, and helping remove the shame that prevents people from reporting fraud. Advisors should also leverage their multi-generational relationships to safeguard both younger and older clients from cyber threats.
dailyrecord.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A woman in her 70s from Stirling lost over £3,000 in a banking scam on July 8 when a caller impersonating her bank convinced her to transfer funds to verify account security following suspicious activity. Police warned residents that banks do not initiate contact through cold calls and advised people to hang up and contact their bank directly or police if they suspect fraud.
dailyrecord.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Christopher Harkins, a 37-year-old from Helensburgh, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for defrauding nine women out of over £210,000 through romance scams conducted between 2013 and 2019 across Scotland, including in Stirling. Posing as a successful businessman on dating websites, he gained victims' trust and then claimed his bank account was frozen or requested money for holidays he never booked, leaving them with severe financial and emotional harm. He was also convicted of rape and filming women without consent, and has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.
elizabethton.com
· 2025-12-08
A 50-year-old man from Brooklyn seeking asylum in the U.S. was arrested and charged with fraud and financial exploitation of a Carter County woman in a tech support scam scheme. The victim was deceived by a fake virus notification that led her to withdraw $30,500 from her bank account and hand the cash to the suspect at her residence. The arrest was aided by photographs and identification information the victim provided to authorities, and investigators coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security after discovering the suspect's temporary visitor status and pending asylum application.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. and Canadian law enforcement officials met at the 2024 Cross Border Crime Forum to strengthen their partnership on issues including foreign interference, election security, cybercrime, and transnational crime. The Ministers discussed enhancing collaboration on combating malign foreign actors who conduct electoral interference, steal trade secrets, and engage in transnational repression, while also reaffirming commitment to protecting democratic processes and data security. This meeting builds on the "Statement of Partnership to Prevent, Investigate, Prosecute, and Disrupt Cross-Border Crime" signed at the previous year's forum.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Sebastian Cheleman, a 38-year-old Canadian, was sentenced to over four years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of an international elder fraud scheme operating between April and June 2023. Cheleman and co-conspirators called elderly victims across the U.S. impersonating their relatives, claiming they had been arrested and demanding bail or legal fees; Cheleman directly received over $380,000 from victims and the scheme attempted to steal approximately $750,000 total, with successful thefts reaching around $460,000 for which he must pay restitution. The fraud targeted numerous victims nationwide, including $138,000 from Central Illinois residents who were in
technobezz.com
· 2025-12-08
Text message scams, or "smishing" attacks, are rising in sophistication and include fake bank alerts, fake prize notifications, impersonation of friends/family requesting money, and fraudulent delivery notices. These scams exploit urgency and emotional triggers to steal personal information and funds. Protection strategies include never clicking suspicious links or providing sensitive information via text, verifying requests through official channels, enabling two-factor authentication, and contacting companies directly using verified contact information.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Fake job offer scams using generative AI have surged 118% in the US between 2022 and 2023, with scammers creating convincing job ads on platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter to steal applicants' personal data. To protect yourself, verify company details before applying, never share personal information (address, Social Security number, bank details) with unverified contacts, and be suspicious of offers that seem too good to be true; scammers are also using AI deepfakes in romance scams to appear authentic during video calls.
centraloregondaily.com
· 2025-12-08
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation issued a holiday season alert warning consumers about gift card scams, where criminals contact victims via phone, text, email, or social media to trick them into purchasing gift cards and surrendering the card numbers and PIN codes. Common scammer tactics include creating false urgency, impersonating government agencies, tech companies, family members, or utility providers, and remaining on the phone while victims purchase cards to prevent discovery. Consumers are advised to ignore pressure to act quickly, never share gift card numbers or photos, and verify emergency claims by contacting the person directly.
floridapolitics.com
· 2025-12-08
From 2013 to 2015, Evaldas Rimasauskas conducted a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam by impersonating the vendor Quanta Computer Inc., sending fraudulent invoices to Google and Facebook that totaled over $100 million in payments. Rimasauskas was arrested in 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison, but his scheme has since inspired numerous copycat criminals targeting municipalities and businesses, with recent incidents in Florida resulting in losses exceeding $1 million in at least one case, though some institutions have successfully blocked fraudulent transactions.
forbesindia.com
· 2025-12-08
Fake job offer scams powered by generative AI have surged 118% between 2022 and 2023 in the US, with scammers using AI to create convincing job postings and communications on legitimate platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed to steal jobseekers' personal data. Similar AI-driven fraud tactics are also being employed by romance scammers using deepfake technology to deceive victims during video calls. Jobseekers should verify company details before applying, never share personal information without meeting someone in person, and remain skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
yen.com.gh
· 2025-12-08
**Hajia 4Reall Sentenced in Romance Scam Case**
Ghanaian musician Hajia 4Reall received a one-year-and-one-day prison sentence on June 28, 2024, for her involvement in a $2 million romance scam case in the United States. The article documents her dining with friends in the US shortly after her verdict, showing her in good spirits despite the conviction.
heraldsheets.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, cryptocurrency users lost nearly $2 billion to rug pulls, scams, and hacks, with losses exceeding $1.4 billion in the first half of 2024. Common crypto scams include phishing attacks (fake websites and emails stealing login credentials), romance scams (emotional manipulation leading to fraudulent investment requests), impersonation and giveaway scams (fake celebrity endorsements and deepfakes), and investment scams (Ponzi schemes and pump-and-dump schemes). Users can protect themselves by understanding these scam types, remaining alert, and staying informed about threats in the cryptocurrency sector.
theindependent.sg
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity has become a household concern in Singapore as digital device usage increases, with common scams including phishing, tech support fraud, grandparent scams using deepfakes, romance scams, and charity fraud targeting everyday users. Industry expert Vishak Raman recommends adopting strong passwords, two-factor authentication, regular software updates, separate networks for smart devices, and household education to mitigate risks. The advice emphasizes verifying authenticity of communications, never granting remote access to unsolicited callers, and confirming identities before sending money or sharing personal information.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated investment scam organization operating call centers in Seoul and Incheon targeted previous fraud victims by posing as government compensation agents, then pivoted to selling them worthless cryptocurrency after building trust. The scheme, which stole 5.4 billion won from victims, exemplifies evolving fraud tactics that now include fake trading platforms, purchased victim databases from dark markets, and manipulation through social media channels like Telegram and KakaoTalk to circumvent new financial regulations taking effect in August.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated scam operation with call centers in Seoul and Incheon targeted victims of previous investment fraud by posing as government compensation agents, then resold their personal information to accomplices who impersonated securities employees to solicit cryptocurrency purchases, resulting in 5.4 billion won in stolen funds. Investment scams are evolving to circumvent new capital market regulations by operating through encrypted messaging platforms and creating fake trading systems (HTS) that display fabricated profits; one victim lost 250 million won after depositing funds into a fraudulent trading platform, and police arrested nine members of a virtual asset exchange operation that stole 9 billion won from 133 people.
fashionjournal.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This article provides dating safety advice from a dating expert for travelers using dating apps during holidays. The piece covers 11 essential tips for avoiding romance scams, catfishing, and harassment—including not oversharing personal information, verifying matches, avoiding suspicious links, video calling before meeting, and meeting in public places while keeping friends informed of plans.
jamaica-gleaner.com
· 2025-12-08
A Jamaican banking fraud expert called for harsher prison sentences (at least 10 years) for bank employees who steal, citing a case where former National Commercial Bank employee Khadene Thomas stole $74.5 million from three customers but received only a 2-year sentence. The expert also highlighted various fraud schemes affecting the public, including a romance scam where a school vice-principal sent her life savings to an online "fiancé" and attempted to secure a $3 million loan before the bank intervened.
inquirer.com
· 2025-12-08
American consumers lost a record $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with seniors particularly vulnerable, losing over $3.4 billion to romance, grandparent, and technical support scams. While Congress designated May 15 as National Senior Fraud Awareness Day, the editorial argues that symbolic gestures are insufficient and calls for substantial federal funding and coordinated legislation to combat fraud, as current efforts remain disjointed and banking institutions lack adequate support to prevent these crimes.
finextra.com
· 2025-12-08
The Payment Services Regulations are shifting fraud prevention responsibility to a 50:50 liability model, requiring banks to enhance detection of Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud, where customers are tricked into authorizing payments to fraudsters. In 2023, APP fraud resulted in £459.7 million in losses across over 232,000 UK consumers through purchase, romance, investment, and impersonation scams. Banks must transition from monitoring outbound payments to focusing on inbound transaction processing, as receiving banks have better visibility into fraudsters' accounts and can more effectively block or freeze funds in real-time payment systems.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Tether froze $29.62 million in stablecoins connected to Huione Guarantee, a Cambodian online marketplace that facilitates cybercriminal operations including pig butchering scams, money laundering, and trafficking-related crimes across Southeast Asia. Researchers documented $11 billion in transactions on the platform over three years, with the freeze occurring at law enforcement's request following investigations linking the marketplace to fraudulent and transnational criminal operations. The action highlights how Tether stablecoins have become the preferred cryptocurrency for regional cybercrime due to their stability and anonymity.
tearsheet.co
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Educational/Industry Insights
Charlie, a fintech company serving Americans 62 and older, is addressing senior financial vulnerabilities through AI-driven fraud protection and personalized banking services. The company offers features like expedited Social Security access, advanced fraud safeguards, competitive deposit rates, and age-optimized design, while exploring additional products such as consumer-friendly home equity solutions and tax-optimized asset decumulation strategies for cash-poor, house-rich retirees. CEO Kevin Nazemi emphasizes the importance of ethical AI implementation and elegant fraud prevention measures—such as their "SpeedBump" 6-hour transaction pause—that protect seniors without creating
ktnv.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old Las Vegas widow lost over $1.3 million (including her retirement fund, inheritance, and home valued at $600,000) to a romance scammer who impersonated a German spiritual teacher over more than two years, beginning in 2021 after her husband's death. The scammer, believed to be from Nigeria, used a fake Facebook profile with stolen photos and progressively escalated requests for money, starting with gift cards and culminating in a fake safe transport scheme, leaving Likins without utilities or adequate food. The FTC reported romance scams totaled over $1 billion in losses in 2023, and the real man whose photos were stolen reports at least