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in Crypto Investment Scam
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Kate Kleinert, a 71-year-old widow, lost $39,000 over four months to a romance scammer posing as a UN surgeon named "Tony" who built trust by involving his supposed children and eventually requesting money for medical emergencies and legal bail. Romance scams cost victims $1.14 billion in 2023 across 64,003 reported cases, with scammers using sophisticated psychological manipulation to build emotional investment before exploiting targets for money, often via cryptocurrency which is difficult to recover.
advisorhub.com
· 2025-12-08
Marjorie Kessler, a senior investor in Tampa, Florida, lost nearly $1.75 million to scammers impersonating government officials who convinced her to withdraw funds for safekeeping in a U.S. Treasury account. Morgan Stanley was ordered to pay $843,000 in compensatory damages for failing to investigate her unusual withdrawal requests and neglecting to establish a trusted contact on her account as required by regulations, though the arbitration panel deducted the first transfer amount due to insufficient evidence of negligence.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Celebrity impersonation scams use AI-generated images, videos, and voices to impersonate famous figures like Scarlett Johansson, Taylor Swift, and Brad Pitt, defrauding victims of hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars through fake giveaways, investment opportunities, and cryptocurrency schemes. Key warning signs include unsolicited messages asking for money or personal information, with victims advised to verify celebrity identities through official social media accounts and remember that celebrities will not solicit funds directly. Fraud losses from generative AI are projected to reach $40 billion by 2027, up from $12.3 billion in 2023.
wilmingtonbiz.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common financial scams targeting seniors and the general public, including phishing, investment fraud, imposter scams (grandparent and IRS varieties), computer scams, romance scams, lottery schemes, charity fraud, and fake debt relief services. The article provides red flags and warning signs for each scam type, such as urgent requests, unsolicited offers, promises of guaranteed returns, and requests for upfront payments. Key protective measures include awareness of common scam tactics, verification of organizations before sharing information, and skepticism toward unsolicited offers or high-pressure requests.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's "Operation Level Up" notified over 4,300 individuals of cryptocurrency investment fraud between January 2024 and January 2025, preventing approximately $285 million in losses through interventions in romance scams and "pig butchering" schemes. The operation highlights a growing threat, as Americans lost over $5 billion to crypto fraud in 2023, with elderly individuals particularly targeted, and experts warn that scams could surge in 2025 due to advances in artificial intelligence.
wftv.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans over $1 billion in 2023, with organized networks of overseas scammers targeting vulnerable people on dating apps and social media. A central Florida woman lost her entire life savings of over $600,000 to a scammer impersonating Elon Musk using AI voice technology, transferring large sums through wire transfers and ATM withdrawals to purchase gift cards. Red flags include relationships that move quickly, no in-person meetings, claims of celebrity or military status, and requests for money or investment participation; victims should report incidents to the FBI's IC3 website and the FTC.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
In November, a 66-year-old retired health care worker in Hilton Head, South Carolina, lost $7,500 in a crypto scam after someone impersonating a sheriff's deputy claimed she had missed jury duty and threatened jail time, directing her to deposit cash into a Coinstar ATM that converted it to cryptocurrency. The scam represents a growing trend targeting seniors through crypto kiosks, with Beaufort County reporting $3.1 million in crypto scam losses to law enforcement in the past year alone, prompting calls for stronger fraud prevention measures by cryptocurrency ATM operators and legislators.
local3news.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly adults aged 60 and older lost approximately $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year, with scammers employing increasingly sophisticated tactics tailored to exploit seniors' wealth and vulnerabilities. The most common scams targeting seniors include romance scams (averaging $2,000 per victim), investment/cryptocurrency scams, gift card scams, texting scams, home improvement scams, and imposter scams, with scammers often using social media and high-pressure tactics to build trust before manipulating victims into sending money. Prevention strategies include staying connected with elderly loved ones, remaining skeptical of online connections, and being aware
democratandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
New York residents lost over $25 million to romance scams in 2024, with scammers targeting singles—particularly older adults who are widows, widowers, or divorcees—by creating fake profiles and building trust over weeks or months before requesting money for investments, emergencies, or travel. The New York Department of State advises individuals to avoid sending money to people they haven't met in person, never share personal or banking information with online contacts, and be wary of those who make excuses to avoid meeting or request cryptocurrency investments.
businesswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion has emerged as one of the most devastating romance scams, with fraudsters using fake profiles to manipulate victims into sharing intimate content before threatening exposure and demanding ransom payments. The FBI reported over 12,000 complaints in 2023 resulting in millions in financial losses, severe psychological trauma, and in some cases fatalities, with younger and newer online daters being particularly vulnerable. The article recommends that social media and dating platforms implement stronger identity verification measures, including biometric and government ID verification, to eliminate fake profiles and make it harder for scammers to operate across multiple platforms.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency fraud reached record levels in 2024, with scam wallets receiving an estimated $9.9-$12.4 billion, driven largely by a 40% surge in "pig butchering" romance scams where criminals build fake relationships to lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes. Scammers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence and organized platforms like Huione Guarantee (which received $375.9 million in crypto in 2024) while expanding geographically from Southeast Asian compounds to locations like Nigeria, often employing human trafficking victims to conduct the fraud. The report warns that the scam ecosystem is becoming more professionalized, with criminal groups creating specialize
apnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta Platforms is warning users about romance scams on Instagram and Facebook, particularly ahead of Valentine's Day, where scammers pose as attractive, successful individuals with military, medical, or business backgrounds to build trust before requesting money or cryptocurrency investments. The company recently dismantled romance scam networks impersonating military officers, celebrities, and fake matchmaking agencies targeting people in Africa, and is testing facial recognition tools to identify fake profiles. Users are advised to verify strangers' identities through account creation dates and reverse image searches, and to be skeptical of any requests for money or gift cards.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
More than 250 foreign workers from 20 nationalities were freed from telecom fraud centres operating in Myanmar's Karen State by an ethnic armed group and transferred to Thailand, where they are being assessed for human trafficking. The workers had been lured or coerced into conducting online scams including "pig butchering" romance frauds, cryptocurrency schemes, and money laundering, with some reportedly tortured and held for ransom by their employers. Thailand and China have increased pressure on armed groups controlling the border region to shut down these operations by cutting power and fuel access and tightening banking and visa rules.
mynews4.com
· 2025-12-08
Two suspects, Mohjid Singh and Habri Harmal, were arrested on February 12 in South Reno after defrauding victims of $49,000 through impersonation of Amazon and FTC officials, with the perpetrators continuing to pressure victims for additional payments after the initial theft. The arrests resulted from a joint operation by multiple law enforcement agencies including Washoe County Patrol, Property Detectives, and the Human Exploitation and Recovery Operations Unit, with both suspects charged with felony theft, exploiting an elderly or vulnerable person, and conspiracy. The Sheriff's Office cautions the public that legitimate law enforcement will never demand payment by phone and advises residents to verify claims
courant.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta Platforms warned users ahead of Valentine's Day about romance scams targeting people through Facebook, Instagram, and text messages, where scammers pose as attractive, successful individuals with military, medical, or business backgrounds and use stolen or AI-generated photos to build trust before requesting money for emergencies or cryptocurrency investments. Meta recently dismantled romance scam networks impersonating military officers, celebrities, and fake matchmaking agencies targeting vulnerable populations, and is testing facial recognition tools to identify fake celebrity accounts. Users are advised to verify stranger identities through reverse image searches, check account creation dates, and remain skeptical of any requests for money via gift cards or payment apps.
delcotimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta Platforms is warning users about romance scams that surge around Valentine's Day, where scammers pose as attractive, successful individuals with fake or AI-generated photos to build trust before requesting money for emergencies or cryptocurrency investments. The company recently dismantled romance scam networks impersonating military officers, celebrities, and matchmaking agencies, and is testing facial recognition tools to identify fake profiles. Meta advises users to verify strangers' identities through profile details and reverse image searches, and to be skeptical of any money requests.
seattlemedium.com
· 2025-12-08
Chase and the Seattle Police Department partnered with Kin On Seattle Community Center to hold a senior financial health workshop aimed at protecting seniors from online fraud and scams, with particular attention to romance scams that increase around Valentine's Day. The workshop emphasized that seniors are highly targeted due to their vulnerability and financial resources, and outlined key prevention strategies including being cautious with strangers online, verifying identities, avoiding emotional manipulation, never sending money to people met only online, protecting personal information, and trusting instincts when something feels suspicious.
kjzz.com
· 2025-12-08
Lehi Police Department officers interrupted an active Bitcoin ATM scam targeting senior citizens when they discovered a woman who had already deposited several thousand dollars with $15,000 remaining, and a second senior man preparing to deposit cash while both were on phone calls with fraudsters. Criminals typically convince elderly victims their bank accounts have been hacked or that family members have been arrested, instructing them to transfer funds via Bitcoin ATMs; the officers were able to seize the ATM through a search warrant and attempt recovery of the deposited cash.
ncdoj.gov
· 2025-12-08
Sweetheart scammers build fake online relationships on dating and social media platforms to steal money or personal information from victims, often targeting lonely or grieving individuals. In North Carolina during 2024, sweetheart and friend-in-need scams resulted in 25 victims losing $1,833,047 (average $73,322 per victim), while cryptocurrency scams—often an evolution of romance scams—caused 25 victims to lose $3,334,408 (average $133,376 per victim). Attorney General Jeff Jackson advises verifying who you communicate with online and watching for warning signs such as requests to move conversations off dating apps, claims of being a U
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers exploit Valentine's Day by creating false identities on dating apps and social media to establish emotional connections with victims, then manipulate them into sending money or investing in fraudulent schemes. Red flags include rapid declarations of love, excuses to avoid video calls, requests for money due to emergencies, and overly perfect profile photos (often AI-generated or stolen). A 26-year-old Australian woman lost over $46,000 to a romance scammer in 2024 after connecting on Tinder, highlighting how emotional manipulation and "love bombing" can lead to both financial loss and deep psychological trauma.
consumer.ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers build relationships on dating apps and social media, then request money under false pretenses (travel costs, emergencies, investment opportunities) while avoiding in-person meetings. To protect yourself, never send money to someone you haven't met in person, verify their identity through reverse image searches, consult trusted friends or family, and report suspected scams to the FTC and the platform where contact occurred.
fox10tv.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI's "Operation Level Up" initiative has identified over 4,300 victims of "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scams across all 50 states, with the majority of victims aged 30-60 who were lured through unsolicited messages and online ads with promises of high returns. Victims are shown fake accounts displaying investment growth, but their money is lost immediately upon investment, resulting in an estimated $5 billion in losses in 2024; however, the FBI's intervention efforts have prevented approximately $285 million in additional fraud losses. The FBI advises potential victims to remain skeptical of unsolicited investment pitches, verify communications claiming to be from the FBI, and report
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Dennis Jones, 82, lost his life savings and subsequently took his own life after being victimized by a "financial grooming" scam (also called "pig butchering"), in which a person posing as "Jessie" built an online relationship with him over months before pressuring him to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. Financial grooming scams—where criminals establish trust with victims before luring them into fake investments—caused losses rising from $3.31 billion in 2022 to $4.57 billion in 2023, with individual victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars; the scams originate from criminal operations primarily in Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines, where
nwasianweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial fraud aided by generative AI is rising sharply, with experts projecting losses could reach $40 billion in the U.S. by 2027, and deepfake incidents in the fintech sector increased 700% in 2023. Seniors, non-native English speakers, and Asian immigrants are particularly targeted by scammers who exploit loneliness and build relationships before striking. JP Morgan Chase and Seattle police shared prevention advice including verifying identities, being skeptical of sob stories and urgent payment requests, avoiding sending money to online contacts, and protecting personal information.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Austin Michael Taylor, founder of the cryptocurrency project CluCoin based in Miami, was sentenced to 27 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for misappropriating approximately $1.14 million in investor funds raised through an initial coin offering. Taylor used his social media following to promote the CluCoin token and its promised charitable focus, but subsequently diverted investor funds to his personal account and lost them gambling at online casinos between May and December 2022. He was ordered to pay full restitution and forfeit assets totaling $1.14 million, with three years of supervised release to follow his prison term.
wfsb.com
· 2025-12-08
Connecticut State Police recovered $180,000 in cryptocurrency for a Willimantic resident who was defrauded through a "pig butchering" scam in July 2024, where a scammer impersonated an investment advisor and convinced the victim to transfer $225,000 to a fake platform called "XeggeX" before disappearing. The State Police Cryptocurrency Working Group intercepted approximately 1.77 Bitcoin from the fraudulent wallet and returned the funds on February 12, 2025, with the investigation highlighting that such scams are part of a larger transnational operation responsible for over $75 billion in global losses. Warning signs include unsolicited investment advice via text or social
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans $1.14 billion in 2023, with a median loss of $2,000 per victim, and $384 million in the first nine months of 2024 alone. Scammers create fake profiles on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, build emotional relationships with victims, and then request money or investment opportunities; one elderly widow lost an estimated $50,000-$60,000 to seven overlapping romance scams over seven years. To protect themselves, users should verify identities through video calls, be skeptical of requests for money or personal information, and report suspicious accounts to platforms.
en.cryptonomist.ch
· 2025-12-08
Stablecoins are now involved in 65% of cryptocurrency-related scams, including investment scams and elder fraud schemes that exploit their liquidity and speed for financial crimes. Stablecoin issuers face compounding risks from treasury vulnerabilities, regulatory compliance challenges, and cross-chain security exploits that enable asset theft and fund tracing difficulties. Blockaid offers monitoring and protection solutions including real-time transaction tracking, threat detection, and automated incident response to mitigate these risks and maintain regulatory compliance.
darkreading.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams ("pig butchering") resulted in losses that increased 40% in 2024, with the number of victims surging 210% year-over-year, according to ChainAnalysis. Fraudsters contact victims through dating apps, build relationships, and convince them to invest money or cryptocurrency in fake business ventures, with many operations run from Southeast Asian compounds using coerced workers. While the average loss per person declined 55%, romance scams now represent one-third of total cryptocurrency fraud revenue, prompting warnings for dating app users to avoid sending money or crypto to unknown contacts.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Atlanta woman lost approximately $600,000 to a romance scam after developing an online relationship with someone impersonating Elon Musk, involving wire transfers exceeding $100,000, daily ATM withdrawals of $3,000, and maxed-out credit cards used for gift cards. Romance scammers typically target vulnerable older women through social media by posing as celebrities or soldiers, building trust before extracting money or soliciting investments. Red flags include fast-moving relationships, no in-person meetings, claims of celebrity status, and requests for money or investment opportunities, with victims advised to report scams immediately to the FBI, FTC, and social media platforms.
sentinelone.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals exploit Valentine's Day by launching romance baiting scams, phishing attacks, and fraudulent gift card promotions to manipulate victims through emotional appeals and false investment opportunities. Romance baiting schemes have caused significant financial damage, with investment fraud losses increasing from $3.31 billion in 2022 to $4.57 billion in 2023, often resulting in severe psychological trauma for victims beyond monetary losses. The article advises individuals to recognize common scams such as fake dating profiles, malicious e-cards, and spoofed promotions, and emphasizes that awareness, education, and timely reporting are essential to prevent victimization and aid law enforcement.
cxotoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams, increasingly enhanced by generative AI to create convincing messages, are surging globally with a 400% increase in romance-related fraud in India, where 39% of dating app users encountered scammers and 78% of women faced fake profiles. Vulnerable populations including elderly individuals, military personnel, and those seeking financial relationships are targeted through fake profiles, cryptocurrency investment schemes ("romance baiting"), and fake recovery scams that exploit emotional manipulation and are difficult to reverse, especially when cryptocurrency is involved. The best defense is skepticism toward requests for money from people never met in person, with victims advised to report incidents to law enforcement immediately.
monroenews.com
· 2025-12-08
Monroe Community Credit Union reports that fraud cases in Monroe County are doubling year-over-year, with criminals increasingly using artificial intelligence and spoofing tactics to target victims of all ages. The latest scams include AI-generated voice clones of loved ones, fake fraud alerts impersonating financial institutions, local number spoofing, and tech support scams, alongside traditional schemes like phishing, romance scams, and grandparent scams. The credit union advises residents to never share full Social Security numbers or online banking credentials with callers, verify unexpected calls by hanging up and calling back using verified numbers, and scrutinize email addresses, URLs, and website security features before providing personal information.
pbs.org
· 2025-12-08
Online romance scams cost Americans billions of dollars annually, targeting victims across all ages, genders, nationalities, and educational backgrounds through fake profiles and psychological manipulation. Investigative reporter Cezary Podkul notes that victims have lost anywhere from hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars each, with red flags including unsolicited contact, pushy investment offers, and requests for repeated deposits. Victims are advised to seek a second opinion from trusted contacts, report crimes to local police, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the U.S. Secret Service, as clustering reports can help law enforcement recover funds and identify other victims of the same fraudulent operations.
local3news.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly people aged 60 and older lost approximately $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year, with seniors targeted because they hold significant wealth and are susceptible to increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics. The most common scams affecting seniors include romance scams (averaging $2,000 per victim), investment/cryptocurrency scams, gift card scams, texting scams, home improvement scams, and imposter scams, which often involve refined variations of traditional schemes rather than entirely new tactics. Experts recommend staying connected with elderly loved ones and remaining vigilant about suspicious offers that create artificial time pressure or build false relationships, as scammers exploit lon
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines how to detect utility scams that surge during weather emergencies. Scammers impersonate power companies using spoofed caller IDs and stolen personal information to pressure victims into immediate payments via untraceable methods like gift cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency. The key defense is to hang up and independently verify claims by calling the company directly, avoiding payment methods without buyer protection, and resisting urgency tactics.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams using AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating celebrities became the most reported scams in 2024, with criminals creating hyper-realistic videos and audio to trick victims into fraudulent relationships or investment schemes. A recent investigation by London's Proactive Economic Crime Team led to two arrests after victims handed over approximately £200,000, including one individual who lost £60,000, while a similar case involving a deepfake of Martin Lewis and Elon Musk defrauded a tradesman of £76,000. The technology has evolved faster than regulatory measures, making it increasingly difficult for the public to distinguish real from fabricated content, with deepfake attempts occurring every five
regtechtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams, where fraudsters create fake profiles on dating apps and social media to manipulate victims emotionally and extract money, have increased 14% globally in 2024 with over 1,193 new scam profiles detected. The United States (38%), Nigeria (14%), and India (12%) are the most affected countries, with scammers employing tactics like "love bombing," fake personas, and blackmail to exploit victims over weeks or months. Tech companies including Meta, Tinder, Bumble, and Google are implementing AI-powered detection systems, safety notices, and content filters to identify and remove fraudulent accounts and warn users of suspicious activity.
live5news.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP warns that scammers are exploiting cryptocurrency ATMs—machines that resemble regular ATMs and are increasingly found in gas stations and grocery stores—to steal from victims by posing as law enforcement or government officials and pressuring them to withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin ATMs, where funds are instantly converted to untraceable cryptocurrency. One victim lost $80,000 through this scheme, and cryptocurrency scams cost Americans $1 billion in 2024. The AARP advises that any request to pay bills or deposit money through a crypto ATM is always a scam and should be reported to local law enforcement or ic3.gov.
ft.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, a UK sustainability consultancy lost £324,634 to an authorized push payment (APP) fraud scam where criminals impersonated a client's email to trick an employee into transferring funds; the victim spent 11 months and £100,000 in legal fees attempting recovery and ultimately declared the company insolvent. While new UK regulations implemented in October 2024 now mandate reimbursement up to £85,000 for APP fraud victims, fraud experts and affected individuals report the system remains broken due to police inaction, regulatory gaps, and inconsistent bank treatment of claims. APP fraud accounted for 40 percent of all fraud losses in the UK in 2
moonstone.co.za
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" is a rapidly growing romance scam that combines fake romantic connections with cryptocurrency fraud schemes, primarily targeting victims on dating platforms and social media. South Africans lost over R125 million to online dating scammers in 2022, with scammers now using AI and deepfake technology to create increasingly convincing fake profiles and lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes. These operations, run by international crime syndicates that often exploit trafficked workers, build long-term emotional trust before pressuring victims to send cryptocurrency, which is then laundered through shell companies and criminal networks.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A 30-year-old Florida man was ordered to pay over $1.1 million for operating EmpiresX, a $100 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors across 50+ countries from 2020-2021. The article explains common crypto scams including Ponzi schemes, pig-butchering scams (which combine romance fraud with fake investment schemes), and advises protection strategies such as verifying investment legitimacy, being cautious of unsolicited financial offers, and understanding that cryptocurrency transactions are difficult to reverse or recover.
kob.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns that romance scams continue to target people seeking relationships online, with scammers building trust to solicit money or banking information from victims. Key prevention measures include never sending money to unknown individuals, moving relationships slowly while asking questions, and immediately ending contact if someone requests financial information. The FBI's Albuquerque office highlighted these concerns as part of broader fraud prevention efforts.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency remains vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated scams as technology advances. Experts warn of two major threats in 2025: AI-driven pump-and-dump schemes where scammers use hundreds of thousands of AI agents to artificially inflate coin prices before selling off for profit, and copycat token scams where fraudsters create fake or misleading tokens mimicking legitimate projects to deceive investors seeking ground-floor opportunities. The article advises investors to be suspicious of sudden price surges without history, conduct thorough due diligence on projects and founders, and avoid rushing into investments based on FOMO (fear of missing out).
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two brothers, Zubair and Muzzammil Al Zubair, and Michael Leon Smedley, the chief of staff to the mayor of East Cleveland, were charged in a 32-count superseding indictment with fraud, money laundering, tax fraud, and public corruption spanning from June 2020 through August 2023. The Al Zubair brothers executed multiple schemes including investment fraud, SBA COVID-19 loan fraud, cryptocurrency mining scams, and international arms trafficking fraud while falsely claiming to be a member of the UAE royal family and a legitimate hedge fund manager. Smedley allegedly leveraged his city position to provide official letters, city business
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams are evolving with AI technology, with pump-and-dump schemes and copycat tokens emerging as major threats in 2025. Scammers use AI agents to artificially boost coin prices before selling for profit, and create fraudulent tokens mimicking legitimate projects to deceive investors seeking early-stage opportunities. Experts advise investors to conduct thorough due diligence on projects, communities, and founders before investing, and to be suspicious of sudden price surges with no performance history.
rbcwealthmanagement.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency investments carry substantial risk and have become a prime target for scammers, with crypto-related fraud losses reaching $5.6 billion in 2023, a 45 percent increase from the previous year according to the FBI. Common crypto scams include fake investment opportunities promising guaranteed returns, phishing schemes using counterfeit websites, celebrity endorsement fraud, and Ponzi schemes that recruit investors but misuse funds. Individuals considering cryptocurrency investment should familiarize themselves with these scam tactics and verify the legitimacy of any platform before providing personal information or money.
chicagotribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Naperville residents reported losing nearly $5.5 million to scams in 2024, representing a dramatic increase from previous years, according to police authorities. The most common fraud schemes included arrest warrant extortion, "pig butchering" (romance/investment scams), phishing, and online marketplace fraud, with victims ranging from age 15 to 91. Police note that actual losses likely exceed reported figures, as many victims don't report due to shame, and funds paid via gift cards or cryptocurrency are rarely recoverable.
islandpacket.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "What can I do about all these scams? Tips and tricks to keep you and your loved ones safe"
Beaufort County, South Carolina residents—particularly older adults—face a high risk of scams, with the state ranking seventh nationally for fraud cases. Common schemes targeting seniors include cryptocurrency scams (up 900% since 2020), contractor fraud, phone solicitation, and religious impersonation scams. The FTC advises identifying scams by recognizing when scammers impersonate legitimate organizations, create false urgency or prize claims, and pressure immediate action or unusual payment methods.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams in the UK have become increasingly sophisticated and target all demographics, not just the elderly—16–34 year olds actually account for half of online fraud victims due to their frequent use of quick payment methods and distracted smartphone habits. Fraud is the UK's most common crime with an estimated nine million victims last year, yet only one in 1,000 reported cases results in conviction, with scammers employing tailored techniques ranging from AI deepfakes in video calls to romance baiting on dating apps. The article emphasizes that no online platform is safe and that even highly educated, tech-savvy individuals are vulnerable to sophisticated social engineering tactics.