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in Crypto Investment Scam
dnronline.com
· 2025-12-08
Dayton Police Chief Justin Trout presented to community members about common elder scams, noting that Americans ages 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023. Trout warned against multiple scam types including government impersonation (IRS scams, arrest threats), AI-generated fake messages, cryptocurrency payment requests, overpayment schemes, and phishing emails, emphasizing that money lost to most scams cannot be recovered. Key advice includes never paying money to avoid arrest, independently verifying company contact information, avoiding cryptocurrency transactions, and deleting suspicious emails without clicking links.
abilene-rc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Abilene Police Department investigated two cryptocurrency scams in 2024, with each victim losing over $1,000 after depositing currency into local crypto ATMs. Police are raising awareness about these scams through posters and senior center presentations, noting that scammers typically build online trust relationships before directing victims to deposit funds into untraceable digital wallets. The FBI recommends avoiding unsolicited investment offers, never sharing financial information with online acquaintances, and reporting suspected scams to local law enforcement or ic3.gov.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Shan Hanes, former CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas, was sentenced to 24 years in prison in August 2023 for embezzling over $47 million through a cryptocurrency pig butchering scheme. The bank's collapse wiped out generational wealth for hundreds of residents, including the Tucker family ($1.4 million in lost shares) and the Houtz brothers (hundreds of thousands), while Hanes also stole from his church and investment club to fuel the scam.
insurancenewsnet.com
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines major cryptocurrency scams involving high-profile figures and celebrities, including FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's 2023 conviction for stealing billions, the 2022 collapse of Terra's cryptocurrency ecosystem that bankrupted investors, and NFT scams promoted by influencers like a YouTuber who promised a game that never materialized, causing thousands of investors to lose millions. The article emphasizes how price volatility, lack of regulation, and fraud have created significant risks in the cryptocurrency market for both celebrity endorsers and ordinary investors.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to regulate cryptocurrency ATMs, which have been used in scams targeting seniors and other vulnerable adults. The bill would limit new users to $2,000 daily or $10,000 over 14 days, require verbal customer service interaction for transactions over $500, and mandate refunds within 30 days of police reports; this legislation follows reports of at least $114 million in crypto ATM scam losses to the FTC in 2023, including a case where a 67-year-old man lost $7,000 to a jury duty scam.
asiaone.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore experienced a significant surge in scam losses, reaching at least $1.1 billion in 2024, a 70.6% increase from 2023, with 51,501 reported cases (up 10.6% year-on-year). E-commerce scams were the most common type at 22.7% of cases, while investment scams caused the largest financial losses at $320.7 million, with cryptocurrency scams also spiking dramatically to 24.3% of total losses. Youths and young adults under 50 comprised nearly 71% of victims and were primarily targeted via messaging platforms and social media, while those aged 65 an
channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore reported at least S$1.1 billion in scam losses in 2024, a 70.6% increase from 2023, with one victim losing S$125 million in cryptocurrency through a malware-enabled scam involving fake interview links. E-commerce scams were the most common type, followed by job and phishing scams, with 51,501 total cases reported; however, the police's Anti-Scam Command recovered over S$182 million and averted S$483 million in potential losses through proactive interventions.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, cryptocurrency scams accounted for 24.3% of Singapore's $1.1 billion in total scam losses, a dramatic increase from 6.8% the previous year, with victims aged 30-49 most affected. Notable cases included a 36-year-old who lost $125 million after clicking a fake job interview link containing malicious code, a victim who lost $33.8 million to a phishing scam on a fake cryptocurrency wallet site, and another who lost $21 million to social media impersonation. Police identified three vulnerable groups: digital natives unfamiliar with cryptocurrency despite technical knowledge, investors whose funds disappear after opening exchange accounts, and cryptocurrency
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old Texas man lost $5,000 in a Bitcoin ATM scam after a fraudulent call claiming his son was in jail prompted him to send money through a cryptocurrency machine. U.S. Senators introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to combat these scams through federal regulations, including transaction limits for new users, live verbal confirmation for large transactions, and mandatory anti-fraud policies from operators. According to the FTC, reported losses from Bitcoin ATM scams surged tenfold to $114 million between 2020 and 2023, with the actual amount likely much higher.
theblock.co
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Montana man, Randall V. Rule, was found guilty of cryptocurrency money laundering conspiracy tied to romance scams, fake real estate schemes, and business email compromises. Rule and his co-conspirators laundered over $2.4 million by converting scam proceeds into cryptocurrency and sending it to domestic and foreign associates while misrepresenting transactions to financial institutions. Romance scams, also known as "pig butchering," involve fraudsters faking romantic interest to exploit victims' trust for financial gain.
fairmontsentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Fairmont Police report that seniors in their community face consistent threats from online scams, with tech support scams and romance/friendship scams being the most common types targeting the local older population. Scammers use various payment methods including gift cards and cryptocurrency to extract money, often directing victims to crypto ATMs or banks, and many cases originate outside the United States making recovery unlikely. Police Sergeant Beletti advises recognizing four warning signs: impersonation of trusted sources, claims of immediate danger or reward, pressure to decide quickly, and requests for specific payment methods.
abc7news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 57-year-old North Bay woman lost $300,000 to a romance scam after meeting a man named "Harry Burter" on a dating app who posed as a Los Altos resident traveling for work. The scammer used romantic language and fake identification documents to build trust before gradually requesting money for various work-related expenses, exploiting the victim's loneliness following her recent divorce. Experts note that dating app platforms need stronger safety measures and cross-platform information sharing to prevent fraudsters from using the same fake identities across multiple platforms.
lafayettestudentnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Lafayette College students have been targeted by phishing scams impersonating college officials and offering fraudulent job positions at $700 per week, though most emails are flagged as suspicious and few students report financial losses. College campuses are increasingly vulnerable to phishing attacks due to innovative hacking techniques, AI, and students' frequent email use combined with low cybersecurity awareness. The college addresses the threat through mandatory cybersecurity training for first-year students and recommends that students verify sender information, check for grammar errors, and hover over links before clicking.
limerickpost.ie
· 2025-12-08
Two people in their 70s from Limerick fell victim to separate online scams: a man lost a substantial sum after clicking a cryptocurrency investment link and following instructions from a caller in the Netherlands, while a woman lost an application fee after applying for a travel visa on a fraudulent website. Gardaí warn against providing personal details to cold callers and advise verifying website legitimacy, never discussing financial accounts by phone, and reporting fraud immediately to both financial institutions and police.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
**Human Trafficking and Cyber Scams:** Vulnerable individuals from Vietnam and other regions are being trafficked to Myanmar and forced to operate cryptocurrency and romance scams that have cost Australians over $1 billion in investment losses and $190 million in romance scams over five years. Victims like Duong are deceived with false job offers, enslaved in remote compounds, subjected to physical abuse and starvation, and forced to create fake online profiles to defraud unsuspecting targets globally, with families often required to pay ransoms of $5,000-$10,000 to secure their release—amounts prohibitively expensive in countries where average monthly salaries are
southtahoenow.com
· 2025-12-08
El Dorado County Senior Services hosted a free educational presentation on March 3 featuring local law enforcement discussing current scams affecting the area, including romance, gift card, pig butchering, arrest warrant, check fraud, and cryptocurrency schemes. The presentation highlighted that the Federal Trade Commission reported $10 billion stolen in 2023, with actual losses likely much higher due to underreporting, and encouraged seniors to protect themselves and their loved ones from these fraud types.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Fraud targeting older adults in Arizona and nationwide represents a significant crisis, with those 60 and over reporting $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023, including $128 million in Arizona, according to FBI data. AARP volunteer Jerry Watterworth and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes are leading prevention efforts by educating seniors about evolving scams including romance frauds, Bitcoin schemes, identity theft, and tech-support scams, emphasizing that fraudsters continuously adapt their methods and prevention through awareness of red flags is key. The article stresses that because scammers exploit human nature—the desire to trust and connect—older residents must remain vigilant across all communication
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This article highlights AARP Arizona's fraud prevention efforts in response to a significant crisis: people over 60 reported $3.4 billion in fraud losses nationwide in 2023, with $128 million in Arizona alone. The article details common scams targeting older Arizonans—including romance scams, Bitcoin/cryptocurrency schemes, identity theft, and tech-support fraud—and emphasizes that prevention through awareness of red flags (unsolicited contact, high-pressure tactics, requests for personal information) is essential, as scam methods continually evolve with changing technology.
wandtv.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS released its 2025 "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams to warn taxpayers during filing season, which peaks during tax time. The scams include phishing and smishing (text) emails impersonating the IRS, fake charities, fraudulent tax credits (fuel tax, sick leave, non-existent self-employment credits), misleading offers in compromise, unethical tax preparers, and social media misinformation about tax eligibility. Taxpayers are advised to remember that the IRS only communicates by mail, to verify information from official sources, and to be cautious when using third-party tax preparers.
14news.com
· 2025-12-08
A Dubois County, Indiana resident fell victim to a tech support scam in which they were directed to withdraw their checking account funds and deposit them into Bitcoin machines after fraudsters claimed their account had been hacked. The victim subsequently provided the scammers with Bitcoin information, allowing them to access and steal the funds, though the exact amount lost was not specified. The Sheriff's Office advises residents to never share personal or banking information with unsolicited callers and to hang up or consult family members or law enforcement before taking action.
wkbn.com
· 2025-12-08
A Mentor, Ohio woman lost her entire life savings of over $663,000 to a cryptocurrency romance scam after being contacted via text in November 2023, becoming one of at least 33 victims who collectively lost approximately $4.9 million. The scammer built trust by bonding over shared interests, then convinced the victim to open a cryptocurrency account and transfer funds to a fake investment platform that promised high returns but was controlled entirely by the fraudster. U.S. attorneys have seized over 8.2 million USDT in cryptocurrency and filed a civil complaint to recover and return the stolen funds to victims.
iomtoday.co.im
· 2025-12-08
Isle of Man residents lost £2.2 million to scams and fraud in 2024, with suspicious email reports surging 50.7% to 9,372 cases, according to the Cyber Security Centre's Annual Threat Update. Investment scams caused the most damage at £1,278,920 across 35 cases, while account compromise, bank fraud, gift card fraud, and fraudulent websites also affected residents through phishing attacks, credential theft, and impersonation schemes. The report highlights the need for stronger cybersecurity awareness, including password protection and verification of requests for personal information or financial transactions.
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence technology—including AI-generated images, deepfakes, and chatbots—to create convincing fake profiles on dating platforms and social media, making traditional detection methods like reverse image searches less effective. These scammers use AI to optimize targeting of vulnerable users and engage with multiple victims simultaneously, often without human interaction, to steal money and personal information. Consumers can protect themselves by verifying potential romantic interests' online histories, avoiding sharing money or personal details until identity is confirmed, and being cautious of "love bombing" and quick requests for money or personal information.
localnews8.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple in Rexburg, Idaho lost $35,000 after being targeted by scammers who impersonated PayPal's fraud department and their local bank, convincing them to make large cash withdrawals under the false pretense of investigating fraudulent Bitcoin purchases. The victims were instructed to lie to bank tellers about the withdrawals and later deposit the cash into a Bitcoin ATM, after which two men arrived at their home to collect the money in person. Rexburg Police warn seniors to verify requests directly with their financial institutions and note that legitimate banks never conduct fraud investigations through individual customers.
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Investment/cryptocurrency scams topped the list of fraud affecting Canadians and Americans in 2024, with over 80% of targeted victims losing money at a median loss of $5,000, according to a Better Business Bureau report. Employment scams ranked second, primarily targeting 18-34-year-olds with fake job offers requiring upfront equipment purchases that employers never reimburse. Romance and online purchasing scams also remained prevalent, with victims over 65 most susceptible, and nearly 30% of scam victims reporting negative mental health impacts.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2024 Better Business Bureau report reveals that investment and romance scams are increasingly sophisticated, employing "financial grooming" tactics where scammers build trust over weeks or months before defrauding victims. Investment/cryptocurrency scams ranked as the riskiest scam type with an $5,000 median loss, while romance scams had the highest median loss at $6,099; people ages 65+ reported the highest median dollar loss ($160), and overall median losses rose 30% from 2023 to 2024. The report warns that victims often experience significant emotional impacts, with 60% reporting anger, 54% loss of trust, and 53.5%
edmonton.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Edmonton residents lost over $48 million to fraud, with investment scams leading at $14.1 million, followed by romance scams at $1.7 million and employment fraud at $1.3 million. Police highlighted the emotional toll of these crimes, featuring the case of Heather Robicheau, who lost money to a year-long romance scam involving a fake cheque and false emergencies. During fraud prevention month, Edmonton Police and community partners urged residents to avoid sharing personal or financial information and to be skeptical of unsolicited requests for money, particularly those involving emotional manipulation or crisis scenarios.
edmontonjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Edmonton lost approximately $48.1 million to fraud in 2024, with investment scams being the largest category at $14.1 million, followed by romance, employment, and identity fraud scams. Edmonton Police Service launched Fraud Prevention Month to educate the public on common tactics used by increasingly sophisticated scammers, including phone spoofing, phishing, social engineering, grandparent scams, and person-in-authority scams that exploit psychological manipulation and urgency to steal money and personal information.
murrayledger.com
· 2025-12-08
A resurgence of toll-charge texting scams is circulating, where recipients receive messages claiming unpaid tolls in states they may or may not have visited, with links directing them to fake websites requesting payment. Law enforcement officials note that scammers increasingly replicate legitimate toll company messaging (like FastTrak or EZ Pass) and create sophisticated fake websites, making scams harder to identify, though legitimate toll agencies never request payment via text and instead send physical mail with license plate photos. Police advise recipients to verify they actually visited the state in question and to research any suspicious requests before responding, as scammers are becoming increasingly skilled at mimicking legitimate communications across multiple platforms including email and phone calls.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
According to the FBI's 2024 Elder Fraud Report, elder fraud complaints increased 46% with losses rising 43%, while New York ranked fourth nationally in complaints and monetary losses among seniors over 60. The median loss for victims aged 60+ exceeded $83,000, with investment scams causing the highest losses at $6.6 billion overall and New York seniors losing $257.7 million in 2024. AARP warns that holiday season scams are escalating, particularly gift card fraud, phishing, and delivery scams, and recommends shopping directly from official websites, purchasing gift cards only from authorized locations, and being wary of urgent requests for payment via gift cards or
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
The article outlines 11 common tax scams expected in 2025, including phishing emails, IRS impersonation phone calls, fake tax preparation services, social media fraud, and stimulus payment scams. Key protective measures include verifying sender authenticity before clicking links, never providing personal information to unsolicited callers, confirming tax preparers are IRS-registered, and remembering that legitimate government agencies never demand immediate payment or charge fees for assistance. Scammers increasingly use sophisticated tactics targeting vulnerable taxpayers, making awareness and verification critical during tax-filing season.
bostonglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
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wifr.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Scam Tracker Report ranks investment and cryptocurrency scams as the riskiest fraud type, followed by employment scams (averaging $1,500 in losses) and romance/friendship scams (with a median loss of $6,099—the highest among all scam types). Both investment and romance scams involve "financial grooming," where fraudsters build trust over weeks or months before encouraging victims to invest money, often in cryptocurrency, with experts warning that online investment offers are major red flags.
wcax.com
· 2025-12-08
A cooperative U.S.-Canadian law enforcement effort resulted in the indictment of more than two dozen Quebec men accused of stealing over $21 million through "grandparent scams," in which they impersonated grandchildren in distress to manipulate seniors into sending money. Experts emphasize that scams targeting seniors have become increasingly sophisticated and difficult to combat across borders, and recommend that families establish code words to verify callers' identities and report suspicious contacts immediately to authorities. Vermont officials note that red flags include requests for urgent payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and encourage victims to report incidents without shame to help law enforcement understand the scope of fraud affecting their communities.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A leak of 1 million audio files from Georgian scam call centers exposed sophisticated cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes that defrauded victims of £9 million combined through "authorised push payment" (APP) fraud, which tricks people into voluntarily sending money from their bank accounts. In the first half of 2024, investment scammers cheated Britons out of at least £56 million, accounting for a quarter of the £214 million lost to APP fraud despite representing only 4% of cases. As of October 7, 2024, new UK regulatory rules now mandate banks refund victims up to £85,000 within five days for domestic transfers, significantly improving reimburs
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
An organized Georgian call center network scammed approximately 6,000 people across the UK, Europe, and Canada out of $35 million (£27 million) between May 2022 and 2023 using deepfake videos and fake celebrity endorsements featuring Martin Lewis, Zoe Ball, and Ben Fogle to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency and investment schemes. UK victims were disproportionately affected, accounting for about £9 million in losses, with some individuals defrauded of over £160,000 after spending hundreds of hours on calls with scammers. The fraud was exposed through a leaked dataset of over 1 million call recordings that revealed how the approximately
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Risk Report identifies investment and cryptocurrency scams as the highest-risk fraud type with a median loss of $5,000, followed by employment scams ($1,500 median loss) and romance scams ($6,099 median loss—the highest per-victim cost and ranked third for the first time). Scammers typically invest significant time building relationships with victims, with online and home improvement scams also among the top five reported fraud categories.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Toronto residents are experiencing rising rates of cryptocurrency and romance scams, according to Toronto police. The article examines why these fraud schemes are becoming increasingly prevalent in the city, with vulnerable residents being targeted through digital platforms and deceptive relationships.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A North Texas man lost approximately $500,000 in a crypto-romance scam after being contacted by a woman named "Gianna" on the dating site Silver Singles. Over several months, the scammer built an emotional relationship with him, then convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency on a fake platform showing false profits, eventually pressuring him to withdraw his 401(k) to invest more money. The victim is now selling his home and returning to work to pay off his debts, while the Better Business Bureau warns that such hybrid romance-investment scams are increasingly common, with nearly half of all investment scams involving cryptocurrency and scammers often targeting victims who keep the schemes secret from family and friends.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A massive data leak exposed an international crypto scam operation with call centers in Georgia, Israel, Spain, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Bulgaria that defrauded at least 32,000 victims of over $275 million USD. The scammers used fake news articles on social media featuring celebrities like Kevin O'Leary and Elon Musk to lure victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, then deployed "recovery scammers" (using stolen identities) to extract additional payments from desperate victims—including a Canadian factory foreman who lost $200,000 and was later targeted for an additional $3,500. The leaked internal records, including over one million call recordings and 20,
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Trump-themed memorabilia scams, particularly the Trump Rebate Banking (TRB) scheme, have defrauded supporters who were promised their coins and merchandise would appreciate in value or generate cash payouts. An Alabama woman lost over $152,000 in cryptocurrency after being promised a $13 million rebate for her Trump items, though the FBI later froze the stolen funds in federal custody. These scams exploit supporters' emotional investment in Trump's brand and remain prevalent across platforms like Telegram and X, with victims typically losing thousands of dollars to fraudsters posing as legitimate investment facilitators.
ksltv.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers increasingly target lonely individuals on dating apps and social media using stolen photos and AI-generated deepfakes to establish fake identities. A Utah woman lost $187,000 to a cryptocurrency investment scam, another became an unwitting money mule, and innocent West Haven resident Justin Yoder faced harassment after his photos were stolen and used to defraud victims. Reverse image searches and awareness of common tactics—such as targeting vulnerable individuals and gradually building trust before requesting money—can help people identify catfishing attempts before falling victim.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Scam Tracker Risk Report identified investment/cryptocurrency scams, employment scams, and romance scams as the three riskiest fraud types, with romance scams causing the highest median loss at $6,099 and investment scams affecting over 80% of targets. While the overall number of scam reports with losses decreased 14.6%, the median loss amount increased 30% year-over-year to $130, with adults 65 and older experiencing the highest median losses at $160, followed by ages 18–24 at $150. Publishers Clearing House was the most impersonated organization, and scams conducte
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercrime marketplaces are dramatically lowering the barriers to entry for fraud, enabling less-skilled individuals to conduct sophisticated scams through "cybercrime-as-a-service" platforms that sell malicious tools, stolen data, and hacking expertise. These organized underground markets—including darknet sites and public platforms like Huione Guarantee—operate with corporate-like structures and cryptocurrency payments to facilitate illicit activities, with vendors on major platforms processing billions in transactions. Experts warn this professionalization and accessibility of cybercrime resources poses unprecedented global cybersecurity and fraud threats.
investmentnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The North American Securities Administrators Association identified cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence-based scams as major threats to retail investors in 2025, with fraudsters increasingly using social media platforms (31.7% on Facebook and X, 31.3% on Telegram and WhatsApp) and AI-generated content to deceive victims with promises of unrealistic returns. Nearly 39% of state regulators expect scammers to use AI-generated videos and graphics for false credibility, while affinity and romance scams remain significant risks, with seniors losing $357 million to such schemes in 2023 alone. NASAA advised investors to verify the legitimacy of investment promoters and their registration status before investing
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reissued a consumer alert on "pig butchering" scams during National Consumer Protection Week, describing a sophisticated fraud that combines romance scams with cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting seniors. The scam typically begins with fraudsters creating fake profiles on dating apps or social media to build trust with victims before gradually introducing fake investment opportunities in cryptocurrency, often promising unrealistic returns. Nessel and AARP experts recommend consumers avoid sending money to online-only contacts, never share financial information with strangers, and be suspicious of unsolicited investment opportunities, with AARP's ElderWatch program available to help at 800-222-4444.
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting Trump campaign supporters through the "Trump Rebate Banking" (TRB) scheme, falsely promising that Trump memorabilia (coins, hats, etc.) purchased during the campaign would become valuable investments or generate cash rebates once Trump took office. An Alabama woman lost over $152,000 in cryptocurrency after being promised a $13 million rebate, though the FBI recovered her funds by freezing stolen assets on Binance in November. These scams exploit supporters' political enthusiasm and continue proliferating on platforms like Telegram and X despite growing public awareness.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A call centre operation based in Tbilisi, Georgia defrauded victims of $35 million by using fake social media advertisements and news articles featuring celebrity endorsements (including radio DJ Zoe Ball and adventurer Ben Fogle) to promote non-existent cryptocurrency trading platforms promising AI-driven profits. Victims were directed to fraudulent platforms on Facebook and Google where no actual trading occurred, making this a classic advance-fee or investment fraud scheme targeting savers.
wfmj.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers are using AI-generated fake profiles on dating apps to conduct romance scams targeting cryptocurrency from users. After building a false romantic connection over time, the automated bots request money transfers through cryptocurrency banking sites, with profiles designed to appear believable through realistic photos and conversational abilities. Users are advised to report suspicious profiles to police or dating app support teams and to ignore requests for money, as AI advancement makes prevention training more effective than technological countermeasures.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
As romance scams targeting seniors surge, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users if they've communicated with someone banned for fraud. According to the FTC, nearly 70,000 Americans reported romance scam victimization in 2022, with people aged 70 and older experiencing median losses of $9,475, and Tennessee seniors over 60 losing $43 million in 2023. The legislation would be enforced by the FTC and allow state attorneys general to bring civil actions, addressing a growing threat exemplified by cases like Aurora Phelps, who was charged with using dating