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financialexpress.com
· 2026-02-23
# Fraud Scheme Summary
A 23-year-old Indian national was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in an international fraud scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of approximately $6 million. Operating as a "courier," he convinced seniors to liquidate their retirement accounts and hand over cash and gold, which he then delivered to co-conspirators based in India. Elderly citizens should be cautious of unsolicited requests to withdraw retirement funds or hand over valuables, and should report suspicious activity to authorities immediately—it was a victim's suspicion that helped law enforcement break the case.
knoxtntoday.com
· 2026-02-23
Two Knox County men lost a combined $500,000 in a sophisticated Bitcoin scam after clicking on a deceptive Facebook advertisement, with one man losing his entire life savings of $375,000. Detective Wayne Doster spent months investigating the international fraud ring operated from Malaysia, ultimately leading to the arrest of Lee Kah Poh, a Malaysian national who came to Tennessee to collect the money. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious about unsolicited investment opportunities on social media, never click links from unknown sources, and verify any investment through official channels before sending money.
cedirates.com
· 2026-02-22
# Romance Fraud Summary
Romance scams are costing Ghanaian women hundreds of thousands of dollars as fraudsters create fake online identities to build trust and then manipulate victims into sending money for fabricated emergencies or investments. A 2025 pan-African cybercrime operation across 14 countries resulted in 260 arrests, with 68 in Ghana alone and 108 identified victims who lost approximately $450,000, though authorities recovered $70,000. To protect yourself, be cautious of online relationships that quickly ask for money, verify identities through video calls, never send funds to strangers or for unexpected emergencies, and report suspicious activity to local authorities.
abc11.com
· 2026-02-21
The Better Business Bureau of Eastern Carolinas reported over 2.6 million dollars in scam losses across the region in 2025, with online purchase scams being the most common threat, followed by phishing and employment scams. Consumers are urged to research online purchases carefully (especially those from social media ads), verify financial communications by calling their bank directly using numbers on official cards, and avoid clicking unexpected links or responding to urgent messages. Legitimate employers will never ask you to pay upfront, and being cautious about where you shop and whom you communicate with online can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to these prevalent scams.
boothbayregister.com
· 2026-02-21
People over 50 are particularly vulnerable to fraud, with over $11 million reported in scams during just a nine-month period in 2025, according to a presentation by Coastal Maine Regional Broadband and local police. Most scams involve impostors contacting victims through email, text, or phone with urgent messages designed to cloud judgment, sometimes building fake relationships over time to gain trust. To protect yourself, experts recommend verifying unexpected contacts directly with the person, avoiding clicking links or sharing passwords, watching for language errors and mismatched email addresses, and declining friend requests from people already in your network.
patnapress.com
· 2026-02-21
# I'd be happy to help, but I notice the article text you've provided doesn't contain information about the crypto trading scam mentioned in the title. Instead, it only shows a headline about an IIT Patna financial planning session from February 2026.
Could you please share the actual article content about the Patna man who lost Rs 6.92 lakh in the crypto trading scam? Once you provide the full text, I'll be able to create a 2-3 sentence summary focusing on what happened, who was affected, and actionable advice for readers.
centralmaine.com
· 2026-02-21
Online romance scams exploit people's desire for genuine connection by creating fake profiles with stolen photos and elaborate backstories, sometimes targeting vulnerable populations like seniors and LGBTQ+ individuals by using circumstances (like living in hostile countries) that justify secrecy and distance. These scams are sophisticated and patient operations designed to build emotional trust over months before requesting money, making victims feel foolish for falling for them—but the con artists are deliberately manipulating basic human needs rather than relying on victims' stupidity. To protect yourself, use reverse image searches to verify photos, be skeptical of requests for money or secrecy from online connections, and remember that scammers are skilled manipulators who prey on loneliness and the universal desire for love.
bankinfosecurity.com
· 2026-02-21
Cambodia shut down approximately 190 online scam centers and arrested 11,000 foreign nationals in a major crackdown on transnational fraud operations that were running romance and investment scams on a massive scale, generating tens of billions of dollars annually for criminal gangs. The scam centers, which primarily operated in Phnom Penh and southern Cambodia, exploited trafficked and forced workers to defraud victims, with prominent targets including Chen Zhi, founder of Prince Holding Group, who was indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for overseeing multiple compounds since 2015. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited romantic or investment opportunities online, verify the legitimacy of financial institutions directly through official channels, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
paysonroundup.com
· 2026-02-20
Police arrested two individuals in connection with a gold scam targeting a Payson woman who was deceived into surrendering her life savings to fraudsters posing as government agents investigating identity theft. The scam is part of a broader pattern of elder fraud that the FBI has been tracking, with the Internet Crime Complaint Center receiving numerous complaints about similar schemes in 2023. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from government agencies, never send money or valuables to unknown parties, and verify any official investigation directly with the actual agency through their official phone number.
sacurrent.com
· 2026-02-20
San Antonio real estate CEO Devin Ward Elder pleaded guilty to wire fraud for operating a $69.5 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded 345 investors between 2021 and 2023. Elder falsely promised high returns on real estate investments while actually using money from new investors to pay earlier ones, eventually stopping all payments in March 2023 and telling investors to expect total losses. To protect yourself, be cautious of investment opportunities promising unusually high returns with minimal risk, verify that investment managers have actually invested their own money alongside yours, and research investment firms thoroughly before committing funds.
nationaltoday.com
· 2026-02-20
San Antonio real estate entrepreneur Devin Elder pleaded guilty to wire fraud for operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded approximately 345 investors of $69.5 million across 17 real estate projects. Elder falsely claimed he would co-invest his own money in projects while actually contributing almost nothing, and illegally used investor funds from one project to pay returns on another—a classic Ponzi scheme structure. To protect yourself, be wary of real estate investment schemes promising high returns, verify that promoters have genuine "skin in the game" with their own money at risk, and thoroughly research any investment opportunity before committing funds.
bisnow.com
· 2026-02-20
San Antonio real estate CEO Devin Ward Elder pleaded guilty to wire fraud for operating a $69.5 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 300 investors between January 2023 and March 2025. Elder promised high returns with low risk while secretly using money from new investors to pay returns to earlier investors, eventually admitting in March 2025 that investors would lose significant portions of their capital. To protect yourself from similar schemes, be wary of investment promises that sound too good to be true, verify that fund managers actually co-invest their own money as claimed, and research a company's financial stability and regulatory standing before investing.
texasborderbusiness.com
· 2026-02-20
A San Antonio investment firm CEO named Devin Ward Elder pleaded guilty to defrauding approximately 345 investors out of $69.5 million between 2023 and 2025 through his company DJE Texas Management Group, which promised high returns on real estate investments. Elder made false claims about his own co-investment and operated a Ponzi scheme by using new investor funds to pay "interest" to existing investors, ultimately halting all payments in March 2025. To protect yourself, be skeptical of investment opportunities promising unusually high returns with low risk, verify that investment managers have their own money invested alongside yours, and always research the credentials and track record of firms and their operators before investing.
ktsa.com
· 2026-02-20
A San Antonio investment firm CEO named Devin Ward Elder pleaded guilty to defrauding approximately 345 investors out of over $69.5 million between January 2023 and March 2025 through his company DJE Texas Management Group, which promised high returns on real estate investments while falsely claiming he would co-invest his own money. Elder operated a Ponzi scheme, paying some investors with money from other investors rather than actual returns, until he abruptly stopped payments in March 2025 and admitted the projects wouldn't be completed. To protect yourself, be cautious of investment opportunities promising unusually high returns with low risk, verify that investment managers actually co-invest their own money, and thoroughly research companies and their track records before committing funds.
wrenews.com
· 2026-02-20
A Texas real estate investor named Devin Ward Elder pleaded guilty to defrauding approximately 345 investors out of $69.5 million between 2023 and 2025 through his company DJE Texas Management Group LLC, which offered investments in apartments, commercial properties, and other real estate projects. Elder used a classic Ponzi scheme, paying some investors with money from other investors while falsely claiming high returns with low risk, and eventually halted payments in March 2025 when the scheme collapsed. Investors should be extremely cautious of investment opportunities promising unusually high returns with minimal risk, verify that investment firms are properly registered and regulated, and request detailed documentation about where their money is actually being invested.
koco.com
· 2026-02-20
# Gold Scams Costing Americans Hundreds of Millions
Scammers are exploiting Americans' trust in gold as a safe investment through "gold courier" schemes that have resulted in over $262 million in losses nationwide between January and October 2025. The scam typically begins with a fraudulent phone call, email, or pop-up claiming to be from your bank or a federal agency (FBI, IRS, or FTC), warning that your accounts have been compromised and urging you to immediately withdraw cash to purchase gold bars or coins. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited urgent demands to buy gold, verify any claims by contacting your bank directly using a number from their official website, and remember that legitimate government agencies will never ask you to purchase gold to protect your money.
wbal.com
· 2026-02-20
# Gold Scam Summary
Scammers are exploiting Americans' trust in gold as a safe investment through "gold courier" scams that have cost victims over $262 million nationwide in just the first ten months of 2025. The scheme typically begins with a fraudulent call or message impersonating banks or federal agencies like the FBI or IRS, claiming your accounts are compromised and pressuring you to withdraw cash and buy gold bars or coins. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited urgent messages about account security, verify caller identities by contacting institutions directly (not using numbers they provide), and remember that legitimate agencies won't ask you to buy gold or wire cash to protect your money.
fox13now.com
· 2026-02-20
Romance scammers use fake online relationships to exploit lonely people—especially around Valentine's Day—by building emotional trust before asking for money under false pretenses like emergencies or investments. Anyone can fall victim, but you can protect yourself by slowing down when feeling pressured by urgency or emotion, and by independently verifying the identity of anyone asking for money or personal information before responding. If you suspect a scam, stop contact immediately, document everything, alert your bank, and report it to the FTC, IC3.gov, and law enforcement.
techflowpost.com
· 2026-02-20
A 31-year-old Chinese national named Liao Fei was sentenced to 40 months in prison for laundering millions of dollars from cryptocurrency investment scams, particularly "pig-butchering" schemes where fraudsters gain victims' trust on social media before tricking them into fake crypto investments. Victims lost millions of dollars in these scams, and Liao Fei was ordered to forfeit $2.3 million and pay $2.8 million in restitution. To protect yourself, be wary of investment opportunities promoted by strangers on social media, avoid sending money to unknown individuals or companies, and verify investment opportunities through official regulatory channels before committing funds.
kucoin.com
· 2026-02-20
A 31-year-old Chinese national named Liao Fei was sentenced to 40 months in prison for laundering millions of dollars obtained through "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters pose as romantic interests or trusted contacts on social media to trick people into investing in fake cryptocurrency schemes. The scheme affected numerous victims who lost money they couldn't recover, and Liao Fei was ordered to forfeit $2.3 million and pay $2.8 million in restitution. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious of investment opportunities offered by people you meet online, especially on social media, and never send money to unknown individuals or unverified cryptocurrency platforms.
kucoin.com
· 2026-02-20
A Chinese national was sentenced to 40 months in prison for laundering millions of dollars from cryptocurrency investment scams, including the deceptive "pig butchering" scheme that targets victims through social media and dating apps by building false trust before requesting cryptocurrency investments. Victims lose money when fraudulent platforms show fake returns and prevent withdrawals, with this case involving over $2.3 million in seized assets and $2.8 million in restitution. If you encounter these scams, report them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and preserve all communications, transaction records, and details about the fraudulent platform, cryptocurrency addresses, and suspect contact information.
yonkerstimes.com
· 2026-02-20
New York Attorney General Letitia James has warned residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims through social media and dating apps before convincing them to invest money in fake cryptocurrency or currency trading schemes. The scammers use encrypted messaging apps to hide their identities and create elaborate personas—such as romantic partners or financial advisors—to gain trust before stealing victims' savings. New Yorkers should remain vigilant about unsolicited contact, verify investment opportunities independently, and report suspected scams to the Attorney General's office or the platforms where they occur.
rockawaytimes.com
· 2026-02-19
Romance scammers and imposter fraudsters cost Americans billions annually—the FTC reported $12.5 billion lost in 2024, though actual losses may exceed $158 billion due to underreporting. These criminals use fake online identities to build trust and emotional connections before requesting money or personal information, with 11 million Americans age 50+ and residents in Rockaway/Broad Channel reporting such schemes, though no age group is immune. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited romantic advances online, especially from people claiming to be overseas with high-profile jobs, and never send money or share personal/financial information with someone you've only met online.
eldoradospringsmo.com
· 2026-02-19
# Romance Scams: What You Need to Know
Romance scammers create fake dating profiles to build trust with victims over weeks or months, then exploit that relationship by asking for money or pushing cryptocurrency investments. Scammers are increasingly using AI tools to generate convincing conversations and realistic fake profiles, while also combining romance scams with investment schemes to steal thousands of dollars from victims. To protect yourself, be cautious of anyone who asks for money or personal information, makes excuses to avoid meeting in person, or seems unrealistically perfect—legitimate partners will be willing to meet face-to-face and won't pressure you for financial commitments.
newsday.com
· 2026-02-19
"Pig butchering" scams are sophisticated fraud schemes where criminals build trust with victims through fake personal or romantic relationships before convincing them to invest money in fraudulent schemes, often resulting in devastating financial losses. New York's Attorney General is warning residents about these scams, which have caused nearly $75 billion in global losses between 2020 and 2024 and can target anyone, not just seniors. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact from strangers on social media or dating apps, especially those who quickly suggest financial opportunities, and contact authorities if you suspect you've been targeted.
tbrnewsmedia.com
· 2026-02-19
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned New Yorkers about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims through social media and dating apps before pressuring them to invest money in fraudulent cryptocurrency or currency schemes. The scammers use fake screenshots and fake wealth displays to gain trust, then transition conversations to encrypted messaging apps to hide their identities before stealing victims' savings. New Yorkers are urged to remain vigilant, verify investment opportunities independently, and report suspected scams to the Attorney General's office or the platforms where they occur.
fingerlakes1.com
· 2026-02-19
New York's Attorney General is warning residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims over weeks or months on social media and dating apps before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency or currency trading schemes. The scammers use fake screenshots, fraudulent websites, and fabricated account statements showing profits to gain trust, then disappear with victims' money when they try to withdraw funds. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities from new online contacts, verify investment opportunities through official channels, and report suspected scams to the Attorney General's office immediately.
poststar.com
· 2026-02-19
New York Attorney General Letitia James has warned residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters pose as friends online to gain trust before tricking victims into making fake investments. These scams have affected New Yorkers who lost money after being manipulated by scammers posing as romantic interests or friends. To protect yourself, avoid making investments based on unsolicited online relationships, verify investment opportunities independently, and report suspicious activity to the Attorney General's office and the platform where contact occurred.
ksat.com
· 2026-02-19
A San Antonio CEO named Devin Ward Elder pleaded guilty to defrauding approximately 345 investors of $69.5 million between January 2023 and March 2025 through his investment firm, which promised high returns on real estate projects but operated as a Ponzi scheme, using new investor funds to pay returns on other projects. Investors received only $8.8 million back, much of which came from other people's money rather than actual investment gains, and Elder faces up to 20 years in prison. To protect yourself, be skeptical of investment offers promising guaranteed high returns with minimal risk, verify that firms are properly registered with regulators, and never invest based solely on promises of personal co-investment from the manager.
kens5.com
· 2026-02-19
A San Antonio CEO named Devin Ward Elder pleaded guilty to wire fraud after defrauding approximately 345 investors of $69.5 million through a real estate investment scheme between 2023 and 2025. Elder used a Ponzi scheme tactic, paying early investors with money from new investors while falsely promising high returns with low risk and claiming he would invest his own funds alongside theirs. To protect yourself from similar schemes, be wary of investment offers promising unusually high returns with minimal risk, verify that fund sources are legitimate and transparent, and research investment managers thoroughly before committing money.
yahoo.com
· 2026-02-19
A San Antonio CEO named Devin Ward Elder pleaded guilty to defrauding approximately 345 investors of $69.5 million through a fake real estate investment scheme between 2023 and 2025. Elder promised high returns with low risk while using a Ponzi scheme tactic—paying some investors with money from other investors rather than legitimate profits—before abruptly stopping payments in March 2025 and informing investors their money was lost. To protect yourself, be cautious of investment opportunities promising unrealistically high returns with minimal risk, verify that fund managers actually co-invest their own money, and independently verify that payments come from actual project profits rather than new investor funds.
kdhnews.com
· 2026-02-19
A San Antonio man pleaded guilty to operating a $69.5 million investment fraud scheme that defrauded approximately 345 investors between 2023 and 2025 through his company, DJE Texas Management Group, LLC, by falsely promising high returns and low-risk real estate investments while using a Ponzi-like structure to pay earlier investors with funds from new ones. The perpetrator, Devin Ward Elder, faces up to 20 years in prison and has been charged with wire fraud. To protect yourself, be cautious of investment promises guaranteeing high returns with minimal risk and always verify that investment firms and their operators are legitimately registered and have transparent, auditable financial records.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-02-19
Financial scams cost Americans at least $10 billion in 2023, with losses among older Americans surging from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024, often involving large sums stolen through sophisticated schemes like the case of Marjorie Kessler, who lost over $2 million after being tricked into converting her retirement savings to gold and cryptocurrency. While the UN emphasizes that preventing scams requires strong legal and regulatory systems, American institutions like FINRA—which oversees brokerages holding most people's retirement savings—have failed to meaningfully address the epidemic. To protect yourself, be extremely skeptical of unsolicited requests to move funds or convert savings into alternative assets, verify requests directly with your financial institution through official channels, and report suspected scams to the FTC immediately.
thehill.com
· 2026-02-19
Americans lost at least $10 billion to scams in 2023, with losses among older adults particularly devastating—jumping from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024. One victim, Marjorie Kessler, was tricked into withdrawing over $2 million from her retirement savings under the false pretense that the U.S. Treasury needed to safeguard it, though she recovered only a portion. Experts and the United Nations emphasize that preventing these crimes requires stronger legal and regulatory systems rather than relying on individuals to protect themselves, particularly through oversight of financial institutions like FINRA that hold most Americans' retirement savings.
ag.ny.gov
· 2026-02-18
# Pig Butchering Scam Alert
New York's Attorney General is warning residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims through social media and dating apps before convincing them to invest money in fraudulent schemes, often involving cryptocurrency. The scammers gain trust over time by posing as romantic partners or financial advisors, use encrypted messaging to hide their identity, and show fake screenshots of profits to seem legitimate. To protect yourself, remain cautious of unsolicited contacts offering investment opportunities, verify relationships before sharing financial information, and report any suspected scams to the Attorney General's office or the relevant platform.
lifehealth.com
· 2026-02-18
# Tax Season Scam Alert Summary
During tax season, scammers are targeting both individual taxpayers and businesses with increasingly sophisticated schemes including fake social media tax advice, romance scams, phishing emails, cryptocurrency "pig butchering" schemes, and scams targeting tax professionals. Frost Law urges people to verify tax information only through official sources like the IRS, Federal Trade Commission, and local law enforcement, and to be especially cautious of unsolicited communications asking for money or personal information. If you become a victim, seek help from legal professionals or report the scam to official government agencies rather than handling it alone.
evrimagaci.org
· 2026-02-18
In February 2026, cybercriminals launched a sophisticated global wave of scams combining phishing emails, text messages, and traditional mail to steal sensitive information from individuals and businesses. A particularly alarming campaign weaponized the XWorm Remote Access Trojan through deceptive emails mimicking purchase orders or shipments, which tricked users into opening malicious Excel files that exploited a decade-old Microsoft vulnerability to give attackers complete control of victims' computers. To protect yourself, experts urge vigilance by being skeptical of unexpected emails requesting file downloads, keeping software updated, and using multi-factor authentication on important accounts.
wwnytv.com
· 2026-02-18
New York's Attorney General has warned residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims through social media, dating apps, and text messages before convincing them to invest money in fake cryptocurrency or forex trading schemes. The scammers use fake screenshots, fabricated success stories, and counterfeit investment websites to trick victims into depositing their savings, sometimes causing severe financial damage. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited contact offering investment opportunities, verify any investment advisor's credentials through official channels, and never send money to people you only know online—especially if they pressure you to use encrypted messaging apps.
americanbanker.com
· 2026-02-18
New York's Attorney General warned residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters create fake romantic or professional relationships on social media and dating apps to trick victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency platforms that disappear with their money. The scams are particularly damaging because victims often fall for follow-up "recovery" schemes where new fraudsters promise to return lost funds for a fee, resulting in additional losses. To protect yourself, avoid sending money or cryptocurrency to online strangers, thoroughly research anyone soliciting investments, and watch for red flags like pressure to use encrypted messaging or unfamiliar trading platforms.
decripto.org
· 2026-02-18
Retail customers are increasingly falling victim to sophisticated digital scams like romance scams and "pig butchering," which use emotional manipulation and social engineering to erode victims' rational judgment and convince them to willingly authorize fraudulent transactions. These scams are no longer isolated incidents but a structural trend affecting financial system stability, making them difficult to detect through traditional anti-fraud systems since victims believe they're acting in their own interest. Banks and financial institutions are being forced to rethink their fraud prevention strategies, with customer awareness and education emerging as critical protective measures against these emotionally-manipulative schemes.
kunm.org
· 2026-02-17
Romance scammers using fake online identities have stolen $3.8 million from New Mexicans in the past year, with increasingly sophisticated methods enhanced by AI technology. These criminals emotionally manipulate victims to gain access to their savings, posing as romantic partners through dating apps and online platforms. To protect yourself, be cautious of online suitors who seem too perfect, watch for requests for money or cryptocurrency investments, and verify identities through video calls before sharing personal or financial information.
rnz.co.nz
· 2026-02-17
A 44-year-old Auckland woman has been arrested and charged with defrauding a Dunedin man of over $517,000 through an 18-year romance scam—a rare case since most romance scams are typically perpetrated by offshore criminals. The scheme involved the victim sending money to someone he believed he was in a romantic relationship with but never met in person. Police advise people to be extremely cautious about online relationships and investments, as romance scams almost always begin with online contact where victims are convinced to send money without ever meeting the person face-to-face.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2026-02-17
An Auckland woman has been charged with defrauding a Dunedin man of over $517,000 in an alleged 18-year romance scam—a rare case of a local perpetrator, as such scams are typically run by offshore criminal networks. The victim was convinced to send money to someone he believed he was in a romantic relationship with online, despite never meeting them in person. Police advise people to be highly skeptical of online romantic relationships, friendships, and investment opportunities, as these are common tactics used to exploit victims, and warn that offshore scammers are nearly impossible to prosecute.
decripto.org
· 2026-02-17
A 20-year prison sentence was handed down to Daren Li for operating an international money laundering network that laundered $74 million through "pig butchering" crypto scams, a widespread fraud scheme where scammers pose as investment experts on messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to build trust with victims before directing them to fake trading platforms that falsely show profits. Li fled before his sentencing in December 2024 and remains a fugitive, highlighting the global nature of this crime. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited investment advice from strangers on social media, verify that trading platforms are legitimate through official channels, and never deposit money based on promises of guaranteed returns.
nationaltoday.com
· 2026-02-16
Scammers in Los Angeles are using AI-generated photos, videos, and voice messages to create convincing fake romantic relationships and manipulate victims into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes, particularly around Valentine's Day. These "pig butchering" operations are significantly more profitable than traditional romance scams and cost victims billions of dollars globally. To protect yourself, authorities recommend verifying the identities of online contacts, being skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities, and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.
nationaltoday.com
· 2026-02-16
An 84-year-old woman fell victim to multiple financial scams and frauds perpetrated by accountants, family members, home health aides, and lawyers who exploited her declining memory and trusting nature, stealing thousands of dollars and attempting to gain control of her assets. Her daughter's firsthand account highlights the growing problem of elder financial abuse affecting seniors nationwide as the elderly population increases. Families should protect vulnerable loved ones by monitoring financial accounts, requiring dual signatures on checks, verifying credentials of hired professionals, and maintaining open communication about suspicious requests.
scmp.com
· 2026-02-16
Hong Kong recorded over 43,000 scam cases last year resulting in HK$8.1 billion in losses, with scams comprising nearly half of all reported crimes despite a slight decrease from the previous year. Particularly vulnerable are the elderly and investors, as investment scams surged 30% with average losses jumping to HK$700,000, while concert ticket and employment scams also increased significantly. Police and the public must work together to combat these crimes—residents should stay vigilant and skeptical of unsolicited offers, while banks and financial institutions need stronger protective measures to prevent fraudsters from accessing victims' money.
freepressjournal.in
· 2026-02-16
A 48-year-old businessman from Vasai lost ₹1.29 crore in a cryptocurrency investment scam after being contacted via Facebook by a fraudster who promised unrealistic returns of 100-200 percent. The scammer used fake profit displays and a WhatsApp group to build trust, gradually convincing the victim to transfer money across 16 transactions, then demanded an additional ₹30 lakh in "taxes" to release funds. To protect yourself: never trust unsolicited investment offers on social media, be skeptical of promises of extraordinary returns, avoid downloading unknown apps for financial transactions, and verify investment platforms through official banking channels before transferring any money.
fortune.com
· 2026-02-15
# Romance Scams: A $16 Billion Crisis
Romance scams have cost victims billions of dollars by exploiting emotional connections and trust. Scammers typically pose as romantic interests or trusted acquaintances, gradually building relationships before requesting money or accessing bank accounts under false pretenses—such as Kate Kleinert losing her life savings after being manipulated through a fake friendship, and Beth Hyland nearly transferring large sums after believing she was helping a romantic interest. To protect yourself, be suspicious of online relationships that quickly become intimate, never share banking credentials with anyone, verify claims through independent channels, and remember that scammers often use emotional manipulation and urgency to override your judgment.
ncdoj.gov
· 2026-02-15
Sweetheart scammers use fake profiles on dating sites and social media platforms like Tinder, Facebook, and Match to build trust with victims before asking for money or personal information. Anyone looking for romance or friendship online should verify identities, avoid sharing personal data with strangers, and be suspicious if someone requests money for emergencies or cryptocurrency investments. If you suspect you've been scammed, contact your state's attorney general office.