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in Romance Scams
thestar.co.za
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian national Gabriel Okori was arrested in Cape Town in October and charged with defrauding a woman of R3 million through a romance scam, where he posed as a white man named "Mark Hermanus" on Facebook and WhatsApp, repeatedly requesting money under the pretense of paying for his sick son's medical bills. Okori was released on R5,000 bail and his case was postponed to January 16, 2025. The arrest is part of a broader pattern of romance scams targeting South African women, often leaving victims financially devastated and emotionally traumatized.
kwqc.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men posing as Federal Trade Commission officials defrauded a 63-year-old Bettendorf resident of $35,000 by claiming their bank account was compromised. When the scammers returned demanding an additional $40,000, police were waiting and arrested 37-year-old Lijin Wang and 39-year-old Chen Xing on charges of conspiracy and felony theft of an elderly individual. This case reflects a broader trend of government impersonation scams targeting seniors, which contributed to over $3.4 billion in elder fraud losses reported to the FBI in 2023.
quickcountry.com
· 2025-12-08
An Evanston, Illinois woman lost $62,000 over six months to a Kevin Costner impersonator on Telegram who claimed to be offering cryptocurrency investment returns through gift card payments. The scammer, part of an ongoing cryptocurrency fraud ring active since at least 2018, never returned any funds, and police indicated arrest is unlikely due to the crime's nature. The FTC advises potential victims to verify celebrity identities through Google searches, consult trusted contacts before sending money, and avoid gift cards, which offer minimal buyer protections and are largely irreversible.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Thai police dismantled a major romance scam call centre operation run by 27 Vietnamese nationals operating from luxury villas near Bangkok, who defrauded victims of an estimated 39 million Thai baht monthly by creating fake online profiles and manipulating victims into transferring money under false pretenses. The gang primarily targeted Vietnamese victims through the Zalo chat application, with each of the 27 workstations capable of generating approximately 1.2 billion Vietnamese Dong in fraudulent transfers per month. Police apprehended all 27 suspects and seized 116 mobile phones, 45 computers, and other evidence during the raid in January 2025.
trt.global
· 2025-12-08
Nine Chinese nationals were convicted in Lagos, Nigeria and sentenced to one year in prison plus fines of approximately $630 each for their involvement in cryptocurrency investment and romance scams targeting international victims. The arrests were part of a December raid on a fraud operation in Victoria Island that netted 792 suspects total, with authorities seizing computers, mobile phones, and other equipment used in the scheme. The gang recruited Nigerian accomplices to conduct phishing scams primarily targeting Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and Europeans.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
An Evanston, Illinois woman lost $62,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam after spending six months communicating with someone impersonating Yellowstone actor Kevin Costner on Telegram, who convinced her that gift card purchases would generate cryptocurrency profits. The scam was confirmed to be part of a long-running cryptocurrency ring active since at least 2018, with police stating that arrest and fund recovery are unlikely. The FTC advises verifying celebrity identities through research, consulting trusted sources before sending money, and reporting fraud to both financial institutions and authorities.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2025, text-based scams have become the most prevalent threat, with the E-ZPass scam leading the way—fraudsters send texts falsely claiming unpaid tolls and threatening license suspension to create urgency and trick recipients into clicking malicious links. Other major scams include DMV impersonation texts using similar tactics, fake job offer texts posing as employers or Indeed itself, and fraudulent Joann Fabric advertisements on Facebook and Pinterest directing users to counterfeit websites. The FTC recommends never clicking links or engaging with suspicious messages, contacting relevant agencies directly to verify claims, and reporting scams rather than responding to them.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Seven law enforcement agencies across Asia, led by Singapore Police Force, conducted a month-long multinational operation in April and May that shut down dozens of scam centers, arrested over 1,800 people, and froze approximately 32,000 bank accounts linked to at least 9,200 scam cases (including investment fraud, dating app schemes, and government impersonation) that collectively stole approximately $225 million from victims. Singapore alone arrested 106 people responsible for 1,300 scams totaling about $30 million, and authorities seized $20 million globally as part of the coordinated "Operation Frontier+" effort, which officials plan to continue with real-time
postandcourier.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors age 60 and older face increasing vulnerability to financial scams facilitated by internet and smartphone technology, prompting the U.S. Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative to combat elder fraud through education and awareness. The article outlines four common scams targeting older adults: Social Security Administration impostor scams (using caller ID spoofing to request money transferred to gift cards), tech support scams (gaining remote device access and charging fabricated fees), lottery scams (requesting upfront fees for fake foreign lottery winnings), and romance scams (conducted through dating sites and social media to solicit money). Seniors should verify caller identities independently, avoid granting remote device access, reject unsolicite
corporate.vanguard.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, driven by increasingly sophisticated "crossover scams" that combine multiple fraud techniques over extended periods. These scams employ social engineering, impersonation of trusted entities (banks, government agencies), and multi-channel contact methods to manipulate victims into transferring funds through untraceable means, with common variations including tech support/account security scams and fake investment schemes with emotional manipulation. Beyond financial losses, victims experience significant emotional and psychological harm, including depression, relationship problems, and diminished financial confidence.
americascreditunions.org
· 2025-12-08
A 66-year-old executor embezzled $3.7 million from his 92-year-old dementia patient by systematically draining her accounts through withdrawals, checks, and credit-card charges, then spent the funds on luxuries, leaving her estate virtually depleted. The case exemplifies a growing crisis: older Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams and fraud in 2024 (a 25% increase from 2023), with common exploitation methods including property theft, fraudulent power-of-attorney misuse, romance scams, and grandparent imposter schemes. Financial institutions are responding by training staff to recognize red flags—such as
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office co-hosted the 3rd Annual Walk for Awareness in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 11, 2025, ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, to raise awareness about financial, physical, and emotional abuse affecting seniors. According to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crimes Report, adults over 60 suffered $4.8 billion in financial losses and filed 147,127 complaints, with investment fraud, tech support scams, romance scams, and government impersonation being the most common schemes. The U.S. Attorney's Office has prosecuted multiple elder fraud cases involving millions of dollars and continues partnering with community organizations to
kvoa.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes held a town hall meeting in Douglas to educate seniors about common scams, including voice cloning and romance scams on social media platforms. Arizona experienced nearly 300 elder fraud cases per 100,000 seniors in 2023—the highest rate in the nation—though the attorney general's office recovered $5 million in 2024 out of over $300 million in losses. The event emphasized the importance of contacting local law enforcement for verification and staying informed about fraud tactics targeting older adults.
kvoa.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes held a town hall in Douglas to educate residents about scams targeting elders, including voice cloning and romance scams increasingly found on social media. Arizona had the highest elder fraud rate in the nation at nearly 300 cases per 100,000 seniors in 2023, with authorities recovering only $5 million of over $300 million in losses during 2024. The discussion emphasized the importance of public education and contacting local law enforcement to verify suspicious communications as protective measures.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2025-12-08
Five men from China, the United States, and Turkey pleaded guilty to operating an international cryptocurrency investment scam ring that stole nearly $37 million from U.S. victims through fake digital asset schemes conducted from Cambodia. The perpetrators contacted victims via social media, dating services, and phone calls, falsely claiming their investments were growing while actually stealing their funds and laundering the money through shell companies, international bank accounts, and cryptocurrency conversions in the Bahamas. Eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty so far, with charges carrying maximum penalties of 20 years for money laundering conspiracy.
bostonglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
Teresa Rogg, a 74-year-old Massachusetts resident, lost approximately $140,000 from her retirement account after falling victim to an evolving "phantom hacker" scam that began with a fake security pop-up and escalated to in-person cash pickups over two months. The scammers convinced her that suspicious activity had been detected on her accounts and instructed her to withdraw cash and hand it to couriers using code words, while also sending fraudulent letters impersonating the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Tech support scams in Massachusetts have surged dramatically, with reported losses increasing from $1.2 million in 2019 to over $50 million in the most
taipeitimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Internet romance scams are surging in Taiwan, with nearly 1,000 reported cases and over NT$260 million (US$8.68 million) in losses in one month. Victims are typically manipulated by scammers posing as romantic interests who eventually request money for "verification fees," loans, or investments under false pretenses, as exemplified by cases where victims lost NT$80,000 and NT$293,500 respectively. The Criminal Investigation Bureau advises that any request for money from online romantic contacts is a definitive sign of fraud and recommends victims contact anti-fraud hotlines immediately.
wyso.org
· 2025-12-08
Ohio seniors reported 302 scam and fraud complaints to the Division of Securities in 2024, a 22% increase from 2023, with the state experiencing over $64 million in losses according to FBI data. Romance scams targeting older adults have grown significantly, with perpetrators using dating apps to build relationships before convincing victims to invest in cryptocurrency by liquidating retirement accounts or refinancing homes, with funds directed to fraudulent exchanges. Investigators advise seniors to verify any claims about compromised accounts directly with financial institutions, avoid secrecy in relationships, and report suspected fraud to local police and the Ohio Division of Securities at 614-644-7381.
news.ltn.com.tw
· 2025-12-08
Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau reported a sharp rise in romance scams, with nearly 1,000 cases and over NT$260 million (US$8.68 million) in losses in May 2025. Two cases illustrate common tactics: a man lost NT$80,000 after being tricked into paying "verification fees" to meet an online woman, and a woman transferred NT$293,500 to someone posing as a military doctor who claimed to need money for his son's medical emergency. The bureau warned that requests for money from online romantic interests are definitive signs of scams and urged people to avoid downloading investment apps or believing promises of quick profits from strangers.
bitcoinke.io
· 2025-12-08
A 25-year-old woman and her 22-year-old brother in Lagos were arrested for orchestrating a romance fraud scheme that resulted in the theft of three iPhones and $10,000 worth of bitcoin from the victim, with authorities recovering $4,300 in cash and still pursuing additional accomplices. The case exemplifies a growing trend of romance-based cryptocurrency scams in Nigeria and globally, where perpetrators exploit emotional trust to steal digital assets that are difficult to trace and reverse. The article emphasizes that cryptocurrency's anonymity, speed, and lack of traceability make it an attractive tool for fraudsters, and recommends victims avoid sharing crypto wallet information, resist emotional pressure to sen
manxradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The Isle of Man Cyber Security Centre reported a surge in digital fraud from March to April, including over 700 suspicious emails, advance fee scams, phishing attempts, and impersonation schemes targeting residents and businesses through fake websites and social media accounts. Notable cases included a romance scam that escalated to sextortion (£1,500 + £4,000 demanded), deepfake videos impersonating politicians promoting cryptocurrency fraud, business invoice fraud costing £9,000, and marketplace scams resulting in losses ranging from £850 to £965. The Centre advised residents to verify financial claims through official sources and businesses to rely on their own websites rather than social media platforms where impersonation
wosu.org
· 2025-12-08
Ohio seniors filed 302 scam and fraud complaints to the Division of Securities in 2024, a 22% increase from 2023, with the state experiencing over $64 million in elder fraud losses in 2023 alone. The most prevalent scam targeting older Ohioans is the romance scam, where international criminals use dating apps to build relationships and eventually persuade victims to invest in cryptocurrency by liquidating retirement accounts or refinancing homes, with funds directed to fictitious platforms. Investigators urge seniors to report suspicious propositions to trusted contacts, verify financial institution communications independently, and report suspected fraud to local police and the Ohio Division of Securities.
komando.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud targeting seniors age 60+ is rapidly increasing, with nearly 72% of scams initiated using personal data scraped from the internet or purchased from data brokers, enabling criminals to conduct highly personalized attacks like AI-powered grandchild impersonation and spoofed bank calls. Texas seniors lost an average of $51,700 per complaint, while Arizona experienced the highest elder fraud rate per capita at 3.5 cases per 1,000 seniors. Protection strategies include freezing credit, using call-filtering apps, employing password managers, discussing scams with family, and utilizing data removal services to scrub personal information from people-search sites and data brokers.
rismedia.com
· 2025-12-08
A "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam has targeted at least 40 real estate professionals, where fraudsters pose as wealthy cash buyers, build trust with agents, and gradually convince them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms that appear legitimate before disappearing with their money, often including victims' retirement accounts. The U.S. Secret Service warns that these scams, which originated in China around 2016, are likely to increase and recommends victims report incidents to the FBI's IC3.gov within 72 hours for the best chance of asset recovery.
businesskorea.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Despite fraud crimes surging nearly 50% over the past decade in South Korea, victim compensation remains inadequate, with criminal restitution averaging only 7.77 billion won annually and court-ordered compensation claims facing a declining approval rate that fell to 35.5% in 2023. The current Corrupt Asset Confiscation Act limits restitution eligibility to habitual or organized fraud cases, excluding emerging scams like jeonse scams, stock trading chatroom schemes, and romance scams, leaving victims of these rapidly proliferating frauds without adequate relief options. Legal experts and lawmakers are calling for amendments to expand confiscation and compensation provisions to cover new fraud types and improve victim
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Readers shared their experiences with robocalls, robotexts, and scams in response to a columnist's article about the problem, offering various coping strategies and expressing frustration with inadequate government regulation. One reader described a kidnapping scam targeting her family that demanded money to release her stepdaughter, which police confirmed as a common scheme, while another recommended AARP's "The Perfect Scam" podcast as an educational resource about various fraud tactics. Readers emphasized that ignoring calls from unknown numbers, not engaging with scammers, and reporting incidents to police are effective ways to protect themselves from financial loss and emotional distress.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece outlines common scam types affecting email and social media users, including phishing, romance scams, investment fraud, and ATM skimming, noting that scammers exploit vulnerable people in distressing situations. New Zealand's Banking Association is implementing protections by November that will require banks to reimburse fraud victims up to $500,000 under certain conditions and use new technology to detect suspicious transactions. The article emphasizes that awareness and family support are critical defenses, as even tech-savvy individuals can fall victim to fraud.
irontontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
In recognition of Elder Abuse Awareness Month, Ohio's Department of Commerce Division of Securities and Department of Aging are addressing a significant financial exploitation crisis affecting older Ohioans, who lost over $64 million in 2024 with fraud complaints up 22% year-over-year. The state highlights common warning signs of elder financial abuse—including unexplained withdrawals, suspicious account changes, and unpaid bills—and notes that seniors are particularly vulnerable to romance scams, tech support impersonation, and grandparent scams that exploit loneliness and lack of technological familiarity. Multiple state resources are available for reporting suspected fraud and obtaining assistance, including the Division of Securities' hotline and Adult
highriveronline.com
· 2025-12-08
During Seniors Week (June 2-8), the Okotoks, High River, and Turner Valley RCMP issued online safety guidance for older adults, noting that seniors are frequently targeted through fraud schemes exploiting their trust, technological unfamiliarity, and desire for companionship. The RCMP provided protective measures including creating strong passwords, maintaining updated security software, recognizing high-pressure tactics and urgent demands as fraud warning signs, and avoiding prize claims requiring fees or payment via gift cards. The advisory emphasizes that seniors should feel empowered to refuse suspicious requests, verify company legitimacy through official channels, establish family safe words, and report suspicious activity to protect others in their community.
technadu.com
· 2025-12-08
A two-part docuseries titled "ROMCON: Who the F**k is Jason Porter?" premieres on Prime Video in June 2025, documenting a romance scam perpetrated by convicted criminal Jason Porter against Toronto real estate broker Heather Rovet over a three-year period. The documentary follows Rovet's investigation into Porter's schemes as she connects with other victims and exposes his sophisticated tactics of emotional and financial manipulation. The series highlights how one woman's determination uncovers a dangerous criminal network and seeks justice for multiple victims of romance fraud.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Barclays UK released research revealing the top 10 scams affecting British consumers in 2024, finding that one in five people were scammed and a third know someone who was. The most common scams include fake delivery notifications (51%), HMRC impersonation (42%), purchase fraud (40%), and online marketplace scams (38%), with the bank advising consumers to verify companies, avoid pressure tactics, and be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true. Barclays and tech companies like Google are implementing better detection tools, though consumers must remain vigilant with strong passwords and skepticism to protect themselves.
okotoksonline.com
· 2025-12-08
During Seniors Week (June 2-8), the Okotoks, High River, and Turner Valley RCMP issued online safety guidance for seniors, noting that increased internet use for banking, shopping, and social media makes older adults vulnerable to fraud targeting their trust, technological unfamiliarity, and desire for companionship. The RCMP recommend using strong passwords, updating security software, refusing high-pressure requests for money or personal information, verifying contacts through official channels, and being suspicious of prize claims, upfront fees, and romance scams.
news.kbs.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Marriage matchmaking apps have become vehicles for romance scams, including a case where a man in his 30s lost 200 million won after building rapport with a woman who lured him into a fake investment scheme involving fake online trading sites and subsequent requests for tax payments. Additional scams on these platforms include photo theft, where fraudsters steal images from real users to create fake profiles and approach victims. Over 1,200 romance scam cases were reported last year, with experts noting that users are less suspicious when approached through dating apps and are more likely to trust financial requests from matches they've emotionally bonded with.
sundayworld.com
· 2025-12-08
A 50-year-old woman from Cork was convicted of money laundering after losing €50,000 in a romance scam orchestrated by a crime gang that impersonated a US Marine using stolen images of actor Justin Melnick. The scammers used fake dating profiles, doctored videos, and a fraudulent military spouse association website to convince the victim to send money over 18 months, ultimately implicating her in criminal activity when they asked her to transfer €17,000 through her bank account for alleged squad members. The victim revealed she was vulnerable due to childhood emotional neglect and the scammers exploited her desire for emotional connection and religious faith to gain her
boredpanda.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman fell victim to a romance scam when an online boyfriend requested $10,000, but she initially rejected her coworker's warning and only recognized the deception when unable to provide the money. The article highlights that romance scams cost victims over $1.14 billion in 2023, with scammers building trust over time before requesting money, and recommends warning signs include unsolicited contact, requests for funds, reluctance to meet in person, and profiles that seem too good to be true.
silversurfers.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes seven prevalent scams on social media targeting users: fake shop accounts, phishing scams with malicious links, fake giveaways, investment scams promising high returns, romance scams, impersonation scams, and charity scams exploiting crises. The article advises users to verify sources, avoid clicking unsolicited links, use strong passwords with two-factor authentication, and stay educated about evolving fraud tactics to protect themselves and report suspicious activity to platforms.
westsidespirit.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines scam prevention strategies for seniors based on a training session at the JCC Marlene Myerson Center in New York. Key scam types targeting older adults include romance scams (exemplified by a woman who sold her house after being deceived by a fake Amnesty International worker), postal fraud, charitable giving scams, and text message schemes originating from the Philippines. The training recommends three defense strategies: slowing down decision-making, consulting friends or neighbors before acting, and avoiding any response, payment, or personal information disclosure, as scammers rely on speed and isolation to succeed.
nwestiowa.com
· 2025-12-08
Four Sioux Center banks—American State Bank, Northwest Bank, Peoples Bank, and Primebank—are partnering with local police to present a free fraud awareness education event on June 11, aimed at helping community members recognize and prevent scams. While the presentation targets the 55+ demographic, organizers emphasize that all age groups are vulnerable to fraud, with data showing adults 18-59 are actually 34 percent more likely to report fraud losses than older adults. The event will address common scam tactics including impostor scams, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, teaching attendees to recognize red flags like urgency, unnerving pressure, and unexpected contact.
b1039.com
· 2025-12-08
Celebrity romance scams exploit fan admiration by impersonating famous actors or musicians to build fake romantic relationships with victims, often requesting money for travel, emergencies, or investments. These scams are increasing in frequency and sophistication, targeting vulnerable individuals who are emotionally invested in their favorite celebrities. Victims typically lose significant sums of money before discovering the deception.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
Joe Subach lost over $1 million after calling a fake Apple customer service number found through an online search, which connected him to a scammer posing as "Daisy from Apple." The scam evolved from a fake account breach alert (requesting gift card purchases) into a romance scam, eventually leading Subach to surrender $780,000 in gold and silver to someone claiming to pick them up at his home. The FBI noted this case is unusual for combining financial, romance, and in-person theft elements, and emphasized that individuals are the best protectors of their own assets.
westsidespirit.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines scam prevention strategies shared at a training session in New York targeting older adults. Key advice includes slowing down, consulting friends or neighbors before responding to suspicious requests, and avoiding sharing personal information—as scammers rely on speed and isolation to succeed. Common scams affecting seniors include romance scams, postal fraud, charitable giving scams, and text message schemes, with perpetrators often prioritizing theft of personal data (like Social Security numbers or credit card information) over individual payments.
bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bengaluru pre-owned motorcycle dealer lost Rs.38.85 lakh in a "pig butchering" scam that combined romance fraud with cryptocurrency investment schemes. A woman posing as "Lakshmi Priya" connected with him on a matrimonial site, built emotional trust through video calls with fake family members, and convinced him to invest in a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform called "Bost Base," showing fake returns that eventually reached Rs.1.4 crore. When he attempted to withdraw his funds, he was told he needed to pay Rs.21 lakh in "UK taxes" and, after borrowing money from friends and family to complete this payment
theindependent.sg
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Funnull Technology Inc., a Philippine-based tech firm, for supplying infrastructure to host over 332,000 fraudulent cryptocurrency investment domains used in "pig butchering" scams. These elaborate romance-based schemes victimized thousands of people, causing average losses of $150,000 per victim with total damages exceeding $200 million. The company, registered in the Philippines in 2021, purchased bulk IP addresses from cloud providers and sold them to scammers to evade detection, while also compromising a widely-used JavaScript library to redirect users to malicious sites.
torontoguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022, with nearly 70,000 people reporting losses, according to recent findings. Contrary to common assumptions, adults aged 18-59 are 13% more likely to fall victim than those over 60, though older victims typically lose nearly twice as much money per scam. Romance scammers employ sophisticated tactics including creating fake personas (military personnel, offshore workers, or those with emergencies), moving conversations to private messaging apps, and gradually requesting financial assistance, with half of 2023 fraud cases originating on mainstream social media rather than dedicated dating sites.
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article from Verywell Mind explains that phishing scams and fraud are widespread in the digital age, using psychological manipulation tactics that can deceive even intelligent individuals. The piece emphasizes that banks never initiate contact about suspicious account activity, and advises readers that falling victim to scams is not a reflection of intelligence or gullibility but rather a result of sophisticated criminal tactics. It also stresses the importance of self-compassion for scam victims and introduces a series covering common fraud types, psychological vulnerabilities exploited by scammers, and prevention strategies.
dallasnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Keller residents pleaded guilty to federal charges for operating a romance scam that targeted elderly victims nationwide from 2022-2023, causing over $818,000 in combined losses. Felix Clark used fake dating profiles and false claims about accessing gold in Ghana to defraud mostly elderly widows and widowers, while his partner Esther Amppiaw operated an unlicensed money transmitter business to move stolen funds abroad. Both face up to 20 years in prison, with Clark admitting to $501,071 in losses and attempting to obstruct justice.
theaustraliatoday.com.au
· 2025-12-08
The Australian Federal Police reported a sharp rise in cryptocurrency ATM scams between January 2024 and January 2025, with 150 reported cases resulting in losses exceeding $3.1 million (averaging over $20,000 per victim), though authorities suspect significant under-reporting. Investment scams were most common, followed by extortion and romance scams, predominantly affecting women and people over 51. The AFP, AUSTRAC, and JPC3 have launched a joint taskforce and are placing warning materials at crypto ATM locations, urging the public to avoid sending cryptocurrency to strangers and to report suspicious activity.
ia.acs.org.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian police warned of a surge in cryptocurrency ATM scams, with 150 reported incidents in 2024 resulting in approximately $3.1 million in losses, averaging over $20,000 per scam. Investment scams were the most common type, with 72 victims aged over 51, and one elderly man lost $1.4 million in a romance scam involving crypto ATMs. In response, financial watchdog AUSTRAC implemented new regulations including $5,000 transaction limits, mandatory scam warnings, and enhanced customer due diligence requirements for crypto ATM operators.
newscop.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Women aged 50 and older account for the majority of crypto ATM scam victims in Australia, with 150 reports received over 12 months (January 2024-2025) totaling $3.1 million in losses, averaging over $20,000 per report. The most common scams involved investments (63 cases), extortion emails (35), and romance scams (24), with authorities warning that actual losses are likely significantly underreported due to victim embarrassment or lack of awareness. The AFP recommends vigilance against common warning signs including unsolicited requests to use crypto ATMs, promises of guaranteed high returns, and pressure from new romantic partners or strangers to invest
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes in real-time video calls to conduct romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and other schemes, with experts reporting a dramatic rise from approximately 4-5 cases monthly in 2023 to hundreds per month currently. Notable victims include a Hong Kong finance worker who lost $25 million to a deepfaked CFO impersonation and a New Zealand retiree defrauded of $133,000 through a cryptocurrency scam using a deepfaked government official. As AI tools become more accessible and capable of creating realistic faces and voices, deepfake fraud is expanding to encompass job interview scams, identity theft for banking and housing