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in Money Mules / Laundering
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Investigators traced nearly $100 million in cryptocurrency payments to a criminal scam compound in Myanmar (KK Park) operating pig butchering romance scams and worker trafficking ransoms over less than two years. Two cryptocurrency addresses linked to a Chinese front company received $24.2 million from known scam wallets and additional funds from ransoms, with families often extorted for $30,000+ to secure trafficked workers' release. The investigation reveals how romance scams and ransom extortion are interconnected operations generating significant profits for organized crime syndicates in Southeast Asia.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy related to romance scams targeting elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She knowingly received stolen funds from vulnerable victims and was arrested abroad; she faces up to five years in prison and must forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A YouTube content creator operating under the pseudonym "Neld Harris" poses as an elderly, tech-illiterate widow to infiltrate and expose scam operations targeting vulnerable seniors. Through his ScamSandwich channel, which has garnered over 8 million views since launching in January 2023, he lures scammers into elaborate traps, takes control of their computers, and publicly reveals their identities, locations, and tactics. This "scambaiting" effort addresses a significant problem: the AARP reports Americans over 60 lose $28.3 billion annually to scams, with only 1 in 10 cases reported to authorities.
gbcghanaonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She faces up to five years in prison and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41. The criminal conspiracy specifically targeted older Americans through fake online romantic relationships to steal their money.
gnnliberia.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans, where she controlled bank accounts that received fraudulent funds obtained through fake romantic identities. She agreed to forfeit and make restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison upon sentencing by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. The scam, which exploited vulnerable elderly victims through false pretenses including fake gold transport payments and FBI investigation claims, resulted in her extradition from the United Kingdom in May 2023.
gna.org.gh
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting elderly Americans from 2013 onward. She agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A major telemarketing scam targeting American timeshare owners, operated by Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has defrauded thousands of victims—many elderly—of hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade. The scheme, which began in Puerto Vallarta and expanded to Cancún and other resort areas, uses fake offers to buy timeshares at inflated prices, then extracts fees for taxes and other costs that are never refunded; one victim lost nearly $1.8 million across multiple transactions. U.S. government officials believe the cartel now profits more from timeshare fraud than drug trafficking, though the operation remains difficult to prosecut
citinewsroom.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (known as Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting older Americans and agreed to pay over $4.3 million in total restitution and forfeiture ($2.16 million to victims and $2.16 million to U.S. authorities). Montrage was arrested abroad and knowingly laundered proceeds stolen from vulnerable elderly victims through fake romantic relationships, with sentencing to follow before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
gbcghanaonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Social media influencer Hajia4Real (Mona Faiz Montrage), a 31-year-old from Ghana, pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money derived from romance scams targeting older, single Americans between 2013 and 2019. She agreed to forfeit and provide restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces a maximum five-year prison sentence for this count, though she was originally charged with multiple fraud and money laundering offenses carrying up to 20-year sentences. According to prosecutors, she received funds through bank accounts she controlled that victims were tricked into sending via false pretenses involving gold transport payments, fake FBI investigations
africanews.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans, and agreed to forfeit and make restitution of $2,164,758.41. She was extradited from the United Kingdom in May 2023 and faced charges for her role in an operation that used fake identities and various pretenses—including false gold transport and fake FBI investigation claims—to defraud vulnerable elderly victims.
fox28savannah.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida couple, Monique C. Clarke and Jon-Michael Hudson, were indicted for operating a lottery scam that defrauded 51 elderly victims of over $6.6 million between October 2020 and January 2021. The scheme involved calling victims claiming they won lottery prizes, then pressuring them to pay upfront fees for taxes and shipping, with money mules depositing the victims' checks and forwarding cash to the conspirators; Clarke allegedly received over $500,000 and used part of it to purchase a Mercedes-Benz in Jamaica. Both defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
caribbeannationalweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
On February 1st, a federal grand jury indicted Jamaican nationals Monique C. Clarke and Jon-Michael Hudson for money laundering conspiracy related to a lottery scam that defrauded 51 elderly U.S. victims of over $6.6 million between October 2020 and January 2021. The defendants allegedly posed as lottery winners and coerced victims to pay various fees through money mules, with Clarke receiving over $500,000 in proceeds, which she partially used to purchase a $150,000 Mercedes Benz. Both defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted, as part of the Biden administration's broader crackdown on
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian social media influencer Mona Faiz Montrage pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive proceeds from romance scams targeting vulnerable older Americans between 2013 and 2019. Montrage, who operated the Instagram account "Hajia4Reall" with 3.4 million followers, received over $2 million in fraudulent funds through bank accounts used by a West African criminal enterprise that deceived victims into believing they were in romantic relationships and sending money under false pretenses. She agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million and faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.
lrt.lt
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers in Lithuania defrauded hundreds of people of over 1 million euros in a coordinated scheme targeting lonely individuals, particularly elderly women, who believed they were communicating with military officers or sailors online. Banks recorded 350 confirmed cases last year, with victims losing significant amounts across multiple financial institutions (Swedbank: 300,000 euros from 148 customers; Luminor: 380,000 euros; SEB: 154,000 euros from 45 customers). Many victims delay reporting due to shame and embarrassment, allowing fraudsters to retain stolen funds, and banks emphasize that money requests from online romantic contacts should be treated as a major warning sign.
asaaseradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian Instagram influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money for her role in laundering proceeds from romance scams targeting vulnerable older Americans between 2013 and 2019. She was extradited from the UK and admitted to receiving over $2.1 million stolen from victims through fake romantic relationships, and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41, facing up to five years in prison.
mynbc15.com
· 2025-12-08
A federal grand jury indicted two Jamaica-based individuals, Monique C. Clarke (28) and Jon-Michael Hudson (33), for conspiracy to commit money laundering in a lottery scam that defrauded 51 elderly victims of more than $6.6 million between October 2020 and January 2021. The scheme involved callers falsely claiming victims had won lottery prizes and requesting upfront payments for fees; funds were then funneled through "money mules" who deposited checks and sent cash to the defendants, with Clarke personally receiving over $500,000 and using proceeds to purchase a luxury Mercedes-Benz. Both defendants face up to
nbc16.com
· 2025-12-08
A couple, Monique C. Clarke and Jon-Michael Hudson, were indicted on federal charges for an elder fraud conspiracy that defrauded dozens of victims of millions of dollars. Clarke, who used multiple aliases including Monique Clark-Mootoo, Rebecca White, and Mark Hilton, and Hudson each face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. The case was reported as of February 13, 2024.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
Monique C. Clarke, 28, and Jon-Michael Hudson, 33, were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering for their involvement in a lottery scam that targeted 51 elderly victims across the United States, resulting in total losses exceeding $6.6 million from October 2020 through January 2021. The scheme involved calling victims claiming they had won lottery prizes and requesting upfront fees; funds were then funneled through money mules who deposited checks and forwarded cash to Clarke and Hudson, with Clarke personally receiving over $500,000 and using approximately $150,000 to purchase a luxury Mercedes-Benz in Jamaica. Both defendants
smh.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An experienced traveler and financial advice columnist recount personal experiences being scammed or ripped off while traveling. The author was shortchanged by a Buenos Aires cab driver on a currency exchange during jetlag-induced exhaustion, losing approximately $20 USD, while Charlotte Cowles, a financial columnist, fell victim to an elaborate phone scam where she handed $50,000 in cash to someone posing as a CIA agent claiming to investigate her for money laundering. Both accounts illustrate how even knowledgeable people can be vulnerable to scams when tired, unfamiliar with local conditions, or manipulated through social engineering and authority impersonation.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Charlotte Cowles, a financial columnist for New York Magazine's The Cut, lost $50,000 in a sophisticated phone scam that began with a fraudulent Amazon customer service call on October 31, 2023. The scammers used personal details about her family and threats of surveillance to manipulate her over five hours, employing the tactic of "blocking the exits" to prevent her from reaching out to trusted contacts. Cowles publicly defended her story by emphasizing that scam victims come from all walks of life—including financial professionals, doctors, and lawyers—and advised others to identify trusted people to contact and create exit strategies when feeling pressured.
baltictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Approximately 350 romance scam cases were recorded in Lithuania in 2023, with victims attempting to transfer over 1 million euros to fraudsters, though banks were able to stop some transactions. Vulnerable victims included lonely individuals and those with poor digital hygiene skills, particularly elderly women seeking relationships online who were targeted by scammers impersonating military personnel. Banks report that recovery is difficult because victims often delay reporting due to shame and embarrassment, and experts recommend vigilance against money transfer requests from online contacts as a key prevention measure.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On February 1, a federal grand jury indicted Monique C. Clarke, 28, a Jamaican national, and Jon-Michael Hudson, 33, for conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a lottery scam targeting 51 elderly victims across the United States, resulting in losses exceeding $6.6 million. From October 2020 through January 2021, the defendants allegedly called elderly victims claiming they had won lottery prizes and solicited fees for taxes, shipping, and processing; the funds were then deposited by money mules into accounts controlled by Clarke and Hudson, with Clarke receiving over $500,000 from five victims' losses before allegedly wiring $150
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
In October 2023, Charlotte Cowles, a New York Times financial columnist, was scammed out of $50,000 by perpetrators posing as Amazon customer service, FTC, and CIA officials who convinced her that her identity had been stolen and used to purchase vehicles and properties, with warrants allegedly issued for her arrest. The scammers used social engineering tactics including spoofed government phone numbers, fake badge numbers, and threats of home raids to build credibility and pressure her into withdrawing cash. Cowles ultimately handed over $50,000 in a shoe box to a stranger, despite her professional expertise in personal finance and skepticism about the claims.
seattletimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Charlotte Cowles, a finance advice columnist at New York Magazine, fell victim to a $50,000 scam involving fraudsters impersonating Amazon, the Federal Trade Commission, and the CIA who convinced her to withdraw money for "safekeeping" due to alleged identity theft and fraudulent accounts. The article debunks the scammers' tactics by confirming that Amazon never transfers customers to the FTC, the FTC never provides badge numbers or asks for financial information, and the CIA does not conduct domestic fraud investigations. The piece serves as an educational guide highlighting red flags and advising consumers to hang up on suspicious calls and contact companies directly through official channels.
menafn.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore recorded over 46,000 scam cases in 2023, resulting in losses of 651.8 million Singapore dollars (approximately 484 million U.S. dollars), a slight decrease from 2022. The most prevalent scam types were job scams, e-commerce scams, fake friend call scams, phishing scams, and investment scams. Police conducted 24 enforcement activities that led to the investigation of more than 9,600 money mules and scam suspects.
gazettengr.com
· 2025-12-08
Seven defendants across the United States and Nigeria were indicted for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of approximately $8 million between March 2018 and June 2019. The scheme involved Nigerian operators creating fake online personas to build trust with victims before requesting money under false pretenses, with many elderly victims losing their life savings and retirement funds. The defendants facilitated money laundering by establishing U.S. bank accounts to collect and distribute fraud proceeds while concealing the funds' destination and the scammers' identities.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-08
Seven people were indicted on federal charges for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of approximately $8 million between March 2018 and June 2019. The scheme, primarily operated by a Nigerian group known as the "Yahoo boys," involved creating fake online personas to build trust with victims—many of them elderly—before requesting money under false pretenses; the defendants in the U.S. (located in Texas, Canada, and Nigeria) and a group of "Utah Money Transmitters" facilitated money laundering by opening financial institution accounts to collect victim funds and distribute proceeds to the scammers overseas. Many victims lost their life savings and retirement funds in the scheme.
thecut.com
· 2025-12-08
In October, the author—a financially literate journalist and New York Times columnist—fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam that cost her $50,000 in savings. After an initial fraudulent Amazon customer service call, she was transferred to a scammer posing as a federal agent who claimed her identity had been compromised and her home was being monitored, pressuring her to withdraw cash and leave it on the street in a shoebox without telling anyone. The article challenges common stereotypes about scam victims, noting that younger adults are actually 34% more likely to report fraud losses than seniors, and that intelligence, education, and financial literacy provide no protection against sophisticated psychological manipulation tactics.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial columnist Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 to an elaborate scam that began with a fake Amazon customer service call in October 2023, escalating through impersonation of FTC and CIA officials who convinced her that her identity had been stolen and she faced arrest warrants. The scammers persuaded her to withdraw cash from her savings account and hand it to an undercover "agent" by creating an increasingly elaborate false narrative with fabricated evidence. Cowles' experience serves as a cautionary tale that fraud targets people across all demographics and education levels, countering the stereotype that only vulnerable populations fall victim to such schemes.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A financial advice columnist for New York Magazine was scammed out of $50,000 in October by a con artist posing as a CIA agent who claimed her identity had been stolen and she faced arrest warrants for money laundering and drug trafficking. The scammer, who obtained personal information including her Social Security number and family details, instructed her not to contact authorities and directed her to place $50,000 cash in a shoe box and hand it to a courier in a white Mercedes SUV. After the handoff, Cowles realized the scam when attempts to follow up on promised government checks and Social Security assistance went nowhere.
lafocusnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC reported nationwide fraud losses reached an all-time high of $10 billion—14% more than 2022—driven primarily by larger per-victim losses rather than increased report volume, with a median loss of $500 per consumer. The top scam categories were imposter schemes (particularly business and government imposters), online shopping fraud, prizes/lotteries, investment fraud, and job opportunities, with investment scams generating the highest total losses at $4.6 billion despite being ranked fourth in frequency. The FTC warned that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence for voice cloning and deepfakes to impersonate trusted contacts, and advised consumers to be
americanbazaaronline.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal authorities arrested 25-year-old Indian student Samyag Uday Doshi in Massachusetts for operating as a cash courier in an elder fraud scheme that targeted seniors across Rhode Island, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in losses. The scam involved con artists posing as federal agents who convinced elderly victims they were under investigation for money laundering, then manipulated them into withdrawing cash, making transfers, and attempting large purchases like gold bars. Seniors should be wary of unsolicited calls claiming to be from authorities demanding immediate payment or transfers, and should hang up and contact official agencies directly using verified phone numbers to confirm any such claims.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men from Florida and Virginia have been indicted for operating a major elder fraud scheme that stole approximately $26 million from seniors across Western Pennsylvania and beyond between January 2024 and August 2025, using deceptive emails to trick victims into sending cash or depositing funds into Bitcoin ATMs. The perpetrators, Amit Kumar Jain and Trevaughn J. Yearwood, allegedly laundered the stolen money through fake business entities and bank accounts in Virginia. Seniors should be cautious of unsolicited emails requesting money transfers, verify requests by contacting companies directly using official phone numbers, and report suspicious activity to local authorities or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-07
Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi was charged in the US for allegedly orchestrating a massive cryptocurrency scam through his Prince Group, which operated at least ten fraudulent compounds in Cambodia that used forced labor to conduct online romance and investment fraud schemes targeting thousands of victims worldwide. The US and UK seized approximately $14 billion in bitcoin and froze assets including 19 London properties valued at over £100 million, with prosecutors describing the operation as one of the largest financial takedowns in history involving human trafficking, forced labor camps, and the use of phone farms controlling thousands of fake social media accounts to deceive victims into transferring cryptocurrency.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-07
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network finalized a rule barring Cambodian firm Huione Group from the U.S. financial system due to its role as a money laundering conduit for romance scams and other cybercrimes. Simultaneously, the Treasury Department sanctioned 146 targets within the Cambodia-based Prince Group Transnational Criminal Organization for operating online investment scams targeting Americans and people worldwide.
independent.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
UK and US authorities seized a record $15 billion in bitcoin and 19 luxury London properties in a joint crackdown on a criminal network operating romance scam centres across south-east Asia. The network, led by Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi and his Prince Holding Group, lured victims into fake romantic relationships and fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes, often employing trafficked foreign nationals forced to commit fraud under threat of torture. Romance scams cost the UK at least £92 million in 2023-2024, with over 8,000 reported cases that year.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
A US-UK joint operation seized 19 London properties worth over £100 million that were purchased by Southeast Asian crime networks using proceeds from industrial-scale scam centres based in Cambodia and Myanmar. The criminals, led by Chen Zhi, operated romance scams and fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes that victimized vulnerable people into handing over large sums, while also exploiting trafficked workers forced to conduct online fraud under threat of torture. The sanctions freeze the network's assets and businesses, blocking their access to the UK financial system.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-07
Crypto ATM machines at convenience stores across the U.S. have become primary tools for scammers targeting Americans, particularly seniors, who are tricked into depositing cash to resolve fabricated legal or financial emergencies. In one Arizona location alone, at least a dozen victims lost $118,000 in a year, including four people defrauded of a combined $54,000 in just four days. The crypto ATM companies profit significantly from these frauds through 20-30% markups on cryptocurrency transactions while largely failing to implement fraud-prevention measures, refusing victim refunds, and lobbying against protective legislation—with the FBI reporting Americans lost approximately $240 million to such scams in
jocoreport.com
· 2025-12-07
A 61-year-old woman in Johnston County lost $15,000 after receiving a phone call from someone impersonating a Wells Fargo employee who convinced her that fraudulent activity was occurring on her account. Following the scammer's instructions, she withdrew the cash and handed it to an unidentified man in a Toyota Prius in a Dollar General parking lot, believing she was assisting with a bank investigation. The sheriff's office is investigating the incident and reminds residents that legitimate financial institutions never request cash withdrawals or in-person handoffs for investigative purposes.
switzer.com.au
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Australians lost over A$2.03 billion to scams across 494,732 reported cases, with most enabled by technology through online or phone contact. Scammers exploit universal psychological principles—including need, greed, authority, distraction, and social proof—that are similar to legitimate persuasion techniques used in advertising and marketing, making everyone vulnerable regardless of expertise or background. Understanding these manipulation tactics can help people recognize and resist scams by questioning whether they're being rushed, whether claims seem too good to be true, and whether the request matches legitimate practices.
irishtimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A woman in her 60s was victimized in a romance scam after joining a dating site in late 2023 and meeting a man claiming to be named Donald, who quickly professed feelings and moved their conversation to WhatsApp. The scammer, posing as a telecommunications executive working in Germany with a fabricated professional website, convinced her to make bank transfers on his behalf under the pretense of equipment payment issues, resulting in significant financial losses and debts. Despite her family's warnings and her own growing doubts, she continued the relationship until eventually recognizing the deception, but not before suffering major financial and legal consequences.
fallriverreporter.com
· 2025-12-07
Charles Uchenna Nwadivid, a 35-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced to two years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded at least six victims of over $2 million between 2016 and 2019. He pleaded guilty to mail fraud, money laundering, and aiding and abetting money laundering after being arrested at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in April 2025, and was ordered to pay $2,724,810.41 in restitution. Nwadivid created fake online dating profiles to build trust with victims, then convinced them to send money or transfer funds to cryptocurrency accounts under his
maltatoday.com.mt
· 2025-12-07
A 70-year-old Maltese woman named Maria lost €568,000 in a romance scam after meeting a man on Facebook who claimed to be a surgeon in Gaza; over six months, she made 39 bank transfers to various accounts and even mailed €8,000 cash in a teddy bear to Germany before customs intercepted it. Her case exemplifies a surge in online fraud affecting Malta, with Bank of Valletta alone reporting €5.3 million in losses to clients by September 2024 (double the 2024 total), while an additional €2.2 million was prevented from being fraudulently transferred. Experts note that reported figures likely represent
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-07
A Chinese court recently sentenced 11 people to death for operating an illegal scam network along the Myanmar border, but experts warn this represents only a fraction of a multibillion-dollar "pig-butchering" fraud industry spanning Southeast Asia and beyond. The schemes victimize two groups: those defrauded by romance or business scammers, and trafficked workers forced to perpetrate crimes in prison-like compounds under threat, torture, and modern slavery conditions. An estimated 220,000 people have been trafficked into online scam centers in Myanmar and Cambodia alone, with operations now identified in Serbia, Peru, Pakistan, and Africa, exploiting deepfake technology and evading enforcement through corrupt
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-07
Employment fraud luring Cambodian victims has surged dramatically in Cambodia, with reports increasing from 4 in 2021 to 330 by August 2024, primarily targeting South Korean nationals through false job advertisements on Telegram and job sites promising high income. Victims are coerced into illegal online scams including voice phishing and romance fraud, with criminal gangs also targeting Korean nationals at restaurants to steal bankbooks and passports for money laundering. The Korean Embassy has limited ability to assist victims directly and recommends contacting local police via Telegram hotline 117, though rescued victims face detention and deportation after months of investigation for their involvement in financial crimes.
newtimes.co.rw
· 2025-12-07
Money mule schemes accounted for 29 percent of Rwanda's reported fraud losses between August and December 2024, with scammers targeting vulnerable job seekers through fake employment offers on social media that promise easy remote work involving payment transfers. Victims unknowingly become part of money-laundering chains, exposing their bank accounts to closure and themselves to legal consequences, though banks use advanced monitoring tools to detect suspicious activity such as sudden large transfers. Protection requires individuals to verify job offers, avoid sharing bank details with strangers, and report suspected scams to law enforcement or the Financial Intelligence Centre.
regtechtimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Reality television personalities Wendy and Edward Osefo from Real Housewives of Potomac were arrested in Maryland on October 9 and charged with 16 counts of fraud, including seven felonies, allegedly involving insurance fraud totaling $300. Both were released on $50,000 bonds each and are cooperating with authorities. The arrests resulted in a delayed broadcast of their scheduled appearance on Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition.
devdiscourse.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
A 71-year-old retired judge from Maharashtra lost Rs 31 lakh in a digital arrest scam in September when an anonymous caller falsely accused him of sending obscene messages and money laundering, then impersonated a law enforcement official via video call to coerce fund transfers. The victim eventually recognized the deception and filed a complaint with Amravati cyber police, who launched an investigation into the sophisticated scam.
therealdeal.com
· 2025-12-07
Platte Canyon Capital sued DJE Texas Management Group's former chief Devin Elder for fraud and breach of contract related to the July sale of a 268-unit San Antonio apartment complex, seeking over $1 million in damages. Elder allegedly misrepresented the property's 90%+ occupancy rate (actual rate was about 15% lower), failed to disclose tenant delinquencies, and improperly collected $52,000 in rent for two months after the sale. The lawsuit is part of widening legal fallout against Elder and DJE, which also faces FBI investigation for money laundering and wire fraud allegations.
deloitte.com
· 2025-12-07
The FBI has highlighted "phantom hacker scams," where fraudsters impersonate tech support, banks, and government agents to manipulate victims—particularly seniors—into voluntarily transferring money directly to scammers' accounts. These scams are part of a broader category called authorized push payment (APP) fraud, which is rapidly growing; the Deloitte Center for Financial Services estimates APP fraud losses in the U.S. could reach $14.9 billion by 2028 (up from $8.3 billion in 2024), with investment scams like "pig butchering" driving the majority of growth, fueled by increasingly sophisticated AI-generated deepfakes and social engineering