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in Romance Scams
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
The US Treasury Department sanctioned Philippine tech firm Funnull Technology Inc. and Chinese administrator Liu Lizhi for providing infrastructure that supported over 332,000 domains used in "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scams that defrauded victims of approximately $200 million total, with individual losses averaging $150,000 each. The scams used fake cryptocurrency platforms to systematically target vulnerable individuals, with internal documents showing the company deliberately distributed domains to cybercriminals for fraudulent schemes including phishing and online gambling.
uta.edu
· 2025-12-08
Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington received funding to develop and test inoculation-based messaging designed to protect people against online romance scams. The project applies inoculation theory—exposing individuals to mild versions of deceptive tactics to build resistance—to create evidence-based public awareness campaigns, with the goal of filling gaps in current scam prevention efforts that often lack effectiveness. The team will develop and evaluate video scenarios simulating realistic online interactions to measure how well different inoculation strategies help users resist emotionally manipulative persuasion tactics used by scammers.
wbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Catawba County woman lost over $160,000 to a government impersonation scam after being deceived by someone posing as a Department of Justice investigator who claimed she was under a gag order. Government impersonation crimes affected 17,367 people in 2024 with losses exceeding $405 million, while romance scams resulted in over $670 million in losses that year. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson emphasized the importance of reporting fraud quickly to enable money recovery and highlighted his office's success in prosecuting scammers, including cryptocurrency fraud cases, with recent convictions resulting in lengthy prison sentences and millions of dollars recovered.
wilcosun.com
· 2025-12-08
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office warned residents about imposter scams where fraudsters falsely claim to be law enforcement, using real employee names and fake local phone numbers to appear credible. Legitimate sheriff's offices never request money, threaten arrest, or demand personal information via phone; scammers commonly use pressure tactics, robocalls, and request payment through untraceable methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or bitcoin. Residents should hang up on suspicious calls immediately and contact the sheriff's office directly, and should be alert to common scam variations including debt collection fraud via text, sweepstake scams, and emergency schemes involving fake relatives.
explodingtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2025, scams affect billions globally: approximately 608 million people fall victim to scams annually worldwide, while in the US alone, 34% of adults experienced scams in the past year with losses exceeding $12.5 billion (a 25% increase year-over-year). The most common scam methods are phone calls and SMS messages, followed by email, with romance scams causing the highest average losses at $2,000 per victim, while identity theft remains the most prevalent scam type in the US.
shreveportbossieradvocate.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (held annually in early June) educates older adults and healthcare providers about common fraud schemes targeting seniors, including romance scams where fraudsters pose as companions and gradually request money, diabetic supply buyback scams advertised on roadsides that endanger victims' health, and phone scams using numbers similar to legitimate healthcare providers. Experts emphasize the importance of removing stigma around fraud victimization so seniors report scams quickly, and warn that legitimate healthcare providers never request financial information over the phone.
thecommunemag.com
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh issued a warning on June 1, 2025, advising Chinese men against falling victim to online dating scams and illegal cross-border matchmaking services that falsely promise foreign brides, particularly from Bangladesh. These fraudulent schemes often involve romance scams leading to significant financial and emotional harm, and participants may face human trafficking charges under Bangladeshi law. The warning reflects China's demographic crisis—a surplus of approximately 35 million men due to the former one-child policy—which has created vulnerability to such scams, while authorities report brokers are actively trafficking women from neighboring countries to China for $3,000 to $13,000.
9news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Australia's financial crime watchdog (AUSTRAC) announced a crackdown on cryptocurrency ATM scams, which have cost victims an estimated $3.1 million in reported losses over 12 months, with the actual figure likely much higher. Criminals exploit the machines to pressure victims—predominantly women over 50—into sending cryptocurrency through investment swindles, extortion, and romance scams; once sent, the crypto is nearly impossible to recover. New industry-wide controls are being implemented, and authorities warn people to be suspicious of urgent requests to use crypto ATMs, promises of guaranteed high returns, or any unsolicited pressure to deposit cash.
wfla.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier held a press conference in Tampa addressing senior fraud, revealing that over two years a 92-year-old victim lost $800,000 to a perpetrator operating from state prison, and that Brevard County seniors lost $13 million since 2021 with only $1.4 million recovered. Officials announced the "Triple Threat Operation" that confiscated 40 cellphones from over 3,000 inmates and warned seniors about common scams including bank impersonation, jury duty, shipping service, and romance scams.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A cryptocurrency investment scam targeting two victims resulted in approximately $563,000 in stolen funds, which the U.S. Attorney's Office for Northern District of Ohio is seeking to forfeit as 679,981.22 USDT tokens. A victim in Solon, Ohio lost roughly $500,000 after being contacted by someone posing as "Kristina Tian" on LinkedIn who gained his trust and directed him to transfer cryptocurrency to a fraudulent investment platform; an Arizona woman lost $63,000 (including $15,000 from her 401(k) and $48,000 from a home equity loan her daughter obtained) through a similar scheme initiated on a
timesofmalta.com
· 2025-12-08
Between 2022 and the present, 3,300 people and businesses in Malta lost more than €32 million to various online fraud schemes, including romance scams (67 victims lost €1.7 million), investment fraud (374 victims lost €5.6 million), e-commerce scams (over 1,000 victims lost €3.9 million), and bank impersonation scams (1,200 victims lost €1.5 million). A woman in her 70s was among the victims, losing €500,000 in a romance scam to someone posing as an engineer trapped in Turkey. Authorities emphasize that victims often experience shame and guilt,
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 92-year-old man in Sun City Center, Florida, lost $800,000 in a romance and bank scam orchestrated by Otiz Swinton Jr., a 37-year-old who was incarcerated at the time and had previously been convicted seven years earlier of stealing over $1 million from more than 50 seniors. The victim, isolated in an assisted living facility, was targeted beginning in June 2022, with funds transferred through cryptocurrency, peer-to-peer platforms, counterfeit checks, and ATM withdrawals between March and April of the scam year.
koreaherald.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, the FTC reported that U.S. consumers lost $1.14 billion to romance scams, more than double the losses from 2021. Scammers impersonate celebrities and romantic interests to manipulate isolated or lonely victims, gradually building trust before requesting money for travel, legal fees, or "meet and greet" events, often extracting personal information and hundreds of thousands of dollars from individual victims. These scams exploit common human vulnerabilities and are particularly effective because scammers use personalized messages, fabricated photos, and carefully crafted scripts to convince victims they have special relationships with their targets.
expressvpn.com
· 2025-12-08
The Nigerian prince scam (also called a 419 scam) is an advance-fee fraud where scammers pose as foreign royalty or wealthy individuals and convince victims to pay upfront "processing fees" or "taxes" for access to promised large sums of money. Originating from 19th-century Spanish prisoner schemes and proliferating via email in the 1990s, the scam continues to victimize people daily despite widespread awareness, sometimes escalating to using victims as money mules for stolen funds. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact from strangers claiming to need financial help, verify identities through official channels, never send money upfront, and avoi
wisbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment and cryptocurrency scams remain the riskiest threat for adults 55+, followed by online purchase scams and romance scams for specific age groups, according to the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report. The article provides practical prevention strategies including: avoiding unsolicited callers (especially those claiming to be government agents or bank employees), recognizing red flags like pressure to act or unusual payment requests, hiring only licensed contractors through verified sources, remaining alert to emergency/grandchild scams, and hanging up on calls about "free" medical equipment or government impersonations. Key advice emphasizes registering with the National Do-Not-Call Registry, verifying unexpected claims through official sources, and maintaining healthy
afp.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
From January 2024 to January 2025, Australian authorities received 150 reports of cryptocurrency ATM scams resulting in $3.1 million in losses, with an average loss of $20,000 per victim; however, officials warn this likely represents significant under-reporting, as approximately $275 million moves through crypto ATMs annually in Australia. The victims were predominantly women (68%) and people over 51 years old (48%), who were targeted through investment scams, extortion emails, and romance scams that pressured them to deposit cash into crypto ATMs. Australian authorities are implementing educational campaigns near crypto ATMs to warn the public about common warning signs, including unsolicited deposit
rollingout.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers use sophisticated techniques including stolen or AI-generated profile images, recently created accounts with suspicious activity patterns, and generic content to deceive users on dating apps and social platforms. The anonymity of digital platforms enables predators to manipulate victims emotionally and exploit them financially through elaborate fake personas. Users can protect themselves by reverse image searching photos, scrutinizing account creation dates, and identifying generic content lacking personal authenticity.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses Feeld, a dating app for non-traditional relationships, which has grown 30% annually since 2022 by attracting "vanilla tourists" seeking conventional dating alongside its core alternative-lifestyle users. While the app's CEO emphasizes inclusivity and notes reduced algorithmic constraints compared to competitors, Feeld faces ongoing challenges with safety, toxic behavior, and sophisticated romance scams that use fake profiles to defraud users.
someecards.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in her early 30s was targeted by a romance scam in which her online boyfriend of six months, claiming to work on an offshore oil rig in Dubai, requested $10,000 to cover a family emergency and asked her to borrow the money from coworkers and relatives. The victim's coworker recognized the classic scam indicators and warned her, eventually discovering that the victim had already sent the scammer $50-500 in smaller amounts over six months before the relationship ended when she couldn't provide the larger sum. The victim eventually acknowledged the scam after the "boyfriend" ghosted her when she proved unable to obtain the money.
tvblackbox.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This article announces an upcoming Amazon Prime Video docuseries about Jason Porter, a Toronto-based convicted con artist who conducted romance scams targeting multiple victims over several years. The two-part series follows real estate broker Heather Rovet, who discovered her three-year relationship with "Jace" was actually a scam perpetrated by Porter, as she transforms into an investigator connecting with other victims to expose his pattern of manipulation and pursue justice. The docuseries premieres June 13 and features survivor interviews, archival footage, and reconstructions documenting Porter's sophisticated dating scams and their impact on his victims.
vietnamnet.vn
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using affordable AI-generated deepfake technology (costing as little as $25-30) to impersonate authorities, executives, and romantic interests in fraud schemes, with documented losses reaching tens of millions of dollars. The technology requires only a single photo and 20-30 second audio clip to create convincing fake videos, and criminals are automating attacks to target thousands of victims daily through social media platforms. Users can reduce their vulnerability by restricting photo visibility and friend lists on social networks, verifying video callers through lip-sync checks or physical actions, and exercising caution when sharing personal information online.
hccommunityjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
A Kerrville Police Department sergeant conducted an internet safety presentation outlining major threats including identity theft, phishing, and romance/grandchild scams, which criminals use to steal sensitive information and money from victims. Key safety recommendations include verifying secure websites (https and lock icons), using strong passwords, enabling stricter social media settings, installing malware protection, and never responding to unsolicited requests for personal information from official agencies.
crowdfundinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, cryptocurrency scams generated a record $12.4 billion in fraudulent revenue, with "pig butchering" romance and investment scams accounting for 33% of that total. Artificial intelligence has enabled scammers to operate at unprecedented scale through deepfakes, voice cloning, and automated phishing, with AI service vendors on illicit marketplaces earning $18 million alone. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Philippines-based Funnull Technology Inc. in May 2025 for facilitating scams that defrauded American victims of over $200 million by providing infrastructure to cybercriminals.
hometownstations.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Ohio's Division of Securities received 302 scam and fraud complaints from older residents, a 22% increase from 2023, with potential losses exceeding $60 million statewide. Most scams involved unknown individuals contacting seniors via email or text about cryptocurrency or compromised bank accounts, with warning signs including unexplained financial changes, new account additions, and uncharacteristic money transfers. Authorities recommend having conversations with seniors about red flags like urgency and secrecy, researching suspicious contacts independently, and reporting suspected exploitation to local law enforcement, the Division of Securities, or Adult Protective Services.
lancs.live
· 2025-12-08
Between 2022 and 2025, online romance scammers defrauded UK residents of over £271 million across 21,976 reported cases, with Lancashire victims losing £4 million across 554 reports at an average of £7,281 per person. Dating fraud reports increased 17% in 2024/25 to 8,122 cases, with losses reaching £102 million that year, and victims reporting individual losses ranging up to £500,000 or more. Women and transgender individuals suffered disproportionately higher average losses per case despite fewer reports, and the average victim age increased from 47 to 49 years old over the three
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This article describes a common tax authority impersonation scam via unsolicited phone calls and discusses the broader UK scam landscape, where fraudsters stole £11.4 billion in the previous year. The author explains various scam tactics (fake tax demands, computer virus threats, romance scams, taxi fare requests) and humorously suggests that victims can waste scammers' time through delay tactics—keeping them on the line with endless holds, feigned technological incompetence, and false information—as a strategy to disrupt their operations and prevent them from targeting more vulnerable people.
columbiamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for the Elderus database based on this content. This article reports on a tornado-related death and emergency response in Washington County, Kentucky—it does not involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. This material falls outside the scope of elder fraud documentation.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Indian authorities arrested seven Nigerian nationals in Uttar Pradesh for operating online romance scams that defrauded over 350 people of approximately Rs 15 crore (₦2.79 billion). The suspects created fake social media profiles posing as pilots and engineers, built trust with victims, and then solicited money under false pretenses or used blackmail with intimate photos to extort married individuals. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 79 smartphones, 99 SIM cards, and 31 fake bank accounts used in the scheme.
businesstoday.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Malaysian citizens are being exploited by international drug syndicates through false job offers, romance scams, and promises of quick money (RM5,000–RM10,000 per trip), with 77 Malaysians arrested overseas for drug trafficking between 2021–2023 and 74 currently on death row abroad as of early 2024. The majority of these individuals were not hardened criminals but economically vulnerable people coerced or deceived into transporting narcotics, yet Malaysia's legal framework provides inadequate protections despite the country being a signatory to the UN Palermo Protocol on human trafficking. The article calls for amendments to anti-trafficking legislation to include broader
whio.com
· 2025-12-08
This article explores the legal landscape of scams and fraud, explaining that while scamming is generally illegal, some deceptive practices exist in legal gray areas by technically offering a service or relying on consumer awareness. The article discusses how scammers exploit loopholes—such as with carnival games and deceptive solicitations (like fake domain renewal notices)—by staying vague about their offerings and not explicitly making false promises, allowing them to operate despite feeling fraudulent to consumers. The key takeaway is that scamming tactics are increasingly sophisticated and difficult to distinguish from legitimate services, making consumer vigilance essential.
toledocitypaper.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau of Northwest and West Central Ohio and Southeast Michigan operates ScamGuard, an educational program launched three years ago to protect seniors from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes. The program warns older adults about common scams including telephone/tech support scams, gift card tampering, fake charities, grandparent scams, sweepstakes fraud, and online dating schemes, providing practical advice such as verifying unfamiliar callers, researching charities before donating, and never sending money to individuals met only online.
law.georgia.gov
· 2025-12-08
During May 2025's Older Americans Month, Georgia's Attorney General Consumer Protection Division reached over 1,300 seniors to educate them on recognizing, preventing, and reporting financial abuse and exploitation. The division highlighted common scams targeting older adults—including government imposter schemes, investment/cryptocurrency fraud, and romance scams—and provided resources such as their free "Georgia Consumer Protection Guide for Older Adults" (available in English, Spanish, and Korean) along with reporting contacts for suspected financial abuse.
halifax.ca
· 2025-12-08
Police responded to five reports in one week from seniors targeted by an advanced "grandparent scam" where fraudsters used artificial intelligence to clone family members' voices, claiming the victim's loved one was arrested and demanding bail payment via courier pickup. Authorities warn that law enforcement never collects bail money in person and advise victims to hang up immediately and not confirm personal or financial information when receiving such calls.
tucson.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial scams targeting seniors (age 60+) have increased significantly in the digital age, leading the U.S. Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative to educate older adults about common fraud schemes. The article describes four prevalent scams targeting seniors: Social Security Administration impostor scams (using caller ID spoofing to demand money be moved to gift cards), tech support scams (falsely claiming viruses exist and requesting remote device access to steal information), lottery scams (claiming winners owe fees until funds are depleted), and romance scams (using dating sites to manipulate victims into sending money).
govinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Philippine-based Funnull Technology and its administrator Liu Lizhi for operating as a content delivery network that powered romance scam websites, using trafficked workers to deceive victims into fake investments. The FBI identified over 332,000 domains linked to Funnull infrastructure, which caused an estimated $200 million in losses to U.S. victims (averaging $150,000 per person), with global romance scam losses reaching $4.4 billion. The company supplied bulk IP addresses, website templates, and algorithmically-generated domain names to scammers, enabling them to rapidly create resilient scam networks difficult to take down.
moneysense.ca
· 2025-12-08
Relationship fraud and romance scams are increasing in Canada, typically beginning when scammers contact victims on social media, dating apps, or email, then gradually build trust over months before requesting money or promoting fraudulent investment schemes, often involving cryptocurrency. Victims suffer not only financial losses but also emotional trauma from the betrayal, and scammers may use harvested personal information for identity theft. Key warning signs include pressure and urgency in requests, and protection strategies include verifying requests with trusted individuals and being cautious of AI-generated personas.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Between April 2022 and March 2025, online dating scams defrauded UK victims of over £271 million across 21,976 reported cases, with Lancashire residents losing £4 million across 554 incidents (average £7,281 per victim). Women and transgender individuals suffered disproportionately higher average losses (£16,370 and £27,234 respectively), and some victims lost as much as £500,000 or more to scammers posing as romantic interests. Reports to Action Fraud increased 17% in 2024/25 to 8,122 cases, reflecting a concerning rise in this type of fraud targeting increasingly older
thebridgechronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake technology is increasingly being used in online dating scams to create fake profiles with AI-generated faces and manipulate videos and voice messages to deceive victims emotionally before requesting money or sensitive information. Victims experience significant psychological harm including trust issues, anxiety, shame, and trauma from the emotional manipulation. To protect themselves, users should reverse image search photos, request real-time video calls early, avoid sharing personal information, and watch for red flags like overly polished photos, declined video calls, and generic or rehearsed responses.
whio.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains how to identify fake social media profiles used by scammers on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tinder. Key warning signs include fake or AI-generated profile pictures (verify with reverse image search), brand-new accounts with unusual activity patterns, generic or automated posting behavior, and follower lists consisting of random unconnected accounts. The article advises online users to maintain skepticism about profiles they encounter and check for these indicators before engaging with unfamiliar accounts.
home.treasury.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Funnull Technology Inc., a Philippines-based company that provided computer infrastructure supporting hundreds of thousands of "pig butchering" virtual currency investment scam websites, resulting in over $200 million in reported U.S. losses. These sophisticated scams, often perpetrated by Southeast Asian criminal organizations using trafficked workers, deceive victims into fake investment platforms through elaborate romantic or trust-based schemes, with average individual losses exceeding $150,000. The FBI is publishing a cybersecurity advisory with technical details to help the private sector identify and dismantle Funnull-associated websites.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Funnull, a Philippines-based company run by Chinese national Liu Lizhi, for providing infrastructure to cybercriminals operating "pig butchering" crypto investment scams that defrauded American victims of approximately $200 million, with an average loss of $150,000 per victim. Funnull generated fraudulent domain names and website templates to help scammers impersonate legitimate brands, and also conducted the Polyfill supply chain attack to redirect website visitors to malicious gambling and scam sites. These services enabled criminals to quickly evade detection by switching domains and IP addresses when legitimate providers attempted to shut down their operations.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is about police staffing and morale in Kent, England—not elder fraud or scams. While Chief Constable Tim Smith briefly mentioned "romance scams" during the interview, the article focuses on officer retention, low morale, pay concerns, and staffing issues within Kent Police. This does not fall within the scope of elder fraud research for the Elderus database.
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database. It concerns police officer morale and staffing issues in Kent Police, not elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. While the chief constable briefly mentioned "romance scams" in passing, the article does not discuss details of scams or their impact on victims.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
A Ghanaian man known as Dada Joe (Nana Kojo Boateng) was arrested by Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office in collaboration with the FBI for alleged involvement in romance fraud and cybercrime. The suspect may face extradition to the U.S. for prosecution, marking part of an international effort to combat transnational romance scams that target vulnerable individuals by building fake online relationships to extract money from victims.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
A Ghanaian man identified as Dada Joe (Nana Kojo Boateng) was arrested by Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) in collaboration with the FBI on allegations of romance fraud and cybercrime. The suspect faces potential extradition to the United States for prosecution in what represents part of an international effort to combat transnational romance scams that target vulnerable individuals for financial exploitation.
etnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines ten common fraud schemes targeting Indian consumers, including phishing impersonations of banks and government agencies, Ponzi schemes promising unrealistic returns, fake law enforcement extortion, fraudulent work-from-home jobs, UPI PIN theft, ATM skimming, predatory loan apps, pump-and-dump stock schemes, romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals, and fake parcel delivery scams. The piece emphasizes that fraudsters exploit trust through multiple channels (email, SMS, calls, apps) and advises victims to verify legitimacy through official channels, avoid sharing sensitive information like OTPs and UPI PINs, use only RBI-registered financial services, and report suspicious
okcfox.com
· 2025-12-08
This editorial discusses the evolution and pervasiveness of fraud from ancient times to 2024, noting that the FBI received 859,532 online crime complaints in 2024 with losses exceeding $16 billion—a 33% increase from the prior year. The article highlights emerging threats including cryptocurrency fraud ($24.2 billion in illicit transfers in 2023), AI-powered deepfakes (which surged 1,740% in North America between 2022-2023, with one incident targeting a Hong Kong firm for $25 million), and voice-cloning scams targeting individuals through fake calls from loved ones. Williams emphasizes that fraud affects all demographics—not just the
hometownstations.com
· 2025-12-08
Ohio's older adults face significant financial exploitation risk, with projected losses exceeding $60 million in 2025 and complaints to the Division of Securities increasing 22% year-over-year (302 complaints in 2024 versus 247 in 2023). Common scams targeting seniors include romance schemes, tech support impersonations, and grandparent scams, with warning signs including unexplained withdrawals, changes in banking practices, and unpaid bills. The Ohio Department of Commerce and Department of Aging are partnering during Elder Abuse Awareness Month to educate the public on recognizing exploitation and providing resources for reporting, including hotlines for securities fraud, adult protective services, an
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Nadine Jazimne Wade, a 30-year-old Bronx resident, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for laundering over $2 million in proceeds from romance scams targeting elderly victims across the United States between 2016 and 2021. Scammers based in Nigeria and South Africa used fake identities to build romantic relationships with victims online, then convinced them to send money to bank accounts controlled by Wade, who rapidly moved the funds through cash withdrawals, vehicle purchases, and transfers to other scheme members. Wade was ordered to pay $1,772,618 in restitution and forfeit $2,261,791.
columbiamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers operating on dating apps and social media platforms defrauded Americans of over $1 billion in 2023 and at least that much in 2024, with one notable victim being a 72-year-old widower named Gary who lost $50,000 to a scammer posing as a woman named Nasha. Scammers use tactics including requests for money for travel or investments, pressure for gift cards, and AI-generated photos to impersonate real people and celebrities. The U.S. Secret Service recommends avoiding financial transactions with people you've never met in person and being wary of red flags such as urgent money requests, pressure for gifts, an