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in Romance Scam
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
Pamela Moore, a Cincinnati woman, was sentenced to 24 months in prison in August 2024 for laundering over $8 million in proceeds from online romance scams between 2020 and 2023. Moore used personal and business bank accounts, including a fake jewelry business account, to receive and convert the stolen funds to Bitcoin at the scammers' direction, personally retaining approximately $1.7 million. As restitution, Moore was ordered to pay back the $1.7 million she directly received from the laundered funds.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Eugene Robert LeClear, a 52-year-old from Wheeling, West Virginia, was indicted for a romance scam in which he defrauded a woman of approximately $96,000 between 2022 and the time of charges. LeClear posed as a millionaire online, fabricated reasons for needing money (such as medical expenses and bail), and promised reimbursement that never came. He faces five counts of wire fraud, each carrying a potential 20-year federal prison sentence.
upi.com
· 2025-12-08
A 52-year-old West Virginia man was indicted for defrauding a woman of $96,000 through a romance scam that began in 2022, claiming he had access to millions of dollars and needed funds for medical expenses and bail. Robert LeClear repeatedly promised repayment but never followed through, and federal prosecutors charged him with five counts of wire fraud, each carrying a potential maximum of 20 years in prison.
caymannewsservice.com
· 2025-12-08
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) warned of an escalation in targeted online scams against local banking customers, including phishing calls spoofing local phone numbers and claiming to be from banks, credit card companies, or the RCIPS itself, with scammers using fraudulent links to gain computer access or requesting personal information. Additional scams reported include fake vehicle sales ads posted under "Simplicity Leasing" where victims lose deposit payments, and a case where a vehicle was sold with a hidden lien resulting in repossession. Police advised residents to verify contact directly with organizations, avoid clicking unsolicited links, and contact authorities immediately if compromised.
hastingstribune.com
· 2025-12-08
In January, a California financial advisor was convicted and permanently barred from the industry after pleading guilty to operating a fraudulent Ponzi scheme called "Northstar" that defrauded over 300 clients—predominantly elderly—of more than $24 million between 2000 and 2020. Elder fraud is rising nationally, with FBI data showing a 14% increase in reports and 11% increase in losses in 2023, with scams ranging from fake prizes and government impersonation to investment schemes and AI-enabled romance scams costing seniors over $3 billion annually. To protect themselves, seniors should verify financial advisors using free tools like BrokerCheck and the
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies 10 common scams targeting seniors, who lose approximately $3 billion annually to fraud. The scams include romance scams, funeral fraud, grandparent impersonation schemes, phishing emails, Medicare fraud, fake tech support, and others that exploit seniors' trust, limited digital literacy, and valuable assets like homes and savings. The article provides protective advice such as setting social media accounts to private, verifying caller identities through stored contact numbers, and being skeptical of unsolicited requests for money or personal information.
odt.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in New Zealand are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to defraud residents, with a BNZ survey finding that 9 out of 10 New Zealanders were targeted by scams in 2023 (a 13% increase year-over-year), and research showing 62% encountered scams monthly. While scams affect people of all ages, older adults are particularly vulnerable to certain types like romance scams due to larger financial assets, with identity theft, shopping, and investment scams being the most common and emotionally damaging. Banks, police, and Netsafe recommend avoiding urgency-driven requests, verifying communications directly with companies, using
cryptotvplus.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scammers are increasingly using "pig butchering" schemes, where fraudsters build trust with victims through dating apps and social media before directing them to fake investment platforms with false promises of high crypto returns, eventually stealing their deposits. A major scam hub in KK Park, Myanmar—operating as a human trafficking center confining over 2,000 individuals—has funneled over $100 million in scam proceeds in 2024 alone, with nearly 43% of this year's scam funds flowing to newly created cryptocurrency wallets, while perpetrators purchase fake social media profiles to enhance their deceptive tactics.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
On August 22, a Mumbai resident was defrauded of approximately Rs 73,000 on a dating app date when presented with an inflated bill, one of several similar incidents occurring across major Indian cities involving fake profiles, overpriced charges, and intimidation tactics. These organized dating scams also extend beyond restaurant bills to cryptocurrency fraud, with victims losing substantial sums after being lured by scammers posing as romantic interests who later pressure them for investments or money through fabricated emergencies. To protect themselves, users should verify profiles before meeting, avoid financial dealings with new acquaintances, meet in public locations, and preserve all communications as evidence.
twincities.com
· 2025-12-08
Losses from online financial scams exceeded $10 billion in 2024, a $1 billion increase from 2022, with artificial intelligence enabling scammers to better exploit personal data and impersonate victims. The article identifies four common scam tactics (pretending to be trusted entities, creating false problems or prizes, pressuring quick action, and demanding irreversible payments) and highlights four prevalent scam types: fake charities, phishing attacks, romance scams, and business email compromise. Protection strategies include enabling multifactor authentication, keeping software updated, recognizing social engineering tactics, and verifying requests through independent contact methods.
ksisradio.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses online dating safety in Illinois, ranking the state 30th for safety among U.S. states, primarily due to high STD rates of 839.2 per 100,000 people annually. The piece mentions various online dating risks including romance scams, catfishing, and dishonest actors, while noting that Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire are the safest states for online dating, whereas Nevada, Alaska, and Georgia pose the greatest risks.
7news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers cost Australians over $40 million in 2023, with South Australia accounting for $2.1 million in losses, according to police warnings during Scams Awareness Week. A case study involved Karen from Adelaide, who lost $50,000 to a fraudster who posed as an overseas boyfriend, built trust over weeks online, and requested money for education before disappearing when they were supposed to meet in person. Scammers typically target people over 55 through dating websites and social media by creating fake profiles, building emotional connections, and requesting money for various emergencies or investments; victims can protect themselves by never sending money to people they haven't met, verifying ident
thefintechtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Chainalysis research reveals a significant shift in cryptocurrency scams in China, with 43% of fraudulent inflows in 2024 going to newly created wallets—the highest on record—while individual scam lifespans have dramatically decreased from 271 days in 2020 to just 42 days in 2024. Scammers are pivoting from large-scale Ponzi schemes to targeted romance scams (pig butchering scams), which have grown 85 times since 2020 and cause the worst financial impact per victim; one fraud shop alone received $10.5 million from romance scammers between 2022-2024.
malaymail.com
· 2025-12-08
A 64-year-old retired banker in Selangor lost RM1.98 million to a love scam syndicate after being deceived into transferring money across 12 different accounts since May under the pretense of redeeming a parcel. Police advised the public to avoid trusting social media acquaintances, verify identities before financial transactions, and use official verification resources before sending money.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Australians $40 million in 2023, with South Australia accounting for $2.1 million of losses, prompting police warnings during Scams Awareness Week. A case study involved Karen from Adelaide, who lost $50,000 to a fraudster she met online who posed as an overseas-based man and eventually asked for money under the guise of educational costs; when she traveled to meet him in person, he never appeared. Scammers typically target people over 55 through fake profiles on dating websites and social media, building trust before requesting money for emergencies or investment opportunities, a technique known as "catfishing" or "romance baiting."
brainerddispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
Online financial scams resulted in losses exceeding $10 billion in 2024, a $1 billion increase from 2022, with artificial intelligence enabling scammers to exploit personal data and impersonate voices and images more effectively. The article identifies four common scam tactics—pretending to be trusted entities, creating artificial problems or prizes, applying pressure to act quickly, and demanding irreversible payments—and highlights frequent scam types including fake charities, phishing, romance scams, and business email compromise. Protection strategies include enabling multifactor authentication, maintaining updated software and operating systems, and recognizing warning signs across all types of online transactions.
dlnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Chainalysis's mid-year crypto crime report revealed that Chinese-language marketplaces, particularly the Cambodian platform Huione Guarantee, have become major hubs for cryptocurrency-based fraud and money laundering in Southeast Asia, processing over $49 billion in transactions since 2021. The peer-to-peer marketplace facilitates illicit activities including pig butchering scams, investment fraud, and money laundering through thousands of independent merchants operating via Telegram, while claiming neutrality and not verifying transaction legitimacy. Criminal operations in the region exploit the platform alongside coerced workers in special economic zones across Cambodia and Myanmar to conduct large-scale crypto fraud schemes.
q1065.fm
· 2025-12-08
According to a SocialCatfish.com study, New Hampshire ranked as the 4th least catfished state with 71 romance scam victims losing $1 million, while California led the nation with $184 million in losses. The article outlines five evolving romance scam tactics to avoid: money mule schemes, fake cryptocurrency investment apps, targeting of teens on TikTok, impersonation of social media influencers, and untraceable gift card requests, providing preventive measures for each type.
pattayamail.com
· 2025-12-08
A 34-year-old man named Supornchai was arrested in Bangkok for fraud and computer crimes after receiving a fraudulent payment of 20,000 baht from a victim who believed they were paying customs fees for a package from abroad, when the scam was actually orchestrated by a woman named Ms. Wan who recruited him to open a bank account for money laundering purposes. Police warned the public about romance and impersonation scams on social media, where perpetrators pose as trustworthy figures to manipulate victims into transferring money, and advised people to avoid trusting online acquaintances, never send money to strangers, and maintain secure accounts with strong passwords.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
Kenneth Brown Jr. and Nicholas Shepard, operators of Golden Eagle precious metals exchange, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for their role in a nationwide scam that laundered $600,000 from romance scam victims between 2021 and 2022. The scheme involved victims of "pig butchering" romance scams sending money to Golden Eagle, which was then converted to cryptocurrency on the Voyager platform; Brown's attorney claims both men were unknowingly groomed into participating and that Brown cooperated with authorities upon discovering the fraud. Both face up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Better Business Bureau's 2023 report, Gen Z (ages 18-24) reported the highest median loss to scams for the second consecutive year, averaging $155 per person, primarily from employment, online purchase, and cryptocurrency scams. While younger people overall lost the most money, people over 65 suffered the largest individual losses to romance scams, which surged dramatically with median losses increasing from $1,411 in 2022 to $3,600 in 2023, with scammers increasingly using cryptocurrency to defraud victims. The report also found that scammers are increasingly targeting minors (ages 7-18), with 16% of
kkam.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI identifies five dangerous scams prevalent in Texas: phishing emails impersonating banks, romance scams on dating platforms requesting money, lottery/sweepstakes scams charging upfront fees, tech support scams requesting remote computer access, and IRS/government impersonation scams threatening legal action. The article advises Texans to remain vigilant against unsolicited requests for money or personal information and to trust their instincts when something seems suspicious.
finextra.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs is consulting on a new Protection from Scams Bill that would authorize police to restrict banking transactions of individuals who refuse to acknowledge they are being scammed despite warnings from authorities, family, and friends. The legislation targets digital scams—particularly romance and impersonation schemes—where 86% of reported cases in the first half of 2024 involved victims voluntarily transferring money to scammers. Restriction Orders would only be imposed after police determine a person is being actively targeted and other intervention attempts have failed.
intelligentciso.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams surged in 2024 with billions in illicit inflows, with 43% of scam proceeds going to newly created wallets, indicating a sharp rise in fresh schemes compared to prior years. Scammers are shifting tactics from lengthy Ponzi schemes to shorter-lived, targeted campaigns like romance scams (pig butchering), which have grown 85-fold since 2020 and cause the worst average victim impact; one fraud shop alone facilitated $10.5 million in romance scam activity from 2022-2024 by selling millions of fraudulent social media profiles. Experts advise vigilance against unexpected communications and immediate caution when money transfers
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Spain nearly fell victim to a romance scam in 2021 when she met a man posing as a currency trader on Facebook Dating who moved conversations to WhatsApp and offered to teach her profitable trading through a fake platform. She recognized the scam before depositing significant money, noting that the con followed the classic pattern where scammers build trust through emotional manipulation and false trading screenshots before requesting escalating deposits. The author notes that in 2022 alone, approximately 70,000 Americans lost $1.3 billion to similar romance and investment scams that use fraudulent trading platforms.
saltwire.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article advises seniors on financial management and fraud prevention, emphasizing the importance of budgeting, tracking expenses, and saving for emergencies. It warns pensioners to be vigilant against common scams including investment fraud, romance scams, and financial elder abuse, recommending they only work with registered financial institutions and advisers, while noting that the Flourish 55+ Healthy Activity Centre offers seminars to help South Shore seniors protect their finances.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old Maryland woman named Mae was targeted by scammers who used a fake Apple security alert to trick her into believing her bank account was compromised, then pressured her to withdraw cash and purchase gift cards (Target, Apple, Amazon) to "secure" her funds. Gift card fraud has become a leading payment method used by fraudsters against seniors, with an estimated $5.5 billion to $27.5 billion stolen annually through this method, as the cards are highly portable, anonymous, and easily converted to cash on the dark web or resold illegally. The article reveals that federal regulators have failed to adequately protect consumers from gift card fraud, while retailers, gift car
morningstar.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment fraud targeting older adults is growing significantly, driven by emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence that make scams increasingly sophisticated and convincing. According to Kathy Stokes, AARP's director of fraud prevention, Americans lost a record $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, with crypto-related schemes and AI-enabled fraud posing particular threats to financial security. Stokes emphasizes the importance of education and awareness as key protective measures for older adults vulnerable to these evolving fraud schemes.
philomathnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors lose approximately $3 billion annually to scams, making them prime targets due to their savings, home ownership, good credit, and often lower digital literacy. The article identifies 10 common scams targeting older adults, including romance scams (fraudsters posing as romantic interests), funeral scams (exploiting grief over deceased spouses), grandparent scams (impersonating grandchildren in emergencies), phishing (fake emails from financial institutions), Medicare fraud, and tech support scams, among others. Prevention strategies include securing social media accounts, verifying contact information through reverse searches, and calling family members directly to confirm emergencies.
cionews.co.in
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams surged in 2024, with billions of dollars in fraudulent inflows, and blockchain analytics show that 43% of year-to-date fraud went to newly created wallets, indicating a significant rise in new schemes. Scammers have shifted tactics from complex Ponzi schemes to more targeted approaches like romance scams and address poisoning, with romance scams experiencing an 85x increase since 2020 and causing the largest financial impact per victim. The average lifespan of scams has compressed from 271 days in 2020 to just 42 days in 2024, making detection harder, though law enforcement and blockchain analysis tools continue to help recover
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman with dementia in Asheboro, North Carolina, lost $25,000 to a tech support scammer who impersonated law enforcement, created a false sense of urgency and fear, and coerced her into purchasing gift cards and withdrawing cash at a gas station. Detective Marcus Pierce emphasizes that requests to load money on gift cards are a major red flag, and urges family members and community members to watch for elderly individuals attempting unusual cash withdrawals or bulk gift card purchases and to contact local law enforcement if concerned.
finextra.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses general challenges faced by major online dating platforms Tinder and Bumble, including their vulnerability to romance scams, phishing attacks, and identity theft, as well as operational challenges around data privacy compliance, competitive pressures, and user safety management. While the piece identifies romance scams as a threat on these platforms, it does not detail any specific fraud cases, victim impacts, or financial losses. This is a general awareness piece about cybersecurity and operational risks in the online dating industry rather than a report of actual elder fraud incidents.
wbtw.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman with dementia in Asheboro, North Carolina lost $25,000 to a tech support scam in which fraudsters impersonated law enforcement, used threats and fear, and manipulated her into withdrawing cash and purchasing gift cards. Detective Marcus Pierce emphasizes that tech scams are the most common fraud affecting elderly people, and urges the public to watch for red flags such as requests to load money on cards or large cash withdrawals, and to report concerns to local law enforcement.
saultstar.com
· 2025-12-08
A 62-year-old former Sudbury woman lost nearly $50,000 to a romance scam and subsequent money recovery schemes over three years, exhausting her life savings and leaving her $13,000 in debt to family and friends. After accepting a Facebook friend request from someone claiming to be a U.S. military officer, she sent money via gift cards and Bitcoin after being pressured and worn down by promises of repayment and eventual visits. When she attempted to recover her losses through a second fraudster claiming to represent a recovery firm, she lost an additional $20,000 in multiple failed schemes before finally recognizing the pattern.
ottawacitizen.com
· 2025-12-08
A 62-year-old Ottawa woman lost approximately $50,000 through a romance scam and subsequent money recovery schemes. After a man posing as a U.S. military officer on Facebook convinced her to send gift cards and cryptocurrency over three years, she was then targeted by a second scammer claiming he could recover her losses, leading her to borrow an additional $20,000 from family and friends in failed recovery attempts. The victim, who lives on disability payments, is now in debt and sharing her story to warn other vulnerable people about these interconnected fraud schemes.
koamnewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost consumers $1.14 billion in 2023, with median losses of $2,000 per person, and experts warn that college students are increasingly vulnerable as scammers employ sophisticated technologies including deepfake profiles, AI-generated images, voice cloning, and AI-powered chatbots to create convincing fake identities. To protect themselves, students should verify profiles through early video calls, trust their instincts if something feels suspicious, and never share sensitive financial information with online contacts they haven't met in person.
theverge.com
· 2025-12-08
Bitcoin ATM scams have surged dramatically, with losses increasing nearly 10-fold from $12 million in 2020 to $114 million by 2023, and victims already losing $65 million in the first half of 2024 alone. Scammers impersonate bank or government officials via phone, text, or pop-ups to convince victims their accounts are compromised, then direct them to deposit cash into Bitcoin ATMs (which they falsely call "safety lockers") by scanning a QR code that transfers funds to the scammer's wallet, with a median loss of $10,000 per victim. Vermont and Minnesota have enacted laws limiting daily crypto kio
morningstar.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational podcast features AARP's Kathy Stokes discussing how to protect oneself from investment fraud, with particular focus on growing threats from cryptocurrency-related scams and the use of artificial intelligence by fraudsters. The piece emphasizes identifying warning signs of investment fraud and provides resources including AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) and guidance on recognizing common scam tactics targeting investors of all ages, though older adults face heightened risk.
digitalinformationworld.com
· 2025-12-08
A Better Business Bureau report reveals that Gen-Z (ages 18-24) loses the most money to scams despite being the most tech-savvy generation, averaging $155 per victim in employment, online purchase, and cryptocurrency scams. Seniors over 65 are particularly vulnerable to romance scams, losing an average of $3,600 in 2023—a 300% increase from 2022—with scammers increasingly using cryptocurrency as part of these schemes. Children ages 7-18 are also emerging targets, with 16% of surveyed parents reporting their children have been scammed, and common impersonated companies include the U.S. Postal Service, Amazon
newswire.ca
· 2025-12-08
The Alberta Securities Commission, Edmonton Police Foundation, and Edmonton Police Service launched the ScamShield: Investor Protection Challenge with a $130,000 prize pool to solicit innovative solutions combating online cryptocurrency investment fraud. Crypto scams accounted for over 60% of the $309 million in investment fraud reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in 2023, with Edmonton alone reporting more than 80 victims losing over $7 million in the past year, though actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting. The challenge, accepting submissions until November 4, 2024, aims to engage academia and technology innovators to develop novel approaches to prevent fraud tactics including social media deepf
aetv.com
· 2025-12-08
This article explains money laundering methods and how criminals exploit financial systems and technology rather than documenting a specific elder fraud case. The piece discusses "smurfing" (dividing illegal cash into small deposits across multiple people to avoid bank detection) and how criminals increasingly recruit money mules through social media by offering quick payments for using their bank accounts. It notes that technology platforms and cryptocurrencies unintentionally facilitate money laundering because they share similar characteristics criminals seek—high transaction volumes, international reach, and minimal regulation.
thepaypers.com
· 2025-12-08
During the 2023-24 financial year, Australians lost AUD 382 million to investment scams, with nearly half involving cryptocurrencies, according to the Australian Cyber Security Centre. Contrary to common assumptions, individuals under 50 now represent 60% of reported scam victims, with scammers using tactics like "pig butchering" (gradual luring into larger investments) and deepfake technology to deceive victims. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission shut down 615 cryptocurrency investment scams in its first year of operation, while overall reported scam incidents increased 18.5% in 2023 despite a 13.1% decline in total
coyotecountrylv.com
· 2025-12-08
Florida ranks second nationally in catfishing scams, with $70.5 million in financial losses and 1,738 reported cases annually, according to a study analyzing romance scam data. The scam involves fraudsters creating fake personas on social media and dating apps to lure victims into relationships and extract money. Experts recommend using reverse image searches on profile photos, being cautious when asked for money by online contacts, and immediately reporting suspicious accounts to the platform.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
Kirat Assi, a 29-year-old London radio broadcaster, was romantically catfished for eight years by someone using over 60 fake identities, a case originally investigated in the 2022 Tortoise Media podcast "Sweet Bobby." Netflix is now producing a documentary directed by Lyttanya Shannon that will explore how the perpetrator manipulated and controlled Assi while using false profiles, causing significant damage to her career, relationships, mental health, and personal life.
marketscreener.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece from Chad White, General Counsel for Brookdale Senior Living, identifies four common senior scams: tech support/phishing scams, family/romance scams, non-payment scams, and "get rich quick" investment schemes. The content provides guidance on identifying and protecting against these fraud types to reduce victimization risk, and directs suspected victims to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.
decripto.org
· 2025-12-08
A 54-year-old Italian woman, Rossana Tescaroli, lost over €6,000 to a romance scam conducted via Instagram over six months, where a fraudster posing as a French man with children manipulated her empathy by claiming financial hardship. The financial devastation and discovery by her husband led to divorce proceedings and forced her to sell her house and work multiple jobs to recover, illustrating the severe personal and financial consequences romance scams inflict beyond monetary losses. Rossana now volunteers with support organizations to help other victims and raise awareness about online romance fraud tactics.
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old widower in Suffolk lost his entire life savings of £85,000 to a romance scam in which a woman he met through social media claimed to be "Anita," a Kenyan businesswoman he agreed to marry. The victim was persuaded to send money under the pretense of a dowry and home renovations, receiving fake photos in return, only to discover upon arriving in Kenya that the scammer was actually his friend who had introduced them, and "Anita" never existed. The incident left Mr. Lodge homeless, sleeping rough at Heathrow Airport before moving to a homeless shelter, highlighting the emotional and financial devastation of romance frau
decripto.org
· 2025-12-08
Lise Frappier, a 62-year-old Ottawa resident on disability benefits, lost nearly $70,000 to a romance scam and subsequent recovery scams between 2022 and 2024. A scammer posing as a U.S. Army worker gained her trust via Facebook and manipulated her into sending money through gift cards and Bitcoin; after the initial fraud ended, a second scammer exploited her desperation by offering fake recovery services and extracting an additional $20,000+ before disappearing. The case illustrates a broader trend in Canada where romance scams caused over $59 million in losses in 2022 alone, with vulnerable seniors particularly targeted,
mwakilishi.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old widower from Suffolk, England, was defrauded of approximately £100,000+ (Sh14.35 million) in a romance scam involving a fake Kenyan woman named "Anita" introduced by a friend who orchestrated the scheme. After being convinced to send money for supposed home improvements and wedding preparations, Lodge discovered the deception upon traveling to Nairobi and subsequently became homeless, sleeping at Heathrow Airport and shelters. The case exemplifies a broader trend of online romance fraud with significant psychological impacts on victims, including shame and mental health issues, as reported by law enforcement agencies tracking rising cybercrime rates globally.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Rodrick Lodge, a 69-year-old widower from Suffolk, lost his entire life savings of £85,000 in a romance scam orchestrated by a Kenyan acquaintance who posed as a woman named "Anita" on social media. After building an emotional relationship and agreeing to marry, Lodge discovered the scam only when he arrived in Nairobi for the wedding and found no one to meet him, leaving him homeless and living in a shelter. The case highlights the vulnerability of lonely individuals to romance scams and emphasizes the importance of never sending money to online contacts, regardless of relationship duration.