Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 22,013 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
5,810 results
in Romance Scams
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Brian Ketchum, an 82-year-old retired engineer, lost at least $45,000 over three years to a romance scam on the Dream Singles website, communicating with fake profiles including a woman named "Vasilisa." His children discovered the scam but were unable to stop their father from continuing to spend money, fearing loss of the fantasy companionship, until his death. Americans 60 and older lost at least $389 million to romance scams in 2024 alone, according to the FBI, with scammers increasingly using sophisticated tools like AI-generated photos and convincing messages to exploit emotionally and socially isolated elderly victims.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors are increasingly targeted in cryptocurrency scams because scammers view them as wealthy, trusting, and less technologically savvy, exploiting the irreversible nature of crypto transactions and victims' reluctance to report fraud. The FTC reports growing losses from crypto investment fraud, romance scams, and government impersonation, with seniors in Beaufort County, South Carolina alone losing over $3.1 million in 2024, while sophisticated schemes using AI voice cloning and fake websites are becoming more prevalent. Examples include British pensioners losing hundreds of thousands to romance fraud operations in Cambodia, Minnesota crypto ATM scams that cost over $189 million in 2023, and government impersonation
lsj.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Transnational organized crime groups operating "scam factories" in Southeast Asian countries (Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia) force trafficked workers into sophisticated multilingual fraud operations targeting international victims. Between January 2024 and February 2025, Australia lost $384.2 million to scams, with investment scams causing the largest losses ($225.7 million), while over 300,000 people are estimated to be forced laborers in scam operations across the Mekong region, generating approximately $43.8 billion annually for criminal enterprises. These operations employ advanced technologies including deepfakes and AI language models to impersonate authority figures and craft convincing fraud scripts.
mosmancollective.com
· 2025-12-08
A North Sydney man lost tens of thousands of dollars in a romance scam after meeting a woman named "Sherri" on a dating site in March. After building rapport over email, the scammer claimed financial emergencies and convinced the victim to transfer money for a work trip and then for flights and expenses to New Zealand, where she claimed her bank account had been frozen. The victim's bank eventually alerted him to the fraud after he had already sent multiple large sums of money.
ibsintelligence.com
· 2025-12-08
UK fraud losses remained at £1.17 billion in 2024, with 70% of authorised push payment fraud cases originating online through social media and messaging platforms. Investment and romance scams are surging despite fewer reported cases, with victims often losing life savings to sophisticated social engineering tactics that bypass bank warnings. Experts warn that fraudsters are evolving tactics—particularly toward remote purchase fraud—and call for a unified national strategy involving banks, law enforcement, and technology providers to address fraud, which now represents 40% of all UK crime.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, the UK experienced £12,332 crore in reported fraud losses, with banks blocking even greater unauthorized attempts, yet emerging threats like remote access scams, social engineering, and platform-enabled fraud continue to outpace defenses. Seventy percent of authorized push payment scams originated online, while investment fraud and romance scams increasingly target victims through social media and polished digital ads, often exploiting emotional manipulation or false financial promises. Experts warn that fraud now represents 40% of all UK crime, yet the fragmented regulatory approach places disproportionate responsibility on banks rather than holding tech platforms, telcos, and other enablers accountable, necessitating a unified national strategy
moneyweek.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, fraudsters stole £144.4 million through investment fraud in the UK—a 34% increase from 2023—despite a 24% reduction in the number of cases, indicating victims are losing larger amounts per scam. Investment fraud involves criminals convincing victims to invest in fictitious funds or fake opportunities (cryptocurrencies, property, commodities, etc.), often amplified through AI deepfaking on social media. Overall UK fraud losses reached £1.17 billion across 3.31 million confirmed cases in 2024, with unauthorised fraud (particularly card fraud and remote purchase fraud) being the most prevalent type.
dig.watch
· 2025-12-08
Dianne Ringstaff, a Florida woman, lost approximately $160,000 in an AI-powered romance scam in which a fraudster impersonated actor Keanu Reeves using deepfake videos and cloned voice technology. Over two and a half years, the scammer cultivated trust with Ringstaff before claiming financial legal troubles and convincing her to take out a home equity loan and sell her car to help. Her bank account was also used to funnel money from other victims, and Ringstaff is now speaking publicly to warn others about the growing threat of celebrity impersonation scams using artificial intelligence.
wtap.com
· 2025-12-08
The Parkersburg Police Department reported a significant rise in bitcoin scams using tactics such as phishing, romance scams, and fake law enforcement threats claiming outstanding warrants. Once victims send money to bitcoin machines, the funds are transferred overseas to criminals with no possibility of recovery. The department advises against sharing financial information with unknown contacts, investing based on online advice, and emphasizes that legitimate law enforcement will never request bitcoin payments for fines.
wgauradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Social engineering and AI-powered fraud are recognized as major cybersecurity threats in 2025, with scammers increasingly using deepfakes, hyper-personalized phishing, and automation to deceive victims at scale. Adults 60 and older reported the highest losses in 2024 at over $4.8 billion (up 43% from 2023), particularly falling victim to phishing/spoofing and tech support scams, while investment fraud caused $6.57 billion and cryptocurrency fraud reached $9.3 billion in total losses. The article emphasizes that while classic scam methods like phishing and business email compromise remain dominant, AI technology is making
wsoctv.com
· 2025-12-08
Social engineering and AI-powered fraud are among the top cybersecurity threats of 2025, with scammers now using deepfakes, hyper-personalized phishing, and AI automation to make deception more convincing and targeted than ever. Adults aged 60 and older reported the highest losses in 2024 at over $4.8 billion (up 43% from 2023), with phishing/spoofing and tech support scams hitting this demographic hardest, while investment fraud alone caused $6.57 billion in losses and cryptocurrency fraud reached $9.3 billion. To protect against these evolving threats, individuals and organizations should employ straightforward defense strategies including
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese embassy in Dhaka warned citizens against "buying foreign wives" through marriage scams and trafficking networks, noting that social media matchmaking offers often lead to financial losses and human trafficking. A surplus of 35 million unmarried men in China—caused by the legacy of the one-child policy—has driven demand for foreign brides, particularly from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Russia, fueling criminal networks that traffic women under the guise of arranged marriages. Both Bangladesh and Pakistan have issued their own warnings, with authorities threatening arrests for involvement in cross-border marriage trafficking, while Human Rights Watch has documented risks of sexual slavery for Pakistani women and girls trafficked to China.
abc3340.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Chinese nationals were sentenced to federal prison (24-60 months) in April for operating a sophisticated gift card fraud scheme that targeted both elderly individuals through fake online romance scams and unsuspecting shoppers. The criminals stole gift card codes by removing security covers, purchased high-value electronics (primarily Apple products), and shipped them to China for resale, generating hundreds of millions in profits across multiple locations. Consumers are advised to inspect gift cards for tampering before purchase and avoid sending money or gift cards to unknown online contacts.
businesstoday.in
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh issued an advisory warning citizens against cross-border marriage scams and trafficking, noting that illegal matchmaking services and "buying foreign wives" through deception are proliferating via social media platforms and can result in serious legal consequences including human trafficking charges. The warning stems from increasing cases where Chinese nationals enter exploitative marriages in Bangladesh and Bangladeshi women are trafficked to China under the guise of matrimony, driven by China's severe gender imbalance of approximately 30 million unmarried men. Bangladesh enforces strict anti-trafficking laws with penalties ranging from seven years to life imprisonment or death, and the embassy urged victims to report scams immediately to authorities.
theweek.in
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese embassy in Bangladesh warned its citizens against romance scams and illegal cross-border matchmaking, particularly on social media platforms where fraudsters pose as potential spouses to exploit victims financially and personally. The warning was prompted by documented cases of human trafficking, including a 2023 incident where a Bangladeshi girl was sold to a Chinese man for 10 lakh takas under false pretenses of marriage, then forced into prostitution in China. China's severe gender imbalance has created vulnerability among millions of unmarried men seeking foreign wives, making them targets for scammers and traffickers.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese embassy in Bangladesh warned citizens against participating in cross-border marriage schemes after reports of widespread marriage scams and human trafficking targeting Chinese men seeking foreign brides. China's surplus of approximately 35 million unmarried men, driven by decades of gender-skewed policies and declining marriage rates, has fueled demand for international matchmaking services, leading criminal networks to traffic women and girls from South and Southeast Asia (particularly Bangladesh and Pakistan) under the false pretense of marriage. The embassy cautioned that those involved in illegal cross-border marriages could face trafficking charges, while experts highlighted the economic pressures on rural Chinese men who struggle to afford traditional marriage costs.
livemint.com
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese embassy in Bangladesh issued a warning to its nationals against participating in matchmaking scams and "buying foreign wives," cautioning them to avoid illegal matchmaking agents and online romance scams involving cross-border dating content on social media platforms. The advisory emphasized that under Chinese law, cross-border marriage matchmaking services are prohibited, and individuals engaging in such activities face legal consequences, while those arrested in Bangladesh for cross-border marriages may face human trafficking charges with severe penalties including imprisonment or death. The embassy urged citizens to report suspected online romance scams to Chinese public security authorities immediately.
greaterkashmir.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka issued a warning to its citizens against marrying Bangladeshi women through informal or online channels, citing a widespread romance scam and human trafficking operation targeting vulnerable women from impoverished and indigenous communities. Victims are lured into fake marriages with Chinese nationals, transported to China, and forced into prostitution or servitude; documented cases include a woman from Chuadanga trafficked in 2023 and multiple indigenous women from the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Similar patterns have affected over 600 Pakistani girls since 2019, involving networks of local and Chinese traffickers operating across borders.
leaderlive.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between April 2022 and March 2025, 386 romance scam cases in North Wales resulted in collective losses of £2.39 million, with an average loss of £8,457 per victim, as reported by Action Fraud. Across Wales, England, and Northern Ireland during this period, romance scammers stole £271.4 million from over 19,500 victims, with women and transgender individuals suffering disproportionately higher average losses despite reporting fewer cases. The data reflects a 17 percent increase in romance fraud reports in 2024/25, with scammers targeting victims through fake romantic relationships and manipulating them into sending money.
emerj.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial institutions face mounting operational costs and resource challenges in combating cybercrime, which surged to 859,532 complaints and $16.6 billion in losses in 2024 according to the FBI. Effective fraud prevention requires sophisticated technology and stronger public-private collaboration between banks and law enforcement, as current anti-money laundering efforts are hindered by poor information-sharing and unclear coordination frameworks. The article emphasizes that banks must adopt holistic, data-driven approaches to suspicious activity detection while governments and regulators improve alignment to reduce conflicting compliance expectations.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Massachusetts' Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations is conducting community education events to alert residents about increasingly common scams, noting that older Americans lost nearly $5 billion to fraud last year. Common fraud tactics include tech support, romance, and cryptocurrency scams, with advice to residents including changing passwords frequently, using two-factor authentication, avoiding calls from unknown numbers, and never sharing personal information with unsolicited callers. The state emphasizes that fraud affects all demographics and encourages residents to report scams or seek guidance through their consumer hotline at 617-973-8787.
globenewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a promotional review of Senior Match, an online dating platform launched in 2001 for adults aged 50 and above, which boasts over one million registered members. The platform offers features including profile browsing, match suggestions, messaging (on paid accounts), and community resources, with both free and premium membership tiers available. The article serves as an informational guide for older adults seeking companionship, relationships, or friendships through a dedicated senior dating service.
globaltimes.cn
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh warned citizens against illegal cross-border marriage schemes, including "buying foreign wives" and using dating apps for matchmaking, which violate Chinese law and often constitute online romance scams or human trafficking. The embassy cautioned that those engaged in such activities in Bangladesh face severe penalties including 7 years to life imprisonment and fines up to 500,000 taka ($4,116), with lengthy judicial proceedings that can delay resolution for months or years. Citizens are advised to avoid commercial marriage agencies, remain vigilant against romance scams, and report victimization to Chinese authorities.
mb.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
Meta platforms (Instagram and Facebook) are experiencing a surge in scams operated by fraud rings in China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with internal Meta analysis showing 70 percent of newly active advertisers promoting scams or low-quality products. Despite recognizing the problem, Meta has deprioritized scam enforcement, allowing repeat offenders to accumulate violations before facing consequences. Common scam tactics include phishing, fake giveaways, investment/crypto schemes, romance scams, fake job offers, and sextortion, which exploit urgency and emotional manipulation to deceive users.
journalnews.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
Meta platforms Instagram and Facebook are experiencing a surge in scams operated by international fraud rings from China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with an internal Meta analysis revealing that 70% of newly active advertisers promote scams or low-quality products. Common scam tactics include phishing, fake giveaways, investment schemes, romance scams, fraudulent job offers, and sextortion, which exploit urgency and emotional manipulation to deceive users. Despite recognizing the problem, Meta has deprioritized scam enforcement, allowing repeat offenders to accumulate multiple violations before facing consequences.
techbullion.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency losses totaling millions of dollars annually occur through investment scams, romance scams, phishing attacks, exchange hacks, and accidental transfers, with blockchain's immutable nature making recovery extremely difficult. Tawny Swift Ltd has positioned itself as a specialized cryptocurrency recovery service in the United States, utilizing advanced blockchain analytics, forensic techniques, and data-driven investigations to trace and potentially recover lost digital assets. The firm's focus exclusively on crypto recovery and commitment to modernizing its tools and strategies distinguishes it in addressing a growing crisis that exceeds conventional law enforcement capabilities.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost an estimated $47 billion to scams in 2024, with investment fraud accounting for at least $5.7 billion of those losses. Contrary to common assumptions, younger adults are 34% more likely than older adults to fall victim to fraud, which takes multiple forms including impostor scams using AI voice cloning, lottery/prize schemes, and phishing attempts. To protect yourself, watch for red flags such as unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, promises of guaranteed returns, unusual payment requests, and demands for login credentials—and always independently verify investment opportunities through official resources like the SEC's EDGAR database before committing funds.
slguardian.org
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 report by the Humanity Research Consultancy identifies Cambodia as the global epicentre of transnational cyber fraud, with senior Cambodian politicians allegedly supporting and profiting from scam operations that generate approximately $19 billion annually through forced labour and human trafficking. The industry primarily targets vulnerable individuals—particularly elderly men in the West—through "pig butchering" scams on dating apps, where scammers pose as women to extract large sums in cryptocurrency before disappearing. The Southeast Asian scam industry employs over 350,000 people worth an estimated $75 billion annually, with thousands of trafficked workers subjected to violence and abuse if they fail to meet fraud quotas
abc7.com
· 2025-12-08
A Hulu docuseries titled "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" follows three women who were defrauded by a fictional man they met online, with some victims losing their life savings. The scam utilized stolen photos and identity of actor and makeup artist Brian Haugen, whose image was replicated across thousands of fake profiles. The series explores how romance scams succeed and emphasizes warning signs including secrecy, requests for money, and online-only relationships.
echo-news.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Over the past three years, 549 Essex residents lost more than £5.5 million to dating scams, averaging £10,142 per victim, as part of a larger UK trend affecting 21,976 people and costing over £250 million between 2022 and 2025. Dating fraud scammers manipulate victims by pretending to pursue romantic relationships, causing not only financial loss but also significant psychological and emotional harm. Reports of dating scams increased 17 percent in 2024/25, making it a growing concern across the UK.
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
This NPR Planet Money episode explores "pig-butchering" romance scams, where scammers use fake text messages and romantic engagement to gradually manipulate victims into cryptocurrency investments before stealing their money. Journalist Zeke Faux deliberately engaged with a scammer named Vicky Ho to investigate connections between these scams and the cryptocurrency Tether, discovering how criminals use the platform to launder money and defraud victims of potentially millions of dollars.
thereporterethiopia.com
· 2025-12-08
Hundreds of thousands of people, particularly Ethiopians seeking employment, have been trafficked to Myanmar's rebel-controlled territories through fake job offers in IT and hospitality, where they are forced to participate in online fraud schemes (cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, identity theft) under threat of violence and torture. One victim, 27-year-old IT graduate Yosef Atirsaw, was held captive for months posing as a female model to lure victims into pyramid schemes, witnessing brutal abuse including lashings and forced labor. As of December, an estimated 3,000 Ethiopians were reported trapped in these scam centers, though diplomatic efforts have secured the release of
wjla.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Attorney Jenine Pirro warned of rising cryptocurrency scams in which fraudsters contact victims via texts, dating apps, or investment groups, then direct them to fake investment platforms mimicking legitimate exchanges. Scammers convince victims to transfer bank funds into these fake accounts, initially showing false profits to encourage larger deposits before locking victims out and stealing all funds; officials recovered $868,247 from one such scheme through the FBI and Computer Crime Section. Victims of cryptocurrency, romance, or investment scams can report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
edition.mv
· 2025-12-08
During the week of May 13-19, the Maldives Police Service's Anti-Scam Centre reported 45 fraud cases resulting in MVR 481,520 in losses, with MVR 383,610 recovered; the majority of scams (80%) involved e-commerce and online business fraud across platforms including e-commerce sites, Facebook Marketplace, Viber, and other social media. Since its establishment in March of the previous year, the centre has handled 229 scam reports over six months totaling MVR 2.2 million in losses, leading police to freeze 125 bank accounts and urge the public to exercise caution with unfamiliar
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Tennesseans lost more than $23 million to investment scams in the first quarter of 2025, with cryptocurrency scams showing dramatic growth over the past 12 months, according to the Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau. While older adults remain frequent targets, younger adults are increasingly falling victim to these schemes, which typically promise quick returns on small investments of a couple thousand dollars with an average loss of about $5,000 per victim. The BBB emphasizes reporting these scams to help prevent future victimization and to assist government agencies in combating fraud.
shorelinemedia.net
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement in Michigan warns that scammers use urgency and secrecy to target victims, particularly seniors, requesting payment via hard-to-trace methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency. Common tactics include impersonating government agencies, using AI-generated calls, posing as family members or romantic interests on social media, and demanding payment for fictitious warrants or debts. Authorities advise victims to immediately freeze accounts, file police reports, avoid clicking suspicious links, verify caller identities through independent searches, and remember that legitimate businesses and government agencies never request payment via gift cards.
gript.ie
· 2025-12-08
Irish police (An Garda Síochána) warn the public about romance scams, in which fraudsters build fake online relationships to extract money from victims over extended periods. Reported cases include a Dutch woman whose account was used to launder stolen money after a three-year fake relationship, and an Irish woman who lost €48,000 to a romance scammer over 13 months; scammers typically request money for travel costs, medical emergencies, or business investments, with amounts escalating as trust builds. Gardaí emphasize that many victims delay reporting due to embarrassment and are working with Europol to disrupt organized romance scam operations.
asaaseradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams and sexual extortion cases in Ghana have increased by over 300% in the past year, according to the Cyber Security Experts Association of Ghana, with scammers using emotional manipulation and fabricated identities to defraud victims of large sums of money, often by faking medical emergencies. The actual number of victims is likely far higher due to underreporting driven by shame, and cases result in devastating consequences including financial ruin and long-term psychological trauma. Ghana's Cybersecurity Act 2020 criminalizes such activities with penalties up to 25 years, but experts emphasize the need for expanded public education, victim support services, and more trained cybersecurity
asaaseradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Hajia4Reall (Mona Faiz Montrage) was released from federal detention in Philadelphia in May 2025 after serving a one-year sentence for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded approximately 40 victims of over $1.3 million between 2013 and 2019. The scheme involved elaborate false narratives about gold shipments, fake FBI investigations, and fabricated military recovery stories, and she was ordered to pay $1,387,458 in restitution plus $216,475 in forfeiture while serving three years of supervised release.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. authorities seized over $868,247 in cryptocurrency from perpetrators of a confidence scheme in which criminals posed as investment advisors through text messages, dating apps, and professional groups to gain victims' trust and direct them to fake investment platforms. The scheme involved criminals encouraging victims to transfer bank funds to cryptocurrency accounts and then to fraudulent platforms that displayed false profits while routing all deposits to perpetrator-controlled wallets, ultimately locking victims out and stealing their funds. The FBI Honolulu Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Department of Justice and cryptocurrency platform Tether.
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "The secret world behind those scammy text messages"
Investigative reporter Zeke Faux received unsolicited text messages with casual openers like "Hi David, I'm Vicky Ho. Don't you remember me?" and intentionally engaged with the scam to investigate its origins. His pursuit led to an international investigation uncovering the network behind random wrong-number texts designed to defraud recipients, revealing previously hidden operations behind this common scam tactic.
nationalseniors.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting older Australians with "sextortion" scams, which now account for over 30% of personal scams, where perpetrators threaten to release compromising sexual images or videos unless victims pay ransoms in cryptocurrency. These emotionally manipulative schemes use artificial intelligence and personal information from data breaches to personalize threats and appear credible, with victims including seniors who were traditionally not targeted and who often experience profound shame and fear that prevents them from seeking help. Experts recommend protecting oneself by avoiding sharing intimate photos online, being skeptical of unsolicited emails with demands, verifying whether personal details actually indicate device compromise, and reporting incidents to the Australian Cyber Security
graphic.com.gh
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Hajia 4Reall (Mona Faiz Montrage) was released from federal prison in Philadelphia on May 22, 2025, after serving a one-year sentence for conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance and internet fraud scams. She was part of a West Africa-based criminal enterprise that defrauded vulnerable older Americans of over $2 million, with Montrage personally receiving funds from approximately forty victims through false pretenses involving gold transportation, fake FBI investigations, and impersonation of a U.S. Army officer. She was ordered to forfeit $216,475 and pay $1,387,458 in restitution, with
sportskeeda.com
· 2025-12-08
"Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" is a three-part docuseries released on Hulu in May 2025 that follows three women—Annette, Roxy, and Gabby—who were defrauded by the same man posing as their online romantic partner. The series explores how scammers exploit emotional vulnerability through psychological manipulation, examines common warning signs and patterns of online romance fraud, and documents the victims' journey from discovering the deception to confronting their perpetrator and seeking accountability.
sportskeeda.com
· 2025-12-08
"Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" is a documentary series examining how AI and deepfake technology have made romance scams more sophisticated and harder to detect, following three women who were victimized by a scammer using fake personas and stolen photos. The victims suffered significant financial losses (including one woman who wired over $30,000) and psychological harm, while scammers exploit these technologies to create realistic video calls, voice messages, and convincing personas that build trust quickly. The series highlights that romance scams comprised an increasing portion of the $16.6 billion in online fraud losses reported in 2024, and demonstrates how these technologies enable criminals to evade law enforcement identification.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 44-year-old disabled woman from Staffordshire lost £11,000 to a romance scammer who impersonated Australian TV vet Dr Chris Brown on Instagram, extracting money over 18 months through love bombing, fake proposals, and cryptocurrency transfers funded partly from her disability allowance. The scammer convinced her to send funds for flights and visas, with the largest single payment being £7,000, before she recognized red flags in January 2025 and reported the case to West Midlands Police and Action Fraud. Lisa Nock shared her story publicly to warn vulnerable people, noting she never received a phone or video call from the fraudster and had sacrificed social activities and lessons
gbcghanaonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian social media influencer Hajia4Reall (Mona Faiz Montrage) was released from a U.S. federal prison on May 22, 2025, after serving a one-year sentence for her role in a West Africa-based romance scam network that defrauded elderly Americans between 2013 and 2019. Montrage pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money and was ordered to forfeit and pay restitution of over $2.1 million; she personally controlled accounts that received more than $2 million in fraud proceeds from victims who were deceived into believing they were in romantic relationships with fictitious personas.
pulse.com.gh
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite and musician Hajia 4Reall (Mona Faiz Montrage) was released from federal prison on May 22, 2025, after serving a one-year-one-day sentence for her role in a romance scam that defrauded U.S. victims between 2013 and 2019. She was ordered to forfeit $216,475 and pay $1,387,458 in restitution to victims, and will return to Ghana under a three-year supervised release agreement. The 32-year-old was convicted for conspiracy to receive stolen money as part of a West Africa-based criminal enterprise that used romance frau
thecut.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old retired urban planner named Brian Ketcham lost significant money to romance scammers on the dating website Dream Singles, communicating with profiles of women (primarily one named "Vasilisa") who likely did not exist in real life. After his death in 2024, his children discovered hundreds of printed chat transcripts and documented evidence of the scheme, which required him to purchase credits for each message sent to the fake profiles. The article explores how his initial skepticism gradually eroded as the scammers built emotional connections with him, ultimately resulting in financial loss before his death.
theherald.co.za
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Police in Limpopo arrested a man who used a fake Facebook account under the name "Jeff Rals" to lure women with false promises of employment, then kidnapped and repeatedly raped a young woman from Pretoria after transporting her to his homestead in Limpopo. The victim was rescued within five hours when the suspect ran out of petrol at a filling station and could not afford fuel; he now faces charges of rape and kidnapping. Police warn online dating users to exercise caution with unknown contacts and recognize that scammers establish false trust before requesting meetings or money that can lead to kidnapping and assault.