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in Romance Scams
azag.gov
· 2026-04-18
Arizona's Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau are warning residents about romance scams, a type of fraud that costs victims more money than nearly any other scam. Scammers pose as attractive strangers on dating apps and social media, build emotional connections, then request money under false pretenses—three recent Arizona victims lost a combined $155,000 to these schemes. If someone you've never met asks for money online, authorities advise stopping contact immediately and reporting it to the Attorney General's office at (602) 542-5763.
azfamily.com
· 2026-04-18
Arizona authorities are warning residents about romance scams that have cost victims thousands of dollars, with one recent case involving a Scottsdale woman who lost $55,000 after meeting someone on Facebook who claimed to be living overseas. These scams typically begin with strangers contacting people through social media or dating apps, building an intimate relationship, and then requesting money under false pretenses—with three Arizona residents losing a combined $155,000 recently. To protect yourself, authorities advise stopping any communication if someone you've never met in person asks for money, and reporting suspected scams to the BBB's Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker.
bbc.com
· 2026-04-18
Tinder and Zoom are introducing iris-scanning technology to verify that users are real people and not AI-generated bots or scammers, addressing growing concerns about fake accounts on these platforms. Users can scan their eyes through the World app or physical scanning devices to receive a "proof of humanity" badge, receiving a unique digital ID stored on their phone. This move comes as AI technology has made it increasingly easy for scammers to create convincing fake profiles and deepfakes, so users should consider verifying their identity if they want added confidence that other users are genuine.
ksltv.com
· 2026-04-18
Utahns lost over $2.5 million to scams in 2025, with romance scams, identity theft, and impostor business schemes being the most common threats targeting the community. Scammers typically build false trust by impersonating businesses, government agencies, or romantic interests, then use fear tactics to pressure victims into sending money. To protect yourself, experts recommend preparing a "rehearsal script" in advance and staying vigilant about verifying the identity of anyone requesting money or personal information before engaging further.
medicaldialogues.in
· 2026-04-18
A 35-year-old cyber fraudster in Delhi was arrested for operating an elaborate romance scam that defrauded over 500 women of nearly Rs 2 crore across India. The accused created fake profiles posing as doctors, businessmen, and lawyers on dating apps, matrimonial sites, and social media, building emotional connections with victims before fabricating emergencies or personal crises to extract money. To protect yourself, be cautious of online relationships that quickly progress to requests for money, verify identities independently, and avoid sharing financial information with people you've only met online.
wbrc.com
· 2026-04-18
The U.S. Secret Service is warning about "pig butchering," a rapidly growing cryptocurrency investment scam where fraudsters lure victims with small initial investments that appear to grow quickly, then disappear when victims try to withdraw their money. The scam exploits people's lack of understanding about crypto and their excitement over apparent profits, with perpetrators using random messages, personal details, and promises of quick returns to build trust. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited investment messages (especially from unknown contacts), be suspicious of offers promising easy profits, and avoid clicking links from unfamiliar sources.
yahoo.com
· 2026-04-17
A 79-year-old Bradenton widower lost $31,000 in a romance scam after meeting a person posing as "Julia" on Facebook in 2023, who claimed to be a woman in the UK needing money to relocate to Florida. Benjamin Yakah, who was using stolen photos from an unsuspecting West Virginia woman, was arrested in Minnesota and convicted of grand theft, receiving one year in jail and four years of probation while being ordered to repay the victim. To protect yourself, be cautious of online relationships that quickly involve requests for money, verify identities through video calls, and alert authorities if you suspect you're being scammed—especially if family members express concerns about your online relationships.
krocnews.com
· 2026-04-17
A Rochester woman lost over $26,700 in a romance scam where she was deceived by someone posing as a Dutch singer who eventually convinced her to send money via wire transfers and gift cards. The scam also involved a fake sister asking for money, with both requests ultimately funneling to the same account belonging to a North Carolina man who has been charged with theft by swindle. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited romantic contacts online, especially from celebrities or musicians, and never send money to people you've only met virtually, particularly if multiple "connections" suddenly need your financial help.
patch.com
· 2026-04-17
A 79-year-old Florida widower lost $31,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a British woman named "Julia" on Facebook for eight months, claiming she needed money to relocate to be with him. Benjamin Yakah from Minnesota was arrested, convicted of grand theft, and sentenced to one year in jail plus probation after police discovered he was using stolen photos and had targeted other victims in multiple states. Police warn that romance scams are among the top five fraud tactics used against Americans, especially seniors, and recommend that older adults seek printed resources about fraud prevention from local authorities.
ksltv.com
· 2026-04-17
Utahns lost over $2.5 million to scams in 2025, with romance scams, identity theft, and impostor business schemes being the most common threats, particularly targeting older adults. Scammers use psychological manipulation—building trust, creating fear, or impersonating businesses and government agencies—to convince victims to send money or share personal information. To protect yourself, experts recommend preparing a "rehearsal script" in advance, verifying requests through official channels before responding, and being cautious of anyone pressuring you for immediate action or asking for personal financial information.
jdsupra.com
· 2026-04-17
Americans lost over $20 billion to cybercrime in 2025, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, with criminals increasingly using cryptocurrency for money laundering and generative AI tools to create sophisticated scams like deepfakes and voice cloning. Older adults were hit particularly hard, experiencing dramatic increases in romance scams (up 30%), phishing attacks (up over 100%), and government impersonation schemes (nearly doubled). To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contacts requesting money or personal information, verify requests through official channels before responding, and be especially wary of AI-generated audio or video that seems suspicious.
aol.com
· 2026-04-17
Emuobosan Emanuella Hall, a 45-year-old Nigerian love scammer, fled before starting her eight-year prison sentence in March 2025 after defrauding mostly elderly women of nearly $1 million. Hall and her accomplice posed as wealthy generals and entrepreneurs on social media, building trust with victims before requesting money through encrypted messaging apps. Federal authorities have issued a warrant for her arrest, with her last confirmed location being Atlanta's airport before she disappeared; residents should be cautious of romance scams on social media and verify the identity of online contacts before sharing personal information or sending money.
qns.com
· 2026-04-17
A Bayside woman named Tiffany Yang was sentenced to 120 days in prison and ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution for running a "pig butchering" scam that defrauded 13 victims across the United States. Yang befriended victims online, convinced them to invest in fake assets through fraudulent websites, and showed them fake profits to encourage larger deposits before shutting down the sites and stealing the money. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities from online contacts, verify investment platforms directly with official sources, and never wire money to accounts you haven't independently verified.
times.co.sz
· 2026-04-17
Foreign nationals operating in Eswatini defrauded unsuspecting victims of millions of Emalangeni through online scams, including "pig butchering" schemes, while funneling the stolen money into bank accounts in South Africa, Brazil, and other countries outside the kingdom. Police arrested several suspects and recovered about E10.2 million, but investigators believe the masterminds of these organized crime networks remain based offshore, using local operatives as the visible face of their fraud operations. To protect themselves, residents should be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, especially those promoted online, and verify investment platforms independently before depositing money.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-04-16
Cyberscammers operating from money-laundering centers are using illicit hacking tools sold on Telegram to bypass banks' facial recognition security checks, allowing them to open fraudulent accounts and launder money by replacing live camera feeds with static images or deepfakes. Researchers identified dozens of Telegram channels selling these "bypass kits" and stolen biometric data designed to circumvent Know Your Customer (KYC) safeguards at major banks and crypto platforms worldwide. To protect yourself, use strong authentication beyond facial recognition where available, monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity, and be cautious about sharing identity documents online—report any suspicious account access attempts to your bank immediately.
panewslab.com
· 2026-04-16
Authorities in Florida and Massachusetts recovered $5.4 million stolen through "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, where victims across multiple states were defrauded with amounts ranging from thousands to over $450,000 per person. The recovered funds have been distributed back to victims, with $700,000 returned to Florida residents and $1.3 million to Massachusetts residents. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, especially those involving cryptocurrency or promises of quick returns, and verify any investment offers through official channels before sending money.
dailyhodl.com
· 2026-04-16
An international law enforcement operation called "Operation Atlantic" involving agencies from the UK, US, and Canada has frozen over $12 million in cryptocurrency tied to approval phishing scams and identified more than 20,000 victims across these countries. Approval phishing is a fraud tactic where scammers trick victims into signing blockchain transactions that grant them access to steal funds from wallets, often after weeks of grooming through fake investment schemes. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, verify requests through official channels before signing any blockchain transactions, and never grant wallet access to unknown parties.
mysuncoast.com
· 2026-04-16
A Minnesota man named Benjamin Yakaw was convicted of defrauding a Bradenton widower out of $31,000 through a romance scam in which he posed as a British woman named Julia online since 2023. Yakaw will serve one year in jail and must repay the stolen money, and investigators found he had victimized multiple other people as well. Romance scams are among the top fraud tactics targeting seniors, with Bradenton alone reporting $8 million in elder fraud losses last year—so people should be wary of online relationships that quickly request money, especially from strangers claiming to need funds to relocate.
indiatoday.in
· 2026-04-16
A 35-year-old man from West Bengal was arrested for operating romance scams targeting over 500 women across India, defrauding them of approximately 2 crore rupees. He created fake profiles on dating apps and social media, posing as doctors, businessmen, and other professionals to build trust, then extorted money through fabricated emergencies and marriage proposals, sometimes using intimate photos as blackmail. Women should be cautious of online dating profiles, avoid sending money to strangers or intimate images, and report suspicious accounts to authorities immediately.
themercury.co.za
· 2026-04-15
Online romance scams are costing South Africans millions of rands, with scammers using fake dating profiles and emotional manipulation to build trust before asking victims for money under false pretexts like emergencies or business opportunities. People active on dating platforms and social media are particularly vulnerable, and warning signs include overly perfect profiles, pressure to keep communications secret, excuses to avoid meeting in person, and requests that start small but escalate to larger amounts. To protect yourself, be cautious of rapid emotional connections with people you've never met, verify identities before sharing personal information, and never send money to online connections regardless of the circumstances they describe.
forbes.com
· 2026-04-15
AI-generated scams are rapidly increasing, with the FBI receiving over 22,000 complaints in 2025 reporting AI fraud losses exceeding $893 million, though experts believe the actual number is much higher since many victims don't report due to shame. Common scams include romance/confidence schemes, banking fraud, sextortion targeting teenagers, and deepfake job interview scams, with vulnerable populations like seniors, isolated individuals, and young adults being particularly targeted. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact from people you know, verify requests through alternative channels before sharing personal information or funds, and report any suspected AI scams to authorities rather than staying silent out of embarrassment.
securityaffairs.com
· 2026-04-15
Law enforcement agencies from the US, UK, and Canada coordinated in Operation Atlantic to disrupt cryptocurrency theft schemes, identifying over $45 million in stolen digital assets and freezing approximately $12 million for return to victims. The operation targeted "approval phishing" scams, a fraud tactic where criminals trick users into granting unauthorized access to their cryptocurrency wallets through fake prompts and websites, affecting more than 20,000 victims across the three countries. To protect yourself, be cautious of unexpected approval requests for your crypto wallet, verify that websites and apps are legitimate before entering credentials, and never grant access permissions to unfamiliar sources.
cbsnews.com
· 2026-04-15
Elder fraud in Colorado and nationwide has reached crisis levels, with over 200,000 Americans age 60+ reporting fraud losses totaling nearly $8 billion last year—a 37% increase from 2024. Colorado alone saw more than 3,000 seniors lose nearly $75 million to scams involving romance schemes, grandparent impersonations, and fake IRS or tech support calls. State lawmakers are introducing legislation that would allow banks and credit unions to temporarily hold suspicious transactions to help prevent seniors from losing money to these elaborate schemes.
nypost.com
· 2026-04-14
An 82-year-old retired sportswriter lost nearly $270,000 of his life savings in a "pig-butchering" scam after being contacted by someone posing as a young woman named "Daisy Miller" who built a romantic relationship with him before convincing him to invest in gold futures. The scammer used personalized details, glamorous photos, and emotional manipulation to gain his trust over 10 weeks, exploiting Levine's loneliness despite some of his own attempts to verify the person's identity. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited romantic advances from strangers online, especially those who quickly pivot to investment opportunities, and verify claims through official channels before sending any money.
intelligentciso.com
· 2026-04-14
Researchers have linked a widespread Android banking trojan to scam compounds in Cambodia, particularly the K99 Triumph City site, which has been used to commit fraud across at least 21 countries—with Indonesia, Thailand, Spain, and Türkiye hit hardest. The malware-as-a-service operation creates fake banking and government apps that, once installed, give scammers complete control of victims' phones, allowing them to steal facial recognition data, intercept security codes, and drain bank accounts. To protect yourself, avoid downloading banking or government apps from unknown sources, use official app stores only, enable additional security features beyond SMS codes (like biometric authentication from your bank's official app), and be suspicious of unexpected requests to download apps or provide personal information.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2026-04-14
Law enforcement agencies from the UK, US, and Canada collaborated in "Operation Atlantic" to combat approval phishing scams, where criminals trick victims into granting access to their cryptocurrency wallets through fake alerts and popups. The week-long operation identified over 20,000 victims across 30+ countries, froze $12 million in stolen crypto, and shut down 120 fraudulent websites. To protect yourself, be cautious of unexpected alerts or requests for wallet access, verify communications directly with official apps or services rather than clicking links in messages, and use multi-factor authentication on crypto accounts.
southfloridareporter.com
· 2026-04-14
The FBI reported record cybercrime losses of $20.9 billion in 2025, with cryptocurrency fraud alone reaching $11.4 billion—more than half of all reported losses and representing a 400-fold increase since 2017. Victims of crypto scams lose an average of $62,604 per incident, far exceeding losses from other types of cybercrime, with investment fraud schemes being the most destructive category. The FBI warns that criminals are increasingly using AI to bypass security measures and exploit victims, so people should be extremely cautious about unsolicited investment opportunities, verify the legitimacy of platforms independently, and avoid sending money or crypto to unknown parties.
cryptopolitan.com
· 2026-04-14
Crypto exchange Kraken discovered that two of its support employees illegally accessed customer data on approximately 2,000 accounts, which criminals then used to extort the company by threatening to release sensitive videos unless paid. Kraken refused to negotiate with the attackers, terminated the employees, and is working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to identify the culprits. The incident highlights a growing threat across the crypto industry where criminals target company insiders to gain unauthorized access to customer information.
bitget.com
· 2026-04-14
A woman in her fifties in Hong Kong lost over $2 million to a romance scammer who posed as a "cryptocurrency investment expert" on Instagram, building trust through fake romantic interest before pressuring her to make multiple cash transfers for supposed risk-free investments. The scammer initially requested an account opening fee of $40,000, then convinced the victim to visit currency exchange shops seven times to buy cryptocurrency and transfer it to his account before disappearing. Hong Kong police are urging the public to be suspicious of online acquaintances claiming investment expertise and to pause before transferring money for any investment opportunity.
eurekalert.org
· 2026-04-14
Researchers at the University of Birmingham analyzed recorded conversations from the Enron energy trading scandal to identify the specific linguistic tactics fraudsters use to manipulate trust and orchestrate illegal activity. Enron traders used coordinated conversational techniques—such as creating emotional bonds, projecting competence, sharing insider information, and repairing trust when questioned—to gain access to energy infrastructure and collude with external organizations to artificially drive up energy prices. Understanding these manipulative linguistic patterns can help regulators, compliance officers, and the general public recognize red flags in high-pressure business conversations and be more skeptical of people using excessive rapport-building or insider-information-sharing tactics.
thestandard.com.hk
· 2026-04-14
A Hong Kong woman over 50 lost more than HK$2 million in a cryptocurrency scam after an Instagram user posing as a romantic interest and investment expert convinced her to repeatedly exchange cash for cryptocurrency. The scammer disappeared with the money after establishing trust through affectionate daily messages and promising guaranteed investment returns. Police advise the public to be cautious of overly affectionate messages from online contacts who propose financial schemes, and recommend using fraud-assessment tools like the Scameter before making any payments.
myjournalcourier.com
· 2026-04-13
A 76-year-old woman fell victim to an impersonation scam where a fraudster posing as a Department of Criminal Investigations officer manipulated her through fake credentials and threats of arrest. Banks and investment firms are now stepping up as crucial defenses against such scams targeting vulnerable seniors, as losses to elder financial exploitation exceed $28 billion annually, with the FTC reporting $2.4 billion in losses in 2024 alone. Seniors should be skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming to be from law enforcement, verify caller identity through official channels rather than information provided by the caller, and report suspicious activity to their bank or the FTC rather than suffering in shame and silence.
bbc.com
· 2026-04-13
A Northumberland woman discovered her new husband was one of the UK's most prolific romance fraudsters with over 40 convictions for theft and fraud, leaving her feeling suicidal after realizing he had fabricated his entire identity and lied about his background. The man, Raymond McDonald, continued to manipulate her even after his arrest by sending letters from prison declaring his love, further confusing and distressing her. Now recovering, Melanie Graham is documenting her healing journey to help other romance fraud victims recognize warning signs like rapid relationship progression and fabricated personal stories.
thestandard.com.hk
· 2026-04-13
A 33-year-old man named Angelo is accused of defrauding approximately 50 victims of nearly HK$1 million through multiple schemes, including romance fraud where he posed as an attentive partner to extract money and valuables from women, fake investment schemes, and bogus concert ticket sales. Victims reported that he manipulated romantic relationships, stole or replaced luxury items, and disappeared without repaying debts, with some women losing hundreds of thousands of dollars and one experiencing emotional trauma from a terminated pregnancy. To protect yourself, be cautious of romantic partners who quickly profess strong feelings, avoid lending large sums to people you've recently met, and verify investment opportunities through official channels before committing money.
forbes.com
· 2026-04-13
Cryptocurrency investment scams have surged dramatically, with the FBI reporting $8.6 billion in losses last year—double the previous year and accounting for 72% of all investment fraud. Many of these scams use a tactic called "pig butchering," where scammers pose as romantic interests on dating and social media apps, build trust, then convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency apps that appear legitimate but aren't available on official app stores like Google Play or the Apple App Store. To protect yourself, be cautious of new contacts encouraging cryptocurrency investments, never download apps outside official platforms, and verify any investment opportunity independently before sending money.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-04-13
According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Complaint Center report, cryptocurrency investment scams have surged dramatically, accounting for 72% of all investment fraud losses—totaling over $8.6 billion, double the previous year. These scams often begin with scammers posing as romantic interests on dating apps who gradually convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms, showing fake profits before stealing the money once larger sums are invested. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited investment advice from online dating contacts, only download apps from official platforms like Google Play or the Apple App Store, and verify any investment opportunity through independent research before sending money.
bitget.com
· 2026-04-13
A woman in Hong Kong lost over HK$2 million in a "pig-butchering" romance scam, where a fraudster contacted her on Instagram, built a fake romantic relationship, and posed as a cryptocurrency investment expert to convince her to transfer money. The scammer used a multi-step scheme—first collecting an account opening fee of HK$40,000, then instructing her to visit physical exchange stores seven times to convert cash into cryptocurrency (USDT)—before disappearing once the funds were received. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited romantic advances from strangers online, avoid sending money to people you've only met digitally, and verify the legitimacy of investment opportunities through official channels before committing any funds.
armidaleexpress.com.au
· 2026-04-13
Scammers stole over $2 billion from Australians last year using increasingly sophisticated methods, including "pig butchering" schemes that exploit victims through deceptive relationship-building and investment promises. While most people are aware of traditional scams like unsolicited calls and fake texts from family members, criminals continue to succeed by adapting their tactics to be harder to detect. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unexpected contact offering investment opportunities or romantic connections, verify requests through official channels before sending money, and report suspicious activity to authorities.
theweek.com
· 2026-04-12
"Pig-butchering" scams originating from Southeast Asian fraud hubs involve criminals who build trust with victims (often through romantic or professional connections on social media) before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms, resulting in devastating losses like the $47 million stolen from a Kansas bank in 2022. These sophisticated long-con schemes target people across platforms like WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Telegram, exploiting cryptocurrency's difficulty to trace. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment advice from online contacts, verify investment platforms independently, and avoid sending money to anyone you haven't met in person, especially for cryptocurrency ventures.
news.ssbcrack.com
· 2026-04-12
A Utah resident lost over $200,000 in a "pig butchering scam" operated by APL Finance, where scammers posed as financial advisors and lured victims with promises of high returns before freezing their accounts and demanding additional payments to unlock funds. The FBI has documented over 30 victims of this scheme, with millions in total losses, and California authorities have flagged APL Finance as fraudulent after another victim lost $1.2 million. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited investment offers promising quick gains, verify any financial advisor's credentials through official channels, and never wire money to personal accounts or pay fees to "unlock" investment funds.
ca.finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-04-12
A woman named Marie lost her entire savings, home, car, and jewelry to a romance scammer over three years, forcing her to work into her 70s. Her daughter took complete control of her finances to prevent further losses, but now Marie—who has rebuilt $200,000 in savings—is struggling to regain financial independence. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports that romance scams cost victims over C$58 million in 2024, though the actual number is likely 10-20 times higher since most victims don't report it; to protect yourself, be cautious of charming strangers on dating apps and social media who move quickly to build emotional connections before requesting money.
m.dailyhunt.in
· 2026-04-12
AdultFriendFinder users face increasing risks from romance and phishing scams, where fraudsters pose as potential partners to steal personal information, money, or lure victims to malicious websites. According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams now cause more financial losses than any other scam type, making vigilance especially important on adult dating sites that attract bad actors. Users should be wary of requests for money or personal information, suspicious off-site links, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails claiming to be from the platform.
donegaldaily.com
· 2026-04-12
Donegal has trained 28 police officers as Digital First Responders to combat a rising wave of cybercrime in the region, which includes phishing scams, romance scams, email compromises, and child sexual exploitation cases. Recent crime data revealed 85 cybercrime incidents in Donegal and Sligo, with phishing scams being the most common threat affecting the community. Authorities urge residents to report any suspicious online activity and are launching cybersecurity awareness campaigns to educate the public about protecting themselves from these threats.
northwestsignal.net
· 2026-04-11
Ohio reported 302 fraud complaints from older adults in 2024, with the state ranking eighth nationally for scam complaints targeting seniors—a concerning trend affecting over 2.8 million older Ohioans. Common scams include phishing emails, text messages, phone calls requesting financial information, romance fraud, and AI impersonation schemes. To protect yourself, never respond to unsolicited messages requesting personal information, let unknown calls go to voicemail, and always get a second opinion from local police or trusted family members before sharing any sensitive data or making financial decisions.
fallriverreporter.com
· 2026-04-11
A Ghanaian national named Kofi Osei was arrested in Massachusetts for operating a sophisticated romance scam ring that defrauded over $8 million from victims between 2016 and 2020, primarily targeting elderly people through fake dating profiles. Osei opened at least 77 fraudulent bank accounts using fake passports to launder money stolen by his co-conspirators, who posed as romantic interests online to manipulate victims into sending cash. He was sentenced to 54 months in prison and ordered to pay $4.1 million in restitution; as protection, be cautious of online dating profiles that quickly ask for money or claim to need financial help, and verify requests through independent contact with the person.
scworld.com
· 2026-04-11
Law enforcement agencies from the US, UK, and Canada disrupted a major global cryptocurrency scam called "pig butchering," which defrauded victims by tricking them into granting access to their crypto accounts—affecting over 20,000 people across 30 countries. In Operation Atlantic, authorities recovered $12 million in stolen funds and identified an additional $33 million linked to investment fraud for further investigation. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited notifications about your cryptocurrency accounts, never grant account access to unknown parties, and verify communications directly with your exchange or wallet provider through official channels.
mexc.com
· 2026-04-11
Following a $45 million cryptocurrency scam bust by US, UK, and Canadian authorities, law enforcement shut down a "pig butchering" fraud ring that used fake app notifications and phishing to steal wallet access from over 3,000 victims, recovering only $12 million of the drained funds. The incident highlights the importance of verified security measures in crypto, such as audited smart contracts and legitimate exchange listings, which legitimate projects like Pepeto have completed to protect users. To avoid similar scams, investors should verify that crypto projects have professional security audits, confirmed exchange listings, and transparent contract documentation before investing.
panewslab.com
· 2026-04-11
The U.S. government recently transferred approximately 2.438 Bitcoin (worth thousands of dollars) to Coinbase, assets that had been seized from an individual named Glenn Olivio during a law enforcement investigation. This transfer is part of a routine government process of consolidating and managing cryptocurrency assets confiscated from criminal investigations, including cases involving darknet markets and scams. While this particular action doesn't pose a direct risk to the general public, it underscores the importance of avoiding illegal activities and scams, as law enforcement agencies now have sophisticated tools to track and recover cryptocurrency assets seized during criminal cases.
housingwire.com
· 2026-04-11
In 2025, cybercrime losses reached $20.8 billion across over 1 million complaints reported to the FBI, with real estate fraud causing $275 million in losses and criminals increasingly using AI-generated emails, deepfakes, and voice cloning to deceive victims. Seniors aged 60+ were disproportionately affected, filing over 201,000 reports with losses totaling $7.75 billion, while investment scams ($8.64 billion) and business email compromises ($3.04 billion) represented the largest loss categories overall. To protect yourself, verify wire transfer requests through direct phone calls to known numbers, be skeptical of AI-generated content and celebrity endorsements in investment pitches, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails—particularly those requesting urgent financial action.
newsbytesapp.com
· 2026-04-10
Americans lost a record $21 billion to online scams in 2025, a 27% increase from 2024, with seniors over 60 being particularly vulnerable—accounting for $7.75 billion in losses and an average of $38,500 per victim. The surge has been fueled by AI-powered scams, including voice cloning used in romance and "grandparent distress" schemes, as well as cryptocurrency investment fraud, with phishing and spoofing remaining the most common attack types. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited contact, verify requests for money through independent channels, and report suspicious activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).