Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 22,013 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
3,102 results
in Crypto Investment Scams
wesh.com
· 2026-02-26
Victims lost $16.6 billion to cybercrime scams in 2024, but now the Marion County Sheriff's Office is recovering money for some of those victims.
Tammy Owens lost tens of thousands of dollars last ye...
straitstimes.com
· 2026-02-26
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The amount lost to scammers also dipped from the record high of $1.1 billion in 2024 to $913.1 million in 2025, the police said on Feb 25.
S...
channelnewsasia.com
· 2026-02-26
Singapore
Government officials impersonation scam cases jumped 123.6 per cent last year, however.
There were 37,308 scam cases in 2025, a 27.6 per cent drop from the 51,501 cases recorded in 2024. (...
asiaone.com
· 2026-02-26
In 2022, Nurul Shifa found a focus group discussion on Telegram that promised rewards for simply sharing her thoughts.
However, she soon found herself embroiled in an investment scam that saw her nea...
liphookherald.com
· 2026-02-25
Romance scams have surged with criminals now using AI-generated images and deepfake technology to create convincing fake identities and build trust before stealing money—one victim lost £35,000 after being deceived by a fake suitor over months. The scams are particularly effective because they exploit emotions and can imitate trusted individuals, making them increasingly difficult to detect. To protect yourself, be cautious of messages designed to trigger strong emotions, verify identities before responding, keep devices updated, and be wary of unusual payment requests involving cash, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
phemex.com
· 2026-02-25
U.S. authorities seized $61 million in cryptocurrency from a "pig butchering" romance scam, where fraudsters pose as romantic partners to trick victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency platforms with fabricated profits. Victims of these scams are typically prevented from withdrawing their money or pressured to pay additional "taxes." The seizure demonstrates law enforcement's growing ability to track and recover stolen cryptocurrency, and people should be wary of unsolicited investment offers from online romantic contacts.
panewslab.com
· 2026-02-25
Federal law enforcement seized over $61 million in cryptocurrency linked to "pig butchering" scams, where criminals pose as romantic partners to convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency trading platforms and then refuse withdrawal requests. Victims across the country lost money when scammers claimed taxes were owed and quickly moved the funds through multiple wallets to launder the money. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited romantic connections who encourage cryptocurrency investments, verify trading platforms independently, and never send money to accounts you cannot verify.
therecord.media
· 2026-02-25
Criminal networks operating in Southeast Asian compounds are running sophisticated "pig-butchering" cryptocurrency scams that target victims worldwide, stealing billions of dollars annually through fake investment schemes and complex money laundering operations. The U.S. FBI and international law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to disrupt these operations, with recent major actions including the execution of Myanmar crime leaders by China, the indictment and extradition of a Cambodian businessman who ran a massive scamming empire, and raids across Cambodia that have freed trafficked workers. To protect yourself, be extremely skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities—especially cryptocurrency schemes—verify the legitimacy of investment platforms independently, and never send money to people you've only met online.
yahoo.com
· 2026-02-25
U.S. authorities in North Carolina seized $61 million in cryptocurrency (Tether/USDT) connected to "pig butchering" scams, a fraud scheme where criminals build fake romantic relationships with victims online and direct them to fraudulent investment platforms that show fake returns before demanding "taxes" or "fees" to withdraw funds. These scams have cost victims billions globally, with criminals repeatedly extracting money through a cycle of fake promises and hidden charges. To protect yourself, be suspicious of online romantic connections that quickly push cryptocurrency investments, verify investment platforms independently, and remember that legitimate investments never demand upfront fees to access your returns.
tradingview.com
· 2026-02-25
U.S. Federal agents seized $61 million in cryptocurrency (USDT) from a "pig butchering" scam ring that used fake romantic relationships and fraudulent trading platforms to defraud victims. The scammers posed as romantic partners with trading expertise, directed victims to fake crypto websites showing fake high returns, then blocked withdrawals and demanded extra fees. To protect yourself, be cautious of online romantic partners who quickly pivot to investment opportunities, verify trading platforms independently, and never invest money you can't afford to lose—especially if pressured by someone you've only met online.
aol.com
· 2026-02-24
A major fraud ring operating in Texas stole at least $55 million from elderly victims by impersonating federal agents and threatening them with arrest to coerce them into surrendering gold, cash, and cryptocurrency. The scheme is part of a growing crisis of elder fraud, with Americans over 60 accounting for 36% of all fraud reports and losing nearly $2.4 billion to scams in 2024 alone. To protect yourself and elderly relatives, remain skeptical of unsolicited calls or messages from officials making threats, remember that legitimate authorities won't demand payment by gift card or wire transfer, and verify any official claims by contacting the agency directly using a number from their official website.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-02-24
# Fraud Summary
A Texas crime ring stole at least $55 million from elderly victims by impersonating federal agents and threatening them into surrendering gold, cash, and cryptocurrency. The FTC reports that fraud targeting seniors has surged, with people over 60 accounting for 36% of all fraud reports in 2024 and losing approximately $2.4 billion to scams. To protect yourself and older relatives, be wary of unsolicited calls or messages from people claiming to be government officials, especially those creating urgency or threatening arrest—legitimate authorities will never demand immediate payment or asset transfers over the phone.
tradingview.com
· 2026-02-23
# Pig-Butchering Crypto Scams Summary
Pig-butchering scams are a growing threat in the cryptocurrency world where fraudsters build fake romantic or friendly relationships with victims over weeks or months before pressuring them to invest in fake crypto platforms, with reported losses reaching $370.3 million in January 2026 alone. Unlike quick phishing attacks, these scams use psychological manipulation—showing fake profits, requesting escalating deposits, and then blocking withdrawals—to exploit emotional trust and extract large sums of money. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious about unsolicited investment advice from people you've only met online, never share crypto wallet details with new contacts, and verify investment platforms through official regulatory databases before depositing any money.
nationaltoday.com
· 2026-02-23
New York Attorney General Letitia James has warned of "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims on social media and dating apps before convincing them to invest money in fraudulent schemes like cryptocurrency, sometimes resulting in losses exceeding $1 million. These sophisticated scams typically begin with friendly contact, move to encrypted chat platforms to hide the scammer's identity, and end with the perpetrator disappearing with the victim's savings. To protect yourself, remain cautious of unsolicited messages from strangers urging investments, verify investment opportunities independently, and report suspected scams to the Attorney General's office.
knoxtntoday.com
· 2026-02-23
Two Knox County men lost a combined $500,000 in a sophisticated Bitcoin scam after clicking on a deceptive Facebook advertisement, with one man losing his entire life savings of $375,000. Detective Wayne Doster spent months investigating the international fraud ring operated from Malaysia, ultimately leading to the arrest of Lee Kah Poh, a Malaysian national who came to Tennessee to collect the money. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious about unsolicited investment opportunities on social media, never click links from unknown sources, and verify any investment through official channels before sending money.
countryherald.com
· 2026-02-22
# Pinellas County Dating Fraud Alert Summary
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about online romance scams on dating apps, where fraudsters create fake profiles to build trust and then request money through hard-to-trace methods like cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Red flags include refusals to video chat or meet in person, rapid declarations of love, poor grammar, and attempts to move conversations to private messaging apps. To protect yourself, avoid sending money or personal information to people you haven't met in person, use reverse image searches to verify profile photos, and report suspected scams to local law enforcement.
ctbythenumbers.news
· 2026-02-22
Connecticut and other U.S. states are facing a surge in financial cybercrimes, with 57,000 Americans falling victim to scams daily and losing nearly $160 billion annually—seniors are particularly vulnerable, losing an average of $33,000 per victim compared to non-seniors. International crime syndicates, primarily operating from Southeast Asia, orchestrate industrial-scale fraud operations including romance scams, imposter scams, and phishing schemes, with stolen funds quickly converted to untraceable cryptocurrency, making prosecution difficult. While state-level awareness campaigns and protective tips can help, Connecticut and the nation need stronger measures to combat these coordinated international criminal operations targeting vulnerable Americans.
techbullion.com
· 2026-02-22
# Article Summary
A "pig butchering" scam is a sophisticated fraud where criminals build false trust with victims over weeks or months before stealing their cryptocurrency. Victims who discover they've been scammed should immediately stop communicating with the perpetrator, preserve all evidence (screenshots of messages, profiles, and transactions), and report the theft to authorities and recovery services like Pro Crypto Recovery—while being cautious of recovery scams themselves. The key advice is to treat your phone and computer as a crime scene, gather documentation of all communications and blockchain transactions, and resist the urge to respond to scammers, as alerting them could cause them to destroy evidence.
boothbayregister.com
· 2026-02-21
People over 50 are particularly vulnerable to fraud, with over $11 million reported in scams during just a nine-month period in 2025, according to a presentation by Coastal Maine Regional Broadband and local police. Most scams involve impostors contacting victims through email, text, or phone with urgent messages designed to cloud judgment, sometimes building fake relationships over time to gain trust. To protect yourself, experts recommend verifying unexpected contacts directly with the person, avoiding clicking links or sharing passwords, watching for language errors and mismatched email addresses, and declining friend requests from people already in your network.
patnapress.com
· 2026-02-21
# I'd be happy to help, but I notice the article text you've provided doesn't contain information about the crypto trading scam mentioned in the title. Instead, it only shows a headline about an IIT Patna financial planning session from February 2026.
Could you please share the actual article content about the Patna man who lost Rs 6.92 lakh in the crypto trading scam? Once you provide the full text, I'll be able to create a 2-3 sentence summary focusing on what happened, who was affected, and actionable advice for readers.
bankinfosecurity.com
· 2026-02-21
Cambodia shut down approximately 190 online scam centers and arrested 11,000 foreign nationals in a major crackdown on transnational fraud operations that were running romance and investment scams on a massive scale, generating tens of billions of dollars annually for criminal gangs. The scam centers, which primarily operated in Phnom Penh and southern Cambodia, exploited trafficked and forced workers to defraud victims, with prominent targets including Chen Zhi, founder of Prince Holding Group, who was indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for overseeing multiple compounds since 2015. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited romantic or investment opportunities online, verify the legitimacy of financial institutions directly through official channels, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
abc7news.com
· 2026-02-20
A San Francisco retiree lost over $500,000 of his life savings to a "pig butchering" scam after being manipulated by a woman he met on Facebook who posed as a wealthy Japanese businesswoman named Annie and promised him a romantic future and cryptocurrency investment returns. Despite repeated warnings from family, friends, and law enforcement agencies over several months, the victim continued sending money to the scammers because he was emotionally invested in the relationship. To protect yourself: be extremely skeptical of romantic relationships that develop quickly online, never send money to anyone you haven't met in person, verify investment opportunities through official channels before committing funds, and listen to warnings from trusted loved ones about suspicious behavior.
ntu.org
· 2026-02-20
# Tax Season Scams: What You Need to Know
During tax season, scammers impersonate the IRS and state tax agencies through texts, emails, and phone calls to pressure people into sending money immediately, exploiting the confusion and urgency surrounding tax filing. The key warning sign is that legitimate tax agencies never initiate contact via text, email, social media, or unsolicited calls demanding immediate payment—they send official letters by mail with time to respond. If you receive a suspicious tax message demanding urgent payment, threatening legal action, or asking for gift cards or wire transfers, stop and verify it independently before responding; legitimate agencies don't use these pressure tactics or payment methods.
ketk.com
· 2026-02-20
A Chinese national was sentenced to 40 months in prison and ordered to pay $2.8 million after running "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams that defrauded multiple victims. The scam involved fraudsters posing as romantic interests or financial professionals on social media and dating apps, building trust with victims before convincing them to invest in a fake cryptocurrency platform called Nanobit. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited investment offers from people you meet online, verify that financial platforms are legitimately registered with the SEC, and never invest based on advice from strangers on social media or messaging apps.
techflowpost.com
· 2026-02-20
A 31-year-old Chinese national named Liao Fei was sentenced to 40 months in prison for laundering millions of dollars from cryptocurrency investment scams, particularly "pig-butchering" schemes where fraudsters gain victims' trust on social media before tricking them into fake crypto investments. Victims lost millions of dollars in these scams, and Liao Fei was ordered to forfeit $2.3 million and pay $2.8 million in restitution. To protect yourself, be wary of investment opportunities promoted by strangers on social media, avoid sending money to unknown individuals or companies, and verify investment opportunities through official regulatory channels before committing funds.
kucoin.com
· 2026-02-20
A 31-year-old Chinese national named Liao Fei was sentenced to 40 months in prison for laundering millions of dollars obtained through "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters pose as romantic interests or trusted contacts on social media to trick people into investing in fake cryptocurrency schemes. The scheme affected numerous victims who lost money they couldn't recover, and Liao Fei was ordered to forfeit $2.3 million and pay $2.8 million in restitution. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious of investment opportunities offered by people you meet online, especially on social media, and never send money to unknown individuals or unverified cryptocurrency platforms.
kucoin.com
· 2026-02-20
A Chinese national was sentenced to 40 months in prison for laundering millions of dollars from cryptocurrency investment scams, including the deceptive "pig butchering" scheme that targets victims through social media and dating apps by building false trust before requesting cryptocurrency investments. Victims lose money when fraudulent platforms show fake returns and prevent withdrawals, with this case involving over $2.3 million in seized assets and $2.8 million in restitution. If you encounter these scams, report them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and preserve all communications, transaction records, and details about the fraudulent platform, cryptocurrency addresses, and suspect contact information.
yonkerstimes.com
· 2026-02-20
New York Attorney General Letitia James has warned residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims through social media and dating apps before convincing them to invest money in fake cryptocurrency or currency trading schemes. The scammers use encrypted messaging apps to hide their identities and create elaborate personas—such as romantic partners or financial advisors—to gain trust before stealing victims' savings. New Yorkers should remain vigilant about unsolicited contact, verify investment opportunities independently, and report suspected scams to the Attorney General's office or the platforms where they occur.
eldoradospringsmo.com
· 2026-02-19
# Romance Scams: What You Need to Know
Romance scammers create fake dating profiles to build trust with victims over weeks or months, then exploit that relationship by asking for money or pushing cryptocurrency investments. Scammers are increasingly using AI tools to generate convincing conversations and realistic fake profiles, while also combining romance scams with investment schemes to steal thousands of dollars from victims. To protect yourself, be cautious of anyone who asks for money or personal information, makes excuses to avoid meeting in person, or seems unrealistically perfect—legitimate partners will be willing to meet face-to-face and won't pressure you for financial commitments.
newsday.com
· 2026-02-19
"Pig butchering" scams are sophisticated fraud schemes where criminals build trust with victims through fake personal or romantic relationships before convincing them to invest money in fraudulent schemes, often resulting in devastating financial losses. New York's Attorney General is warning residents about these scams, which have caused nearly $75 billion in global losses between 2020 and 2024 and can target anyone, not just seniors. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact from strangers on social media or dating apps, especially those who quickly suggest financial opportunities, and contact authorities if you suspect you've been targeted.
tbrnewsmedia.com
· 2026-02-19
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned New Yorkers about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims through social media and dating apps before pressuring them to invest money in fraudulent cryptocurrency or currency schemes. The scammers use fake screenshots and fake wealth displays to gain trust, then transition conversations to encrypted messaging apps to hide their identities before stealing victims' savings. New Yorkers are urged to remain vigilant, verify investment opportunities independently, and report suspected scams to the Attorney General's office or the platforms where they occur.
fingerlakes1.com
· 2026-02-19
New York's Attorney General is warning residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims over weeks or months on social media and dating apps before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency or currency trading schemes. The scammers use fake screenshots, fraudulent websites, and fabricated account statements showing profits to gain trust, then disappear with victims' money when they try to withdraw funds. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities from new online contacts, verify investment opportunities through official channels, and report suspected scams to the Attorney General's office immediately.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-02-19
Financial scams cost Americans at least $10 billion in 2023, with losses among older Americans surging from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024, often involving large sums stolen through sophisticated schemes like the case of Marjorie Kessler, who lost over $2 million after being tricked into converting her retirement savings to gold and cryptocurrency. While the UN emphasizes that preventing scams requires strong legal and regulatory systems, American institutions like FINRA—which oversees brokerages holding most people's retirement savings—have failed to meaningfully address the epidemic. To protect yourself, be extremely skeptical of unsolicited requests to move funds or convert savings into alternative assets, verify requests directly with your financial institution through official channels, and report suspected scams to the FTC immediately.
thehill.com
· 2026-02-19
Americans lost at least $10 billion to scams in 2023, with losses among older adults particularly devastating—jumping from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024. One victim, Marjorie Kessler, was tricked into withdrawing over $2 million from her retirement savings under the false pretense that the U.S. Treasury needed to safeguard it, though she recovered only a portion. Experts and the United Nations emphasize that preventing these crimes requires stronger legal and regulatory systems rather than relying on individuals to protect themselves, particularly through oversight of financial institutions like FINRA that hold most Americans' retirement savings.
ag.ny.gov
· 2026-02-18
# Pig Butchering Scam Alert
New York's Attorney General is warning residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims through social media and dating apps before convincing them to invest money in fraudulent schemes, often involving cryptocurrency. The scammers gain trust over time by posing as romantic partners or financial advisors, use encrypted messaging to hide their identity, and show fake screenshots of profits to seem legitimate. To protect yourself, remain cautious of unsolicited contacts offering investment opportunities, verify relationships before sharing financial information, and report any suspected scams to the Attorney General's office or the relevant platform.
6abc.com
· 2026-02-18
An international car sales scam based in Romania defrauded a Bucks County man of $34,000 by using fake websites and AI-generated images to sell a non-existent 1969 Camaro. The suspect, Ion Cojocaru, allegedly set up shell companies in the U.S. while operating from Romania, and police believe there may be additional victims as he continues posting similar fraudulent listings online. To protect yourself, be cautious when buying vehicles online—especially from sellers you haven't met in person—and verify authenticity through official channels before sending any money.
lifehealth.com
· 2026-02-18
# Tax Season Scam Alert Summary
During tax season, scammers are targeting both individual taxpayers and businesses with increasingly sophisticated schemes including fake social media tax advice, romance scams, phishing emails, cryptocurrency "pig butchering" schemes, and scams targeting tax professionals. Frost Law urges people to verify tax information only through official sources like the IRS, Federal Trade Commission, and local law enforcement, and to be especially cautious of unsolicited communications asking for money or personal information. If you become a victim, seek help from legal professionals or report the scam to official government agencies rather than handling it alone.
evrimagaci.org
· 2026-02-18
In February 2026, cybercriminals launched a sophisticated global wave of scams combining phishing emails, text messages, and traditional mail to steal sensitive information from individuals and businesses. A particularly alarming campaign weaponized the XWorm Remote Access Trojan through deceptive emails mimicking purchase orders or shipments, which tricked users into opening malicious Excel files that exploited a decade-old Microsoft vulnerability to give attackers complete control of victims' computers. To protect yourself, experts urge vigilance by being skeptical of unexpected emails requesting file downloads, keeping software updated, and using multi-factor authentication on important accounts.
wwnytv.com
· 2026-02-18
New York's Attorney General has warned residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters build fake relationships with victims through social media, dating apps, and text messages before convincing them to invest money in fake cryptocurrency or forex trading schemes. The scammers use fake screenshots, fabricated success stories, and counterfeit investment websites to trick victims into depositing their savings, sometimes causing severe financial damage. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited contact offering investment opportunities, verify any investment advisor's credentials through official channels, and never send money to people you only know online—especially if they pressure you to use encrypted messaging apps.
americanbanker.com
· 2026-02-18
New York's Attorney General warned residents about "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters create fake romantic or professional relationships on social media and dating apps to trick victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency platforms that disappear with their money. The scams are particularly damaging because victims often fall for follow-up "recovery" schemes where new fraudsters promise to return lost funds for a fee, resulting in additional losses. To protect yourself, avoid sending money or cryptocurrency to online strangers, thoroughly research anyone soliciting investments, and watch for red flags like pressure to use encrypted messaging or unfamiliar trading platforms.
dlnews.com
· 2026-02-18
Cryptocurrency transactions linked to human trafficking surged 85% in 2025, with hundreds of millions of dollars flowing through illicit networks involving escort services, prostitution, and child exploitation, primarily centered in Southeast Asia's scam economy. Criminals use fake job offers to lure victims into "scam compounds" where they're forced to conduct various cyber frauds, with some estimates showing cybercrimes now account for over 30% of Cambodia's GDP and causing an estimated $37 billion in losses across East and Southeast Asia. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited job offers (especially remote positions), verify job opportunities through official company websites, and report suspicious activity to local authorities or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
decripto.org
· 2026-02-18
Retail customers are increasingly falling victim to sophisticated digital scams like romance scams and "pig butchering," which use emotional manipulation and social engineering to erode victims' rational judgment and convince them to willingly authorize fraudulent transactions. These scams are no longer isolated incidents but a structural trend affecting financial system stability, making them difficult to detect through traditional anti-fraud systems since victims believe they're acting in their own interest. Banks and financial institutions are being forced to rethink their fraud prevention strategies, with customer awareness and education emerging as critical protective measures against these emotionally-manipulative schemes.
kunm.org
· 2026-02-17
Romance scammers using fake online identities have stolen $3.8 million from New Mexicans in the past year, with increasingly sophisticated methods enhanced by AI technology. These criminals emotionally manipulate victims to gain access to their savings, posing as romantic partners through dating apps and online platforms. To protect yourself, be cautious of online suitors who seem too perfect, watch for requests for money or cryptocurrency investments, and verify identities through video calls before sharing personal or financial information.
rnz.co.nz
· 2026-02-17
A 44-year-old Auckland woman has been arrested and charged with defrauding a Dunedin man of over $517,000 through an 18-year romance scam—a rare case since most romance scams are typically perpetrated by offshore criminals. The scheme involved the victim sending money to someone he believed he was in a romantic relationship with but never met in person. Police advise people to be extremely cautious about online relationships and investments, as romance scams almost always begin with online contact where victims are convinced to send money without ever meeting the person face-to-face.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2026-02-17
An Auckland woman has been charged with defrauding a Dunedin man of over $517,000 in an alleged 18-year romance scam—a rare case of a local perpetrator, as such scams are typically run by offshore criminal networks. The victim was convinced to send money to someone he believed he was in a romantic relationship with online, despite never meeting them in person. Police advise people to be highly skeptical of online romantic relationships, friendships, and investment opportunities, as these are common tactics used to exploit victims, and warn that offshore scammers are nearly impossible to prosecute.
decripto.org
· 2026-02-17
A 20-year prison sentence was handed down to Daren Li for operating an international money laundering network that laundered $74 million through "pig butchering" crypto scams, a widespread fraud scheme where scammers pose as investment experts on messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to build trust with victims before directing them to fake trading platforms that falsely show profits. Li fled before his sentencing in December 2024 and remains a fugitive, highlighting the global nature of this crime. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited investment advice from strangers on social media, verify that trading platforms are legitimate through official channels, and never deposit money based on promises of guaranteed returns.
gulfcoastnewsnow.com
· 2026-02-17
# Email Scam Summary
Millions of people lose billions of dollars annually to email scams, which have evolved from simple spam to sophisticated phishing attempts that impersonate legitimate companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google to steal passwords and financial information. John Joyce, a technology consultant, warns that scammers now use AI-improved grammar and official-looking logos to make fraudulent emails appear authentic, exploiting the fact that people receive over 120 emails daily and may click carelessly. To protect yourself, Joyce recommends updating software regularly, pausing before clicking links, being skeptical of all messages—especially unsolicited offers—and remembering that legitimate riches never come through email.
nationaltoday.com
· 2026-02-16
Scammers in Los Angeles are using AI-generated photos, videos, and voice messages to create convincing fake romantic relationships and manipulate victims into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes, particularly around Valentine's Day. These "pig butchering" operations are significantly more profitable than traditional romance scams and cost victims billions of dollars globally. To protect yourself, authorities recommend verifying the identities of online contacts, being skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities, and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.
longbridge.com
· 2026-02-16
# Romance Scams Alert
US prosecutors are warning the public about "pig-butchering" scams ahead of Valentine's Day, where scammers build romantic relationships with victims to manipulate them into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. These elaborate schemes combine emotional manipulation with fake investment opportunities, targeting people seeking romantic connections online. To protect yourself, be cautious of new romantic interests who quickly push you toward cryptocurrency investments, verify investment platforms independently, and avoid sending money or personal information to people you haven't met in person.
freepressjournal.in
· 2026-02-16
A 48-year-old businessman from Vasai lost ₹1.29 crore in a cryptocurrency investment scam after being contacted via Facebook by a fraudster who promised unrealistic returns of 100-200 percent. The scammer used fake profit displays and a WhatsApp group to build trust, gradually convincing the victim to transfer money across 16 transactions, then demanded an additional ₹30 lakh in "taxes" to release funds. To protect yourself: never trust unsolicited investment offers on social media, be skeptical of promises of extraordinary returns, avoid downloading unknown apps for financial transactions, and verify investment platforms through official banking channels before transferring any money.