Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
10,275 results
in Robocalls / Phone Scams
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-22
Actor Channing Tatum denied speculation that he was running a secret Instagram burner account called "Nonya Bidness" after fans noticed the account followed only him and made comments about his ex-fiancée Zoe Kravitz and other celebrities. Tatum clarified via Instagram Stories that he only maintains one account (@channingtatum) and questioned why he would follow his own burner account if seeking anonymity. The Nonya Bidness account was later revealed to be a previously deactivated Channing Tatum fan page that had been repurposed, and has since been deactivated.
jornal.unicamp.br
· 2026-09-22
Researchers at Unicamp's Recod.ai laboratory developed an artificial intelligence model called Smish-Checker that detects SMS fraud (smishing) by analyzing multiple types of evidence including URLs, message content, and network signals rather than relying on obvious flaws like typos. The AI system groups similar messages together to efficiently handle large volumes of fraudulent texts, addressing the challenge that advanced generative AI has made it easier for scammers to create nearly indistinguishable fake messages without grammatical errors. The methodology is applicable beyond SMS to platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
france24.com
· 2026-09-22
Cambodia hosted a global anti-fraud conference while showcasing a shuttered scam compound that reportedly employed 20,000 scammers, as the country faces international pressure over its role as a Southeast Asian hub for online fraud operations estimated to generate billions annually. Cambodian authorities claimed to have closed 663 scam sites and frozen $300 million in related accounts, though analysts remain skeptical about the sustainability of the crackdown, noting that criminal operations have adapted by dispersing to smaller locations and that key protection networks remain intact. The U.S. estimates that transnational scam organizations in Southeast Asia defrauded Americans of at least $18.2 billion in 2025 alone through schemes involving
cbsnews.com
· 2026-09-22
A 67-year-old Westmoreland County woman lost $5,000 after a caller falsely claiming to be a U.S. Secret Service agent convinced her to purchase gift cards and provide their numbers, exploiting the legitimacy of Washington, D.C. area codes. The scammer instructed the victim to keep the matter secret and not contact local law enforcement. Pennsylvania State Police warn residents to never provide personal information to unknown callers or make payments via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
heraldextra.com
· 2026-09-22
BYU researchers found that AI-generated phishing messages are more effective at deceiving people than human-created ones, fooling recipients 28% of the time compared to 21% for human messages, with AI particularly excelling at creating highly personalized scams. The study revealed that users could only correctly identify whether a message was AI or human-generated 52% of the time—essentially a coin flip—highlighting the growing threat of AI-powered fraud targeting individuals through text, email, and phone calls. Researchers are now exploring how AI itself might be used to provide personalized phishing training to help people and employees better recognize and defend against these evolving scams.
lilifepolitics.com
· 2026-09-22
A 50-year-old Brooklyn man was arrested for attempting to steal $20,000 from a 68-year-old Baldwin resident through a tech support scam in which the victim received a computer warning message and was instructed to withdraw cash from his bank. The victim suspected fraud after withdrawing the funds and contacted police, leading to the arrest of Biaodi Jiang, who was charged with Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.
patch.com
· 2026-09-22
A 68-year-old Baldwin man lost $20,000 in a tech support scam after receiving a computer warning message and being directed to withdraw funds from his bank. Brooklyn resident Biaodi Jiang, 50, was arrested and charged with third-degree attempted grand larceny after the victim realized the fraud and contacted police.
yahoo.com
· 2026-09-22
Indiana seniors lost $81.5 million to elder fraud last year, with scammers increasingly targeting them through gift card and prepaid money card schemes after cryptocurrency ATM machines were shut down. Con artists use emotional stories to convince victims to purchase Green Dot money paks or gift cards, which are untraceable and typically result in losses of $20,000-$50,000 per victim over 6-12 months. The Terre Haute Police Department warns that if someone is pressuring you to buy gift cards or prepaid cards for any reason other than as an actual gift, it is a scam.
mbiz.heraldcorp.com
· 2026-09-22
A South Korean woman whose husband was diagnosed with mild dementia fell victim to a romance scam and began transferring their life savings to an unknown stranger, prompting her to seek legal advice about divorce and asset protection. The husband's cognitive decline made him vulnerable to online deception, and he continues sending large sums of money despite the couple's significant financial losses accumulated over their lifetime. An attorney confirmed that divorce is possible and suggested measures like provisional seizure and limited guardianship to prevent further asset depletion, though recovering money sent to overseas scammers operating on encrypted platforms like Telegram would be difficult.
goodlander.house.gov
· 2026-09-21
The U.S. House passed five bipartisan bills championed by Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, including the GUARD Act to help law enforcement combat fraud targeting seniors, which costs Americans $20.9 billion annually with "pig butchering" cryptocurrency schemes accounting for $11.37 billion of that total. The legislation also addresses water infrastructure funding, utility rate protections, xylazine trafficking, and emergency radio access for New Hampshire residents.
techflowpost.com
· 2026-09-21
This article analyzes specialized jargon used in East and Southeast Asian cryptocurrency money laundering networks, specifically examining the term "Liao" (料), which refers to illicit fiat currency from fraud, extortion, gambling, and human trafficking awaiting conversion into untraceable cryptocurrencies or goods. The article describes common laundering methods such as Card-to-USDT exchanges and classifies illicit funds by risk level and victim type, including "pupil Liao" (money scammed from students), "part-time job Liao" (fake employment schemes), and "pig butchering scam Liao" (romance investment fraud), with higher-risk frontline launderers commanding
metromode.se
· 2026-09-21
Swedes lost SEK 5.7 billion to fraud in 2025, with 232,862 reported offences across investment schemes (SEK 1.6 billion), romance fraud (SEK 551 million), phone/vishing scams (SEK 320 million), and card fraud. The number of fraud victims over 65 has doubled for women and increased 60% for men since 2019, with scammers typically creating artificial urgency to pressure victims into quick decisions. Banks must refund unauthorized transactions by the end of the next business day, but consumers may face liability up to SEK 12,000 if they were negligent or made payments themselves at the
gutzy.asia
· 2026-09-21
A Tokyo second-hand phone shop discovered a Vietnamese man attempting to sell fake iPhone 18 Pro boxes filled with weighted materials instead of actual phones, using a magnetic viewing sheet to detect the absence of the genuine device's MagSafe magnetic pattern. The scam involved sealed packaging designed to feel authentic upon handling, and the incident was filmed and shared on social media in September 2026. The fraud emerges amid a broader wave of iPhone 18-related scams, including over 1,200 credit card fraud complaints in Hong Kong totaling approximately HK$25 million (US$3.18 million).
straitstimes.com
· 2026-09-21
Since January, at least 119 cases of scams impersonating Harvey Norman employees have resulted in losses of $4.8 million, primarily targeting middle-aged and elderly individuals in Singapore. Scammers call victims claiming they purchased items or have pending deliveries, then transfer them to accomplices posing as Monetary Authority of Singapore officials who accuse them of money laundering and demand money transfers, gold purchases, or valuables under the guise of investigations. Police warned of a surge in these scams and reminded the public that legitimate government officials never request cash transfers, valuables, or banking credentials.
fox26houston.com
· 2026-09-21
Scammers are using publicly available arrest information to contact families and fraudulently demand money for bail, bond, or supposed fees like ankle monitor costs. The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office warns that callers may sound convincing by citing real arrest details, but families should independently verify any arrest and contact the jail or court directly rather than trusting information provided by callers. Authorities urge residents not to let urgency or emotional pressure override verification steps before sending money.
eurekalert.org
· 2026-09-21
Scammers are using generative AI to create deepfake videos of physicians for fraudulent purposes, including selling fake products, extracting sensitive personal data through phishing, and spreading medical misinformation. Researchers have identified four primary exploitation methods: commercial endorsement fraud, engagement farming, medical misinformation, and phishing attacks, with additional risks including fraudulent professional communications and reputation sabotage. No specific dollar amounts or victim counts were reported in this analysis of the emerging deepfake physician scam threat.
northcentralpa.com
· 2026-09-21
State police and the Lycoming County Sheriff's Office are warning residents of a phone scam where callers impersonate law enforcement and claim victims missed jury duty, now facing arrest warrants, then demand payment to resolve the alleged warrant. The scammers sometimes have personal details about victims, including their names and jury summons information, and may spoof caller IDs to appear as "Private Number." Authorities emphasize they never demand phone payment, gift cards, or personal information, and advise residents to hang up and call agencies directly using official numbers.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-21
Gen Z (ages 14-29) faces significantly higher rates of online scams and identity theft than baby boomers, with the FTC reporting that social media scams alone cost consumers $2.1 billion in 2025. Those under 20 reported over 31,000 complaints resulting in $67.1 million in losses, while those aged 20-29 reported over 112,000 complaints totaling $563.1 million in losses. Gen Z's constant social media presence, prioritization of convenience over security, and assumption that online protection efforts are futile make them prime targets for cybercriminals.
12onyourside.com
· 2026-09-21
The FBI warns that elder fraud targets adults 60 and older by exploiting emotional vulnerabilities—trust, fear, grief, and loneliness—rather than tech inexperience, with scammers impersonating law enforcement, romantic interests, or trusted entities to manipulate victims into wire transfers, gift cards, or liquidating assets like retirement funds and home equity. Reported elder fraud complaints rose 37% from 2024 to 2025 with losses totaling $7.7 billion, with some individual victims losing over $1 million accumulated over a lifetime. Scammers often spend months building relationships with isolated older adults before requesting money, deliberately isolating victims from family and social circles to increase depend
vietnam.vn
· 2026-09-20
A South Korean woman in her 30s lost approximately $23,700 to a romance scam where an imposter posed as actor Lee Dong Wook over eight months of online communication, convincing her they were in a romantic relationship and then claiming customs fees for a fake gift package. The scammer manipulated the victim into making multiple money transfers by fabricating an overseas filming location and customs delays, while never meeting or speaking on the phone with her. Lee Dong Wook's management company confirmed they never request money or personal information from fans via direct messages and are aware of multiple impersonation attempts on social media and messaging platforms.
usatoday.com
· 2026-09-20
Alison Walsh booked an Airbnb vacation rental in San Diego for spring break that drastically differed from the listing photos—featuring safety hazards like rusty nails and duct tape—which she suspected were AI-generated, and she had to scramble to find alternative accommodations while waiting a month for a full refund. A 2026 survey found that 52% of American travelers have booked rentals that looked significantly different from their listing images, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated photos, fake reviews, and bait-and-switch tactics to deceive guests.
malaymail.com
· 2026-09-20
A Singapore healthcare company's CFO nearly lost S$120,000 after scammers impersonated the chairman and managing director on Microsoft Teams, demanding an urgent fund transfer that was only prevented by the company's physical signature requirement for payments. The incident reflects a sharp rise in business email compromise scams in Singapore, with losses reaching S$57.3 million in the first half of 2026, up from S$19.5 million the previous year. Experts warn that such scams have evolved beyond traditional emails to exploit messaging platforms and exploit workplace hierarchies, with the sense of urgency and impersonation of senior executives making employees less likely to verify requests.
creators.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-20
A caller impersonating an Adams County Sheriff's sergeant attempted to scam the author by claiming there was a "legal matter" requiring attention, but the scam was foiled when the caller incorrectly referred to the agency as "Adams County Sheriff's Department" instead of the correct "Adams County Sheriff's Office." The scammer, identifying himself as "Sgt. Don Davis," was part of a broader scheme where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to extract money from victims by claiming they missed jury duty, have legal violations, or face arrest unless they pay fines immediately.
ground.news
· 2026-09-20
Two members of a telephone scam ring were arrested in Karpenisi after attempting to defraud a police officer through an extortion scheme involving fake calls claiming to be an accountant. The scammer posed as a financial official and demanded money and jewelry under the pretense of securing electronic devices. Police discovered stolen goods in the suspects' vehicle during the subsequent arrest operation.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-20
One in three UK consumers are abandoning online purchases due to fears of scams, with 58% reporting contact from fraudsters in the past year, according to an Institute of Customer Service study. Fake text messages (53%) and impersonation phone calls (49%) are the most common scam tactics, and 32% of consumers say scams have become harder to detect over the past 12 months. The increasing sophistication of fraud is undermining consumer trust and business growth, with security measures like two-factor authentication and security questions identified as the most confidence-building protections.
pocket-lint.com
· 2026-09-20
This article describes Apple's new Impersonation Risk Detection feature in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, which uses on-device analysis to identify and warn users about potential scams and social engineering attacks. The feature analyzes patterns, timing, and context to flag risky actions at Unknown, Medium, or High risk levels, helping protect users from common scams like romance fraud, phishing, and impersonation of trusted entities such as banks or government agencies. The technology is designed to work with compatible third-party apps while maintaining privacy by analyzing data on-device and not sharing personal content with Apple's servers.
ground.news
· 2026-09-19
Two women aged 79 and 49 in Rethymno were defrauded by scammers posing as representatives from an accounting firm who claimed they were entitled to 450-euro government vouchers. The fraudsters convinced the victims to obtain paysafe cards and transfer money, resulting in losses of 500 euros and 400 euros respectively, for a total of 900 euros. The Hellenic Police launched an investigation into these fraud cases.
sciotocountydailynews.com
· 2026-09-19
A woman lost nearly $1,000 from three accounts after calling a number in a fake Geek Squad refund email, where scammers impersonated company representatives and convinced her to send money before admitting the fraud. In a separate case, another woman reported suspicious gift-card charges totaling over $78 connected to a man she was communicating with through a dating app, highlighting two common scam tactics: fake refund schemes and online romance fraud. The FTC warns consumers to verify company contact information independently rather than using numbers from unsolicited emails or texts, and to never send money to people met only online.
abc45.com
· 2026-09-19
The Burlington Police Department is warning residents about multiple scam types including fake customer service, jury duty impersonation, malware pop-ups, sweepstakes, romance, and NFC/ghost tapping scams. Police advise residents to verify requests directly with official sources, never provide remote access or banking information to unsolicited callers, and report suspicious activity to avoid becoming victims of these evolving fraud schemes.
wrestlingnews.co
· 2026-09-19
A 64-year-old Pennsylvania man lost $42,700 in March to a scammer impersonating WWE star Rhea Ripley through an unknown contact method. Celebrity impersonation scams typically involve building relationships through fake social media accounts before requesting money for emergencies or travel. No arrests have been made, and the victim has declined to cooperate with Pennsylvania State Police.
straitstimes.com
· 2026-09-19
Scammers impersonating a healthcare firm's chairman and managing director on Microsoft Teams attempted to trick the company's CFO into transferring $120,000, nearly succeeding until she verified the request with the actual managing director. Business email compromise scams in Singapore surged dramatically, with cases rising from 156 to 262 and losses jumping from $19.5 million to $57.3 million in the first half of 2026, as scammers increasingly exploit messaging platforms and use sophisticated impersonation tactics to exploit workplace hierarchy and create urgency.
straitstimes.com
· 2026-09-19
Singapore's newly formed Cyber Command can now shut down scam websites, phone numbers, and social media pages within minutes—a significant improvement from the hours previously required. Scam losses in Singapore reached $410.6 million in the first half of 2026, with over $4 billion lost since 2019; in July, Cyber Command and the FBI jointly prevented US$2.7 million in cryptocurrency scam losses. The unit disrupted over 47,000 scam-related mobile lines, 37,500 WhatsApp accounts, and 52,200 malicious websites in six months, with scammers commonly impersonating news outlets to promote investment schemes and phishing operations
wesh.com
· 2026-09-19
A Seminole County gas station owner and his employees have prevented over $100,000 in losses by intervening in Bitcoin ATM scams targeting Central Florida residents. Scammers use threats of arrest, deportation, or legal consequences to pressure victims into depositing money into Bitcoin machines with false promises that transactions can be reversed. Authorities warn that legitimate organizations never request payment via Bitcoin, and victims should contact police if they suspect fraud.
wcjb.com
· 2026-09-19
Scammers in Bradford County, Florida are calling residents claiming they missed jury duty and demanding immediate fines, a tactic that has also appeared in neighboring counties. Law enforcement warns that legitimate legal summons are never issued by phone and authorities never demand payment via phone, gift cards, or wire transfers. Residents are advised to hang up immediately if they receive such calls.
wbrc.com
· 2026-09-19
Card skimming scams are evolving as criminals develop new technologies to steal payment information without physical contact, including insert-style skimmers for chip cards and RFID skimming that targets tap-to-pay transactions; the FBI reports skimmer fraud costs Americans over $1 billion annually. Two individuals were recently arrested in Mississippi with skimming devices, fake cards, and over $10,000 in cash after planting skimmers at three Jefferson County businesses. Experts recommend using digital wallets with biometric security, RFID-blocking sleeves, inspecting card readers before use, and monitoring statements for unauthorized charges to protect against these evolving threats.
lifehacker.com
· 2026-09-19
Apple's iOS 27 introduces "Impersonation Risk Detection," a built-in feature that analyzes device and account information to identify signs of social engineering scams where bad actors impersonate banks, government agencies, tech companies, or trusted contacts to pressure victims into disabling security features or sharing financial information. The feature assigns risk levels (Unknown, Medium, or High) to suspicious activities like large payments or disabling two-factor authentication, which apps can use to add delays, warnings, or identity verification steps. However, the feature is disabled by default and requires app developer support to be effective, limiting its widespread adoption and protection potential.
wilcosun.com
· 2026-09-19
In 2025, approximately 560,000 scams were reported across the U.S., resulting in $20.9 billion in losses, with Georgetown residents falling victim weekly to fraud ranging from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Common scams affecting residents include phishing, romance scams, tech support fraud, government impersonation, investment schemes, and sweepstake scams, often initiated through unsolicited contact via phone, text, or email. Legitimate agencies typically do not request payment via phone or text and never accept gift cards or cryptocurrency as payment methods.
cryptoslate.com
· 2026-09-19
AI tools have dramatically increased the efficiency and profitability of scam operations, allowing criminals to automate labor-intensive tasks like maintaining fake identities and conducting fraud conversations. According to Chainalysis, scam operations linked to AI vendors generate an average of $3.2 million in revenue compared to $719,000 for operations without AI tools, while the FBI recorded approximately $893.3 million in AI-related fraud losses from 22,364 complaints in 2025. Scammers now use AI to scale romance scams, investment fraud, business impersonation, and extortion campaigns that once required larger criminal teams, with a single operator able to maintain multiple fake identities and conversations simultaneously.
thecyberexpress.com
· 2026-09-18
A cyberattack on Thinkng Bull, a Seoul-based math academy with 80 branches, exposed personal information of students and parents who used the exam reservation website, including names, schools, grade levels, dates of birth, and parental phone numbers. The breach was disclosed on September 17, and the academy warned families about potential follow-on scams and voice phishing attempts while taking the reservation site offline and filing a police report. The exact number of affected individuals had not been determined as of the latest update, with South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission still investigating whether legal violations occurred.
koreatimes.co.kr
· 2026-09-18
A woman in her late 30s lost 35 million won ($23,700) in a romance scam involving someone impersonating South Korean actor Lee Dong-wook over an eight-month online relationship conducted entirely through social media. The scammer manipulated the victim into believing they were romantically involved and in a relationship, eventually convincing her to send money under the false pretense of clearing customs fees for a package worth 700 million won. The incident is part of a broader trend of celebrity impersonation romance scams targeting fans, with Lee's management agency warning that its artists never solicit money or personal information through private messages.
sports.khan.co.kr
· 2026-09-18
Celebrity-impersonation romance scams targeting fans of Korean actors Lee Dong-wook and Lee Jung-jae, as well as international figures like Brad Pitt and Elon Musk, have defrauded victims of hundreds of millions of won by using AI-generated fake photos, intimate messaging, and false payment schemes. A woman in her late 30s lost approximately $26,250 to a Lee Dong-wook impersonator over eight months, while a woman in her 50s was defrauded of $375,000 by scammers posing as Lee Jung-jae. Scammers employ sophisticated psychological tactics including emotional manipulation (gaslighting),
middleeasteye.net
· 2026-09-18
Turkish authorities dismantled a forex fraud network with alleged ties to Israel that defrauded victims across Europe, Africa, and Asia of at least $266 million over two years through 42 call centers operated by 28 companies. The operation involved 239 suspects who used fake identities, forged documents, and fabricated investment profits to manipulate hundreds of victims into transferring funds to offshore accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, with individual losses ranging from $10,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The network, linked to the international "Scam Empire," employed multilingual staff trained to impersonate professionals and was reportedly relocating operations to Turkey to evade detection amid rising Turkey-Israel tensions.
fox13news.com
· 2026-09-18
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier proposed legislation to strengthen penalties for phone and text scams, including those using artificial intelligence, fake warrants, and impersonation, classifying high-volume or high-loss cases as elevated felonies with mandatory prison time. The proposal aims to address gaps in current Florida law that often treats such crimes as misdemeanors with minimal punishment, while also targeting phone farms and SIM farms used in large-scale scam operations. The Attorney General's Office has recovered nearly $10 million for scam victims this year and is seeking broader authority to investigate and pursue civil penalties against scammers and businesses trafficking in illegally obtained records.
wtap.com
· 2026-09-18
Phone scams involving callers impersonating government officials, banks, and law enforcement continue to rise, with fraudsters using caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate and demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest. A common variation is gift card fraud, where victims are instructed to purchase gift cards and provide the numbers, often resulting in significant credit card debt. Consumers can protect themselves by refusing to provide personal information, hanging up and independently verifying caller identity, and consulting trusted contacts before responding to any demands.
bbc.com
· 2026-09-18
UK food festivals are being targeted by AI-powered scams that use professional-looking emails impersonating real festivals to trick small food and craft traders into paying for booth spaces. A BBC Wales investigation found dozens of traders were deceived by realistic emails that included legitimate branding, staff names, and detailed knowledge of festivals, with at least one trader losing money after paying for a pitch at the fake Abergavenny Food Festival. Reports of AI-linked fraud increased 395% in 2025-26 compared to the previous year, with scammers easily using tools like ChatGPT to generate contact lists and create convincing fake festival accounts.
dailymail.com
· 2026-09-18
Priscilla Johnson, 33, pleaded guilty to defrauding a 90-year-old man out of $40,000 after meeting him at a Colorado grocery store, claiming financial hardship and health emergencies to gain his trust and affection. Investigators have since launched additional charges against Johnson, alleging she systematically targeted multiple elderly men at the same store with similar sob stories, defrauding them of nearly half a million dollars combined. Johnson employed various tactics including claims about a deceased fiancé, stolen work equipment, cancer diagnosis requiring a kidney transplant, and false investment opportunities to manipulate her victims into giving her cash.
newsmobile.in
· 2026-09-18
A Friendswood, Texas woman lost approximately $185,000 in gold bars after scammers impersonating federal agents claimed her Social Security information was compromised and instructed her to convert assets into gold for protection. The alleged courier, Rajdeep Singh from California, was arrested on September 16 and charged with theft, with investigators suspecting he targeted multiple victims in the Houston area. Authorities warn that legitimate law enforcement and financial institutions never request purchases of gold, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to protect assets or prevent arrest.
edmondsbeacon.com
· 2026-09-18
I cannot provide a summary because the full article text is not available—only the headline and a paywall message appear in the provided content. To create an accurate summary focused on specific scams, victims affected, and dollar amounts, I would need access to the complete article.
wetmountaintribune.com
· 2026-09-18
The FCC has warned that "grandparent scams" targeting elderly Americans have become increasingly sophisticated, leveraging stolen personal data from social media, fake caller ID technology, and AI voice cloning to impersonate grandchildren in crisis situations. Americans aged 60 and above reported $7.74 billion in losses to such scams in 2025, representing a 59% increase from the previous year, though the FBI estimates actual losses are significantly higher. The agency recommends verifying callers independently, establishing family code words, recognizing pressure tactics, and reporting suspicious calls to local authorities.
patch.com
· 2026-09-18
Stanley G. Richards, a Prince George's County man, was fined $5.9 million and permanently banned from Maryland's securities industry for his role in promoting NovaTech, an unlawful pyramid scheme that posed as a cryptocurrency and forex trading platform. Beginning in 2021, Richards aggressively marketed NovaTech investments on YouTube, video calls, and social media, defrauding approximately 3,000 Maryland residents who lost around $37 million collectively, while the scheme generated between $600 million to $1 billion globally from 2019-2023. Richards operated as an unregistered investment adviser and rose to senior director status within NovaTech's hierarchy by selling over