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Brenda Cowden, 55, a senior service provider employee in Hamilton County, was indicted on 10 felony charges for allegedly defrauding a 79-year-old isolated victim by befriending her, obtaining a fraudulent Power of Attorney, and stealing $13,600 while gaining control over $1 million of the victim's assets through unauthorized account modifications. The fraud was discovered when credit union investigators froze the accounts, preventing Cowden from inheriting the victim's entire estate upon her death. Cowden faces up to 61 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

This article is an educational overview of online fraud tactics, particularly on social media platforms. In 2024, 70% of authorized push payment (APP) fraud originated online, with criminals impersonating legitimate businesses, charities, or loved ones to manipulate victims into sending money through fake profiles and targeted ads. The UK introduced new consumer protections in October 2024, including up to £85,000 reimbursement coverage and a five-day claims process, as social media's anonymity, ease of account creation, and access to personal information make it an ideal environment for fraudsters to operate at scale.

An 80-year-old woman was prevented from losing $10,000 after a vigilant NAB bank teller grew suspicious when the customer attempted to transfer funds to a man she had been communicating with on Tinder for 12 months but never met in person. The scammer had posed as an oil rig worker in Malaysia claiming to be locked out of his Australian bank accounts and needing money to return to the country, using romance scam tactics to build emotional connection through messaging. NAB reported a 29% increase in romance scam reports, with Australians losing an estimated $40 million to such scams in 2023, with those over 55 experiencing the highest

This commentary discusses "scambaiting"—intentionally engaging with scammers to waste their time—as an unconventional tactic some people use against fraud. While it can provide psychological satisfaction and prevent scammers from targeting vulnerable victims, scambaiting carries legal risks under harassment and stalking laws, and may provoke retaliation including doxxing or threats to the person's loved ones.

Cryptocurrency scams targeting elderly individuals have surged dramatically, with investment fraud losses among Americans aged 60+ rising 38% to $4.57 billion in 2023, and crypto-specific investment fraud increasing 53% to $3.96 billion. Scammers exploit social media platforms to establish trust with seniors through fake investment opportunities featuring artificially high returns, gradually escalating requests for larger amounts. Recovery solutions exist through specialized blockchain forensics and asset recovery services, while protection measures include verifying contacts through face-to-face communication and avoiding suspicious links or unsolicited requests.

Morris County authorities warned seniors that Americans lose over $10 billion annually to scams including fake bank notifications, phony job offers, and romance fraud, noting that many senior victims don't report losses due to embarrassment and fear of losing independence. The Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes Unit provided protection tips including avoiding suspicious links and attachments, never sharing ID or passport information via webcam, and refusing requests for wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency payments. Authorities emphasized that victims should report fraud immediately to increase chances of financial recovery and aid law enforcement investigations.

Google filed suit against two Chinese developers, Yunfeng Sun and Hongnam Cheung, for creating at least 87 fake cryptocurrency exchange apps (including TionRT and SkypeWallet) that defrauded over 100,000 downloaders globally since 2019. The developers used "pig-butchering" scams, initiating contact via Google Voice to build trust before convincing victims to invest in fraudulent projects; at least one victim lost over $75,000, with approximately 8,700 U.S. victims affected. Google seeks a permanent ban on the defendants' use of its services and damages to be determined at trial.

Google filed its first-ever lawsuit against cryptocurrency scammers based in China and Hong Kong for distributing 87 fraudulent trading apps on the Google Play Store that were used to conduct "pig butchering" romance scams. The scheme targeted over 100,000 victims who lost between $100 and tens of thousands of dollars each after being manipulated into downloading fake apps that displayed false investment returns but prevented fund withdrawals. Google is seeking damages, financial compensation exceeding $75,000 in investigation costs, and a court order to bar the developers from future fraudulent activity.

Brett E. Lovett, a 53-year-old former insurance agent from Camarillo, was found guilty of 29 counts including embezzlement, fraud, elder abuse, and money laundering for defrauding at least nine seniors of approximately $1.2 million between 2011 and 2016. Lovett targeted victims he met at a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation and through his legal aid information business, then misappropriated their funds for personal expenses including cosmetic procedures, travel, and jewelry. He was scheduled for sentencing on May 9, 2024.

A Melbourne woman in her 60s was prevented from losing $2,000 to a romance scam when a NAB bank employee identified red flags—including her inability to name the supposed recipient, increasingly coercive messages, and a timely call from the scammer during the transaction. The employee's intervention saved her from joining hundreds of Australians who lost approximately $40 million to romance scams in the previous year, with NAB reporting a 29 percent year-on-year increase in romance scam reports.

A National Australia Bank teller in Melbourne prevented a woman in her 60s from losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam by identifying red flags in her plan to transfer money to an overseas "boyfriend" she had met on social media. The scammer, posing as someone in Turkey needing medical treatment, had convinced the woman to send funds to an intermediary in Sydney, but the teller's intervention and private counseling stopped the transaction. According to NAB, romance scam reports have increased nearly 30 percent year-over-year, with Australians losing an estimated $33 million to such scams annually.

A woman in her 60s was stopped from sending A$2,000 to a scammer posing as her Turkish boyfriend after a quick-thinking NAB bank teller noticed red flags in her story—including that she couldn't name her "boyfriend," had never met him, and was being directed to send money to a stranger in Sydney instead. The scammer had created an emotional narrative about needing money for medical treatment in the UK, with an increasingly coercive tone, and even called during the transaction to pressure her. NAB reported a 29% increase in romance scam complaints, with Australians losing an estimated A$40 million to such scams in 2023, with those

A Melbourne woman in her 60s was prevented from transferring $2,000 to an overseas "boyfriend" in Turkey by a vigilant NAB bank teller who detected a romance scam. The teller identified red flags including the woman's unfamiliarity with the money's recipient, increasingly coercive text messages, and the "boyfriend's" urgent call pressuring her to send funds for claimed medical treatment. According to Scamwatch, Australians lost $33 million to romance and friendship scams in 2023, with such scams increasing 29 percent year-on-year.

Brett E. Lovett, a former insurance agent from Camarillo, was convicted of 29 counts including fraud, elder abuse, grand theft, and money laundering for defrauding nine victims of $1.2 million between 2011 and 2016. Lovett, whose insurance license expired in 2000, gained victims' trust through a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation and a legal aid organization, then misused their investment funds for personal expenses including cosmetic procedures, vacation rentals, and jewelry. One victim lost her entire life savings of $194,688.50, and others experienced homelessness or had to relocate to family homes as a result of the frau

Richmond, B.C. RCMP warned of a surge in romance-investment scams that cost victims over $16 million in 2023, with 87 reported cases that year and another 12 cases totaling nearly $500,000 in losses between January and March 2024. Scammers groom victims through dating websites and social media over weeks or months, building trust before convincing them to invest in fraudulent schemes, often involving cryptocurrencies and fake investment returns. Police also issued a warning about a "speeding ticket" text scam designed to steal personal and financial information by directing victims to a fake website mimicking the government's legitimate PayBC payment portal.

Richmond, B.C. RCMP warned of a significant rise in romance investment scams in 2023, with 87 reported cases resulting in over $16 million in losses, continuing into 2024 with 12 cases and nearly $500,000 lost in just three months. These "long-con" scams involve fraudsters grooming victims through dating websites and social media over weeks or months, building trust before convincing them to invest in fake schemes often involving cryptocurrencies and displaying fabricated returns. The RCMP also warned of a separate "speeding ticket" phishing scam using text messages with fake government websites designed to steal personal and financial information.

Between January 2023 and March 2024, Richmond, B.C. RCMP reported 99 romance scam cases totaling over $16 million in losses, with scammers using dating websites and social media to build trust with victims over weeks or months before convincing them to invest in fraudulent schemes, often involving cryptocurrencies. The article also warns of a separate "speeding ticket scam" where fake text messages direct victims to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and financial information by impersonating official government traffic violation notices.

Former licensed insurance agent Brett E. Lovett was found guilty of 29 felony counts including grand theft, elder abuse, and money laundering for defrauding at least nine victims, including senior citizens, of approximately $1.2 million between 2011 and 2016. Lovett befriended vulnerable victims at places of worship and through a legal aid business, then misappropriated their money intended for nonexistent investments or financial management by using powers of attorney and promissory notes. This conviction followed a prior 2007 CFTC case in which Lovett was ordered to pay over $675,000 in restitution for commodity futures fraud, penalties he never

Richmond RCMP reported a significant rise in romance-investment scams in 2023, with victims losing over $16 million across 87 reported cases, and an additional 12 cases reported in early 2024 resulting in nearly $500,000 in losses. These "long-con scams" involve criminals grooming victims over weeks or months through dating websites and social media, building trust before convincing them to invest in fraudulent schemes, often involving cryptocurrencies and fake investment returns. Police advise the public to be skeptical of unsolicited romantic contacts, especially from attractive profiles, and note that legitimate romantic interests should not involve requests for money.

Taufiq Mohammed Kailani of Daytona Beach was arrested for using a business email imposter scam to defraud two construction companies of $60,725 by posing as an employee and sending a counterfeit bank letter to trick one company into wiring funds. Kailani exploited an elderly victim he met through a romance scam to open a fraudulent bank account and withdraw the stolen money, which the victim unwittingly facilitated. He was charged with organized fraud, fraudulent use of personal identification information, and money laundering, with bail set at $1.5 million.

The 2024 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report found that investment and cryptocurrency scams remained the highest-risk scam type, with over 80% of victims reporting losses averaging $5,000, while romance/friendship scams rose to third place with the highest median loss of $6,099. Financial grooming scams—where perpetrators build relationships with targets over weeks or months before encouraging investment—accounted for significant losses, with the overall reported median dollar loss rising 30% from 2023 to 2024. Seniors age 65+ experienced the highest median losses ($160), and victims engaged via social media were more likely to lose money, with nearly 30% reporting

Singapore's Minister of State for Home Affairs criticized Meta for repeatedly refusing to implement government-recommended safety features on Facebook, despite the platform accounting for nearly half of the 9,783 e-commerce scams reported in 2023, which resulted in S$13.9 million (US$10.3 million) in losses—more than double the prior year. Meta has rejected recommendations including government ID verification and secured payment options for Marketplace users, causing Facebook to rank lowest (one tick) in Singapore's E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings for the second consecutive year, while competitors like Shopee and Carousell have cooperated and seen scam reductions of up to 71

Undercover video obtained by software engineer Jim Browning reveals a "pig butchering" scam operation based in Dubai employing hundreds of people, including real models, to pose as glamorous individuals on dating apps and romance-bait victims into fake cryptocurrency investment schemes. The scammers use VPNs, multiple messaging platforms, and scripts to target victims globally across countries ranging from South America to Central Asia, with workers operating from eight-story buildings under exploitative conditions. The operation, run primarily by Chinese nationals using migrant workers from North Africa and Southeast Asia, commits romance and investment fraud to extract large sums of money from unsuspecting victims worldwide.

Five foreign nationals, including Dotun Olawale Alonge (sentenced to 18 months in federal prison), were convicted for laundering over $1.7 million in proceeds from a Nigeria-based conspiracy that defrauded elderly U.S. citizens through romance scams, sweepstakes fraud, and rental property schemes. Victims were instructed to wire money or send cash to addresses in Rhode Island controlled by the defendants, who then moved the funds through multiple banks and businesses before sending most proceeds to Nigeria. The defendants have been ordered to pay approximately $455,750 in restitution to identified victims, with several facing deportation after their sentences.

A Nigerian-based conspiracy defrauded elderly U.S. citizens of over $1.7 million through multiple scam methods, including romance scams on dating sites, fake sweepstakes claims, and rental property fraud. Dotun Olawale Alonge, the fifth defendant convicted in the case, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for money laundering; he and four other convicted co-conspirators were ordered to pay approximately $455,750 in joint restitution to victims, with one fugitive still at large.

Singapore reported a record 46,563 scam cases in 2023, representing a 46.8% increase from 2022, with victims losing S$651.8 million. Job scams were the most prevalent (9,914 cases; S$135.7 million lost), primarily targeting those aged 30-49 through WhatsApp and Telegram offers of work-from-home tasks, while fake friend call scams surged to 6,859 cases (S$23 million lost), disproportionately affecting adults aged 50-64. Contrary to common assumptions, 73% of victims were under age 50, with malware scams

Between October 2023 and January 2024, 3,066 victims in Singapore lost over $45.7 million to job scams, according to police reports. Scammers used dating apps, messaging platforms, and social media to recruit victims, offering commissions for tasks like boosting social media engagement, completing surveys, or affiliate marketing, then pressuring them to transfer money to bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets via fake websites or investment schemes. Police warned the public to verify job offers through official channels, avoid unknown links and apps, and use privacy settings on messaging platforms to prevent unsolicited recruitment into chat groups.

Singapore reported 46,563 scam cases in 2023, a 50% increase from 31,728 cases in 2022, with job scams (9,914 cases) and eCommerce scams (9,783 cases) being the most common types. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were the primary platforms used by scammers, accounting for the majority of social media-based fraud, while victims spanned all age groups with adults aged 30-49 comprising the largest proportion at 43.1%. Despite the surge in cases, the average loss per scam decreased 32.8% to SG$13,999 in 2023,

In 2023, scam cases in Singapore surged 49.6 percent to 50,376 total cases, with Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram identified as the primary platforms used by scammers to contact victims. Job scams became the most prevalent type with 9,914 cases (up 52.7 percent from 2022), followed by investment scams, while adults aged 30-49 represented the largest victim demographic; notably, despite increased case numbers, total losses decreased slightly to S$651.8 million (down 1.3 percent) and average loss per case dropped 32.8 percent to S$13,999.

In 2023, Singapore reported a record high of 46,563 scam cases with victims losing $651.8 million, marking a 46.8 percent increase in cases from 2022 despite public warnings. Job scams were the most prevalent fraud type, followed by e-commerce scams (which more than doubled), with 73 percent of victims aged below 50, contrary to assumptions that elderly people are most vulnerable. The police attributed most scams to organized criminal groups operating transnationally and noted that 19 scam syndicates were dismantled in 2023 through international cooperation.

Singapore recorded over 46,000 scam cases in 2023, resulting in losses of 651.8 million Singapore dollars (approximately 484 million U.S. dollars), a slight decrease from 2022. The most prevalent scam types were job scams, e-commerce scams, fake friend call scams, phishing scams, and investment scams. Police conducted 24 enforcement activities that led to the investigation of more than 9,600 money mules and scam suspects.

The Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois reports a 70% increase in scam reports year-to-date (roughly 100,000 compared to 58,000 last year), with seniors age 65 and older being the hardest hit, experiencing median losses of over $6,000 from romance/friendship scams and sometimes losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. To address this rise, BBB leader Jessica Tharp is launching the Senior Scam Stop 2025 education series to combat the stigma around victimization and empower seniors with knowledge about common scams (including romance plots, grandparent scams, and Medicare fraud) and protective strategies.

Internet scams have evolved from crude 1990s email cons like Nigerian prince schemes to sophisticated AI-powered deepfakes that can convincingly impersonate voices and faces, with phishing attacks emerging in the early 2000s as online banking adoption grew. Despite technological advances making fraud more convincing and difficult to detect, successful scams continue to rely on exploiting fundamental human emotions—greed, fear, compassion, and loneliness—through predictable psychological manipulation patterns that create urgency and isolate victims from support systems. Understanding how scam tactics have evolved reveals that technological complexity often masks simple psychological manipulation, and recognizing consistent underlying patterns can help potential victims identify manipulation attempts regardless of delivery method.

Jack Watkin, a 26-year-old Instagram influencer from Cheshire, was jailed for six years after defrauding victims of over £200,000 through a fake designer handbag investment scheme. Watkin claimed to have exclusive access to luxury Hermès handbags and convinced victims they could profit from resale, but delivered no bags or returns while using their money to fund a lavish lifestyle including hotel stays and luxury goods. The scheme unraveled when one victim contacted police in 2022, leading to the discovery of multiple victims; Watkin was also convicted of possessing and creating indecent images of children.

An organized gang in Agra, Uttar Pradesh was arrested for systematically blackmailing young men through dating apps and social media, using female accomplices to lure victims into compromising situations that were recorded and used for extortion. In one case, a victim was coerced to pay 200,000 rupees after being recorded at a hotel under false pretenses, with the gang continuing demands even after partial payments. Police emphasize awareness and caution as safeguards, while national data shows a 28% increase in online sexual exploitation and blackmail crimes in India in 2022.

Ana María Núñez, a 68-year-old woman with at least 16 prior fraud convictions, is on trial for defrauding a 78-year-old terminally ill woman in Doral of over $430,000 by posing as her daughter and obtaining power of attorney to transfer the victim's home and savings. Núñez and her son allegedly exploited the victim as her health declined from cancer; she faces multiple additional pending charges for other scams dating back to at least 1996, including a $105,000 investment fraud and another elderly victim scheme yielding $437,107. Authorities suspect the actual number of victims exceeds those documente

Affinity fraud and friendship scams represent an evolving variation of romance scams where criminals build false bonds with victims by claiming shared interests—such as hobbies, support groups, or online gaming—rather than romantic attraction, exploiting the trust that develops from perceived commonality. Recent victims reported to the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline lost $10,000 and over $100,000 respectively after scammers posed as friends and requested loans via Cash App, Bitcoin, and gift cards with no intent to repay. The scams typically begin with unsolicited contact on social media, friendship apps, or through wrong-number texts, after which perpetrators quickly attempt to establish rapport an

Peach Tree City Police identified cryptocurrency ATMs as the leading cause of fraud in their jurisdiction, with victims losing $2 million in just eight months of 2024. Scammers deceived residents into depositing cash into cryptocurrency accounts via ATMs located in stores and gas stations, often wiping out life savings and retirement accounts. Police emphasized that any unsolicited request to use a crypto or Bitcoin ATM is a scam, and warn this problem is occurring in communities nationwide.

The FBI is seeking additional victims of Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman arrested in Mexico and charged with a years-long romance scam targeting older men between 2021 and 2022. Using aliases on dating apps like Tinder and OkCupid, Phelps lured at least four elderly victims, accessed their bank accounts, and allegedly drugged one victim into a coma while three others died; she faces 21 counts including bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping, with one charge involving transporting a heavily sedated victim across the U.S.-Mexico border in a wheelchair.

The Better Business Bureau has identified 12 common holiday scams targeting consumers during the festive season, including puppy scams where fake pet listings trick buyers into sending money without receiving animals, and counterfeit goods scams offering suspiciously low-priced name-brand items on online marketplaces. Consumers are advised to verify purchases in person when possible, avoid sending money to unknown sellers, and be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true during the holidays when scammers exploit seasonal distractions and increased online shopping activity.

Romance scams involve online "friends" or romantic interests who request money using fabricated urgent reasons to manipulate victims into sending funds via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. If an online contact asks for money, especially with instructions on how to send it through these methods, it is a scam and should be reported to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov immediately.

The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on romance confidence scams (also called "pig butchering"), examining this multi-billion dollar fraud scheme that targets everyday Americans. The scam operates by building trust with victims over weeks or months before exploiting that confidence to extract money, with text-based contact attempts increasing dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Romance scams are targeting hundreds of people in Middle Tennessee, with scammers building trust through daily messaging on platforms like LinkedIn before directing victims to invest money in fraudulent schemes involving gold trading, banking, finance, and cryptocurrency. Once victims send money to these scammers, recovery is nearly impossible. The schemes typically involve scammers posing as trustworthy individuals from overseas who gradually shift conversations from personal matters to investment opportunities.

**Pig Butchering Scams Overview** "Pig Butchering" is a romance/investment scam that typically begins with unsolicited text messages appearing to be sent to the wrong person, establishing false familiarity and trust. Scammers then gradually build relationships with victims and persuade them to invest money in fraudulent cryptocurrency or trading schemes, often resulting in significant financial losses. The scam gets its name from the process of cultivating ("fattening") victims before extracting ("butchering") their money.