Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
4,783 results
in Romance Scam
▶ VIDEO
Texomashomepage.com - KFDX, KJTL
· 2025-02-06
Romance scams surge around Valentine's Day, with scammers using sophisticated tactics like the "wrong number" text approach to build trust with lonely people over days or weeks before requesting money or gift cards. Victims have lost tens of thousands of dollars falling for these schemes, which often involve stolen photos of attractive people found on social media or modeling websites. Red flags include requests for money, inconsistent details, and photos that reverse-image search reveals are used elsewhere online; users can verify identities through reverse image search tools and avoid using the same profile photos across multiple platforms.
▶ VIDEO
KPRC 2 Click2Houston
· 2025-02-05
Scammers exploit Valentine's Day shopping—when consumers are expected to spend a record $27.5 billion—through various fraudulent schemes, with fake jewelry websites being a primary concern. These fraudulent sites imitate legitimate jewelry retailers by copying logos and promotional materials while using nearly identical web addresses (differing by just one letter) to trick consumers into purchasing jewelry they never receive. Consumers are advised to carefully verify website addresses and watch for common Valentine's Day scams that exploit the holiday shopping season.
▶ VIDEO
FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2025-02-06
Romance scams are prevalent and increasingly sophisticated, with the Better Business Bureau reporting a median loss of $6,000 per victim. Scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and social media to build trust over weeks or months before requesting money or pushing cryptocurrency investment schemes, and they now use AI to generate realistic photos and communicate with multiple victims simultaneously. To protect yourself, verify profile photos using reverse image search, trust your instincts if something seems too good to be true, independently research any investment opportunities, and avoid clicking links or sharing financial information provided by potential romantic contacts.
▶ VIDEO
Eyewitness News ABC7NY
· 2025-02-07
Romance scammers are targeting people seeking relationships online, with the FTC reporting these scams cost Americans $1.3 billion annually. Scammers employ "love bombing" tactics, building emotional connections over months or even a year before requesting money, increasingly through cryptocurrency to remain untraceable. One Connecticut woman lost nearly $1 million to this type of fraud.
▶ VIDEO
WFMY News 2
· 2025-02-08
Romance scams cost victims over one billion dollars last year according to the FTC, with scammers typically requesting money from online dating prospects around Valentine's Day. The Better Business Bureau notes that victims lose money and experience emotional harm, as scammers are skilled manipulators who build trust before revealing their deceptive intentions. The key to protection is awareness that online romantic interests may not be who they claim to be and vigilance against requests for money from people you have not met in person.
▶ VIDEO
KVUE
· 2025-02-10
The U.S. Postal Service issued a warning ahead of Valentine's Day about romance scams, which target people seeking companionship by building trust online before requesting money or valuables be sent through the mail. Scammers create fake identities and fabricate urgent financial needs to pressure victims into sending cash, checks, wire transfers, or gift cards. The USPS recommends being cautious of quickly escalating online relationships, avoiding sharing personal information, and immediately reporting suspected scams.
▶ VIDEO
KVUE
· 2025-02-10
In 2023, Texas ranked third in the nation for romance scams, with victims losing a combined $54 million, contributing to over $1 billion in total U.S. losses to these schemes according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers are increasingly using AI-generated images and videos to target victims based on their interests, including creating fake profiles resembling deceased partners to target widows. The FTC recommends verifying identities through reverse image searches and video chats, avoiding sending money to online acquaintances, and remaining cautious of individuals claiming military status, living abroad, or expressing rapid romantic commitment.
▶ VIDEO
News 3 Las Vegas
· 2025-02-11
Federal agencies launched a "Dating or Defrauding" awareness campaign ahead of Valentine's Day to warn Americans about online romance scams involving fake dating profiles, fraudulent apps, and unsolicited text messages. Scammers build romantic relationships with victims and then convince them to invest money or trade cryptocurrency, claiming they can generate significant returns. The multi-agency initiative advises Americans never to send money or invest with people known only online.
▶ VIDEO
CBS Mornings
· 2025-02-11
Relationship investment scams, known as "pig butchering," are sweeping the nation by targeting people seeking romance on dating apps and social media. Sophisticated criminals use fake profiles, AI-generated images, and fabricated romantic connections to persuade victims to invest money in fraudulent business opportunities, resulting in nearly $159 billion in losses in 2023 alone according to one estimate. Federal agencies including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are partnering with state and nonprofit organizations to warn the public about this growing threat.
▶ VIDEO
Good Morning America
· 2025-02-12
Meta announced new protections against romance scams across Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp, restricting accounts engaging in suspicious behavior such as messaging numerous users with fake profiles, impersonating dating agencies, or posing as military members. The move addresses the $1 billion in losses Americans suffered from romance fraud in 2023, with Meta having already removed over 500,000 fraudulent accounts and pages; users will now receive warning popups when potentially suspicious accounts or links are detected in messages.
▶ VIDEO
wgaltv
· 2025-02-12
Romance scammers build trust with vulnerable victims through fake dating profiles, often impersonating celebrities or researching social media accounts, then manipulate them into sending money through promises of investment opportunities or appeals to help with hardship situations. The FBI warns to protect personal information online, use reputable dating platforms, be suspicious of quick requests to move conversations offline, and watch for claims of overseas locations that prevent in-person meetings. Victims should report romance scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
▶ VIDEO
WLUK-TV FOX 11
· 2025-02-12
As Valentine's Day approaches with consumers expected to spend $26 billion on gifts, the Better Business Bureau warns of common scams including fraudulent online retailers, romance scams targeting vulnerable people, and phishing emails. To protect themselves, shoppers should verify seller legitimacy by calling businesses, checking for poor grammar on websites, and verifying website creation dates through tools like GoDaddy, while avoiding unrealistically cheap deals.
▶ VIDEO
ABC15 Arizona
· 2025-02-12
This article warns about three Valentine's Day scams: impostor websites selling fake jewelry, flowers, or dating services that use stolen logos and offer suspicious discounts or request untraceable payment methods; romance scams where fraudsters build fake profiles to establish emotional connections before requesting money; and wrong-number scams that target lonely individuals through unsolicited texts to lure them into conversations. The article advises consumers to watch for red flags including unrealistic deals, requests for cryptocurrency or cash transfers, relationships that move too quickly without in-person meetings, and requests to keep relationships secret.
▶ VIDEO
ABC News
· 2025-02-13
Romance scammers stole $1.14 billion from victims in 2023, with authorities warning Americans—particularly seniors—about this growing fraud. Scammers use fake identities to build trust quickly, then fabricate emergencies (medical or travel expenses) to solicit money; notable cases include a 76-year-old Georgia woman who lost her $70,000 life savings and a French woman defrauded of $850,000 by scammers using AI-generated deepfakes of celebrity Brad Pitt.
▶ VIDEO
ABC11
· 2025-02-13
As Americans prepare to spend $27.5 billion on Valentine's Day, scammers are launching phishing emails and malicious websites to steal money and personal information. Checkpoint software identified over 18,000 Valentine's Day-related websites since early 2025, with approximately 1 in 72 identified as malicious, often impersonating well-known brands to appear legitimate. Consumers should protect themselves by verifying sender email addresses, avoiding suspicious links, and checking URLs before clicking to ensure they're on legitimate company websites.
▶ VIDEO
WKBN27
· 2025-02-13
A local nonprofit in Youngstown is hosting an educational class to help people recognize and avoid romance scams, which cost victims $23 million in reported losses last year according to the Federal Trade Commission. Romance scams involve fraudsters posing as romantic partners online to gain trust and then manipulate victims into sharing personal information or sending money, gifts, or cryptocurrency. Red flags to watch for include reluctance to meet in person, claims of wealth, requests for secrecy, pressure for money, and "love bombing" tactics.
▶ VIDEO
KSDK News
· 2025-02-14
Romance scams spike around Valentine's Day, with nearly 65,000 people reporting romance scams in 2023 and losses totaling $1.14 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. These scams involve fraudsters creating fake profiles on dating apps to gain victims' trust and manipulate them into sending money. Key protective measures include using reverse image searches to verify profile photos and being cautious of requests for financial information.
▶ VIDEO
KHOU 11
· 2025-02-14
**Romance Scams Rising with AI-Enhanced Deception**
The Better Business Bureau warns that romance scams are increasing, particularly around Valentine's Day, with scammers creating fake profiles on dating apps and social media to build romantic connections for financial exploitation. Advances in AI technology are making these scams harder to detect, as criminals can now create convincing fake images, voices, videos, and social media accounts to impersonate real people or celebrities, making anyone vulnerable to victimization.
▶ VIDEO
WMBB News 13
· 2025-02-15
The Bay County Sheriff's Office warns that romance scams, often perpetrated through social media via "catfishing," are increasing around Valentine's Day and primarily target elderly individuals by exploiting loneliness and emotions. Scammers build fake online relationships to manipulate victims into sending money, using emotional tactics and fear to cloud judgment. Residents are advised to be skeptical of requests for money from people they have never met in person and to report suspected scams to local law enforcement.
▶ VIDEO
NBC 7 San Diego
· 2025-02-15
A San Diego woman lost $32,000 in a romance scam after developing an online relationship over one year with a man posing as an architect working in Poland. The scammer slowly built trust and emotional intimacy before requesting money for various emergencies, exploiting the victim's affection to gain access to her finances. This case illustrates how romance scams differ from other fraud schemes by operating over extended periods to manipulate victims emotionally rather than through immediate pressure tactics.
▶ VIDEO
Tampa Bay 28
· 2025-02-14
Cybersecurity experts report an uptick in romance scams around Valentine's Day, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics on dating apps and websites. One victim, Rebecca De Antonio, lost $100,000 after falling in love with someone she met online, and experts note such cases are becoming more common as online dating grows. Common tactics include sending fraudulent links designed to steal personal information, with one security firm blocking over 321,000 malicious URLs in just two months; experts warn that scammers rushing victims into commitments or requests for money are major red flags.
▶ VIDEO
WTRF
· 2025-02-14
**Summary:**
The Better Business Bureau and FBI warn that thousands of people fall victim to dating scams annually, particularly around Valentine's Day. Red flags include scammers moving conversations off dating apps to private messaging platforms, quickly professing love, and requesting money or personal information. Experts advise verifying a person's intentions before sharing financial details and to immediately cease contact and review finances if scam activity is suspected.
▶ VIDEO
NBC News
· 2025-02-15
**Romance Scams Using Cryptocurrency on the Rise**
Scammers, often from Southeast Asian crime syndicates, are perpetrating "pig butchering" romance fraud schemes where they pose as romantic interests online and manipulate victims into fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities. One victim, Barry May from Mississippi, lost $500,000 of his life savings after being deceived by a scammer posing as a woman named Anna who promised investment returns and marriage. According to a Wall Street Watchdog report, these cryptocurrency-based scams result in untraceable fund transfers that leave victims with irreplaceable financial losses.
▶ VIDEO
KFOR Oklahoma's News 4
· 2025-02-15
**Summary:**
Romance scams increase around Valentine's Day, with scammers creating fake online identities on dating apps to build trust and manipulate victims into sending money via gift cards or cryptocurrency or stealing personal information. The Better Business Bureau warns that older adults and lonely individuals are particularly vulnerable targets, and advises people to be suspicious of quick relationship progression, requests for financial help, and unusual payment methods, while encouraging people to check on vulnerable loved ones.
▶ VIDEO
WTRF
· 2025-02-16
Scammers are targeting dating app users by building romantic relationships and requesting money or personal information to invest in cryptocurrency, with the Better Business Bureau reporting approximately $500 million lost to romance scams last year alone. Red flags include requests to convert cash, checks, or gifts into Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, and scammers typically delete their accounts and block victims once money is obtained. Experts recommend immediately stopping contact with suspicious individuals and reviewing personal finances for any unauthorized transactions.
▶ VIDEO
News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-02-18
Online romance scams caused $823 million in losses last year according to the Federal Trade Commission, with losses expected to grow due to increasing use of AI technology that makes fraudulent conversations sound authentic and personalized. Older adults are disproportionately targeted because scammers assume they are financially stable with steady retirement income. Red flags include rapid relationship progression, avoidance of in-person meetings, requests for secrecy, and requests for money; victims should report suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
▶ VIDEO
NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-02-19
Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence on dating apps to commit romance fraud, with 60% of online daters reporting conversations with AI-generated profiles according to a Norton survey. Scammers exploit AI technology to create convincing messages, fake profiles, and deepfake videos to impersonate real people and manipulate victims, particularly those seeking genuine connections. Experts recommend maintaining skepticism and awareness as the best defense, as romance scams remain a persistent threat enabled by advancing AI capabilities.
▶ VIDEO
ABC 7 Chicago
· 2025-02-22
Aurora Phelps, a U.S.-Mexico dual citizen, is accused by the FBI of conducting a deadly romance scam targeting older men in their 60s and 70s between 2019 and 2022. She allegedly met victims on dating apps, drugged them with sedatives, and robbed them, resulting in at least 11 victims across the U.S. and Mexico, with three confirmed deaths in the current indictment. Phelps is currently detained in a Mexican jail awaiting extradition to face charges in the United States.
▶ VIDEO
FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-02-22
The FBI charged 43-year-old Aurora Phelps of Las Vegas with operating a "sinister" romance scam targeting older men aged 60-70 whom she met on dating sites. Phelps lured her victims, drugged them with dangerous amounts of sedatives, and stole from them by accessing their bank and brokerage accounts, using credit cards, and attempting to withdraw millions in one case; authorities believe she may have killed at least one victim and are seeking the public's help to identify additional victims.
▶ VIDEO
KHOU 11
· 2025-02-24
Aurora Phelps, a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen, allegedly orchestrated a romance scam targeting older men through dating apps, meeting them in person to drug and rob them. The FBI confirmed at least 11 victims across the U.S. and Mexico, with at least three deaths resulting from the scheme; Phelps is currently held in a Mexican jail awaiting extradition and faces potential life imprisonment if convicted.
▶ VIDEO
5NEWS
· 2025-02-24
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.
▶ VIDEO
ABC News
· 2025-02-24
Las Vegas resident Aurora Phelps, 43, is charged with a sophisticated romance scam targeting older men she met through online dating services, in which she drugged victims and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars by accessing their bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and credit cards. One victim died after Phelps allegedly sedated and transported him across the US-Mexico border to a Mexico City hotel room, and another victim had approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock fraudulently sold; Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico, and the FBI is seeking additional victims to come forward.
▶ VIDEO
CNBC Television
· 2025-02-24
Crypto-related scams generated nearly $10 billion in fraudulent revenue in 2024, with pig butchering scams surging 40% and representing 33.2% of overall crypto fraud schemes. Pig butchering scams involve fraudsters building trust with victims through romance or investment schemes before directing them to fake platforms to steal cryptocurrency funds. The surge is driven by increased professionalization of scam operations, easier access to sophisticated tools, and state actors using cryptocurrency to evade sanctions.
▶ VIDEO
WFAA
· 2025-02-24
Aurora Phelps, a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen currently in a Mexican jail awaiting extradition, is accused by the FBI of orchestrating a romance scam targeting older men on dating apps, meeting them in person, drugging them, and stealing their money. The scheme has resulted in at least 11 confirmed victims across the U.S. and Mexico, with three victims deceased. Phelps faces potential life imprisonment if convicted.
▶ VIDEO
News 19 WLTX
· 2025-02-25
Two Lexon County men, 45-year-old Kenneth Brown and 46-year-old Nicholas Shepard, were sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving business email compromise and romance scams. The men coordinated with others to receive checks from scam victims at their business, Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange, then deposited and converted the funds into cryptocurrency. They must pay $415,000 in restitution and are ineligible for parole under the federal system.
▶ VIDEO
5NEWS
· 2025-02-26
Aurora Phelps, 43, of Las Vegas is charged with federal crimes including fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death for romance scams conducted between July 2021 and December 2022, where she allegedly drugged victims and stole from them. Phelps has a prior 2019 Arkansas case where she was accused of drugging a woman and stealing her credit card, as well as a separate 2017 Benton County case involving a false police report; she is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges and faces extradition proceedings.
▶ VIDEO
The Online Citizen
· 2025-02-27
Rachel Ong called for strengthened mental health support for seniors in Singapore's Budget 2025 debate, highlighting that seniors aged 60 and above account for nearly 30% of suicide cases despite being least likely to seek help. She emphasized that seniors face profound grief, loss, and life changes while lacking adequate access to healthcare professionals and informal support networks, requiring urgent targeted interventions. Ong also referenced the need to address scam distress as part of comprehensive senior mental health support.
▶ VIDEO
CTV News
· 2025-03-01
March marks Fraud Prevention Month across Canada, during which law enforcement and community groups collaborate to educate the public about fraud prevention. According to Edmonton police and the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association, current fraud trends include investment fraud, online employment scams, and romance fraud, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated in targeting both money and personal identity. Key prevention advice includes being skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true and verifying whether you initiated contact with the person or organization reaching out.
▶ VIDEO
National Geographic
· 2025-03-02
Investigative journalist Mariana Van Zeller explores cryptocurrency "rug pull" scams, where fraudsters create fake crypto tokens to steal investor money—a scheme that victimized people of nearly $3 billion in 2021 alone. The episode follows Van Zeller's investigation into young, wealthy scammers who exploit cryptocurrency's unregulated decentralized finance space, and features interviews with victims like Xavier, who lost money across multiple rug pull schemes with no recourse in the largely lawless crypto market.
▶ VIDEO
CBS4 Indy
· 2025-03-04
A cybersecurity survey reveals that many Americans are overconfident in their ability to avoid online scams, with over a third believing victimization only occurs from oversharing and nearly half thinking misspellings easily identify scams—misconceptions that no longer hold true as scammers increasingly sophisticate their tactics. Despite 75% of respondents agreeing scams should be reported, actual reporting rates are significantly lower, dropping to 14% for romance scams, while seniors remain the most targeted demographic though younger age groups are experiencing the fastest growth in scam victimization.
▶ VIDEO
CBS 13 News
· 2025-03-04
Financial losses from scams in Maine are rising significantly, with scammers employing increasingly sophisticated and relentless tactics that have intensified since the pandemic, according to AARP Maine experts. Common scam types affecting Maine residents include door-to-door scams and romance scams, among others, and anyone can become a victim regardless of demographics. Experts emphasize that knowledge and vigilance are critical to protecting oneself from these evolving fraud schemes.
▶ VIDEO
CBS TEXAS
· 2025-03-05
A North Texas man fell victim to a combined romance and cryptocurrency scam after meeting a woman named "Giana" on a dating site for seniors. The scammer built trust through daily communication, then persuaded him to invest in cryptocurrency, ultimately causing him to lose nearly everything. The scam exemplifies how romance fraud is often layered with investment schemes to exploit victims' emotional vulnerability and financial resources.
▶ VIDEO
KGW News
· 2025-03-06
A Portland woman lost $40,000 after matching with a scammer on Tinder who built rapport through weeks of constant texting before requesting money. The scammer used fake documents, a fabricated hospital photo (stolen from former MLB pitcher Phil Hughes), and fraudulent financial transfers—including $750,000 moved into her retirement account—to manipulate her over months before the scheme unraveled when payments bounced and her account was frozen.
▶ VIDEO
wgaltv
· 2025-03-06
The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Risk Scam Report identifies investment/cryptocurrency scams, employment scams, and romance scams as the top three riskiest scams based on exposure, susceptibility, and monetary loss. While the likelihood of experiencing a scam loss decreased 15% year-over-year, the median loss per victim increased 30% to $130, with seniors age 65 and older and young adults age 18-24 reporting the highest median dollar losses, and Publisher's Clearing House impersonation being the most common scam tactic.
▶ VIDEO
ChannelOne TV
· 2025-03-07
Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the UK's National Crime Agency launched a whistleblowing campaign to combat rising romance fraud cases, revealing they have been investigating at least 107 cases since 2021 with approximately 2 million Ghana cedis recovered in 2024 alone. Romance scams remain a pervasive threat in Ghana, increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence to deceive victims. The campaign aims to leverage whistleblowing mechanisms to effectively address the growing problem of romance fraud.
▶ VIDEO
WFMJ
· 2025-03-08
Scammers are creating fake profiles on dating apps powered by AI chatbots that use artificial intelligence to engage victims in romantic conversations before soliciting cryptocurrency payments. These fake profiles typically contain minimal information (just a few photos and a name) and use chat GPT technology to generate convincing messages, allowing perpetrators to manipulate victims into sending hundreds or thousands of dollars. Security experts warn that these AI-powered catfishing scams represent a dangerous evolution of traditional romance fraud targeting dating app users.
▶ VIDEO
WTVC NewsChannel 9
· 2025-03-10
Tennessee is addressing a surge in romance scams targeting seniors through the proposed "Romance Scam Prevention Act," which would require dating apps to implement fraud prevention measures. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Tennessee residents over 60 lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with romance scammers building trust before requesting money or financial access through fabricated stories. Law enforcement recommends contacting local police if suspicious activity seems out of place, as officers can often quickly identify common scam tactics.
▶ VIDEO
NTV Kenya
· 2025-03-12
This episode of The Elevate Show features hosts discussing romance scams (also called "love scams"), where scammers pretend to be in love with victims to steal money, personal information, or cause emotional harm. The hosts note that while such scams have historically affected many women, they are discussing cases involving a man who has been victimized by this type of fraud twice. The episode explores real stories of heartbreak and deception through romance scams.
▶ VIDEO
FOX23 News Tulsa
· 2025-03-17
The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Scam Tracker Risk Report identifies the five riskiest scams targeting consumers. Cryptocurrency investment scams rank first, with 80% of victims losing an average of $5,000 through pressure to trade or store funds on fake exchanges; other high-risk scams include employment fraud (fake job offers requesting personal information and payment for training), romance scams (where victims send money to fabricated relationships), and scams using fake checks or overpayment schemes. Scammers continually adapt traditional fraud methods with new twists to exploit victims.
▶ VIDEO
Valley News Live
· 2025-03-19
Romance scams spike around Valentine's Day, with nearly 65,000 people reporting such scams to the Federal Trade Commission in 2023, resulting in $1.14 billion in total losses. Scammers create fake online dating profiles to gain victims' trust before manipulating them into sending money. The article recommends using reverse image search as a simple protective step to verify the authenticity of online dating profiles.