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naija247news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 34-year-old Nigerian man, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, was arrested in Dallas-Fort Worth in April 2025 after being indicted for masterminding a $2.5 million romance scam that operated from 2016 to 2019. The scheme involved creating fake dating profiles to manipulate vulnerable victims into sending money under false pretenses, with one Massachusetts victim unknowingly serving as a money mule who converted stolen funds into cryptocurrency through platforms like LocalBitcoins. Nwadavid faces charges of mail fraud and money laundering, each carrying up to 20 years in prison, plus fines, restitution
ynetnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Israel nearly fell victim to a romance scam when she attempted to deposit bitcoin into what she believed was tennis star Roger Federer's personal wallet at a crypto ATM. The article reveals that romance scams are a growing threat, with scammers impersonating celebrities and prominent figures to establish emotional connections before requesting money for fabricated crises. Crypto-related fraud has surged dramatically, with an 800% increase in fake cryptocurrency platforms and increasingly sophisticated schemes using AI-generated personas, fake trading platforms, and fabricated celebrity endorsements to deceive victims into transferring funds.
legit.ng
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old internet fraudster from Edo State, Nigeria voluntarily surrendered to the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) in April 2025, stating he wanted to reform and stop his criminal activities. The man specialized in romance scams, creating fake identities (posing as a Chinese doctor) to emotionally manipulate and defraud foreign victims of money. The EFCC commended his surrender while reaffirming its ongoing commitment to combating internet fraud and cybercrime in Nigeria.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, a 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, scammed four elderly women (ages 64-79) out of $1.5 million between September and December 2024 through romance scams using fake male personas such as "Jason Morris," "Edward Lotts," and "Glenn Goadard," with elaborate schemes involving fake oil rigs, debt payoffs, and financial portfolios. Echohawk received the funds via cash, checks, wire transfers, and gift cards, then laundered the money through bank accounts and cryptocurrency. She was charged with unlawful use of criminal proceeds and computer fraud after a bank flagged suspicious activity and an investigation by the
perezhilton.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, Christine Joan Echohawk, was arrested for defrauding four elderly women (ages 64-79) of approximately $1.5 million in an online romance scam conducted over three months in late 2024. One victim sold her house to send $600,000 to Echohawk, who posed as a man online and convinced the women to send money via wire transfers, gift cards, checks, and cash. Echohawk laundered the proceeds through multiple bank accounts and cryptocurrency before a $120,000 wire transfer was intercepted by a bank in January 2025, triggering the investigation; she now faces
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Badetito O. Obafemi, 42, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey of approximately $311,520 between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi and co-conspirators posed as individuals like "Kevin Condon" online to build relationships with victims and convince them to send money for various expenses, with Obafemi receiving the fraudulent wire transfers through personal and business bank accounts he controlled. The court ordered Obafemi to pay full restitution to victims and serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP identifies six major scams threatening consumers in 2025, with particular risks for older adults: AI-powered scams using deepfakes and convincing phishing, imposter scams impersonating trusted figures, employment scams targeting job seekers with fake offers, tech support scams (which cost Americans 60+ over $175 million in 2023), romance scams exploiting emotional connections, and cryptocurrency scams (resulting in $1.6 billion in losses for those 60+ in 2023). The article advises vigilance against sophisticated tactics, emphasizing that legitimate companies don't request Social Security numbers during hiring, tech support representatives shouldn't demand remote access, and legitimate
defector.com
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece argues that Florida exemplifies America's vulnerability to fraud and scamming, and expresses concern that cryptocurrency and current political leadership are enabling widespread fraud at scale. The author contends that scamming has become endemic to American society, from corporate fraud to crypto schemes, and that the president's creation of a memecoin represents a normalization of fraud at the highest governmental levels.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
In December 2024, Oklahoma officials charged Christine Joan Echohawk with orchestrating romance scams that defrauded four elderly women (ages 64-79) of $1.5 million between September and December 2024. Echohawk used fake male personas including "Jason Morris," "Edward Lotts," and "Glenn Goadard" to convince victims to send money under false pretenses such as paying off debts or investing in oil rigs, then laundered the funds through bank accounts and cryptocurrency. A bank's suspicious hold on a $120,000 transfer led to the investigation, and Echohawk was charged with unlawful use of criminal proceeds and computer
news9.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, a 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, was charged with money laundering after allegedly orchestrating online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) that netted approximately $1.5 million. Using fake male personas including "Edward Lotts," "Jason Morris," and "Glenn Goddard," Echohawk convinced victims they were in romantic relationships and persuaded them to send funds for various schemes (debt payoffs, oil tanker purchases, financial portfolios), which she then converted to cryptocurrency and sent to an unidentified accomplice. The scam was uncovered when MidFirst Bank flagged suspicious wire transfers in late December 2024, an
vice.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, of Oklahoma was accused of laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) during late 2024. Using aliases including Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, and Glenn Goadard, Echohawk convinced victims they were in romantic relationships and persuaded them to send funds ranging from $120,000 to $600,000, with one victim selling her house to participate; she converted the stolen money through various accounts and cryptocurrency before sending payments to an unidentified suspect. Echohawk faces four counts of unlawful use of criminal proceeds and one count of violating Oklahoma
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, of Oklahoma, was charged with scamming four elderly women (ages 64-79) out of $1.5 million between September and December through elaborate online romance scams using fake male personas (Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, and Glenn Goadard) who claimed to need money for various schemes like oil rigs and debt payoff. The victims sent cash, checks, wire transfers, and gift cards, which Echohawk deposited into her bank account and converted into cryptocurrency before sending the funds to an unidentified person; the scam was discovered when a bank flagged a $120,000 transaction from one victim.
nbclosangeles.com
· 2025-12-08
In December 2024, Oklahoma officials charged Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, with operating a romance scam ring that defrauded four elderly women (ages 64-79) out of $1.5 million between September and December 2024. Echohawk used fake male identities (Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, Glenn Goadard) to convince victims she was in romantic relationships with them, then manipulated them into sending cash, checks, wire transfers, and gift cards under false pretenses (fake oil rigs, business investments, debt payoffs). The funds were deposited into accounts Echohawk controlled and converted into cryptocurrency, with one
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
US Postal Inspector Cory McManus led an investigation into an elaborate romance scam network operated by Wisdom Onyobeno from Atlanta, which stole millions of dollars from dozens of victims. After arresting two money mules who recruited victims and managed bank accounts ("strikers"), investigators traced the operation back to Onyobeno, who posed as a romantic interest to manipulate victims into sending money and even selling their homes. Onyobeno pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old fraudster from Edo State, Nigeria voluntarily surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, confessing to operating a romance scam in which he impersonated Chinese nationals and foreign medical doctors to deceive foreign victims into fake online relationships. The suspect, who used mobile app translators to communicate and solicited money from victims under false pretenses, stated his surrender was motivated by a desire to abandon cybercrime and reform. The EFCC praised his voluntary submission as rare and commendable, noting it reflects growing awareness of cybercrime consequences, and he is now in custody cooperating with investigators.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers operating from Cambodia use sophisticated money laundering networks to quickly move billions of dollars stolen through various schemes, including online romance scams and fake cryptocurrency exchanges. By the time victims realize they've lost their life savings to these frauds, the money has already disappeared into complex financial channels designed to obscure its origins. The article examines how these criminal networks operate with apparent impunity, moving stolen funds at high speed to prevent recovery.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, was arrested in Oklahoma for laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting elderly women ages 64-79, who believed they were sending money to male romantic interests. Between September and December 2024, victims transferred funds, gift cards, and cashiers' checks through Echohawk's bank accounts, with one victim selling her house to send $600,000; Echohawk allegedly converted the proceeds to cryptocurrency and sent them to an unidentified suspect. She faces five felony charges carrying 24 to 62 years in prison and up to $260,000 in fines.
chestnuthilllocal.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud targeting adults 60 and older has become increasingly sophisticated in the digital age, with government impersonation scams alone costing Americans over $394 million in 2023—a 63% increase from the previous year. Common schemes include government agency impersonation (using caller ID spoofing to demand payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency), tech support scams (fraudsters claiming to fix nonexistent device problems to gain remote access), and foreign lottery scams (requiring victims to pay escalating fees). Protection requires understanding that legitimate government agencies typically contact via official mail, not phone calls or emails, and being aware of scammers' use of fear and urgency to bypass victim verification
spokanejournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Washington Trust Bank employees launched a Senior Fraud Awareness workshop series in April 2023 to combat rising scams targeting older adults, after branch staff witnessed seniors being pressured to withdraw cash while on phone calls with scammers. The trio of bank managers has conducted five workshops in Spokane senior living communities and plans to expand regionally, providing FTC data, practical fraud prevention tips, and resources for reporting elder fraud. According to federal data, older adults lost over $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023 alone, with estimates suggesting actual losses could reach $61.5 billion.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, from Oklahoma, was charged with money laundering and computer crimes after stealing approximately $1.5 million from four elderly women (ages 64-79) through romance scams that operated from April 2023 through October 2024. Echohawk used multiple fake male identities to convince victims they were in romantic relationships and needed money for various schemes, including debt payoff, business investments, and ship fuel, with one victim selling her home to send $600,000. After receiving payments via cash, gift cards, and wire transfers, Echohawk converted the funds to cryptocurrency and sent them to an unknown accomplice; she faces 24 to 62
legends1063.fm
· 2025-12-08
A Georgia man, Badetito O. Obafemi, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims across multiple states, including a Taney County, Missouri resident who lost $27,460. Obafemi conspired with scammers who posed as romantic interests online, requesting money for various expenses, and received the stolen funds through personal and business bank accounts he controlled. He was ordered to pay $311,520 in total restitution to all victims across Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Georgia man, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in romance scams that defrauded elderly victims across Missouri, New Jersey, and Minnesota between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi used social media to establish fake romantic relationships with victims, convincing them to send money for various expenses, and coordinated the receipt and transfer of stolen funds through multiple bank accounts; he was ordered to pay over $311,500 in restitution to his victims. The scheme targeted at least one victim in Missouri who lost more than $27,400 to a scammer posing as "Kevin Condon
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, was arrested in Oklahoma for allegedly laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting elderly women ages 64-79 between September and December 2024. Victims believed they were sending money to male romantic interests via wire transfers, gift cards, and checks to accounts owned by Echohawk, who then converted the funds to cryptocurrency; one victim sold her house to send $600,000 to the scammer. Echohawk faces charges of unlawful use of criminal proceeds and computer crimes carrying potential sentences of 24 to 62 years in prison.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk of Oklahoma orchestrated multiple online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) from September to December, defrauding them of $1.5 million total using fake male personas like "Jason Morris," "Edward Lotts," and "Glenn Goadard" with elaborate stories requiring urgent cash payments. One victim sold her paid-off home to send over $600,000 after being promised debt relief, while another sent $250,000 for a supposed financial portfolio from Syria; Echohawk deposited all funds into a bank account under her name and converted the money into cryptocurrency for money laundering. The scam was uncovered when a
people.com
· 2025-12-08
An Oklahoma woman, Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, was arrested in April 2025 for laundering approximately $1.5 million from four elderly victims (ages 64-79) in an online romance scam between September and December 2024. One victim sold her house to send $600,000 to the scammer, while others sent gift cards, cash, and cashier's checks; Echohawk allegedly converted the funds through cryptocurrency accounts and sent payments to an unidentified suspect. She faces charges carrying 24 to 62 years in prison and up to $260,000 in fines.
oklahoman.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 54, of Pawnee was charged with laundering approximately $1.5 million from elderly women (ages 64-79) in Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, and Utah who believed they were sending money to romantic interests between September and December. Echohawk received funds through various methods, converted most to cryptocurrency, and transferred the funds to an unidentified male subject while using some proceeds personally and lying to banks about the money's source. She faces multiple felony charges including unlawful use of criminal proceeds and violations of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act, with charges filed by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 54, of Pawnee, Oklahoma, was arrested and charged with laundering approximately $1.5 million from online romance scams targeting elderly women aged 64-79 in Florida, Texas, and Utah between September and December 2023. The victims, believing they were in relationships with men, sent money through various methods including Apple gift cards, cash, and wire transfers, which Echohawk deposited into her bank accounts, converted to cryptocurrency, and transferred to an unidentified male subject. Echohawk faces five felony counts carrying potential sentences of 24 to 62 years in prison and fines up to $260,000, with notable individual
elderjustice.usc.edu
· 2025-12-08
This article collection presents educational resources on elder abuse prevention and protection across multiple topics: nutrition services as a preventive touchpoint for vulnerable seniors, a new Bill of Rights model for guardianship, practical scam prevention strategies, technology's role in reducing isolation (a risk factor for abuse), community-coordinated elder justice responses, faith community engagement on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and awareness about relationship investment scams using digital platforms. The materials emphasize that elder abuse prevention requires multi-sector approaches involving healthcare providers, legal advocates, community organizations, and faith leaders working together to protect older adults' rights and wellbeing.
ky3.com
· 2025-12-08
Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Georgia man, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in an online romance scam targeting elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi conspired to receive fraudulent wire transfers totaling $311,520 by coordinating bank accounts and fund transfers, with one victim in Missouri alone losing $27,460 after being deceived by someone claiming to be "Kevin Condon" seeking money for overseas business and medical expenses. He was ordered to pay full restitution to his victims and serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
skynews.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, of Oklahoma was arrested and charged with laundering approximately $2.4 million obtained through online romance scams targeting elderly women ages 64-79 between September and December 2024. The victims, believing they were in relationships with men, sent money, gift cards, and checks to accounts owned by Echohawk, who converted the funds into cryptocurrency and sent them to unknown suspects; one victim sold her house to send $600,000. Echohawk faces five counts of unlawful use of criminal proceeds and computer fraud, carrying potential sentences of 24-62 years and up to $260,000 in fines.
devonlive.com
· 2025-12-08
A survey of 2,000 scam victims found that nearly half lost money in the past year, averaging £481, with marketplace and impersonation scams being most common, though romance scams carried the greatest stigma. Over 26 percent of victims felt too embarrassed to share their experiences, and only 22 percent reported incidents to authorities, yet research shows hearing from victims helps others recognize warning signs. In response, money transfer app Wise and We Fight Fraud launched the "Scam Safe Space," a judgment-free platform encouraging victims to speak openly, as experts emphasize that education and breaking the silence around scams are critical to prevention.
cheshire-live.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A survey of 2,000 scam victims found that over a quarter feel too ashamed to discuss their experience, with nearly half having lost an average of £481 in the past year, primarily through marketplace and impersonation scams, though romance scams generated the most shame. Only 22 percent reported incidents to police or fraud services, citing lack of faith in assistance and self-blame. To combat this silence, money transfer app Wise and We Fight Fraud launched "Scam Safe Space," an initiative encouraging victims to share experiences, as research shows hearing others' stories helps people identify and avoid similar scams.
bucks.crimewatchpa.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common scams targeting seniors—including phone scams, phishing, romance fraud, investment schemes, charity scams, home repair fraud, identity theft, and grandparent scams—and provides practical prevention strategies. Key protective measures include being skeptical of unsolicited contact, safeguarding personal information, avoiding rushed decisions, recognizing communication red flags, verifying identities before trusting, staying informed about technology, and building a support network. The article emphasizes that seniors can protect themselves and their finances through knowledge and vigilance, offering resources like the AARP Fraud Watch Network and National Elder Fraud Hotline for additional support.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 34-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested in April 2025 and charged with mail fraud and money laundering for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million between 2016 and 2019. Nwadavid created fake dating profiles to build trust with victims, then manipulated them into sending money under false pretenses, using a Massachusetts victim as an intermediary to funnel funds to cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. He faces up to 20 years in prison and will be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Georgia man, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey of approximately $311,520 between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi received wire transfers from victims who were deceived by scammers posing as individuals like "Kevin Condon," who fabricated stories about business expenses, medical issues, and legal problems to solicit money. The court ordered Obafemi to pay full restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
koco.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Echohawk, 53, of Pawnee, Oklahoma, was arrested and charged with laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) across Utah, Texas, and Florida. One victim sent over $600,000 between April 2023 and March 2025 to a man using the alias "Edward Lotts," who claimed he needed to pay off a debt to access $2 million, and she sold her house to fund the payments. Echohawk facilitated the fraud by opening multiple bank accounts to receive the funds, converting them to cryptocurrency, and transferring them to wallets controlled by
upi.com
· 2025-12-08
Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Georgia man, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims across Missouri, New Jersey, and Minnesota between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi and co-conspirators used social media to build fake relationships with victims and convince them to send money for various pretexts, with one victim losing over $27,400; he was ordered to pay $311,500 in restitution. The investigation involved multiple federal agencies and resulted in charges for money laundering conspiracy.
sjvsun.com
· 2025-12-08
Rep. David Valadao's Romance Scam Prevention Act advanced through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, requiring dating apps to notify users who have interacted with accounts banned for fraudulent activity. The Federal Trade Commission reported romance scam victims lost over $1.1 billion in 2023, with fraudsters exploiting the 60 million users of online dating services by using fake identities to manipulate people for financial gain. The bill addresses a gap in current protections where scammers move conversations off dating platforms to avoid detection, though similar notification requirements already exist in Vermont, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New York.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, scammers targeted elderly residents and visitors in Beaufort County, South Carolina, stealing over $3.1 million across 62 cases by impersonating law enforcement and demanding cryptocurrency transfers via Bitcoin ATMs. The scams exploited urgency and fabricated threats of arrest or legal consequences, with victims directed to convert cash to cryptocurrency at predatory ATMs with high transaction fees. Officials across South Carolina are calling for government oversight of cryptocurrency ATMs, as these machines have become primary tools for targeting aging communities, with the FTC noting that cryptocurrency scam losses in the U.S. increased tenfold between 2020 and 2023.
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old Indian retiree and his wife were defrauded of approximately $395,000 by cybercriminals impersonating federal law enforcement officials who convinced them to transfer funds over a 10-day period. The scam employed fabricated Supreme Court letters and isolation tactics to maintain control over the victims. These incidents reflect a broader pattern of rising cybercrimes in India targeting elderly individuals through impersonation, blackmail, and romance scams, driven partly by limited digital safety awareness among seniors.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Research identifies loneliness and financial fragility as the two most significant risk factors for elder financial fraud victimization. Socially isolated individuals are more vulnerable to relationship-based scams (romance, pig-butchering, affinity fraud) because they lack trusted contacts to validate suspicious offers, while financial stress impairs rational decision-making and increases willingness to take risky financial gambles that fraudsters exploit.
koco.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission and a new Better Business Bureau report analyzing the year's most dangerous schemes. The top scams involved investment and cryptocurrency schemes (80% loss rate), employment scams targeting young adults 18-34, romance and friendship scams on dating platforms, and imposter scams impersonating major companies. Experts advise consumers to verify credentials, ask questions about investment claims, and verify unsolicited communications to protect against scammers using financial grooming tactics to build trust before exploitation.
koco.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, a 53-year-old from Pawnee, Oklahoma, was arrested and charged with laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting senior women between September and December 2024. The victims, all between ages 64 and 79, believed they were sending money to men they were in online relationships with before the funds were diverted through Echohawk's accounts.
ktul.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, was arrested in Pawnee County on charges of money laundering and computer crimes for allegedly facilitating approximately $1.5 million in funds stolen from four elderly women (ages 64-79) through online romance scams between September and December 2024. Echohawk received the victims' payments via gift cards, cash, wire transfers, and bank accounts, then converted the funds to cryptocurrency and sent them to an unidentified suspect; one victim sold her home to send $600,000. Echohawk faces five counts carrying potential sentences of 24 to 64 years in prison and up to $260,000 in fines.
wesh.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, with the Better Business Bureau identifying investment/cryptocurrency schemes, employment scams, and romance/friendship scams as the year's most dangerous, often involving financial grooming tactics where scammers build trust over time. Victims of investment and cryptocurrency scams lost money at rates exceeding 80%, while young adults aged 18-34 were primary targets for employment fraud, and imposter scams frequently involved fraudulent claims from PayPal, Publishers Clearing House, and the U.S. Postal Service. Experts recommend verifying credentials, asking questions about unsolicited offers, and confirming communications to avoid falling victim
kaynewscow.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, of Pawnee was arrested for laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) between September and December 2024. One victim sold her house and sent $600,000 after believing she was in a romantic relationship with a scammer; Echohawk converted the illicitly obtained funds through bank accounts and cryptocurrency before sending payments to an unidentified suspect. She faces five counts carrying 24 to 62 years in prison and up to $260,000 in fines.
onlineathens.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Athens residents fell victim to different fraud schemes in late March: a 31-year-old man was extorted after sharing nude photos on Grindr and had images sent to family members; a 76-year-old woman was scammed out of $1,400+ by a romance fraudster posing as an Irish boyfriend requesting medical funds; and a 71-year-man nearly lost personal information after granting remote computer access to a tech support scammer. Police advise residents to avoid sharing personal information online, be cautious with unsolicited messages and calls, and immediately contact banks and credit bureaus if compromised.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Australia's corporate watchdog (ASIC) secured court approval to shut down 95 "hydra" companies suspected of operating "pig butchering" scams—romance and cryptocurrency investment frauds where scammers build fake relationships to manipulate victims into investing in fraudulent schemes. Nearly 1,500 investors across 14 countries filed claims totaling over $35.8 million in losses, with the scam activity believed to originate largely from Southeast Asia. ASIC has removed over 10,000 scam websites in recent efforts, though the regulator warns that new fraudulent sites continue to emerge rapidly.
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-08
Australia's Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) shut down 95 companies operating as fronts for crypto romance scams following Federal Court approval, with liquidators appointed to manage the wind-down. Over 1,500 victims from 14 countries have filed claims totaling more than $35 million, with scammers using fake company registrations, stolen identities, and AI-generated content to perpetrate "pig butchering" schemes that increased 40% between 2023-2024. Despite ASIC taking down over 10,000 fraudulent websites, regulators warn that scams remain persistent and evolving, though Australia saw a 26% decline in total sc
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service seized the web domain NFT-UNI.com, which was used in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded a Warren County victim of approximately $172,405.61 between November 2023 and March 2024, with total losses across all victims reaching approximately $4,564,936.47. In pig butchering schemes, scammers build trust with victims through dating apps, social media, or text messages before convincing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms, then disappearing with their funds. This is the second domain seizure by the Secret Service in Warren County related to this type of scheme, as part