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in Romance Scam
indiatvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
India experienced a significant cybercrime surge in 2024, with approximately Rs 120.3 crore lost to "digital arrest" scams from January to April alone, where criminals impersonate law enforcement via video calls to coerce victims into paying money under threat of arrest. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) warned of related scams involving fake service disconnection threats, while the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal recorded 7.4 lakh complaints in Q1 2024, reflecting a steep increase from previous years. Victims should report suspicious calls through official portals and avoid making payments when threatened with legal action or service interruptions.
tori.ng
· 2025-12-08
Franklin Nwadialo, a newly elected council chairman in Anambra State, Nigeria, was arrested by the FBI at a Texas airport on charges related to a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million. Nwadialo allegedly posed as a military officer named "Giovanni" on dating websites including Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café to convince victims to send money, and now faces 14 counts of wire fraud with a potential 20-year sentence. The Anambra State government is considering replacing him with his deputy following his arrest.
jamaica-gleaner.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines key strategies for protecting oneself from cyberscams, emphasizing the "three S's": stay suspicious, stop to think, and stay protected. Common scam tactics exploit fear, urgency, and money as bait, with particular vulnerability among seniors and isolated individuals through romance scams, job scams, robocalls, and impersonation schemes; experts recommend verifying contacts through official channels and using reverse-image searches to identify fake profiles.
jacksonvillefreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Justice released its annual report detailing enforcement actions against elder fraud and abuse, resulting in over 300 enforcement actions against more than 700 defendants that recovered nearly $700 million and protected over 225,000 seniors. Cases included romance scams and government impersonation schemes, with the DOJ blocking $27 million in fraudulent transfers and the National Elder Fraud Hotline fielding over 50,000 calls from seniors seeking assistance. Notable prosecutions included two Pittsburgh nursing homes convicted of falsifying records to conceal inadequate care, and investigations into New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes that found constitutional rights violations due to inadequate infection control and medical care.
m.malaysiakini.com
· 2025-12-08
Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Commission released a draft Code of Conduct requiring internet messaging and social media service providers to remove harmful content—including financial scams (phishing, romance scams, investment scams), child sexual abuse material, and other illegal content—with dedicated moderation teams and prompt law enforcement cooperation. Service providers must establish systems for identifying and removing such content, take action against violators, and submit half-yearly safety reports to demonstrate compliance. The code applies to platforms with at least eight million Malaysian users that obtain a Class Licence by January 1, 2025, though the author raises concerns about potential overreach and arbitrary enforcement given the regulatory framework's vague provisions and annual license renewal requirements.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Family caregivers play a crucial role in protecting older adults from fraud, as seniors lose billions annually to scams including tech support, lottery, grandparent, investment, imposter, and romance schemes. AARP recommends caregivers maintain open communication with loved ones, educate them about common fraud tactics, establish protective financial measures, and monitor for signs of social isolation that increase scam vulnerability. Resources and guidance are available at www.aarp.org/fraud to help families prevent and respond to fraud targeting older adults.
vegasslotsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
A 27-year-old Japanese woman, Shizuku Ida, defrauded approximately 100 men of 100 million yen ($656,000) through an online romance scam conducted via dating apps and social media. She fabricated hardships and a false hostess bar job to build trust with victims before requesting money, which she spent primarily on online gambling; her arrest came after she scammed a man from Yamagata Prefecture out of 346,000 yen. Japanese authorities note that online romance scams have surged dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from 45 reported cases in 2018 to 1,017 in 2
mcknightsseniorliving.com
· 2025-12-08
From July 2023 to June 2024, the Department of Justice pursued over 300 enforcement actions against 700+ defendants who stole nearly $700 million from 225,000 elder fraud victims, while recovering $31 million and providing services to 230,000+ older adults. Investment scams caused the highest losses at $1.2 billion, followed by tech support scams ($590 million), business email compromise ($382 million), romance scams ($357 million), and government impersonation scams ($180 million), with the DOJ's National Elder Fraud Hotline receiving over 50,000 calls in the past year.
insidebitcoins.com
· 2025-12-08
Shizuku Ida, a 27-year-old woman, defrauded approximately 100 men of roughly 100 million yen ($656,000) through an elaborate romance scam conducted on social media and dating apps. Using the alias "Yuu," Ida posed as a hostess and fabricated emotionally compelling stories—including claims of lost money, unpaid debts, and suicidal ideation—to manipulate victims into sending money, which she spent on internet casinos and entertainment. She was arrested after defrauding a Yamagata man of 346,000 yen in October, with experts noting that the lack of face-to-
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, cyberscammers stole $477 million from veterans, military personnel, and their spouses—a $63 million increase from 2022—affecting 30,948 military members, according to FTC data. Common scams targeting this population include romance scams (the most prevalent, costing over $40 million in 2020), veterans' benefit scams offering fraudulent benefit increases, phishing emails impersonating government agencies or the IRS, and rental property scams. The article provides details on these five major scam types and advises military members to be cautious of unsolicited offers and suspicious communications requesting personal information or upfront
fox5dc.com
· 2025-12-08
Veterans are frequently targeted by scammers using schemes such as VA loan refinancing scams, pension poaching, romance scams, and fake veteran charity frauds. The article provides protective measures including: never sharing personal information or sending money to unknown parties, resisting pressure to act quickly, consulting trusted contacts before responding to offers, verifying charities through organizations like the Better Business Bureau, and obtaining benefit information directly from state veterans' affairs agencies.
localmemphis.com
· 2025-12-08
Four Nigerian citizens were sentenced to federal prison for operating romance and investment scams between 2017 and 2021, using fake identities on social media and dating platforms to build relationships with victims before requesting money transfers. The scheme affected multiple victims across the U.S., with one West Tennessee victim losing over $400,000, and the defendants acted as money mules moving proceeds through bank accounts and shell companies. Sentences ranged from two-and-a-half to five years in federal prison.
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Raymond McDonald, a 51-year-old serial romance fraudster from County Durham, was jailed again in August 2024 after defrauding multiple women through dating sites within months of his December 2023 release from prison. Police believe he may have victimized hundreds of women over two decades by posing as a wealthy, distinguished military officer and extracting thousands of pounds through false promises of luxury items, property investments, and even marriage. The victims reported experiencing trauma comparable to sexual assault and domestic abuse, with McDonald's emotional manipulation causing deep psychological harm beyond the financial losses.
hackread.com
· 2025-12-08
Deivy Jose Rodriguez Delgado, a 30-year-old Venezuelan national, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for operating romance scams on online dating platforms that escalated into kidnappings and hostage-takings of three American citizens in the Dominican Republic between July-September 2022. Working with accomplices, Delgado lured victims via dating apps, then held them at knifepoint and forced them to contact family for ransom payments directed to CashApp accounts before releasing them after robbing their belongings. The case underscores the importance of meeting online dates in public places and informing trusted contacts of plans, as seemingly safe online interactions can lead to serious real
actionnews5.com
· 2025-12-08
Four Nigerian citizens were convicted of operating romance scams across the United States between 2017 and November 2021, defrauding victims out of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars each by creating fake identities on dating websites and social media to build false romantic relationships and solicit emergency financial assistance. The defendants acted as "money mules," laundering stolen funds through multiple bank accounts and shell corporations to obscure the money trail; one victim in Tennessee alone lost over $400,000. The four received federal prison sentences ranging from 30 to 60 months, with sentencing occurring between April and October 2024.
cp24.com
· 2025-12-08
A Brampton woman lost over $230,000 in life savings to a romance scam after a man she met online befriended her, claimed to need money for family emergencies and a business contract, and promised repayment. Romance scams are among the three most common frauds in Canada, with victims collectively losing over $52 million in the previous year, and cybercriminals typically target lonely individuals online before creating false emergencies and making excuses to avoid in-person meetings.
toronto.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I apologize, but the text you provided appears to be a title followed by a list of unrelated shopping and beauty articles rather than the actual article content about the romance scam.
To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the full article text that discusses the Brampton woman's romance scam case, including details about how the scam occurred, the timeline, any specific tactics used, and the outcome or reporting of the incident.
Could you please provide the complete article content?
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Four Nigerian citizens were sentenced to federal prison for operating international romance scams targeting U.S. victims from 2017 to 2021, with sentences ranging from 30 to 60 months. The defendants created fake identities on dating sites and social media to build romantic relationships with victims, then solicited money for emergencies, with losses ranging from thousands to over $400,000 per victim. The defendants functioned as "money mules," laundering proceeds through multiple bank accounts and shell companies to conceal the scheme's origins.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Venezuelan national, Deivy Jose Rodriguez Delgado, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for using dating apps to lure three American men to the Dominican Republic, then holding them hostage at knifepoint and forcing them to have family members send ransom money to his CashApp account in July 2022. Delgado was arrested in September 2022 after Dominican authorities traced a vehicle used in two of the abductions to him and found a knife in his car. Experts warn this sophisticated romance scam targeting lonely individuals seeking connections online is difficult to detect and increasingly common internationally, recommending victims meet strangers only in public places.
oklahoman.com
· 2025-12-08
Oklahoma City is warning residents about a resurging scam where callers impersonate municipal court employees or law enforcement, demanding immediate payment of fake fines over the phone under threat of jail. The city advises residents to hang up, independently verify any debts by calling OKC Municipal Court at (405) 297-3898 or checking okc.gov/court, and notes that scammers increasingly use spoofed numbers, actual deputy names, and payment methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency to steal money.
guardian.ng
· 2025-12-08
Four Nigerian citizens residing in the U.S. and Canada were sentenced to federal prison (ranging from 2.5 to 5 years) for operating romance and investment scams between 2017 and 2021, using fake identities on dating sites and social media to deceive victims into sending money via wire transfers and mail. The conspiracy involved dozens of victims who lost between thousands to over $400,000 each, with the defendants functioning as "money mules" to launder proceeds through shell companies and multiple bank accounts. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Four Nigerian men were sentenced to federal prison for operating a romance scam targeting victims in West Tennessee. The scam involved perpetrators posing as romantic interests to deceive and defraud victims, though specific victim counts and financial losses are not detailed in the provided excerpt.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Raymond McDonald, a 51-year-old serial romance fraudster from County Durham, has been repeatedly imprisoned for scamming multiple women out of thousands of pounds through dating sites by posing as a wealthy, distinguished military man with properties abroad. Police believe he may have victimized "hundreds" of women over decades, with his latest victims reporting severe emotional trauma comparable to sexual assault, though he was arrested again in August 2024 after his December 2023 release. McDonald's scheme involved juggling simultaneous relationships while fabricating stories about military work, property investments, and fake marriages, extracting money for items and services that never materialized.
edmonton.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to summarize this article because the content provided doesn't include the actual news story—only the headline and various unrelated shopping and product recommendation links. To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the full article text describing the romance scam case involving the Leduc woman, including details about what occurred, financial losses, legal consequences, and other relevant facts about the incident.
Please provide the complete article content, and I'll be happy to create a concise 2-3 sentence summary.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old man named Benjamin Yakah was arrested in Minnesota for operating an internet romance scam in which he posed as a woman named "Julia" on Facebook and defrauded a 77-year-old widower in Bradenton, Florida of over $100,000 across eight months. Yakah used stolen photos of a West Virginia woman without her knowledge and convinced the victim that he needed money to pay off a debt before relocating from the United Kingdom to Florida to start a relationship. The victim's children reported the scam to the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit in June, leading investigators to trace the fraudulent bank account to Yakah, and further investigation reveale
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old Minnesota man, Benjamin Yakah, was arrested and faces grand theft charges after defrauding a 77-year-old Bradenton widower of over $100,000 in an eight-month internet romance scam. The victim was deceived by a fake Facebook profile using stolen photos of a West Virginia woman, who posed as "Julia" and convinced him to send cash and checks to Minnesota accounts under the pretense of relocating to Florida to be with him. The victim's children alerted authorities in June, leading to a five-month investigation and Yakah's arrest; evidence suggests he victimized additional people in other states.
saharareporters.com
· 2025-12-08
Four Nigerian nationals—Patrick Edah, Efe Egbowawa, Igocha Mac-Okor, and Kay Ozegbe—were sentenced to federal prison (30 to 60 months) for operating a romance and investment scam that defrauded victims across the U.S., including Western Tennessee, from 2017 to 2021. The defendants used fake identities and dating site profiles to establish romantic relationships and solicit emergency financial assistance, with victims losing thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, including one Tennessee resident who lost over $400,000. They were convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering after laundering scam proceeds through
nationthailand.com
· 2025-12-08
Police arrested six suspects—four Thai nationals and two Nigerian men—who operated romance scams and used over 1,000 mule bank accounts to launder money for international criminal networks, defrauding victims of more than 50 million baht. The gang leader, identified as a Nigerian national named Christian, facilitated transactions exceeding 1.2 billion baht through accounts linked to foreign call centers, drug dealers, and other scam operations. The suspects face charges including public fraud, computer crimes, and money laundering, with authorities warning the public that opening bank accounts for others can result in up to three years imprisonment and 300,000 baht in fines.
fox13news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old widower in Bradenton, Florida lost $100,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a British woman named "Julia" on Facebook and claimed she needed money to pay off a debt before relocating to be with him. The investigation, launched in June 2024 by the victim's children, revealed that suspect Benjamin Yakah used stolen photos from a West Virginia woman's Facebook account and had the victim send cash and checks to accounts in Minneapolis over an eight-month period. Yakah was arrested in Minnesota and is awaiting extradition to Manatee County; police suspect he scammed multiple victims across different states.
mynews4.com
· 2025-12-08
Nevada ranks as the most dangerous state for online dating scams, with the state ranking second nationally in romance scams, fourth in identity scams, and third in fraud overall. In 2023, Nevada residents filed approximately 259 romance scam complaints resulting in $5.8 million in losses, while nationally the FBI recorded nearly 18,000 romance scam complaints with victims losing over $652 million. Scammers use elaborate storytelling and false urgency to manipulate victims into sending money, sometimes totaling thousands of dollars, and victims are often reluctant to report due to embarrassment.
mysuncoast.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old widower from Bradenton, Florida lost over $100,000 in a romance scam after meeting someone claiming to be "Julia" on Facebook Messenger who posed as a woman from the United Kingdom seeking to relocate to America. Benjamin Yakah from Minnesota was arrested after investigation revealed he operated the scam, using stolen photos and convincing the victim to send cash and checks to pay off fabricated debts; evidence suggests there are additional victims. Yakah is awaiting extradition to Manatee County as the investigation continues.
communityimpact.com
· 2025-12-08
The Elder Financial Safety Center (EFSC), formed in 2014 by Dallas County Probate Courts, the District Attorney's Office, and The Senior Source nonprofit, addresses financial exploitation of seniors through prevention, protection, and prosecution. The article details prevalent scams targeting seniors aged 50+, including romance scams, government impersonation, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams, and recommends protective measures such as not answering unknown calls and avoiding clicking on unsolicited texts and links. Services are free to eligible seniors in Dallas and surrounding counties, with one case cited involving a victim who lost $545,000 after being groomed through a fake Geek Squad text message scam
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Google has identified sophisticated scam techniques including landing page cloaking, where fraudsters impersonate legitimate websites and use AI-generated deepfakes to conduct investment fraud and credential theft schemes. The report highlights emerging tactics such as scareware redirects, app clones, and cryptocurrency scams originating from organized crime syndicates in Southeast Asia, with Google blocking over 5.5 billion policy-violating ads in 2023 and launching new scam detection features in its Android Phone app to protect users.
gistmania.com
· 2025-12-08
Thai police arrested two Nigerian men and four Thai nationals in November 2024 as part of "Operation Black Horse Down," an investigation into a romance scam ring that defrauded victims of over 50 million baht. The gang operated more than 1,000 mule bank accounts through which 1.2 billion baht in transactions were processed for foreign criminal networks including drug dealers and call centers. The suspects face charges including public fraud, computer crimes, and money laundering, with authorities warning the public that opening bank accounts for others in exchange for payment is illegal and carries penalties of up to three years in prison and 300,000 baht in fines.
dhs.gov
· 2025-12-08
A Danvers, Massachusetts man, Trung Nguyen, was convicted of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and money laundering after converting over $1 million in cash to Bitcoin through his unregistered company National Vending, LLC between 2017 and 2020. Nguyen deliberately evaded banking regulations and accepted cash from scam victims and a drug dealer, knowingly facilitating their criminal activities by converting their proceeds into cryptocurrency without filing required reports or registering with federal authorities.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old Minnesota man, Benjamin Yakah, was arrested and charged with grand theft after stealing over $100,000 from a 77-year-old Bradenton widower through an eight-month romance scam on Facebook. The scammer posed as a woman named "Julia" from the United Kingdom, using stolen photos and claiming to need money to pay debts before relocating to Florida, while all funds were directed to Yakah's bank account in Minneapolis. The investigation, initiated by the victim's family in June 2024, revealed additional victims in other states, and Yakah is being extradited to Manatee County to face charges.
clickondetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
Monroe County authorities are warning residents about a rising wave of cryptocurrency scams delivered via email, text, and phone calls that impersonate government agencies, lottery services, tech support, and romance schemes to trick victims into sending money or personal information. Michiganders lost nearly $80 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with one Northville Township resident defrauded of approximately $300,000. Authorities emphasize that legitimate government agencies never demand payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards and always offer cash payment options in person.
thenationonlineng.net
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old internet fraudster named Patrick Akpoguma was arrested in Lagos after defrauding multiple victims through romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and identity theft, earning over $500,000 in three years by impersonating prominent figures like a U.S. Army Colonel and cryptocurrency expert using fake social media accounts and masks. During his arrest on November 7, 2024, Akpoguma attempted to bribe police with $100,000 to secure his release, but officers rejected the bribe, documented it as evidence, and proceeded with prosecution.
thesun.ng
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old internet fraudster, Patrick Akpoguma, was arrested in Lagos after police rejected his $100,000 USD (N174 million) bribe offer during investigation into his crimes. Akpoguma confessed to operating romance scams, identity theft, cryptocurrency fraud, and other cyber crimes over three years, during which he allegedly defrauded victims of over $500,000 USD and used proceeds to purchase multiple properties including houses and a vehicle worth N100 million.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in her sixties from England lost nearly £20,000 to an AI-generated romance scammer posing as a US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder. The scammer used deepfake videos and personalized messages to build trust before claiming a life insurance briefcase worth £607,000 needed processing fees, extracting multiple payments from the victim under false pretenses. The US Embassy has issued warnings about fraudsters impersonating US soldiers using this high-tech romance scam method.
kfiz.com
· 2025-12-08
**"Pig butchering" investment scams** involve fraudsters building trust with victims over weeks or months—posing as romantic interests or investment coaches—before convincing them to invest in fake opportunities and ultimately stealing their money. According to 2023 FTC data, investment scams represented only 4% of fraud reports but accounted for over 30% of total losses, with an average loss of $7,000 per victim. Red flags include unsolicited investment pitches from online contacts, pressure to use cryptocurrency or special apps, displays of fake profits, and reluctance to meet in person or speak by phone.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Dr. Ruchika Tandon, a 44-year-old Indian neurologist, lost approximately 25 million rupees ($300,000) to an elaborate "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials coerced her through video calls into believing she was under federal investigation for money laundering and trafficking. Over a six-day period, the scammers maintained constant surveillance via video call, manipulating her into draining her family's savings from multiple accounts including banks, mutual funds, and insurance policies. According to official figures, Indians lost over 1.2 billion rupees to this type of scam between January and April 2024, with over
tori.ng
· 2025-12-08
Patrick Akpoguma, a 28-year-old Nigerian internet fraudster, admitted to conducting romance scams, identity theft, and cryptocurrency fraud over three years, accumulating over $500,000 in illicit gains. He operated by impersonating high-profile individuals (including a U.S. Army officer and cryptocurrency expert) using fake accounts and a purchased silicone face mask to deceive victims into sending cryptocurrency payments, and later attempted to bribe police with $100,000 to avoid arrest. Akpoguma was arrested following complaints from residents in Lagos and faces court arraignment.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A woman in her sixties from England lost nearly £20,000 to an AI-generated romance scammer posing as a US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder. The scammer used deepfake videos, images, and AI-synthesized voice and text to build a convincing romantic relationship, eventually convincing the victim to pay money under the pretense of unlocking a briefcase containing £607,000 in cash and accessing a life insurance payout. Financial authorities have issued warnings about this emerging AI-powered romance scam trend targeting vulnerable individuals seeking romantic connections.
townsvillebulletin.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An Australian grandmother who has been imprisoned in Japan for nearly two years on drug charges that her family alleges resulted from a romance scam is facing trial this week. The case highlights how romance scams can lead vulnerable individuals into serious legal consequences in foreign jurisdictions.
dailystar.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A UK carer named Mary lost £20,000 to a sophisticated romance scam involving a fake AI-generated US Army colonel named "Mike Murdy" on Tinder who used deepfake videos, audio messages, and physical items to build trust over several months. The scammer convinced Mary to pay fees under the guise of unlocking a military briefcase allegedly containing £607,000, but she ultimately received only blank sheets of paper. Halifax bank is reviewing her case for reimbursement under Payment Systems Regulator fraud protection rules, as fraud experts warn of increasing AI-enabled romance scams.
thesun.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
An elderly carer lost £20,000 to an elaborate romance scam involving an AI-generated US Army colonel who contacted her on Tinder and promised her £607,000 in life insurance money. The scammer used hyperrealistic AI-generated videos, personalized messages claiming to love her, and physical gifts to build trust, eventually convincing her to pay nearly £10,000 for delivery and £10,000 to unlock a briefcase that contained only a blank sheet of paper. The National Fraud Helpline is assisting in recovery, with officials noting this as one of the most sophisticated scams they have encountered due to its combination of AI technology and physical misdirection.
everythingzoomer.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud is now the leading crime against seniors in Canada, with scammers increasingly using advanced technology like voice simulation, AI, and fake profiles to perpetrate sophisticated schemes. Common scams targeting seniors include grandparent fraud (2,494 Canadian victims lost $9.4 million), romance scams (Canadians lost $59 million in 2022), and phishing attacks (approximately $58 million in losses in 2022). Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to social isolation, limited digital literacy (only 26% feel very confident with technology despite 67% using the internet), and accessible savings, making protection strategies essential as emotional manipulation often overrides caution.
thethaiger.com
· 2025-12-08
A 32-year-old Thai man named Bank allegedly operated a romance scam targeting at least two women, with losses totaling several million baht over multiple years. The victims, Kasamon (27) and Phitchaya (29), met Bank through dating applications and were deceived by false claims of being a military doctor; he extracted financial support by promising repayment and maintaining romantic relationships while simultaneously dating other women. The victims also reported that Bank allegedly used black magic rituals to manipulate them, and when one victim attempted to end the relationship, he became physically violent and threatening, prompting them to seek legal action through the nonprofit organization Saimai Survive.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
A 26-year-old Minnesota man, Benjamin Yakah, was arrested following a five-month investigation by the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit for stealing over $100,000 from a 77-year-old Bradenton widower through a romance scam. The victim was deceived by a fake Facebook profile using photos stolen from a West Virginia woman, with the scammer posing as "Julia" and convincing the victim to send money for an alleged debt settlement in Minnesota. The victim's children discovered the fraud in June 2024, and Yakah is currently awaiting extradition to Manatee County; investigators believe there may be additional victims in other