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in Romance Scam
worldofbuzz.com
· 2025-12-08
A 45-year-old Malaysian woman fell victim to an online romance scam in which a fraudster posing as a London-based businessman promised marriage, gifts, and a major investment opportunity, convincing her to transfer over RM1 million (including her cancer insurance payout and high-interest loans) to the scammer. Her husband discovered the deception in January and filed for divorce in June after she refused to accept the truth and became emotionally volatile; loan sharks subsequently began threatening the family and demanding repayment of debts whose full amount remains unknown.
techstory.in
· 2025-12-08
AI-generated deepfakes—hyper-realistic fabrications of videos, audio, and images—are driving an estimated $12 billion in annual global fraud losses, with projections to reach $40 billion by 2027. Criminals use voice cloning and facial manipulation to impersonate business executives and loved ones in financial scams, with documented cases including a $243,000 CEO impersonation fraud. Detection tools currently offer 75-92% accuracy, and experts emphasize the need for heightened vigilance and authentication protocols as deepfake technology becomes increasingly accessible to malicious actors.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly man was defrauded through an AI-enabled romance scam involving impersonation of actress Jennifer Aniston, demonstrating how artificial intelligence has made scams increasingly difficult for older adults to detect. The case illustrates the growing sophistication of elder fraud and underscores the importance of family vigilance, including enabling spam filters, registering on the National Do Not Call Registry, and having regular conversations about recognizing scam red flags such as urgency, requests for secrecy, and demands for immediate payment transfers.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Interpol's Operation HAECHI V (July-November) arrested over 5,500 suspected cybercriminals across 40 countries and seized more than $400 million in digital and fiat currencies. The operation targeted seven crime types including romance scams, investment fraud, voice phishing, and business email compromise, with a joint Korea-China effort dismantling a voice phishing syndicate responsible for $1.1 billion in losses from over 1,900 victims. Interpol identified an emerging trend involving romance scams that trick users into purchasing Tether stablecoins and surrendering wallet information through phishing links.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
**Catfishing and Romance Scams Overview**
Catfishing—creating fake online dating profiles to deceive others—has become increasingly prevalent and sophisticated with AI technology, costing victims $1.45 billion according to the Federal Trade Commission, with approximately 83% of incidents occurring on Facebook. A dating expert identifies five red flags to detect catfishers: unrealistic or repetitive photos, avoidance of video calls or in-person meetings, inconsistent backstory details, lack of natural everyday context, and resistance to identity verification—noting that victims often experience profound emotional impacts affecting their ability to trust others.
baytoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
Grandparent or emergency scams exploit seniors' emotions by having fraudsters impersonate distressed family members, police officers, or acquaintances claiming a loved one needs immediate financial help due to accidents, jail, or other emergencies. The scammers gather personal information, demand secrecy, and pressure victims into sending cash or cryptocurrency. The Ontario Provincial Police recommend hanging up and independently verifying stories, questioning callers for details, being truthful with bank tellers about large withdrawals, and reporting suspected scams to local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
me.pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
A five-month international law enforcement operation led by Interpol arrested over 5,500 people and seized more than $400 million across 40 countries for cybercrimes including investment fraud, romance scams, and sextortion. Notable cases included a China-based voice phishing syndicate that defrauded at least 1,900 victims of $1.1 billion using fake law enforcement personas, and a business email compromise scheme that stole $42.3 million from a Singapore firm (of which $39.3 million was recovered). The operation, called Haechi V, achieved record results with nearly 8,309 cases solved.
wbur.org
· 2025-12-08
During the holiday shopping season, scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics including AI-generated deepfakes and social engineering to target online shoppers of all ages and education levels. The article advises consumers to be cautious of fake retailer messages requesting personal financial information, verify suspicious communications with trusted contacts, and report scams to police to help law enforcement aggregate data and identify perpetrators.
seehafernews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Brown County Sheriff's Office warned residents about two rising scams: pig butchering schemes, where criminals build trust online before directing victims to fake cryptocurrency platforms and stealing their investments, and romance scams, where scammers pose as romantic partners to emotionally manipulate victims into sending money before disappearing. Both scams exploit trust-building tactics and result in financial and emotional harm to victims.
dhs.gov
· 2025-12-08
Two Nigerian nationals operating from the Chicago suburbs, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Anukwu, were convicted and sentenced to 20 and 10 years in federal prison respectively for conducting inheritance scams, romance scams, and business email compromise fraud that defrauded victims of at least $3.5 million. The pair used aliases to communicate with victims across the United States, convincing them of inheritances or building false romantic relationships to manipulate them into sending money to predetermined recipients. A third co-defendant, U.S. citizen Jennifer Gosha, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in connection with the scheme and awaited sentencing.
blog.ssa.gov
· 2025-12-08
This educational episode of SSA Talks features Kate Kleinert, a widow who lost $39,000 in a romance scam, serving as a cautionary example for others. The Social Security Office of the Inspector General identifies four warning signs of scams—impersonation of trusted agencies, presentation of problems or prizes, pressure for immediate action, and requests for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency—along with tips for protecting personal information and reporting scams.
westsidespirit.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal, state, and local authorities warn that scams targeting seniors are rising, particularly during the holiday season, with common schemes including charity fraud, grandparent scams, romance scams, tech support scams, and government impersonation scams. Authorities advise seniors to avoid phishing emails, use secure networks for online purchases, verify websites and charities before donating, and be cautious of unsolicited offers. Victims can report suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov), their state attorney general, or local law enforcement.
localnews8.com
· 2025-12-08
Adults over 60 lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, with over 101,000 elderly individuals compromised through romance, tax, and emergency impersonation scams, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Financial experts warn that scammers increasingly exploit elderly people through online methods by establishing false relationships, impersonating the IRS or law enforcement, and pressuring victims into sending money or personal information. Key protective measures include verifying online contacts through photo searches, moving slowly in new relationships, never sending money to online-only contacts, and remaining skeptical of individuals who avoid in-person meetings or request financial information.
interpol.int
· 2025-12-08
INTERPOL launched the "Think Twice" awareness campaign to combat five rising cyber and financial threats: ransomware attacks (up 70%), malware attacks (up 30%), phishing, generative AI scams, and romance baiting scams. The two-week campaign running December 3-19 emphasizes vigilance through social media, urging individuals to verify identities, pause before clicking suspicious links, and avoid online relationships involving money requests. The campaign is supported by funding from the UK and Japan to strengthen cybersecurity awareness globally.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Anne, a 26-year-old Melbourne woman, lost $46,100 in a "pig butchering" romance scam after meeting someone claiming to be "Lucio" on Tinder. The scammer built trust over weeks through intimate conversations and emotional storytelling before convincing her to invest in cryptocurrency on what she believes was a counterfeit trading platform. This scam uses a four-stage process: creating a fake persona, building emotional trust, luring victims into fake investments, and stealing their money.
japantimes.co.jp
· 2025-12-08
**Scam Type:** Romance scam with drug trafficking component
**What Happened:** A 58-year-old Australian woman was deceived by a man posing as a Nigerian fashion business owner whom she met online; he manipulated her into unknowingly smuggling 2 kilograms of methamphetamine into Japan by exploiting her romantic feelings for him. She now faces trial in Japan's Chiba District Court, where prosecutors are seeking 10 years imprisonment and a ¥3 million ($20,000) fine, though her defense argues she is a victim rather than a guilty smuggler.
northweststar.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old woman in NSW's Liverpool Plains lost over $50,000 to a romance scam perpetrated by someone posing as an American man named Phillip Moore, taking out a loan against her house despite being aware of the scam because of emotional attachment and loneliness. While one of her banks (NAB) restricted payments, Great Southern Bank refused to intervene even after her daughters, who held power of attorney, requested help, citing the need for the mother's own authorization or a medical incapacity certificate. The case reflects a broader problem in Australia, where romance scams cost over $19 million in 2024 (with over $11 million lost by those
gizmodo.com
· 2025-12-08
A "pig butchering" romance scam targeting elderly people involves fraudsters impersonating actor Johnny Depp on Facebook, then moving conversations to messaging apps to convince victims to send money via cryptocurrency, gift cards, and other payment methods. The FTC received 197 complaints over one year from victims across the country, many in their 60s who lost thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars from retirement accounts, with one Minnesota woman losing $1,700 before her bank intervened. The scammers exploit emotional vulnerability and loneliness by posing as Depp or associates like his fictional "manager Jack Wingham," using flattery and false promises of romance or investment returns.
amp.scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
A Japanese court convicted Australian woman Donna Nelson, 58, and sentenced her to six years in prison after she was arrested at Tokyo's Narita Airport in January 2023 with approximately 2kg of phenylaminopropane hidden in her suitcase. Nelson claimed she was a victim of an online romance scam and unknowingly smuggled the drugs for a man she believed she would marry, though the court accepted her testimony as truthful but convicted her anyway.
breakingnews.ie
· 2025-12-08
Donna Nelson, a 58-year-old Australian woman, was sentenced to six years in prison by a Japanese court in 2024 for smuggling 4.4 pounds of amphetamines into Japan, despite the court accepting her claim that she was deceived through an online romance scam. Nelson met a man online in 2020 who posed as a Nigerian fashion business owner and manipulated her into carrying a suitcase with a false bottom containing drugs from Laos to Japan, promising to meet her there to marry her. The judge acknowledged her victimization but ruled she should have recognized something was wrong, imposing a shorter sentence than prosecutors requested; Nelson's family maintains she is
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns that criminals are increasingly using generative AI tools to create highly realistic fraudulent content—including deepfake videos, AI-generated profiles, and voice cloning—to perpetrate romance scams, investment fraud, job hiring schemes, and extortion at greater scale and with higher credibility. Common tactics include impersonating authority figures, creating fake charity solicitations, and generating convincing promotional materials for cryptocurrency schemes. The FBI recommends establishing identity verification codes with family members, scrutinizing images and videos for imperfections, independently verifying callers, limiting personal information shared online, and reporting suspected fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
An Australian Indigenous grandmother, Donna Nelson (58), was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay 10,000 Australian dollars after being convicted of smuggling approximately 2kg of methamphetamine into Japan in January 2023. Nelson testified she was deceived through an online romance scam—a man she met in 2020 who claimed to be a Nigerian fashion businessman asked her to carry a suitcase from Laos to Japan, unaware it contained drugs, though the court found she should have suspected illegal contents. The judge acknowledged her victimization but imposed the sentence anyway, which her family contends makes her a victim of crime rather than a criminal, an
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Donna Nelson, a 58-year-old Australian grandmother, was sentenced to six years in prison for smuggling 2 kilograms of methamphetamine into Japan in January 2023, after being deceived by an online romance scam perpetrator who convinced her to carry a suitcase she believed contained fashion samples. Though the Japanese court acknowledged Nelson herself was a victim of the scam, it convicted her for failing to declare the suitcase and ignoring warning signs, with the verdict handed down by Japan's three professional judges and six civilians. Nelson's family is preparing an appeal, hoping to replicate the outcome of a similar case where another Australian grandmother convicted of drug smuggling via romance sc
gilavalleycentral.net
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes addressed seniors in Safford about the rising scam epidemic affecting older adults, noting that Arizona had the nation's highest senior fraud victimization rate at 289 per 100,000 population in 2023. She warned about emerging threats including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams on social media, and AI voice-cloning schemes that impersonate family members to solicit money, recommending families establish secret passwords and watch for warning signs like unexplained financial secrecy, unusual withdrawals, and changed spending patterns. The Attorney General's Office can be reached at 602-542-5763 to report suspected fraud.
weau.com
· 2025-12-08
Local financial professionals in Eau Claire, Wisconsin report an increase in elderly financial abuse cases, particularly during the holiday season, with seniors targeted through romance scams, government impostor schemes, and prize/sweepstakes fraud. Scammers exploit vulnerabilities in older adults, such as loneliness and access to larger bank accounts, often directing victims to send money via gift cards or cryptocurrency. Experts advise seniors to avoid responding to unknown contacts and to verify suspicious requests with trusted family members, friends, or local authorities before taking action, noting that recovering lost funds is extremely difficult once scammers have obtained them.
theroanokestar.com
· 2025-12-08
As holiday shopping season approaches with record-breaking online sales predicted, scammers are deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics to defraud consumers. Virginia Tech cybercrime expert Katalin Parti outlines key warning signs and prevention strategies, including: avoiding unsolicited requests for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, being skeptical of high-return investment ads, verifying company contact information through official websites rather than provided links, and remaining cautious of romance scams, job scams, and fake charitable solicitations. Consumers should also monitor financial statements for fraud, keep software updated, verify website URLs, and be aware that scammers can now spoof voices and area codes to impersonate trusted contacts.
thecyberexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned that criminals are increasingly using generative AI tools to create highly convincing fraudulent content—including fake social media profiles, websites, audio recordings, and deepfake videos—making scams more believable and scalable across larger victim populations. AI-generated text, images, voice cloning, and videos are being weaponized in romance scams, investment fraud, job hiring schemes, extortion, and identity theft, with criminals exploiting the technology's ability to produce realistic-seeming content that overcomes traditional fraud detection signs. The sophisticated nature of AI-generated content makes it increasingly challenging for individuals and businesses to identify fraudulent schemes before becoming victims.
english.factcrescendo.com
· 2025-12-08
Tina fell victim to a romance scam on the social app MEEFF when a man posing as "Kelvin Luca," a UK-based ship engineer, built an emotional connection with her using a fabricated story about visiting India. After establishing trust through fake travel documents and stolen photos, an accomplice impersonating a customs official demanded ₹15,000 from Tina to release the scammer from detention for carrying illegal cash, claiming Kelvin had provided her contact information. Tina avoided financial loss by consulting a friend and investigating before transferring money, but the case illustrates how romance scammers use emotional manipulation and forged documents on dating platforms to exploit victims
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Bashiru Ganiyu, 39, of the Bronx, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for operating romance scams targeting primarily elderly victims from 2020 to 2022 as part of a Ghana-based criminal enterprise; he defrauded over 40 victims of nearly $12 million and was ordered to forfeit $11.7 million and pay $7.6 million in restitution. Ganiyu used fraudulent online personas to gain victims' trust before convincing them to wire money to bank accounts he controlled, then funneled the stolen funds to co-conspirators domestically and abroad.
livemint.com
· 2025-12-08
A McAfee study found that nearly 40% of Indians' online dating contacts are scammers, with 77% encountering AI-generated fake profiles on dating platforms. Cybercriminals exploit vulnerable daters by using AI tools to create realistic profile pictures and craft messages, while a 25-300% surge in Valentine's Day-related malware, phishing URLs, and romance scams was reported. To protect themselves, users are advised to scrutinize messages for generic content, perform reverse image searches on profile pictures, avoid clicking suspicious links, never send money to online contacts, and seek friends' opinions on new romantic interests.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Donna Nelson, a 58-year-old Australian grandmother, was convicted in a Japanese court and sentenced to six years in prison for smuggling 2 kilograms of methamphetamine into Japan in January 2023, after being deceived by an online romance scammer named "Kelly" who convinced her to carry a suitcase she believed contained fashion samples. Though the judge acknowledged Nelson was herself a victim of the scam, she was found guilty for failing to declare the suitcase and ignoring warning signs, and her family is now preparing an appeal while she serves her sentence with credit for 430 days already served.
digitalinformationworld.com
· 2025-12-08
"Malvertising" (malicious digital advertisements) is rapidly increasing as a scam vector, with a 42% month-over-month increase in US cases in 2023 and 41% growth from July-September 2024, primarily originating from Vietnam and Pakistan. Scammers use these deceptive ads in search results to distribute malware, conduct investment scams, credit card fraud, phishing attacks, and romance scams, with ads disguised as legitimate businesses that steal victim information when clicked. Internet users across all websites are at risk, as malvertising is difficult to detect and remove; Google blocked 5.5 billion ads in 2023 but sc
womensweekly.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Perth grandmother Donna Nelson fell victim to a romance scam in which a man posing as a Nigerian businessman named "Kelly" wooed her online for two years before convincing her to carry a suitcase to Japan that contained 2kg of methamphetamine hidden in a false bottom. She was convicted of drug smuggling in December 2024 and sentenced to six years in prison; after losing her appeal in September 2025, her family has confirmed they will not pursue further legal action, though her five daughters continue advocating for her release while she serves her sentence in harsh conditions.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Alfred Mancinelli, a 79-year-old widower, lost approximately $1 million in savings over several years to romance scammers posing as professional wrestler Alexa Bliss and other characters who exploited his loneliness and desire for companionship. When his son Chris attempted to protect his remaining $100,000 by securing it in an account, Alfred sued him, demonstrating how romance scam victims often reject intervention and become emotionally ensnared by their fraudsters. The case illustrates a broader problem: Americans lost $652 million to romance fraud in 2023 alone, with older adults and isolated individuals particularly vulnerable to scammers who manipulate emotional
racq.com.au
· 2025-12-08
RACQ Bank reports continued cases of members being victimized by romance scams initiated through social media and online dating apps, where scammers build trust over extended periods before requesting money for urgent problems. Once victims transfer funds, the scammers disappear, resulting in financial losses that are rarely recovered and significant emotional trauma beyond the monetary impact.
news.uthsc.edu
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common red flags across multiple scam types—including romance, delivery, grandparent, and tech support scams—and provides prevention strategies. Key advice includes not responding to unexpected texts, hanging up and calling back through verified numbers, establishing family safe words, refusing suspicious payment methods (gift cards, crypto, wire transfers), and being cautious on social media and dating apps. The article recommends victims stop payment immediately, take screenshots for evidence, and report incidents to their bank, local police, or relevant authorities.
telus.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "I know where you live!": the latest sextortion scam exposed
The "Hello Pervert" sextortion scam emails intimidate victims to pay in cryptocurrency by threatening to expose compromising content and now include a new tactic—photos of recipients' homes obtained from Google Maps Street View. To protect themselves, victims should never pay or respond to such emails, report them to law enforcement and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and take preventive measures including blurring their homes on Google Maps, conducting dark web scans, maintaining strong passwords, and running regular security scans on all devices.
amny.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams surge during the holiday season as fraudsters exploit loneliness and generosity, particularly targeting vulnerable populations including older adults through online dating platforms and social media. In 2022, older Americans lost nearly $240 million to romance scams according to the FTC, and a free educational webinar on December 10 featuring Homeland Security Investigations and AARP New York will provide tools to recognize scam tactics, verify identities, and access victim support resources.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
**Business Email Compromise and Romance Scam Operation**
Okechukwu Osuji, a 39-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced to eight years in prison for orchestrating a $6 million fraud scheme involving business email compromise and romance scams that victimized organizations and individuals across the United States. Osuji and his co-conspirators impersonated legitimate businesses in electronic communications to trick victims into transferring funds, while also exploiting elderly individuals through romance scams to use them as unwitting "money mules"—including one woman who sent her entire savings and social security checks to someone she believed was her romantic partner. His accomplice
teaonews.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Sharon Armstrong, a Ngāti Kahungunu woman, was imprisoned in Argentina in 2011 after becoming a victim of an online romance scam and unknowingly transporting drugs as a result. She recently released a Kindle version of her memoir "Organised Deception" to raise awareness about romance fraud and support other victims, having worked with hundreds of scam survivors since 2015 through referrals from Netsafe. Armstrong emphasizes the sophistication of scammers and the psychological tactics they employ, noting that she continues her advocacy work alongside her employment with Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services.
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
Xiao Kun Cheung, 58, was charged in Georgia for operating a multi-state elder fraud scheme that extorted over $1 million from seniors up to 92 years old through phone calls and pop-up messages falsely claiming their accounts were compromised. Cheung convinced victims to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, and buy gold bars under the pretense of government safekeeping, and was arrested attempting to collect $132,000 in gold bars from one victim. The case highlights the broader crisis of elder fraud, with Americans over 60 suffering $3.5 billion in losses in 2023, including $92 million in Georgia alone.
technology.inquirer.net
· 2025-12-08
Government agencies (CICC and DOJ) and online bank Maya discussed the eight most common online scams affecting Filipinos—including phishing, identity theft, ransomware, online shopping fraud, tech support scams, social media scams, investment/crypto scams, and romance scams—at the Protecta Pilipinas launch event. Panelists warned that scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with criminals using tower hijacking techniques to send spoofed messages from legitimate institutions and targeting online shoppers with losses ranging from ₱3,500 to ₱17,000. Authorities advised the public to avoid clicking suspicious links and carefully verify messages claiming to be from
gisuser.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost victims an average of $2,000, with total losses exceeding $1 billion in 2023 alone, and 50% of Americans using dating apps between 2018-2023 experienced catfishing. Scammers use stolen photos, love bombing tactics, and requests to move communication off-platform before eventually asking for money, cryptocurrency investments, or personal financial data. To protect yourself, avoid sending money to online contacts, decline investments in digital assets, request video chats to verify identity, and trust your instincts if communication seems inconsistent or suspicious.
thebuglenewspaper.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Twelve years ago, Lynne Strong's travel debit card was cloned, likely at a restaurant or taxi, resulting in systematic unauthorized ATM withdrawals and daily shopping charges that her bank failed to detect for nearly a month. Her bank eventually reimbursed the fraudulent transactions but processed them individually, creating a tedious reconciliation process, and offered only a $400 credit and apology. The article highlights five common scams targeting Australians—investment fraud, phishing attacks, romance scams, remote access scams, and lottery scams—providing protective strategies for each, and emphasizes that Australians lost over $2.74 billion to scams in 2023 alone
startsat60.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines twelve common scams that surge during the Christmas season in Australia, including online shopping fraud, parcel delivery scams, fake charities, counterfeit gift cards, holiday travel scams, romance scams, cryptocurrency schemes, and phishing attacks. HSBC warns that festive season distractions and increased spending make consumers more vulnerable to fraud, with Australians expected to spend $11.8 billion on gifts in 2024. The article advises consumers to verify websites and retailers, donate through established charity channels, and remain cautious of unsolicited offers and suspicious links.
breitbart.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating actor Johnny Depp on social media have defrauded elderly Americans of millions of dollars through a "pig butchering" scheme, according to 197 FTC complaints targeting primarily victims in their 60s and older. The fraudsters, who often pose as Depp or his manager, manipulate victims through false promises of romance, investment opportunities, or financial assistance, extracting funds via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, and gift cards, with documented losses ranging from $1,700 to $350,000 per victim. The scams employ sophisticated social engineering tactics including deepfake images and instructions to keep communications secret, with particularly vulnerable elderly victims—including those with
timeslive.co.za
· 2025-12-08
Police arrested Mohoto Mangwejana, 33, for his role in a romance scam in which a former teacher from Limpopo was defrauded of R1.8 million by a Ghanaian national who posed as a romantic partner and business associate. The article details multiple romance scam cases prosecuted in South Africa targeting primarily women, including victims who lost R2 million and over R1 million through fake online relationships on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn. Authorities continue investigating these networks, with several suspects arrested while others remain at large.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are particularly devastating for elderly individuals, who are targeted due to perceived wealth, lower technology literacy, and cognitive vulnerabilities including mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Scammers establish fake romantic relationships with lonely older adults, build emotional bonds, and then extract money through fabricated emergencies; victims often continue sending money even when confronted with evidence of deception, similar to cult indoctrination patterns. The case of 79-year-old Alfred illustrates the severity: he lost nearly all his savings to a scammer posing as "Alexa Bliss" and was on the verge of selling his house before his son intervened.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto resident lost $355,000 in a romance scam that began on Facebook in June 2021, when a scammer posing as "Moshe Theodor McNigh" convinced them to invest in cryptocurrency through a fraudulent website. Following a three-year international investigation involving Canadian and Nigerian authorities, a suspect was arrested in Nigeria and $225,000 of the victim's funds were recovered through Nigerian court orders. The case highlights the prevalence of cryptocurrency investment fraud, which accounted for over 50 percent of the $309 million in reported investment fraud losses in Canada in 2023.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece examines romance scams and their emotional and financial impact on victims. It features insights from cyber safety educator Paul Litherland (former WA Police Technology Crime Unit officer) and Professor Cassandra Cross (Queensland University of Technology) who provide expert advice on recognizing and avoiding romance scam tactics.