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sebastopoltimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial exploitation of elderly residents in Sonoma County increased significantly, with Adult Protective Services reporting a 9% rise in abuse reports and 14% increase in investigations from 2022 to 2023, with 19% of over 7,800 allegations involving financial exploitation. Common scams targeting seniors include investment fraud, tech support scams, phishing schemes, and romance scams, which collectively cost victims $3.4 billion nationally in 2023, with romance scams proving particularly damaging due to the emotional manipulation involved. Experts advised seniors to avoid clicking links in suspicious emails or calls, contact companies directly to verify account issues, and be wary of requests for money from online dating
wgme.com
· 2025-12-08
Maine seniors lost $7.1 million to elder fraud in the past year, with nearly 400 victims over age 60 falling prey to scams including romance and investment schemes often involving cryptocurrency. The FBI reports a double-digit increase in financial scams across New England, with regional losses reaching $1.6 billion between January and May of this year. Victims are advised to avoid unsolicited communications, resist pressure to act quickly, never share personal information with unverified sources, and recognize gift cards and cryptocurrency payments as red flags, while authorities emphasize that actual victim numbers are likely higher due to underreporting.
ktvq.com
· 2025-12-08
Montana agencies, including the FBI and Adult Protective Services, convened on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) to address a sharp rise in senior financial exploitation and abuse in the state. Adult Protective Services investigated nearly 11,000 allegations of elder abuse between June 2023-2024, while the financial abuse specialist team saw case referrals jump from 11 in 2022 to 33 in 2023, with cryptocurrency ATM scams and romance scams being particularly common. Experts attribute the increase to a record number of people turning 65 and note that many cases go unreported due to victim shame and fear.
sf.gov
· 2025-12-08
San Francisco's Mayor London Breed joined city, state, and federal leaders on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to announce that over 1,200 seniors were reached through a multi-agency fraud prevention campaign, with presentations delivered in six languages across 37 locations. The coalition educated seniors on identifying red flags for scams including blessing scams, AI-based impersonation, grandparent schemes, and "pig butchering" cryptocurrency fraud, while highlighting that elder fraud caused over $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023, with the average victim losing $33,915. The effort aimed to help seniors and families recognize fraudulent schemes and report crimes to prevent victimization.
wuky.org
· 2025-12-08
Elder Kentuckians lost $12.8 million to scams in the previous year, with projections to double to $12.7 million by May of the current year, according to FBI officials who warn the problem is not declining. The three most common scams targeting Kentucky elders are investment fraud (including cryptocurrency and precious metals schemes), tech support fraud (phishing and fake security alerts), and romance fraud, with a detailed case study showing a 72-year-old woman losing nearly $200,000 to a military officer imposter who cultivated a romantic relationship with her over months before requesting money for military contract payouts and travel expenses. The investigation resulted in the indictment of three U
plantcityobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
After hurricanes, scammers target disaster victims through fake contractors demanding upfront payment or using misleading Assignment of Benefits documents, fake government/utility workers requesting personal information, non-existent rental listings, and fraudulent charities. Victims should verify all contractors' credentials and insurance, avoid cash/wire transfer payments, never pay for FEMA assistance, and check charity legitimacy before donating.
hudsonvalleycountry.com
· 2025-12-08
New York officials are warning residents about a rising "pig butchering" scam targeting romance seekers on dating apps and social media. Scammers build trust with victims over time before convincing them to invest money in cryptocurrency or foreign currency schemes, often moving conversations to encrypted platforms like WhatsApp to evade law enforcement. New York Attorney General Letitia James recommends verifying people's identities, avoiding wire transfers to unvetted contacts, and being suspicious of those who resist video calls, pressure for investments, or request personal financial information.
highlandcountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "Raising awareness about fraud targeting seniors"
The FBI reported seniors lost $3.4 billion in 2023, an 11-percent increase from 2022, through scams including romance fraud, fake tech support, cryptocurrency schemes, and investment fraud. The article outlines six warning signs of scams and provides guidance on prevention measures and reporting channels, including contacting local police, the FTC, FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
An anonymous victim lost approximately $1.1 million to two pig-butchering romance scams between January 2021 and December 2022, where scammers posed as a romantic interest and investment advisor on Facebook to manipulate the victim into transferring funds for false business opportunities and cryptocurrency investments. The US government has filed a forfeiture complaint to seize nearly $200,000 in Tether (USDT) held on Binance that was traced to the scam and converted by suspect Izuchukwu Henry Okolo, with the funds now in FBI custody. Pig-butchering scams use romantic relationships and false investment promises to gain victims' trust
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer warning about romance scams involving cryptocurrency, in which scammers build emotional relationships with victims over time before convincing them to invest in crypto schemes with false promises of guaranteed profits and expert guidance. The FTC noted these scammers have stolen millions of dollars and advised consumers to watch for warning signs such as promises of large returns, guaranteed risk-free investments, and requests to send money. Canada's Anti-Fraud Centre similarly reported a surge in crypto romance scams on dating apps and social media, urging consumers to be cautious of online contacts promoting cryptocurrency investments.
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued a warning about the rise of "romance scams" (also called "pig butchering scams"), in which scammers pose as romantic interests to trick victims into making fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, with over $75 billion lost to these schemes between January 2020 and February 2024. The FTC advised that scammers establish emotional connections, conduct background checks on victims, promise unrealistic risk-free returns, and disappear after obtaining funds, and recommended that victims cut off contact and report incidents to the FTC. Notable cases include a Philadelphia woman who lost $450,000 in 2024 and crypto exchange Debiex, which allegedly solicite
blockonomi.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission warns about cryptocurrency romance scams in which fraudsters pose as romantic partners online, build emotional trust, and convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency schemes promising high returns with no risk. Over $75 billion was lost to these scams between January 2020 and February 2024. The FTC advises victims to cease communication immediately if an online love interest requests money via gift cards, payment apps, or cryptocurrency, and to report suspected scammers to both the social media platform and the FTC.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission has warned consumers about crypto romance scams, where fraudsters pose as romantic interests on social media, build emotional connections, and then pressure victims to invest in cryptocurrency with promises of guaranteed high returns. Scammers use untraceable payment methods like gift cards and crypto transfers, with victims reporting losses ranging from thousands to millions of dollars. The FTC advises people to disconnect from suspected scammers immediately and report them to both the social media platform and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
cryptodaily.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for this content. This article appears to be promotional material about cryptocurrency projects and investment opportunities, not documentation of elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.
Elderus is a research database focused on elder fraud and abuse cases. Please submit articles or transcripts related to scams, fraud schemes, or elder abuse for summarization.
newportnewstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Social media scams are currently the most prevalent fraud type, surpassing phone and text fraud. The article identifies four common tactics: giveaway scams requiring personal information or suspicious link clicks, investment scams promising unrealistic returns, fake shopping deals with pressure tactics and unusual payment requests, and impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as trusted contacts requesting urgent financial assistance. Protection strategies include verifying account authenticity, avoiding unsolicited offers, using secure payment methods, enabling two-factor authentication, and confirming unexpected requests through independent contact channels.
kare11.com
· 2025-12-08
A Maple Grove senior lost $20,000 in a phone scam after accidentally dialing an incorrect number and reaching scammers posing as Xfinity customer service. The scammer convinced the victim that his accounts had been hacked and pressured him to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM; a gas station clerk intervened during the final transaction, preventing the loss of an additional $5,000. Brooklyn Park police report that residents lost over $1 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2024, with recovery being nearly impossible once funds are transferred between digital wallets, particularly when scammers operate overseas.
crapo.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams, an 11 percent increase from 2022, prompting Senator Mike Crapo to co-sponsor a unanimously passed Senate Resolution to combat elder fraud. Common scams targeting older Americans include romance schemes, fraudulent tech support, cryptocurrency conversion fraud, and investment scams, with warning signs including unexpected contact with pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, and demands for untraceable payments. The Idaho Attorney General's office and other agencies provide educational resources and encourage seniors to report fraud without shame, noting that scammers are sophisticated and victims should contact law enforcement, their financial institutions, and relevant agencies rather than remaining silent due to
actionnews5.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reported an 11% increase in elder fraud losses in 2023 compared to 2022, with people over 60 losing $3.4 billion nationwide and $43 million in Tennessee alone. Common scams targeting seniors include cryptocurrency investments, tech support fraud, business scams, and romance scams, with scammers exploiting older adults' disposable income and lower proficiency with online services. The FBI advises victims to stop sending money, cut off contact with scammers, and file complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center immediately.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated romance scam operation based in the Dubai desert targeted tens of thousands of people through fake text messages and WhatsApp messages, with scammers posing as wealthy Eastern European women and models to lure victims into cryptocurrency investment schemes. An insider named Evan, who took a job at the facility out of desperation, discovered the operation involved a three-stage "pig-butchering scam" where workers messaged 40-50 potential victims daily using stolen photos and video call actors. The syndicate was eventually exposed through the collaboration of an Australian victim (Murray Sargant), a private detective, a YouTube scam-baiter, and Evan himself, who worked from within to help
moneymarketing.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Fraud affects one in 17 people in the UK and comprises 38% of all crime, according to an Anti-Money Laundering Professionals Forum. The article outlines seven increasingly sophisticated fraud types targeting victims: impersonation fraud (posing as banks or authorities), social media fraud (fake websites and phishing), cryptocurrency investment scams (promising false high returns), courier fraud (impersonating officials to extract money), romance fraud (building fake relationships to steal assets), investment fraud (promoting worthless overseas properties or shares), and payment diversion (using nearly-identical email addresses to redirect payments). Pension providers and authorities must work together to combat these scams through reporting and vigilance.
vancouversun.com
· 2025-12-08
The RCMP and B.C. Securities Commission delivered warning letters to 10 suspected "money mules" on May 29 who were allegedly laundering proceeds from offshore investment scams involving hundreds of thousands of dollars through cash and cryptocurrency transfers. The operation targets individuals who may be unwittingly assisting criminals, willfully ignoring the illegal activity, or knowingly participating in money laundering schemes that originate from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. British Columbians reported $46.4 million in investment scam losses in 2023, though authorities estimate actual losses are significantly higher, with the true figure likely in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
British Columbia authorities warned 10 suspected "money mules" in Metro Vancouver in late May after the BCSC identified them transferring funds obtained from investment fraud victims, with an estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars involved. Money mules—who may knowingly or unknowingly facilitate money laundering for criminal networks—are recruited through false job offers, romance scams, or false identities, and face potential criminal charges for possession or laundering proceeds of crime. The investigation revealed that organized crime groups behind these investment fraud schemes have shifted from Nigeria and Eastern Europe to primarily southeast Asia since the BCSC began investigating in 2020.
themonroetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Phishing scam reports to the Better Business Bureau nearly doubled in 2023, reaching over 9,000 reports—a record high—with scammers increasingly using text-based (SMS) phishing tactics alongside traditional email and phone-based methods to trick victims into sharing personal information or downloading malicious software. The BBB documented phishing techniques used across multiple scam types including government impersonation, tech support fraud, and cryptocurrency schemes, with victims losing billions of dollars over the past three years. Common red flags include urgent language, requests to confirm financial information, suspicious login alerts, and messages impersonating authority figures or well-known companies.
cryptotimes.io
· 2025-12-08
Scammers used deepfake AI videos of Elon Musk across over 35 YouTube channels on June 6 to conduct a cryptocurrency fraud scheme, promising to double any Bitcoin, Ether, or Dogecoin deposits sent to them during SpaceX's Starship launch event. One fraudulent channel impersonating SpaceX accumulated 170,000 viewers across three simultaneous streams, and nine wallets associated with the scam held approximately $34,000 in combined cryptocurrency. After YouTube removed the streams, the same scammers rebranded their channel to impersonate the Cardano Foundation and launched a similar deepfake scam using Cardano
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A scam-baiter named Jim Browning exposed a cryptocurrency investment scam operation based in Georgia, Eastern Europe, that targets victims worldwide by posing as financial advisors and recovery services. The scammers use fake celebrity endorsements and fraudulent websites to lure victims, then display fake cryptocurrency portfolios to convince them their money is growing, with some victims—including an Australian man Browning monitored in real-time—losing thousands of dollars. Australians reported losing over $2.74 billion to scams in the previous year, with attackers particularly targeting older adults with retirement savings.
elliptic.co
· 2025-12-08
AI-enhanced scams are emerging as a potential threat in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, though not yet widespread. Criminals are exploiting AI technology through deepfake videos of celebrities and public figures to promote fake crypto investment schemes, and by creating fraudulent "AI-related" tokens designed for pump-and-dump schemes and rug-pulls that defraud investors. Elliptic released a horizon scanning report identifying five typologies of AI-enabled crypto crimes and recommends industry stakeholders implement best practices and develop strategies to prevent these threats from becoming mainstream.
troyrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert about "pig butchering" romance scams, where fraudsters build romantic relationships with victims on dating apps and social media before convincing them to invest money in fake cryptocurrency or currency schemes. Victims typically deposit tens of thousands to over a million dollars before discovering they cannot withdraw funds or are asked to pay fake fees, at which point the scammers disappear. The Attorney General recommends verifying people's identities, consulting financial advisors before investing, and reporting suspected scams to law enforcement and the relevant platforms.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned of rising "pig butchering" romance scams in which fraudsters use dating apps and social media to build fake romantic relationships with victims before pressuring them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes. Victims have lost between tens of thousands and over $1 million, with two-thirds of the Attorney General's cryptocurrency complaints tied to these online crimes. The scammers typically move conversations to encrypted platforms like WhatsApp or WeChat before directing victims to fraudulent investment platforms, often operated by overseas perpetrators.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
New York State Attorney Letitia James warned of rising "pig butchering" romance scams targeting New Yorkers through dating apps and social media, where fraudsters build fake relationships before convincing victims to invest in cryptocurrency schemes. Victims reported losses ranging from tens of thousands to over $1 million, with two-thirds of crypto complaints to the State Attorney's office linked to online fraud, with communication often conducted through platforms like WhatsApp and WeChat.
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud victims, particularly older adults, face a "double whammy" of financial losses when they liquidate retirement accounts to pay scammers, as they incur both the theft and unexpected IRS tax liabilities on the withdrawn funds. In the past year, 880,418 fraud complaints reported losses exceeding $12.5 billion, with current tax law treating stolen funds as taxable income rather than deductible losses. Lawmakers and advocacy groups like AARP are pushing for legislative changes to allow defrauded taxpayers greater tax deductions, and experts urge brokers and banks to better screen for unusual withdrawal requests that may indicate scam activity.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and Identity Theft Resource Center report thousands of toll road scams targeting drivers since March, using text messages claiming small unpaid toll balances and directing victims to fake websites that closely resemble legitimate state toll services. If victims click the links and enter payment information, scammers can steal credit card details and personal information, potentially using credential harvesting to access financial accounts at banks and investment firms. To protect against the scam, consumers should ignore unsolicited toll payment messages, never click suspicious links, use unique passwords for each account, and enable two-factor authentication on financial accounts.
microsoft.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering scams are romance and cryptocurrency fraud schemes where scammers build trust with victims through fake personas on social media or messaging apps before directing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. After the victim deposits money into fake investment apps that show fake profits and allow small withdrawals to build confidence, scammers disappear with the funds. To protect against these scams, victims should verify identities through reverse image searches, maintain privacy, avoid discussing finances with new online contacts, and be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities.
fingerlakesdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
New York's Attorney General issued a consumer alert about "pig butchering" romance scams, in which fraudsters befriend victims on dating apps, social media, and text messages before directing them to fake investment platforms. Scammers build trust over time, send fake screenshots of trading profits and luxury lifestyle images, then convince victims to invest tens of thousands to over a million dollars in cryptocurrency or foreign currency schemes before cutting off contact and making funds irretrievable. The alert advises New Yorkers to avoid wiring money to unknown contacts, verify identities through reverse image searches, be suspicious of excuses to avoid video calls or requests to use encrypted platforms, and never rush into investments.
ag.ny.gov
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning New Yorkers about "pig butchering" scams, in which fraudsters use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build romantic relationships with victims before manipulating them into fake investment schemes, often involving cryptocurrency or foreign currencies. Victims typically see fake account balance increases that encourage larger deposits, ranging from tens of thousands to over a million dollars, before scammers cut off contact and prevent withdrawals or demand prepayment of fees. The Attorney General recommends avoiding money transfers to unknown individuals, researching online profiles for authenticity, and reporting suspected scams to both the platform and law enforcement.
riverreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert about "pig butchering" romance scams, where fraudsters use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency or foreign currencies. Victims are shown fake account statements showing gains, but cannot withdraw funds once they deposit substantial sums, at which point the scammers disappear. The Attorney General's Office encourages reporting suspected scams to the relevant platforms and law enforcement at 1-800-771-7755.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned in June of a rising work-from-home job scam where fraudsters contact victims with offers of simple remote work (like rating restaurants), show fake earnings on a fake interface, then demand cryptocurrency payments to "unlock" additional work—with payments going directly to the scammer. Red flags include job postings that overuse the word "optimization" and don't require references, and victims should be cautious of any employer demanding cryptocurrency as a condition of employment.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old man from the US lost approximately $716,212 (Rs 6 crore) in a "pig butchering" romance scam after meeting a scammer posing as a wealthy Chinese woman named Violaine Chen on LinkedIn. The scammer built romantic trust over time, then convinced the victim to invest in a fake trading platform (Fuex) that showed false returns, and blocked withdrawal attempts while demanding additional fees. Despite FBI reporting, the victim was unable to recover his funds and suffered significant emotional and financial consequences.
broadbandbreakfast.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults' losses to fraud and scams have increased significantly, from $1 billion in 2021 to approximately $1.8 billion in reported losses in 2023, with the FTC estimating actual losses may reach as high as $48 billion when accounting for unreported cases. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to business impersonation scams (especially Amazon impersonation), romance scams, tech support scams, and investment scams involving fake cryptocurrency opportunities. Government agencies, tech companies, and nonprofit organizations are working to combat fraud through education, awareness tools, and new coalitions like Tech Against Scams, while also recognizing the significant mental and emotional health impact on scam
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
Two emerging scams exploit people's willingness to help others: the "borrow your phone" scam, where strangers ask to use your phone and secretly transfer money from payment apps to their accounts (stealing $150-$200 or more), and the "accidental deposit" scam, where scammers claim they mistakenly sent you money via Venmo and request you send it back, potentially involving fraudulent transactions. Experts recommend never handing phones to strangers and verifying overpayment claims directly with payment app customer support rather than trusting unsolicited requests.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
In January 2023, a Massachusetts workers union was defrauded of $6.4 million through a business email compromise (BEC) scheme in which scammers spoofed an investment consulting firm's email address (changing one letter) to request a payment information change. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture action to recover approximately $5.3 million in traced proceeds that were transferred through multiple intermediary accounts in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and Nigeria before being seized from seven domestic bank accounts.
intouchweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams, which exploited approximately 70,000 Americans in 2022 resulting in $1.3 billion in losses (a 78% increase from 2020), typically begin on social media platforms (40% of cases) or dating apps where scammers build trust before requesting money for investments, emergencies, or travel. Older adults aged 65 and above are the most frequently targeted demographic and suffer the highest financial losses, with victims experiencing not only severe financial consequences but also profound emotional trauma including shame, betrayal, and lasting psychological harm.
gobankingrates.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines 11 common scams expected in 2025 and protective measures for consumers. Key scams include AI-powered fraud (voice cloning, deepfakes, phishing, and fake job postings), check fraud through digital alteration, debt relief scams, and fake package delivery schemes, with seniors particularly targeted through "grandparent scams." The article advises consumers to verify identities before sharing information, use secure payment methods instead of checks, contact legitimate financial institutions directly, and remain vigilant as scammers use advancing technology to make frauds harder to detect.
en.cryptonomist.ch
· 2025-12-08
"Crypto Boy," a Netflix film released in October 2023, dramatizes the true-to-life story of Amir, a boy who lost his life savings and recruited friends and relatives into a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme after being promised easy returns by a fraudulent investment platform. The film illustrates a widespread problem in the crypto sector, where analysis of 1,450 Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in 2018 identified 271 as suspicious with approximately $1 billion in fraudulent investments. The scam exemplifies how cryptocurrency schemes use promises of quick earnings and pyramid structures to lure vulnerable victims before operators disappear and funds become inaccessible.
wxii12.com
· 2025-12-08
Chatham County's Department of Social Services hosted a senior resource fair to address the growing problem of financial exploitation targeting vulnerable adults. In 2022, $3 billion was lost to financial exploitation nationwide, with sweetheart scams and exploitation by trusted individuals (such as those with power of attorney) being the most common types reported in Chatham County, where cases have increased from 25% to approximately 33% of all reports. Officials recommend people "see it, stop it, and report it" by recognizing warning signs like unusual money transfers and gift card purchases, immediately contacting banks and law enforcement, and reporting suspected exploitation to adult protective services or the Federal Trade Commission.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old professional lost over $700,000 in less than two months after being approached on LinkedIn in May 2023 by a woman claiming to be a 37-year-old named Violaine Chen who lived in San Francisco. Through thousands of WhatsApp messages combining romance and investment advice, the scammer convinced him to download a fraudulent investment app called Fuex and deposit money into accounts in Hong Kong, initially requesting $1,500 and escalating from there. The "pig butchering" romance scam damaged his 40-year marriage and nearly cost him his life before he became aware of the fraud.
asiaone.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned Singaporeans about deepfake scam videos falsely depicting him promoting investment products with guaranteed returns. Scammers used AI technology to synchronize his voice and mouth movements with footage of his 2023 National Day message, creating convincing fake videos designed to deceive viewers into signing up for fraudulent schemes. He urged the public to remain vigilant, report such scams via the Government's ScamShield Bot, and remember that investment offers sounding too good to be true warrant caution.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned Singaporeans about a deepfake video in which his likeness and voice were used to promote an investment product with guaranteed returns. The scammers used AI technology to synchronize his mouth movements with fabricated audio layered over actual footage from his 2023 National Day message, demonstrating the sophistication of deepfake fraud. SM Lee advised the public to be cautious of investment scams involving public figures and to report suspected scams using the Government's ScamShield Bot.
theage.com.au
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece provides guidance for victims of scams on steps to take after falling victim to fraud. The article outlines three key actions: immediately report the scam to your bank and contact IDCARE (1800 595 160) to limit recovery losses; remain vigilant against follow-up scams targeting victims with stolen personal information; and develop a financial recovery plan through budgeting adjustments, investment strategy changes, or seeking professional financial advice. The piece emphasizes that scam victims often experience profound emotional and psychological impacts, with one in three victims being scammed multiple times.
dailyforex.com
· 2025-12-08
Telegram has become a popular platform for Forex scammers to target traders by impersonating legitimate traders or brokers and convincing victims to deposit funds with fake platforms or wallets under their control. Common scam types include copycat channels, phishing schemes, pump-and-dump schemes, romance scams, fake broker impersonation, and fake education programs, with scammers typically using fake account screenshots, grammatical errors, and time-pressure tactics to manipulate victims. Traders can protect themselves by verifying legitimacy through official channels, avoiding unsolicited contacts, never sharing personal details, and being cautious of pressure tactics and guaranteed returns.
cjonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Shan Hanes, former CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas, pleaded guilty to embezzling $47 million in bank funds through a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam, where he was lured by an unidentified scammer via WhatsApp into making fraudulent cryptocurrency investments with false promises of returns. Hanes made 11 wire transfers to cryptocurrency accounts while lying to bank employees and investors, resulting in shareholder losses of $9-13 million and leading to the bank's insolvency in July 2023. He faces up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and $60.5 million in restit