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Gmail users are facing an AI-powered scam that the FBI identified in May, wherein criminals send convincing fake emails and voice/video messages claiming account security breaches to trick victims into revealing Gmail recovery codes, potentially leading to identity theft and financial loss. To protect themselves, users should avoid clicking suspicious links, use multi-factor authentication, enable password managers, and verify security alerts by visiting Google Account directly rather than through email links.

Online romance scams in Arizona resulted in over $47 million in losses during 2022-2023, with victims ranging from elderly individuals to people in their 30s, making the state the fifth-highest in the nation for such fraud. Key warning signs include scammers professing "instant love," quickly moving communication off dating platforms, refusing to share photos, and requesting money, sometimes stringing victims along for extended periods. Law enforcement and AARP Arizona warn that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence and new technology to impersonate people, and encourage vigilance especially around Valentine's Day when people are most vulnerable to romance-based fraud.

Japanese and Nigerian police jointly dismantled a fraud ring that defrauded 14 Japanese victims of 150 million yen ($986,000) between 2022-2023 through social media investment and romance scams, with perpetrators posing as astronauts, military personnel, and doctors to solicit funds. Nigerian authorities arrested 11 nationals whose bank accounts received victim funds, while Japanese police apprehended 9 individuals who converted stolen money into cryptocurrency; this marks the first time overseas suspects were arrested based on Japanese authorities' information. The investigation, coordinated by Interpol across 21 nations, uncovered a Nigeria-based syndicate converting victim funds through cryptocurrency exchanges,

Between 2023 and 2024, Kaspersky researchers identified over 5,260 email scams originating from Nigerian groups targeting victims in Vietnam, using increasingly sophisticated tactics that impersonate wealthy individuals, entrepreneurs, and lottery directors to extract money through romance scams, fake investment opportunities, and requests for travel or shipping costs. In a related case, Vietnamese police arrested 50 conspirators operating romance scams through fake Facebook accounts posing as successful entrepreneurs, targeting middle-aged single women and convincing them to invest in Bitcoin under the guise of romantic relationships. Experts warn these scams employ social engineering and emotional manipulation to build trust, and recommend victims verify information carefully, avoid sharing personal an

Alfred's family discovered unusual bank transactions and learned that their father had fallen victim to multiple scams over several years, including romance fraud involving an impostor posing as WWE wrestler Alexa Bliss, as well as advance-fee schemes. Despite his sons' efforts to protect him, Alfred believed he was helping friends in need and paying legitimate bills, leading to family conflict and legal action between father and son over the attempts to stop the fraudulent transactions.

A 47-year-old Nigerian national, Darlington Akporugo, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy charges for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded over 25 elderly and retired Americans of more than $3 million across multiple states. Akporugo used fake identities on social media to manipulate victims into sending money, opening lines of credit in his name, and purchasing luxury items, and now faces up to 20 years in federal prison with sentencing scheduled for June 6, 2025.

A 47-year-old Nigerian national, Darlington Akporugo, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy for operating a nationwide romance scam from Houston that defrauded more than 25 elderly and retired victims of over $3 million. Operating over seven years, Akporugo and co-conspirators used fake identities on social media to build trust with victims, then manipulated them into sending money for fictitious business ventures and emergencies, with much of the stolen funds funneled overseas. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing scheduled for June 6.

U.S. consumers lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with investor scams causing the most financial damage ($5.7 million) while imposter scams remain most frequently reported, according to the FTC. Cybercriminals increasingly exploit human emotions through social engineering tactics via email, phone, and text, using sophisticated tools like deepfakes and generative AI to create convincing false identities and communications. The article emphasizes that even trained employees can be deceived, citing a $25.6 million loss by a Hong Kong financial firm whose employee was tricked by a computer-generated deepfake video conference

Friday Jeremiah Adejoh, a 30-year-old Nigerian, is wanted by U.S. prosecutors for allegedly operating a romance scam that defrauded an Orange County, California e-sports athlete of $1.3 million in bitcoin. Working with co-conspirators, Adejoh created a fake dating profile under the name "Mabel" and a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform called "Whalepool.tech" to trick the victim into depositing bitcoin, which they promised would generate investment returns. Shortly after cashing out the stolen cryptocurrency in 2020, Adejoh purchased two Dubai properties worth approximately $860,000 combined, and currently res

Beth Hyland, 54, lost $26,000 in a romance scam after meeting "Richard," a man posing as a French construction manager on a dating app, who used "love bombing" tactics and a fake Qatar job opportunity to extract money via bitcoin before disappearing. The scammer was identified as part of a Nigerian criminal group known as the "Yahoo boys," and law enforcement was unable to apprehend him. Her case inspired bipartisan federal legislation requiring dating apps and social media platforms to remove or flag known scammers and notify users who interacted with fraudulent accounts.

A 31-year-old Chinese man was arrested at Chiang Mai Airport for using dating apps to lure male tourists to hotels, where he robbed them of cash, credit cards, and valuables; he had committed similar crimes across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Thai authorities reported that between March 2022 and March 2025, dating app fraud cases totaled 1,415 incidents with losses exceeding 350 million baht, and warned the public to avoid sharing personal information with strangers online and to be suspicious of overly attractive profiles requesting money.

Beth Hyland, 54, lost $26,000 to a romance scam after meeting "Richard," a scammer posing as a French construction manager on a dating app who used love-bombing tactics and fake promises of a large payout to manipulate her into sending money via bitcoin and loans. The scammer, identified as part of a Nigerian criminal organization known as "Yahoo boys," was never caught, and Hyland's case inspired bipartisan legislation in Congress (introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn and John Hickenlooper) requiring dating apps and social media platforms to remove or flag known scammers and notify users who interacted with fraudulent accounts.

A Provo man in his 70s lost $186,000 over two years in a romance scam in which a person claiming to be a woman from Maryland convinced him to send money via multiple cash app accounts for an inheritance claim and promised relocation to Utah, with investigators believing a video call between them may have been AI-generated. Provo police used the case to warn of increasing online scams targeting seniors, including impersonation schemes (law enforcement, banks, utilities), tech support fraud, and kidnapping hoaxes, recommending that victims hang up on unsolicited callers and verify requests through official channels.

A Provo man in his 70s lost $186,000 over two years in a romance scam in which someone claiming to be a woman from Maryland promised a romantic relationship and help claiming an inheritance, but the two never met in person and a video call may have been AI-generated. The case, discovered only when the man's son intervened, exemplifies a broader problem affecting seniors nationally, with other common scams including impersonation of law enforcement, banks, and utility companies; tech support schemes; and "grandparent in jail" fraud. Police and the FBI recommend hanging up on calls demanding urgent payment, independently verifying callers' identities, watching for cryptocurrency requests, and family members monitoring elderly relatives

Three Nigerian nationals—Olumide Olorunfunmi, Samson Amos, and Emmanuel Unuigbe—pleaded guilty to a multimillion-dollar money laundering conspiracy involving romance scams and business email compromise fraud that victimized over 125 individuals from 2020 to 2023. The conspirators deceived elderly victims and businesses into transferring funds, then laundered the money through multiple domestic and international accounts while converting stolen dollars to Nigerian currency at black market rates. The three defendants face a combined potential 60-year prison sentence, with money laundering charges carrying a maximum 20 years per defendant.

Scammers are using fake text messages claiming unpaid tollway balances to steal personal and financial information through "smishing" (SMS phishing), with Illinois residents particularly targeted at rates higher than the national average. The fraudulent messages impersonate E-ZPass accounts and direct victims to fake websites; authorities warn consumers never to click links or reply to such messages, as the Illinois Tollway uses the I-PASS system instead. Americans lost 25% more money to fraud in the past year compared to 2023, with complaints in Illinois reaching 1,470 per 100,000 residents versus the national average of 1,215 per 100,000.

A Sydney mental health support worker, Ugochukwu George Anyakorah, was arrested in mid-2023 for facilitating a Nigerian cyberscam network connected to the Buccaneers, a violent West African organized crime group. Anyakorah helped launder over $11.7 million stolen from Australian victims through compromised bank accounts and cryptocurrency, targeting lonely women through romance scams (including victims aged 56-77 who lost between $46,950-$174,000) and businesses through fraudulent invoices. He pleaded guilty to handling $890,000 in proceeds of crime and was sentenced to four years in prison in March 2

Cryptocurrency fraud losses reached $3.96 billion in 2023, up 335% from 2021, with scam activity growing an average of 24% annually since 2020. Crypto scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, particularly "pig butchering" schemes where scammers build online relationships before soliciting investments or money, with this fraud type growing 40% in 2024. Investigators recommend maintaining skepticism in online interactions, verifying investment details independently, and being alert to requests for fees or repeated payments, as scammers often exploit victims over months or years before detection.

A trial began in Munich in April 2025 against 12 suspected members of the Black Axe Nigerian mafia organization, accused of operating romance scams that defrauded victims by feigning romantic relationships to extract money. One victim alone lost approximately €235,000 ($257,400), with dozens of romance scam cases involved in the proceedings—the first major trial in Germany targeting this criminal organization, which is also known for money laundering and human trafficking. The defendants, aged 33-54, face charges of forming a criminal organization, with the trial expected to conclude by December 2025.

Twelve suspected members of the Nigerian mafia gang Black Axe went on trial in Munich in connection with romance scams targeting dozens of victims, with one woman defrauded of €235,000. The defendants, aged 33 to 54, are accused of forming a criminal organization and using fake romantic relationships to manipulate victims into sending money, in what is Germany's first major prosecution of the group. The trial, expected to last months with a verdict possibly in December, follows April raids by Bavarian police that revealed the mafia's previously unknown significant presence in Germany.

I cannot summarize this content for the Elderus database. This article list contains headlines about TikTok awards, African news, sports, and entertainment—none of which relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. Please provide an article or transcript relevant to elder fraud research.

Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 34-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested in April 2025 and charged with mail fraud and money laundering for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million between 2016 and 2019. Nwadavid created fake dating profiles to build trust with victims, then manipulated them into sending money under false pretenses, using a Massachusetts victim as an intermediary to funnel funds to cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. He faces up to 20 years in prison and will be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence.

Christine Joan Echohawk, 54, of Pawnee, Oklahoma, was arrested and charged with laundering approximately $1.5 million from online romance scams targeting elderly women aged 64-79 in Florida, Texas, and Utah between September and December 2023. The victims, believing they were in relationships with men, sent money through various methods including Apple gift cards, cash, and wire transfers, which Echohawk deposited into her bank accounts, converted to cryptocurrency, and transferred to an unidentified male subject. Echohawk faces five felony counts carrying potential sentences of 24 to 62 years in prison and fines up to $260,000, with notable individual

A 34-year-old Nigerian man, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, was arrested in Dallas-Fort Worth in April 2025 after being indicted for masterminding a $2.5 million romance scam that operated from 2016 to 2019. The scheme involved creating fake dating profiles to manipulate vulnerable victims into sending money under false pretenses, with one Massachusetts victim unknowingly serving as a money mule who converted stolen funds into cryptocurrency through platforms like LocalBitcoins. Nwadavid faces charges of mail fraud and money laundering, each carrying up to 20 years in prison, plus fines, restitution

Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in a transnational romance scam that defrauded elderly victims across Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was ordered to pay $311,520 in restitution; one victim alone lost $27,460 after being lured through a fake Facebook identity. The scam involved establishing fake online relationships and soliciting funds under false pretenses such as business investments and medical emergencies, with Obafemi laundering proceeds through two Georgia

Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Nigerian national, was convicted and sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role in an online romance scam that defrauded elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was ordered to pay $311,520 in restitution; he received funds from victims through personal and business accounts while scammers posed as romantic interests requesting money for business, medical, travel, and other expenses. The Taney County victim alone lost $27,460, with scammers attempting to solicit an additional

A retired man in Wisconsin lost all his savings and went into debt after falling victim to an internet inheritance scam, forcing him to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. While his house is paid off, he now struggles to afford bankruptcy payments and risks losing his truck, which he needs for medical appointments. Dear Abby recommends he seek help from the Legal Aid Society or a pro bono attorney to explore options for reducing his bankruptcy payments.

A Nigerian-based scammer used fake photos of a German life coach to catfish Liza Likins, a widow in her mid-70s, during a 19-month online romance on Facebook Dating, eventually exploiting her for money. Catfishing—creating fraudulent identities on dating apps and social media to deceive victims—has become the top dating scam, with Meta removing 1.4 billion fake accounts in late 2024 and a Norton survey finding 40% of dating app users targeted by such scams. Scammers typically use stolen photos, AI-generated images, or celebrity identities to build trust before requesting cash or promoting bogus

A Nigerian doctor nearly lost $250 (approximately N400,000) to scammers who impersonated an international organization on social media, using tactics including fake credentials, high-follower profiles, and fabricated official documents. He avoided the loss by becoming suspicious when the contact repeatedly claimed to be unavailable by phone, and after consulting a friend working at a legitimate multilateral organization who confirmed it was a scam. The incident highlighted how scammers research victims' interests and vulnerabilities over time to create convincing fraudulent schemes.

**Summary:** Olufemi Ojaleye, a Nigerian national, won his deportation appeal after serving seven years in a UK prison for orchestrating a sophisticated fraud scheme that stole between £2,000 and £50,000 from COVID-19 Bounce Back loans intended for small businesses. The Upper Tier Tribunal approved his appeal to remain in the UK based on claims that deporting him would cause undue hardship to his two autistic children who require significant daily support. This case represents a second recent instance of a Nigerian fraud convict successfully avoiding deportation through human rights grounds, following another case involving an £200,000 romance scam perpetrator.

Many Nigerians lost over N1.3 trillion in the collapsed CBEX Ponzi scheme due to insufficient education about scam detection and fraud prevention, according to internet safety expert Rotimi Onadipe. Onadipe emphasized that scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims, and stressed that proper fraud awareness education is the strongest defense against such schemes. He noted that the financial losses could have been prevented through better public understanding of how to identify and avoid fraudulent investment platforms.

South Carolina seniors suffered disproportionately in 2024 cybercrime, with 2,295 victims over age 60 losing over $58.5 million—more than a third of the state's total $146 million in reported internet crime losses. The most costly scams targeting seniors were tech support scams, government impersonation schemes, and investment fraud, each accounting for nearly $10 million in losses, while confidence/romance scams cost seniors almost $3 million. The FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report documented a 33% nationwide increase in cybercrime losses to over $16 billion, with extortion, phishing, and personal data breaches

South Carolina seniors over 60 were disproportionately targeted by cybercriminals in 2024, with 2,295 victims losing over $58.5 million according to the FBI's Internet Crime Report—accounting for more than a third of the state's total $146 million in reported cyber losses. The most costly scams targeting seniors included tech support scams, government impersonation schemes, and investment fraud, each resulting in nearly $10 million in losses, while confidence/romance scams accounted for approximately $3 million. Business email compromises and investment fraud were among the most prevalent cyber crimes statewide, with losses totaling $40.8 million and $

A federal court in Lagos ordered the interim forfeiture of assets linked to Chinese nationals and international accomplices arrested in December 2024 for operating an internet fraud syndicate. The 792 suspects—including 114 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, and others from various countries—were arrested at a Victoria Island building where they conducted romance, dating, and investment scams using computers and mobile devices provided by the company Genting International. The court authorized seizure of thousands of items including computers, phones, SIM cards, routers, and furniture used in the operation, pending a 14-day period for interested parties to contest permanent forfeiture to the federal government.

A UN Office on Drugs and Crime report warns that Asian-led cybercrime syndicates, facing crackdowns in Southeast Asia, are expanding operations to Africa and Latin America, with Nigeria identified as a major target for romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency schemes. Law enforcement raids in Nigeria between late 2024 and early 2025 have arrested suspects linked to these East and Southeast Asian groups, as the global scam industry generates an estimated $40 billion annually and increasingly employs AI and deepfakes to evade detection. The report calls for urgent international cooperation, stronger cybersecurity infrastructure, and regional collaboration to combat this growing threat to Nigeria's digital economy and financial systems.

Nigerian national Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata was sentenced to 97 months in prison for an international inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly U.S. victims of more than $6 million. Ogbata and co-conspirators sent letters falsely claiming to represent a Spanish bank and offering victims inheritances from fictitious family members, then requesting upfront payments for delivery fees and taxes. The Justice Department emphasized the case as part of its commitment to prosecuting transnational criminals targeting vulnerable seniors and reminded elderly Americans to report fraud to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11.

Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, a Nigerian national, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for leading a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming victims had inherited money from deceased overseas relatives and requesting upfront payments for delivery fees and taxes before the funds could be released. The defendants used a network of U.S.-based money mules to collect victim payments, with no victim ever receiving any actual inheritance funds.

Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, a 36-year-old Nigerian man, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for operating an international inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming to be from a Spanish bank offering inheritance money, then requiring victims to pay fees and taxes upfront before receiving funds that never materialized. The investigation involved international collaboration between U.S. law enforcement agencies and authorities from Portugal, the UK, Spain, and Europol.

Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised alarm over a surge in "cyber slavery" and organized scam operations targeting vulnerable Nigerian youth, particularly those lured abroad with false job promises in crypto-related fields. Perpetrators force victims into "419 cyber-scam factories" where they conduct mass fraudulent communications under coercive conditions targeting international victims. Recent enforcement actions include the EFCC's arrest of 792 individuals in December 2024 (including 148 Chinese nationals training Nigerian accomplices in romance and investment scams) and an ongoing investigation into the CBEX crypto platform collapse affecting users across multiple African countries.

Helping Seniors of Brevard partnered with AARP Florida to present a free educational event called "Scam Jam" on May 16 in Melbourne designed to help seniors recognize and protect themselves from common fraud schemes. The event features workshops on prevalent scams including Nigerian lottery schemes, romance scams, government impersonation, tech support fraud, grandparent scams, and identity theft, with experts emphasizing warning signs such as pressure tactics, requests for gift cards or wire transfers, and poor grammar. The organization stresses that seniors should slow down, verify requests with others, and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement to help prevent victimization.

Nigerian national Chimezie Nwabueze, 28, was arrested by Canadian police in April 2025 for a romance scam that defrauded two victims of $610,382 between June 2021 and July 2023. Nwabueze posed as a romantic interest on dating platforms and falsely claimed to own an oil rig in the Middle East, requesting money with promises of repayment before cutting off communication once victims questioned him. This marks his second arrest for similar fraud; he was previously charged in November 2023 for defrauding another victim of over $250,000 using the same method, and investigators believe he is part of a

Kingsley Sebastian Ibhadore, a Nigerian citizen and lawful U.S. resident from Phoenix, was sentenced to federal prison for laundering approximately $4 million in proceeds from romance scams by structuring financial transactions to evade detection. The case underscores the significant impact of organized online romance fraud schemes operating across Arizona and the nation.

Nigerians lost N911.45 billion to Ponzi and related fraud schemes over 23 years, with recent victims falling prey to illegal schemes like Crypto Bridge Exchange that promised 100% returns in 30 days. The Securities and Exchange Commission released a 30-point scam advisory warning of red flags including pressure to act quickly, promises of guaranteed profits with no risk, and requests for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, emphasizing that investors should verify company registration and never yield to high-pressure tactics.

Two Ghanaian women, Evelyn Serwaa Konadu (39) and Anastasia Baidoo, were kidnapped in Nigeria after being lured through a romance scam orchestrated by Nigerian suspects who posed as White men seeking marriage on Facebook and convinced them to travel to Port Harcourt. The suspects demanded GH¢500,000 in ransom per victim, with families paying GH¢18,000 total after the kidnappers sent videos of violence inflicted on the victims, including physical assault and death threats. Both victims were rescued through joint operations by Ghanaian and Nigerian police, with eight suspects arrested and the victims awaiting return to Ghana to assist

A Nigerian national, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for his role in an international inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending fraudulent letters falsely claiming victims were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased overseas relatives, then convincing them to send money for delivery fees and taxes that never resulted in any actual inheritance payments. The investigation was conducted by ICE, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and international law enforcement agencies from the UK, Spain, and Portugal.

Kingsley Sebastian Ibhadore, a 40-year-old Nigerian national in Glendale, Arizona, was sentenced to 17 months in prison for laundering over $500,000 in romance scam proceeds through 24 bank accounts using false identities between July 2019 and March 2020. Acting as a "money mule," Ibhadore structured withdrawals below federal reporting thresholds and continued transferring funds even after confirming their fraudulent origins, with the U.S. Secret Service ultimately identifying him through bank surveillance footage across Arizona.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida hosted an elder fraud prevention forum on May 15, 2025, in partnership with AARP and multiple law enforcement agencies to educate seniors about common scams including investment fraud, lottery fraud, and inheritance schemes. The program featured local law enforcement examples and resources, with information available through the Justice Department's Elder Justice Initiative and multiple reporting channels including the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.

Indian authorities arrested seven Nigerian nationals in Uttar Pradesh for operating online romance scams that defrauded over 350 people of approximately Rs 15 crore (₦2.79 billion). The suspects created fake social media profiles posing as pilots and engineers, built trust with victims, and then solicited money under false pretenses or used blackmail with intimate photos to extort married individuals. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 79 smartphones, 99 SIM cards, and 31 fake bank accounts used in the scheme.

Sixteen foreign nationals (eleven Filipinos, two Chinese, one Malaysian, and one Indonesian) were sentenced in Lagos to one year in prison and fines of one million naira (US$629.50) each after pleading guilty to recruiting young Nigerians for identity theft and impersonation schemes. The international cybercrime syndicate used Nigerian accomplices to conduct phishing scams targeting victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, with confiscated devices forfeited to the Nigerian government.

The Nigerian prince scam (also called a 419 scam) is an advance-fee fraud where scammers pose as foreign royalty or wealthy individuals and convince victims to pay upfront "processing fees" or "taxes" for access to promised large sums of money. Originating from 19th-century Spanish prisoner schemes and proliferating via email in the 1990s, the scam continues to victimize people daily despite widespread awareness, sometimes escalating to using victims as money mules for stolen funds. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited contact from strangers claiming to need financial help, verify identities through official channels, never send money upfront, and avoi