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newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI seized $8.2 million in cryptocurrency from an international "pig butchering" romance scam investigated by its Cleveland Field Office, which identified over 30 victims whose funds were traced through three cryptocurrency wallets using advanced blockchain analytics. One Cleveland victim alone lost over $650,000 in retirement savings after being deceived into what she believed was a legitimate investment account. The scam—named for how perpetrators "fatten up" victims emotionally before draining their finances—originated in China and typically targets vulnerable individuals through dating apps; seized funds are expected to be used for restitution as the Department of Justice continues investigating additional victims and fraud networks.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Smishing—a fraud tactic where scammers send malicious text messages to steal data and money from investors—is growing as a prominent cybersecurity threat because people are more likely to click text links than email links, and scammers exploit mobile device reliance by spoofing phone numbers and evolving tactics to bypass provider protections. To reduce risk, investors should enable multi-factor authentication, avoid responding to unsolicited messages from unknown numbers, pause before acting on urgent requests, independently verify requests through legitimate channels, and delete suspicious messages without opening them.
salon.com
· 2025-12-08
American consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023, the highest amount ever recorded, with fraudsters increasingly using AI to create convincing deepfakes and impersonation scams. Key fraud types include AI-driven impersonation, phishing emails, investment/cryptocurrency scams (which rose to $3.96 billion in losses), tech support scams, and romance scams (which caused $1.14 billion in losses with a median loss of $2,000 per victim). Consumers should watch for red flags such as rushed messages, inconsistencies, and suspicious email addresses to protect themselves from these evolving schemes.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Approximately 7,000 people were recently released from scam compounds operated by Chinese crime syndicates and warlords along the Myanmar-Thailand border, where they had been held captive and forced to conduct fraudulent investment schemes and romance scams targeting victims worldwide, including American citizens who lost their life savings. An estimated 100,000 people remain trapped in these facilities, which generate billions of dollars annually; experts warn the industry will quickly rebuild using advanced technologies including AI-generated scripts, deepfakes, cryptocurrency, and malware. A coordinated global response is needed to combat what analysts describe as an unprecedented and rapidly expanding cyber threat that is spreading to Africa, South Asia, the Gulf, and the Pacific
fox4now.com
· 2025-12-08
Lee County Sheriff's Office reports a sharp rise in scams, with reported cases increasing from 1,588 in 2022 to 2,401 in 2024, with 60% of victims losing over $10,000. Common scams include impersonation of law enforcement demanding payment via untraceable methods like Bitcoin or gift cards, and wire fraud targeting title companies, with recent cases involving losses of $158,000 to $475,000. The department advises victims to check credit annually, verify caller information, and report suspected fraud, though recovery is difficult when funds are transferred overseas by predominantly non-U.S.-based scammers.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
The Fresno Police Department reports a rising surge in impersonation scams targeting elderly residents, wherein fraudsters pose as legal representatives or government officials claiming a family member is in legal trouble and demanding immediate payment via cash pickups or gift cards. Victims are instructed to wire money or purchase gift cards and provide card numbers over the phone, with scammers sometimes arranging in-person cash collection from homes. Authorities advise that legitimate government agencies never demand payment in this manner and recommend verifying claims by contacting family members directly, never using provided phone numbers, and reporting suspected scams to local law enforcement immediately.
caller.com
· 2025-12-08
Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, a 34-year-old Dominican Republic citizen living in Cleveland, was indicted in Pennsylvania for operating a grandparent fraud scheme that defrauded at least five elderly victims (ages up to 91) of approximately $50,000 between June 2024 and January 2025. The scammers posed as victims' relatives and authority figures, convincing seniors to withdraw cash and hand it to unsuspecting rideshare drivers, who transported the envelopes to Ohio where Rodriguez collected and wired the funds to the Dominican Republic. This case reflects a growing trend in which elderly Americans lose an estimated $3.4 billion annually to grandparent sc
chroniclejournal.com
· 2025-12-08
In February 2024, Melanie McGovern from Montreal's Better Business Bureau received a suspicious message from what appeared to be her 16-year-old niece's hacked Instagram account requesting money, alerting her to a rising tide of investment fraud in Canada. Investment scams—including impersonations via social media, deepfake voice calls, and fake cryptocurrency schemes—cost Canadians $310 million in 2024 (compared to $33.5 million in 2020), with victims losing a median of $5,000 per incident, though experts estimate 90-95% of cases go unreported. To protect themselves, Canadians should pause before responding to
bigcountrynewsconnection.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams have evolved to use AI-generated profiles and sophisticated emotional manipulation, resulting in over $2.95 billion in losses in 2024—a 30% increase from 2023, according to FTC data. Scammers typically establish fake identities on social media, build trust with victims, and then solicit money through fabricated stories or fake investment opportunities. To protect themselves, consumers should guard personal information, conduct reverse image searches, insist on video/in-person meetings, avoid pressure to send money quickly, and report suspected scams to their financial institution, local law enforcement, the FBI's IC3, or the FTC.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
An 18-year-old aspiring mechanic from North Yorkshire, Kieron Mullins Bunn, died by suicide in February 2024 after falling victim to a financial scam; an inquest concluded that the emotional shock and financial panic from the scam directly contributed to his decision. The tragedy underscores the UK's escalating scam crisis, with one in five Britons (9 million people) victimized by financial scams in 2024, resulting in over £11.4 billion in total losses, with common schemes including investment fraud, fake debt assistance, and impersonation scams targeting people via social media.
riverdalepress.com
· 2025-12-08
Modern scam artists now use email, text, and phone calls to impersonate officials and solicit money, with Americans losing over $10 billion to imposter scams in 2023. A notable case involved an 85-year-old Riverdale woman who lost $70,000 after being threatened with utility shutoffs and home vandalism. While older adults lose the most money to scams, awareness and protective measures like monitoring accounts, avoiding gift card requests, and reporting suspicious activity to the FTC or local law enforcement can help prevent fraud.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Debbie Crisp's mother, Donna, died suddenly in North Carolina, and while sorting through her belongings, Debbie's daughter discovered evidence that Donna had been the victim of a romance scam that stole over $400,000 from her. Donna had hidden this painful secret, leaving behind correspondence with the US Postal Inspection Service and a victim's advocate. A US Postal Inspector is now investigating the elaborate romance scam operation responsible for stealing millions from dozens of victims, with hopes of catching the ringleader and achieving justice for Donna and others affected.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Hundreds of Canadians, including dozens in Edmonton, lost over $1 million combined to a sophisticated Amazon job scam operated by a Chinese organized crime group based in British Columbia. Victims were recruited via social media for a fake remote "order-grabbing" job on a fraudulent platform called Sharegain, where they were required to invest money to complete tasks and receive guaranteed returns; the scam operated as a Ponzi/pyramid scheme, using money from new victims to pay earlier ones while continuously demanding additional investments with false excuses for delayed payouts. The Edmonton Police Service began investigating in 2022 after receiving multiple complaints from victims who were deceived by initial small withdrawals that made the
1011now.com
· 2025-12-08
Two brothers, ages 76 and 77, lost $1.36 million in an online trading scam that began in November 2024 when a fraudster claimed to invest their money in stocks and cryptocurrency through a fake platform. The victims discovered the fraud when they attempted to withdraw funds during a market downturn and found their accounts were fraudulent. Lincoln Police are urging families to communicate about internet scams and direct victims to report fraud through the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
ketv.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Lancaster County brothers, ages 76 and 77, lost over $1.3 million in a cryptocurrency investment scam that began in November 2024, where fraudsters used a fake online trading platform claiming to invest their money in stocks and cryptocurrency. A separate investigation by the Lancaster County Sheriff involves a 40-year-old man who lost $48,000 to a similar cryptocurrency scam between October and April, discovering the fraud when charged a $6,000 withdrawal fee on a fake account. Authorities estimate cryptocurrency scams in the area have cost victims approximately $250,000 in 2024 and recommend exercising caution with unfamiliar online investment platforms and reporting suspected fraud.
wtae.com
· 2025-12-08
A 34-year-old Dominican Republic citizen, Luis Alfonso Rodriguez, was arrested and federally charged with orchestrating a grandparent scam that targeted families across western Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Kentucky between December 2024 and March 2025. Rodriguez allegedly impersonated grandchildren in distress and convinced victims to withdraw thousands of dollars in cash, which they handed to rideshare drivers who unknowingly delivered the funds to him; victims lost tens of thousands of dollars total, with funds later wired to an unidentified person in the Dominican Republic. The FBI urges potential victims to report incidents to its Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple in Karnataka's Belagavi district died by suicide after losing Rs 50 lakh to a digital arrest scam that targeted them from January onward, with fraudsters claiming illegal activity on a SIM card registered in their names and continually demanding money despite repeated payments. The article highlights that seniors are increasingly targeted by scammers due to their larger savings and limited digital literacy, with many scams—including romance and impersonation schemes—going unreported due to victims' fear and embarrassment.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 54-year-old homemaker in Mumbai lost approximately Rs 54 lakh (about $6,500 USD) to an investment scam orchestrated by fraudsters posing as representatives of "Nisha Financial Services Consultant Company" via WhatsApp. The scammers lured her with promises of stock market returns, showed her fake profits, and systematically extracted money through a fake trading app called "Anisha," eventually imposing hidden fees and taxes that prevented her from withdrawing funds between November 2024 and January 2025. The scheme involved a WhatsApp group of 118 members and multiple administrators who pressured her to take loans and pay additional commissions to facilitate withdraw
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Jammu and Kashmir cyber police uncovered 7,200 mule bank accounts used in cyber fraud schemes in Kashmir since January 2025, with 21 people arrested so far. These accounts, opened by individuals for commissions and controlled from abroad, were used to launder money from victims of fake investment sites, online gaming, and betting scams through cryptocurrency and layering techniques. Police warned that account holders and money recipients face strict legal consequences with minimum 10-year sentences, and plan to interrogate all 7,200 account holders.
fool.com
· 2025-12-08
**Real Estate Scams Targeting Seniors (2025)**
Scammers are exploiting rising home values to target homeowners over 60, with reported losses exceeding $3.4 billion in 2023 alone. Common schemes include deed theft and title fraud (using forged documents to claim ownership), wire transfer scams (impersonating title companies to demand money), manipulation by trusted individuals offering to buy properties at steep discounts, and contractor fraud. Seniors can protect themselves by placing assets in trusts, using powers of attorney with unanimous consent requirements for property sales, monitoring county deed records regularly, and verifying any claims about property or mortgage issues directly with their lender
independent.ie
· 2025-12-08
Financial abuse differs from typical scams in that perpetrators are usually known to the victim—such as family members, caregivers, or spouses—making it more difficult to detect and harder for victims to report. Key red flags include unexplained financial transactions, sudden changes in banking access, isolation from financial decision-making, and unusual gifts or loans to family members. Recognizing these warning signs and acting quickly is essential to protect vulnerable individuals from this insidious form of exploitation.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly targeting 401(k) retirement accounts through multiple methods including phishing emails, fake investment platforms, impersonation phone calls and text messages, robocalls with AI voice impersonations, and fraudulent rollover schemes. To protect retirement savings, individuals should use two-factor authentication, create strong unique passwords, monitor account notifications, and only conduct rollovers with trusted financial institutions while remaining vigilant against suspicious communications and fake investment opportunities.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old former financial advisor in Fox Island, Washington was indicted for stealing over $920,000 from a widow in her 70s by exploiting her trust and moving funds from her brokerage and bank accounts into his own accounts through multiple transactions. Winslow used the stolen money to purchase personal assets including an island home, hot tub, car, and jewelry, and attempted to conceal the fraud by funneling funds through gold coin purchases and layered transactions while falsifying his tax returns. He faces charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud, with trial scheduled for June 2025.
financemagnates.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a promotional announcement for a financial industry panel discussion about trading technology, platform infrastructure, and fintech innovation for brokers—not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. No summarization for the Elderus database is warranted.
tradingview.com
· 2025-12-08
Australia's financial regulator (ASIC) obtained a court order to shut down 95 companies linked to "pig butchering" scams—sophisticated investment and romance fraud schemes where criminals build trust with victims over weeks before directing them to fake trading platforms for forex, crypto, and commodities. These organized criminal networks, often operating from countries like Myanmar and Eastern Europe, target high-income individuals globally by using fake websites, stolen identities, and complex deception tactics to create false legitimacy. Despite regulatory efforts to remove scam websites and shut down fraudulent companies, Australians lost AU$2.74 billion to financial fraud in the most recent reporting period, though losses declined 13.1
asic.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
ASIC successfully obtained Federal Court orders to wind up 95 companies incorporated with false information that were suspected of facilitating "pig butchering" scams (romance baiting scams) involving fake investment platforms for forex, digital assets, and commodities trading. The scammers used professional-looking websites and apps to trick victims into depositing money into accounts controlled by fraudsters, with some companies potentially incorporated using stolen identities. ASIC warns consumers remain highly vigilant against these sophisticated scams, noting it removes approximately 130 scam websites weekly as part of its ongoing enforcement efforts.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old lost £114,000 ($147,000) in an investment scam promising unrealistic returns shortly before planned retirement, illustrating why people nearing retirement age are prime targets for fraud. Seniors face heightened vulnerability due to pressure to boost savings quickly and emotional vulnerabilities around life transitions, with investment frauds costing consumers $5.5 billion globally in 2024 alone. The article advises verifying firms with regulatory bodies like the FCA, diversifying investments across multiple low-risk options, and avoiding schemes promising high returns without risk.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service seized the web domain NFT-UNI.com, which was used in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded a Warren County victim of approximately $172,405.61 between November 2023 and March 2024, with total losses across all victims reaching approximately $4,564,936.47. In pig butchering schemes, scammers build trust with victims through dating apps, social media, or text messages before convincing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms, then disappearing with their funds. This is the second domain seizure by the Secret Service in Warren County related to this type of scheme, as part
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-08
Australia's Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) shut down 95 companies operating as fronts for crypto romance scams following Federal Court approval, with liquidators appointed to manage the wind-down. Over 1,500 victims from 14 countries have filed claims totaling more than $35 million, with scammers using fake company registrations, stolen identities, and AI-generated content to perpetrate "pig butchering" schemes that increased 40% between 2023-2024. Despite ASIC taking down over 10,000 fraudulent websites, regulators warn that scams remain persistent and evolving, though Australia saw a 26% decline in total sc
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Australia's corporate watchdog (ASIC) secured court approval to shut down 95 "hydra" companies suspected of operating "pig butchering" scams—romance and cryptocurrency investment frauds where scammers build fake relationships to manipulate victims into investing in fraudulent schemes. Nearly 1,500 investors across 14 countries filed claims totaling over $35.8 million in losses, with the scam activity believed to originate largely from Southeast Asia. ASIC has removed over 10,000 scam websites in recent efforts, though the regulator warns that new fraudulent sites continue to emerge rapidly.
wesh.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, with the Better Business Bureau identifying investment/cryptocurrency schemes, employment scams, and romance/friendship scams as the year's most dangerous, often involving financial grooming tactics where scammers build trust over time. Victims of investment and cryptocurrency scams lost money at rates exceeding 80%, while young adults aged 18-34 were primary targets for employment fraud, and imposter scams frequently involved fraudulent claims from PayPal, Publishers Clearing House, and the U.S. Postal Service. Experts recommend verifying credentials, asking questions about unsolicited offers, and confirming communications to avoid falling victim
wdbj7.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS Criminal Investigation division has charged more than 1,000 people with CARES Act-related fraud over the five years since the pandemic relief program's passage, with particular focus on the Paycheck Protection Program and Employee Retention Credit loans. In Virginia alone, a federal grand jury indicted 24 people from the Roanoke area for wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering related to PPP fraud, while a Southwest Virginia woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a separate scheme involving over $1.5 million in stolen unemployment benefits. The IRS states it will continue investigating fraudulent use of pandemic relief programs.
koco.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission and a new Better Business Bureau report analyzing the year's most dangerous schemes. The top scams involved investment and cryptocurrency schemes (80% loss rate), employment scams targeting young adults 18-34, romance and friendship scams on dating platforms, and imposter scams impersonating major companies. Experts advise consumers to verify credentials, ask questions about investment claims, and verify unsolicited communications to protect against scammers using financial grooming tactics to build trust before exploitation.
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI launched "Operation Level Up" in January 2024 to proactively contact victims of cryptocurrency investment scams in progress, using emails and phone calls to prevent further money transfers. From January 2024 to February 2025, the FBI contacted over 5,000 victims and estimated it saved approximately $318 million in planned transfers, with 76 percent of contacted victims unaware they were being scammed. The scammers typically pose as romantic interests or influencers on social media, build trust over weeks, then direct victims to fake investment websites promising high cryptocurrency returns before requesting increasingly larger deposits.
wandtv.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, U.S. elders lost $3.4 billion to financial fraud, with complaints increasing from 20,000 in 2018 to 120,000 by 2023. Illinois State Senator Steve Stadelman introduced legislation that would empower financial and investment advisors to delay transactions when they suspect an elderly client is being defrauded, noting that perpetrators are often trusted individuals such as family members or caregivers. The bill is currently pending review on the Illinois Senate floor.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Research identifies loneliness and financial fragility as the two most significant risk factors for elder financial fraud victimization. Socially isolated individuals are more vulnerable to relationship-based scams (romance, pig-butchering, affinity fraud) because they lack trusted contacts to validate suspicious offers, while financial stress impairs rational decision-making and increases willingness to take risky financial gambles that fraudsters exploit.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 34-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested in April 2025 and charged with mail fraud and money laundering for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million between 2016 and 2019. Nwadavid created fake dating profiles to build trust with victims, then manipulated them into sending money under false pretenses, using a Massachusetts victim as an intermediary to funnel funds to cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. He faces up to 20 years in prison and will be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence.
bucks.crimewatchpa.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common scams targeting seniors—including phone scams, phishing, romance fraud, investment schemes, charity scams, home repair fraud, identity theft, and grandparent scams—and provides practical prevention strategies. Key protective measures include being skeptical of unsolicited contact, safeguarding personal information, avoiding rushed decisions, recognizing communication red flags, verifying identities before trusting, staying informed about technology, and building a support network. The article emphasizes that seniors can protect themselves and their finances through knowledge and vigilance, offering resources like the AARP Fraud Watch Network and National Elder Fraud Hotline for additional support.
elderjustice.usc.edu
· 2025-12-08
This article collection presents educational resources on elder abuse prevention and protection across multiple topics: nutrition services as a preventive touchpoint for vulnerable seniors, a new Bill of Rights model for guardianship, practical scam prevention strategies, technology's role in reducing isolation (a risk factor for abuse), community-coordinated elder justice responses, faith community engagement on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and awareness about relationship investment scams using digital platforms. The materials emphasize that elder abuse prevention requires multi-sector approaches involving healthcare providers, legal advocates, community organizations, and faith leaders working together to protect older adults' rights and wellbeing.
spokanejournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams targeting companies and their employees have surged in sophistication due to AI availability, with cybercriminals posing as vendors or trusted contacts to trick employees into sending money or data. Between 2013 and 2023, BEC scams resulted in over $55 billion in losses, with a 9% increase in losses between December 2022 and December 2023, and 71% of businesses reporting BEC attempts in 2022. Financial institutions in the Inland Northwest are launching educational programs to warn businesses, particularly small business owners and accounts payable personnel who are primary targets, that verification procedures and email security awareness are critical
people.com
· 2025-12-08
An Oklahoma woman, Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, was arrested in April 2025 for laundering approximately $1.5 million from four elderly victims (ages 64-79) in an online romance scam between September and December 2024. One victim sold her house to send $600,000 to the scammer, while others sent gift cards, cash, and cashier's checks; Echohawk allegedly converted the funds through cryptocurrency accounts and sent payments to an unidentified suspect. She faces charges carrying 24 to 62 years in prison and up to $260,000 in fines.
legends1063.fm
· 2025-12-08
A Georgia man, Badetito O. Obafemi, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims across multiple states, including a Taney County, Missouri resident who lost $27,460. Obafemi conspired with scammers who posed as romantic interests online, requesting money for various expenses, and received the stolen funds through personal and business bank accounts he controlled. He was ordered to pay $311,520 in total restitution to all victims across Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey.
defector.com
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece argues that Florida exemplifies America's vulnerability to fraud and scamming, and expresses concern that cryptocurrency and current political leadership are enabling widespread fraud at scale. The author contends that scamming has become endemic to American society, from corporate fraud to crypto schemes, and that the president's creation of a memecoin represents a normalization of fraud at the highest governmental levels.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP identifies six major scams threatening consumers in 2025, with particular risks for older adults: AI-powered scams using deepfakes and convincing phishing, imposter scams impersonating trusted figures, employment scams targeting job seekers with fake offers, tech support scams (which cost Americans 60+ over $175 million in 2023), romance scams exploiting emotional connections, and cryptocurrency scams (resulting in $1.6 billion in losses for those 60+ in 2023). The article advises vigilance against sophisticated tactics, emphasizing that legitimate companies don't request Social Security numbers during hiring, tech support representatives shouldn't demand remote access, and legitimate
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Badetito O. Obafemi, 42, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey of approximately $311,520 between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi and co-conspirators posed as individuals like "Kevin Condon" online to build relationships with victims and convince them to send money for various expenses, with Obafemi receiving the fraudulent wire transfers through personal and business bank accounts he controlled. The court ordered Obafemi to pay full restitution to victims and serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Cyber police in Jammu and Kashmir uncovered approximately 7,200 fraudulent "mule accounts" in 2025, with estimates potentially reaching 30,000, which scammers use to launder stolen money and evade detection. Mule accounts are opened by unwitting victims (tricked into sharing identity documents for fake schemes) or willing participants (who sell account access for small commissions of Rs 500–3,000), and when fraud occurs, the legitimate account holders face frozen accounts and legal consequences while actual scammers remain hidden. Students are increasingly targeted with promises of two percent commissions, making them vulnerable to becoming unknowing participants in financial crimes that ultimately victimize them
local12.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Greater Cincinnati woman recovered over $35,000 after falling victim to a tech support scam involving a fake Microsoft pop-up that convinced her to convert nearly $42,000 into Bitcoin to repair her compromised computer. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Electronic Financial Investigations Unit was able to trace and recover most of the funds because the case was reported promptly, highlighting the importance of contacting law enforcement immediately upon suspecting fraud. Investigators could not identify the scammer but cautioned the public against responding to unsolicited calls demanding money and reminded people that law enforcement will not call about warrants or missed court dates.
legit.ng
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old internet fraudster from Edo State, Nigeria voluntarily surrendered to the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) in April 2025, stating he wanted to reform and stop his criminal activities. The man specialized in romance scams, creating fake identities (posing as a Chinese doctor) to emotionally manipulate and defraud foreign victims of money. The EFCC commended his surrender while reaffirming its ongoing commitment to combating internet fraud and cybercrime in Nigeria.
ynetnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Israel nearly fell victim to a romance scam when she attempted to deposit bitcoin into what she believed was tennis star Roger Federer's personal wallet at a crypto ATM. The article reveals that romance scams are a growing threat, with scammers impersonating celebrities and prominent figures to establish emotional connections before requesting money for fabricated crises. Crypto-related fraud has surged dramatically, with an 800% increase in fake cryptocurrency platforms and increasingly sophisticated schemes using AI-generated personas, fake trading platforms, and fabricated celebrity endorsements to deceive victims into transferring funds.