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valleynewslive.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in New Town, North Dakota lost $200,000 in a romance fraud scheme where perpetrators posed as high-ranking U.S. military members on fake social media profiles to build false romantic relationships. Two men were sentenced in December 2024: Chinedu Ikenna Nwafor received 25 months in federal prison and must pay $180,000 in restitution for organizing the scheme, while Vitus Uzoma Uzowuru received time served (approximately 10 months) and must pay $50,000 in restitution for receiving victim payments; a third defendant's trial is scheduled for July 2025.
amlintelligence.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigeria's anti-graft agency arrested 792 suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, in a December 10 raid on a Lagos building operating as a romance scam and cryptocurrency investment fraud hub. The perpetrators used romantic solicitation to manipulate victims into investing money in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. The operation targeted the seven-story Big Leaf Building, identified as a central location for coordinating these transnational fraud activities.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Enorense Izevbigie, a leader of the "Black Axe" crime organization, was extradited from South Africa to face federal charges in New Jersey for operating a decade-long romance scam and advance fee fraud scheme from 2011 to 2021. Izevbigie and his conspirators used fake identities on social media and dating websites to defraud U.S. victims of money and valuables, sometimes threatening to distribute intimate photos to coerce payments, then laundered the proceeds through U.S. bank accounts to South Africa. He faces two counts of wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy, each carrying up to 20 years in prison
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On December 17, 2024, Chinedu Ikenna Nwafor was sentenced to 25 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $180,000 in restitution for his role as a U.S.-based middleman in a romance fraud scheme targeting elderly women, while his codefendant Vitus Uzoma Uzowuru received approximately 10 months imprisonment and $50,000 in restitution. The scheme involved foreign actors posing as U.S. military members on fake social media profiles who built romantic relationships with elderly victims and convinced them to send money for fabricated emergencies, with victims including a New Town, North Dakota resident who
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
INTERPOL is advocating for the term "romance baiting" to replace "pig butchering" when describing online scams where fraudsters build fake romantic relationships with victims to manipulate them into investing in bogus cryptocurrency schemes. The agency argues that "pig butchering" dehumanizes victims and discourages them from reporting crimes, while the new terminology focuses accountability on perpetrators rather than shaming those defrauded. These sophisticated schemes, which originated in China around 2016, are often run by transnational organized crime groups operating from Southeast Asia and involve complex fake investment platforms designed to appear legitimate.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
A network of 792 people, including 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, and other foreign nationals, was arrested in Lagos on December 10 in connection with a large-scale cryptocurrency fraud and romance scam operation targeting victims in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. The suspects operated from a sophisticated facility where they trained young Nigerians to conduct romance and investment scams using fake profiles, foreign phone numbers, and phishing techniques, directing victims to a fraudulent platform (yooto.com) where activation fees began at $35. The operation involved over 500 SIM cards and high-end equipment, with the foreign nationals exploiting Nigeria's reputation to establish their
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
Nearly 800 people were arrested in a raid on a luxury office building in Lagos, Nigeria, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals allegedly operating an international romance scam ring. The scammers targeted vulnerable individuals in America, Canada, Mexico, and Europe through social media and messaging platforms, building romantic relationships before directing victims to fraudulent investment opportunities that often depleted their life savings. Investigators confiscated over 500 SIM cards, mobile phones, and dozens of computers, and are investigating potential links to organized international fraud networks.
jamestownsun.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Maryland men were sentenced for operating a romance fraud scheme targeting elderly women on social media, where they impersonated U.S. military members deployed overseas to convince victims to send money for fabricated emergencies. Chinedu Ikenna Nwafor received 25 months in prison and was ordered to pay $180,000 in restitution, while Vitus Uzoma Uzowuru received 10 months time served and $50,000 in restitution; one North Dakota victim lost $200,000 across two transfers to the co-conspirators. A third defendant faces trial for similar wire fraud charges involving an $800,000 loss to another North Dakota
greenwichfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
Matthew Ramos-Soto, 27, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role as a courier in a grandparent scam wire fraud scheme targeting elderly victims across the United States. Between October 2022 and June 2023, Ramos-Soto and co-conspirators picked up over $250,000 in cash from victims by posing as bail bondsmen, claiming their relatives had been arrested in accidents; he personally collected money from victims at 18 different locations before his arrest in Michigan in June 2023. The case resulted in federal charges filed across multiple districts, with authorities encouraging victims and witnesses to report fraud to the National Elder
sundayworld.com
· 2025-12-08
Patrick and Matthew McDonagh, two brothers from Co Fermanagh, were sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud against elderly homeowners across the United States. The brothers defrauded victims nationwide by falsely claiming homes needed urgent repairs (roof holes, foundation cracks, driveway work), extracting over $1 million total—including $435,000 from a single Shoreline homeowner through aggressive, daily demands for checks and wire transfers. They have agreed to pay restitution exceeding $1 million to victims in Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and other states.
fincen.gov
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN issued an alert warning the public about fraudsters impersonating FinCEN officials or misusing the agency's name, insignia, and authority to perpetrate financial scams, including schemes exploiting beneficial ownership reporting and the Money Services Business Registration tool. FinCEN emphasized that legitimate officials will never threaten, demand immediate payment, or contact people via unsolicited email, call, or text, and urged the public to report suspected impersonation to the Treasury Inspector General, FTC, and FBI. Victims aged 60 and older can report fraud to the Department of Justice's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11.
kttc.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple in Winneshiek County, Iowa lost $15,000 in a "grandparent scam" when fraudsters posing as a courier appeared at their door on Tuesday. The scam typically involves callers claiming a grandchild has been arrested for a vehicle accident and needs bail money urgently, with perpetrators often impersonating attorneys or the grandchild themselves and threatening victims with gag orders. The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office suspects additional unreported victims and urges anyone targeted by such scams to contact local law enforcement immediately.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
**Scams Expected to Surge in 2025 with Advanced Technology**
Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using stolen personal data, AI-powered deepfakes, and auto-dialing software with AI chatbots to target victims with highly personalized schemes. Cryptocurrency scams—including "pig butchering" (romance baiting) and investment fraud—are expected to proliferate in 2025, with victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars on average. Security experts advise approaching unsolicited requests with skepticism and distrust rather than assuming legitimacy, as scammers now have access to information from data breaches and social media to make their schemes appear cre
amsterdamnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Victor Anthony Valdez, a Bronx-based Social Security Administration employee, pleaded guilty in December for his role in a "grandparent scam" targeting elderly New Yorkers and New Jerseyans, in which he collected cash payments from victims who had been deceived by Dominican Republic-based call centers posing as distressed grandchildren or their representatives. The scheme defrauded vulnerable seniors of thousands of dollars each through false claims of arrest or legal troubles. Authorities recommend that older adults verify caller identities through personal questions, keep social media private, avoid transferring money or buying gift cards, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the National Elder Fraud Hotline at
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
On December 4, federal financial regulators including the Federal Reserve, CFPB, FDIC, and others issued an Interagency Statement on Elder Financial Exploitation to supervised institutions, providing best practices for identifying, preventing, and responding to exploitation of older adults. The guidance addresses nine areas including employee training, transaction monitoring, trusted contact procedures, and timely reporting to authorities, in response to a 14% year-over-year increase in elder fraud reports to the FBI's IC3 and over $3.4 billion in associated losses from 2022 to 2023.
cincinnati.com
· 2025-12-08
Two former Cincinnati high school football players, Andrew Kerobo and Deonta Belser, both 25, were indicted on 40 counts including aggravated theft, money laundering, and tampering with records for fraudulently obtaining $6.8 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits. Kerobo, who worked for a state contractor processing unemployment claims in 2020, continued accessing the claims database for three months after his termination using undeactivated login credentials, while Belser recruited co-conspirators to file fraudulent claims; Kerobo personally received approximately $119,000 in fraudulent benefits on prepaid cards.
nhregister.com
· 2025-12-08
Matthew Ramos-Soto, a 27-year-old Hartford man, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for participating in a wire fraud scheme targeting elderly victims nationwide. Operating as a fake bail bondsman between October 2022 and June 2023, Ramos-Soto and his network collected over $250,000 from victims in Wisconsin alone by posing as relatives or attorneys and claiming arrestees needed bail money; he picked up funds from victims at 18 locations across the country before his arrest in Michigan. The scheme involved international scammers calling elderly targets with false arrest scenarios while Ramos-Soto and other couriers collected the money in person, an
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Interpol has advocated for replacing the term "pig butchering" with "romance baiting" when describing a type of cyber-enabled financial crime, arguing that the original terminology dehumanizes victims and discourages incident reporting. In this scam, fraudsters build romantic relationships with victims on dating sites before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency schemes or fraudulent opportunities, ultimately stealing their money and disappearing. According to the FBI, romance and confidence fraud resulted in victim losses exceeding $652 million, while investment fraud overall generated over $4.5 billion for cybercriminals.
opindia.com
· 2025-12-08
On December 10, Nigeria's EFCC raided a sophisticated romance and cryptocurrency investment scam operation in Lagos, detaining 792 suspects including 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, and various other foreign nationals who trained Nigerian accomplices. The syndicate operated from a luxury call center equipped with high-end technology, targeting victims primarily in America and Europe through social media platforms by impersonating foreign females and luring them into fake cryptocurrency investments on a platform called Yooto-dot-com, with activation fees starting at $35 USD. The operation recovered approximately 500 SIM cards and involved specially trained Nigerian operatives who were rewarded in cash for their participation in the frau
dispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and Ohio Department of Commerce warn consumers about five prevalent holiday scams: fake charity schemes targeting the $550 billion in annual donations, tollway phishing texts, online shopping fraud via phishing emails and fake websites, employment scams targeting younger adults, and gift card scams requesting personal information. In 2023, consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud nationally, with Ohio victims losing over $5 million to non-delivery and non-payment scams alone, plus over $6 million to credit card and check fraud.
nbcdfw.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and Better Business Bureau warn of a surge in holiday season scams targeting consumers during Christmas shopping. Common scams include misleading social media ads leading to counterfeit products, illegal pyramid schemes disguised as gift exchanges (like "Secret Sister"), fake toll collection texts, phishing emails offering free gift cards, and fraudulent seasonal job postings that exploit personal information. Consumers are advised to research businesses on BBB.org, verify offers directly with official sources, review app privacy policies, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old businessman from New Delhi lost Rs 23 lakh ($27,600 USD) to a fake stock trading platform after scammers built trust through a WhatsApp group offering market tips, then directed him to a fraudulent website where they showed false profits to prevent his withdrawal attempts. Delhi Police arrested a 21-year-old Kolkata resident who supplied bank accounts to the fraudsters and identified accomplices including a woman who rented her account to the scam ring, with investigations ongoing to apprehend the main perpetrators operating from abroad.
fox19.com
· 2025-12-08
Two former Cincinnati high school football players, Andrew Kerobo, 25, and Deonta Belser, 25, were indicted on 40 counts including aggravated theft, money laundering, and tampering with records for their roles in a $6.8 million COVID-19 pandemic unemployment fraud scheme. Kerobo, who worked for a state contractor processing unemployment claims, used his login credentials after being fired to fraudulently access and release benefits, while Belser recruited co-conspirators to file false claims; the pair received portions of the fraudulent funds, with Kerobo obtaining approximately $119,000 on prepaid cards. The investigation involved multiple state and federal
luxtimes.lu
· 2025-12-08
An international police operation in late 2022/early 2023 raided three call centres in Poland and arrested 20 suspects involved in grandparent scams targeting elderly Luxembourgers. The organized fraud gangs impersonated police or justice officials claiming a family member caused a fatal accident in Germany, demanding cash or valuables as bail; one victim lost €100,000-€120,000 in jewellery and nearly fell for a €50,000 additional demand before her real son uncovered the scheme. The scammers operated with clear task divisions, made mass calls to targeted areas, and changed phone numbers frequently to avoid detection, though some attempts failed when victims contacte
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
On December 16, 2024, Nigerian authorities arrested 792 suspects involved in romance scam syndicates, including 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, and other foreign nationals along with Nigerian accomplices operating from a Lagos building. The foreign scammers paid their Nigerian recruits between N300,000 monthly and N80,000 weekly to conduct fraud activities on rotating shifts, with some workers earning N100,000 for just 10 days of work plus accommodation. The EFCC conducted a massive raid using over 30 buses and blocking all building exits, resulting in the arrest of the operation's core network engaged in online fraud schemes.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
**Source:** AARP Hearing Center – AARP Texas 2025 Legislative Agenda
AARP Texas has announced its 2025 legislative priorities, which include preventing elder fraud and exploitation through enhanced consumer protections for solar contracts and cryptocurrency transactions, as well as addressing common scams like identity theft, spoofing, and deed theft. The organization will also advocate for improved emergency preparedness for vulnerable older adults, healthcare access and affordability, and financial security measures including affordable housing and utilities. These initiatives aim to protect older Texans during the 89th regular session of the Texas Legislature.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Two former Cincinnati high school football players, Andrew Kerobo and Deonta Belser, both 25, have been indicted on 40 counts including aggravated theft, money laundering, and tampering with records in a $6.8 million COVID-19 unemployment fraud scheme. Kerobo, who worked for a state contractor processing unemployment claims, used his credentials to fraudulently release benefits even after being fired, while Belser recruited co-conspirators to file false claims; the two men and 15 other co-conspirators received portions of the fraudulent funds, with Kerobo personally obtaining nearly $119,000 in fraudulent benefits.
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
Matthew Ramos-Soto, 27, from Hartford, Wisconsin, was sentenced to three years and five months for his role in a grandparent scam network that defrauded elderly victims nationwide. Between October 2022 and June 2023, Ramos-Soto and other conspirators posed as bail bondsmen collecting over $250,000 from victims in at least 18 U.S. locations by falsely claiming their relatives had been arrested in serious accidents. The sentencing judge described the scheme as "cruel and devastating," emphasizing the severe financial and emotional trauma inflicted on elderly victims.
12newsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines common holiday scams targeting consumers during the Christmas season, including gift card fraud (via tampered barcodes), fake package delivery notifications that trick users into clicking malicious links, dangerous "free" Santa tracker apps containing malware, and fraudulent charity websites. The Better Business Bureau and FBI advise consumers to inspect gift cards for tampering, verify package tracking directly through official carrier websites rather than clicking text links, avoid free Santa tracker apps, and research charities before donating. Victims should report suspected scams to the BBB Scam Tracker.
bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Bengaluru experienced severe cybercrime losses in 2024, with criminals stealing an average of ₹5.4 crore daily through digital arrest scams, fake investment schemes, and part-time job frauds, totaling ₹1,806 crore through November with individual losses ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹9 crore. The city recorded 16,357 cybercrime cases by year-end, with police successfully freezing ₹611.29 crore in fraudulent transactions and recovering ₹122.87 crore for victims. Authorities emphasize the critical "golden hour" immediately after fraud is reporte
amny.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service and NYPD's Cyber Fraud Task Force are warning New York consumers about holiday season scams, which cost millions of dollars annually and continue to evolve. Common schemes include email account hacking leading to gift card requests mimicked from loved ones, fake donation links, and phishing texts about package deliveries. The agencies advise consumers to use strong passwords, shop only with trusted retailers, verify charitable organizations through Charity Navigator, trust their instincts when requests seem suspicious, and report fraud to local authorities without shame.
aba.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for this content. What you've shared appears to be a navigation menu or table of contents from a banking industry website (likely the American Bankers Association), not an article or transcript about a specific scam, fraud case, or elder abuse incident.
To help you, please provide:
- An actual article or news story about a scam/fraud case
- A transcript of an interview or account of fraudulent activity
- An educational piece about fraud prevention tactics
Once you share the relevant content, I'll be happy to create a concise summary for the Elderus database.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A Jamestown, Tennessee pharmacist, Philip Hall, was indicted on nine counts of health care fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft for submitting false claims totaling over $6 million to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Blue Cross Blue Shield between 2018 and May 2024. Hall submitted claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, drugs that were never dispensed, or medications not ordered by physicians, while also using other people's identities without authorization to obtain reimbursement. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in federal prison per health care fraud count and the government is seeking a money judgment of approximately $6.5 million in fraud proceeds
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides six free strategies for protecting finances from fraud, particularly during high-risk periods like the holiday season. The recommended safeguards include staying informed about trending scams (adoption, romance, grandparent, and elder fraud), freezing credit with major bureaus when not applying for loans, enabling multi-factor authentication on accounts, using password managers to create strong unique passwords, avoiding clicking links or calling numbers in unsolicited communications, and monitoring accounts regularly for suspicious activity. These preventive measures require no financial investment but can significantly reduce vulnerability to identity theft and fraud year-round.
myeasternshoremd.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The IRS issued an alert warning seniors about increasingly sophisticated tax scams designed to steal personal information and financial assets through manipulative tactics. The agency advises older Americans to avoid sharing sensitive data with unsolicited callers, verify suspicious communications independently, use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and report fraud to the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-FRAUD-11) or directly to the IRS.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Service warns of three major holiday scams: "smishing" (fraudulent text messages impersonating USPS to steal personal information), counterfeit postage stamps sold online at steep discounts, and mail/package theft targeting holiday deliveries. Consumers are advised to use only official USPS tracking services, purchase stamps directly from USPS or approved retailers, and promptly collect their mail and packages.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Huddersfield was defrauded of tens of thousands of pounds by a man who impersonated a police officer investigating financial fraud, obtaining her bank details through a cold call and later meeting her in person as part of the scheme. West Yorkshire Police released a photograph of the suspect, described as Asian, approximately 6ft tall, stocky build with dark curly hair, known to frequent Manchester city centre, Leeds city centre, and the Trafford Centre. Officers advised the public not to provide personal financial details to unsolicited callers and to hang up immediately.
atg.wa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that Metropolitan Commercial Bank will pay $10 million to the state as part of a fraud recovery initiative that has collected over $52 million from financial institutions that accepted stolen COVID-19 pandemic unemployment funds. Criminals stole more than $15 million from Washington's unemployment fund in 2020 using fake identities and MovoCash, a fintech company sponsored by Metropolitan, which failed to implement adequate anti-fraud and money-laundering safeguards. This marks the second phase of Ferguson's investigation—the first to pursue fintech companies through state consumer protection laws—following an initial phase that recovered $42 million from 26 financial institutions through asset forfeiture.
parkrapidsenterprise.com
· 2025-12-08
A WalletHub study ranking states on elder-abuse protections found Minnesota ranks 10th overall, excelling in financial crime legislation (1st) but lagging in abuse complaint reporting (27th). The article highlights a recent case in rural Douglas County where an elderly resident was defrauded of over $100,000 through a gold investment scam, and emphasizes that elder abuse—including physical, financial, emotional, and neglect—often goes unreported and can be perpetrated by family members or caregivers, requiring greater awareness and preventive measures.
giant.fm
· 2025-12-08
Criminal organizations are conducting imposter scams targeting older Americans by posing as representatives from legitimate companies (like PayPal) and then connecting victims to fraudsters claiming to be federal agents who convince them to drain their bank accounts for "security." An elderly couple in Williamson County, Illinois lost $121,000 in such a scam before three Chinese nationals were arrested attempting to pick up the cash; the defendants face federal wire fraud charges.
mercurynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Qingyun Chen, 30, of San Leandro was arrested for defrauding a 79-year-old Greenbrae resident of over $50,000 through a tech support scam in which the victim received a fake alert claiming her laptop was frozen and was directed to call a number to resolve it. Chen now faces both local charges of grand theft and theft from an elderly adult, as well as federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for her role in convincing the victim to pay couriers to "fix" the computer.
courant.com
· 2025-12-08
Matthew Ramos-Soto, a 27-year-old from Connecticut, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role in a multi-state grandparent scam targeting elderly victims. Operating as a courier posing as a bail bondsman, Ramos-Soto collected over $250,000 from victims across the United States between October 2022 and June 2023, as part of a larger fraud network that contacted elderly people claiming their relatives had been arrested and needed bail money. The scheme, which operated across multiple states including Wisconsin, Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, and California, resulted in restitution being ordered and prompted federal authorities to emphasize the importance of
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission warned consumers about gift card scams in which fraudsters can obtain gift card numbers and PINs before the cards are even purchased. The advisory highlights a theft method that allows scammers to intercept sensitive card information at the point of sale, putting consumers at risk of financial loss during the holiday shopping season.
statesman.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article warns consumers to remain vigilant against holiday shopping scams, particularly credit card skimming and smishing fraud. Card skimmers are illegally installed devices on ATMs and payment terminals that capture card data and PINs to enable unauthorized purchases; consumers can detect them using the SCAN method (checking for cameras, comparing components, assessing tampering, and nudging readers). Smishing scams use text messages impersonating legitimate institutions like banks or the USPS to trick victims into revealing personal and financial information—recipients should report suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM) and relevant authorities without clicking links.
kgw.com
· 2025-12-08
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office received nearly daily reports during the holiday season of phone scammers impersonating law enforcement and threatening victims with fines and arrest warrants to extort money. In one incident, scammers posing as corporate management convinced young employees at a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Happy Valley to withdraw $1,000 and load it onto prepaid debit cards by falsely claiming the owner was under investigation for counterfeit money. Authorities advise residents to hang up on such calls, emphasizing that legitimate law enforcement agencies never solicit money by phone.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
This curated cybercrime report documents multiple fraud schemes affecting victims globally. Notable cases include: 21 arrested in India for defrauding 16,000 people of Rs 125 crore through fake identities and impersonation; a Mumbai family losing Rs 7.50 crore in a SIM swap attack; and an international crypto and romance scam resulting in 792 arrests involving 148 Chinese nationals. Key advisory: counterfeit products (particularly cosmetics) sold via platforms like Temu pose serious health risks, and vulnerable populations should verify OTPs and account access to prevent unauthorized transactions.
wjcl.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, the WJCL 22 News investigations team uncovered multiple fraud and crime stories, including a case where an elderly woman was scammed out of approximately $170,000 through five wire transfers before her death in September. The investigative series also covered fentanyl-related deaths, modified firearms in the community, prison violence, ticket resale fraud affecting consumers, and law enforcement's use of new AI-powered technology to combat crime.
gmtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
The Mequon Police Department issued a warning about a spike in fraud cases in its community, noting that scams have become increasingly sophisticated and are targeting vulnerable populations through various methods including phishing, impersonation, tech support fraud, investment schemes, and cryptocurrency-related scams. Victims often lose thousands of dollars through wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency with little chance of recovery, and emotional distress frequently prevents reporting. The department recommends residents remain vigilant, verify unsolicited offers, protect personal information, and anticipate that scams will continue to evolve with advancing technology, including AI-driven schemes.
kttc.com
· 2025-12-08
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison warns that scammers posing as immigration attorneys target immigrant populations by promising legal services, collecting upfront payments, and then disappearing while potentially damaging victims' immigration cases through incorrect forms or missed deadlines. The advisory provides protective measures including verifying attorney credentials, obtaining free immigration forms from USCIS.gov, never signing blank documents, and getting receipts and copies of all work. Victims can report scams to the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, the Federal Trade Commission, or directly to social media platforms where fraudulent accounts operate.