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naija247news.com
· 2025-12-08
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
thenerdstash.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk was charged with money laundering after operating a romance scam targeting four elderly women across multiple states, fraudulently obtaining over $1.5 million by posing as a man named "Edward Lotts" and convincing victims to send money under false pretenses. Operating from April 2023 through October 2024, Echohawk convinced her first victim to sell her home and send $600,000, and continued targeting additional victims despite a police confrontation in January 2024; she was arrested in April and now faces 24 to 62 years in prison plus up to $260,000 in fines.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity researcher David Maimon discovered scammers selling access to Social Security accounts online, with the goal of taking over victims' benefit payments by changing account details and redirecting funds to fraudulent accounts. Scammers gain access through stolen login credentials and phishing attempts, and the Social Security Administration is implementing new in-person identity verification requirements (as of April 14) to combat the fraud. To protect accounts, beneficiaries should regularly monitor their "my Social Security" accounts, avoid clicking suspicious links, enable two-factor authentication, and never provide cash or personal information to unsolicited callers claiming to be law enforcement.
sgfcitizen.org
· 2025-12-08
Two Facebook Marketplace scams targeted the author's household within one week, demonstrating increasingly sophisticated tactics. In the first incident, a scammer posing as a buyer's representative attempted to obtain the author's husband's Venmo information to "secure" a $70 vacuum purchase but failed to complete the transaction when asked to meet in person and verify details; in the second, a scammer impersonated the author's high school friend to sell outdoor furniture, using vague responses and fabricated location information before being reported and blocking contact. The incidents highlight how scammers exploit the platform's ease of use and attempt payment methods that can be difficult to reverse, and that verification questions about personal details can
bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
The Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department released a report revealing that cybercriminals tailor scams to exploit specific age groups' vulnerabilities: young adults (18-20) are targeted with fake job offers, working professionals (30-45) with investment and crypto scams, and senior citizens (50-70) with digital arrest threats impersonating law enforcement. Karnataka receives 100-200 cybercrime reports daily, with metro cities accounting for 20% of India's cybercrime cases, prompting authorities to intensify awareness campaigns and deploy advanced technological tools to combat the rising white-collar crime.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
The Modesto Police Department issued a scam alert warning residents about fraudsters impersonating police officers and calling community members to solicit donations for youth programs. The department emphasized that legitimate law enforcement does not solicit donations over the phone and advised residents to hang up on suspicious calls, never share personal or banking information, and report such incidents to non-emergency dispatch.
wionews.com
· 2025-12-08
Nine individuals were sentenced to 5-14.75 years in prison in China for operating a sophisticated telecommunications and romance fraud scheme that defrauded 66,800 Indian victims of Rs 517 million ($6.2 million) between June 2023 and January 2024. The syndicate, led by a suspect named He, used fake investment platforms (SENEE), fraudulent social media profiles of wealthy Indian women, forged corporate documents, and cryptocurrency conversion to lure victims with promises of 8-15% monthly returns on small investments before stealing funds or freezing accounts. Members received sentences based on their roles, with the operation demonstrating coordinated recruitment, training, payment channel
chaincatcher.com
· 2025-12-08
Spanish police dismantled a cryptocurrency investment scam ring that used AI-generated deepfake videos of celebrities to defraud over 200 victims of approximately 19 million euros ($21.5 million). The scheme convinced investors to contribute funds to fake crypto ventures and pay additional fees to access their supposed returns. Seven suspects, including the ringleader who was arrested while attempting to flee to Dubai, face charges including fraud, money laundering, and document forgery.
kauainownews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Kaua'i Police Department is warning residents, particularly elderly kupuna, about a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam in which fraudsters build trust with victims through social media, phone calls, and text messages before convincing them to invest money in fake cryptocurrency schemes and then disappearing with their funds. The scam exploits emotional manipulation and promises of high returns, with warning signs including unsolicited contact from strangers, requests for secrecy, and pressure to use unfamiliar cryptocurrency platforms. Residents are advised to avoid sending money to online-only contacts, be skeptical of unsolicited messages, and consult trusted family members before making financial decisions.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are increasingly targeting older adults by directing them to cryptocurrency ATMs to deposit funds, with the FTC reporting a tenfold increase in losses since 2020 and Rhode Island State Police documenting cases rising from 3 in 2023 to 40 in 2024 and 23 in the first three months of 2025—all victims over age 50, with individual losses ranging from $15,000 to $40,000. Crypto ATMs are attractive to scammers because victims are unfamiliar with them, there are no daily transaction limits, and cryptocurrency's decentralized nature makes funds nearly impossible to recover, unlike
chadronradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Nebraska is experiencing an increase in "pig butchering" scams, a relationship-based fraud scheme where criminals slowly build trust with victims over weeks or months before luring them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. These scams can affect anyone regardless of financial sophistication, with the FTC reporting that Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, including a notable case where a Kansas banker lost $47 million. Warning signs include unexpected contact from strangers, emotional manipulation, requests for financial information, and promises of guaranteed high returns; victims should avoid sharing personal information with unknown contacts and report suspected fraud to authorities.
hastingstribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Nebraska is experiencing increased reports of "pig butchering" scams, a cryptocurrency-based fraud in which criminals build relationships with victims over weeks or months through social media, dating apps, or fake text messages before luring them into bogus cryptocurrency investments. The scam—also called a confidence scam or financial grooming—can target anyone regardless of financial knowledge, and in 2024 Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud and scams overall. Warning signs include unsolicited contact, emotional manipulation, requests for financial information, and exaggerated investment returns; victims should avoid sharing personal information with unknown contacts and contact the Nebraska Department of Banking an
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Justice recovered $8.2 million in Tether cryptocurrency stolen through romance baiting scams, including $663,352 from an Ohio woman who fell victim after responding to a wrong-number text in 2023. Romance baiting is a psychological manipulation scheme that builds false intimacy through casual conversation before introducing cryptocurrency investment opportunities with fake trading dashboards and fabricated returns, ultimately trapping victims unable to withdraw their funds. The article also references an 80-year-old Maryland retiree, Judith Boivin, who was targeted by scammers impersonating FBI agents using spoofed caller IDs and forged government communications to extract money under false pretenses of a
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
**Trend Micro Research on Australian Scam Vulnerability**
A Trend Micro survey of 1,072 Australians revealed significant misconceptions increasing scam vulnerability, including beliefs that scams require oversharing (31%), are easily spotted by poor grammar (47%), or that extortion only occurs through explicit photo sharing (32%). Australians lost over $2 billion to online scams in the past year, with investment scams targeting a quarter of respondents, yet only 15% discussed scam response strategies with family and just 9% use verification phrases against impersonation scams. The research recommends staying wary of unsolicited communications, enabling two
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
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
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains romance scams, which involve scammers creating fake dating profiles to build romantic relationships with victims—particularly older Americans—before requesting money for fabricated emergencies or opportunities. Older people are targeted because they typically have more savings, less familiarity with online scams, and may experience isolation, making them vulnerable to the emotional manipulation of promised romantic connections. The article provides guidance for adult children whose parents fall victim, including stopping communications, reporting to authorities and platforms, attempting to recover funds through banks and financial institutions, and protecting against identity theft.
sheridanmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud and scams, a 25% increase from 2023, with most scams originating outside the U.S., according to the Federal Trade Commission. Cryptocurrency and investment scams were the most financially damaging, accounting for $5.7 billion in losses.
dfpi.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Pig butchering is an investment scam in which fraudsters build trust with victims over weeks or months through social media and messaging apps before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms that promise high returns but prevent withdrawals. Scammers use fabricated websites and fake trading apps to collect victim funds, often requesting additional payments for fees or taxes before allowing any withdrawal. Victims should report scams quickly to the DFPI with complete transaction details, wallet addresses, and screenshots to help investigators trace stolen cryptocurrency on the blockchain.
examinerlive.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Zak Coyne, 23, from Huddersfield, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for operating LabHost, a phishing website service that enabled over 2,000 criminals to defraud victims worldwide, resulting in losses exceeding £100 million. The platform, which allowed users to create fake websites impersonating banks, healthcare agencies, and postal services to steal personal data, was shut down by the Met's Cyber Crime Unit in April 2024, leading to Coyne's arrest and subsequent guilty pleas to charges including fraud facilitation and money laundering.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
Attorney General Kris Mayes joined 20 other states in filing an amicus brief opposing mismanagement at the Social Security Administration, which has resulted in service disruptions affecting millions of beneficiaries. Arizona received nearly 300 complaints from residents reporting website outages, phone service failures, and payment delays, while approximately 2,800 SSA employees have taken early retirement or buyouts and further staff cuts are planned despite the agency's administrative costs being only 0.5% of its budget. The brief challenges claims of widespread fraud and improper payments—the SSA Inspector General found less than 1% of benefits paid between 2015-2022 were improper—and argues that
financemagnates.com
· 2025-12-08
**Not applicable for Elderus database.**
This article is promotional content for a fintech industry conference panel about trading infrastructure and platform risk management. It contains no information about elder fraud, scams, elder abuse, or financial exploitation of seniors, and therefore falls outside the scope of the Elderus elder fraud research database.
sec.gov
· 2025-12-08
The SEC launched an anti-fraud public service campaign warning investors about relationship investment scams, in which perpetrators build trust through online romantic or friendship connections to solicit money for fraudulent investments. The campaign includes educational videos, resources, and guidance advising investors to ignore unsolicited messages, be skeptical of investment opportunities from unknown contacts, and immediately stop communication with suspected scammers while reporting them to the SEC.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission reported $470 million in consumer losses from text message scams in 2024—nearly five times the 2020 amount—with fake package delivery alerts being the most common scam, followed by fake job offers, fraudulent bank alerts, and romance/investment scams. The FTC advises consumers to avoid clicking or responding to unexpected texts, instead contacting companies through verified channels and reporting suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM) or through their messaging apps.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, consumers reported losing $470 million to text message scams—five times the 2020 amount—with fake package delivery alerts, bogus job offers, and fraudulent bank warnings being the most common types. The FTC recommends forwarding suspicious texts to 7726, reporting through messaging apps, and reporting to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, while avoiding clicking links in unsolicited messages and instead contacting companies directly using verified contact information.
senatedems.com
· 2025-12-08
The Michigan Senate passed a four-bill package designed to strengthen protections for seniors and vulnerable adults facing abuse and exploitation. The legislation increases penalties for financial crimes against older adults, extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting embezzlement cases from six to ten years, allows vulnerable adults to obtain personal protection orders, and establishes multidisciplinary teams to prevent and detect elder abuse—addressing a statewide problem affecting over 73,000 older adults and costing victims more than $28 billion annually in financial scams and fraud.
legit.ng
· 2025-12-08
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.
nanaimonewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
A Parksville senior in his 70s lost $160,000 over several years to a cryptocurrency investment scam that began with a $2,000 deposit at a crypto machine. The victim believed he was making legitimate investments but encountered increasingly demanding requests for taxes and fees when attempting to withdraw funds, eventually realizing the entire scheme was fraudulent and reporting it to Oceanside RCMP in March.
akronlegalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A FINRA Investor Education Foundation study of 905 fraud victims (mean age 75) identified by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service found that older adults are more vulnerable to opportunity-based scams (prize, product, and investment fraud) when they engage in high-exposure activities like opening junk mail, entering sweepstakes, and answering unknown calls. Key vulnerability factors include older age, loneliness, financial fragility, and risky financial behaviors, leading FINRA to recommend educational programs addressing loneliness, financial literacy, telemarketing exposure reduction, and distinguishing legitimate from fake lotteries and sweepstakes.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "The Surprising Truth About the Age Group Most Likely to Fall for Financial Fraud"
Recent FTC data reveals that younger adults (ages 20-29) are losing money to scams at nearly twice the rate of older adults, with 44% experiencing financial losses compared to 24% of those aged 70-79. Younger adults are primarily targeted through online scams including fake shopping sites, cryptocurrency fraud, and social media job offers, with their "digital native" status and tendency toward impulsive decision-making making them particularly vulnerable despite overconfidence in their tech savviness. The study emphasizes that scammers exploit age-specific psychological factors and online
lexology.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, text message scams caused $470 million in reported losses to consumers—more than five times the 2020 amount—according to FTC data, with the top five scams being fake package delivery notices, phony job offers, fraudulent fraud alerts, bogus toll notifications, and "wrong number" romance/investment schemes. These scams employed tactics such as impersonating legitimate companies, stealing financial information through fake fees, and building fake relationships to manipulate victims into transferring money. The FTC recommends consumers avoid clicking links or responding to unsolicited texts and use blocking tools to prevent fraud.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are using fake banking apps that mimic legitimate platforms to defraud sellers in person, showing fake payment confirmations while stealing goods worth thousands of pounds. Two victims—Anthony Rudd (who lost £1,000 in power tools) and John Reddock (who lost a £2,000 gold bracelet)—were deceived when buyers appeared to transfer funds via the fraudulent apps before fleeing with merchandise. Approximately 500 such crimes have been reported to Action Fraud over three years, with these fake apps available for direct download to Android phones outside official app stores.
weirdkaya.com
· 2025-12-08
A 69-year-old German man lost RM3,089,800 after being duped by scammers impersonating Malaysian tax and central bank officials who used official-looking documentation to convince him to open a bank account and make 25 transfers. In a separate case, a 54-year-old Malaysian company manager was defrauded of RM2,652,000 through a Facebook-advertised investment scheme that used fake platforms and a WhatsApp contact named "Wendy Wong," initially paying him RM100,000 to build confidence before requesting tax fees to withdraw his non-existent profits.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Two professionals in Hyderabad lost a combined 67 lakh rupees to separate cyber fraud schemes in early 2025: a microbiologist lost 39.7 lakh to scammers operating a fake stock trading platform via Instagram and WhatsApp between January and April, while a software engineer lost 28 lakh within two days to fraudsters posing as a cryptocurrency trading company that initially advertised part-time work on WhatsApp. Both victims were asked to make additional payments before being denied access to their accounts, leading to cases filed under the IT Act by Cyber Crime Police in Cyberabad.
livebitcoinnews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Operation Avalanche:** U.S. Secret Service and Canadian authorities dismantled a $4.3 million Ethereum approval phishing scam through a collaborative investigation involving crypto platforms and blockchain analysis firms. The scam used deceptive tactics to trick users into signing malicious transactions that granted attackers access to their wallets; authorities identified compromised wallets, froze assets on trading platforms, and notified victims to revoke old approvals. Key prevention measures include verifying transaction links, using hardware wallets, checking wallet permissions regularly via Etherscan, and avoiding unsolicited messages promising high returns.
thevibes.com
· 2025-12-08
Malaysia's online fraud cases surged 13% in the first quarter of 2025, with 12,110 reported incidents resulting in RM573.7 million (approximately USD 122 million) in losses. E-commerce scams led the increase at 19.8%, followed by telecommunications scams (5,214 cases), investment fraud (2,026 cases), and fake loan schemes (1,404 cases), with scammers increasingly using AI tools, deepfakes, and counterfeit digital identities to deceive victims. Authorities attribute the rise to increased online shopping activity during festive seasons and the proliferation of sophisticated digital deception technologies, urging the public
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI seized $8.2 million in cryptocurrency connected to the "pig butchering" dating scam, which affected more than 30 victims who were manipulated into transferring money or investing in crypto schemes after being emotionally groomed through fake romantic relationships. One victim, a Cleveland woman, liquidated her retirement savings and transferred over $650,000 in digital assets. The FBI's use of blockchain intelligence to trace funds across multiple platforms is considered a breakthrough that will help authorities pursue similar romance scams in the future.
myupnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a scam awareness roundup highlighting major fraud schemes targeting state residents, including disaster relief and charity scams, government imposter fraud, phishing/smishing attacks, cryptocurrency "pig butchering" romance scams, and data breach identity theft. The advisory recommends consumers verify charity legitimacy before donating, never click suspicious links or provide personal information to unsolicited contacts, monitor credit reports regularly through AnnualCreditReport.com, and implement security measures like two-factor authentication and password changes following data breaches.
komonews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Tariff Scams Target Consumers and Businesses**
Scammers are exploiting market confusion surrounding tariffs through phishing emails, fake websites, and fraudulent investment schemes targeting consumers and small businesses. Common tactics include impersonating government officials or freight companies to demand immediate payment for fake "tariff fees," with scammers taking advantage of people's heightened emotional states during economic uncertainty. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to verify contact information independently, avoid clicking unsolicited links, and remember that individuals do not pay tariffs directly—any such demand is a scam.
pahouse.com
· 2025-12-08
State Rep. Leanne Krueger is hosting "Scam Jam," a free educational event on April 25, 2025, in Aston, Pennsylvania, where residents can learn fraud prevention from experts including the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, Delaware County District Attorney's Office, and AARP Pennsylvania. The two-hour seminar will cover recent elder abuse cases, common community scams, investment fraud, mail fraud, and check washing, with interactive games and resources to help attendees recognize and prevent scams targeting seniors and other residents.
fox10phoenix.com
· 2025-12-08
Apache Junction police arrested two men accused of defrauding an 86-year-old woman of $82,000 through an email scam that began in March. The suspects posed as customer service representatives, claiming the victim had accidentally received a refund and pressured her to withdraw cash to repay them, eventually collecting money in person until police intervened. Both suspects were booked for conspiracy, money laundering, and fraud, with investigators indicating they may have been part of a larger operation based in California and suspecting additional victims exist.
greaterkashmir.com
· 2025-12-08
Former MLA Usman Majid called for a government investigation into alleged corruption and mismanagement at three welfare institutions in Bandipora—a Drug De-Addiction Centre, One-Stop Centre, and Senior Citizens' Home—claiming they are under illegal control of government employees and contractors rather than official staff. He alleged that funds from the Central Ministry of Social Justice meant for these facilities are being embezzled, unqualified relatives of officials are occupying positions for years without oversight, and staff frequently absent themselves except during inspections. Majid urged authorities to investigate those involved and restore accountability to these public welfare programs.
bangkokpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Members of the Parliamentary Official Saving and Credit Cooperative are demanding an independent investigation into a 14-million-baht embezzlement scheme after a finance officer was dismissed; members suspect the fraud could not have been committed by a single employee given the cooperative's dual authorization and multi-level approval controls. The cooperative's board has assured members that individual accounts remain unaffected and attributed the theft to the one dismissed employee, but skeptics question whether senior staff or auditors were complicit and suggest the fraud may have occurred incrementally over several years.
vicksburgnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost an estimated $470 million to text message scams in 2024, a five-fold increase from 2020, according to FTC data, with scammers becoming more sophisticated despite fewer overall reports. The most common scams involve fake delivery notifications and job scams that trick victims into clicking malicious links or investing money, though fake bank alerts, toll notices, and messages from wrong numbers can also escalate into fraudulent schemes. The FTC recommends ignoring unsolicited texts and links, contacting companies directly using verified contact information, and forwarding suspicious messages to 7726 to help block similar scams.
missioncityrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
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kashmirdotcom.in
· 2025-12-08
Former Minister and MLA Bandipora Usman Majid has alleged that a Drug De-Addiction Centre, One-Stop Centre, and Senior Citizens' Home in Bandipora are being operated under corrupt control by government employees and contractors, with funds from the Central Ministry of Social Justice allegedly being embezzled rather than used for their intended purposes. He claims unqualified employees—many relatives of top officials—have occupied positions for over three years without proper oversight, and staff frequently absent themselves except during official inspections. Majid has called for an immediate government investigation and stringent action against those responsible for what he characterizes as exploitation of public funds and central welfare schemes.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service seized the website NFT-UNI.com, which was used in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded victims of over $4.5 million from November 2023 to March 2024, including a New York victim who lost $172,405.61. In pig butchering scams, fraudsters build trust with victims through fake online relationships before directing them to fraudulent crypto investment platforms where funds are laundered and disappear. Older Americans are particularly targeted, with the FBI reporting that individuals over 60 lost $3.4 billion to investment fraud in 2023, with cryptocurrency schemes representing $2
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, consumers lost $470 million to text message scams—five times the amount reported in 2020—with fake package delivery alerts and bogus job opportunities being the most common types reported to the FTC. Other frequent scams included fake fraud alerts from banks, fake toll payment warnings, and "wrong number" scams that often escalate into romance scams involving investment requests. Consumers are advised to forward suspicious texts to 7726, report through their phone's messaging app or the FTC website, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and verify any claims through official company contact information.
thenigerianvoice.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
An AARP report found that approximately 41 percent of American adults (110.1 million people) have experienced fraud or had sensitive information stolen and used fraudulently, a dramatic increase from an estimated 15 percent a decade ago. The report reveals that Americans reported a record $12.5 billion stolen in 2024 according to the FTC, though actual losses are likely much higher when accounting for underreporting; older adults lose more money on average than younger victims, and Black respondents reported the highest victimization rate at 50 percent. Adults 50 and older express significantly higher worry about fraud (64 percent rating their concern 6-10 on a scale)
euronews.com
· 2025-12-08
Transnational organized crime groups from East and Southeast Asia are expanding scam operations globally, with the UNODC estimating hundreds of industrial-scale scam centers generating nearly $40 billion in annual profits through romance scams, fake investments, and illegal gambling schemes. These operations are spreading to Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Pacific islands as authorities intensify crackdowns in Southeast Asia, while emerging technologies like AI, deepfakes, and cryptocurrency facilitate "crime as a service" models that enable rapid adaptation and money laundering networks.