Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
4,783 results
in Romance Scam
etsn.fm
· 2025-12-08
A Louisiana woman lost approximately $60,000 in a catfishing scam where someone used artificial intelligence to impersonate Elon Musk on the Threads platform and subsequently in video conversations. The scammer convinced her to purchase gift cards (which could not be traced or retrieved) by promising her a Tesla and later requesting money for pizza and fabricated truck damage fees. Home Depot employees in multiple Louisiana locations became suspicious when the victim repeatedly purchased gift cards and refused to sell them to her, helping halt the fraud.
news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are targeting Facebook Marketplace sellers with a scam involving fake Australia Post QR code links that appear to confirm payment for items, but actually direct victims to phishing sites designed to steal payment card details and personal information for identity theft. Australia Post reissued warnings about this scheme in January after it was first discovered in September, emphasizing that they never provide prepayment services or send payment-related links for marketplace listings. This scam is part of a broader trend in which over 6,000 Australians lost $58.3 million to social media scams in the first 10 months of 2024.
au.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting Facebook Marketplace sellers with fake Australia Post links and QR codes, claiming payment has been made while actually attempting to steal payment card details and personal information through phishing. Australia Post warned customers in January 2024 that the company never provides prepayment services for marketplace listings or sends links/QR codes related to online sales. This scam reflects a broader trend where Australians lost over $58 million to social media scams in the first 10 months of 2024, making social media the leading contact method used by fraudsters.
english.elpais.com
· 2025-12-08
A Swedish man named Daniel lost €40,000 in a "pig butchering scam," a romance-based fraud scheme where a fake woman named Adele lured him into cryptocurrency investments through dating apps and WhatsApp. The scams, which generated $72 billion between 2020 and 2024, are operated from Southeast Asian compounds by crime syndicates with Chinese roots, where tens of thousands of trafficking victims—potentially 100,000 in Cambodia and 120,000 in Myanmar—are forced to impersonate romantic interests and financial advisors to defraud victims globally.
marca.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman named Anne lost approximately 9,000 euros to an online romance scam involving a scammer posing as actor Brad Pitt using AI-generated photos and videos, who claimed to need money for cancer treatment and customs fees. The incident caused severe psychological trauma to the victim, including three suicide attempts and admission to a mental health clinic, while her lawyer seeks to hold her bank accountable for failing to prevent the fraudulent transfers.
discovermagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida woman was convicted and pleaded guilty to laundering over $2.7 million in an online romance scam ring, exemplifying a growing problem where the FTC reported consumers lost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022—a 30 percent increase from 2021. Scammers employ sophisticated social engineering tactics including romance cons, fake investments, deepfake videos, and manufactured crises, with adults 60 and older being 73 percent more likely to fall victim to such schemes. Research reveals scammers exploit psychological principles like reciprocity (building trust through small gifts) and crisis manipulation (creating urgent financial emergencies) to manipulate victims into sending money
imdb.com
· 2025-12-08
A 67-year-old California woman lost thousands of dollars to scammers impersonating actor Keanu Reeves in a romance scam, resulting in her becoming homeless and living in her car. Romance scams targeting celebrities are increasingly common, with $1.1 billion lost nationally and $1.3 million in San Diego County alone during 2023. The victim shared her story to raise awareness about warning signs, as scammers exploit the popularity of celebrities who typically have no social media presence.
berkshireeagle.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are among the most destructive fraud schemes, exploiting victims' emotional vulnerabilities through manufactured relationships that can last months or years; in 2023 alone, the FTC reported 64,000 romance scam complaints resulting in over $1 billion in losses, with victims suffering severe emotional trauma beyond financial damage. Red flags include unmet face-to-face meetings, distant locations, quick relationship escalation, requests to move communication off social media platforms, and delayed money requests designed to build false trust. Those concerned about a victim should avoid shaming language, seek help from trusted figures in the victim's life, and develop a careful action plan, as victims often resist logic and evidence due to the
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A French interior designer was scammed out of over $800,000 by fraudsters who impersonated Brad Pitt on Instagram, using AI-generated images and false claims about medical expenses and financial hardship to convince her to send her life savings over an 18-month period. Brad Pitt's representatives issued a statement reminding fans that the actor has no social media presence and urged people to avoid responding to unsolicited online contact from celebrities. The victim, identified as Anne, reportedly attempted suicide three times after discovering the deception, and the original French TV segment featuring her story was removed after she faced harassment online.
sbs.com.au
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Australians reported 249,448 scams totaling $318.7 million in losses to the ACCC's Scamwatch, with investment scams being the most damaging at $192.3 million (median loss $9,500), followed by romance and phishing scams. People over 65 were worst affected financially with a median loss of $1,000, while men overall lost more money than women, with email being the most common contact method used by scammers. Key warning signs include promises of easy money, requests from unknown contacts, links in messages, and pressure to act quickly.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra received a sophisticated scam call impersonating a world leader using AI-generated voice technology, which escalated to requests for donations and bank transfers before she recognized it as fraudulent. The incident highlights Southeast Asia's emergence as a major hub for telecom and online fraud, where hundreds of thousands of trafficked individuals are forced into "pig-butchering scams" that have cost Americans alone $3.5 billion in 2023, prompting calls for regional cooperation to combat the threat.
taipeitimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In the fourth quarter of last year, Taiwan reported NT$37.19 billion (US$1.23 billion) in fraud losses, with investment scams accounting for 56.9 percent of total losses and affecting 1,242 victims, predominantly women over 50 (516 cases). Criminals used social media advertisements and messaging apps to recruit victims into fake investment groups, while romance scams and impersonation schemes targeting bank/government officials also contributed significantly to losses, with victims taking 2 months to 2 years to discover they had been defrauded.
evoke.ie
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 to a romance scammer who impersonated Brad Pitt, using fake AI-generated images and posing as the actor's mother to build trust before claiming he needed money for kidney cancer treatment. Brad Pitt's representative issued a public warning advising fans not to respond to unsolicited online messages from celebrities, particularly those not active on social media, as the victim subsequently experienced severe depression and online harassment following the exposure of the scam.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The NYPD issued a warning about romance scams targeting online dating app users ahead of Valentine's Day, noting that scammers typically profess love quickly, claim to be overseas, and request money for emergencies or travel through various payment methods including Venmo, Zelle, wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The alert advises people to be cautious when dating online and provides contact information for reporting suspected scams to the NYPD SCAM ALERT hotline.
androidpolice.com
· 2025-12-08
AI technology is making scams increasingly convincing and harder to detect, with fraudsters using voice cloning, deepfakes, fake investment schemes, phishing emails, and romance scams to target victims. The article outlines seven types of AI-powered scams and provides prevention strategies, including verifying caller identities with security questions, scrutinizing deepfake videos for unnatural movements or audio-visual mismatches, consulting registered investment advisors, and avoiding clicking suspicious links or sharing sensitive information with unverified sources.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This article outlines seven AI-powered scams that are becoming increasingly difficult to detect: voice cloning, deepfake impersonation, investment fraud, phishing, romance scams, and others. The article explains how scammers use AI technology to create convincing fake voices, videos, and messages to manipulate victims into sending money, revealing personal data, or clicking malicious links. It provides practical prevention tips for each scam type, including verifying caller identities with security questions, scrutinizing video quality and facial movements in deepfakes, verifying investment advisors, and avoiding suspicious links and downloads.
chinadailyhk.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong authorities are implementing anti-fraud measures targeting mainland students after an 18-year-old University of Hong Kong student lost HK$9.2 million ($1.18 million) to phone scammers posing as government officials in a money laundering scheme. New requirements include mandatory fraud prevention questionnaires for mainland students applying to study in Hong Kong, anti-scam lectures, and educational kits, with over 60 HKU students having lost more than HK$60 million to various scams recently. Multiple Hong Kong universities have adopted mandatory anti-fraud quizzes and questionnaires, with early results showing reduced fraud victimization rates among students who
koamnewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
**Online Romance Scams Warning (January 20, 2025)**
The Better Business Bureau issued a warning to consumers about online romance scams. The alert advises awareness of this fraud scheme, though the article excerpt provided does not contain specific details about affected victims, dollar amounts, or particular incidents.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
A French woman named Anne lost $850,000 to a romance scammer who used AI-generated deepfake images of Brad Pitt to pose as the actor on Facebook Messenger beginning in 2023. The scammer initially pretended to be Pitt's mother, then Pitt himself, and manipulated Anne with promises of love and marriage while requesting money for fabricated financial troubles and cancer treatment, ultimately leading her to divorce her millionaire husband. Experts warn that AI-enabled romance scams are increasingly common and effective because they target emotional vulnerabilities rather than logical reasoning, with victims often overlooking red flags in their desire for companionship and connection.
salon.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a political opinion piece criticizing Donald Trump's inauguration and the MAGA movement, not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It contains political commentary about Trump's appearance, demeanor, and leadership style, but no information relevant to elder fraud research.
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance fraud—where scammers impersonate celebrities or create fake identities to build trust with victims before demanding money—is a rapidly growing crime, with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau reporting 8,792 cases and losses exceeding £94.7 million in the past year. A notable case involved a 53-year-old French woman defrauded of £700,000 over 18 months by someone posing as Brad Pitt, with fraudsters typically spending about a year building trust before requesting funds through pretexts like medical emergencies or investment opportunities. Authorities note that romance fraud is heavily under-reported due to victim shame, though early reporting without alert
news3lv.com
· 2025-12-08
Chase Bank and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are hosting a free educational event on February 5 at Clark County Library to inform the public about romance scams and financial fraud prevention. The session will be led by Chase representatives and a detective from the Theft Crimes Bureau, who will discuss common scam tactics and provide practical advice on protecting personal finances and information, with a special focus on romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old Auckland man lost nearly $50,000 in a romance scam after being contacted by a woman who promised financial gains through cryptocurrency trading investments. The scammer built trust over six months through online messaging and occasional video calls, making false promises to visit and guaranteeing investment returns, before convincing the victim to transfer funds via crypto machines to evade bank detection. The victim made initial profits on a few trades but ultimately lost approximately $133,000 USD in a single failed transaction, with New Zealand authorities unable to recover the funds.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 to Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated photos to impersonate actor Brad Pitt and convince her they were in a romantic relationship, claiming the actor needed money for medical treatment. The case highlights how Nigerian internet fraudsters, known as "Yahoo Boys," are adopting AI and deepfake technology to conduct romance scams, a tactic experts warn could significantly increase the effectiveness and prevalence of such fraud schemes.
koamnewsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warned people to watch for romance scams during Valentine's Day, noting that scammers use online dating and social media platforms to target people seeking romantic relationships; regional BBB director Pamela Hernandez advised consumers to be aware of red flags when interacting with potential romantic partners online.
wccbcharlotte.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Catfish released a list of the 100 most commonly used fake photos in romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day 2025, based on analysis of 1.5 million reverse image searches. Romance scams cost Americans $1.14 billion in 2023, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes; North Carolina saw 453 victims lose $16.8 million in 2023. The company recommends verifying identities through reverse image searches, avoiding sending money to online contacts, using video chats, and being wary of rapid declarations of love or claims involving military service or overseas living.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams involve fraudsters creating fake romantic relationships to manipulate victims into sending money or personal information. The Better Business Bureau advises people to be cautious of online dating matches who quickly profess affection, avoid sending money to romantic interests, and verify identities through video chat before developing emotional or financial connections.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Chicago-area residents involved in a romance scam network that bilked victims of over $3.5 million were sentenced, with one receiving probation and two receiving 10 and 20-year prison sentences respectively. The case centered on 57-year-old Laura Kowal from Illinois, who sent nearly $2 million to a fraudulent online persona called "Frank Borg" over almost two years before her death; the scammers, based in West Africa, used the defendants as "money mules" to launder the stolen funds. The sentencing highlighted the growing use of accomplices to facilitate romance scams and the devastating impact on victims and their families.
fosters.com
· 2025-12-08
Hampton residents lost nearly $1 million to phone, email, text, and social media scams over 13 months, with many involving cryptocurrency, according to Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno—though he notes this represents only reported cases. One particularly devastating case involved a "pig butchering scheme" where a resident lost $480,000 after a scammer built trust through social media before introducing a fraudulent investment opportunity. The Hampton Police Department has become New Hampshire's first law enforcement agency to open a Coinbase account to potentially freeze and recover stolen cryptocurrency, and the chief urges residents to contact police before sending money rather than after they've been victimized.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 ($850,000) to Nigerian scammers who impersonated actor Brad Pitt through AI-generated photos and fake romantic contact on Instagram, claiming he needed money for medical treatment. The case highlights how Nigerian fraudsters are evolving romance scams by incorporating deepfake and AI technologies, with authorities investigating three men in their 20s based in Nigeria. This represents a dangerous escalation of traditional "Yahoo Boys" internet fraud schemes that have plagued West Africa for years.
gmanetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) warns that Filipino victims of romance scams are expected to increase during February, with up to 15 people falling victim daily, as scammers exploit the emotional nature and financial stability of Filipinos through fake online relationships before requesting money. A case study features "Juliet," a former overseas worker who was targeted by someone posing as a Norwegian man who extracted personal information and attempted to pressure her into borrowing money from her employer. The CICC advises people to watch for red flags including overly perfect profile pictures, refusal to video call, requests for money or investments, and long-distance relationships with foreign
citybeat.com
· 2025-12-08
Pamela Moore, a 66-year-old grandmother with no prior criminal record, was sentenced to 24 months in prison in August 2024 for money laundering related to online romance scams. Between 2020 and 2023, Moore's bank accounts received over $8 million in criminally derived funds from romance scammers nationwide, and she personally converted approximately $1.7 million to Bitcoin at the scammers' direction. Moore herself had initially lost six figures to the same scammers after becoming emotionally vulnerable following her husband's death in 2015, eventually being manipulated into laundering their illicit proceeds through a fraudulent shell company.
huffpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams to the FTC in 2022, losing a total of $1.3 billion with an average loss of $4,400. A notable case involved a French woman who lost €830,000 ($865,000) to a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt over an 18-month period, who used AI-generated images of the actor in a hospital to convince her he needed money for cancer treatment. The article advises families to watch for warning signs like sudden mood changes or secretive behavior in loved ones, and recommends approaching suspected victims with gentle questions rather than accusations, as confrontation can actually strengthen the scammer's control over
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
A French woman in her 50s named Anne lost €830,000 ($1.2 million) to romance scammers who impersonated Brad Pitt using AI-generated fake photos, resulting in three suicide attempts and public harassment after her story aired on French television. Romance fraud is an emotional manipulation scam where fraudsters build trust through fake online relationships before soliciting money, often targeting highly educated individuals and affecting both men and women equally. Research shows victims are not lacking in judgment but rather psychologically vulnerable people seeking emotional connection, making them susceptible to the predictable scam pattern of initial contact, platform switching, excuses to avoid meetings, trust-building through "love bombing," and escalating
cxtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
A CloudSek study found that Zendesk's free trial offering is vulnerable to abuse by scammers who create fake brand-impersonating subdomains to conduct phishing attacks and "pig butchering" investment scams. The research identified several cases over six months where Zendesk clients were targeted by fraudulent domains, demonstrating how attackers could exploit the platform's lack of email verification to deceive employees into clicking malicious links or revealing sensitive data. The report recommends blacklisting unverified Zendesk instances, using detection tools to identify suspicious subdomains, and implementing employee phishing awareness training to mitigate the risk.
secretservice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering is a billion-dollar cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme where scammers build trust with victims—often through fake romantic relationships on dating apps or unsolicited social media contact—and convince them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency projects that promise high returns. Victims are gradually encouraged to transfer increasing amounts of money until they suffer financial ruin, with the scammer disappearing once substantial funds have been obtained. To protect yourself, avoid unsolicited investment advice from online contacts, verify investment legitimacy through regulatory authorities, never share personal financial information with people you haven't met in person, and be suspicious of projects with guaranteed high returns or romantic interests who refuse to meet in person or appear on video calls.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns that phishing emails using urgent language like "act fast" are increasingly common red flags for scams, particularly those impersonating disaster relief charities or celebrities to solicit donations—with over 4,500 complaints reporting $96 million in losses to fraudulent charities and relief campaigns in 2024. The agency advises recipients to avoid clicking links or opening attachments from unknown senders, verify URLs and email addresses for errors, and never provide usernames or passwords to unsolicited messages. AI-powered scams are making fraud more sophisticated and believable, including romance schemes and impersonation scams that have cost victims thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
extra.ie
· 2025-12-08
A French woman lost €830,000 to fraudsters who impersonated Brad Pitt in a romance scam, but the article uses this case to highlight a broader crisis of online fraud and catfishing affecting tech-savvy young people across Ireland and beyond. The piece references an ongoing catfishing operation where a woman created multiple fake profiles to deceive dozens or hundreds of GAA players and others, demonstrating how sophisticated online deception has become beyond traditional Nigerian prince schemes. As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced and social media platforms neglect safety measures, the article warns that distinguishing real from fake online relationships and identities is becoming increasingly difficult for all users.
pandasecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
A French woman, Anne, lost approximately $850,000 in an 18-month romance scam in which a cybercriminal impersonated Brad Pitt and his mother on Instagram, using AI-generated fake images to build an emotional relationship and eventually convince her to fund fake medical and legal expenses. After discovering the deception when the real Brad Pitt appeared at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, Anne reported the crime and shared her story publicly to raise awareness, but subsequently suffered severe cyberbullying and depression. The case highlights the prevalence of romance scams, which cost victims over a billion dollars in 2023, and demonstrates how fraudsters exploit emotional vulnerability and celebrity admiration to manipulate
24-7pressrelease.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-powered scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated in 2025, with fraudsters using artificial intelligence to create convincing phishing emails, deepfake videos, and fake dating profiles that manipulate victims into sharing financial or personal information. The scams span investment fraud, identity theft, and romance schemes, affecting millions worldwide. Protection requires strong cyber hygiene practices including multi-factor authentication, security software, profile verification through reverse image searches, and reporting suspected fraud to authorities like the Federal Trade Commission.
lawsociety.ie
· 2025-12-08
A webinar on financial crime in Ireland's banking sector revealed that fraud sophistication is increasing, particularly psychological scams like romance fraud where criminals create fake identities to exploit victims. Experts highlighted that fraudsters increasingly target consumers directly rather than banks, making money recovery difficult once funds are transferred, and recommended that financial institutions implement better detection systems, educate the public, and foster organizational cultures prioritizing financial crime awareness. The webinar also discussed regulatory challenges, noting that while some funds may be recoverable through card transactions, recovery options are limited for authorized payments made through apps or online banking.
wionews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 ($850,000) to Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated photos to impersonate Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and convince her they were in a romantic relationship, claiming he needed money for medical treatment. The case exemplifies how Nigerian fraudsters, historically known for romance and sextortion scams, are adopting AI and deepfake technology to exploit victims, with cybercrime experts warning this technological evolution threatens to undermine years of progress in combating internet fraud.
studyfinds.org
· 2025-12-08
A French woman in her 50s lost €830,000 ($1.2 million) to scammers posing as actor Brad Pitt using AI-generated fake photos, resulting in her financial ruin and three suicide attempts. The article details how romance fraud operates through a predictable pattern—fake profiles on dating sites, building trust through "love bombing," and escalating money requests—and notes that victims are often highly educated people seeking emotional connection rather than lacking judgment. Research indicates romance fraud affects both men and women globally, with Canadian authorities reporting 420 cases in 2022 resulting in $59 million in losses.
rte.ie
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Bank of Ireland has issued a warning about romance fraud, in which scammers create fake personas on social media and dating apps to build trust with victims before manipulating them into sending money. The bank notes that these scams occur consistently each month, often go unreported due to victim shame, and can persist for extended periods as fraudsters gradually establish relationships. The bank advises consumers never to send money to people they've only met online and to be suspicious of relationships that develop too quickly or involve financial requests.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Imposter scams using AI and deepfake technology are among the most prevalent forms of fraud in 2024, with Floridians reporting approximately 35,000 complaints to the FTC between January and September. Scammers impersonate government officials, celebrities, and tech support representatives to steal money and personal information through spoofed calls, texts, emails, and convincing video calls. The article provides red flags to recognize these scams—such as demands for cryptocurrency payments, unsolicited security alerts, and threats of arrest—and advises victims to report incidents to law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline.
mothership.sg
· 2025-12-08
Singaporean actor Laurence Pang, 78, lost S$36,000 (approximately 1.5 million Philippine pesos) to a romance scam involving a woman named "Mika" whom he met on the dating website Pinalove in late 2024. After being charmed by the woman and fake photos she sent, Pang was lured into a fake e-commerce and cryptocurrency investment scheme disguised as a Rakuten Global reseller opportunity, where he was unable to withdraw his invested funds due to fake orders that continuously prevented him from completing transactions.
agrinews-pubs.com
· 2025-12-08
Artificial intelligence is increasingly enhancing and creating new scams in 2025, enabling fraudsters to generate fake profiles, emails, images, audio, and videos to perpetrate investment schemes, romance scams, and impersonation fraud. The FBI recommends protecting oneself by establishing secret verification phrases with family members, hanging up on suspicious calls, avoiding sending money or gift cards to unknown persons, and learning to recognize AI-generated content through online research. Awareness and vigilance are essential defenses against these evolving threats.
ladailypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Los Alamos is launching the S.A.F.E. (Scam Awareness For Elders) initiative, a community-wide effort to combat the rising prevalence of scams targeting elderly residents. The program, supported by a $9,000 grant from the Non-Metro New Mexico Agency on Aging, will provide educational programs, training workshops, and outreach activities, including a kickoff event on January 29 featuring an FBI presentation on scam prevention. Planned activities include a February workshop on romance scams and a monthly book club beginning in March to help older adults recognize and avoid fraudulent schemes.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
A six-nation law enforcement coalition (including China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam) claims progress in dismantling cyber-scam labor camps across Southeast Asia, reporting 70,000 arrests and over 160 people freed in 2024. These camps operate as forced labor schemes where victims are lured with fake job offers in tech support or call centers, have their passports confiscated, and are forced to run scams (particularly romance and tech support schemes) to pay off mounting debts; an estimated 100,000 Chinese citizens have been victimized, with workers from Brazil and other countries also rescued from facilities in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos,
premiumtimesng.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman was defrauded of €830,000 ($850,000) by Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated images of Brad Pitt, posing as the actor and claiming he needed money for a kidney transplant due to frozen accounts from his divorce. The three perpetrators in their 20s were identified through a scam investigator who gained access to their phone, and the victim's legal team is seeking intervention from Nigeria's EFCC to prosecute them. This case exemplifies how Nigerian internet fraudsters are adopting AI technology to conduct romance and impersonation scams on a larger scale.