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in Romance Scam
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A widowed pensioner fell victim to a romance scam, sending thousands of pounds to a woman he had never met in person, whose photos were stolen from social media and used across multiple scam accounts. Santander's "Break the Spell" team, a specialized fraud prevention unit, worked to convince him he was being defrauded, though he initially resisted accepting the reality despite blocked transactions and a failed in-person meeting. The article highlights the growing prevalence of scams in the UK—with £213m lost across the banking sector in the first half of 2024—and notes that Santander's Break the Spell initiative has prevented £17.6m from reaching
lichfieldlive.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Police are warning the public against romance scams following high-profile cases, including a woman who lost approximately £700,000 after being deceived by someone impersonating actor Brad Pitt. UK losses to romance scams totaled an estimated £92 million last year, with scammers typically creating fake profiles that avoid video calls, claim military or overseas employment, and request money for medical treatment or emergencies. Authorities advise never sending money, loans, gift cards, or personal documents to online contacts you have not met in person, and recommend reporting suspicious behavior to police.
wave3.com
· 2025-12-08
Experts are warning the public about romance scams, particularly ahead of Valentine's Day, where scammers impersonate celebrities or create fake personas to build relationships and request money from victims. Red flags include quick declarations of love, requests for money, reluctance to meet in person, and insistence on communication only through dating platforms. According to the Federal Trade Commission, imposter scams were Kentucky's most common fraud type in 2024, with scammers stealing $2.7 billion nationally in that year; financial experts recommend consulting trusted friends or bank representatives when uncertain about suspicious requests.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Poppy, an 84-year-old widow from Manchester, lost £20,000 to three separate romance scams over two and a half years after becoming isolated following her husband's death and during the Covid lockdown. The scammers posed as American men and exploited her loneliness and declining memory by building emotional connections before requesting money for fabricated emergencies. Romance scams in the UK increased 6% in 2024 with victims losing £99.4 million, and criminologists note that previous victims are particularly vulnerable to repeat victimization due to the grooming tactics used.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
This AARP article provides educational guidance on protecting oneself from common fraud schemes affecting adults. It recommends three key protective steps: placing security freezes on credit accounts, monitoring financial accounts regularly, and using strong unique passwords. The article also warns about three specific scams—romance scams involving cryptocurrency, fake gift card balance-checking websites, and identity fraud from data breaches—and advises checking official sources like the SEC's investor.gov before making investments and using phone numbers or addresses on the back of gift cards rather than search results. For victims, AARP offers the Fraud Watch Network Helpline (1-877-908-3360) available weekdays 8 a.m.–
theschoharienews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Sharon Springs Silver & Gold Senior Club held an educational presentation on January 10th where a Social Security Administration official informed approximately twenty seniors about identity theft, consumer scams, and emerging fraud threats including AI-enhanced scams such as phishing, family emergency, and romance schemes. Attendees learned protective measures and were provided resources including IdentityTheft.gov for reporting identity theft, the Senate Special Committee on Aging's Fraud Hotline (1-855-303-9470), and the "Fighting Fraud" booklet available at www.aging.senate.gov.
slguardian.org
· 2025-12-08
**Romance Scam Victimization - Poppy's Case (UK)**
An 84-year-old woman from Manchester named Poppy fell victim to three separate romance scams between 2021 and 2023, losing approximately £20,000 total. The scams involved fraudsters posing as an American oil worker, a wealthy businessman, and a NATO medic, each requesting financial help through various pretexts; her brother discovered the full extent of the fraud when managing her finances due to her declining memory. While NatWest refunded £16,000 of her losses, the case highlights a growing epidemic of romance scams in the UK, with
themonroesun.com
· 2025-12-08
Common scams targeting victims include fake attorney calls claiming a loved one needs bail money, utility shutoff warnings, lottery schemes, romance scams, and cryptocurrency investment fraud. Law enforcement advises that when unsolicited callers request personal information or money, recipients should hang up and independently verify the claim by contacting the supposed organization or person directly. Scammers use tactics such as keeping victims on the phone to prevent critical thinking, leveraging personal information like Social Security numbers, and coaching victims on how to send money discreetly to avoid detection by store employees.
bangkokpost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 52-year-old Thai woman was arrested at Hat Yai International Airport for her alleged role in Thailand's largest romance scam, which defrauded a multinational company's CFO of 6.3 billion baht (US$186 million) in 2022 using a fake LinkedIn profile of a US Army doctor. Orathai admitted to opening multiple Thai bank accounts for her Nigerian partner, who she claimed wanted to start a business, though the accounts were actually used to receive and transfer stolen funds from the fraud scheme. Warrants have been issued for approximately 100 Thai and Nigerian suspects involved in the transnational operation, with ongoing arrest efforts.
thegazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are growing on online dating and social media platforms, where fraudsters create fake identities to build romantic relationships with victims before requesting money or personal financial information. Red flags include profiles that seem "too perfect," attempts to move communication off-site quickly, moving the relationship forward rapidly, reluctance to meet in person, and hard luck stories preceding financial requests. The BBB recommends protecting yourself by never sending money or personal information, asking detailed questions about profile details, conducting reverse image searches, and stopping contact immediately if asked for financial or banking information.
amp.scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
Singaporean actor Laurence Pang, 78, lost thousands of US dollars to a romance scam after meeting a woman named "Mika" on the dating app PinaLove who convinced him to invest in selling counterfeit goods through a fake Rakuten e-commerce platform. Pang was instructed to transfer money and set up cryptocurrency wallets with promises of a 10% commission per sale, but discovered he could not withdraw funds due to unfulfilled orders. The case highlights the continued threat of Philippine-based fraud networks despite the country's ban on illegal online gambling operations (Pogo).
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security Administration official Rebecca Rose identified four key warning signs of scams: impersonation of trusted organizations, claims of problems or prizes, pressure for immediate action, and requests for payment via gift cards. Scam survivor Kate Kleinert shared her experience losing $39,000 to a romance scam, while SSA resources provide guidance on recognizing scams and reporting them to the Office of the Inspector General.
banburyguardian.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Neighbourhood Watch in the Banbury and Bicester area has issued a warning about romance scammers who build fake romantic relationships with online dating users to manipulate them into sending money or sharing financial information that enables theft. The advisory outlines common warning signs including rapid romantic escalation, inconsistent stories, refusal to video call or meet in person, and eventual requests for money, sometimes involving money laundering schemes. The guidance recommends using reputable dating sites, avoiding sharing personal details, refusing money transfers with online contacts, and not accepting friend requests from strangers to protect against these scams.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Romance fraud scammers exploit emotional connections to steal money through tactics like "love bombing" (building trust before requesting funds), "catfishing" (using fake profiles on dating sites), and inheritance schemes (claiming victims will receive money if they pay upfront expenses). The scams affect people of all genders and can cost victims tens of thousands of dollars, with emotional devastation accompanying financial losses; victims should be wary of matches who avoid video calls and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-08
Christopher Maxwell, a former romance scammer operating from Nigeria, earned over $70,000 over five years by targeting lonely American women on Facebook while posing as a U.S. soldier, before claiming to have reformed after realizing the emotional harm he caused victims like a 62-year-old woman who lost $20,000. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023—double the losses from 2021—with Utah residents losing $5.4 million in 2023 alone. Maxwell now works to expose romance scamming tactics, warning that scammers typically target women appearing lonely in photos and spen
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
A 52-year-old Thai woman was arrested at Hat Yai International Airport for her alleged role in a $182.8 million romance scam—Thailand's costliest on record. The woman, Orathai, was accused of opening bank accounts at the direction of her Nigerian boyfriend that were used to launder embezzled funds from EssilorLuxottica; the scam's original victim, the company's CFO, had been deceived over three months into transferring $182.8 million to 112 accounts across 17 countries after being romance-scammed via LinkedIn. The operation involved at least 23 suspects across Thailand, Malaysia, and Nigeria, highlighting how
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams involve fraudsters posing as potential romantic partners to manipulate victims into sending money or personal information. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to be cautious of online romantic connections that quickly escalate emotionally or request financial assistance, and recommends verifying identities and protecting personal information to avoid both financial loss and emotional harm.
ky3.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that romance scams are increasingly dangerous, with 532 reports in 2024 showing a median loss of $6,125, and seniors over 65 particularly at risk. Scammers are now using AI tools to create more realistic fake profiles and chatbots that eliminate grammatical errors, while also targeting victims through cryptocurrency investment schemes. The BBB recommends online daters watch for red flags such as excuses to avoid meeting, moving conversations to other apps, requests for money, and suspicious photos—and to verify profiles through reverse image searches and consult trusted friends and family before sending any money.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania widow Kate Kleinert lost nearly $40,000 to a romance scam perpetrated by a man posing as "Tony," a surgeon working in Iraq, whom she met via Facebook. The financial devastation left her unable to afford home repairs, which led to a fire that destroyed her house and killed six foster dogs. According to the FBI and FTC, romance scams affected tens of thousands of people in 2023, costing consumers $1.14 billion that year, with scammers exploiting social media information and stolen photos to build trust before requesting money under various pretexts.
12news.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona banking customers are experiencing a surge in sophisticated tech scams, with victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to fraudsters who use alarming text messages about account fraud to trick people into revealing account credentials. The Better Business Bureau also reports a spike in romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, with victims averaging $126,000 in losses per person in early 2024, typically initiated through social media or dating websites with warning signs including rapid friendships, quick money discussions, and reluctance to video chat. Banks emphasize that contacting financial institutions within 24 hours of suspected fraud is critical, as scammers typically transfer funds overseas quickly, making recovery difficult after that window closes.
fox5vegas.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old Boulder City woman lost $40,000 in a Facebook-based romance scam involving a gold shipping scheme, and was nearly conned into sending an additional $100,000 before her daughter discovered the fraud through a joint bank account. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is hosting two public educational events in early February featuring Chase Bank officials and financial crimes specialists to teach residents how to identify romance scam red flags and protect themselves from similar frauds.
stocktitan.net
· 2025-12-08
A Norton study reveals that while 60% of online daters encounter AI-generated responses and many welcome AI tools for dating profiles, AI also enables increasingly sophisticated scams. Dating app users face significant threats: 40% have been targeted by scams with 41% of those becoming victims, including catfishing (55%), romance scams (34%), and sextortion (31%), while only 46% of users can identify fake AI-generated images and 27% have had their photos stolen without permission. Norton launched Genie, a free AI-powered scam detection app, to help users identify fraudulent profiles and protect themselves against these evolving threats.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
BBC Local podcast "Loved Bombed," hosted by Vicky Pattison, features real-life stories of romance fraud victims who were deceived by partners they met online and lost significant sums of money through emotional manipulation and false promises. Featured victims include Priya, who lost £100,000 including family heirlooms to a fraudster, and Suzanne from Hertfordshire, who lost £20,000 to a man she dated. The five-part series aims to raise awareness of romance scams and encourage survivors to recognize warning signs and seek help.
wibc.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns against online romance scams, in which fraudsters create fake profiles to build trust with victims before requesting money for emergencies, visits, or weddings—with victims sometimes losing tens of thousands of dollars. The scammers use seemingly legitimate relationships and emotional manipulation to make detection difficult, though red flags include requests for bank information, excuses to move off dating platforms, and inability to meet in person. The FBI recommends verifying profiles through image searches, moving slowly in online relationships, and never sending money to people contacted only online or by phone.
www3.erie.gov
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams involve fraudsters creating fake online dating profiles to build romantic relationships and eventually request money from victims. Red flags include requests for urgent payments, use of untraceable payment methods, claims of living abroad or military service, reluctance to meet in person, and rapid relationship escalation. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, romance scam victims lost over $600 million in 2020 alone, and victims should immediately cease contact, document evidence, report to law enforcement and the FTC, and alert the dating platform.
kristv.com
· 2025-12-08
First Community Bank of Corpus Christi issued a Valentine's Day warning about romance scams, which use fake online profiles on dating apps and social media to exploit victims financially. The advisory identifies key warning signs—including requests for money, inconsistent details, rapid declarations of love, and excuses to avoid in-person meetings—and recommends victims verify identities, remain skeptical of unusual requests, and report incidents to the Federal Trade Commission.
sunstar.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
The Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit-Davao Region intensified awareness campaigns against romance scams, particularly in February when Valentine's Day increases vulnerability. Police reported two romance scam cases in 2024, where scammers use social media and dating apps to build romantic relationships with victims before requesting money and personal information, with potential criminal charges including estafa and violations of anti-violence and cybercrime laws. Authorities advised the public to distrust unsolicited romantic advances from strangers and urged victims to report incidents immediately.
dallasobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
In May 2024, an 86-year-old man nearly fell victim to an impersonation scam requesting a fraudulent electronic funds transfer, an experience that inspired his 15-year-old granddaughter, Tejasvi Manoj, to develop Shield Seniors—a web application designed to protect senior citizens from cyber fraud. The platform features educational content, an AI chatbot, email/text analysis tools, and scam reporting resources, all with senior-friendly design elements, and earned an honorable mention in the Congressional App Challenge in November 2024. Cyber fraud cost elderly Americans over $3.4 billion in 2023, with romance scams alone accounting for $
bucksherald.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
The Thames Valley region reported 1,401 online dating scams over five years, with victims losing an average of over £10,000 each, according to Action Fraud data. Reports increased from 274 in 2020 to a peak of 313 in 2022, with victims spanning all age groups but concentrated among those aged 50-59, and nearly evenly split between men (49%) and women (51%). Action Fraud warns residents to exercise caution on dating apps, particularly around Valentine's Day, and notes that romance fraud carries significant psychological impacts beyond financial loss.
northfortynews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office warns Northern Colorado residents about 13 emerging scams in 2025, including cryptocurrency investment fraud, fake security warnings, rental and car buying scams on online marketplaces, romance schemes, and impersonation of law enforcement or government agencies. Common tactics involve pressure, secrecy, and requests for untraceable payments via Bitcoin, wire transfers, or gift cards. The advisory recommends verifying all financial transactions with official sources, never sending money to unknown parties, and treating urgent demands with skepticism.
sundancetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Social Security Administration (SSA) public affairs specialist outlined four key warning signs of scams: impersonation of trusted organizations, claims of problems or prizes, pressure for immediate action, and requests for payment via gift cards. The episode featured testimony from scam survivor Kate Kleinert, who lost $39,000 to a romance scam, and provided resources for recognizing and reporting scams through the SSA's website.
ladailypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization (LARSO) launched the Scam Awareness for Elders (S.A.F.E.) initiative with a kickoff event on January 29, 2025, attended by 85 people, featuring a screening of the film "Thelma" and a scam prevention presentation by FBI Special Agent Ryan Davis. The spring 2025 program includes workshops on romance scams, AI literacy, and a book club focused on scam prevention, all offered free to the community through funding from the Non-Metro New Mexico Area Agency on Aging.
rbcroyalbank.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams remain one of the leading fraud schemes globally, with losses rising significantly through the 2020s and online dating scams increasing 72% in the past year. The article provides protective strategies including limiting personal information shared on social media, recognizing common red flags (such as overly perfect profiles, quick declarations of affection, requests for money, or excuses to avoid in-person meetings), and involving trusted friends and family to identify potential scams. Romance scammers exploit emotional vulnerability by researching victims' interests and using coordinated tactics to manipulate people into sending money, causing both financial and emotional harm.
wisbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
With Valentine's Day spending projected to reach nearly $26 billion, the Better Business Bureau warns consumers about four common scams: impostor websites offering counterfeit jewelry and fake dating platforms, romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals who can lose thousands of dollars, wrong number text scams designed to harvest personal information, and fake florist schemes that deliver nothing or substandard arrangements. Consumers should watch for red flags such as extreme discounts, requests for cash transfers or cryptocurrency, fast-moving relationships, and unverifiable business credentials, and should report suspected scams to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
wsmv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns of romance scams targeting people around Valentine's Day, in which scammers create fake dating profiles (often posing as military members or overseas workers) to build emotional connections with victims before requesting money for fabricated financial crises. Red flags include profiles that seem perfect, requests to move communication off dating platforms quickly, early declarations of love, avoidance of in-person meetings, and requests for money. The BBB recommends verifying information through reverse-image searches, discussing potential matches with trusted friends and family, and reporting suspicious profiles to BBB.org/Scamtracker.
kdsm17.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Romance scams are increasing, with fraudsters exploiting emotional vulnerabilities to manipulate victims into sending money. Key protective measures include being cautious of rapid declarations of love, watching for red flags like requests for personal information or avoidance of in-person meetings, remaining vigilant against AI-generated fake personas, never sending money to strangers, and consulting trusted friends or family before making financial decisions.
liteonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams spike around Valentine's Day, with scammers targeting vulnerable individuals—particularly recently divorced or widowed seniors—through fake online profiles on dating apps and social media. Over 70,000 Americans fall victim to these "confidence schemes" annually, losing a collective $75 billion over four years through requests for money via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. Homeland Security advises recognizing warning signs such as claims of being abroad, love-bombing, avoiding video calls, and requests for explicit photos, and recommends victims immediately cut contact, refuse financial requests, and report the scammer to the platform.
kfvs12.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are increasing in 2025, with scammers using AI and cryptocurrency to target vulnerable populations, particularly people over 65. According to the Better Business Bureau, more than 500 people reported romance fraud in 2024 with a median loss exceeding $6,000 per victim, and one recent case involved a man losing $3,000 to an AI chatbot scam. Red flags include refusal to meet in person, stolen or AI-generated profile images, and requests for cryptocurrency payments, which leave no trace once transferred.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau issued a warning about romance scams in advance of Valentine's Day. The alert aims to alert consumers to the increased risk of fraudulent dating schemes during the holiday season when romantic gestures and financial exchanges are more common.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost victims over a billion dollars annually and typically begin with a scammer initiating contact through text or dating apps, building trust over time, and then requesting money, gift cards, or bank account information under false pretenses such as military deployment or travel expenses. Common red flags include stolen profile photos (which can be identified through reverse image searches), requests to move conversations off dating platforms, and inconsistencies in stories. To protect yourself, use unique dating app photos, avoid connecting with people who have no mutual friends, inform trusted contacts about new online connections, and conduct reverse image searches on suspicious profiles.
wrdw.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost victims over a billion dollars annually, with scammers using tactics like the "meet-cute" text and military impersonation to build trust before requesting money or financial information, sometimes defrauding victims of tens of thousands of dollars. To protect yourself, use reverse image searches to verify photos, avoid using dating app photos from social media, and consult friends and family about new online contacts, as anyone—from young people targeted in sextortion schemes to lonely older adults—can fall victim to these increasingly sophisticated scams.
fbi.gov
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Philadelphia Field Office warns that romance scammers operate year-round by creating fake online identities to build trust with victims and manipulate them into sending money or personal information. Scammers often escalate these schemes by promising lucrative cryptocurrency investment opportunities through fraudulent websites, then deny withdrawal requests and demand additional fees before disappearing with victims' funds. The FBI advises people to verify online dating profiles, avoid sending money to online contacts, move slowly in relationships, and report suspected scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
wgem.com
· 2025-12-08
The Springfield FBI raised awareness about romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, noting that victims lost over $650 million nationally to such scams in 2023, with $19 million of those losses occurring in Illinois. A Clark County resident lost $30,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a woman online, and the FBI highlighted common red flags including requests for money, fake photos, quick professions of love, and false emergencies. The agency recommends victims stop contact immediately, never send money to online contacts they haven't met in person, and report incidents to FBI Springfield at 217-522-9675.
mynews4.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service issued a Valentine's Day alert about romance scams, which involve fraudsters creating fake identities online to build trust with victims before requesting money through mail, wire transfers, or gift cards for fabricated emergencies. The agencies recommend victims avoid relationships that escalate quickly or involve avoidance of video calls, never send money to online contacts, and report suspected scams to USPIS, local law enforcement, or the FTC.
wandtv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The FBI Springfield office warned the public about romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, noting that criminals use fake identities on dating websites and social media to establish trust with victims before exploiting them financially. Illinois residents lost nearly $19 million to romance scams in 2023, with nationwide losses totaling $652.5 million that year. The FBI provided warning signs including requests to move off dating platforms, quick professions of love, claims of overseas locations, and requests for money, urging people to take their time vetting potential online partners and report suspected scams immediately.
abc7ny.com
· 2025-12-08
A Connecticut woman lost nearly $1 million in a romance scam after meeting someone on the dating app BLK who posed as a widower and eventually convinced her to invest in cryptocurrency. The scammer used a stolen photo, love-bombed the victim over months of phone calls (never video chatting), and showed fake screenshots of profitable crypto investments to encourage larger deposits, ultimately draining her 401K. Experts warn that staying on dating platform messaging systems, never sending money to unmet contacts, and requesting video verification are key ways to avoid such scams.
news.clemson.edu
· 2025-12-08
The Clemson University Police Department warns of multiple scam tactics targeting people around Valentine's Day, including romance scams (where scammers quickly profess love and request money), fake gift/flower websites that steal credit card information, phishing emails with malware, fraudulent dating app profiles, and counterfeit event ticket sales. The department recommends never sending money to online contacts you haven't met in person, purchasing only from reputable retailers, avoiding suspicious links and attachments, enabling two-factor authentication, and verifying all communications before responding. Victims should report suspected scams to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
medicinehatnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicine Hat is experiencing rising reports of scams targeting seniors, including the Grandparent Scam, romance scams, and phishing schemes, with 78% of adults aged 65 and older having encountered at least one fraud attempt. The Veiner Centre partnered with Reality Bytes Inc. to offer a February 13 presentation on identifying and preventing fraud, and highlighted its Elder Abuse Outreach team that provides assessment, support, and case management to seniors experiencing financial abuse, some of whom have lost their life savings.
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for operating a gift card fraud scheme based in China that targeted U.S. citizens through romance and elder fraud schemes to obtain gift cards, which they then used to purchase high-value electronics for shipment to Asia. Naxin Wu, Mengying Jiang, and Mingdong Chen, operating as a cell in New Hampshire, were responsible for $1.4 million, $3 million, and $400,000 in fraudulent gift card purchases respectively, with sentencing scheduled for April 2025. The investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed that organized crime groups acquire gift cards through hacking and fraud schemes, then exploit no-sales-
philstarlife.com
· 2025-12-08
A Thai-British beauty queen lost 4 million baht after two scammers, Ramil Pantawong and 31, and Thanawut Kanyaphanthe, 28, impersonated Thai Department of Special Investigation officers and falsely accused her of money laundering to trick her into transferring funds. The two suspects were arrested as part of a 50-member gang operating from Cambodia that used AI technology to alter their faces during video calls and had victimized at least 163 people with similar schemes involving fake narcotics and money-laundering accusations. The suspects revealed they had been recruited under false pretenses and forced to work for Chinese gang leaders who controlled the operation through threats