Search

Explore the Archive

Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.

374 results in Inheritance Scam
manxradio.com · 2025-12-08
The Isle of Man Cyber Security Centre reported a surge in digital fraud from March to April, including over 700 suspicious emails, advance fee scams, phishing attempts, and impersonation schemes targeting residents and businesses through fake websites and social media accounts. Notable cases included a romance scam that escalated to sextortion (£1,500 + £4,000 demanded), deepfake videos impersonating politicians promoting cryptocurrency fraud, business invoice fraud costing £9,000, and marketplace scams resulting in losses ranging from £850 to £965. The Centre advised residents to verify financial claims through official sources and businesses to rely on their own websites rather than social media platforms where impersonation
bitcoinke.io · 2025-12-08
A 25-year-old woman and her 22-year-old brother in Lagos were arrested for orchestrating a romance fraud scheme that resulted in the theft of three iPhones and $10,000 worth of bitcoin from the victim, with authorities recovering $4,300 in cash and still pursuing additional accomplices. The case exemplifies a growing trend of romance-based cryptocurrency scams in Nigeria and globally, where perpetrators exploit emotional trust to steal digital assets that are difficult to trace and reverse. The article emphasizes that cryptocurrency's anonymity, speed, and lack of traceability make it an attractive tool for fraudsters, and recommends victims avoid sharing crypto wallet information, resist emotional pressure to sen
justice.gov · 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office co-hosted the 3rd Annual Walk for Awareness in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 11, 2025, ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, to raise awareness about financial, physical, and emotional abuse affecting seniors. According to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crimes Report, adults over 60 suffered $4.8 billion in financial losses and filed 147,127 complaints, with investment fraud, tech support scams, romance scams, and government impersonation being the most common schemes. The U.S. Attorney's Office has prosecuted multiple elder fraud cases involving millions of dollars and continues partnering with community organizations to
Romance Scam Investment Fraud Inheritance Scam Lottery/Prize Scam Government Impersonation Gift Cards Bank Transfer Money Order / Western Union
trt.global · 2025-12-08
Nine Chinese nationals were convicted in Lagos, Nigeria and sentenced to one year in prison plus fines of approximately $630 each for their involvement in cryptocurrency investment and romance scams targeting international victims. The arrests were part of a December raid on a fraud operation in Victoria Island that netted 792 suspects total, with authorities seizing computers, mobile phones, and other equipment used in the scheme. The gang recruited Nigerian accomplices to conduct phishing scams primarily targeting Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and Europeans.
thestar.co.za · 2025-12-08
Nigerian national Gabriel Okori was arrested in Cape Town in October and charged with defrauding a woman of R3 million through a romance scam, where he posed as a white man named "Mark Hermanus" on Facebook and WhatsApp, repeatedly requesting money under the pretense of paying for his sick son's medical bills. Okori was released on R5,000 bail and his case was postponed to January 16, 2025. The arrest is part of a broader pattern of romance scams targeting South African women, often leaving victims financially devastated and emotionally traumatized.
jamaicaobserver.com · 2025-12-08
Matthew Ejike Nwachukwu, a Nigerian national, was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in coordinating romance and package delivery scams that defrauded multiple Guyanese victims of millions of dollars in 2022. Operating as a local accomplice to a German-based mastermind, Nwachukwu facilitated the collection of fraudulent payments, including one victim who paid GUY$155,000 after being deceived into believing she would receive valuable packages containing diamonds. Authorities continue investigating to apprehend the German ringleader and other accomplices involved in the broader scam network operating in Guyana.
stabroeknews.com · 2025-12-08
Nigerian national Matthew Ejike Nwachukwu was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony and sentenced to three years imprisonment for his role in a romance scam, in which a victim was deceived by a fake German partner into paying $155,000 at a Guyana post office for non-existent packages containing diamonds and valuables. Nwachukwu acted as a local agent for the scheme's mastermind, arranging the collection of fraudulent payments from the victim. Authorities continue investigating the broader romance scam operation and attempting to apprehend the German mastermind and additional accomplices.
jamaica-gleaner.com · 2025-12-08
Matthew Ejike Nwachukwu, a Nigerian man in Guyana, was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in orchestrating romance and package delivery scams that defrauded multiple Guyanese victims of millions of dollars in 2022. Working as a local accomplice to a German-based mastermind, Nwachukwu coordinated agents to collect money from victims who were lured into fake romantic relationships and told to pay fees to claim valuable packages containing items like diamonds. Authorities continue investigating to apprehend the overseas ringleader and other accomplices involved in the broader scam network.
news.yahoo.com · 2025-12-08
Cybercrime scams cost Americans $12.5 billion last year, with sophisticated criminal networks operating from Southeast Asia using psychological manipulation tactics across romance scams, investment fraud, and payment platforms to target vulnerable victims. The article argues that current U.S. law enforcement strategies are inadequate and proposes three solutions: increased investment in specialized cyber crime units, streamlined coordination between federal agencies like the FBI's IC3, and diplomatic pressure against criminal networks operating internationally.
justice.gov · 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a reinvigorated effort to combat transnational elder fraud schemes that cost billions of dollars annually, with several recent prosecutions targeting romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Key cases included Troy Murray, who pleaded guilty to selling a database of over 7 million elderly Americans' personal information to Jamaican lottery scammers, and his son Cutter Murray, who pleaded guilty to money laundering $1.6 million in fraudulent proceeds; other defendants were charged for operating Jamaica-based lottery fraud schemes that defrauded seniors across the country, with one victim losing over $400,
Romance Scam Crypto Investment Scam Investment Fraud Inheritance Scam Lottery/Prize Scam Cryptocurrency Wire Transfer Cash Check/Cashier's Check
gazettengr.com · 2025-12-08
Five Nigerian fraudsters were sentenced to a combined 129 years in prison for operating a transnational scam that defrauded at least 100 victims—predominantly elderly—of over $17 million through romance scams, business email compromise schemes, and investment fraud between January 2017 and their arrest. The gang laundered the stolen funds through bank accounts and businesses in Africa and Asia, with some victims losing their life savings and being unable to recover financially.
smnewsnet.com · 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice announced reinvigorated efforts to combat transnational elder fraud schemes costing billions of dollars, with recent prosecutions targeting romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Key cases include Troy Murray, who sold a database of over seven million elderly Americans' personal information to Jamaican lottery fraudsters and laundered $1.6 million in proceeds, and Dennis Anderson and Frank Angelori, who brokered lead lists to Jamaica-based scammers from 2015-2020. Individual victims lost significant sums, with one Arizona victim losing over $400,000 to a lottery fraud scheme.
Romance Scam Crypto Investment Scam Investment Fraud Inheritance Scam Lottery/Prize Scam Cryptocurrency Wire Transfer Cash Check/Cashier's Check
ghanaweb.com · 2025-12-08
Ghanaian businessman Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng and multiple associates have been charged in coordinated U.S. federal prosecutions for operating transnational romance and inheritance scams targeting elderly Americans between 2013 and 2024. Boateng allegedly led a decade-long scheme convincing seniors they could claim gold and jewels if they paid fabricated taxes and fees, while related defendants in Ohio and elsewhere defrauded elderly victims through fake romantic relationships and fraudulent business deals, laundering proceeds to Ghana and other countries. These cases represent part of a broader Department of Justice crackdown on international fraud networks preying on seniors, announced in conjunction with World Elder
news.yahoo.com · 2025-12-08
Otaniyen Iduozee, a Nigerian citizen on a student visa, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for laundering millions of dollars obtained through romance scams targeting vulnerable Americans, primarily elderly and isolated individuals. Iduozee controlled fraudulent bank accounts and funneled victim money through various transactions to Nigeria, playing a central role in the money laundering operation. Upon completing his sentence, he has agreed to be deported from the United States.
graphic.com.gh · 2025-12-08
Three separate indictments targeting Ghanaian nationals were unsealed in U.S. federal courts as part of a crackdown on transnational romance fraud schemes targeting elderly Americans. The cases involve multiple defendants accused of operating romance and inheritance scams from 2013 to 2024, using fake romantic engagements and false promises of wealth to defraud seniors of large sums of money, with proceeds laundered through Ghana and other locations. Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng was arrested in Ghana and faces extradition, while other defendants face wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges.
ynaija.com · 2025-12-08
**Summary:** "The TikTok Scammer" is a documentary by Chude Jideonwo that exposes romance scams perpetrated on social media, following the story of an American man named Jlove who used TikTok to deceive Nigerian women under false pretenses. One victim, Jasmine Okafor, lost $13,000 and even married the scammer after he borrowed money from her mother for wedding attire, while another victim named Lola defended him despite warnings. The documentary illustrates how dating apps and social media have become tools for cross-border romance scams that exploit emotional vulnerability and trust.
3newsnow.com · 2025-12-08
Reports of AI-enabled scams surged 456 percent between May 2024 and April 2025, with predicted generative AI-driven fraud losses in the US potentially exceeding $40 billion by 2027. Dr. Victor Winter, a computer science expert at the University of Nebraska Omaha, explains that AI now enables attackers to conduct sophisticated, personalized phishing attacks at scale—including voice duplication and deepfake videos—making scams harder to detect. Key protective measures include never clicking links or responding to calls without independently confirming the sender's identity, and using "safe words" or personal information that AI cannot access to verify legitimate contacts.
foxnews.com · 2025-12-08
Modern scams increasingly use AI voice cloning, fake bank alerts, cryptocurrency schemes, gold bar frauds, and pet emergencies to deceive victims out of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Notable cases include a man who lost $25,000 to an AI voice clone impersonating his son, another who lost $300,000 to a fake bank freeze scam, and a retiree defrauded of $3.1 million in a gold bar scheme. Protective measures include verifying caller identity through direct contact, accessing bank accounts independently rather than through provided links, avoiding investment opportunities from social media strangers, and recognizing that legitimate law enforcement does not request money transfers or asset convers
pa.gov · 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania state agencies warned residents about a fake inheritance scam targeting older adults, in which scammers impersonated Commonwealth employees via spoofed emails claiming a distant relative had left money and demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars in upfront fees to release the funds. Officials stressed that legitimate Pennsylvania agencies use @pa.gov email addresses, will not demand quick action or secrecy, and urged residents to verify requests with trusted contacts before responding.
justice.gov · 2025-12-08
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to his role in a romance scam that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million between 2016 and 2019. Nwadavid created fake online profiles to gain victims' trust, then directed them to send money under false pretenses, using a Massachusetts resident as an intermediary to transfer funds through cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. He faces sentencing on September 23, 2025, on charges of mail fraud and money laundering, with potential penalties including up to 20 years in prison and deportation.
fox26houston.com · 2025-12-08
A Nigerian national, Darlington Akporugo (47), and his wife, Jasmin Sood (37), both residents of Houston, were sentenced to federal prison—188 months and 121 months respectively—for operating a nationwide romance scam that defrauded over 25 elderly victims of $3.1 million. The couple used fake social media identities to build trust with victims, primarily older women and widows, then manipulated them into sending money for nonexistent businesses and fabricated emergencies, while Sood created fake businesses and bank accounts to launder the funds. Both must pay full restitution of $3,123,073
citizensvoice.com · 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania officials warned of an email scam targeting older residents, in which fraudsters impersonate state employees and claim recipients have inherited large sums from distant foreign relatives, then request hundreds of thousands of dollars in upfront fees to release the funds. The scammers use spoofed email addresses resembling official state accounts and create false urgency to pressure victims into quick payments. Officials advise recipients to verify sender email addresses (legitimate PA state emails end in @pa.gov), avoid responding to unsolicited money offers, and contact trusted family members or local Area Agencies on Aging before engaging with unknown individuals making financial offers.
news.shib.io · 2025-12-08
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to stealing over $2.5 million from six victims through romance scams between 2016 and 2019, laundering the funds through cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. Nwadavid manipulated victims into sending money via fake dating profiles and romantic relationships, then transferred the stolen funds through a Massachusetts resident accomplice into crypto wallets on LocalBitcoins. He faces up to 20 years in prison on mail fraud and money laundering charges, along with potential deportation.
guardian.ng · 2025-12-08
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a Nigerian man, pleaded guilty to operating a romance scam that defrauded six U.S. victims of over $2.5 million, which he converted into cryptocurrency through accounts under his control. Arrested in April 2025 after arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Nwadavid admitted to mail fraud and money laundering charges, using one victim from Massachusetts as a conduit to receive and transfer funds from five other victims. He faces up to 20 years in prison, fines up to $250,000-$500,000, restitution, and potential deportation to Nigeria upon sentencing.
fallriverreporter.com · 2025-12-08
A 35-year-old Nigerian national pleaded guilty in federal court to orchestrating romance scams that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million between 2016 and 2019, using fake dating profiles to manipulate victims into sending money that was funneled through cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. He was arrested in April 2025 at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and faces up to 20 years in prison on mail fraud charges and up to 20 years on each money laundering charge, with sentencing scheduled for September 23, 2025, followed by deportation.
aol.com · 2025-12-08
Nigerian national Charles Uchenna Nwadavid pleaded guilty to orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million, using fake online profiles to build trust before requesting money for fabricated emergencies like inheritances and medical crises. One Massachusetts resident was manipulated into serving as a money conduit, receiving funds from five other victims across the U.S. and transferring the collective $2.5 million to Nwadavid through cryptocurrency transactions on LocalBitcoins. Nwadavid was arrested in April 2025 upon arrival at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and faces up to 20 years in prison on
punchng.com · 2025-12-08
Charles Nwadavid, a 35-year-old Nigerian businessman, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering for his role in romance scams that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million between 2016 and 2019. He used a Massachusetts victim as an intermediary to receive funds from victims across the United States, then converted the money through cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. Nwadavid faces sentencing on September 23, 2025, with potential penalties including up to 40 years in prison, a $750,000 fine, and deportation.
khak.com · 2025-12-08
33-year-old Ridwan Adeleke Adepoju, a Nigerian scam mastermind, was captured in the UK and extradited to the United States, where he pleaded guilty to operating a years-long fraud scheme involving phishing scams, romance scams, and fraudulent tax returns targeting multiple victims. He was sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison by a U.S. judge in the Northern District of Illinois.
ghanaweb.com · 2025-12-08
Ghanaian businessman Joseph Badu Boateng, known as Dada Joe Remix, was extradited to the United States to face charges for orchestrating a romance and inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded victims of over $100 million between 2013 and 2023, primarily targeting elderly Americans. Boateng and his network used fake online profiles posing as romantic partners and promised access to nonexistent gold and jewelry to manipulate victims into sending money for fabricated fees and taxes. He now faces federal prosecution in Arizona on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering, following a collaborative investigation by the FBI, U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, an
citinewsroom.com · 2025-12-08
Joseph Badu Boateng, a Ghana-based fraud operator, was extradited to the United States with assistance from DSS agents at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana and Ghanaian authorities to face charges related to romance and inheritance scams that defrauded American victims of several million dollars. The extradition represents a coordinated international law enforcement effort to combat transnational internet-based financial fraud schemes targeting vulnerable individuals.
ghanaweb.com · 2025-12-08
Ghanaian businessman Joseph Badu Boateng was extradited to the United States to face charges for orchestrating a romance and inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded victims of over $100 million between 2013 and 2023, primarily targeting elderly Americans. Boateng and his network used fake online profiles to manipulate victims into sending money under false pretenses, including fabricated inheritance claims and promises of gold and jewelry access. He faces federal charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering and will stand trial in Arizona.
bbc.com · 2025-12-08
Joseph Badu Boateng, a prominent Ghanaian businessman known as "Dada Joe Remix," was extradited to the United States on July 1, 2025, to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering for operating a romance and inheritance scam targeting elderly Americans. Between 2013 and March 2023, Boateng and his co-conspirators defrauded US victims of millions of dollars by falsely claiming to possess gold and jewels that required payment of taxes and fees to release. He is one of ten Ghanaians pursued by US authorities as part of a broader crackdown on transnational fraud schemes, with arrests coor
justice.gov · 2025-12-08
Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, a Ghanaian national, was extradited to the United States in June 2025 to face charges for participating in a romance and inheritance fraud scheme targeting elderly victims worldwide from 2013 to March 2023. The scheme involved Boateng and co-conspirators posing as romantic interests and falsely claiming to possess gold and jewels that required payment of taxes and fees to release. Boateng faces charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, each carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
lemonde.fr · 2025-12-08
A Nigerian romance scammer named Ben, who previously repaired generators, explains his operation targeting victims thousands of kilometers away by building trust through constant communication and emotional manipulation. Romance scams are described as one of the most widespread online frauds in Nigeria, with perpetrators systematically gaining victims' confidence before exploitation. The scammer details his deliberate tactics of monitoring victims' daily activities and expressing romantic interest to establish the trust necessary for financial fraud.
justice.gov · 2025-12-08
Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming victims were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from overseas relatives, then requesting upfront fees for delivery and taxes before victims could receive the funds. Akhimie faces up to 20 years in prison, and seven co-conspirators from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Nigeria have also been convicted in connection with this international fraud operation.
punchng.com · 2025-12-08
Ehis Akhimie, a 41-year-old Nigerian man, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for his role in a transnational inheritance scam that defrauded over 400 elderly Americans of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending fake letters claiming victims were beneficiaries of multimillion-dollar inheritances from Spanish relatives and demanding upfront fees for processing and delivery. Akhimie, who faces up to 20 years in prison, worked with international accomplices and money mules to receive and launder stolen funds, with law enforcement from the U.S., UK, Spain, Portugal, and Nigeria collaborating to
databreaches.net · 2025-12-08
A Nigerian national pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 vulnerable and elderly U.S. victims of more than $6 million. Ehis Lawrence Akhimie and his conspirators sent personalized letters falsely claiming victims had inherited millions from deceased overseas relatives, then solicited upfront payments for delivery fees and taxes that victims never received. This case represents coordinated international prosecution involving U.S., UK, and Spanish authorities, with Akhimie facing up to 20 years imprisonment and seven co-conspirators previously convicted.
cw34.com · 2025-12-08
Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a 41-year-old Nigerian man, pleaded guilty to orchestrating an inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million by sending false letters claiming they were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances and requesting upfront fees for taxes and delivery charges. Akhimie was part of an international criminal network that recruited former victims to funnel payments, and his plea follows seven prior convictions of co-conspirators extradited from multiple countries, with sentences ranging from 82 to 128 months. He now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
ainvest.com · 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service has seized $225 million in cryptocurrency in a recent operation targeting romance and investment scams, bringing the total recovered over the past decade to $400 million. Scammers typically lure victims through fake cryptocurrency investment websites that show false profits to build trust before disappearing with deposited funds, sometimes targeting vulnerable individuals like teenagers for sextortion schemes. The Secret Service's Global Investigative Operations Center works with over 60 countries to trace fraudulent assets and dismantle international scam networks, demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement in combating digital fraud.
dallasexpress.com · 2025-12-08
Darlington Akporugo, 47, and his wife Jasmin Sood, 37, were sentenced to 188 and 121 months in federal prison, respectively, for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded elderly Americans—primarily widows—of more than $3 million. Akporugo posed as a romantic interest online using fake identities to convince victims to send money and purchase luxury items, including a vehicle and mansion that the couple used themselves; authorities identified over 25 victims across multiple states. Both defendants were ordered to repay the full stolen amount and serve three years of supervised release upon their release from prison.
thegeorgiavirtue.com · 2025-12-08
Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable U.S. consumers of more than $6 million. The scheme used personalized letters falsely claiming to be from Spanish bank representatives offering unclaimed inheritances, then requested upfront fees for delivery and taxes before victims could receive funds that never materialized. Akhimie faces up to 20 years imprisonment, and seven co-conspirators from Nigeria, Spain, and the United Kingdom have already been convicted and sentenced in connection with this international fraud ring.
grantspasstribune.com · 2025-12-08
Canadian national Gareth West was arrested and faces federal charges for allegedly masterminding a $30 million telemarketing scam targeting seniors across 46 states through fake investment offers, sweepstakes claims, and impersonation of attorneys and federal agents. The sophisticated operation exploited vulnerable elderly individuals living alone or with cognitive decline, leaving many victims destitute and losing their homes and retirement savings. West laundered millions through offshore accounts and cryptocurrency, with additional accomplices under investigation and authorities urging families to monitor elderly relatives and report suspicious communications to the FTC or law enforcement.
ainvest.com · 2025-12-08
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old, admitted to orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded at least six women across multiple states of millions of dollars by posing as different men (including "Williams Moore" and "Manuel Sykes") claiming to need financial help due to oil rig injuries. Victims from Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Kansas were manipulated into opening cryptocurrency accounts and transferring funds totaling millions, with individual losses ranging from $235,000 to $896,000, which Nwadavid then laundered through his own Bitcoin wallets. The case reflects a broader trend of romance fraud, with the
yahoo.com · 2025-12-08
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old married Nigerian real estate worker, pleaded guilty to running a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded six women across Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Kansas of approximately $1.88 million between January and June 2019. Using fake identities, he posed as men working on oil rigs or in overseas positions, love-bombing vulnerable victims and convincing them to send money for medical emergencies or travel expenses, with one victim losing over $896,000. The case reflects a broader epidemic of romance scams targeting older adults, with the FBI reporting nearly 18,000 complaints in 2024
fortune.com · 2025-12-08
A 35-year-old Nigerian man, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, pleaded guilty to operating a romance scam that defrauded six women across Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Kansas of approximately $1.88 million between 2019 and 2024. Using fake identities such as "Williams Moore," "Manuel Sykes," and "Edward Nowak," Nwadavid posed as an oil rig worker and other professionals to build romantic relationships with vulnerable women online, then solicited money under false pretenses including medical emergencies and inheritance claims. The case highlights the growing threat of romance scams targeting women over 60, which
signalscv.com · 2025-12-08
Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, a 41-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming to represent Spanish banks and promising nonexistent inheritances, then convincing victims to send upfront fees for taxes and delivery costs through a network of U.S.-based intermediaries. Akhimie faces a maximum 20-year prison sentence, and the case highlights the broader crisis of elder fraud in the U.S., with 147,127 complaints totaling $4.
capeargus.co.za · 2025-12-08
Two suspects, aged 26 and 22, were arrested in the Western Cape by the Hawks' 419 Scam Task Team in connection with a romance scam in which a middle-aged woman lost over R3.4 million after being deceived by an online fraudster posing as a white man named Mark Hermanus who claimed his son was sick. Five suspects total have been arrested in this case, with the arrested individuals facing charges of fraud and money laundering. The article also highlights similar romance scams targeting older and middle-aged individuals, including cases where victims lost R650,000 and R24 million respectively.
dallasnews.com · 2025-12-08
This article reflects on how scams have evolved over the past 20 years, using a 2006 book called "Scamorama" as a reference point. The classic Nigerian 419 scam—featuring poorly written letters promising large sums of money in exchange for small fees—was relatively easy to identify and became the subject of "scam baiting," where victims would intentionally waste scammers' time with absurd requests. Today's scams are far more sophisticated, utilizing artificial intelligence to eliminate grammatical errors and leveraging modern technologies like text messaging, social media, and cryptocurrency, making them significantly more difficult to detect and more effective at defrauding victims.
Inheritance Scam Phishing Identity Theft Robocall / Phone Scam Cryptocurrency Gift Cards Money Order / Western Union
investor.gov · 2025-12-08
This educational piece describes five common investment scams targeting investors: relationship investment scams (building trust through romance or friendship), advance fee fraud (demanding upfront payments before fund release), impersonation schemes (falsely claiming to be SEC officials or legitimate firms), and stock tip scams (promoting stocks on social media to artificially inflate prices). Scammers typically use social media and messaging apps to build trust, pressure victims into fraudulent investments or phony accounts, then steal funds or demand additional fees for supposed account access or loss recovery. Victims can report suspected investment scams to the SEC, FBI, FTC, state securities regulators, or state attorneys general.
dallasnews.com · 2025-12-08
In 2024, seniors aged 65 and older reported nearly $4.9 billion in losses to financial scams—a 43% increase from the previous year—with Texas seniors alone filing over 9,473 complaints averaging $489,000 in losses each. Seniors are targeted because they control significant national wealth and often struggle to keep pace with technology, making them vulnerable to romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation, and investment fraud. Family members and caregivers can help protect seniors by monitoring account activity, maintaining open communication about financial matters, and encouraging consultation before large transactions, while laws like the 2017 Elder Abuse Prevention