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▶ VIDEO
Bangkok Post
· 2025-09-08
This episode from the Bangkok Post examines Thailand's growing cyber scam epidemic, which has expanded into a trillion-dollar industry over the past three years as both scammer and victim numbers have surged. The content outlines common scam tactics including advance-fee schemes (fake Nigerian prince emails), phishing attacks impersonating banks and government agencies to steal identity and funds, and tech support scams where fraudsters pose as Microsoft to gain computer access. The episode illustrates how modern cyber scams are adaptations of centuries-old swindle techniques now conducted through digital channels.
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FOX 32 Chicago
· 2025-09-08
AI-powered voice cloning scams are targeting seniors, with criminals using over 570 readily available tools that require only three to five seconds of audio to create convincing voice replicas of loved ones. Cases like a grandmother in Philadelphia have resulted in financial losses as scammers impersonate family members to manipulate victims into sending money. The technology has evolved dramatically, making it far easier for attackers to exploit publicly available voice samples from social media, voicemail greetings, and other online sources.
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13WHAM ABC News
· 2025-09-17
Eight suspects were charged federally for operating fraud schemes targeting over 139 senior citizens across Western New York, resulting in approximately $11 million in losses. The schemes employed multiple tactics including romance scams, account hacking, and identity theft, and were dismantled by a newly formed Department of Justice task force based in Rochester.
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ABC News (Australia)
· 2025-09-18
Donna Nelson was arrested at a Japanese airport in January 2023 with 2 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in her suitcase lining while traveling to meet a man she planned to marry. Nelson claims she was a victim of a romance scam, having been deceived online for two years by the man who convinced her to travel to Asia. Her family maintains her innocence, stating she was manipulated into unknowingly transporting the drugs as part of the scam.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-09-18
Romance scams are surging, with Barclays data showing a 20% spike in the first quarter compared to the previous year, primarily originating on social media and online dating platforms. A Northeast Ohio woman's ex-husband, a nursing home resident seeking companionship, lost tens of thousands of dollars after meeting someone on TikTok who claimed to be visiting from Michigan, illustrating how quickly these scams escalate from initial contact to financial exploitation.
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KELOLAND News
· 2025-09-22
Relationship scams are on the rise, with multiple victims losing substantial sums—including one person who lost nearly her entire retirement savings and another who lost tens of thousands of dollars. Key warning signs include requests for money from someone you've never met in person, demands for untraceable payment methods like Bitcoin or gift cards, promises of future money or relationships, and persistent excuses for why they cannot meet in person.
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KREM 2 News
· 2025-09-23
A Nigerian man was extradited from the UK to face eight federal charges for allegedly defrauding Idahoans out of at least $2 million through romance and sextortion scams. He posed as a woman on social media to deceive male victims into sending explicit images, then threatened to share the photos with their families unless they paid. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
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WION
· 2025-09-25
Two US senators pressed Match Group, the parent company of dating apps Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid, to strengthen protections against romance scams on its platforms, requesting documentation of fraud detection policies by October 15th. Romance scams involve fraudsters creating fake profiles to build trust with victims over weeks or months before soliciting money or gifts, with the FBI reporting $672 million in losses from such scams globally last year. Match Group has previously faced regulatory scrutiny and has since implemented tools like face-check features to combat fake profiles and impersonation.
▶ VIDEO
Yahoo Finance
· 2025-10-04
An educational alert reports that 73% of US adults have experienced online scams, with reported fraud losses reaching $12.5 billion in 2024 according to FTC data. The article highlights common scam types, including dating scams where fraudsters pose as romantic interests and trick victims into clicking malicious "verification" links that capture payment information and enroll them in unauthorized recurring billing services.
capecodtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Robert Tobey, a Connecticut man with early-stage dementia, lost at least $5,000 to phone scammers between late 2018 and early 2019 who posed as friends, manipulating him into sending gift cards and money transfers and compromising his Social Security account. The article reports that scams affecting Cape Cod residents include romance scams, government impersonation schemes, sweepstakes scams, and grandchild-in-jail scams, with the National Council on Aging estimating five million older Americans lose $36.5 billion annually to fraud. Law enforcement warns that scams are constantly evolving and advise victims to hang up on suspicious calls
ourtownny.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI and FTC reported that romance scams cost Americans $740 million to $1.3 billion in 2022, with 19,000 to 70,000 reported cases involving victims who were manipulated into sending money to online romantic partners they never met in person. Scammers use fake personas tailored to victims' preferences and employ various pretexts—including fake emergencies, investment opportunities, and shipping fees—to extract money, relying on anonymity and victims' emotional vulnerability to evade law enforcement. The FBI advises online daters to verify profiles, watch for isolation tactics and money requests, and cease communication immediately with suspicious contacts.
theweek.com
· 2025-12-08
The UK government launched the "Stop! Think Fraud" campaign to address the £6.8 billion annual cost of fraud, which accounts for 40% of crime and 3.2 million offenses in England and Wales. The campaign consolidates fraud prevention advice from multiple agencies and directs victims to support resources, while highlighting key scams including parcel delivery tricks, loan fee fraud, and authorised push payment (APP) scams that stolen £239.3 million in the first half of 2023.
yakimaherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams have increasingly targeted younger age groups (people in their 20s and 30s) across dating apps and social media platforms, with reported losses reaching $469.9 million in 2023—a 104% increase from 2019. Scammers use fake profiles and AI-generated photos to build romantic connections before requesting money or personal information, exploiting victims' emotional vulnerability. To avoid romance scams, people should be wary of requests for money or banking details, watch for requests to switch communication platforms, and verify suspicious requests before responding.
gcsynod.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported 680 Arizona victims lost over $25.4 million to romance scams, with senior citizens accounting for 379 victims and $17.7 million in losses. Romance scams involve fraudsters building fake relationships to trick victims into sending money, personal information, or valuables. The FBI recommends verifying online suitors' identities, never sharing financial information or money with people met online, and watching for red flags such as reluctance to meet in person, requests to go offline quickly, or pressure to share inappropriate content.
toronto.ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to provide a summary of this article because the content provided only contains the title and a list of unrelated shopping articles. The actual article text about Canadians losing $50 million to romance scams in 2023 is not included. Please provide the full article content so I can create an accurate summary for the Elderus database.
ktre.com
· 2025-12-08
Homeland Security Investigations raised awareness about the growing threat of romance scams, which targeted approximately 70,000 victims in the U.S. in 2023, with 90% being adults over 60. Scammers typically initiate contact online, build trust over 1-3 months, then request money, often operating from overseas locations where law enforcement has limited recourse. The agency recommends protecting personal information, verifying identities through image searches, and reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
kiro7.com
· 2025-12-08
Rebecca D'Antonio lost $100,000 to a sophisticated romance scam orchestrated by an organized crime ring based in Nigeria, where a scammer posing as a Boston attorney gradually escalated requests for money through emotional manipulation and false emergencies. The FBI receives approximately 19,000 romance scam tips annually, with perpetrators operating like organized businesses using multiple people playing different roles to deceive vulnerable victims, often targeting lonely or divorced women. Experts advise never sending money to someone you haven't met in person and never sharing banking information with online contacts.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a meaningful summary as the text provided is only a navigation menu and header structure from a CBS News webpage, not an actual article. The only substantive information visible is the headline "Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022" with a subtitle noting that scammers continue using romance tactics beyond Valentine's Day. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article content.
thetelegraphandargus.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
West Yorkshire Police urged romance scam victims to come forward, emphasizing they are not alone and should not feel ashamed. In one documented case, an 83-year-old woman from Oldham lost over £20,000 to a scammer posing as an American millionaire widower whom she met playing online Scrabble. Victims are advised to contact their bank immediately and report the fraud to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040) or visit actionfraud.police.uk.
starherald.net
· 2025-12-08
Kate Kleinart, a 70-year-old victim, lost tens of thousands of dollars to a romance scam, reporting that the emotional loss of the fabricated relationship hurt more than the financial loss. The FTC received over 64,000 romance scam reports in the past year totaling $1.14 billion in losses, with scammers typically targeting lonely individuals by building false romantic connections before requesting money under false pretenses. Experts recommend protecting against these scams by: identifying red flags (exceptionally attractive profiles, quick romantic escalation, requests to use private messaging apps), using reverse image searches to verify photos, maintaining open family conversations about scams using an informative rather than authoritative
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Liza Likins, a former backup singer for Stevie Nicks, lost over $1 million in a romance scam on Facebook Dating after connecting with a man claiming to be named Donald living in Australia; she eventually sold her house to send him bail money before realizing it was a fraud. The scammer used photos stolen from German life coach Raho Bornhorst, who has discovered his images were used to create over 100 fake profiles targeting women. The FTC reported 70,000 romance scams in 2022 with $1.3 billion in losses, and experts advise users to avoid sending money to online contacts and to be suspicious of anyone
vancouver.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warned of rising "sugar dating" scams on Valentine's Day 2024, in which scammers pose as wealthy individuals on dating sites and social media to target younger people with financial difficulties, promising money in exchange for calls, photos, or dates. Victims of these romance scams may lose hundreds or thousands of dollars and experience significant emotional harm alongside financial loss. The BBB recommends six safety measures including meeting in public, vetting profiles, maintaining separate dating and social media accounts, and avoiding dependence on sugar dating as primary income.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-08
Seven people were indicted on federal charges for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of approximately $8 million between March 2018 and June 2019. The scheme, primarily operated by a Nigerian group known as the "Yahoo boys," involved creating fake online personas to build trust with victims—many of them elderly—before requesting money under false pretenses; the defendants in the U.S. (located in Texas, Canada, and Nigeria) and a group of "Utah Money Transmitters" facilitated money laundering by opening financial institution accounts to collect victim funds and distribute proceeds to the scammers overseas. Many victims lost their life savings and retirement funds in the scheme.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A British widow named Lyn lost $63,000 to a romance scammer who contacted her through a Facebook grief support group in 2020, posing as a widower named "Derek" who claimed to own a mineral company in Dubai. Over four months, the fraudster manipulated her into sending money for fabricated emergencies (employee injuries, hospital bills, hotel costs) and cryptocurrency transfers, using edited photos to create a false sense of intimacy despite never meeting in person. Police intervened in January 2021, and Lyn ultimately recovered her money; she now warns others about romance scammers who exploit vulnerable people through social media by building trust over time before requesting financial assistance
gazettengr.com
· 2025-12-08
Seven defendants across the United States and Nigeria were indicted for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of approximately $8 million between March 2018 and June 2019. The scheme involved Nigerian operators creating fake online personas to build trust with victims before requesting money under false pretenses, with many elderly victims losing their life savings and retirement funds. The defendants facilitated money laundering by establishing U.S. bank accounts to collect and distribute fraud proceeds while concealing the funds' destination and the scammers' identities.
krgv.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans $547 million in reported losses in one year, with scammers creating fake profiles to build trust before requesting money, often via gift cards or wire transfers. Red flags include no profile pictures, pressure to move relationships quickly, inability to meet in person, and requests for payment; victims should stop contact immediately and report to the FTC or the dating platform.
mydailyrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams operate on dating apps like Tinder by building romantic relationships with victims, then convincing them to invest in fake trading platforms or cryptocurrency schemes. Scammers move conversations to texting apps, fabricate stories about lucrative investment opportunities (often involving family members with crypto expertise), and direct victims to deposit money into fraudulent platforms with hidden fees and minimum balance requirements that trap funds. Reported losses include $45,000, $14,000, and $4,000, with victims unable to recover funds after accounts are blocked or frozen, sometimes with additional tax threats used to extract more money.
gulfcoastmedia.com
· 2025-12-08
The North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau are hosting a free "Protect Yourself Against Scammers Summit" on March 7 for senior citizens in Bay Minette, Alabama. The educational event will cover major fraud schemes including government impostor scams, romance scams, identity theft, investment fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and Medicare fraud to help seniors recognize and avoid becoming victims.
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, 70,000 Americans lost a record $1.3 billion to romance scams—nearly double the $547 million lost in 2021—with scammers increasingly using AI, deepfakes, and voice cloning to deceive victims. North Carolina ranked 9th nationally, with 422 victims losing $18 million that year, including a Hickory therapist who sent $50 to a scammer posing as an African man seeking help before recognizing manipulation tactics like emotional appeals, requests for money, and guilt-tripping. Key warning signs include requests for unorthodox payments, emotionally manipulative pitches, false urgency, an
abc13.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers are using AI-generated images and deepfake videos to defraud vulnerable victims seeking online relationships, with one man losing nearly $60,000 after being convinced to make an investment by a fake AI woman. Experts recommend detecting AI-generated scammers by asking personalized follow-up questions, looking for unnaturally smooth speech patterns, paying attention to inconsistencies in appearance (too-perfect skin, looping backgrounds), and noting reluctance to engage in real-time video calls or off-the-cuff conversations. If suspicions arise, victims should disengage gradually using vague language rather than directly calling out the scammer, to avoid providing feedback that could help frau
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-08
Online dating platforms are increasingly vulnerable to AI-driven romance scams, with cybercriminals using generative AI to create ultra-realistic fake personas with convincing messages, images, and audio to deceive users and steal money and personal information. Research from Darktrace shows a 135% increase in novel social engineering attacks, particularly around Valentine's Day when online dating activity peaks. Both individual users and dating platforms should implement protective measures, including limiting personal information sharing, recognizing signs of AI-generated content, refusing money requests from online contacts, and utilizing identity verification and fraud detection tools.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
The Orange County Sheriff's Department issued a February 2024 awareness advisory warning residents about romance scams and various other fraud schemes, noting that scammers manipulate victims into believing they're in committed relationships to steal money and that criminal tactics evolve constantly. The advisory identified eight common scam types including text phishing, online employment fraud, tech support scams, and impersonation schemes (involving fake tax, utility, warrant, and arrest claims), and advised victims of financial fraud to immediately report incidents to their financial institutions and request new accounts.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Singapore reported a record high of 46,563 scam cases with victims losing $651.8 million, marking a 46.8 percent increase in cases from 2022 despite public warnings. Job scams were the most prevalent fraud type, followed by e-commerce scams (which more than doubled), with 73 percent of victims aged below 50, contrary to assumptions that elderly people are most vulnerable. The police attributed most scams to organized criminal groups operating transnationally and noted that 19 scam syndicates were dismantled in 2023 through international cooperation.
thenelsondaily.com
· 2025-12-08
"Sugar dating" scams target young people seeking financial support by luring them with promises of allowances and gifts; scammers typically pay victims with fraudulent cheques and then request donations to fake charities they control, leaving victims unable to recover funds when cheques bounce. A Pitt Meadows post-secondary student was approached on Instagram by someone claiming to be a wealthy sugar momma offering $500 weekly in exchange for phone calls, but became suspicious when pressured to donate to an orphanage. The Better Business Bureau recommends potential sugar dating participants set clear boundaries, verify payment methods in advance, diversify income sources, and recognize red flags like pressure tactics and suspicious charity requests.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, consumers reported losing a record $10 billion to fraud and scams—a 14% increase from 2022—according to FTC data, with 2.6 million fraud reports filed nationwide and approximately 700,000 people reporting financial losses. Common scams included romance fraud, fake bank and tech support calls, and impersonation schemes, with criminals exploiting digital payment methods including bank transfers ($1.86 billion) and cryptocurrency ($1.41 billion). Michigan consumers alone lost $151.7 million to fraud in 2023, with a median loss of $410 per victim.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Donna Kendall from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, lost over $1 million to a romance scam after becoming lonely following her husband's dementia diagnosis in 2022. She was deceived by someone claiming to be a wealthy businessman named Martin Erickson who posed as a romantic interest and requested money for shipping equipment, leading her to make multiple wire transfers and eventually sell her home. The scam strained her relationship with her son Ken Martasin, who was unable to convince her of the fraud despite intervention from specialists and authorities, and she died at a hotel shortly after the incident.
businesstimes.com.sg
· 2025-12-08
Singapore reported a record 46,563 scam cases in 2023, representing a 46.8% increase from 2022, with victims losing S$651.8 million. Job scams were the most prevalent (9,914 cases; S$135.7 million lost), primarily targeting those aged 30-49 through WhatsApp and Telegram offers of work-from-home tasks, while fake friend call scams surged to 6,859 cases (S$23 million lost), disproportionately affecting adults aged 50-64. Contrary to common assumptions, 73% of victims were under age 50, with malware scams
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Two older Pittsburgh women lost a combined $29,000 in a tech support scam where fraudsters impersonated Apple customer service representatives and convincing them their devices were hacked, pressuring them to purchase Bitcoin at local convenience stores. A 70-year-old victim withdrew $22,000 and a 72-year-old victim purchased $7,000 in Bitcoin after being transferred between scammers posing as Apple and bank fraud specialists. Pittsburgh police are investigating and warn the public that legitimate tech companies never contact customers about device problems or ask them to call numbers or click links, recommending victims report incidents to local police or the FTC.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Tinder is expanding ID verification requirements, including mandatory video selfies and valid government ID submission, to combat rising dating app crimes such as romance scams and violent crimes. The FTC reported that 70,000 people lost $1.3 billion to romance scams in 2022, with 19% originating on dating apps, and U.S. citizens in Colombia were particularly targeted for drugging, robbery, and murder through platforms like Tinder. The new verification system, successfully piloted in Australia and New Zealand, will roll out across the US, UK, Mexico, and Brazil in the coming weeks and months.
bnnbloomberg.ca
· 2025-12-08
This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It primarily discusses job losses at Algoma Steel in Ontario and includes unrelated business news about gold prices, central banking, and trade tariffs. It does not contain information relevant to an elder fraud research database.
baltictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Approximately 350 romance scam cases were recorded in Lithuania in 2023, with victims attempting to transfer over 1 million euros to fraudsters, though banks were able to stop some transactions. Vulnerable victims included lonely individuals and those with poor digital hygiene skills, particularly elderly women seeking relationships online who were targeted by scammers impersonating military personnel. Banks report that recovery is difficult because victims often delay reporting due to shame and embarrassment, and experts recommend vigilance against money transfer requests from online contacts as a key prevention measure.
wftv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
A central Florida woman's elderly mother lost approximately $600,000 in a romance scam that began on social media, where a scammer impersonated Elon Musk and convinced her she was engaged and investing money with him. The victim made large wire transfers exceeding $100,000 and daily $3,000 ATM withdrawals for gift cards before her daughter discovered the fraud in early 2023. The FTC reported $1.3 billion in romance scam losses nationally in 2022, with experts noting such scams disproportionately target older, divorced women seeking companionship.
ky3.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational awareness piece about romance scams. The article alerts viewers to how scammers use romantic relationships and emotional connections to defraud victims, though specific case details or dollar amounts are not provided in the excerpt.
stories.td.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Canadian victims over $50 million in 2023, with fraudsters building trust over weeks to years before requesting money for emergencies, business ventures, or cryptocurrency investments. While seniors are frequently targeted, anyone—particularly those who are lonely or vulnerable—can fall victim to these scams that occur across dating apps and social media platforms. Key prevention strategies include being cautious of quick professions of love, avoiding in-person meetings, refusing personal information requests, and understanding that sent money is often irretrievable.
9to5mac.com
· 2025-12-08
**Romance Scams via Dating Apps**
Tinder is expanding identity verification features (combining video selfies with passport/driver's license images) to the US, UK, Brazil, and Mexico to combat romance fraud, where criminals impersonate attractive people, build trust through excessive attention, and then request money for travel or emergencies before disappearing. A pilot program in Australia and New Zealand showed verified accounts received 67% more matches, incentivizing users to complete the optional verification process.
proactiveinvestors.com
· 2025-12-08
Tinder launched advanced ID verification across the US, UK, Brazil, and Mexico requiring video selfies matched against government-issued IDs to combat surging romance scams, with verified profiles receiving blue checkmarks. Romance scams increased 22% in the UK in 2023 with average losses of £6,937 per victim, while the US saw nearly 70,000 reported cases in 2022 with losses exceeding $1.3 billion, a problem compounded by AI-generated fake profiles. Though the verification tool showed a 67% increase in matches during Australian and New Zealand trials, the FTC notes that 40% of romance scam victims report initial contact occurred on
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A South Hills woman lost $10,000 in a sophisticated Bitcoin scam after receiving a fake "hacking alert" pop-up that directed her to call a number where scammers impersonating Microsoft and bank representatives claimed her account was compromised and threatened her with child pornography charges. Pittsburgh police reported at least three victims in total, including two women in their 70s who lost $22,000 and $7,000 respectively through the same scheme, which exploited urgency and fear to pressure victims into withdrawing cash and purchasing Bitcoin. Police warned that scammers use legitimate-sounding company names and call transfers to appear credible, and advised that once cryptocurrency money is transferred, recovery
messengernewspapers.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Nationwide Building Society reported that romance scams involving men increased by 40% in 2023, with victims aged 50-70 representing 39% of male cases, though younger men (20-30) accounted for 20% of reports. Women victims lose significantly more money on average (£10,610 vs. £8,181 for men), with scammers building false trust relationships before requesting money through emotional manipulation. Nationwide advises keeping conversations on verified dating platforms, researching online contacts thoroughly, and consulting trusted friends and family before sending money or personal details to anyone not met in person.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In summer 2022, 80-year-old Alice Lin lost over $700,000 of her life savings to a "pig butchering" scam after a fraudster on WeChat convinced her to download a fake cryptocurrency trading app and wire money over a three-week period. Lin sued Chase Bank in January 2024, claiming the bank failed to flag suspicious transaction patterns (seven large wire transfers totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars) and protect vulnerable elderly customers, citing California law that holds institutions liable for assisting fraudulent transactions against seniors. Chase disputes the claim, stating employees asked probing questions and warned Lin of fraud risks before completing the transfers.
madisoncourier.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau of Greater Kentucky and South Central Indiana identified 10 prevalent scams in February, including romance scams, wage garnishment schemes, fake business listings, impersonation of law enforcement, fraudulent surveys, reshipping employment schemes, fake government benefits calls, Facebook account deactivation phishing, solar panel fraud, and government grant scams. The BBB advised consumers to verify companies before transactions, never pay with gift cards or wire transfers, avoid clicking unsolicited links, and refrain from providing personal information to unverified callers or unsolicited online contacts. Consumers are encouraged to check bbb.org before making purchases and to recognize that legitimate agencies never demand payment by phone.