Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
5,340 results
in Financial Crime
wthr.com
· 2025-12-08
Jennifer Bleeke's Facebook account was compromised by a scammer who posted false listings claiming her sister-in-law was selling vehicles and equipment to fund cancer treatment, resulting in at least two of Bleeke's friends losing money ($500 and $400 respectively) before the fraudulent posts were removed weeks later. The article advises protecting accounts by using unique passwords, verifying suspicious posts through direct contact with friends, and contacting the person directly before sending money.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Scam calls impersonating HMRC have increased by 84% since December, with fraudsters using automated messages in American-accented voices to threaten taxpayers with legal action and financial penalties ahead of the self-assessment deadline. Victims reported receiving intimidating calls claiming incorrect tax returns or demanding immediate payment, with scammers becoming aggressive when questioned. HMRC has warned the public never to share login details with unsolicited callers and provided red flags to identify fraudulent communications, noting that HMRC will never threaten legal action or arrest via voicemail.
fox13seattle.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Washington woman lost $624,711 in life savings to a scammer who impersonated a federal agent after a fraudulent pop-up alert on her computer convinced her account had been hacked. The victim liquidated her stocks and IRA contributions, initially intended to be wired via Bitcoin, but when that failed, she purchased gold bars and handed them to 42-year-old Zhichao Huang in a Lynnwood parking lot. Huang was extradited from Los Angeles and police believe this scam is part of a larger operation targeting seniors using similar tactics.
legit.ng
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian national Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, 36, pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over 400 vulnerable Americans of more than $6 million between 2020-2024. The scheme involved sending fraudulent letters falsely claiming to originate from a Spanish bank and notifying victims of nonexistent inheritances, then coercing them to pay fabricated fees for taxes and delivery charges. Ogbata faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for April 14, 2025, following successful international law enforcement collaboration involving U.S. and European authorities.
walkermn.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams targeting Americans 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with imposter fraud rising significantly. The article provides seven protective strategies for older adults, including: ignoring unsolicited offers, avoiding suspicious links, being wary of pressure tactics, verifying remote access requests, withholding sensitive information, refusing to send money to unknown individuals, and designating a trusted contact at financial institutions.
mynorthwest.com
· 2025-12-08
Lynnwood Police arrested a 41-year-old man in California in December for allegedly stealing over $600,000 from retired victims through an impersonation scam involving fake calls from a 1-800 number posing as a U.S. Treasury Agent demanding payment. The suspect was extradited to Washington and charged with first-degree theft and first-degree criminal impersonation. Police emphasized that legitimate federal agencies never call demanding money and urged the public to hang up on such calls and report them immediately.
thefinanser.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article examines the growing scope of global fraud and scams, which cost an estimated $6 trillion annually worldwide—with businesses losing 5% of revenues and UK consumers losing £1.17 billion in 2023 alone. The piece highlights how technology and AI-generated deepfakes are enabling criminals to become more sophisticated, exemplified by a French woman who lost €775,000 (her entire divorce settlement) to a romance scam impersonating Brad Pitt using fake hospital photos and emotional manipulation. The article underscores the central challenge of digital identity: despite multiple security layers, criminals continue to exploit victims through convincing deception, with experts acknowledging they can
allafrica.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman was defrauded of €830,000 ($850,000) by Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated images of actor Brad Pitt to pose as him on Instagram, claiming he needed money for a kidney transplant due to a frozen account. The three men in their 20s, operating from Nigeria, were identified by a scam investigator who gained access to their phone through a booby-trapped link, illustrating how fraudsters are adopting new technologies like AI to conduct increasingly elaborate romance and financial scams.
deccanchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
Two individuals, Thokala Sridhar and Akramuddin, were arrested in Jangaon district for operating a fraudulent investment scheme through the Costa app, which deceived approximately 2,000 victims with false profit promises and recruitment incentives (pressure cookers, motorbikes, and cars). Investors lost an estimated Rs 15 crore after the app disabled withdrawals, with some individuals investing up to Rs 1 lakh each, and a third conspirator from Australia was implicated in orchestrating the scheme.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Lloyds Bank is warning customers never to share one-time passcodes, passwords, or activation codes, as fraudsters are impersonating bank staff over the phone to steal account access and funds. Criminals use stolen personal details to appear legitimate and employ tactics like claiming they need codes to cancel fraudulent payments or secure accounts, though legitimate banks never request such information unsolicited. The warning comes as unauthorized fraud losses reached £358 million in the first half of 2024, with cases rising 19% year-on-year to over 1.5 million incidents.
voanews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers created a fake Russian-language transcript of a Tucker Carlson interview with Pavel Durov to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme (ProTON-Invest) promising $13,000 monthly earnings, using a copied Voice of America article page to appear legitimate. The scheme purchased Facebook advertising through hacked accounts spanning the Philippines, Mexico, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, demonstrating how fraudsters exploit well-known media outlets and public figures to deceive potential investors. Neither Durov nor Carlson was involved in the scam, and Meta stated it takes action against fraud on its platforms.
e.vnexpress.net
· 2025-12-08
On Wednesday, police in Dak Lak province, Vietnam arrested four individuals (H'Nguyen, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Nguyen Tran Trung Hieu, and Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc) for operating a large-scale fraud network that accessed personal information of 50,000 people and made over 100,000 scam calls daily, stealing an estimated trillions of Vietnamese dong (with the Dak Lak group receiving over VND200 billion). The scammers used multiple tactics including posing as TikTok representatives offering "appreciation gifts," promoting work-
hoodline.com
· 2025-12-08
An Ashford senior lost thousands of dollars to fraudsters posing as FDIC representatives who convinced her that her bank account had been hacked and persuaded her to withdraw $25,000 for transfer to a "secure account." Law enforcement conducted a sting operation that intercepted the cash and arrested the courier, while investigators determined the scam was connected to a larger criminal network. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is urging seniors to be wary of unsolicited financial calls, trust their instincts, and communicate with family members about such scams.
torontosun.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Mississauga women and one man were charged in connection with lottery scams targeting elderly victims across Canada between 2019-2023, in which seniors were defrauded of over $57,000 combined by being promised large cash prizes if they paid upfront fees and taxes. Arja Donaldson (50) and Latoya Hayden (37) were charged with fraud and possession of property obtained by crime, while an arrest warrant was issued for Andrew Baker (31) for possession of property obtained by crime. Peel Regional Police advise residents to avoid sending money or personal information to unknown parties and direct anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Robert Powell, 23, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 79 months in federal prison for armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service mail truck in June 2022 and for operating a "card cracking" fraud scheme. Powell robbed a postal worker at gunpoint, stole mail containing checks, and used social media to recruit victims to share their bank account information so he could deposit altered stolen checks and quickly withdraw the funds. The scheme defrauded countless victims before Powell's arrest through investigation by U.S. Postal Inspectors and the Avon Police Department.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
The ABA Foundation marks its 100th anniversary in 2025 and outlines five strategic imperatives for the next century, including advancing financial literacy beyond basic money management, connecting social impact with business performance, reimagining employee volunteerism, leveraging AI responsibly for economic opportunity, and adopting a consumer-centered approach to combat fraud with special sensitivity to vulnerable populations including older customers. The article notes that fraud losses in the U.S. topped $23.7 billion in 2023, emphasizing the banking industry's role in developing fraud detection tools and cultivating empathy-based approaches to protect vulnerable consumers.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
Kentucky's Administrative Office of the Courts launched a new webpage to help residents identify and report payment scams, particularly those falsely claiming unpaid arrest warrants or missed jury duty. The resource provides educational materials including scam tactic videos, county-specific jury service information, and fraud reporting contacts to help Kentuckians protect themselves from these schemes.
komonews.com
· 2025-12-08
A senior named David was defrauded of $435,000 by brothers Patrick and Matthew McDonagh, who posed as home repair contractors, pressured him into authorizing bogus repairs, and failed to complete the work over several weeks until his daughter intervened. The McDonaghs pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud conspiracy charges and received 18-month prison sentences; while $200,000 was recovered through a reversed wire transfer, most of the money was lost, and the brothers are expected to be deported to Ireland after serving their time. The case highlights predatory home repair scams targeting seniors, with Washington state reporting over $88 million in elder financial fraud losses in
kens5.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season scams increase significantly during filing season, with fraudsters using unsolicited calls, texts, and emails to steal money or personal information, sometimes leveraging AI-generated scripts to appear legitimate. The IRS Criminal Investigation division identified $31 billion in tax and financial crimes during fiscal year 2022 across more than 2,550 cases. To protect themselves, taxpayers should watch for red flags including promises of large paydays, payment demands with threats, and suspicious website links, and filing taxes early can help prevent fraud.
wsoctv.com
· 2025-12-08
Over $1.03 trillion was lost to scams globally in 2024, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence, imposter tactics, and evolving technology to deceive victims. Key emerging threats include AI-powered phishing, deepfake videos, and voice cloning, alongside traditional imposter scams (including grandparent and romance scams) where median losses reached $800-$14,740 depending on the scam type. Scammers are shifting from phone calls to email and text messages as their primary contact method, making it essential for people to remain skeptical of unsolicited communications.
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams and fraud losses reached over $1.03 trillion globally in 2024, with scammers increasingly leveraging new technology to evolve their tactics. Key emerging threats for 2025 include AI-powered scams (using deepfakes, AI-generated images, and synthetic voices to enhance phishing and imposter schemes), traditional imposter scams (including grandparent and romance scams, with median losses of $800 in 2023 and $14,740 for government imposter scams), and a shift toward email and text-based contact methods rather than phone calls. Learning about these developments helps potential victims stay ahead of scammers who aim to steal personal information
ceotodaymagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple celebrities fell victim to various fraud schemes, demonstrating that wealth and fame do not protect against scams. Notable cases include Cristiano Ronaldo losing $320,000 to a fraudulent travel agent, Noel Edmonds suffering from a £245 million bank loan fraud scheme, Tiger Woods experiencing $30,000 in identity theft, Billy Joel losing millions to his former manager Frank Weber (recovering only $8 million of $90 million sued), Robert De Niro losing approximately $1 million to art fraud, and Ben Stiller losing $250,000 to a dishonest financial planner. These cases span Ponzi schemes, embezzlement, identity theft
columbiamagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
An educational presentation at the Adair County Extension Office by Shellie A. May from Kentucky's Office of Senior Protection addressed identity theft prevention for seniors. The presentation explained how identity theft occurs (through data breaches, phishing, and physical theft), identified common tactics (dumpster diving, mail theft, password compromise), and provided protective measures including regular credit monitoring, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and statement review. Consumers can report scams to the Kentucky Attorney General's office at ag.ky.gov/scams or 1-888-432-9257.
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
During tax season, the IRS warns taxpayers to be cautious of scams, noting that the agency only initiates official contact with taxpayers via mail for tax documentation, not through other means. The warning alerts people to fraudulent schemes that may impersonate the IRS during the filing season.
mysaline.com
· 2025-12-08
Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old remote customer service representative for a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers by abusing her access to their personal information and account details. Brown used wires, electronic debits, and Zelle to transfer victim funds and attempted to steal an additional $428,526.85 in total during her employment from December 2021 to May 2023.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Antony Linton Stewart, a Jamaican citizen, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for operating a fraudulent lottery scheme from 2010 to 2016 that targeted elderly Americans by phone, falsely claiming they had won prizes and demanding fees and taxes. Stewart and his co-conspirators defrauded victims of over $1.1 million in restitution, with no actual lottery ever existing and no victims receiving winnings. The case is part of the Department of Justice's broader effort to combat overseas lottery schemes targeting U.S. citizens, particularly older adults.
virginialiving.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud is an escalating epidemic affecting millions of seniors through phone, mail, internet, and in-person schemes, with fraudsters stealing an estimated $10 billion from Americans in 2023, though actual figures are likely higher due to underreporting from shame. Even highly intelligent individuals like former CIA/FBI director William Webster nearly fell victim to a Jamaican lottery scam demanding $50,000. Medical professionals and fraud prevention advocates recommend seniors verify unsolicited offers, be wary of urgent claims, and report scams without embarrassment using resources like AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline.
fortune.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence and deepfakes to commit fraud, with consumers losing over $10 billion to fraud in 2023—a 14% increase from the previous year. Notable incidents include a $25 million deepfake video call scam targeting a Hong Kong firm employee and widespread AI-powered phishing schemes that bypass traditional detection systems. Experts project fraud losses could reach $40 billion in the U.S. by 2027 if current trends continue, with investment scams and imposter scams being the most prevalent threats targeting bank customers.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax scammers are expected to escalate their tactics during 2025 tax season, employing AI-generated phishing emails, fake tax preparers, IRS imposter phone calls, and social media schemes to steal money and personal information from taxpayers. These scams can result in significant financial losses, identity theft, and emotional harm to victims. Protection strategies include verifying communications directly with the IRS through official channels, vetting tax preparers for credentials like a PTIN, ignoring unsolicited urgent payment demands, and avoiding suspicious social media offers.
propnewstime.com
· 2025-12-08
Goa police arrested four individuals from Hyderabad and Jaipur for operating a fake hotel listing scam since 2022 that defrauded over 500 tourists of several crores of rupees. The fraudsters posted non-existent villas on booking platforms like Booking.com and pressured victims into making advance payments of INR 10,000-20,000 by exploiting platform loopholes and using female operators to build trust. The investigation was triggered by a complaint from a Chandigarh resident who paid INR 20,000 for a non-existent property, leading authorities to seize 15 bank accounts used in the operation
khou.com
· 2025-12-08
A Houston woman received an unsolicited moissanite ring in the mail as part of a "brushing scam," where fraudsters ship inexpensive items to create fake verified buyer accounts and positive reviews, or to trick recipients into scanning QR codes that lead to malware-infected websites designed to steal personal information. The Better Business Bureau warns this scam has spread nationwide involving jewelry, speakers, and other items, and advises consumers never to scan QR codes on suspicious packages or enter personal information on unfamiliar websites.
tipperarylive.ie
· 2025-12-08
A survey of 2,000 Irish adults found that 81% were targeted by scammers in the past year, with respondents reporting that scams are becoming more sophisticated and increasingly common. Men reported significantly higher average losses (€2,168.73) compared to women (€1,151.22), and young adults aged 16-24 were disproportionately targeted by scam text messages at 39%. Experts emphasize that consumer education and awareness are critical defenses, particularly during financially stressful periods like January when people may be more vulnerable to fraudulent offers.
kawartha411.ca
· 2025-12-08
The City of Kawartha Lakes OPP issued a warning about an increase in grandparent/emergency scams targeting seniors in their area, where fraudsters call posing as distressed family members, police, or officials claiming a loved one needs immediate money for bail, accident damages, or foreign travel issues. The scammers use emotional manipulation, request secrecy, and extract personal information, with common scenarios involving car accidents or jail situations. Authorities advise recipients to hang up and verify claims independently, contact police non-emergency lines, inform bank tellers of large withdrawals, and report suspected fraud to local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501
wbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Jamaican citizen, Antony Linton Stewart, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for operating a lottery scam that defrauded American victims over six years (2010-2016). Stewart and accomplices called victims claiming they had won sweepstakes or lottery prizes, then convinced them to send money for fees and taxes, resulting in losses exceeding $1.1 million in restitution ordered by the court.
jamaica-gleaner.com
· 2025-12-08
A 40-year-old Jamaican man, Linton Stewart, was sentenced to seven years in prison for operating a fraudulent lottery scheme from 2010 to 2016 that targeted elderly Americans through phone calls falsely claiming they had won sweepstakes prizes and requesting payment for fees and taxes. Stewart was ordered to pay $1,104,041.74 in restitution, and the scheme generated no actual winnings despite repeated payments extracted from victims. The case was prosecuted by the US Department of Justice in collaboration with Jamaican law enforcement as part of broader efforts to combat overseas lottery fraud targeting U.S. citizens.
einpresswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Antony Linton Stewart, a 40-year-old Jamaican citizen, was sentenced to 84 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,104,041.74 in restitution for operating a fraudulent lottery scheme from approximately 2010 through August 2016. Stewart and his co-conspirators targeted elderly Americans by phone, falsely telling them they had won sweepstakes or lottery prizes and demanding upfront fees and taxes, with no actual lottery or winnings ever existing. The case was prosecuted as part of the Justice Department's effort to combat Jamaica-based lottery fraud schemes that prey on U.S. citizens, particularly older adults.
hoodline.com
· 2025-12-08
Shelley Letzer, 67, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, was arraigned on four felony charges including three counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult and fraudulent obtaining of a signature for allegedly exploiting an 87-year-old man with her co-defendant Kirk Lanam. The pair allegedly obtained power of attorney over the victim under false pretenses and used it to write checks to themselves, with Letzer accused of embezzling thousands from the vulnerable man who already had an appointed guardian. Letzer faces up to five years per embezzlement count and ten years for the signature fraud charge.
hoodline.com
· 2025-12-08
Antony Linton Stewart, a 40-year-old Jamaican national, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for orchestrating a lottery fraud scheme that targeted elderly U.S. residents from 2010 to 2016, convincing victims they had won sweepstakes prizes and extracting money until victims could no longer pay. Stewart was ordered to repay $1,104,041.74 in restitution, and the case was prosecuted as part of the Justice Department's broader initiative to combat foreign-based scams targeting seniors.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Antony Linton Stewart, a Jamaican citizen, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for operating a fraudulent lottery scheme from 2010 to 2016 that defrauded elderly Americans by falsely claiming they had won sweepstakes prizes and demanding payment for fees and taxes. Stewart and his co-conspirators contacted victims by phone and repeatedly solicited additional payments with no lottery or winnings ever existing, resulting in over $1.1 million in losses for which he was ordered to pay restitution. This case is part of the Department of Justice's ongoing effort to combat Jamaica-based lottery fraud targeting U.S. citizens, particularly seniors.
myfox8.com
· 2025-12-08
Anthony Linton Stewart, a 40-year-old Jamaican man, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for operating a fraudulent lottery scheme from 2010 to 2016 that targeted elderly Americans by phone, falsing claiming they had won prizes and requesting fees and taxes on non-existent winnings. Stewart and his co-conspirators defrauded victims of over $1.1 million in restitution ordered by the court, repeatedly contacting victims to extract additional payments. The case exemplifies overseas lottery scams commonly used by foreign criminals to target U.S. seniors.
katv.com
· 2025-12-08
Rising imposter scams have prompted the U.S. Marshals to alert the public about fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials via phone calls, claiming victims owe fines for arrest warrants, failed jury duty, or identity theft and threatening arrest unless immediate payment is made. Scammers use sophisticated tactics including spoofed government phone numbers, personal information verification, fake case numbers, and instructions to withdraw up to 80% of victims' assets and deposit funds into bitcoin ATMs, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in losses per victim. The U.S. Marshals advise victims to contact their local FBI office and file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, and remind the
lexology.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource from a law firm specializing in online fraud describes "pig-butchering" scams—sophisticated schemes where fraudsters build trust with victims over weeks or months through romantic or business relationships, then pressure them to invest large sums in fake opportunities like cryptocurrency or real estate projects. The article provides warning signs including high-pressure tactics, unrealistic returns, cryptocurrency payment requests, and offshore transfers, and recommends victims conduct background checks, research platforms, seek legal advice early, and stay informed about common fraud tactics. The firm notes it receives approximately 100 victim requests monthly but can only accept cases involving losses exceeding $500,000 due to the complex, resource-intensive nature of
thejakartapost.com
· 2025-12-08
Indonesian police in Jakarta arrested 20 suspects involved in a romance scam targeting foreign nationals, primarily women from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand, who were lured into fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes through fake dating app profiles. The operation was led by three Indonesians with 17 paid workers, generating approximately 7 million rupiah ($431.59) for leaders and 5 million rupiah for individual scammers, and is believed to be part of a larger syndicate headed by a Chinese national currently at large. Police discovered the scheme after noticing suspicious investment advertisements on dating apps and traced the scammers to an apartment in Jakarta.
liberianobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Liberian pastor Jerome Ben Greatness was accused of defrauding at least nine church members and other Liberians of over US$13,000 through a fraudulent Canadian visa scheme, with victims making payments between May 2024 and failing to receive promised visas or complete the biometric process. A writ of arrest was issued against Pastor Greatness and his junior pastor Marvelous Paye Jr. for theft of property and criminal conspiracy, though the pastor denied the allegations and claimed victims did not fulfill their payment obligations. One victim managed to recover US$5,700 through legal action.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly personalizing financial fraud tactics by targeting specific demographics based on vulnerabilities and life circumstances, similar to legitimate business marketing strategies. A 2024 PYMNTS Intelligence report found that approximately 3 in 10 U.S. consumers (77 million people) lost money to scams over the past five years, with most victims losing over $500, and that different age groups face different scam risks—such as Gen Z being three times more likely to fall victim to employment scams while older consumers face higher rates of fake eCommerce and identity theft scams. Financial institutions play a critical role in protecting customers by understanding scam tactics and the broader psychological and emotional damage these
newcastlepacer.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, adults aged 60 and older filed over 100,000 fraud complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, losing more than $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from the previous year. Oklahoma's Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready outlines common scams targeting older adults, including phishing, Medicare and health insurance fraud, and tech support scams, and recommends protection strategies such as staying skeptical of unsolicited communications, avoiding sharing personal information online, and immediately reporting suspected fraud to relevant authorities including the FTC, Social Security Administration, or financial institutions.
police.boston.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Boston Police Department warns that cryptocurrency scams are rising significantly, with losses in Boston alone expected to exceed $9 million in 2024 and anticipated to grow further in 2025. Common schemes include investment fraud promising guaranteed returns, blackmail and extortion demanding crypto payments, and imposter scams where fraudsters pose as banks, government agencies, or employers to trick victims into transferring funds. To protect themselves, residents should verify investment opportunities through official sources, never share crypto wallet information, be skeptical of unsolicited contacts and social media ads, and report suspected fraud to authorities or the Federal Trade Commission.
sbu.edu
· 2025-12-08
Three accounting and management professors analyzed 20 years of IRS "Dirty Dozen" fraud data and found that identity theft and phishing schemes have been the most prevalent tax scams since 2002, with pandemic-era fraud increasingly involving theft of government relief funds like PPP and Employee Retention Program money intended for legitimate taxpayers. Their research, published in the Journal of Business and Accounting, highlights how fraudsters exploited pandemic relief programs to divert funds away from deserving recipients.
citizen.co.za
· 2025-12-08
Several elderly women aged 65-78 in Ethekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, lost a collective R120,000 to an online romance scam in January 2025 involving a man posing as "Doctor Mike from London," a British doctor allegedly practicing in New York. The scammer used Facebook and phone numbers with USA and UK prefixes to establish contact, promised romantic dates in Durban, and then claimed to have been arrested at King Shaka International Airport with confiscated US dollars, requesting R20,000-R50,000 transfers to secure his release. The victims discovered the fraud only after traveling to the airport to meet him and finding themselves blocke
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
Jakarta police arrested 20 suspects involved in a crypto romance scam that targeted professional women from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand through dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, eventually directing them to a fraudulent cryptocurrency platform called "Wish" that promised returns up to 25%. The scam, which operated for over two months, resulted in financial losses still being determined, with three masterminds and supporting operatives identified, though one suspect believed to be a Chinese national remains at large. The case is part of a larger pattern of crypto scams with alleged Chinese criminal network connections operating across multiple countries.