Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
4,783 results
in Romance Scam
rbcwealthmanagement.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency investments carry substantial risk and have become a prime target for scammers, with crypto-related fraud losses reaching $5.6 billion in 2023, a 45 percent increase from the previous year according to the FBI. Common crypto scams include fake investment opportunities promising guaranteed returns, phishing schemes using counterfeit websites, celebrity endorsement fraud, and Ponzi schemes that recruit investors but misuse funds. Individuals considering cryptocurrency investment should familiarize themselves with these scam tactics and verify the legitimacy of any platform before providing personal information or money.
chicagotribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Naperville residents reported losing nearly $5.5 million to scams in 2024, representing a dramatic increase from previous years, according to police authorities. The most common fraud schemes included arrest warrant extortion, "pig butchering" (romance/investment scams), phishing, and online marketplace fraud, with victims ranging from age 15 to 91. Police note that actual losses likely exceed reported figures, as many victims don't report due to shame, and funds paid via gift cards or cryptocurrency are rarely recoverable.
themirror.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, a Nevada woman currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 counts including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death for operating what the FBI called a "romance scam on steroids." Using dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, Phelps targeted at least four men between 2021 and 2022, luring them to meet in person before secretly drugging them with sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through theft of vehicles, bank withdrawals, credit card purchases, and unauthorized access to investment accounts—with three of the victims dying and one victim being transported across the U.
southtahoenow.com
· 2025-12-08
Residents of South Lake Tahoe received impersonation scam calls from individuals claiming to be El Dorado County Sheriff's Office representatives demanding payment for alleged missed federal jury duty and threatening arrest warrants. The scammers used spoofed phone numbers, possessed personal information including names and addresses, and instructed victims to pay citations before appearing at the sheriff's office. Law enforcement agencies never contact people by phone regarding warrants or jury duty, and the best defense is to hang up and independently verify any such calls by contacting the official agency directly.
mor-tv.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to lure at least four older men to meet her in 2021-2022, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through a "romance scam on steroids." Three of the victims died, and Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 counts including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death; she allegedly stole vehicles, drained bank accounts, used credit cards for luxury purchases, and attempted to access retirement accounts, with one victim losing approximately $3.3 million
wmtw.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to lure at least four older men to meet her between 2021-2022, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through a "romance scam on steroids." Three of the victims died, and Phelps—currently in custody in Mexico—has been charged with 21 counts including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, with stolen assets including approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock, vehicles, bank account withdrawals, and luxury goods. The FBI is seeking
kcci.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to lure at least four older men between 2021-2022, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars, including approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock from one victim's E-Trade account. Three of the men died, and Phelps faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death; she is currently in custody in Mexico pending extradition. The FBI is seeking additional victims and has created a website for the public to report information about this "romance scam on ster
kyberturvallisuuskeskus.fi
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Romance scams involve criminals posing as fictitious individuals online to build emotional relationships with victims before requesting money. The NCSC-FI advises victims to immediately cease contact with the scammer, contact their bank if money was transferred, document communications, report to police, and seek support from organizations like Victim Support Finland and Nettideittiturva, emphasizing that falling victim is not the victim's fault but rather a result of systematic manipulation.
murraypioneer.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are increasing among online daters and social media users, with scammers using emotional manipulation and false affection to extract money from victims. The warning advises Riverlanders to exercise caution when forming romantic relationships online and to be alert to common tactics used by fraudsters seeking financial gain.
ktnv.com
· 2025-12-08
A 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, Aurora Phelps, was arrested in Mexico for operating romance scams targeting older men across multiple states from 2019-2022. Phelps met victims on dating sites, gained their trust, drugged them with sedatives, and stole their financial information and bank accounts, with one victim allegedly losing millions in liquidated stock; the FBI identified at least four victims (two from Nevada, one each from Arkansas and Mexico) and believes three U.S. citizens died as a result of her crimes. Phelps faces 21 federal charges including bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, and is awaiting extra
scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps to target at least four elderly men between 2021 and 2022, drugging them with prescription sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through a scheme the FBI called a "romance scam on steroids." Three victims died, including one whom Phelps allegedly sedated, transported across the U.S.-Mexico border in a wheelchair, and abandoned in a Mexico City hotel room; she also stole their vehicles, drained bank accounts, used credit cards for luxury purchases, and attempted to access their social security and retirement accounts. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud,
americanbar.org
· 2025-12-08
This article describes a romance scam targeting Casey, a lonely widower who met "Aubrey" in an online gardening chatroom and was gradually manipulated into depositing money into a joint account for cruise tickets, clothing, and a property down payment that never materialized. Research shows that older adults are particularly vulnerable to romance scams, with seniors losing approximately $139 million to this scam category in 2020, and that loneliness can impair cognitive performance and increase susceptibility. The FBI recommends protective measures against romance scams, and the publication is launching a "Scam of the Month" feature to educate readers about fraud tactics.
bangkokpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Malaysian authorities raided a luxury residence in Kuala Lumpur operating as an international scam call centre, arresting 42 foreign workers including six Thai nationals who were employed to conduct investment, gambling, and romance scams generating approximately 1.13 million baht daily. The suspects, aged 23-54 from multiple countries, confessed to earning around 30,080 baht monthly and targeted victims via Facebook, TikTok, WeChat, Telegram, and WhatsApp across Malaysia and internationally. Police seized 100,000 ringgit in cash along with phones, computers, and scam manuals, while the alleged syndicate leader, a Chinese national, remained at large.
newstribune.com
· 2025-12-08
A Las Vegas woman used online dating apps to target at least four older men, luring them to in-person meetings where she drugged them with sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in what FBI officials characterized as a "sinister" romance scam. This case demonstrates a predatory variation of romance fraud that combined dating app deception with drug-facilitated theft against vulnerable elderly victims.
astroawani.com
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake technology poses a growing fraud threat in Malaysia, with cybercriminals using AI-generated voices, faces, and digital identities to conduct romance scams, investment fraud, and phishing attacks. In 2023, authorities reported 454 deepfake fraud cases resulting in RM2.272 million in losses, with criminals impersonating prominent figures and creating fake social media accounts. While Malaysia lacks specific deepfake legislation, CyberSecurity Malaysia is implementing detection technologies and awareness programs, though experts warn the public must remain vigilant as technology advances faster than regulatory and protective measures.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, has been charged in a 21-count indictment for an elaborate romance scam in which she allegedly used online dating apps to lure elderly men, drug them, and steal from their bank and investment accounts, resulting in at least three deaths and over $3 million in losses. One victim was allegedly drugged, pushed across the US-Mexico border in a wheelchair, and found dead in a Mexico City hotel room hours later; another victim died on his bathroom floor after a date in Guadalajara. Phelps, currently in Mexican custody, faces charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, kidnapping, and kidnapping
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to target at least four older men seeking companionship, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through identity theft, unauthorized bank withdrawals, credit card fraud, and asset liquidation—resulting in at least three deaths, including one victim she allegedly transported across the U.S.-Mexico border in a coma. Phelps, a dual U.S.-Mexico citizen currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, with a potential life sentence if convicted on all counts.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Los Angeles woman, was arrested in Mexico and charged with 21 counts of wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death for allegedly operating a "romance scam" targeting primarily elderly men on dating apps (Hinge, Tinder, Bumble) between 2019 and 2022. Phelps lured victims into meeting her in person, then drugged them with sedatives and stole their personal information to fraudulently access their bank, retirement, and investment accounts—in one case stealing $3.3 million in Apple stock; at least three of her victims died, including one
dnronline.com
· 2025-12-08
Dayton Police Chief Justin Trout presented to community members about common elder scams, noting that Americans ages 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023. Trout warned against multiple scam types including government impersonation (IRS scams, arrest threats), AI-generated fake messages, cryptocurrency payment requests, overpayment schemes, and phishing emails, emphasizing that money lost to most scams cannot be recovered. Key advice includes never paying money to avoid arrest, independently verifying company contact information, avoiding cryptocurrency transactions, and deleting suspicious emails without clicking links.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 57-year-old woman named Kirsty was targeted by a romance scammer on a dating app in 2019 who posed as a successful businessman but exhibited multiple red flags including poor English, inconsistent location details, and requests to move conversations off-platform; though she did not lose money, she felt "robbed and violated" and has not used dating apps since. The case illustrates how romance fraud targeting older adults—who may be lonely, financially secure, and less tech-savvy—is a real threat beyond documentaries like "The Tinder Swindler," with experts recommending users verify identities, avoid sharing personal details early, and remain skeptical of profiles that
richlandsource.com
· 2025-12-08
A 71-year-old widow named Linda Talbott was scammed out of nearly $12,000 by a man posing as "James" in an online romance scheme that lasted almost two years. The scammer manipulated Talbott into providing her Social Security number (redirecting her checks to Alabama), cashing fraudulent checks, and isolating her from support systems, ultimately leaving her homeless and living in her car in a Walmart parking lot. Between 2019 and 2023, the FTC received over 269,000 romance scam reports with total losses exceeding $4.5 billion, with scammers typically building trust through fake profiles and promises of
goodmorningamerica.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, is in custody in Mexico for allegedly running a "romance scam on steroids" targeting men in their sixties and seventies through dating apps. The FBI is seeking public assistance in the case, which involves the fraudulent manipulation of vulnerable elderly men through romantic deception.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to summarize this content as provided. The text appears to be a navigation menu and header structure from a CBS News website rather than the actual article content.
To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the full article text about Aurora Phelps and the romance scams. Based on the headline alone, I can see it involves a Las Vegas woman charged with romance scams targeting older men via dating sites, but I cannot confirm details about victims, amounts, or outcomes without the complete article.
Please provide the full article text, and I'll generate a proper 2-3 sentence summary.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, is accused of using online dating apps to lure at least four older men, then drugging them with sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through a sophisticated romance scam that resulted in at least three deaths. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, kidnapping, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, with potential life sentences; she is believed to have targeted victims between 2019 and 2022, stealing their vehicles, bank accounts, credit cards, and attempting to access retirement accounts while victims were incapacitated.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was indicted on multiple federal charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping for allegedly luring older men through dating apps and online services, drugging them, and stealing their financial information. Her alleged victims include at least two men who died and one who disappeared; in documented cases, she stole approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock from one victim and over $10,000 from another before his death in Mexico. The FBI is seeking additional victims and has taken custody of Phelps, who was arrested in Mexico in September 2023 pending extradition to the United States.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Shan Hanes, former CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas, was sentenced to 24 years in prison in August 2023 for embezzling over $47 million through a cryptocurrency pig butchering scheme. The bank's collapse wiped out generational wealth for hundreds of residents, including the Tucker family ($1.4 million in lost shares) and the Houtz brothers (hundreds of thousands), while Hanes also stole from his church and investment club to fuel the scam.
5newsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was federally charged in February 2025 with wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft for carrying out romance scams targeting older men between July 2021 and December 2022, in which she allegedly drugged victims and stole from their financial accounts. She also faces Arkansas charges stemming from a June 2019 incident where she drugged a woman and stole her credit card, resulting in approximately $5,000 in fraudulent charges. Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges, with her Arkansas hearings postponed to March 2025, and authorities are
whdh.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to meet at least four older men in 2021-2022, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through a sophisticated romance scam; three victims died, including one she allegedly transported across the U.S.-Mexico border and left in a Mexico City hotel. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, with a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on all charges.
knoxtntoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are increasing in prevalence and exploit victims' emotional trust to extract money and personal information. The article advises never sending money or sharing personal details with individuals met only online, and recommends learning strategies to identify and avoid romantic deception.
live5news.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, has been indicted on multiple charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, and kidnapping resulting in death for operating a romance scheme targeting older U.S. men between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps allegedly lured victims through online dating apps, drugged them with prescription sedatives, and stole millions in cash, stocks, vehicles, and valuables; at least three victims died, including one she wheeled across the border in an incapacitated state who was later found dead in a Mexico City hotel. The FBI describes this as one of the most egregious romance schemes in recent history and suspects there
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Kenneth J. Brown and Nicholas R. Shepard, both 45-46 years old from Lexington, South Carolina, were sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. The men operated Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange and received checks from business email compromise and romance scam victims through the mail, then deposited the funds into their business account and converted them to cryptocurrency. They were ordered to pay $415,196.66 in restitution to victims and face three years of court-ordered supervision following their prison terms.
westernmassnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, has been indicted on multiple charges for operating a deadly romance scam targeting older American men between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps allegedly met victims through online dating apps, drugged them with prescription sedatives, and stole millions in cash, stocks, vehicles, and luxury goods; at least three victims died shortly after encounters with her, including one man she wheeled across the border to Mexico City where he was found dead hours later. She faces charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, kidnapping, and kidnapping resulting in death, with a potential life sentence if convicted.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, scammers stole over £2.2 million from Isle of Man residents, with investment scams accounting for £1.2 million, voice call cons for £391,674, and romance fraud for £45,000, according to the Cyber Security Centre report. The number of suspicious emails and cyber concerns reported increased 50% compared to 2023, though officials believe this represents only a fraction of actual scams as many go unreported. Additional fraud methods included phishing attacks, account compromises, and impersonation schemes using celebrity names.
9news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam victims are petitioning Congress to change a 2017 tax law that requires them to pay taxes on funds lost to fraud, compounding their financial devastation. Debbie Fox lost $58,000 to a romance scam and faced an additional $7,000 tax bill on withdrawn retirement funds, exemplifying how the law eliminates fraud loss deductions that previously existed. Annual fraud losses have surged from $1.5 billion to $12.5 billion since the tax law change, and advocates argue the approximately $100 million cost to the government should not be recovered from crime victims.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Hundreds of human trafficking victims, including nationals from over a dozen countries, were rescued from illegal scam compounds operating along the Thai-Myanmar border in February, with survivors reporting systematic torture including electric shocks, beatings, and forced labor working 15+ hours daily without pay. The victims, many of whom were lured with false job promises, were trapped in operations estimated to generate $63.9 billion annually globally, with at least 120,000 people enslaved in Myanmar and 100,000 in Cambodia forced to conduct online scams including romance schemes, gambling fraud, and bogus investment operations. Thailand and China have recently intensified crackdowns on these transnational criminal networks, with Thailan
ndtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, used dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to lure multiple men to Mexico, where she drugged them with sedatives and prescription drugs, then stole their money, financial information, vehicles, and identities. Between 2021-2022, Phelps targeted at least four men, stealing approximately $3.3 million in Apple shares from one victim's E-Trade account, and is currently in custody in Mexico facing 21 charges including wire fraud, identity theft, kidnapping, and one man's death; she could face life in prison if convicted.
myarklamiss.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, faces federal charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death for a scheme in which she met older men on dating websites, drugged them, and stole thousands of dollars from their financial accounts between 2021 and 2022. Three of her alleged victims died, and she has been charged in connection with one death; she also faces separate 2019 Arkansas charges for drugging a woman and fraudulently using her credit card for over $5,000 in purchases. The FBI is seeking additional victims and notes Phelps used multiple aliases and operated across Arkansas, Nevada, an
kgns.tv
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps, currently incarcerated in Mexico and awaiting extradition, has been indicted on multiple charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, and kidnapping resulting in death for allegedly targeting older men through online dating applications, drugging them with prescription sedatives, and stealing millions in cash, vehicles, and assets between July 2021 and December 2022. At least three of her victims died shortly after encounters with her, including one Nevada man she allegedly drugged and transported to Mexico City where he was found dead hours later, while another survivor emerged from a coma after she administered large doses of sedatives over a week. The FBI describes the scheme as "one of the most egregious and repreh
kbtx.com
· 2025-12-08
Aurora Phelps is accused of orchestrating a romance scam targeting older men across the US and Mexico from July 2021 to December 2022, where she used online dating apps to gain their trust, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and robbed them of cars, bank accounts, credit cards, and millions in stocks. At least three victims died shortly after encounters with her, including one man she allegedly drugged and wheeled across the border to Mexico City where he was found dead hours later; another victim survived after being administered large sedative doses over a week. Phelps, currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, faces multiple charges including wire fraud, bank fraud,
news.va.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, romance scams affected 53% of men and 47% of women in online dating environments, with scammers creating fake personas to build trust with victims—often impersonating military personnel or celebrities—before requesting money or personal information. The FTC reported over 64,000 romance scams in 2023 alone, resulting in $1.14 billion in losses. Veterans are advised to verify identities of new online contacts, avoid sharing financial information, be cautious of unsolicited messages and monetary requests, trust their instincts, and report suspicious activity to the FTC or relevant authorities.
amlintelligence.com
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN issued a formal warning to financial institutions to combat rising romance scam fraud, which caused losses exceeding $650 million in 2023 and frequently targets older adults. The alert highlights how scammers use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build false relationships, then exploit victims through investment schemes, virtual currency fraud, and by recruiting them as money mules for stolen funds. FinCEN urges institutions to file Suspicious Activity Reports using specific protocols to help law enforcement dismantle these organized crime operations.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN issued a statement urging financial institutions to monitor for suspicious activity related to relationship investment scams, coordinating with the CFTC's #DatingOrDefrauding awareness campaign. The advisory highlights that Suspicious Activity Reports and Bank Secrecy Act compliance are essential tools for law enforcement to detect and prosecute relationship scams, including those targeting elderly individuals and involving check fraud.
fincen.gov
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN is alerting financial institutions to monitor for relationship investment scams as part of the multiagency #DatingOrDefrauding campaign, noting that romance and confidence scams resulted in over $650 million in losses reported to the FBI in 2023. The agency highlights that scammers use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build fake relationships and deceive victims into cryptocurrency and investment schemes, with particular vulnerability among older adults. FinCEN provides guidance on identifying "pig butchering" scams and other romance fraud patterns so financial institutions can file Suspicious Activity Reports to aid law enforcement investigations.
theblock.co
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Montana man, Randall V. Rule, was found guilty of cryptocurrency money laundering conspiracy tied to romance scams, fake real estate schemes, and business email compromises. Rule and his co-conspirators laundered over $2.4 million by converting scam proceeds into cryptocurrency and sending it to domestic and foreign associates while misrepresenting transactions to financial institutions. Romance scams, also known as "pig butchering," involve fraudsters faking romantic interest to exploit victims' trust for financial gain.
tribune.com.pk
· 2025-12-08
A Chinese man identified as Liu lost approximately £22,000 (200,000 yuan) to an AI-generated romance scam involving a fictional woman named Ms Jiao, who sent him personalized messages, photos, and videos created with generative AI technology. The scammers manipulated Liu by claiming his "girlfriend" needed money for medical bills and business expenses, even fabricating medical reports to increase believability. This incident reflects a growing global trend of AI-enabled romance scams, with similar cases reported in France, the UK, and the US involving victims deceived by AI-generated personas posing as celebrities or military personnel.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Arkansas has been charged with theft and fraud in connection with romance scams that allegedly resulted in at least one death. The charges stem from her involvement in scamming victims through romantic deception schemes, though specific dollar amounts and additional victim details are not provided in the headline excerpt.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Over 7,000 people from around the world were detained in Myanmar border towns following a coordinated crackdown on online scam centers by Thailand, Myanmar, and China. These individuals had been lured under false pretenses to work in scam operations that defrauded people globally through romance schemes, fake investments, and illegal gambling, with many trapped in conditions amounting to virtual slavery. Thailand, Myanmar, and China are coordinating repatriation efforts, though the unprecedented scale is straining resources and creating logistical challenges including identity verification delays, with humanitarian concerns growing about potential overflow if processing cannot keep pace.
the-independent.com
· 2025-12-08
A Shanghai man lost approximately £22,000 to scammers who created a fictional AI "girlfriend" named Ms Jiao, using generative AI to produce realistic videos and photos along with fake medical bills to convince him she needed financial assistance. The scammer team exploited the victim over an extended period without ever meeting him in person, representing a growing global trend of AI-enabled romance fraud that has also targeted victims in France and the United Kingdom.
the-independent.com
· 2025-12-08
A man in Shanghai lost approximately £22,000 in a romance scam after developing an online relationship with "Ms Jiao," an entirely fictional AI-generated persona created by scammers using deepfake videos, photos, and fake medical bills to convince him she needed urgent financial assistance. The scammers exploited generative AI technology to create realistic images and videos, and the victim never met the woman in person. This incident reflects a growing global trend of AI-enabled romance and impersonation scams targeting individuals for financial fraud.
sg.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Shanghai man lost approximately £22,000 in a romance scam involving an AI-generated "girlfriend" named Ms Jiao, who scammers claimed needed money for medical bills and business expenses. The scam team used generative AI to create fake photos, videos, and forged medical documents to convince the victim of the relationship's authenticity, which he never verified in person. This case exemplifies the growing use of AI technology in romance and impersonation scams targeting vulnerable individuals globally.