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in Robocall / Phone Scam
dungogchronicle.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Margaret Noy fell victim to a phishing scam after clicking on a fraudulent email impersonating Centrelink and providing her account details, resulting in a $1,600 fraudulent application and unauthorized bank account change within an hour. Services Australia reported a sharp rise in government impersonation scams, with 10,060 unique scams observed in 2023-24 compared to 3,936 the previous year, and calls to their scams helpline increased from 18,412 to 22,451. The agency recommends using strong security measures such as passpasses, Digital ID, and two-factor authentication to protect accounts.
dailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Santa Monica software developer lost $740,000 in a "pig butchering" romance scam in which a scammer spent two months building trust and romantic connection before pitching a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme. The scam, which originated in China in 2019 and expanded globally during the pandemic, involves networks of scammers posing as romantic partners to exploit victims over weeks or months, with California residents losing over $1.1 billion to cryptocurrency investment scams in 2023 alone, and some victims driven to suicide after devastating financial losses.
prameyanews.com
· 2025-12-08
WhatsApp scams in India increased 37% in 2023, with fraudsters using fake job offers, impersonation schemes, and phishing messages to target users. Three case studies illustrate the impact: a 26-year-old lost ₹5,000 to a job offer scam, a 45-year-old bank employee lost ₹1.5 lakh to a KYC update scam, and a 62-year-old grandmother lost ₹50,000 to a grandparent impersonation scam. Experts recommend digital literacy education, immediate reporting through cybercrime.gov.in, preserving evidence, and maintaining
mypolice.qld.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
Cairns Police issued a public awareness alert about romance scams, in which perpetrators establish fake online identities to build trust with victims before requesting money or personal information. A recent case involved a 60-year-old Cairns woman who lost $200,000 to a scammer who gradually gained her trust over time. Police advise residents to be cautious of unsolicited online requests, verify identities in person before financial transactions, and report suspected scams to authorities or support services like ScamWatch or ID Care.
au.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old Cairns woman lost $200,000 to a romance scammer who built trust with her through fake social media profiles before requesting money. Cairns Police have issued a warning about romance scams, which typically involve scammers posing as genuine individuals who gradually build relationships and convince victims to send funds via cash, bank transfers, or cryptocurrency. Police advise potential victims to verify the identity of online contacts before making any financial transactions and recommend contacting banks, blocking scammers, and changing passwords if victimized.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This alert describes 10 common scams targeting middle-aged and elderly people, including digital arrest threats, fake family member arrests, fraudulent stock trading schemes promising 30-40% returns, easy money offers, customs parcel interception claims, unauthorized credit card issuance, fake money transfer notifications, expired KYC update requests, and bogus tax refund calls. Each scam is accompanied by protective notes advising victims to verify claims directly with family members or institutions, avoid clicking suspicious links, check bank accounts independently, and recognize that schemes offering unusually high returns or easy money are typically fraudulent.
thelocal.dk
· 2025-12-08
Danish police have identified that criminals targeting senior citizens in phone scams use public telephone directory websites like krak.dk to locate potential victims by searching for names common among elderly populations. The scammers typically impersonate bank representatives claiming the victim's card has been hacked, then pose as bank couriers to collect cash, bank cards, and jewelry from victims' homes. Police recommend that relatives help elderly family members remove their details from public directories to prevent these increasingly common fraud cases.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
A Revolut customer lost £165,000 in February after scammers bypassed the app's security measures by impersonating Revolut support, tricking him into authorizing payments to fraudulent accounts he believed were legitimate. The BBC investigation found that Revolut received more fraud reports than major UK banks in the last financial year, with the customer claiming the company failed to prevent the breach through inadequate ID verification, delayed account freezing (23 minutes), and insufficient monitoring of 137 suspicious transactions made within one hour. Revolut has refused to refund the stolen money and maintains it has robust security controls.
upi.com
· 2025-12-08
Following hurricanes Helene and Milton, federal agencies and NGOs warn of a surge in disaster-related fraud targeting victims during rebuilding efforts. Common scams include fraudulent contractors requesting upfront payments, fake charities soliciting donations, and scammers claiming to help secure FEMA funding for fees, with an estimated $9.3 billion lost annually to post-disaster fraud. Experts recommend homeowners verify contractors are licensed and bonded, review all insurance documents before signing agreements, avoid pressure tactics, and never sign blank contracts to protect themselves from fraudsters.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are employing AI and sophisticated tactics to target victims across age groups in India, including fresh graduates (fake job offers), middle-aged parents (police threat scams), and retirees (KYC update phishing). From January to May 2024, Indian citizens filed approximately 9.5 lakh cybercrime complaints and lost around Rs 1,750 crore to various scams including TRAI impersonation, fake digital arrests, fraudulent stock trading schemes, and easy money-for-tasks schemes.
corporate-adviser.com
· 2025-12-08
Research from WEALTH at Work found that 13% of UK adults fell victim to pension scams in the past year, part of a total 6.2 million people affected by financial fraud overall, with victims losing an average of £1,000. Pension scams typically involved fake promises of guaranteed returns or early access to pensions, while other prevalent scams included purchase scams (27%), investment scams (19%), romance scams (14%), and tax refund scams (10%). The research emphasizes that fraudsters use professional-looking materials and multiple contact methods to appear legitimate, and recommends that people verify company registration with the Financial Conduct Authority, never rush financial decisions, and follow the
asiaone.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old woman in Singapore lost $197,000 to a technical support scam after clicking a pop-up prompting her to contact "Microsoft," which led scammers to impersonate a Singapore Police Force cybercrime officer and gain access to her bank accounts via screen-sharing software. Singapore and Hong Kong police collaborated to successfully recover the full amount from a Hong Kong-based bank account. The police advised the public to use protective apps like ScamShield, verify suspicious contacts through official sources, and immediately report fraudulent transactions to banks and authorities.
articles.listnr.com
· 2025-12-08
A 60-year-old woman lost $200,000 to a romance scammer who built trust with her through fake social media profiles before requesting money transfers. Police warn that romance scams typically begin with unsolicited messages from fake accounts that move conversations to other platforms, and scammers use fabricated stories about financial difficulties to solicit payments via bank transfers or cryptocurrency. Authorities advise victims and their families to verify in-person before sending money, immediately contact financial institutions if compromised, and report the scam to cybercrime units.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
The digital arrest scam is a rising threat in India where scammers impersonate courier service representatives and police officers to threaten victims with arrest for alleged involvement in smuggling, coercing them to share sensitive information like Aadhaar numbers and bank details. The NCR police reported 600 cases within three months with losses exceeding Rs 20 lakh each, with scammers using personal data obtained through breaches and psychological manipulation to keep victims in a constant state of fear and compliance. To protect yourself, never trust unsolicited calls from unknown numbers claiming to represent courier companies or law enforcement, and always verify by contacting official channels directly rather than providing sensitive information or following instructions to isol
chicoer.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot provide a summary for this content. The text appears to be a header or navigation element for a news website rather than an actual article about a scam, fraud, or elder abuse incident. It only contains publication information and contact details for reporting scams, with no substantive content to summarize.
If you have an actual article about a specific scam or fraud case, please share that and I'll be happy to summarize it for the Elderus database.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are targeting Ledger cryptocurrency wallet users with phishing emails falsely claiming that activating a "Ledger Clear Signing" feature is mandatory by October 31 to continue using their devices, with the malicious links directing users to fake websites to steal their login credentials and crypto assets. In September alone, phishing attacks stole approximately $46 million from about 10,800 victims, with the largest single attack draining $32.4 million in digital assets. Ledger's CTO emphasized that the company will never ask users to share account details or seed phrases, and users should avoid clicking suspicious links or providing personal information to unknown sources.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
A senior citizen from Berea, Ohio lost nearly $20,000 to a tech support scam after clicking on a fake Microsoft popup warning. The scammer gained remote access to her computer, then convinced her to withdraw cash from two PNC Bank locations and convert it to Bitcoin at a gas station ATM while staying on the phone with her throughout the process. The Federal Trade Commission advises never calling numbers on popups, shutting down your computer immediately, and reporting such scams to help investigate these widespread criminal networks.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns of increased healthcare scams during Medicare and Affordable Care Act open enrollment periods (October 15-December 7 and November 1-January 15, respectively). Scammers pose as government officials or healthcare advocates and contact consumers via unsolicited phone calls, emails, or in-person visits requesting personal information like Social Security numbers and medical IDs in exchange for gifts or better deals. Consumers should verify contact legitimacy by checking official websites ending in ".gov," remembering that legitimate navigators never charge for assistance, and hanging up on unexpected calls.
irs.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Following Hurricanes Milton and Helene, the IRS warned taxpayers about scammers operating fake charities to steal money and personal information from donors seeking to help disaster survivors. The agency advises donors to verify charities using the Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) tool before giving, and to avoid payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers, never share sensitive personal information, and resist pressure to donate immediately. Only donations to IRS-qualified tax-exempt organizations are tax-deductible.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses the growing threat of real-time video deepfakes used for fraud, describing how Reality Defender and other companies are developing detection tools to combat the problem. Recent cases include a US Senate chairman being deceived by a fake Ukrainian official video call and an engineering company losing millions to deepfake video fraud, with romance scams also employing the technique. Multiple approaches are being developed, including Reality Defender's planned Zoom plug-in and academic research on challenge-based authentication, though these detection tools remain unavailable to the general public.
wmar2news.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
This article describes a "brushing" scam where unsolicited packages containing inexpensive items like ping pong balls or seeds are sent to consumers without their knowledge or order. Scammers use these shipments to generate fake positive reviews and boost seller credibility on online retail platforms, and may subsequently contact recipients demanding payment. Victims should not pay for unsolicited items, secure their personal information on online retailer accounts, and report the scam to the Better Business Bureau.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Security experts are warning that AI-driven phishing scams targeting Gmail accounts have become increasingly sophisticated, using fake Google notifications, convincing AI-generated phone calls, and counterfeit Google pages to deceive users. High-profile targets including Microsoft security experts and tech executives have recently fallen victim to these attacks. Google is addressing the threat through a new Global Signal Exchange launched with partners including Amazon and Meta to track scam URLs and phishing attempts, while recommending users familiarize themselves with anti-phishing policies and consider using Advanced Protection Program features like hardware security keys.
zdnet.com
· 2025-12-08
A Microsoft consultant received a sophisticated AI-powered scam targeting Gmail users that combined fake account recovery notifications, spoofed Google phone numbers and email addresses, and an AI voice impersonating a Google employee to trick users into revealing account recovery codes or visiting fake login portals. The scam was detected when the AI voice repeated "Hello" identically, prompting the victim to hang up, though red flags included unsolicited account recovery notifications, Google's policy of not calling personal users, and inconsistencies in email headers and recipient fields. Users can protect themselves by verifying suspicious communications through their account security settings, checking for recent unauthorized logins, and remembering that legitimate tech support will never contact users unprompte
advertiserandtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Two romance scams targeted Lymington residents, with fraudsters posing as Brad Pitt to contact a woman in her 70s via Facebook, and another scammer using a dating website to target a man in his 20s who lost £1,300. These incidents follow previous celebrity impersonation scams in the New Forest area, including a woman in her 90s who lost £13,000 to a fake Sir Tom Jones account and a man in his 60s who lost £910 to a Celine Dion impersonator. Hampshire police urged the public to recognize that wealthy celebrities would never request money from strangers online and encouraged vulnerable individuals and their relatives to exercise caution when
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 people involved in a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded victims from multiple countries of $46 million between October 2023 and the investigation's conclusion. The syndicate used AI-generated photos and deepfake technology to pose as attractive women in online relationships, convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms while showing fabricated transaction records and discussing false future plans. The operation was highly organized with specialized roles in scamming, technical support, and accounting, with individual fraudsters earning tens of thousands of dollars monthly.
cnn.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 members of a sophisticated romance scam ring that used deepfake AI technology to defraud victims across Asia of more than $46 million. The well-organized gang, composed of young university graduates, posed as attractive women to lure victims into fake romantic relationships, then coerced them to invest in a bogus cryptocurrency platform, using a detailed training manual to manipulate victims' emotions and trust. The scam operated for approximately one year before police raids in August recovered over 100 cell phones, nearly $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches.
wfsb.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Connecticut impersonated the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging to target grieving seniors, using the agency's trusted name to pressure victims into revealing credit card information for fake funeral and burial contracts. The fraudsters identified vulnerable seniors by monitoring obituaries and exploiting their recent losses. Officials warn that legitimate organizations will never pressure callers for immediate payment and encourage seniors to report such scams to the national elder fraud hotline at 833-FRAUD-11.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 29-year-old Bengaluru businessman lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam in which fraudsters impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and CBI, falsely claiming his phone number was linked to money laundering and threatening legal consequences. The scammers pressured the victim to transfer 80% of his bank balance to a supposedly secure RBI account for "verification" after having him download Signal to record a fake video statement. The article advises victims to verify caller claims directly with organizations, avoid sharing personal information or transferring funds in response to unsolicited calls, be cautious of urgency-inducing tactics
autogpt.net
· 2025-12-08
AI-enhanced phishing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect, with cybercriminals using AI to create convincing emails, messages, and voice calls that mimic legitimate services like Gmail account recovery requests. Google is combating this threat through initiatives like the Global Signal Exchange—a collaborative platform that detects and blocks scam patterns in real time—and the Advanced Protection Program for high-risk users, which uses passkeys and stronger authentication methods. Users are advised to verify contact information through official channels, remember that Google never initiates account recovery contacts directly, and remain vigilant about suspicious details like unnatural voice patterns that may indicate AI involvement.
brooklynpaper.com
· 2025-12-08
On September 30, Taeli Kim, owner of Sonbul Café in Brooklyn, lost over $5,000 to utility impostor scammers who claimed to represent his electric company, threatened service disconnection, and used personal information to appear legitimate. The scammers used a guest payment system to intercept funds before they reached his account, jeopardizing his ability to make payroll for his newly opened restaurant. Kim launched a GoFundMe that raised nearly the full amount within three days, supported by over 100 local donors.
benzinga.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
UK fitness influencer Carly Rowena lost £5,700 ($7,450) in a cryptocurrency scam after transferring assets to a fraudulent Instagram account she believed belonged to a financial expert, but which was actually controlled by a scammer who had compromised her friend's profile. Rowena advised others to avoid deals appearing "too good to be true," verify communications through trusted contacts, and keep screenshots as proof before making financial decisions. The incident reflects a broader pattern of crypto fraud, with the FBI recently dismantling a $25 million crypto fraud ring, and regulatory officials noting the cryptocurrency sector accounts for a disproportionately large share of scams despite being a small part of
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This roundup covers multiple news stories, including one relevant to elder fraud: Hong Kong police reported a deepfake romance scam in which artificial intelligence was used to create fake video calls of an attractive woman to defraud men of $46 million. The article also covers unrelated topics such as parenting stress, AI risks, credit card debt concerns, and tourism regulations.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 individuals, primarily tech and digital media graduates aged 21-34, for operating a sophisticated deepfake romance scam that defrauded victims across Asia of over $46 million. The organized criminal ring used AI-generated deepfake personas of attractive women to initiate romantic relationships with male victims in Singapore, India, Taiwan, and elsewhere, then manipulated them into investing in fake cryptocurrency platforms through a structured operation with training manuals and specialized departments. The scam operated for approximately one year before law enforcement dismantled the operation in a raid that seized over 100 cell phones, nearly $26,000 in cash, and luxury watches.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
Maharashtra Cyber Department warned citizens about deepfake scams using AI to create realistic fake videos and audio of celebrities and high-profile individuals to impersonate them and request urgent financial transfers or sensitive information. In one documented case, a 68-year-old businessman from Powai lost Rs 80,000 after receiving a fake call with an AI-cloned voice of his son, falsely claiming he was arrested by the Indian Embassy in Dubai. The alert recommends restricting social media privacy settings, avoiding unknown friend requests, and reporting suspicious communications to authorities.
securitybrief.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Bitdefender launched Scam Copilot, an AI-powered platform designed to detect and prevent online scams across multiple communication channels and devices. The platform addresses a critical need—the Global Anti-Scam Alliance reported over $1 trillion in global scam losses in 2023, with 78% of surveyed individuals experiencing at least one scam—by offering real-time monitoring, geo-specific alerts, and tailored protections for vulnerable populations including seniors. Scam Copilot integrates AI and threat intelligence to counter increasingly sophisticated scams, including text message and phishing attacks enhanced by Large Language Models, and is now available in Bitdefender's Ultimate and Premium Security packages
marketrealist.com
· 2025-12-08
A vigilant bank teller in Australia prevented a 70-year-old woman from losing millions in a dating scam by asking probing questions about her decision to sell her home, ultimately discovering the woman was being manipulated by an online boyfriend who claimed to need money for overseas prison bail—a classic romance scam tactic that was confirmed through a reverse image search. The article also describes a similar incident where a Scottish postal employee protected an elderly woman from a bank impersonation scam, highlighting how alert employees can serve as critical safeguards against fraud that cost consumers approximately $8.8 billion in 2022.
ksat.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers in Comal County, Texas are calling residents impersonating sheriff's office employees and demanding payments for fake warrants, claiming citations exist for failing to appear before a grand jury and threatening to issue warrants if payment is not made. The Comal County Sheriff's Office clarified that it does not accept warrant payments over the phone and advises residents to verify calls by independently contacting the agency at 830-620-3400.
foxbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Insurance fraud scams cost approximately $40 billion annually in the U.S., with household costs reaching $400-$700 per year. Consumers should be aware of four common home and auto insurance scams: unsolicited contractor offers (particularly after natural disasters), fraudulent "free" windshield repair claims, phishing calls and emails posing as insurance companies to steal personal information, and exaggerated damage or injury claims. Protecting yourself involves obtaining multiple contractor estimates, verifying licensing, contacting your insurance company directly before authorizing repairs, and being cautious of unsolicited contact offering suspicious deals.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages claiming recipients are not registered to vote, directing them to fake websites like all-vote.com and votewin.org to harvest personal information including names, addresses, emails, dates of birth, and phone numbers. Election officials in Michigan and Pennsylvania warned voters to be cautious of these messages, which can be identified as scams by their unsolicited nature, suspicious domains, requests for unnecessary personal data, and grammatical errors. To verify voter registration safely, Americans should use the official government website vote.gov rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This article explains Zelle, a peer-to-peer payment service vulnerable to fraud because transfers are often irreversible. According to a congressional investigation, customers at Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo disputed $166 million in Zelle fraud in 2023, but only 38% was reimbursed; from 2021-2023, the three banks rejected approximately $560 million in scam disputes. The article outlines seven common Zelle scams including account takeover, employment schemes, charity fraud, marketplace and rental scams, and impersonation scams, providing awareness and protective guidance for users.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated AI-powered phishing scam targeting Gmail users uses fake account recovery notifications, spoofed Google phone numbers, AI-generated voice calls, and email spoofing via Salesforce CRM to impersonate Google support and trick victims into confirming passwords or account access. The scam is harder to detect than traditional phishing because it combines multiple deceptive tactics including legitimate-appearing caller IDs, professional-sounding AI voices, and emails spoofed from Google domains. Users should verify requests by checking email addresses for non-Google domains, remembering that Google does not call users proactively unless they have a Business Profile, and avoiding clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A widow in Scotland discovered that scammers created a fake Facebook page called "David Rodger Funeral Service Live Stream" the day after her husband's funeral in October, attempting to trick mourners into paying to watch a livestream of the service; over 100 people had joined the page before it was discovered and removed by Meta. Although no one fell victim to this particular scam, the funeral director confirmed multiple clients had experienced the same issue, indicating this is a widespread fraud targeting grieving families during vulnerable moments.
lokmattimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 31-year-old woman from Thane, India lost ₹17 lakhs (₹1.7 million) in a sophisticated impersonation scam where fraudsters posing as police and narcotics officials claimed she had sent illegal drugs to Taiwan and pressured her into taking a bank loan under threat of legal action. The scammers initiated contact via phone call, used video calls on Skype to appear legitimate, and directed the victim to transfer the funds online. Kapurbawdi Police have registered a case and warn citizens to avoid sharing personal or banking information with unknown callers claiming authority regarding suspicious courier packages.
indiatvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A surge in online scams targeting senior citizens has resulted in significant financial losses, exemplified by a woman in her 60s from Noida who lost Rs 50,000 after a caller impersonated a client of her husband and convinced her to transfer funds under false pretenses. Scammers exploit urgency, false familiarity, and social engineering across multiple channels including phone calls, phishing messages, fake e-commerce sites, and investment schemes. To protect themselves, seniors should verify caller identities through official channels, never share OTPs or passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and report suspicious activities immediately to their bank or cybercrime authorities.
digit.in
· 2025-12-08
A 29-year-old Bengaluru businessman lost Rs 14.57 lakh in a digital arrest scam in September 2024 after receiving calls from fraudsters impersonating TRAI and CBI officials who accused him of money laundering and threatened "digital arrest." The scammers pressured him to transfer nearly 80% of his bank balance to purportedly secure RBI accounts for verification over the course of a week before he filed a complaint on October 3. The article advises protecting against such scams by never sharing personal information based on unsolicited calls, verifying claims directly with official organizations, avoiding responses to urgency tactics, and reporting suspicious contact to authorities
pcworld.com
· 2025-12-08
A Hong Kong-based scam ring of 27 people used romance-fraud schemes combined with real-time deepfake video technology to steal approximately $46 million from victims across China, Taiwan, India, and Singapore. The scammers created fake profiles with AI-generated photos, built romantic relationships through messaging, and when victims requested video verification, used deepfake software to convincingly impersonate the attractive women in their profiles before convincing targets to "invest" in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. This "pig butchering" technique, which has reportedly stolen as much as $75 billion globally, is expanding internationally with increasing sophistication as AI tools make it easier for organized crime rings to create convincing
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
A global law enforcement operation called SOGA X conducted in June and July across 28 countries arrested over 5,100 people and shut down tens of thousands of illegal gambling websites, recovering more than $59 million in illicit proceeds during the UEFA 2024 European Football Championship. The crackdown exposed links between illegal gambling operations and organized cybercrime centers involved in human trafficking, romance scams, and "pig butchering" fraud schemes, with one Philippine raid rescuing over 650 trafficking victims who had been forced to conduct online fraud. Notable takedowns included dismantling a Vietnamese gambling ring generating $800,000 daily and disrupting organized crime operations in Thailand, Greece, an
odishabytes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are increasingly using deepfake technology and artificial intelligence to perpetrate fraud, employing tactics including romance scams (where victims are lured into fake relationships and defrauded of millions), "digital arrest" schemes (where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to coerce victims into extended video calls and payments), and investment scams using deepfake videos of celebrities like Virat Kohli and Ratan Tata to promote fraudulent apps. Notable victims include men across Taiwan, Singapore, and India who lost over $46 million to romance scams, and Indian textile baron SP Oswal who was defrauded of $833,000 after being
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Hong Kong police arrested 27 people in October for operating a crypto romance investment scam that used AI deepfakes to defraud victims of $46.3 million. The scammers, mostly targeting men from mainland China, Taiwan, India, and Singapore, posed as women using deepfake technology to lure victims into fake cryptocurrency investment schemes operated from an industrial building in Hung Hom. The operation employed university graduates in digital media and overseas IT professionals to build the fraudulent platform and develop training materials for the deepfake scams.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
Real estate fraudsters in Phoenix use tactics including recording false deeds to assume property ownership, passing fake cashier's checks, and selling land they don't own, leaving homeowners and title companies unable to remove squatters. Experts recommend verifying funds through wire transactions, using secure communication, and working with trusted real estate professionals to protect against these scams. Maricopa County has implemented measures to prevent property theft, though incidents continue to occur.