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
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercrime marketplaces are dramatically lowering the barriers to entry for fraud, enabling less-skilled individuals to conduct sophisticated scams through "cybercrime-as-a-service" platforms that sell malicious tools, stolen data, and hacking expertise. These organized underground markets—including darknet sites and public platforms like Huione Guarantee—operate with corporate-like structures and cryptocurrency payments to facilitate illicit activities, with vendors on major platforms processing billions in transactions. Experts warn this professionalization and accessibility of cybercrime resources poses unprecedented global cybersecurity and fraud threats.
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reissued a consumer alert on "pig butchering" scams during National Consumer Protection Week, describing a sophisticated fraud that combines romance scams with cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting seniors. The scam typically begins with fraudsters creating fake profiles on dating apps or social media to build trust with victims before gradually introducing fake investment opportunities in cryptocurrency, often promising unrealistic returns. Nessel and AARP experts recommend consumers avoid sending money to online-only contacts, never share financial information with strangers, and be suspicious of unsolicited investment opportunities, with AARP's ElderWatch program available to help at 800-222-4444.
citinewsroom.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has been investigating at least 107 romance scam cases since 2021, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence to deceive victims, and recovered approximately 2 million Ghana cedis in 2024 alone. EOCO launched a fraud reporting campaign in partnership with the UK's National Crime Agency to combat romance fraud through whistleblower mechanisms and international cooperation, emphasizing the need for cross-border collaboration among law enforcement agencies. The campaign encourages public reporting of suspicious activities to help protect victims from the devastating financial and emotional effects of romance scams.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) announced a significant rise in romance scams, with 107 active cases currently under investigation. EOCO is collaborating with international partners including the FBI and the Financial Intelligence Center to combat the fraud, and recovered approximately GH¢2 million in 2024 as part of these efforts.
hbcubuzz.com
· 2025-12-08
Over half of dating app users encounter potential scammers, with romance scams causing $1.14 billion in losses in 2023, prompting singles to use background-checking services like Instant Checkmate before meeting matches. The article explains that catfishing and romance fraud have become widespread problems, particularly affecting women under 50 (56% report unwanted explicit content) and men under 50 (63% encounter scammers), making digital due diligence an increasingly common safety practice. Background verification services aggregate public records including criminal histories, address information, and social media profiles to help daters make informed decisions about potential matches.
wfmj.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers are using AI-generated fake profiles on dating apps to conduct romance scams targeting cryptocurrency from users. After building a false romantic connection over time, the automated bots request money transfers through cryptocurrency banking sites, with profiles designed to appear believable through realistic photos and conversational abilities. Users are advised to report suspicious profiles to police or dating app support teams and to ignore requests for money, as AI advancement makes prevention training more effective than technological countermeasures.
mylethbridgenow.com
· 2025-12-08
Lethbridge Police warn of romance and relationship scams where fraudsters build trust with victims through fake online profiles on dating sites and social media, then request money under various pretexts. Red flags include excessive flattery ("love bombing"), reluctance to meet in person, claims of working overseas, requests for secrecy, and offers of investment coaching, with victims advised to refuse contact, protect personal information, and avoid sending money to strangers online. Victims are encouraged to report incidents to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (if no financial loss occurred) or to their bank and local police (if money was lost), as reports help prevent future victims even if immediate recovery is unlikely.
blackburn.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act to require dating apps to notify users who have interacted with individuals removed for fraudulent activity, addressing a growing threat to senior citizens. Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022, with Tennesseans over 60 losing $43 million in 2023 alone, as scammers target recently widowed or divorced seniors through fake identities and move conversations to private platforms after account deactivation.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
As romance scams targeting seniors surge, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users if they've communicated with someone banned for fraud. According to the FTC, nearly 70,000 Americans reported romance scam victimization in 2022, with people aged 70 and older experiencing median losses of $9,475, and Tennessee seniors over 60 losing $43 million in 2023. The legislation would be enforced by the FTC and allow state attorneys general to bring civil actions, addressing a growing threat exemplified by cases like Aurora Phelps, who was charged with using dating
newschannel9.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennessee seniors lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with an 18% increase from the previous year, largely driven by romance scams on dating apps where fraudsters build trust before requesting money for emergencies or loans. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act to require dating apps to notify users who have interacted with accounts banned for fraudulent activity, including the banned member's profile details and fraud warnings. The bill would be enforceable by the FTC and state attorneys general, addressing a national problem where romance scams alone cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022.
tampafp.com
· 2025-12-08
Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act to protect dating app users, particularly seniors, from romance scams that cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022 and $43 million to Tennessee seniors over 60 in 2023 alone. The bill requires dating platforms to notify users when they have interacted with someone banned for fraud, addressing a gap where scammers shift conversations to private platforms like WhatsApp to avoid detection. Romance scam losses increased 70% between 2020 and 2022, with median individual losses of $4,400, prompting support from advocacy groups like AARP, though tech companies have raise
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Portland woman Katie Powell lost $40,000 through a romance scam on Tinder after matching with a man who claimed to be a civil engineer and convinced her to send money for a supposed medical emergency. The scammer used a fabricated hospital photo of MLB pitcher Phil Hughes and fake documentation to build trust over rapid texting conversations before the scheme unraveled when fraudulent credit card payments failed and her accounts were frozen. Cyber experts warn daters to watch for red flags including requests to move off dating apps, avoidance of video calls, sob stories, and requests for money, especially from those claiming to be abroad or traveling.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old retired care worker lost £22,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a widower named "Daniel Peeters" on Match.com over a four-month period from June to November. The fraudster used stolen photographs and fabricated increasingly elaborate stories—including a frozen bank account, a hospital accident, and marriage proposals—to manipulate the victim into making repeated wire transfers. Fortunately, solicitors from the National Fraud Helpline recovered all of the victim's lost funds through a fraud reclaim scheme.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghana's Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has raised concerns about rising romance scams in the country, with 107 active cases under investigation since 2021. EOCO recovered approximately 2 million Ghana cedis in 2024 and is partnering with the UK's National Crime Agency and international law enforcement agencies to combat the fraud through improved intelligence sharing and whistleblowing strategies.
wgnsradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeting seniors on dating apps have escalated significantly, prompting Senator Marsha Blackburn to introduce the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating platforms to notify users about fraudulent accounts they've interacted with. Seniors lost $1.3 billion nationally to romance scams in 2022, with Tennessee residents over 60 alone losing $43 million in 2023—an 18% increase year-over-year—as scammers exploit recently widowed or divorced individuals seeking meaningful connections.
thinkstewartville.com
· 2025-12-08
A man in Shanghai lost over $26,000 in an AI-powered romance scam where he believed he was in a genuine relationship with a woman who was actually a sophisticated artificial intelligence program. The scammers used AI-generated photos and videos, fabricated medical reports and identity documents, and created false scenarios requiring financial assistance to manipulate the victim into transferring approximately 200,000 yuan. The case illustrates the growing threat of AI-enabled fraud and highlights the emotional and financial devastation these scams inflict on victims seeking genuine human connection.
wcyb.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennessee seniors lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with an 18% increase from the previous year, largely driven by romance scams on dating apps where perpetrators build trust before requesting money or financial access. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users if they've communicated with someone banned for fraudulent activity and include warnings about potential scam attempts. The bill would be enforceable by the FTC and state attorneys general, addressing a nationwide problem in which romance scams alone cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeting older Americans are on the rise, with the FTC reporting nearly 70,000 victims in 2022, with people over 70 suffering median losses of $9,475. Bipartisan lawmakers introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users who have interacted with accounts banned for fraudulent activity, enforced by the FTC and state attorneys general. The legislation was prompted by cases like that of 43-year-old Aurora Phelps, who met older men on dating sites, drugged them, and stole from their accounts, resulting in at least two deaths and 21 criminal charges against her.
wmur.com
· 2025-12-08
A global gift card fraud ring with ties to New Hampshire resulted in millions of dollars in losses from October 2023 through January 2024, with victims targeted through romance scams, elder fraud, and store card tampering to purchase high-end electronics that were resold overseas. Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty in federal court, with prosecutors linking them to $4.8 million in fraudulent gift card purchases; a Salem warehouse search uncovered approximately $8 million in goods. Homeland Security Investigations and the New Hampshire U.S. Attorney's Office have established a restitution program allowing victims to recover funds by submitting gift card numbers and purchase receipts by June 30, 2024.
cryptopolitan.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not about elder fraud and falls outside the scope of Elderus, which focuses on scams and abuse affecting seniors. The piece discusses bot activity on the X platform in general, with some mention of cryptocurrency scams, but does not address elder-specific fraud, elder abuse, or target elderly populations. It would not be appropriate to summarize for this database.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao called on Elon Musk to ban automated bots from X (formerly Twitter), which are used to spam the platform and perpetrate scams including fake token promotions, phishing attacks, and pump-and-dump schemes targeting crypto investors. Automated bots on X have also been weaponized for romance scams using AI-generated content and coordinated price manipulation of altcoins, though Musk has proposed solutions such as charging account creation fees without successfully implementing widespread bot controls since acquiring the platform in 2022.
thenightly.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Hundreds of fake Facebook accounts impersonating actor Martin Henderson have been used in a global romance scam targeting vulnerable women, with at least one US divorcee losing $375,000 over two years believing she was in a relationship with the star. The fake accounts, many operated from Nigeria, use stolen images from Henderson's official Instagram and Virgin River publicity materials to build emotional connections with middle-aged and lonely women before requesting money for travel, medical emergencies, or investments. Henderson has warned fans that he maintains only one verified Instagram account and experts advise looking for poor English and suspicious requests as warning signs of these catfish schemes.
irishmirror.ie
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old retired care worker lost €25,000 to a romance scammer who posed as "Daniel Peeters," a widowed businessman, after they met on Match.com in May. Over four months, the fraudster used romantic gestures, fabricated emergencies (frozen bank accounts, business deals, a taxi accident), and fake documents to manipulate her into sending multiple wire transfers. Fortunately, solicitors from the National Fraud Helpline recovered all of her lost funds through a fraud reclaim scheme.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Shenzhen, China, defrauded at least 36 men by posing as a romantic partner on dating apps, convincing each to purchase apartments in Huizhou residential developments over the course of a month or two before disappearing and cutting off contact. The victims, primarily men in their 30s working in Shenzhen, were left with substantial mortgage payments and emotional trauma after discovering the coordinated romance scam. The perpetrator, Liu Jia, leveraged developer incentives and promises of marriage to make the property purchases seem legitimate before refusing to add her name to ownership documents and severing all ties with each victim.
sooleader.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a consumer alert during National Consumer Protection Week about "pig butchering" scams, which combine romance fraud with cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting seniors. The scam operates by criminals building trust with victims through fake online profiles on dating sites and social media, then gradually persuading them to invest in bogus cryptocurrency opportunities through fraudulent websites. Consumers are advised to avoid sending money to online contacts, refrain from sharing financial information with strangers, be skeptical of promises of quick returns, and contact AARP's ElderWatch program at 800-222-4444 for peer counseling if they suspect fraud.
wsmv.com
· 2025-12-08
Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act with Senator John Hickenlooper, which would require dating apps to alert users about potential scammers and provide fraud prevention guidance. The legislation addresses a growing problem where romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022, with seniors particularly vulnerable to losing their life savings to con artists on dating platforms.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Katie Powell, a single mother from Portland, Oregon, lost $40,000 to a romance scammer on Tinder who posed as a civil engineer working in Turkey and used fabricated photos and emotional manipulation to build trust over several months before requesting money. The scammer also fraudulently moved $750,000 into her Vanguard retirement account, which was frozen and the funds disappeared; romance scams are increasingly prevalent, with the FTC reporting approximately 70,000 victims in 2022 alone, particularly targeting people ages 40-69, and one in ten dating app profiles are reportedly fake profiles created by scammers using AI technology.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Katie Powell, a single mother from Portland, Oregon, was scammed out of $40,000 by a romance scammer on Tinder who posed as a civil engineer working in Turkey. The scammer used fabricated photos (including a Photoshopped image of MLB pitcher Phil Hughes) and months of intensive communication to build trust before requesting money for medical emergencies, eventually moving $750,000 into her Vanguard retirement account before the funds disappeared. The article highlights that romance scams are increasingly prevalent on dating apps, with approximately 70,000 people targeted in 2022 alone, often using AI-generated fake profiles, and affecting vulnerable individuals seeking companionship.
dfpi.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) shut down over 26 crypto scam websites in 2024 through its Crypto Scam Tracker and partnership with the state DOJ, uncovering $4.6 million in consumer losses across 2,668 complaints. The agency identified seven new scam types including bitcoin mining, crypto gaming, and crypto job scams, and increased its posted alerts to 303 while receiving over 400,000 unique visitors to the tracker. Authorities urge consumers to report suspected scams immediately, verify website domains, and avoid sending money to unknown contacts, as scammers employ increasingly sophisticated deception and emotional manipulation tactics.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Scam Tracker Report identified investment and cryptocurrency scams as the top fraud type, with over 80% of victims losing money (median loss of $5,000) through financial grooming tactics. Other prevalent scams included employment scams (14% of reports), romance scams (highest median losses), and online shopping scams (30% of reports), with seniors aged 65+ losing the most money on average ($160) despite being least likely to fall victim. Publishers Clearing House, USPS, PayPal, and Amazon were the most commonly impersonated organizations in reported scams.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old woman in the Pacific Northwest lost $300,000 to an elaborate computer help desk scam in which criminals impersonating tech workers, investment officers, and a U.S. marshal convinced her over weeks of lengthy phone calls that her investment account had been hacked and instructed her to liquidate funds and purchase gold to "protect" her money. The scam devastated her entire family, eliminating her retirement savings and funds earmarked for her children's down payments and grandchildren's education, and may force her to sell her home to cover resulting tax debt. The case illustrates how scam victims' family members become "secondary victims" experiencing emotional, financial, and care
riponadvance.com
· 2025-12-08
Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act (S. 841) to combat romance scams that target senior citizens, particularly widowed and divorced individuals seeking connections on dating apps. According to the FTC, romance scams caused victims to lose $1.3 billion in 2022. The proposed legislation would require dating app providers to notify users when they have interacted with someone whose account was removed for fraud, aiming to protect vulnerable seniors from financial exploitation.
ottumwaradio.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, scams cost Iowa consumers over $50 million across nearly 14,000 reported fraud cases, with a median loss of $400 per victim. Seniors aged 80 and older, though representing a small number of victims, suffered the largest average losses at approximately $2,000 each, with investment schemes ($20 million) and romance scams ($8 million) accounting for the costliest fraud categories. The most frequently reported scams involved business/government impersonation, online shopping fraud, and prize/sweepstakes schemes.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides seven key safety recommendations to protect against romance scams. The advice focuses on recognizing red flags in online relationships and safeguarding personal finances from scammers who build emotional connections to exploit victims' trust and money.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Katie Powell, a single mother from Portland, Oregon, was scammed out of $40,000 by a romance scammer posing as a civil engineer on Tinder who used Photoshopped images and emotional manipulation to gain her trust over several months. The scammer eventually convinced Powell to send money by claiming financial hardship and hospitalization, and later deposited $750,000 into her Vanguard retirement account—funds that were frozen and disappeared when the scheme unraveled. Romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals are increasingly common on dating apps, with approximately 70,000 people reporting such fraud to the FTC in 2022, and experts note that one in ten
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, the FTC received 2.6 million fraud reports (stable compared to 2023), but the percentage of victims who lost money increased significantly from 27% to 38%, representing a 25% overall increase in reported losses. Investment scams led all categories with $5.7 billion in losses (up 24%), followed by imposter scams at $2.95 billion, with government imposter scams alone reaching $789 million; consumers increasingly paid scammers via bank transfers and cryptocurrency.
news24.com
· 2025-12-08
Gen Z and Gen Alpha are surprisingly twice as likely to fall victim to online scams, phishing, and social media account hacks compared to baby boomers, despite being digital natives. In the workplace, younger employees prioritize cybersecurity on personal devices over work-issued ones, creating organizational vulnerabilities, while older workers demonstrate greater caution and compliance with security protocols. The research suggests that younger generations' overconfidence in their digital skills and comfort with online sharing leaves them more exposed to cyber threats than older, more security-conscious populations.
luxtimes.lu
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational piece providing advice on protecting oneself from online scams. The expert outlines common scam types—including phishing emails, fake websites, investment schemes, romance scams, tech support scams, lottery scams, and job scams—and recommends protective practices such as being cautious with personal information, verifying requests directly with service providers, using strong passwords, and remaining skeptical of unexpected messages. The key message is that staying informed and vigilant about evolving fraud tactics significantly reduces the risk of falling victim to online fraud.
securityweek.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, consumers filed 2.6 million fraud reports totaling over $12.5 billion in losses—a $2 billion increase from 2023—with investment scams ($5.7 billion) and imposter scams like romance and government fraud ($2.95 billion) being the largest loss categories, according to FTC data. The majority of scammers contacted victims via email, followed by phone calls and text messages, while bank transfers and cryptocurrency were the most common payment methods used in fraudulent transactions. The FTC is actively pursuing enforcement actions and refunding victims, including sending over 736,000 PayPal payments to consumers scammed by computer repair service companies.
army.mil
· 2025-12-08
This article educates military parents about cyberbullying threats facing their children, noting that nearly half of U.S. teens ages 13-17 experience it. Cyberbullying—which includes online harassment, impersonation, surveillance, and threats—is a criminal offense in most states, yet approximately 81% of youth underestimate its severity. Parents are advised to maintain open communication, create safe spaces for children to report incidents, and educate themselves on state-specific cyberbullying laws and support resources.
education.economictimes.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides women with ten cybersecurity tips to protect themselves against digital scams, including avoiding fraudulent job offers, being cautious on social media, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, recognizing phishing attempts, avoiding romance scams, securing devices with passwords, and shopping safely online. The piece emphasizes that women across all professions—from homemakers to CEOs—face sophisticated digital threats and that digital vigilance, not just tech-savviness, is essential to safely navigate the online world.
barchart.com
· 2025-12-08
Online dating platforms face escalating risks from AI-driven romance scams and deepfake deception, with over half of online daters reporting being scammed or pressured to send money, and celebrity impersonation scams averaging nearly $2,000 in losses. LatamDate.com recommends safety practices including keeping conversations on-platform, using video verification features early, protecting personal information, and avoiding financial transactions in favor of secure in-app gifting features to help users distinguish authentic connections from sophisticated digital fraud.
dorsetecho.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Dorset Police have issued guidance on romance fraud and dating scams, which involve criminals building trust with victims over time to manipulate them into sending money through emotional appeals (such as claims of medical emergencies or travel costs). Officers conduct safeguarding visits to fraud victims to prevent repeat victimization, and police emphasize that scammers deliberately target vulnerable individuals using manipulative language to exploit them.
woai.iheart.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers target lonely Americans, particularly older individuals, through dating websites and services, exploiting emotional vulnerability to steal money and personal financial information. Cases range from online deception to in-person schemes where perpetrators drug victims to gain unauthorized access to bank accounts, with some victims losing their life savings. Experts note that the prevalence of romance fraud is increasing as more scammers enter the field, making online daters statistically likely to encounter fraudulent actors.
cyberdaily.au
· 2025-12-08
Australia's reported scam losses dropped 25.9% to $2 billion in 2024, with investment scams accounting for $945 million of losses, followed by romance, payment redirection, remote access, and phishing scams. However, experts warn the reported figures likely underrepresent the true impact, as many victims fail to report scams due to shame and embarrassment, with romance baiting scams being particularly devastating when combined with fake cryptocurrency platforms.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
A man in his 90s fell victim to a romance scam that began on WhatsApp, with scammers posing as a romantic interest and subsequently soliciting money for purported investment opportunities. According to the Federal Trade Commission, fraud losses totaled $12.5 billion in 2024, with "pig butchering" investment scams accounting for $5.7 billion of that total. The article provides guidance on how family members can help victims by approaching with empathy rather than criticism, validating their feelings, and using trusted sources to demonstrate the scam patterns.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired IT professional in northeast Ohio, known as "Eastside Eddie," combats robocall and text scams by posing as a victim to waste scammers' time and expose their tactics on YouTube and in community educational classes. Cuyahoga County residents lost over $3.4 million to various scams last year, with two victims losing their homes, prompting both Eddie's vigilante efforts and an official county awareness campaign highlighting common schemes (romance, grandparent, company/government, and lottery scams) and warning signs like requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or remote computer access.
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial grooming scams, where fraudsters build trust with victims over time before exploiting them financially, are on the rise according to the Better Business Bureau's 2024 report. These scams affect people of all ages and include cryptocurrency schemes, romance scams, and employment fraud, with investment and cryptocurrency scams being particularly risky—over 80% of targeted individuals reported financial losses. The BBB recommends protecting yourself by being cautious of unsolicited contact from strangers, avoiding sharing personal information on social media, using credit cards for online purchases, and ignoring suspicious links and messages.
hola.com
· 2025-12-08
A 63-year-old woman from Los Angeles, Guadalupe Cepeda, was defrauded of over $3,000 by a scammer impersonating Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias through a fan group on social media. Over two years, the impostor used romantic manipulation and convinced her to send money via gift cards before her family traced the scammer to Nigeria. The real Enrique Iglesias responded by warning fans to only connect with verified accounts and cautioning against celebrity impersonation scams.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old woman lost $130,000 of her life savings to a lottery scam operated by Darien Deventon Smith and Sheniece Elaine Smith of Connecticut, who convinced her in March 2024 that she had won a jackpot and car but needed to pay various "taxes" and "processing fees" to claim the prize. Over months of manipulation, the victim opened multiple bank accounts and purchased money orders at the scammers' direction before becoming suspicious and contacting authorities; both suspects were arrested in February 2025 and face charges of obtaining money by false pretenses and conspiracy to commit a felony.