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aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
US Postal Inspector Cory McManus led an investigation into an elaborate romance scam network operated by Wisdom Onyobeno from Atlanta, which stole millions of dollars from dozens of victims. After arresting two money mules who recruited victims and managed bank accounts ("strikers"), investigators traced the operation back to Onyobeno, who posed as a romantic interest to manipulate victims into sending money and even selling their homes. Onyobeno pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
nbclosangeles.com
· 2025-12-08
In December 2024, Oklahoma officials charged Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, with operating a romance scam ring that defrauded four elderly women (ages 64-79) out of $1.5 million between September and December 2024. Echohawk used fake male identities (Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, Glenn Goadard) to convince victims she was in romantic relationships with them, then manipulated them into sending cash, checks, wire transfers, and gift cards under false pretenses (fake oil rigs, business investments, debt payoffs). The funds were deposited into accounts Echohawk controlled and converted into cryptocurrency, with one
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, of Oklahoma, was charged with scamming four elderly women (ages 64-79) out of $1.5 million between September and December through elaborate online romance scams using fake male personas (Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, and Glenn Goadard) who claimed to need money for various schemes like oil rigs and debt payoff. The victims sent cash, checks, wire transfers, and gift cards, which Echohawk deposited into her bank account and converted into cryptocurrency before sending the funds to an unidentified person; the scam was discovered when a bank flagged a $120,000 transaction from one victim.
vice.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, of Oklahoma was accused of laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) during late 2024. Using aliases including Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, and Glenn Goadard, Echohawk convinced victims they were in romantic relationships and persuaded them to send funds ranging from $120,000 to $600,000, with one victim selling her house to participate; she converted the stolen money through various accounts and cryptocurrency before sending payments to an unidentified suspect. Echohawk faces four counts of unlawful use of criminal proceeds and one count of violating Oklahoma
news9.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, a 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, was charged with money laundering after allegedly orchestrating online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) that netted approximately $1.5 million. Using fake male personas including "Edward Lotts," "Jason Morris," and "Glenn Goddard," Echohawk convinced victims they were in romantic relationships and persuaded them to send funds for various schemes (debt payoffs, oil tanker purchases, financial portfolios), which she then converted to cryptocurrency and sent to an unidentified accomplice. The scam was uncovered when MidFirst Bank flagged suspicious wire transfers in late December 2024, an
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
In December 2024, Oklahoma officials charged Christine Joan Echohawk with orchestrating romance scams that defrauded four elderly women (ages 64-79) of $1.5 million between September and December 2024. Echohawk used fake male personas including "Jason Morris," "Edward Lotts," and "Glenn Goadard" to convince victims to send money under false pretenses such as paying off debts or investing in oil rigs, then laundered the funds through bank accounts and cryptocurrency. A bank's suspicious hold on a $120,000 transfer led to the investigation, and Echohawk was charged with unlawful use of criminal proceeds and computer
defector.com
· 2025-12-08
This opinion piece argues that Florida exemplifies America's vulnerability to fraud and scamming, and expresses concern that cryptocurrency and current political leadership are enabling widespread fraud at scale. The author contends that scamming has become endemic to American society, from corporate fraud to crypto schemes, and that the president's creation of a memecoin represents a normalization of fraud at the highest governmental levels.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP identifies six major scams threatening consumers in 2025, with particular risks for older adults: AI-powered scams using deepfakes and convincing phishing, imposter scams impersonating trusted figures, employment scams targeting job seekers with fake offers, tech support scams (which cost Americans 60+ over $175 million in 2023), romance scams exploiting emotional connections, and cryptocurrency scams (resulting in $1.6 billion in losses for those 60+ in 2023). The article advises vigilance against sophisticated tactics, emphasizing that legitimate companies don't request Social Security numbers during hiring, tech support representatives shouldn't demand remote access, and legitimate
wnegradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Badetito O. Obafemi, 42, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey of approximately $311,520 between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi and co-conspirators posed as individuals like "Kevin Condon" online to build relationships with victims and convince them to send money for various expenses, with Obafemi receiving the fraudulent wire transfers through personal and business bank accounts he controlled. The court ordered Obafemi to pay full restitution to victims and serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
perezhilton.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, Christine Joan Echohawk, was arrested for defrauding four elderly women (ages 64-79) of approximately $1.5 million in an online romance scam conducted over three months in late 2024. One victim sold her house to send $600,000 to Echohawk, who posed as a man online and convinced the women to send money via wire transfers, gift cards, checks, and cash. Echohawk laundered the proceeds through multiple bank accounts and cryptocurrency before a $120,000 wire transfer was intercepted by a bank in January 2025, triggering the investigation; she now faces
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, a 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, scammed four elderly women (ages 64-79) out of $1.5 million between September and December 2024 through romance scams using fake male personas such as "Jason Morris," "Edward Lotts," and "Glenn Goadard," with elaborate schemes involving fake oil rigs, debt payoffs, and financial portfolios. Echohawk received the funds via cash, checks, wire transfers, and gift cards, then laundered the money through bank accounts and cryptocurrency. She was charged with unlawful use of criminal proceeds and computer fraud after a bank flagged suspicious activity and an investigation by the
legit.ng
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old internet fraudster from Edo State, Nigeria voluntarily surrendered to the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) in April 2025, stating he wanted to reform and stop his criminal activities. The man specialized in romance scams, creating fake identities (posing as a Chinese doctor) to emotionally manipulate and defraud foreign victims of money. The EFCC commended his surrender while reaffirming its ongoing commitment to combating internet fraud and cybercrime in Nigeria.
ynetnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Israel nearly fell victim to a romance scam when she attempted to deposit bitcoin into what she believed was tennis star Roger Federer's personal wallet at a crypto ATM. The article reveals that romance scams are a growing threat, with scammers impersonating celebrities and prominent figures to establish emotional connections before requesting money for fabricated crises. Crypto-related fraud has surged dramatically, with an 800% increase in fake cryptocurrency platforms and increasingly sophisticated schemes using AI-generated personas, fake trading platforms, and fabricated celebrity endorsements to deceive victims into transferring funds.
naija247news.com
· 2025-12-08
A 34-year-old Nigerian man, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, was arrested in Dallas-Fort Worth in April 2025 after being indicted for masterminding a $2.5 million romance scam that operated from 2016 to 2019. The scheme involved creating fake dating profiles to manipulate vulnerable victims into sending money under false pretenses, with one Massachusetts victim unknowingly serving as a money mule who converted stolen funds into cryptocurrency through platforms like LocalBitcoins. Nwadavid faces charges of mail fraud and money laundering, each carrying up to 20 years in prison, plus fines, restitution
gistmania.com
· 2025-12-08
Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in a transnational romance scam that defrauded elderly victims across Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was ordered to pay $311,520 in restitution; one victim alone lost $27,460 after being lured through a fake Facebook identity. The scam involved establishing fake online relationships and soliciting funds under false pretenses such as business investments and medical emergencies, with Obafemi laundering proceeds through two Georgia
tori.ng
· 2025-12-08
Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Nigerian national, was convicted and sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role in an online romance scam that defrauded elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was ordered to pay $311,520 in restitution; he received funds from victims through personal and business accounts while scammers posed as romantic interests requesting money for business, medical, travel, and other expenses. The Taney County victim alone lost $27,460, with scammers attempting to solicit an additional
coinfomania.com
· 2025-12-08
A 34-year-old Nigerian national, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, was arrested at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in April 2024 after operating a sophisticated romance scam between 2016 and 2019 that defrauded victims of $2.5 million in cryptocurrency. Nwadavid created fake online personas to manipulate at least one primary victim in Massachusetts into unknowingly facilitating the transfer of over $2.5 million through remote account access and peer-to-peer crypto platforms. He faces up to 40 years in federal prison on charges of mail fraud and money laundering following his indictment by a Boston federal grand jury
thenerdstash.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk was charged with money laundering after operating a romance scam targeting four elderly women across multiple states, fraudulently obtaining over $1.5 million by posing as a man named "Edward Lotts" and convincing victims to send money under false pretenses. Operating from April 2023 through October 2024, Echohawk convinced her first victim to sell her home and send $600,000, and continued targeting additional victims despite a police confrontation in January 2024; she was arrested in April and now faces 24 to 62 years in prison plus up to $260,000 in fines.
wionews.com
· 2025-12-08
Nine individuals were sentenced to 5-14.75 years in prison in China for operating a sophisticated telecommunications and romance fraud scheme that defrauded 66,800 Indian victims of Rs 517 million ($6.2 million) between June 2023 and January 2024. The syndicate, led by a suspect named He, used fake investment platforms (SENEE), fraudulent social media profiles of wealthy Indian women, forged corporate documents, and cryptocurrency conversion to lure victims with promises of 8-15% monthly returns on small investments before stealing funds or freezing accounts. Members received sentences based on their roles, with the operation demonstrating coordinated recruitment, training, payment channel
gistlover.com
· 2025-12-08
A 28-year-old internet fraudster from Edo State voluntarily surrendered to the EFCC in Benin on April 8, 2025, confessing to running romance scams where he impersonated a Chinese medical doctor to deceive foreign victims using translation apps. The fraudster stated he turned himself in because he feared capture and wanted to reform, though public reactions on social media were mixed, with some praising his surrender and others questioning whether it was genuine or a strategic move to reduce his legal consequences.
cowboystatedaily.com
· 2025-12-08
Employer impersonation scams and company spoofing fraud are increasingly prevalent in Wyoming, with scammers using stolen logos, emails, and AI-generated content to impersonate legitimate companies like PayPal, Amazon, USPS, and Best Buy's Geek Squad. The scams typically trick victims into clicking malicious links or submitting personal and banking information by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities through fear, emotions, and false job opportunities offering high pay. Experts recommend never clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts and instead verifying directly with companies through their official websites.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Dating app users face increasing risks from romance scams, catfishing, and fraudulent profiles, prompting platforms to implement identity verification technologies. Users can protect themselves by verifying identities through multi-layered verification tools, avoiding profiles that seem too perfect or pressure quick money transfers, keeping personal information private, staying alert to bots, and reporting suspicious activity to the platform. Choosing dating apps with strong safety records and privacy protections is essential for fostering a secure online dating experience.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
NYC radio host and City Council candidate Frank Morano admitted he wrote a parole letter recommending the release of Robert Giuliano, 49, a convicted romance scam artist, after being manipulated through flattery by the ex-con. After Giuliano's June 2023 release, he immediately resumed his schemes—defrauding travelers with a fake concierge service and targeting women—before being arrested in Arizona in December 2023 and extradited to New York as a fugitive. Morano acknowledged being "duped" by a "professional con artist" and vowed never to help prisoners again, though he characterized the resurfaced story as a political smear attack
kauainownews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Kaua'i Police Department is warning residents, particularly elderly kupuna, about a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam in which fraudsters build trust with victims through social media, phone calls, and text messages before convincing them to invest money in fake cryptocurrency schemes and then disappearing with their funds. The scam exploits emotional manipulation and promises of high returns, with warning signs including unsolicited contact from strangers, requests for secrecy, and pressure to use unfamiliar cryptocurrency platforms. Residents are advised to avoid sending money to online-only contacts, be skeptical of unsolicited messages, and consult trusted family members before making financial decisions.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are increasingly targeting older adults by directing them to cryptocurrency ATMs to deposit funds, with the FTC reporting a tenfold increase in losses since 2020 and Rhode Island State Police documenting cases rising from 3 in 2023 to 40 in 2024 and 23 in the first three months of 2025—all victims over age 50, with individual losses ranging from $15,000 to $40,000. Crypto ATMs are attractive to scammers because victims are unfamiliar with them, there are no daily transaction limits, and cryptocurrency's decentralized nature makes funds nearly impossible to recover, unlike
chadronradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Nebraska is experiencing an increase in "pig butchering" scams, a relationship-based fraud scheme where criminals slowly build trust with victims over weeks or months before luring them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. These scams can affect anyone regardless of financial sophistication, with the FTC reporting that Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, including a notable case where a Kansas banker lost $47 million. Warning signs include unexpected contact from strangers, emotional manipulation, requests for financial information, and promises of guaranteed high returns; victims should avoid sharing personal information with unknown contacts and report suspected fraud to authorities.
hastingstribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Nebraska is experiencing increased reports of "pig butchering" scams, a cryptocurrency-based fraud in which criminals build relationships with victims over weeks or months through social media, dating apps, or fake text messages before luring them into bogus cryptocurrency investments. The scam—also called a confidence scam or financial grooming—can target anyone regardless of financial knowledge, and in 2024 Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud and scams overall. Warning signs include unsolicited contact, emotional manipulation, requests for financial information, and exaggerated investment returns; victims should avoid sharing personal information with unknown contacts and contact the Nebraska Department of Banking an
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Justice recovered $8.2 million in Tether cryptocurrency stolen through romance baiting scams, including $663,352 from an Ohio woman who fell victim after responding to a wrong-number text in 2023. Romance baiting is a psychological manipulation scheme that builds false intimacy through casual conversation before introducing cryptocurrency investment opportunities with fake trading dashboards and fabricated returns, ultimately trapping victims unable to withdraw their funds. The article also references an 80-year-old Maryland retiree, Judith Boivin, who was targeted by scammers impersonating FBI agents using spoofed caller IDs and forged government communications to extract money under false pretenses of a
coinfomania.com
· 2025-12-08
Kauai police issued an alert about "pig butchering" scams targeting elderly citizens, where fraudsters build romantic or friendly relationships online before convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency schemes with fabricated profit screenshots. The scammers, often operating from Southeast Asia, manipulate victims through dating apps and social media, eventually disappearing with their money; one documented case involved a Maryland woman losing over $3 million. Police advise seniors and their families to recognize warning signs—including rapid relationship escalation, crypto investment pitches, and pressure to keep investments secret—and to never send money to online-only contacts without verifying with trusted family members or advisors first.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
**Trend Micro Research on Australian Scam Vulnerability**
A Trend Micro survey of 1,072 Australians revealed significant misconceptions increasing scam vulnerability, including beliefs that scams require oversharing (31%), are easily spotted by poor grammar (47%), or that extortion only occurs through explicit photo sharing (32%). Australians lost over $2 billion to online scams in the past year, with investment scams targeting a quarter of respondents, yet only 15% discussed scam response strategies with family and just 9% use verification phrases against impersonation scams. The research recommends staying wary of unsolicited communications, enabling two
digit.fyi
· 2025-12-08
Research from The Alan Turing Institute finds that romance fraudsters are increasingly using AI to create convincing fake personas, automate victim outreach, and refine psychological manipulation through deepfakes, generated audio/video, and language models that improve deceptive scripts. While human scammers still oversee AI-generated content, these tools significantly reduce the time and effort needed to target victims at scale, extracting millions from vulnerable individuals seeking genuine connection. The study notes that current defenses are not keeping pace with rapidly developing fraud techniques, though AI language models may eventually be leveraged to detect fraudulent messaging.
decisionmarketing.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance fraudsters are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create more convincing fake profiles, automate large-scale victim outreach, and refine psychological manipulation tactics through deepfakes, AI-generated audio/video, and large language models that improve deceptive scripts. According to research from The Alan Turing Institute's Centre for Emerging Technology & Security, AI-assisted romance scams are extracting millions from victims while causing both financial and psychological harm, though the same technology may eventually be leveraged to detect such fraud.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
A Nigerian-based scammer used fake photos of a German life coach to catfish Liza Likins, a widow in her mid-70s, during a 19-month online romance on Facebook Dating, eventually exploiting her for money. Catfishing—creating fraudulent identities on dating apps and social media to deceive victims—has become the top dating scam, with Meta removing 1.4 billion fake accounts in late 2024 and a Norton survey finding 40% of dating app users targeted by such scams. Scammers typically use stolen photos, AI-generated images, or celebrity identities to build trust before requesting cash or promoting bogus
fox61.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance and friendship scams cost Connecticut residents more money than any other scam type last year and ranked as the third riskiest scam overall. These scams target vulnerable people, build emotional connections through deception and false promises, and often involve cryptocurrency schemes; the BBB documented one victim who lost $100,000 after a scammer posed as a romantic interest and claimed financial need. Red flags include requests for money after establishing trust, inability to meet in person, poor grammar despite claiming local origin, offers involving cryptocurrency, and relationships that progress too quickly.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains romance scams, which involve scammers creating fake dating profiles to build romantic relationships with victims—particularly older Americans—before requesting money for fabricated emergencies or opportunities. Older people are targeted because they typically have more savings, less familiarity with online scams, and may experience isolation, making them vulnerable to the emotional manipulation of promised romantic connections. The article provides guidance for adult children whose parents fall victim, including stopping communications, reporting to authorities and platforms, attempting to recover funds through banks and financial institutions, and protecting against identity theft.
dfpi.ca.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Pig butchering is an investment scam in which fraudsters build trust with victims over weeks or months through social media and messaging apps before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms that promise high returns but prevent withdrawals. Scammers use fabricated websites and fake trading apps to collect victim funds, often requesting additional payments for fees or taxes before allowing any withdrawal. Victims should report scams quickly to the DFPI with complete transaction details, wallet addresses, and screenshots to help investigators trace stolen cryptocurrency on the blockchain.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Wyoming's new volunteer group "the Fraudettes" launched a monthly educational series to help people recognize and avoid scams before financial or personal harm occurs. Their first session in March covered romance scams and a phishing attack on Laramie County Library, where criminals compromised a staff member's email account to attempt ransomware deployment; the library avoided losses through quick IT response and off-site backups, with no patron data compromised.
financemagnates.com
· 2025-12-08
**Not applicable for Elderus database.**
This article is promotional content for a fintech industry conference panel about trading infrastructure and platform risk management. It contains no information about elder fraud, scams, elder abuse, or financial exploitation of seniors, and therefore falls outside the scope of the Elderus elder fraud research database.
sec.gov
· 2025-12-08
The SEC launched an anti-fraud public service campaign warning investors about relationship investment scams, in which perpetrators build trust through online romantic or friendship connections to solicit money for fraudulent investments. The campaign includes educational videos, resources, and guidance advising investors to ignore unsolicited messages, be skeptical of investment opportunities from unknown contacts, and immediately stop communication with suspected scammers while reporting them to the SEC.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
American consumers lost $470 million to text message scams in 2024, a 26% increase from 2023 and five-fold jump from 2020, according to FTC data. The most common scams involved package-delivery impersonation, fake job offers, fraudulent fraud alerts, and romance schemes, with criminals exploiting the difficulty of detecting scam links in text messages compared to emails. Consumers are advised to avoid clicking unsolicited links, use text filters, and report suspicious messages to their carriers and the FTC.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud losses nationwide reached $12.5 billion in 2024, with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses across 118,933 reported cases; older adults were disproportionately affected, with those over 50 reporting 28,578 fraud cases totaling $159 million in losses. AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and local officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" — a statewide initiative offering 27 free document shredding locations through May 10, 2025, to help residents safely dispose of personal documents containing sensitive information that could be used for identity theft.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and city officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" initiative, offering 27 free document shredding locations across New York State through May 2025 to help residents safely dispose of personal documents and prevent identity theft. Fraud targeting Americans reached $12.5 billion in 2024—a 25% increase from 2023—with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses, and older adults particularly vulnerable with $159 million lost among those over 50. The program aims to combat the rising sophistication of scams targeting seniors through document destruction as a preventive measure against financial fraud.
harlemworldmagazine.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and other officials launched "The Big Shred NY!" initiative, offering 27 free document shredding locations across New York State through May 2025 to help residents safely dispose of personal documents and prevent identity theft. Fraud targeting Americans reached $12.5 billion in 2024—a 25% increase from 2023—with New York State accounting for $534 million in losses, and adults over 50 reporting $159 million in losses from 28,578 documented fraud cases.
fiftyplusadvocate.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency ATMs have become a prevalent tool for scammers targeting older adults, with the FTC reporting $65 million in fraud losses through Bitcoin ATMs in the first half of 2024 alone—$46 million from victims aged 60 and older. Scammers use these unregulated kiosks in various schemes including romance and grandparent scams to trick victims into depositing cash. AARP Massachusetts is advocating for legislation requiring cryptocurrency ATM operator licensing, daily transaction limits, fraud warning notices, and consumer education to strengthen protections for residents.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Joan Echohawk, a 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, created multiple fake male personas (Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, Glenn Goadard) to conduct a months-long romance scam that defrauded four senior women ages 64-79 of $1.5 million. The victims were manipulated into sending money under false pretenses (oil rig rescue, financial portfolio management, relationship promises), with one woman selling her paid-off home and sending over $600,000; Echohawk laundered the funds through multiple bank accounts, cryptocurrency, and gift cards until MidFirst Bank flagged a suspicious transaction in January 2025, leading to her
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "The Surprising Truth About the Age Group Most Likely to Fall for Financial Fraud"
Recent FTC data reveals that younger adults (ages 20-29) are losing money to scams at nearly twice the rate of older adults, with 44% experiencing financial losses compared to 24% of those aged 70-79. Younger adults are primarily targeted through online scams including fake shopping sites, cryptocurrency fraud, and social media job offers, with their "digital native" status and tendency toward impulsive decision-making making them particularly vulnerable despite overconfidence in their tech savviness. The study emphasizes that scammers exploit age-specific psychological factors and online
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Online scams and identity fraud cost victims over $3.1 billion in 2024, with adults aged 50 and older disproportionately targeted by catfishing and fake profiles. In response, SeniorMatch dating platform launched Selfie Liveness Verification, a new safety feature using AI to authenticate user identities by comparing live selfies to profile photos, with a survey showing 87% of users over 50 are concerned about identity fraud and 72% prefer verified profiles. The verification process uses end-to-end encryption and immediately deletes biometric data after processing to protect user privacy.
silicon.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Online scams and identity fraud cost victims over $3.1 billion in 2024, with adults aged 50 and older disproportionately targeted; a survey found 87% of SeniorMatch dating platform users over 50 were concerned about fraud and fake profiles. SeniorMatch launched Selfie Liveness Verification, a new security feature using AI to authenticate user identities in real-time by comparing live selfies to profile photos, with verified users receiving a badge to increase trust and connection authenticity.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams linked to romance fraud have caused billions in annual losses, exploiting emotional connections to manipulate victims into risky financial investments. AARP Connecticut is hosting a free webinar on April 25 featuring a victim's story and fraud prevention resources to educate the public about these deceptive schemes.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old Oklahoma woman, Christine Joan Echohawk, posed as multiple men (Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, and Glenn Goadard) in an elaborate romance scam that defrauded four senior women, ages 64-79, of $1.5 million between late 2024 and January 2025. The victims were manipulated into sending money under false pretenses including oil rig rescues and financial portfolio management, with one victim selling her paid-off home to send over $600,000; Echohawk laundered the funds through multiple accounts, cryptocurrency, and gift cards before being caught when a bank flagged a suspicious transaction. She