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mcdowellnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to remain vigilant against scams targeting July 4th holiday celebrations, which typically include travel rental fraud, patriotic flag-buying scams, and fireworks purchasing schemes. Common tactics involve fake rental listings that prevent access to booked properties, overpriced flagpole items sold online at below-market prices, and illegitimate fireworks vendors who obtain banking information during transactions. BBB recommends trusting your intuition about deals that seem too good to be true, paying for fireworks with cash at temporary stands, and verifying rental property access before traveling.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A man in his late 70s lost $2,000 to a sophisticated investment scam involving "Wise Investments," a fraudulent clone website, after weeks of professional-sounding phone calls from fake financial advisors who showed him fabricated investment growth on his computer. Investment scams accounted for over $1.3 billion in losses to Australians in 2023, with people over 65 being the primary targets, though experts note that digital literacy gaps and lack of support systems are also critical factors in vulnerability.
occrp.org
· 2025-12-08
Internet fraud losses in the United States exceeded $12.5 billion in the past year, a 22% increase from the previous year, with common scams including identity theft, phishing, romance scams, and investment fraud. INTERPOL's Operation First Light arrested 3,950 suspects and identified 14,643 potential suspects worldwide while intercepting $135 million in cash and seizing assets worth over $120 million. International collaboration has proven effective in combating cybercrime, including one case where coordination between Singapore, Hong Kong, and local banks prevented a 70-year-old victim from losing $281,200 in savings.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian actor Big Akwes warned that he would publicly name prominent musicians involved in romance scams if provoked, claiming they use their spouses to defraud foreigners. The warning came amid discussion of socialite Hajia4Real, who pleaded guilty in February 2024 to her role in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans and was extradited from the UK to the US; court documents suggest her ex-partner exploited her involvement in the scheme while she feared for her safety and her daughter's.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Job scammers are increasingly exploiting job seekers by posing as recruiters on platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, either requesting money and personal information or selling fraudulent training courses as prerequisites for employment. The FBI and FTC have issued warnings about these schemes, which often feature red flags including unsolicited job offers that seem too good to be true, vague or confidential job descriptions, lack of standard vetting procedures, and phony interviews conducted via text or video. Job seekers can protect themselves by being skeptical of unusually attractive positions they didn't apply for, verifying legitimate job descriptions, and checking companies' authentic online presence.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**AI-Powered Scams and Protective Measures**
This educational piece identifies two primary AI-enabled scams targeting vulnerable individuals: voice cloning of family members to solicit emergency financial assistance, and personalized phishing emails using AI-generated text customized with stolen personal data to increase credibility. The article recommends verifying suspicious communications by contacting the person through normal channels, avoiding attempts to detect fake voices, treating unknown contacts as suspicious, and remaining skeptical of personalized messages that reference recent purchases or locations.
southfloridareporter.com
· 2025-12-08
In Operation First Light 2024, international police coordinated by Interpol arrested 3,950 people and seized $257 million in assets from online scammers engaged in phishing, investment fraud, fake shopping sites, and romance scams. The operation aims to disrupt transnational organized crime networks at a time when U.S. authorities report consumers lost over $10 billion to online fraud in the previous year.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 62-year-old woman from Thane lost approximately Rs 1.5 crore after being lured into an investment scam between April and June, where seven accused individuals promised high returns through WhatsApp groups and fraudulent links. Seven suspects have been identified and charged under the IPC and IT Act. The article advises potential victims to avoid unrealistic investment promises, verify secure website connections (HTTPS), research trading platforms thoroughly, and watch for red flags such as pressure to act quickly or requests for personal information.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 62-year-old woman from Thane, Maharashtra lost Rs 1.5 crore (approximately $1.8 million USD) between April and June 2024 to a cyber fraud scheme promising high investment returns. Seven accused individuals contacted the victim via fake investment platform links and a WhatsApp group, gradually building trust before convincing her to invest Rs 1,45,35,600, after which she received no returns and reported the case to police. The incident underscores the importance of skepticism toward unrealistic investment promises, verification of secure connections, and thorough research before committing funds.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned of a rising three-phase timeshare exit scam traced to Mexican drug cartels that targets older, wealthy Americans seeking to recover timeshare investments. Scammers pose sequentially as brokers demanding upfront taxes and fees, then as law firm representatives requesting legal fees, and finally as government officials from agencies like Interpol or Mexico's Financial Intelligence Unit. The cartels exploit these scams due to low operational costs and minimal law enforcement attention compared to drug trafficking.
microsoft.com
· 2025-12-08
Celebrity scams use artificial intelligence tools like deepfakes and voice cloning to impersonate trusted public figures and celebrities, tricking victims into investing money, sharing personal information, or signing up for fraudulent platforms. To identify these scams, consumers should examine deepfake videos for unnatural movements, facial expressions, background distortion, and verify sources through official channels, while also recognizing red flags in voice cloning scams such as unusual speech patterns and urgent requests for personal information. These scams pose significant risks to victims' identity and finances.
cxotoday.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines common financial fraud tactics and prevention strategies, noting that bank frauds in India exceeded 302.5 billion rupees in fiscal year 2023. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, unrealistic investment promises, and demands for payment via unconventional methods. The article recommends staying informed about scams, verifying identities before sharing information, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious with app downloads to protect against fraud.
chroniclet.com
· 2025-12-08
This does not appear to be a complete article. The text provided consists primarily of website interface elements (notification messages, session prompts, photo editing tools) and incomplete headline fragments. While a headline mentions "British man sentenced for wine and whiskey investment scam that targeted older Americans," the actual article content is missing.
To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with scammers increasingly using sophisticated tactics to steal banking information and money. The article outlines ten common banking scams—including check fraud, phishing, fake websites, automatic withdrawal schemes, and government imposter scams—and provides protective measures such as verifying URLs directly with banks, never clicking unsolicited links, and avoiding upfront fee requests. Knowing these common strategies helps consumers recognize and avoid fraudulent schemes before criminals can access their accounts and funds.
ourtownny.com
· 2025-12-08
Nelson Counne, a NYC romance scammer operating under aliases "Nelson Roth" and "Justin Roth," was sentenced to up to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to grand larceny and scheme to defraud charges for stealing $1.8 million from at least five women between 2012 and at least 2014. Counne posed as a wealthy art dealer and promised investment opportunities and financial security to his victims, who he manipulated into providing their savings, credit cards, and bank account access while he used their money to repay earlier victims and maintain his fraudulent persona. The investigation revealed Counne never owned property, a passport, or legitimate wealth—all funds came from
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
A fraud ring used stolen funds from FBI impersonation and romance scams to purchase approximately $1.4 million in collectible stamps through an auction house, with three Indian buyers acquiring 149 lots using criminal proceeds. The scammers employed a multi-layered scheme where fake government agents convinced victims to send money for "safekeeping," often routing payments through romance fraud victims to obscure the trail before purchasing stamps as a money-laundering vehicle to legitimize the stolen funds. The FBI seized the stamps, though no charges have been filed to date.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers use dating apps and social media to build fake relationships and solicit money from victims, with the FTC reporting a record $547 million in losses in 2021 and $1.3 billion lost over the past five years. Scammers employ tactics including fake profiles, claims of emergencies or inability to access funds, and requests for payment via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, with victims 70 and older losing the highest average amounts ($9,000 median loss). The FTC advises people to avoid sending money to strangers, verify profile pictures through reverse image searches, and never send money to or take investment advice from someone they haven't met in person.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
International law enforcement from 61 countries conducted Operation First Light, arresting over 3,900 suspects and seizing $257 million in assets obtained through phishing, investment fraud, romance scams, and impersonation scams. The operation identified an additional 14,600 suspects, froze 6,745 bank accounts, and recovered millions for victims, including $3.7 million for an Australian impersonation scam victim and $281,200 saved for a 70-year-old targeted in a tech support scam. Police also rescued 88 youths in Namibia who were forced to conduct scams as part of international criminal networks.
gizmodo.com
· 2025-12-08
In a coordinated international operation called Operation First Light 2024 (March-May 2024), police across 61 countries arrested 3,950 people engaged in online scams including phishing, investment fraud, romance scams, and fake shopping sites, while seizing $257 million in assets and identifying 14,643 additional suspects. The operation recovered $135 million in cash and $2 million in cryptocurrency, plus $120 million in physical assets such as real estate, luxury cars, and jewelry. This global enforcement effort highlights the growing threat of online fraud, with U.S. consumers losing over $10 billion annually, including $76 million lost to
techbullion.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS has issued a warning about escalating scams targeting seniors, who are particularly vulnerable to impersonation, phishing, spoofing, and lottery scams that exploit trust and create urgency. Common tactics include fraudsters posing as IRS agents via phone, email, or text to threaten legal action or extract personal information and money through gift cards or wire transfers. The IRS recommends seniors verify caller identity before sharing information, report suspicious activity to the IRS and FTC, and stay informed about scam tactics to protect themselves from financial exploitation.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
An 87-year-old woman in New York was scammed out of $16,900 in a bail bond scheme on Wednesday, when an impostor posing as an attorney claimed her grandson had been arrested for DUI and needed bail money. The suspect met the victim near Fifth Avenue and East 11th Street to collect the cash before fleeing on foot; the victim was unharmed and police are seeking a light-complexioned male suspect, approximately 6 feet tall and 230 lbs, last seen wearing a green baseball hat and white t-shirt.
khaleejtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
An Indian businessman in Dubai lost over Dh1.8 million across his four businesses when five fraudulent companies purchased goods and services using post-dated cheques that subsequently bounced, with only one cheque of Dh92,979 being honored out of numerous transactions. The scam targeted multiple sectors including travel, technology supplies, and trading, with the fraudulent firms vanishing simultaneously after delivering orders for electronics, hotel bookings, and food supplies. The businessman and numerous other suppliers have filed police complaints, with additional victims reporting similar schemes including another major fraud involving Max Clove Technologies that disappeared with an estimated Dh40 million in goods.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud losses in the Boston FBI Division (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island) totaled $89.6 million across 2,689 victims in 2023, with national losses reaching $1.6 billion from January to May 2024—a significant increase from the prior year. The most common scams targeting seniors include tech support, romance, investment, and government impersonation schemes, with investment scams involving cryptocurrency showing a particularly sharp rise of 419% in losses between 2021-2023. The FBI emphasizes that actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting and recommends elders be cautious of unsolicited contact, resist pressure
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington seized over $1 million in collectible stamps purchased with stolen money from a fraud scheme targeting seniors and vulnerable populations. The scheme involved two phases: victims were first defrauded by scammers impersonating government agents (FBI, SEC, DOJ) who claimed their accounts were breached and demanded they transfer funds for safekeeping, and some of those stolen funds were then funneled through romance scam victims via cashier's checks to purchase the stamps. The government has identified 28 victims defrauded of hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively, and seized stamps will be liquidated with proceeds returned to victims
interpol.int
· 2025-12-08
Operation First Light 2024, a global police operation spanning 61 countries, disrupted transnational online scam networks by freezing 6,745 bank accounts, seizing USD 257 million in assets, and arresting 3,950 suspects involved in phishing, investment fraud, romance scams, and impersonation schemes. Notable successes included recovering AUD 5.5 million (USD 3.7 million) for an Australian impersonation scam victim and saving a 70-year-old Singapore resident from losing SGD 380,000 (USD 281,200) in a tech support scam, while also rescuing 88 you
newschannel5.com
· 2025-12-08
The Tennessee Attorney General's Office and Secretary of State issued a warning about scammers impersonating celebrities through fake charities, bogus product endorsements, and phishing schemes on social media. Victims are targeted to donate money or provide personal information under the false pretense of legitimate charitable organizations or celebrity endorsements. Authorities recommend verifying charities through tools like Charity Navigator, contacting organizations directly using known contact information, and never sending money or personal details to unknown individuals regardless of their claimed celebrity status.
eastsidefeed.com
· 2025-12-08
Nelson Counne, an Upper East Side resident, was sentenced to 4-to-8 years in prison for operating romance scams that defrauded at least five women of approximately $1.8 million between 2012 and 2021. Counne posed as a wealthy retired art dealer on dating apps using aliases, luring victims with fake investment opportunities in schemes he claimed were in "gray areas" legally, then used a Ponzi scheme structure to create the illusion of legitimacy while pocketing the funds. One victim lost $50,000 in the fraud, which D.A. Alvin Bragg noted reflects the all-too-common nature of romance scams
fedweek.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
In 2023, the FBI reported an 11 percent overall increase in fraud complaints, with a 14 percent surge in scams targeting adults 60 and older, who lost $3.4 billion of the $12.5 billion in total reported losses. Tech support fraud was the leading crime affecting seniors with nearly 18,000 complaints and $600 million in losses, while investment scams proved costliest at over $1.2 billion, and call center schemes disproportionately impacted older adults who lost almost $770 million—more than all other age groups combined, with some victims reportedly taking their own lives. The FBI recommends resisting pressure to
chinadaily.com.cn
· 2025-12-08
Telecom fraud in China disproportionately affects younger people, with those aged 18-40 comprising 62.1 percent of victims and the average victim age just 37 years old. The ten most common fraud schemes—including click-farm jobs, false investments, and counterfeit shopping—account for 88.4 percent of cases, with authorities resolving approximately 543,000 cases and intercepting 452 billion yuan ($62.3 billion) in fraudulent funds from the start of last year through May of the current year. The Ministry of Public Security advises citizens to verify investment opportunities through official channels, avoid unsolicited offers, and report suspicious activity to
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
WhatsApp has become a platform for investment scams in India, with victims losing lakhs of rupees to fraudulent schemes. Scammers use a multi-step method: contacting users with fake job or investment offers, adding them to groups posing as legitimate financial firms, directing them to fake websites showing false profits, and then blocking account access while demanding additional payments for withdrawals. Notable cases include a 60-year-old retired Mumbai resident who lost Rs 2.56 crore and a 35-year-old Coimbatore bank manager who lost Rs 48.57 lakhs.
county17.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men conducted quick change scams at two Dollar General locations in Gillette, Wyoming on June 25, targeting young cashiers by distracting them during transactions to obtain excessive change. The suspects stole approximately $230 from each store (totaling $460) through coordinated scams that appeared to be well-practiced, with police describing both men as Black males in their early to mid-30s and actively investigating the incidents.
fox23.com
· 2025-12-08
A romance scam targeting seniors is currently widespread, in which scammers build fake romantic relationships to convince victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. According to cybersecurity expert Zulfikar Ramzan, crimes targeting elders have increased 11% in the last year, resulting in $3.4 billion in losses with an average loss of $34,000 per victim. Ramzan advises seniors to verify anyone met online through video calls, conduct background research, and be wary when asked about investments, as scammers typically start with small requests that escalate to stealing entire life savings through fake investment statements.
heraldnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud in the New England region resulted in $89.6 million in reported losses across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island in 2023, with Massachusetts accounting for $63.7 million of that total, though the FBI estimates actual losses are significantly higher due to underreporting. The FBI-Boston reports a double-digit increase in financial fraud targeting adults over 60, with investment scams showing the sharpest growth (victimization up 209% and losses up 419% from 2021-2023), largely driven by cryptocurrency schemes, alongside common scams including tech support, romance, and government impersonation fraud. The FBI recommends elderly individuals and their families be
bostonglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud targeting people aged 60 and older increased 11 percent nationwide last year, resulting in $3.4 billion in total losses, with Massachusetts accounting for $63.6 million across 1,610 reported victims. Common schemes include tech support scams, romance scams, investment fraud, and government impersonation, with the average victim losing nearly $34,000; the FBI warns that actual numbers may be higher since only half of complaints include victim ages, and scammers are increasingly employing artificial intelligence tactics.
hampshirereview.com
· 2025-12-08
A U.S. Navy veteran and federal employee from Charles Town lost nearly $2 million after befriending Sam Bunner at a local American Legion; Bunner, recognizing the veteran's cognitive decline, obtained power of attorney and systematically emptied his bank and investment accounts and sold his real estate, resulting in Bunner's 10-year federal prison sentence. The article highlights common elder fraud schemes in West Virginia, including caretaker theft, romance and tech support scams, government impersonation, and family member exploitation, while recommending protective measures such as resisting urgency, avoiding online money transfers, limiting power of attorney authority, and securing valuables for in-home care situations.
telegram.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud losses in the FBI-Boston Division reached $89.6 million across 2,689 victims in 2023, with Massachusetts accounting for $63.7 million of those losses, and financial fraud targeting adults over 60 increasing by double digits. The most common scams include tech support, romance, investment, and government impersonation schemes, with investment scams showing the sharpest growth (419% increase in losses from 2021-2023, largely driven by cryptocurrency fraud). The FBI emphasizes that actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting and recommends that seniors avoid unsolicited contacts, resist pressure to act quickly, never share personal information with un
goldendalesentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans age 60 and older lost more than $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with the FBI reporting a 14% increase in complaints and an 11% rise in financial losses compared to 2022. Older adults face heightened vulnerability due to factors including greater trust, financial assets, and lower comfort with technology, with tech-support scams being the most commonly reported fraud type and investment scams causing the largest financial losses. Beyond monetary damage, elder fraud causes significant psychological harm including shame, trauma, and erosion of trust, making prevention education critical to combating what experts characterize as an epidemic.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Casey Alexander, a 27-year-old from London, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $202,195.58 in restitution for his role in a wine and whiskey investment scam targeting elderly Americans. The scheme used cold-calling and deceptive tactics to convince older investors to wire funds for supposed fine wine and whiskey portfolios held in European warehouses, with victims then pressured to make additional investments. The FBI investigation identified over 150 U.S. victims who collectively lost more than $13 million in the fraud.
mcall.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud costs Americans over $37 billion annually, with common schemes including contractor fraud, sweepstakes scams, and romance/grandparent impersonation cons. Deputy prosecutor Paul Greenwood, who handled more than 750 elder abuse felony cases in San Diego, highlighted that criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated—using AI-assisted text conversations and spoofed caller IDs—while noting that jobless adult children and unvetted caregivers represent the most typical perpetrators. Greenwood recommended 20 protective measures including using bonded caregivers, freezing credit, checking credit reports regularly, and letting unknown calls go to voicemail, while cautioning against romance sc
thedailynewsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
New York State Attorney General Letitia James issued guidance on avoiding online "romance scams" (also called "pig butchering"), which use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build trust with victims before directing them to fraudulent investment schemes. Scammers typically spend considerable time building relationships, then move conversations to encrypted platforms and lure victims into cryptocurrency or foreign currency investments, resulting in losses ranging from thousands to over a million dollars. The advisory recommends New Yorkers avoid wiring money or sending cryptocurrency to unknown individuals, verify sender identities, and report suspected scams to law enforcement.
thedailynewsonline.com
· 2025-12-08
New York State Attorney General Letitia James warns that online "romance scams" (also called "pig butchering") are increasingly common, with fraudsters using dating apps, social media, and text messages to build trust with victims before directing them toward fraudulent investments in cryptocurrency or foreign currencies. The scammers spend substantial time cultivating relationships and using fake credentials, screenshots of inflated account balances, and fabricated luxury lifestyle photos to appear as successful investment experts, eventually cutting off contact after victims deposit tens of thousands to over a million dollars. James advises New Yorkers to avoid wiring money or sending cryptocurrency to unknown individuals, research senders' information, be suspicious of online romantic interests, an
otdowntown.com
· 2025-12-08
Nelson Counne stole $1.8 million from at least five women using romance scam tactics between 2012 and his 2024 conviction, posing as a wealthy art dealer named "Nelson Roth" or "Justin Roth" and promising investment opportunities and financial support that never materialized. After pleading guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, he was sentenced to up to eight years in prison, with prosecutors noting he used the stolen money to repay victims who detected fraud while recruiting new victims. The scammer had no actual wealth, properties, or passport—only an "expertly craf
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" is a rapidly growing romance scam where fraudsters pose as romantic partners and lure victims into fake cryptocurrency investments, with the scammer gradually building trust through small initial returns before requesting large sums of money. In Alabama alone, 88 victims lost more than $22 million to this scheme, with individual losses ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, exploiting victims' emotional vulnerability and the lack of regulation in the crypto market.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Hajia4Reall's ex-partner, Luvman Allison, allegedly used her bank accounts to receive and transfer fraudulent funds while on probation, misleading her into believing they were in a genuine relationship. Hajia4Reall stated in court documents that she continued facilitating these transactions out of fear for her safety and her daughter's wellbeing, despite knowing the activities were wrong. The case involves allegations of romance scams, though Allison's supporters claim his legal troubles were related to drug offenses rather than fraud.
m.imdb.com
· 2025-12-08
The provided article does not contain sufficient substantive information about an actual scam. While the headline suggests that Golden Bachelor contestant Faith Martin shared details about falling for an online scam on social media, the article body only contains background information about her appearance on the show and Gerry Turner's failed marriage, with the actual scam details cut off or missing from the text provided.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
A businessman from Cherthala, Kerala, lost Rs 7.55 crores over two months in an online investment scam where fraudsters impersonating Invesco Capital and Goldman Sachs representatives promised high returns on share trading and then froze his account, demanding additional funds to unfreeze it. Police are investigating the case and have warned the public to verify investment firm credentials, be skeptical of unusually high returns, use only regulated platforms, and report suspected scams immediately to authorities.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
On June 14, 2024, President Biden declared June 15th World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, prompting FinCEN to remind financial institutions to identify and report elder financial exploitation (EFE). Between June 2022 and June 2023, approximately $27 billion in EFE-related suspicious activity was reported through Bank Secrecy Act filings, with the FBI's 2023 data showing that individuals aged 60 and over reported over $3.4 billion in fraud losses (averaging $34,000 per victim), with tech support scams being the most commonly reported type and investment scams causing the greatest financial harm. Financial institutions are expecte
siliconeer.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans aged 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to fraud, with California accounting for over $620 million across 11,000+ reports, and monolingual Chinese seniors in the Bay Area facing particularly high risk. Common scams targeting elders include investment fraud (especially cryptocurrency), tech support scams, romance scams, and impersonation schemes (often posing as government officials), with typical victims losing over $33,000. Experts recommend immediate reporting to financial institutions and law enforcement (FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI), noting that shame, language barriers, and fear of retaliation prevent many victims—particularly Asian Americans—from coming forwar
manhattanda.org
· 2025-12-08
Nelson Counne, 71, was sentenced to 4-to-8 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $1.8 million from at least five women through romance and investment scams between 2012 and 2021. Using fake identities and posing as a wealthy retired art dealer, Counne met victims through online dating apps, gained their trust, and persuaded them to invest in fraudulent opportunities (including purported Alibaba and tech startup deals), then used their money to appear wealthy to new victims and repay those who grew suspicious. The Manhattan District Attorney emphasizes that romance scams remain a persistent threat and urges potential victims to report such crimes.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Adedayo John, a 35-year-old from Texas, was sentenced to seven years in prison for leading a money laundering and bank fraud ring that stole over $19 million from more than 50 victims through business email compromise and romance fraud schemes targeting elderly individuals. John directed conspirators to open fraudulent bank accounts, approximately $4.5 million in proceeds passed through accounts he controlled, and he was ordered to forfeit over $4.5 million and pay nearly $1.6 million in restitution. In total, 11 defendants pleaded guilty in the scheme, which collectively resulted in over $25 million in forfeitures and $8