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in Romance Scam
oxfordmail.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Nationwide Building Society issued a warning after data revealed romance scams involving men increased 40% in 2023, with victims averaging £8,181 in losses compared to £10,610 for women. The scams involve criminals building false online relationships and using emotional manipulation to request money, with nearly two in five male victims aged 50-70, though one in five were aged 20-30. Nationwide recommends keeping conversations on secure dating platforms, researching online contacts, refusing money requests, and consulting trusted friends and family as key preventative measures.
asaaseradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian Instagram influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money for her role in laundering proceeds from romance scams targeting vulnerable older Americans between 2013 and 2019. She was extradited from the UK and admitted to receiving over $2.1 million stolen from victims through fake romantic relationships, and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41, facing up to five years in prison.
lrt.lt
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers in Lithuania defrauded hundreds of people of over 1 million euros in a coordinated scheme targeting lonely individuals, particularly elderly women, who believed they were communicating with military officers or sailors online. Banks recorded 350 confirmed cases last year, with victims losing significant amounts across multiple financial institutions (Swedbank: 300,000 euros from 148 customers; Luminor: 380,000 euros; SEB: 154,000 euros from 45 customers). Many victims delay reporting due to shame and embarrassment, allowing fraudsters to retain stolen funds, and banks emphasize that money requests from online romantic contacts should be treated as a major warning sign.
myheraldreview.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeting elders are at an all-time high, with the FTC reporting that older adults are increasingly targeted because they often have retirement savings and may be isolated or less tech-savvy. In 2022 alone, romance scams resulted in $1.3 billion in losses, more than double the previous year, as scammers manipulate emotions by creating fake profiles, building trust over time, and eventually requesting money or financial information that victims rarely recover. The article provides protective measures including consulting trusted friends before sending money, verifying identities through video chat, being wary of love-bombing tactics, and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC and FBI.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian social media influencer Mona Faiz Montrage pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive proceeds from romance scams targeting vulnerable older Americans between 2013 and 2019. Montrage, who operated the Instagram account "Hajia4Reall" with 3.4 million followers, received over $2 million in fraudulent funds through bank accounts used by a West African criminal enterprise that deceived victims into believing they were in romantic relationships and sending money under false pretenses. She agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million and faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.
soaps.sheknows.com
· 2025-12-08
A Chicago woman lost over $80,000 to a romance scam in which a con artist impersonated actor Taylor Kinney from the TV show Chicago Fire. The scammer, whom the woman met on a fan website, gradually escalated requests for money over a year-long period, using manipulative emotional language and guilt to drain her savings, 401(k), and car equity. The case highlights a broader problem: the FTC reported 64,003 romance scam victims in 2023, with scammers commonly posing as celebrities or other figures to exploit victims' emotions and trust.
skepchick.org
· 2025-12-08
Charlotte Cowles, a financial advice columnist for The Cut, lost $50,000 to a government impersonation scam in which she received a phone call spoofed to appear from Amazon, was transferred through fake FTC and CIA contacts, and was instructed to withdraw cash, place it in a shoebox, and hand it to an "undercover agent." The scam succeeded despite being transparently fraudulent—involving obvious red flags like being told not to inform her husband and to conduct the handoff immediately—partly due to Cowles' lack of financial literacy despite her advice columnist role and her apparent overconfidence that she was not a typical scam victim.
africanews.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans, and agreed to forfeit and make restitution of $2,164,758.41. She was extradited from the United Kingdom in May 2023 and faced charges for her role in an operation that used fake identities and various pretenses—including false gold transport and fake FBI investigation claims—to defraud vulnerable elderly victims.
gbcghanaonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Social media influencer Hajia4Real (Mona Faiz Montrage), a 31-year-old from Ghana, pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money derived from romance scams targeting older, single Americans between 2013 and 2019. She agreed to forfeit and provide restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces a maximum five-year prison sentence for this count, though she was originally charged with multiple fraud and money laundering offenses carrying up to 20-year sentences. According to prosecutors, she received funds through bank accounts she controlled that victims were tricked into sending via false pretenses involving gold transport payments, fake FBI investigations
uk.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This is not an article about fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The text is a standard cookie and privacy consent notice from Yahoo regarding data collection practices on their websites and apps. It does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database and therefore cannot be summarized as requested.
citinewsroom.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (known as Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting older Americans and agreed to pay over $4.3 million in total restitution and forfeiture ($2.16 million to victims and $2.16 million to U.S. authorities). Montrage was arrested abroad and knowingly laundered proceeds stolen from vulnerable elderly victims through fake romantic relationships, with sentencing to follow before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
tahawultech.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Romance scammers increasingly target online dating and social media users by creating fake profiles to build relationships and extract money through manipulation. In 2021 alone, approximately 24,000 Americans lost nearly $1 billion to romance fraud, while the UK reported £92 million in losses; scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics including deepfake technology and AI-generated content. Key warning signs include love bombing, persistent excuses to avoid in-person meetings, escalating money requests, and requests for explicit photos; individuals should verify contacts through reverse image searches, use privacy settings, and avoid sharing personal information or money with online contacts.
whio.com
· 2025-12-08
A Central Florida woman lost approximately $600,000 of her life savings to a romance scam in which a scammer impersonated Elon Musk, convincing her she was in a relationship and investing money with him through wire transfers, ATM withdrawals, and gift card purchases. The victim's daughter brought the story to light to raise awareness, noting that romance scams targeting older, divorced women are underreported; the FTC documented $1.3 billion in romance scam losses nationally in 2022, though experts believe actual losses are significantly higher. Victims are advised to report such scams immediately to the FBI, FTC, and the relevant social media platform.
observernews.net
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, Americans lost nearly $9 billion to scams and fraud, with seniors being particularly vulnerable targets, according to FTC reports. The Community Foundation Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Men's Club of Sun City Center partnered to present a free educational seminar on March 5 featuring speakers who covered common scams including charity fraud, lottery schemes, romance scams, and grandparent scams, while providing prevention strategies and resources to protect older adults from financial exploitation.
steinbachonline.com
· 2025-12-08
A senior in Steinbach, Manitoba lost a substantial amount of money in a Grandparent Scam on Wednesday, where a fraudster called pretending to be a relative in jail and requesting bail money, then arranged in-person cash pickup at the victim's home. Police received two complaints that day and report fraudsters have obtained victims' addresses in the area; if successful, scammers typically call back demanding additional money. Authorities recommend seniors hang up on suspicious calls, verify with family members, establish a family safety word, and report all suspected fraud to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
cavazossentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
Military personnel, veterans, and their families can protect themselves from scams by using strong passwords, password managers, two-factor authentication, and separating work and personal accounts. The most rapidly growing scams targeting this population are confidence and romance scams, along with online impersonation accounts (often impersonating high-ranking officials), credit repair schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, social media account takeovers, and extortion attempts involving compromised photos. Awareness of common tactics—such as requests for gift cards or money from supposed military officials via text, fake investment opportunities posted from hacked accounts, and suspicious website URLs—can help individuals avoid becoming victims.
inews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Chris Pitt, head of First Direct bank, fell victim to fraud five years ago when £250 in unauthorized betting transactions appeared on his account, illustrating how fraud affects people across all backgrounds despite awareness. UK Finance data shows fraud remains prevalent with £580m stolen in the first half of 2023, while average losses per case have increased to £3,589 at HSBC, with romance scams averaging £69,164 and investment scams averaging £27,680. The article emphasizes common scam types (phone, online, mobile, APP fraud, and romance scams) and advises consumers to question uninvited contact, never share personal information or passwords, an
acamstoday.org
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN issued an advisory in June 2022 highlighting the rising trend of elder financial exploitation (EFE), noting that at least 10% of older adults in the U.S. are affected annually, with losses exceeding $3 billion as of 2019. Common EFE schemes include government imposter scams, romance scams, emergency scams, lottery scams, and tech support scams, though most cases go unreported due to fear, embarrassment, and lack of resources. Financial institutions and analysts are encouraged to identify red flag indicators of suspicious activity and report potential cases of elder financial exploitation.
gna.org.gh
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting elderly Americans from 2013 onward. She agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
gnnliberia.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen money in a $2 million romance scam targeting older Americans, where she controlled bank accounts that received fraudulent funds obtained through fake romantic identities. She agreed to forfeit and make restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison upon sentencing by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. The scam, which exploited vulnerable elderly victims through false pretenses including fake gold transport payments and FBI investigation claims, resulted in her extradition from the United Kingdom in May 2023.
dailyguidenetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
Social media influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money in connection with a $2 million romance scam targeting older, single Americans conducted by a criminal enterprise based in Ghana. She was extradited from the United Kingdom in May 2023 and agreed to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and make full restitution, with sentencing pending before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
gbcghanaonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She faces up to five years in prison and has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41. The criminal conspiracy specifically targeted older Americans through fake online romantic relationships to steal their money.
georgeherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams exploit loneliness and love-induced emotional vulnerability to defraud victims of substantial sums. In 2023, the US reported over 70,000 romance scam cases, while South Africa reported 190 cases in 2020 but lost R178 million (averaging nearly R1 million per victim), with scammers using fabricated profiles, promises of visits and gifts, and escalating requests for money under various pretexts. Victims—often educated and otherwise financially prudent—include a divorced woman in her 40s and a 77-year-old widow from Mossel Bay who sent money and purchased expensive gifts despite red flags, as oxytoc
publicnewsservice.org
· 2025-12-08
AARP Connecticut is launching a new educational series to address the growing complexity of scams targeting older adults, with 400 different scam types reported in 2022. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to have more financial resources, and losses can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with emotional and psychological impacts extending beyond financial harm. The free online series will cover topics including artificial intelligence and voice cloning scams, with a Connecticut man recently indicted for defrauding Wisconsin seniors of $200,000 through grandparent impersonation scams.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office partnered with Winchester and Waltham Police Departments to host financial fraud awareness seminars for older adults, featuring presentations from federal prosecutors, the IRS, and U.S. Postal Service on common scams and protective measures. According to FBI data, victims over 60 experienced an 84% increase in losses from 2021 to 2022, totaling over $3 billion, with nearly 5,500 victims losing more than $100,000 each to schemes including tech support, romance, and sweepstakes scams.
citizensadvice.org.uk
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide describes common scams affecting people in Scotland, including phishing emails and texts impersonating TV Licensing, HMRC, PayPal, banks, and Ofcom, as well as dating and romance scams. The advice emphasizes verifying sender information, avoiding clicking suspicious links, never providing personal or financial details to unsolicited contacts, and immediately contacting your bank and police (101) if details have been compromised. Key prevention strategies include checking official websites for legitimate communication, using trusted contact methods, and consulting trusted friends or relatives when suspicious of a scam.
montereyherald.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational column outlines four prevalent scams targeting seniors: elder financial abuse (where trusted individuals gain unauthorized access to finances), romance scams (where online/phone relationships lead to requests for money), tech support scams (fraudulent calls claiming computer or banking problems), and bereavement scams (scammers targeting grieving family members by posing as funeral homes). The article estimates that over 10% of U.S. elderly are victimized annually and recommends protective measures including adding trusted contacts to financial accounts, establishing estate plans, verifying unexpected calls by contacting organizations directly, and reporting fraud to law enforcement.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Kate Kleinert, an AARP Pennsylvania volunteer, lost her entire life savings of $39,000, her home, and her six dogs to a romance scam involving a man posing as a surgeon in Iraq who she met on Facebook. After the scammer failed to appear as promised and a subsequent house fire destroyed her remaining possessions, Kleinert rebuilt her life and now volunteers as a Fraud Watch Network Speaker, educating seniors and community groups about recognizing and avoiding romance scams. Her advocacy work demonstrates how victims can transform their experience into meaningful action to protect others from similar financial and emotional devastation.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Real) pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy related to romance scams targeting elderly Americans dating back to 2013. She knowingly received stolen funds from vulnerable victims and was arrested abroad; she faces up to five years in prison and must forfeit and pay restitution of approximately $2.16 million.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Tinder is implementing an enhanced verification process requiring users to submit both a government-issued photo ID and a video selfie to receive a blue checkmark, with the rollout expected by summer 2024 in the US. The company states it will delete the redacted ID image and video selfie after 30 days, though two screenshots from the video will be retained indefinitely for auditing purposes. Security experts note that uploading government IDs online carries identity theft risks, and users can alternatively submit only a video selfie for a camera icon badge instead of the full checkmark.
fijitimes.com.fj
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022, with scammers creating fake online identities through social media to exploit victims emotionally and financially. Perpetrators gradually build trust with targets before requesting money under various pretexts (medical emergencies, travel costs, promised packages), and they commonly avoid video calls or in-person meetings. The scam affects people of all ages and backgrounds globally, with women reported as particularly vulnerable, though many cases remain underreported.
wset.com
· 2025-12-08
Bedford Police reported an increase in scams targeting elderly residents, including romance scams, grandparent scams requesting money or gift cards, and fraudsters impersonating organizations in person. Community Resource Officer Travis Thomas advised victims to request contact information and verify claims through independent research before donating or sending money, and encouraged residents to contact Bedford Police's non-emergency line to report scams or confirm legitimacy of requests.
steinbachonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Steinbach RCMP responded to four grandparent scam incidents in two days, with two victims losing money. Scammers called elderly residents impersonating relatives in legal trouble and requesting bail money, which victims were instructed to hand over to couriers at their homes. Police advise recipients to hang up, verify the story by calling the alleged family member, never share personal information, and establish a family safety word to prevent falling victim to this fraud.
yen.com.gh
· 2025-12-08
Socialite Hajia4Reall pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money in a romance scam case involving over $2 million in fraudulent funds from vulnerable older victims between 2013 and 2019; she agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41 and faces up to five years in prison. Following her guilty plea, Ghana's Economic and Organised Crime Office announced plans to implement lifestyle audits to target individuals with unexplained wealth, seeking to shift the burden of proof onto suspects to explain the source of their assets.
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Artificial intelligence is enabling cybercriminals to create increasingly sophisticated scams, including deepfake voice and video fraud that can be generated in real-time using minimal audio or video clips from social media. Security experts warn that criminals need only about three seconds of audio to recreate someone's voice with 70% accuracy, and traditional fraud detection methods may no longer be sufficient against AI-generated attacks. To protect themselves, people should watch for unnatural language patterns, unusually quick responses, lack of empathy, and can ask specific open-ended questions or request predetermined code words to detect whether they're communicating with a scammer using deepfake technology.
spotonflorida.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, Florida residents lost over $53 million to romance scams conducted on dating and social media platforms, prompting an FBI warning about the dangers of these schemes. The perpetrators are sophisticated fraudsters who pose as sincere and trustworthy individuals to manipulate victims emotionally before exploiting them financially. The FBI cautioned the public to be aware of these deceptive practices on online dating platforms.
pgurus.com
· 2025-12-08
A company operating in Myanmar's KK Park defrauded victims of over $100 million in less than two years using Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency, primarily through "pig butchering" romance scams where fraudsters build false romantic relationships to manipulate victims into sending money. The operation, which housed approximately 2,000 trafficked workers, also received ransom payments from families of trafficking victims, with a single Chinese company transferring over $100 million through just two digital wallets. In 2022 alone, U.S. citizens reported losses exceeding $700 million to romance scams and nearly $2.5 billion to cryptocurrency investment scams overall.
daijiworld.com
· 2025-12-08
A Myanmar-based company operating in KK Park defrauded victims of over $100 million in less than two years using "pig butchering" romance scams, where perpetrators engineer false romantic relationships to manipulate victims into sending cryptocurrency payments, often mixed with ransom demands from trafficked workers. Blockchain researchers tracked Tether cryptocurrency tokens flowing to the scam operation, with the single Chinese company transferring over $100 million through just two digital wallets, while the compound reportedly holds over 2,000 trafficked romance scam workers. In 2022 alone, U.S. citizens lost more than $700 million to romance scams and nearly $2
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Online scams in the United States reached record losses of $6.9 billion in 2021, nearly doubling since 2019, with Pennsylvania ranking fifth among most-scammed states at $207 million in losses affecting 17,262 victims who lost an average of $11,991 each. Romance, cryptocurrency, and investment scams are increasingly sophisticated and affecting educated individuals across all socioeconomic levels, with teens experiencing the highest percentage increase in losses (1,125% over five years) and seniors seeing a 390% increase. The article recommends avoiding money transfers to strangers met online, refusing requests for personal information, performing reverse image searches to verify identities,
thegazette.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old Iowa woman avoided a gift card scam where a caller claimed she had won $2 million and demanded a $150 gift card to claim the prize. Iowa reported nearly 13,000 fraud cases in 2023 resulting in $42.6 million in losses, with gift card scams accounting for $228 million stolen nationally, prompting AARP and state officials to launch an 18-stop awareness tour and push for legislation requiring stores to post gift card scam warnings.
chainalysis.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams ("pig butchering scams") generated over $700 million in reported losses to Americans in 2022, with scammers building fake relationships and coercing victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency and fiat investments before disappearing. Beyond victimizing romance scam targets, criminal gangs operating compounds in Myanmar and Southeast Asia have kidnapped and trafficked individuals forced to work 12+ hour days executing these scams, with gangs also collecting ransoms from victims' families in cryptocurrency, effectively mixing scam proceeds with extortion payments.
wcti12.com
· 2025-12-08
Carteret County, North Carolina is experiencing a surge in elder scams involving cryptocurrency and phone-based fraud, including impersonation of law enforcement, fake bail/accident schemes, and romance scams. County officials warn against sending money to unknown contacts claiming legal authority, investing in cryptocurrency without research, clicking suspicious links, and falling victim to online relationship scams, while noting that cryptocurrency and gift cards are preferred by scammers because they are difficult for law enforcement to trace. Residents are advised to verify suspicious claims with local law enforcement before sending any funds.
healthjournalism.org
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud schemes—including grandparent scams, romance scams, and government impersonation scams—have become increasingly sophisticated through AI technology like deepfake videos and robocalls, making them difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications. In 2022 alone, approximately 88,000 people aged 60 and older lost $3.1 billion to fraud, with victims over 70 losing an average of nearly $42,000; scammers typically exploit emotions rather than intelligence, and experts advise victims and their families to watch for financial requests as the key indicator of fraud. The AARP Fraud Watch Network received nearly 100,000 calls last year from victims of all
mainichi.jp
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, social media scammers defrauded residents of Osaka Prefecture out of 4.9 billion yen ($32.6 million) through remote investment scams and international romance schemes, with victims in their 40s and 50s losing an average of 10 million yen ($66,500) each. The 256 investment scam cases resulted in 3.18 billion yen in losses, while 163 romance scams—often combining romantic manipulation with investment pitches—caused 1.72 billion yen in damages, with the largest single loss reaching 234 million yen ($1.55 million). Instagram was the primary
avpress.com
· 2025-12-08
A man met a woman from the Philippines through a dating service who repeatedly made excuses not to visit the United States and continuously requested money for various emergencies (bail, medical surgery, travel costs), eventually asking for amounts up to $30,000 before he ended contact. The victim recognized the pattern as a romance scam and advises others to be cautious when anyone requests money or asks detailed questions about finances, noting that foreign scams typically target lonely men with false promises until they finally refuse to send more money.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Philadelphia tech professional named Shreya Datta lost approximately $450,000 in savings and retirement funds to a "pig butchering" romance scam, in which a man posing as a French wine trader named "Ancel" built trust over months using deepfake videos and manipulated screenshots before convincing her to invest in cryptocurrency through a fraudulent trading app. The scammer used emotional manipulation, gifts, and fabricated investment profits to gradually increase her investment until she attempted withdrawal and discovered the scheme; the FBI reported that over 40,000 people lost more than $3.5 billion to dating scams in 2023.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-08
A Miami man lost $42,000 in a romance scam involving a fake woman posing as an Estee Lauder executive named "Mandy Li" who connected with him via Instagram in December 2023. The scammer used a stolen photograph and initially showed small investment returns on Crypto.com to build trust, then convinced the victim to transfer funds to a fraudulent cryptocurrency platform where he was promised 1% daily gains; when he attempted withdrawal, he learned the funds were gone. This case exemplifies "pig butchering" scams, part of a broader trend where the FTC reported $1.14 billion in romance scam losses in 2023,
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Investigators traced nearly $100 million in cryptocurrency payments to a criminal scam compound in Myanmar (KK Park) operating pig butchering romance scams and worker trafficking ransoms over less than two years. Two cryptocurrency addresses linked to a Chinese front company received $24.2 million from known scam wallets and additional funds from ransoms, with families often extorted for $30,000+ to secure trafficked workers' release. The investigation reveals how romance scams and ransom extortion are interconnected operations generating significant profits for organized crime syndicates in Southeast Asia.
knoe.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are convincing victims to liquidate assets into cash or precious metals under the guise of protecting their funds, then arranging courier pickups to steal the converted assets. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center reported over $55 million in aggregated losses from this scam between May and December 2023. The BBB advises avoiding unsolicited pop-up ads and unknown phone numbers associated with these ads.
m9.news
· 2025-12-08
Shreya Datta, a 37-year-old Indian-American tech professional in Philadelphia, lost $450,000 to a sophisticated "pig butchering" romance scam in which a fraudster posing as a French wine trader named Ancel used deepfake videos and emotional manipulation on the dating app Hinge to lure her into a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme. The scammer requested increasing investments and ultimately asked for a "tax" when Datta attempted to withdraw profits, revealing the fraud. Dating scams accounted for over $3.5 billion in losses in 2023, and victims often experience significant emotional distress compounded by social stigma and shame that disc