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Suzanne Famula, 39, was defrauded of £20,810 by Christopher Harris, 41, whom she met on the dating app Hinge in November 2020. Harris used a romance scam scheme, repeatedly claiming he had serious health conditions and requesting money for medical expenses, mortgage payments, and bills over their five-month relationship. Harris was sentenced to 30 months in prison in February 2023 after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation, and Famula is now campaigning to establish romance fraud as a specific criminal offense with dedicated victim support.

Cybercriminals based in China and Pakistan have launched a resurgence of sextortion scams targeting residents of Bhopal, with 21 cases reported in one month resulting in losses of Rs 8 lakh. The scammers use messaging apps with fake female profiles to lure victims into obscene video calls, record the interactions, then threaten to share the videos online unless paid. Authorities advise residents to avoid calls and messages from numbers with country codes +86 (China) and +92 (Pakistan) to prevent falling victim to this fraud.

In the final three months of 2023, West Sussex residents lost £3.5 million to fraud, with over half of the 53% of victims aged 75 and older falling prey to courier/impersonator fraud, dating scams, and sextortion. To address this, West Sussex County Council's Digital Safety Team is offering free 1.5-hour "Are you scam savvy?" educational sessions in May, June, and July 2024, available both online and in-person at three local libraries, with bookings required through Eventbrite.

Between 2022 and 2023, sextortion reports involving children in Greater Manchester increased by 300 percent, rising from 22 to 88 cases, with a greater than 600 percent increase since 2020. Sextortion is a blackmail scam in which criminals create fake identities to befriend victims online, request explicit photos, then demand money under threat of sharing the images with the victim's social media contacts. Greater Manchester Police emphasized the seriousness of these crimes and encouraged victims to report to authorities or contact Crimestoppers anonymously, noting that victims should not feel ashamed as this crime is not their fault.

**Summary:** Maria Woodhouse, a 34-year-old job seeker, lost £2,655 to a recruitment scam after being contacted via WhatsApp by a fake recruiter offering remote work for £13 per hour. The scammer created a false job using a cryptocurrency platform (OKX) as a payment method, tricking Woodhouse into depositing money for each "task" while the scammer redirected her funds out of the wallet. Recruitment scams are the third most commonly reported fraud type, with cases rising 156% year-over-year and averaging £3,000 in losses per victim.

Syretta Scherer, a 42-year-old Georgia woman, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison in March for her role in a romance scam conspiracy that defrauded at least 28 seniors across multiple states of $5.8 million between February 2018 and November 2019. The scheme involved cultivating fake online relationships through dating apps, then pressuring victims to send money for fabricated emergencies; Scherer laundered approximately $1.1 million through bank accounts created under a sham company called Precise Carriers. Multiple co-conspirators were also prosecuted, with one receiving 78 months in prison and ordered to pay over $

Brent Carey, CEO of New Zealand's Netsafe (which receives 15,000 scam reports annually with 25% year-over-year growth), discusses the expanding fraud landscape affecting victims across all demographics. Romance scams and sextortion are particularly devastating, with sextortion complaints up 88% and primarily targeting young males who are blackmailed after sending intimate images to fraudsters posing as young women. A Netsafe and Global Anti-Scam Alliance survey found New Zealanders lost over $2 billion to scams, with the average victim losing $3,165, contrary to the misconception that only elderly people are targeted.

Naperville police reported over $750,000 in cryptocurrency losses since February, with four cases involving residents aged 43-83 in March alone. Scammers employed various tactics including hacking, romance scams, arrest scams, and sextortion to manipulate victims into sending funds. Police advise residents to avoid sharing personal information, resist pressure to act immediately, consult trusted individuals before responding, and refuse requests for payment via cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers.

South Carolina state Rep. Brandon Guffey's teenage son Gavin died by suicide after falling victim to a sextortion scam in which criminals posing as a young female on social media demanded money after he sent explicit photos. Guffey filed an 81-page wrongful death lawsuit against Meta, alleging the company failed to prevent the scam and contributed to mental health crises among young people, while the FBI reports sextortion cases in Georgia increased 700% since 2021. In response to his son's death, Guffey passed "Gavin's Law," making it a felony to target minors or at-risk adults in sextortion schemes.

Sextortion is a scam in which perpetrators, often adult males from West Africa or overseas, pose as teenage girls on social media to solicit sexually explicit content from teenage boys, then blackmail victims for money to prevent publication. The FBI reports thousands of victims and at least 20 suicides linked to these crimes in recent years. Fraud expert Steven Weisman recommends parents educate teens about the risks of sharing explicit material online and advises victims to report incidents to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

This educational piece provides ten practical strategies for avoiding romance scams on the internet. Key advice includes: not engaging with unknown online contacts, using reverse image lookups to verify identities, recognizing manipulation tactics (excessive terms of endearment, avoidance of video calls), never sending money to people you haven't met, and avoiding sharing personal information or intimate photos that could be used for sextortion or extortion. The article emphasizes trusting friends and family who recognize warning signs, as scammers often exploit emotional manipulation and create false scenarios to extract money or sensitive information.

Fraud Prevention Month 2024 highlights the importance of education and awareness in combating scams targeting Canadians, particularly seniors through schemes like the grandparent scam. In 2022, Canada reported 70,878 frauds affecting 37,047 victims with total losses of $529.3 million, while Manitoba alone experienced 1,850 scams resulting in $10.4 million in losses across 1,011 victims. Law enforcement agencies, including the Winnipeg Police Service, are promoting fraud prevention throughout March via radio panels, community events, educational articles, and social media campaigns focused on cryptocurrency, grandparent, bank investigator, and sextortion frau

Video call scams are fraudulent schemes conducted via platforms like WhatsApp where scammers use impersonation, deepfakes, and emotional manipulation to target victims through four main methods: blackmail (threatening to release recorded calls), investment fraud, tech support deception, and romance schemes. India's CERT-In recommends safeguards including avoiding video calls from unknown contacts, not sharing personal information, verifying identities, using secure platforms, and maintaining restricted privacy settings on social media.

In 2023, consumers lost a record $10 billion to fraud, with imposter scams being the most prevalent, affecting nearly 854,000 people and resulting in $2.7 billion in losses at an average of $800 per victim. Imposter scams involve criminals posing as trusted entities (government agencies, companies, relatives, or romantic interests) via email, phone, text, or social media to steal money or personal information, with emerging technologies like AI and voice cloning making these frauds increasingly convincing. Older adults, particularly those 80 and over, experience significantly higher median losses ($1,450) and are particularly vulnerable to "phantom hacker" tech-

# Scammer Alert Summary Scammers are harvesting public Facebook photos to stage fake kidnappings, contacting victims' families with demands for ransom while using the stolen images as "proof-of-life" to make the hoax convincing. The FBI warns that this scam preys on panic and emotion, with criminals using tight deadlines and threats to pressure families into quick payments without verification. To protect yourself, limit who can see your photos on social media by adjusting privacy settings to friends-only, and if you receive a ransom demand, stay calm and contact authorities rather than paying—real proof-of-life should be verified through direct contact with the alleged victim.

Crypto ATM machines at convenience stores across the U.S. have become primary tools for scammers targeting Americans, particularly seniors, who are tricked into depositing cash to resolve fabricated legal or financial emergencies. In one Arizona location alone, at least a dozen victims lost $118,000 in a year, including four people defrauded of a combined $54,000 in just four days. The crypto ATM companies profit significantly from these frauds through 20-30% markups on cryptocurrency transactions while largely failing to implement fraud-prevention measures, refusing victim refunds, and lobbying against protective legislation—with the FBI reporting Americans lost approximately $240 million to such scams in

Internet scams have evolved from crude 1990s email cons like Nigerian prince schemes to sophisticated AI-powered deepfakes that can convincingly impersonate voices and faces, with phishing attacks emerging in the early 2000s as online banking adoption grew. Despite technological advances making fraud more convincing and difficult to detect, successful scams continue to rely on exploiting fundamental human emotions—greed, fear, compassion, and loneliness—through predictable psychological manipulation patterns that create urgency and isolate victims from support systems. Understanding how scam tactics have evolved reveals that technological complexity often masks simple psychological manipulation, and recognizing consistent underlying patterns can help potential victims identify manipulation attempts regardless of delivery method.

Catfishing—creating false online identities to deceive others—affects an estimated 23% of social media users and resulted in $1.14 billion in reported romance scams in 2024, though experts believe the actual figure is much higher. While catfishing itself is largely legal in the United States due to First Amendment protections, related crimes like fraud and identity theft can be prosecuted, though most police departments lack resources to pursue perpetrators effectively. Red flags include reluctance to video chat or phone call, requests for cash, and fabricated personal details; victims typically must pursue civil claims for recourse.

The CBI arrested eight individuals and identified 45 suspects during Operation HAECHI-VI, an Interpol-led international operation targeting transnational cyber-enabled financial crimes including voice phishing, romance scams, sextortion, and investment fraud. The operation, conducted in coordination with the FBI and German authorities, dismantled illegal call centers in Delhi, Amritsar, and Siliguri that targeted U.S. and German nationals, resulting in the seizure of $66,340 in cash and the blocking of 30 bank accounts.

A sextortion network operating from Lagos, Nigeria targeted 16-year-old Evan Boettler from Missouri, using a fake female account to coerce him into sharing explicit images before blackmailing him; Evan died by suicide 90 minutes after receiving an extortion message. The investigation exposed "Yahoo Boys" operating sophisticated sextortion and romance scams from "Hustle Kingdoms" in Nigeria, deliberately targeting Western youth, though the case went unsolved when a telecom provider failed to retain digital evidence. Sextortion reports have more than doubled globally, with 55,000 cases reported in the U.S. in 2024 and 110 monthly reports in

A BBC investigation tracked a sextortion scammer operating from Lagos, Nigeria, who targeted 16-year-old Evan Boettler via a fake female profile on Snapchat in January 2024, extorting him for intimate images and leading to his suicide within 90 minutes of initial contact. Sextortion is one of the fastest-growing online crimes targeting teenagers in the US and Europe, with scammers—often part of organized "Hustle Kingdoms" or working independently—using fake profiles to solicit explicit images and then blackmail victims for money. The investigation revealed that many perpetrators are impoverished young men in Nigeria known as "Yahoo Boys" who operate

A BBC investigation tracked a sextortion scam operation targeting teenage boys, tracing the perpetrators to Lagos, Nigeria after a 16-year-old American, Evan Boettler, took his own life in January 2024 following a 90-minute sextortion extortion attack. Sextortion—where scammers pose as girls on social media to trick victims into sending intimate images, then threaten to release them unless paid—is one of the fastest-growing online crimes affecting teenagers in the US and Europe. The investigation revealed organized "Hustle Kingdom" operations in Lagos where gangs of young men systematically target victims, with scammers exploiting teenagers' fears about

A BBC investigation tracks a sextortion scam operation targeting teenage boys, following the 2024 death of 16-year-old Evan Boettler from Missouri, who took his own life 90 minutes after being blackmailed by a scammer posing as a girl on Snapchat. The reporter traces the digital footprint to Lagos, Nigeria, where "Yahoo Boys" and organized "Hustle Kingdom" gangs operate sextortion networks—luring victims into sharing intimate images then threatening to release them unless paid. Law enforcement has made limited progress despite the FBI's involvement, and social media platforms have refused to cooperate without court orders.

A documentary investigation in Lagos, Nigeria reveals organized "Hustle Kingdoms"—training centers where young men are systematically taught to conduct sextortion and romance scams targeting British teenagers, with operators like "Ghost" claiming over £1 million in crypto earnings and taking 70% of victims' payments. Scammers use fake female social media profiles to solicit explicit images from minors, then extort thousands of pounds by threatening to share the photos with schools and employers, with some victims subjected to repeated demands. The scammers, including those as young as 14, display little remorse despite awareness that victims have committed suicide as a result of the blackmail.

A BBC Three documentary documents the growing epidemic of sextortion scams, particularly targeting teenage boys through social media, with unprecedented filmed access to a Nigerian scam operation ("hustle kingdom") where criminals use AI deepfake technology to impersonate victims. The UK's National Crime Agency reports approximately 110 sextortion cases monthly, while the FBI recorded 55,000 cases in 2024—more than double the number from three years prior. The documentary highlights the tragic case of 16-year-old Evan Boettler, who died by suicide in January 2024 after being blackmailed by a scammer using a fake female profile, and reveals that scammers are investing

Sextortion scams, primarily perpetrated by Nigerian "Yahoo Boys," have targeted young boys online by impersonating peers on social media, coercing them into sending nude images, then blackmailing them for money—with at least 5 confirmed suicides in Canada and over 40 across North America in the past four years. Scammers openly share exploitation techniques and resources on encrypted platforms and flaunt their ill-gotten wealth, while victims like 12-year-old Carson Cleland, who was blackmailed for just $25, face devastating psychological consequences that sometimes result in suicide.

Interpol arrested 260 cybercrime suspects across 14 African countries in Operation Contender 3.0, dismantling 81 criminal networks involved in romance scams and sextortion schemes. The operation affected approximately 1,500 victims with total losses of $2.8 million, with perpetrators using fake profiles, forged identities, and stolen images to commit fraud through fake courier fees and blackmail schemes. Romance scams and sextortion continue to affect millions globally across all ages and genders.

AI is enhancing both traditional scams and creating new fraud methods by automating mass attacks and making previously elite techniques accessible to ordinary fraudsters. Common AI-assisted scams include voice-cloned "grandparent scams," months-long fake relationship "pig butchering" schemes with cryptocurrency investments, synthetic identity fraud, sextortion with AI-generated images, and fake product reviews and job postings. To protect themselves, people should remain skeptical of urgent money requests especially via phone calls from claimed family members, verify identities through independent channels, and slow down decision-making during high-pressure situations.

Interpol's Operation Contender 3.0 arrested 260 alleged romance scammers and sextortionists across Africa, recovering 1,235 electronic devices and linking 1,463 victims who lost approximately $2.8 million. The criminals used fake online identities to lure vulnerable victims into romantic relationships before demanding money through bogus fees, fraudulent investments, or sextortion schemes involving explicit recordings. The operation highlights a growing problem in Africa where cybercrime accounts for 30% of reported crime, with Americans losing $1.2 billion annually to romance scams with median losses around $2,000.

INTERPOL arrested 260 alleged romance scammers, sextortionists, and online fraudsters across 14 African nations in "Operation Contender 3.0," identifying over 1,400 victims with estimated losses of nearly US $2.8 million. Law enforcement seized 1,235 electronic devices and dismantled 81 cybercriminal infrastructures used to lure victims and launder payments. The operation highlights the surge of digital crime across Africa, where sextortion attacks and romance scams are particularly prevalent due to low barriers to entry and high profit potential, with many victims reluctant to report crimes due to shame.

An Interpol-coordinated operation spanning 14 African countries arrested 260 cybercrime suspects and dismantled 81 criminal networks involved in romance scams and sextortion, resulting in approximately $2.8 million in losses across nearly 1,500 victims. Ghana accounted for the largest portion of arrests (68 suspects) with victims losing $450,000, while other countries including Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Angola also made significant arrests; authorities seized electronic devices, forged documents, and SIM cards used in the schemes. The operation highlighted the growing threat of digitally-enabled fraud on social media and dating platforms across Africa, with

International law enforcement arrested 260 suspects and seized 1,235 electronic devices across 14 African countries in Operation Condor 3.0 (July-August), a crackdown on romance scams and sextortion rings operated by criminal syndicates originating in Southeast Asia. The operation identified 1,463 victims who lost an estimated $2.8 million and dismantled 81 cybercrime infrastructures, highlighting the growing threat of digitally-enabled scams exploiting human vulnerabilities across Africa and globally.

INTERPOL has built a specialized network of cybercrime officers across Africa's 54 countries to combat the growing cyber threat, which now accounts for up to 30% of crime in some regions. Through coordinated operations and intelligence sharing with member countries and private partners, INTERPOL has achieved significant results, including over 1,200 arrests and nearly $100 million in recovered funds in their latest Africa-wide operation (Serengeti 2.0). The organization emphasizes rapid information exchange and cross-border collaboration to detect and respond to phishing, malware, and ransomware campaigns targeting financial institutions and vulnerable populations.

Interpol arrested 260 suspects across 14 African countries in July and August for orchestrating online romance and sextortion scams that victimized over 1,400 people and stole nearly $2.8 million. Ghanaian authorities arrested 68 suspects who used fake identities to charge victims fraudulent shipping fees and blackmail them with explicit videos, while in Senegal, 22 suspects impersonated celebrities on social media to defraud over 100 victims of $34,000. The operation underscores the growing prevalence of digital crimes, including romance scams and sextortion, facilitated by online platforms.

**Summary:** Interpol arrested 260 individuals across 14 African nations in a coordinated operation targeting romance scam and sextortion networks operating during July and August. The perpetrators defrauded over 1,400 victims of approximately $2.8 million by building fake romantic relationships, then demanding money or blackmailing victims with compromising images. Notable arrests included 68 suspects in Ghana, 22 in Senegal, and 24 in Ivory Coast, with authorities attributing the rise in these crimes to expanded access to online platforms.

An Interpol-coordinated crackdown across 14 African countries in July and August resulted in the arrest of 260 suspects involved in online romance scams and sextortion schemes that targeted over 1,400 victims and caused nearly $2.8 million in losses. The operation revealed a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes where perpetrators use fake identities and social media profiles to build romantic relationships, extract money through false fees, or blackmail victims with intimate images. Notable arrests included 68 suspects in Ghana, 22 in Senegal who impersonated celebrities, and 24 in Côte d'Ivoire engaged in sextortion activities.

Interpol arrested over 250 suspected cybercriminals across 14 African nations in Operation Contender 3.0, disrupting romance scams and sextortion schemes that targeted approximately 1,500 victims with estimated losses near $3 million. The operation, conducted in late July through early August, identified digital infrastructure used by scam syndicates that exploited victims' trust and emotional vulnerabilities through fake romance profiles and blackmail using explicit imagery. Ghana led the crackdown with approximately 70 arrests, while operations in other countries including Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire dismantled networks impersonating celebrities and operating organized sextortion rings.

A coordinated Interpol operation across 14 African countries resulted in the arrest of approximately 260 suspected cyber scammers involved in romance scams and sextortion between July and August. Over 1,400 victims, including many elderly individuals, lost a combined $2.8 million, with the operation also dismantling 81 cyber-crime groups and seizing numerous devices and forged documents. Ghana saw the most arrests with 68 suspects and $70,000 recovered from $450,000 in losses, while other countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast uncovered additional networks using fake profiles and blackmail tactics to defraud victims.

An Interpol-coordinated crackdown across 14 African countries in July and August resulted in the arrest of 260 suspects involved in online romance and sextortion scams that targeted over 1,400 victims and caused nearly $2.8 million in losses. The operation focused on perpetrators who used fake identities and profiles to build romantic relationships, extract money through false fees, and blackmail victims with explicit images, with Ghana accounting for 68 arrests and Senegal for 22 arrests of suspects posing as celebrities.

During Operation Contender 3.0 (July 28–August 11, 2025), authorities in 14 African countries arrested 260 suspects and seized 1,235 electronic devices in a coordinated crackdown on cybercrime networks using romance scams and sextortion schemes. The operation identified 1,463 victims with estimated losses of USD 2.8 million, dismantling 81 cybercrime infrastructures across Africa through international collaboration between law enforcement and private sector partners. Notable outcomes included Ghana's arrest of 68 suspects with USD 450,000 in identified losses (USD 70,000 recovered), Senegal's takedown

An Interpol-coordinated crackdown in July and August resulted in 260 arrests across 14 African countries involved in online romance and sextortion scams that targeted over 1,400 victims and caused losses of approximately $2.8 million USD. The scams involved perpetrators using fake identities and profiles to build romantic relationships, extort money through false fees, and blackmail victims with explicit images. Interpol highlighted that the proliferation of online platforms has created new avenues for criminal networks to exploit victims financially and psychologically.

In July-August 2025, authorities across 14 African countries arrested 260 people in Operation Contender 3.0, a coordinated INTERPOL crackdown on cybercrime including romance scams and sextortion schemes. The operation identified nearly 1,500 victims, seized over 1,200 electronic devices, and estimated losses at $2.8 million, with Ghana recording the highest arrests (68 suspects, $70,000 recovered) and Côte d'Ivoire dismantling a sextortion ring affecting over 800 victims. The coordinated action highlights the growing threat of digital-enabled crimes across Africa and the critical need for

**"Scamfluencers" on social media platforms like YouTube, Telegram, and TikTok are openly teaching followers—increasingly teenagers—how to commit online fraud, with figures like "Format Boy" providing step-by-step tutorials on romance scams, fake identities, and deepfake technology, while others like Hushpuppi glamorize fraud-funded lifestyles. These content creators use motivational language and entertainment framing to normalize scamming, putting vulnerable young people at risk of both becoming perpetrators and victims of online fraud.**

A House Financial Services Committee hearing highlighted that fraud and scams cost Americans over $2 billion weekly, with the FTC reporting $12.5 billion in annual losses for 2024, though experts believe the true figure is significantly higher due to lack of unified tracking mechanisms. The testimony and accompanying research emphasize that combating this fragmented, internationally-organized problem requires a comprehensive national strategy with coordinated buy-in from social media companies, telecommunications firms, financial institutions, law enforcement, and government agencies, along with legal protections allowing institutions to share fraud data. Key scams affecting Americans include romance, sextortion, "pig butchering," AI-generated voice calls impersonating family members

Nigerian national Olamide Shanu was extradited from the UK and prosecuted in U.S. federal court for his role in cyber-enabled sextortion, romance scams, and wire fraud that defrauded victims of at least $2 million. Shanu and accomplices posed as women on social media to solicit sexually explicit images from male victims, then extorted money by threatening to release the images to their contacts, with proceeds laundered through cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer payment platforms. Shanu faces an eight-count indictment including wire fraud, extortion, and money laundering, with potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Two Athens residents fell victim to romance scams in August 2024, with a 69-year-old losing $294,000 and a 71-year-old losing $2,000 to women they met online, prompting Adult Protective Services investigations. The Athens Community Council on Aging responded by hosting a "Scam Jam" workshop on September 24, 2024, featuring experts in financial security and law enforcement to help seniors and families recognize romance fraud warning signs. Romance scams, where criminals create fake online identities to gain victims' trust and money, represent a growing threat to older adults nationwide, with elder Americans reporting over 3,318 sextortion complaints in

This article does not describe elder fraud, scams targeting seniors, or elder abuse. It is a political statement regarding allegations against a Nigerian activist and publisher, involving disputes over fund management and political matters unrelated to elderly populations. This falls outside the scope of Elderus, which focuses on fraud and abuse targeting older adults.

Olamide Shanu, a 34-year-old Nigerian man, was extradited to the U.S. and charged with operating sextortion and romance scams that defrauded numerous victims across the country of at least $2 million. Shanu and his conspirators posed as women on social media to coerce victims into sending explicit images, then extorted money by threatening to share the images, while also running parallel romance scams using fake identities to manipulate victims into sending money through payment apps, gift cards, and cryptocurrency. If convicted on charges including wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and cyberstalking, Shanu faces up to 20 years in

Olamide Shanu, a 34-year-old Nigerian man, was extradited from the United Kingdom and charged in federal court in Idaho with defrauding victims of at least $2 million through sextortion and romance scams. Shanu and co-conspirators allegedly posed as women on social media to trick male victims into sending explicit images, then threatened to distribute them unless payments were made, with proceeds laundered through cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer payment apps. He faces eight federal charges carrying up to 20 years in prison and potential restitution to victims.

Olamide Shanu, 34, a Nigerian national, was extradited to the United States and charged with eight counts including wire fraud, extortion, and cyberstalking for operating sextortion and romance scams that targeted victims across the United States. Shanu and his conspirators posed as women on social media to coerce male victims into sending explicit images, then threatened to distribute those images unless paid, defrauding victims of at least $2 million with proceeds laundered through peer-to-peer payment apps and cryptocurrency. If convicted, Shanu faces up to 20 years in federal prison and restitution to victims.