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in Romance Scam
arstechnica.com
· 2025-12-08
Nicole Yelland fell victim to an elaborate job scam in January and now implements strict verification protocols before meeting unknown contacts, including background checks and video calls with cameras on. Digital imposter scams targeting job seekers have surged significantly, with AI-generated fake personas and deepfake videos making fraudulent impersonation easier; FTC data shows job-related scam reports nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024, with losses increasing from $90 million to $500 million. Criminals are exploiting remote work trends and AI tools to construct convincing fake professional identities on platforms like LinkedIn and video conferencing services.
beverlyreview.net
· 2025-12-08
Katie Walsh of the Cook County Sheriff's Office warned senior citizens about the "grandparent scam," in which callers impersonate distressed relatives claiming to need emergency money and demand secrecy to prevent rational intervention. Walsh identified multiple scam types targeting people of all ages—including IRS impersonation, romance scams, and fake charities—noting that seniors are vulnerable not due to lack of intelligence but because emotional manipulation disrupts rational thinking. She advised victims to hang up before sharing information, consult trusted contacts, report to police and the Federal Trade Commission, and contact Illinois Adult Protective Services if needed, while emphasizing that recovery options are limited.
iheart.com
· 2025-12-08
Rising isolation in society—28% of the population now lives alone compared to 9% in the 1950s—has made older adults vulnerable to romance scams. Dr. Phil and Chris Harrison discuss a scammer manual containing 100 manipulative pick-up lines and feature victims including a 67-year-old widow and an 81-year-old woman who was scammed twice within three months. Social Catfish provides identity verification tools to help combat these frauds that cost victims millions of dollars.
counterpunch.org
· 2025-12-08
The author experienced two scams: a utility impersonation scam where a caller claiming to be from Con Edison demanded $450 payment via cash transfer for a fake "conversion fee," and a phishing scheme involving unsolicited text messages from someone posing as "Elena" attempting to extract personal information through social engineering. Both scams were avoided when the author recognized the suspicious tactics and verified the claims with legitimate sources and authorities. The piece highlights that scams cost American adults an estimated $47 billion in 2024, with romance scams alone resulting in $697.3 million in losses across nearly 59,000 victims.
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day (May 15) highlights a growing problem: seniors lost over $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, an 11 percent increase from 2022, through schemes including tech support, romance, and cryptocurrency fraud. The Federal Trade Commission reports that older adults experienced the highest financial losses among all age groups who reported scam losses in 2024, making fraud prevention education and resources from major financial institutions essential for protecting vulnerable seniors.
buckscounty.gov
· 2025-12-08
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day (May 15th) highlights the growing threat of scams targeting seniors in Bucks County and nationwide, including grandparent scams using AI technology, government impersonation schemes, tech support fraud, romance scams, and phishing attacks. The article emphasizes that seniors are vulnerable targets exploited through various channels, and recommends protective measures such as verifying information independently, resisting pressure tactics, protecting personal data, using strong passwords, and consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious requests.
bostonglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
Craig Clayton, a 75-year-old Rhode Island accountant, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice for laundering over $35 million in proceeds from internet fraud schemes targeting elderly victims through romance and business scams between 2019 and 2021. Clayton used his consulting business and shell companies, including Providence Sanitizer Inc., to process the fraudulent funds and transfer money to accounts in multiple countries, while lying to authorities about his activities. Under his plea agreement, Clayton faces 2.5 to 6.5 years in prison, must pay $140,000 in restitution, and forfeit over $330,000 and a vehicle.
news-shield.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam incidents are increasing dramatically—computer repair shops now report 1-2 victims daily compared to 1-2 per week previously—with AI technology making fraudulent emails, websites, and voice impersonations increasingly convincing and difficult to detect. Common scams include romance schemes (often the costliest), tech support pop-ups that trick users into granting remote access and transferring funds via untraceable payment methods, and "grandparents scams" using voice mimicry. Experts recommend verifying caller identities with family knowledge questions, avoiding rushed financial decisions, refusing unusual payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency, and immediately contacting banks or professionals rather than calling numbers on suspicious pop
liverpoolecho.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Nationwide building society has issued a warning about romance scams, where perpetrators build trust with victims through online dating platforms before requesting money through emotional manipulation. A UK Finance survey found that 29% of people who started online relationships in the past year were asked for money, with 51% of those agreeing to send it; once scammers receive funds, recovery is unlikely and victims are typically blocked. Nationwide advises customers to report suspected fraud immediately and recommends protective measures including meeting people in person before sending money, discussing relationships with trusted contacts, and avoiding scammers' requests to move conversations to unmonitored channels.
mynews4.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men were arrested in Reno on May 14, 2025, for operating a "pig butchering" elder fraud scheme that defrauded victims of millions across northern Nevada and California. The scam involved impersonating federal law enforcement to convince elderly victims their assets were under investigation, coercing them into withdrawing cash and gold bullion for fake "agents"; a 64-year-old Truckee victim alone lost hundreds of thousands of dollars before suspects were caught attempting to collect a package worth over $213,000. Amit Bhanwala-Singh and Anil Kumar were charged with obtaining money under false pretenses and exploiting an older person.
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
Two California men were arrested in a "pig butchering" elder fraud scheme that targeted a 64-year-old Truckee woman, coercing her to withdraw and deliver over $213,000 in cash and gold between April and May 2025 by impersonating U.S. Marshals. Amit Bhanwala-Singh and Anil Kumar allegedly used fear tactics and false claims of asset investigations to manipulate the victim into making multiple transactions across Northern California and Nevada. The coordinated operation by Reno Police and U.S. Secret Service resulted in charges of obtaining money under false pretenses and exploitation of an older person.
kolotv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Reno Police Department arrested two men, Amit Bhanwala-Singh and Anil Kumar, in connection with a "pig butchering" elder fraud scheme targeting northern Nevada and California residents. The suspects impersonated U.S. Marshals to convince elderly victims that their assets were under investigation, then coerced them into withdrawing cash and gold; one 64-year-old victim from Truckee lost hundreds of thousands of dollars before the suspects were apprehended attempting to collect a fake gold package valued at $213,000.
news-shield.com
· 2025-12-08
**Title:** In this technological age there is no shortage of ways a scammer might try to defraud someone.
AI-powered scams are increasing dramatically, with one computer repair business reporting a spike from 1-2 scam victims per week to 1-2 daily, as scammers now use tools like ChatGPT to create convincing phishing emails, fake websites, and deepfake voice calls. Common scams include romance fraud (which starts with small requests but accumulate over time), fake tech-support pop-ups that trick users into granting remote access and stealing banking information, and grandparent scams where AI mimics a family member's voice
buckscounty.gov
· 2025-12-08
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day (May 15th) highlights the escalating threat of fraud targeting seniors in Bucks County and nationwide, with criminals increasingly using AI-powered tactics like grandparent scams, government impersonation, tech support fraud, and romance scams to exploit seniors' trust and extract money. To protect themselves, seniors should verify unexpected contact through independent channels, resist pressure tactics, safeguard personal information, use strong passwords, and consult trusted contacts before responding to requests for money or sensitive data.
kswo.com
· 2025-12-08
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a National Senior Fraud Awareness Day advisory noting that seniors lose more than $3 billion annually to fraud, including technical support and romance scams. The AG's office provided guidance to protect against fraud, recommending seniors avoid sharing personal information unsolicited, be skeptical of urgent payment demands and email links, monitor bills for unauthorized charges, and report incidents to law enforcement.
thepress.net
· 2025-12-08
The county issued a public awareness warning about ten common phone and internet scams targeting residents, including grandparent scams, government imposter schemes, technology support fraud, romance scams, charity fraud, lottery scams, investment schemes, home repair fraud, phishing emails and texts, and utility payment scams. The advisory educates the public on how to identify and recognize these fraudulent tactics to protect themselves from financial loss and identity theft.
oklahoma.gov
· 2025-12-08
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a warning on National Senior Fraud Awareness Day, noting that elder fraud causes seniors over $3 billion in annual losses nationally through schemes including fake lotteries, tech support scams, government impersonation, and romance scams. The advisory recommends protective measures such as never sharing personal information unsolicited, avoiding clicking suspicious links, rejecting high-pressure payment demands, and reporting suspicious activity to financial institutions and law enforcement.
radaronline.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating Garth Brooks on dating apps and social media, convincing victims they are in romantic relationships with the country singer before requesting money, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. This romance scam scheme has also targeted impersonations of Kid Rock and Snoop Dogg, with perpetrators using elaborate tactics to extract funds from unsuspecting fans.
collider.com
· 2025-12-08
ABC News Studios' documentary series "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" (premiering May 20 on Hulu) follows three women—Annette, Roxy, and Gaby—who were defrauded by an online romance scammer operating under multiple aliases who manipulated them into sending their life savings by posing as a charming suitor. The series highlights the growing epidemic of romance scams, with online scammers stealing a record $16.6 billion in 2024 (a 33% increase from the previous year), and examines how victims are targeted while pursuing connection online.
context.news
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old Michigan woman was deceived in a romance scam involving deepfake technology, where a scammer posing as a French man named "Richard" used AI-generated video calls and fake photos to manipulate her into taking out loans totaling $26,000. The scam exemplifies a growing threat, with projections of 8 million deepfakes to be shared globally in 2025—approximately one-fifth of which will be used in romance scams—as scammers increasingly employ artificial intelligence to impersonate romantic interests.
dgepress.com
· 2025-12-08
ABC News Studios announced a new three-part docuseries titled "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" premiering May 20, 2025, on Hulu, which follows three women (Annette, Roxy, and Gaby) who were defrauded by the same online romance scammer posing as a handsome man. The docuseries highlights how scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics, including AI and deepfake technology, to exploit vulnerable individuals seeking connection online, in the context of record online scam losses of $16.6 billion in 2024, a 33% increase year-over-year according to FBI data.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
An 81-year-old widow from West Sussex, Doreen Daniel, lost £27,000 to a romance scammer who targeted her vulnerability following her husband's death, posing as a financial advisor named "Adam" and convincing her to download remote access software to transfer funds for a fake raffle scheme. Her family recovered approximately £18,000 from the bank, but Doreen suffered two mini strokes and died in November 2023, with her family attributing her health decline to the stress and trauma of the scam. Romance fraud cases reported to Action Fraud increased 27% between 2020 and 2024, with victims losing £92 million to such sc
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Since 2020, Surrey has recorded nearly 1,000 romance fraud cases, with 183 reported in 2024 as part of a national total of 8,548 cases resulting in over £92 million in losses. Romance fraud scammers target vulnerable individuals—particularly those who are bereaved, divorced, or isolated—by building fake relationships over time before requesting money, with victims experiencing severe long-term financial and emotional damage beyond their monetary losses. Police advise the public to be suspicious of money requests from online-only contacts, verify profile photos through reverse image searches, and seek advice from trusted family members before sending funds.
en.cibercuba.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Florida's elderly adults lost over $180 million to increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, with scammers using phone calls, texts, emails, social engineering, artificial intelligence, and identity theft as primary tactics. The most common scams targeting seniors include romance scams, fake investment opportunities (particularly cryptocurrency), and the "grandparent scam" where victims are pressured to send money urgently based on false emergencies. Authorities recommend never answering unknown calls, never providing personal information or money over the phone, and contacting institutions directly through official channels to verify any suspicious requests.
fox23.com
· 2025-12-08
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond highlighted precautions against elder fraud on National Senior Fraud Awareness Day, noting that seniors lose over $3 billion annually to scams including fake lotteries, technical support schemes, government impersonation, and romance fraud. The advisory provides ten key protective measures including: not sharing personal information unsolicited, verifying email sources before clicking links, being wary of upfront payment demands, monitoring bank statements, resisting high-pressure tactics, researching offers, and reporting suspected scams to the Attorney General's Office.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Impersonation scams are increasingly sophisticated, exploiting digital banking and UPI apps through fraudulent calls and emails that mimic legitimate financial institutions and government agencies. Key warning signs include unsolicited requests for passwords or OTPs, pressure to act quickly, demands for secrecy, and slight variations in sender email addresses—legitimate organizations never request sensitive information via phone or email. Experts recommend never sharing private information, enabling multi-factor authentication, verifying requests by calling contacts directly, and remaining skeptical of offers promising unrealistic returns or urgent money transfers.
local3news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau reports an increase in scams targeting seniors, with online purchase scams and romance scams being particularly prevalent among adults 55 and older. The article outlines common warning signs of senior-targeted fraud, including phone scams impersonating government or bank officials, pressure to pay via unusual methods, unrealistic investment promises, and requests for personal financial information. Consumers are advised to verify caller identities, research purchases, protect personal data, and report suspicious activity to the BBB's Scam Tracker.
loveballymena.online
· 2025-12-08
A woman from Newtownards, Northern Ireland was defrauded of £15,000 in a romance scam after meeting a fraudster on a dating site who built trust over several months before requesting money on three separate occasions. Police warn that romance scammers typically create fake profiles, establish emotional connections, then move conversations to private messaging apps before requesting money under false pretenses such as investments or emergencies. The PSNI advises victims to keep communications on official dating platforms, verify identities independently, never send money to people they haven't met in person, and report suspicious activity immediately to authorities.
laughingplace.com
· 2025-12-08
ABC News Studios is releasing a three-part docuseries titled "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" on Hulu, following three women—Annette, Roxy, and Gaby—who were each romantically scammed by the same man and lost money in an elaborate fraud scheme before joining forces to identify the perpetrator. The series highlights the growing threat of romance scams, as online scammers stole a record $16.6 billion in 2024, with increasingly sophisticated tactics using AI and deepfake technology to deceive vulnerable people seeking connection online.
thefutoncritic.com
· 2025-12-08
ABC News Studios announced a three-part docuseries titled "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" premiering May 20 on Hulu, which follows three women—Annette, Roxy, and Gaby—who were defrauded by the same online romance scammer posing as a handsome man. The series documents their discovery of the elaborate scam, their efforts to uncover the scammer's true identity, and their pursuit of justice, highlighting how online scammers stole a record $16.6 billion in 2024 using increasingly sophisticated tactics including AI and deepfake technology to target vulnerable individuals seeking connection.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** Elder fraud has reached epidemic proportions – a geriatrician explains what older Americans need to know
Americans age 60 and older lost over $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with elder fraud complaints to the FBI increasing 14% year-over-year, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Older adults are targeted because they tend to be trusting, have financial savings and assets, and may be less comfortable with technology, making them vulnerable to tech-support scams, romance scams, investment fraud, and call-center schemes—with investment scams being the costliest category. Beyond financial losses, fraud victims often experience trauma
leaderlive.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
North Wales Police reported 11 romance fraud cases in a single week, where criminals used fake social media profiles to build trust with victims before requesting money or gift cards. The police issued guidance advising residents to avoid moving relationships offline, verify profile pictures through reverse image searches, never send money or gift cards to online contacts, and report suspicious activity to dating platforms and Action Fraud.
breakingnews.ie
· 2025-12-08
A woman in County Down lost £15,000 ($17,700) to a romance scammer she met on a dating site who built a relationship with her over several months before convincing her to transfer money on three separate occasions. The PSNI warned the public about romance scams, noting that fraudsters typically develop relationships quickly, move conversations off-platform, and fabricate investment opportunities or emergencies to solicit money they never intend to repay. Police advised users to maintain communication on dating platforms, verify profiles through reverse image searches, research contacts via social media, and never send money to people they have not met in person.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Connecticut woman lost approximately $100,000 in a romance scam involving a man who claimed to be named John Gilbert and said he needed money to escape a dangerous situation while working on a ship in the Gulf of Mexico. The Connecticut Better Business Bureau confirmed this was the highest romance scam loss recorded in the state during 2024, and authorities are investigating the perpetrator while the victim has recovered some funds. Experts advise meeting potential romantic partners in person frequently and avoiding payment methods like prepaid debit cards, cash apps, or peer-to-peer payment services.
thesun.ie
· 2025-12-08
A woman in Newtownards, County Down, lost £15,000 to a romance scammer she met on a dating site who built a relationship with her over several months before convincing her to transfer money on three separate occasions. The PSNI issued a warning about romance scams, noting that fraudsters typically develop quick online relationships, move communication off the dating platform, fabricate stories and investment opportunities, then request money they never intend to repay. Police advised victims to keep communication on official dating platforms, verify profiles through reverse image searches, never send money to someone they haven't met in person, and seek independent financial advice before any investments.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Elder fraud epidemic:** Americans age 60+ lost over $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with elder fraud complaints to the FBI rising 14% year-over-year. Older adults are targeted due to their financial assets, trust levels, and often limited familiarity with technology, and they experience not only financial losses but also trauma, shame, and mental health consequences from being victimized.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam compounds in Bavet, Cambodia operate forced labor operations where thousands of trafficked workers—many lured under false pretenses—are coerced into perpetrating romance and investment fraud schemes against international victims, particularly British, American, and Australian adults, using a tactic called "pig-butchering" that builds trust before extracting large sums of money. Workers, including minors, face beatings, electrocution, and torture for failing to meet daily quotas, with the UN estimating over 100,000 people held in such compounds generating billions in annual revenue for organized crime networks influenced by Chinese mafia organizations. A 15-year-old Vietnamese girl was trafficked to
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta allowed thousands of fraudulent ads to proliferate on Facebook and Instagram while reportedly deprioritizing enforcement to protect advertising revenue, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation. The platform accounted for nearly half of all Zelle-related scam complaints to JPMorgan Chase between mid-2023 and mid-2024, with documented schemes including fake bulk merchandise ads using legitimate businesses' addresses, counterfeit McCormick brand promotions charging victims hundreds of dollars, and nonexistent puppy sales operating from overseas. Internal documents and former Meta staffers revealed the company tolerated multiple fraud "strikes" before banning accounts and deliberately avoided stricter advertiser controls despite losses to victims potentially reaching
english.gujaratsamachar.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Gujarat registered over 125,000 cybercrime complaints as part of India's nationwide total of 11.21 lakh cases, with citizens defrauded of approximately ₹400 lakh crore through scams including romance frauds (15%), investment schemes (20%), and phishing (20%). To address the crisis, seven joint cyber coordination teams have been established across cybercrime hotspots in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and other states to resolve jurisdictional conflicts and strengthen inter-state cooperation, while over 100,000 police officers have received specialized training in cybercrime investigation.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This weekend recap article mentions that romance scams are among the world's fastest-growing frauds, with $3.8 billion lost to romance scams and confidence schemes in 2023. A Wisconsin woman recently lost the fourth-largest amount of money in the U.S. to a romance scam, though specific dollar amounts and details about her case were not provided in this brief mention.
973espn.com
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement agencies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are warning residents about six prevalent scams: Facebook marketplace scams offering cheap duct cleaning or car detailing that harvest personal information; jury duty scams impersonating authorities and requesting driver's license or passport numbers; "brushing" scams involving unsolicited packages with malicious QR codes designed to access phone data; Medicaid/Medicare impersonation scams attempting to steal Social Security numbers and personal information; fake law enforcement scams threatening arrest and demanding bond payments; and additional schemes targeting victims through phone calls, emails, and in-person contact. The advisory emphasizes avoiding contact with suspicious offers, never scanning unknown QR codes, hanging up on callers imp
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article explains why retirees are targeted for financial fraud and describes common scams affecting older adults. Americans over 60 lost more than $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, with victims aged 80+ reporting average losses of $1,450—nearly three times higher than younger victims. The piece identifies key vulnerabilities (accumulated wealth, lower tech familiarity, trusting nature, social isolation) and provides warning signs and protection strategies for imposter scams (posing as IRS, Medicare, Social Security) and tech support scams, emphasizing awareness as the primary defense against financial fraud.
digitaltransactions.net
· 2025-12-08
ThreatMark released ScamFlag, a generative AI service that banks can integrate into their mobile-banking apps to help consumers identify potential scams by analyzing screenshots or photos of suspicious content. The tool uses AI trained on fraud samples to detect phishing emails, romance scams, investment fraud, marketplace scams, and business email compromise with reported 99% accuracy, providing users instant feedback on identified threats and recommended actions. Banks implement ScamFlag through a software development kit with annual licensing fees starting in the lower tens of thousands of dollars.
dfi.wa.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams to the FTC, resulting in $1.3 billion in losses. Romance scammers use dating apps and social media to build trust with victims, then pressure them to send money under false pretenses of emergencies or investments. To protect yourself, keep conversations within official apps, never send money to people you haven't met in person, avoid sharing personal information, and report suspicious behavior to authorities immediately.
wokingnewsandmail.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between April 2022 and March 2025, dating scams cost UK victims £271.4 million across 21,976 reports, with Surrey residents accounting for 481 cases and losses totaling £4.9 million (averaging £10,218 per victim). Reports increased 17% in 2024-25 to 8,122 cases, with women losing nearly twice as much per incident as men despite fewer reports, and some victims losing over £500,000 each.
kingsbridge-today.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Dating scams cost UK victims over £271 million between April 2022 and April 2025, with Devon & Cornwall among the hardest-hit regions, where victims lost over £7 million at an average of £9,060 per case. Men reported the most incidents (10,634) but women and transgender victims suffered significantly higher average losses at £16,370 and £27,234 respectively, with the average victim age increasing from 47 to 49 years old across the period. Fraudsters exploit victims' desire for companionship through manipulation and social engineering, causing not only financial but severe psychological and emotional harm.
theforester.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between 2022/23 and 2024/25, dating scams cost UK victims over £271 million, with 328 reports from Gloucestershire residents alone resulting in collective losses of £2.6 million (averaging £7,943 per victim). Men reported more incidents but women suffered higher average losses per case (£16,370 vs. lower male average), with victims' average age increasing from 47 to 49 over the period, and victims often experiencing significant psychological and emotional trauma beyond financial loss.
cheshire-live.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between April 2022 and March 2025, UK residents lost over £271 million to dating scams, with 21,976 reported cases, including 399 Cheshire victims who collectively lost £4.36 million (averaging £10,917 per person). Reports increased 17% in the latest financial year to 8,122 cases, with losses reaching £102.2 million, and women experiencing significantly higher average losses (£16,370) compared to men (£9,289), while some individual victims lost over £500,000.
sportskeeda.com
· 2025-12-08
A Hulu docuseries examines a coordinated romance scam that targeted three women—Annette, Roxy, and Gaby—who were each deceived by the same fraudster using multiple aliases (Scott Donald Hall, James Richards, and Michael Silver) to solicit money under false pretenses including medical emergencies and business crises. The victims lost significant sums, with at least one woman reporting losses exceeding $30,000, and the case illustrates how scammers increasingly employ AI and deepfake technology alongside emotional manipulation to deceive victims across online dating platforms. The series documents how the women eventually discovered they shared the same deceiver and worked together to expose the fraud.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
A Florida woman lost $160,000 to a scammer who used AI technology to impersonate actor Keanu Reeves over a two-and-a-half-year period. The scammer gained her trust through video calls and phone conversations using deepfake technology, then convinced her he needed money for legal troubles and froze assets, leading her to take out a home equity loan and sell her car to send cryptocurrency. This case reflects a broader trend of AI-enabled celebrity imposter scams, with the FTC reporting over 64,000 romance scams in 2023 causing $1.14 billion in losses, and research showing 33% of people contacted by fake celebrities