Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
4,783 results
in Romance Scam
deeside.com
· 2025-12-08
North Wales Police reported a surge in romance scams, receiving 11 cases in a single week involving victims who were manipulated through fake social media profiles and dating websites into sending money or gift cards to fraudsters posing as romantic interests. The scammers build emotional trust before making financial requests, with gift cards being particularly attractive to criminals due to their untraceable and easily redeemable nature. Police advised the public to verify identities, avoid sending money to people they haven't met in person, and report suspicions to Action Fraud.
spectrumnews1.com
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering," a financial grooming scam where perpetrators build trust over months before soliciting investments (often in cryptocurrency), has resulted in victims losing thousands to millions of dollars, with investment scam losses increasing from $3.3 billion in 2022 to $4.5 billion in 2023. One Kentucky victim lost $1.7 million in assets after being manipulated into selling her home and liquidating retirement accounts. AARP recommends victims research investments, ignore unsolicited messages, use reverse image searches, and work with certified financial advisers to protect themselves from these schemes.
abcnews.go.com
· 2025-12-08
ABC News is previewing an upcoming docuseries titled "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" that chronicles the stories of three women who were defrauded by the same romance scammer. The series examines how the perpetrator manipulated and conned multiple victims through romantic deception. Specific details about dollar amounts, victim identities, or the scammer's identity are not provided in this preview.
pioneerpublishers.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans over age 60 reported billions in losses to four main types of elder fraud: tech support/government impersonation scams, investment fraud ($1.2 billion in reported losses), romance/confidence schemes ($357 million), and cryptocurrency scams ($1.1 billion). The article advises seniors to recognize these scams, consider having a trusted caregiver or companion to screen communications and spot red flags, and to report suspected fraud immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and their bank.
consumerfed.org
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost over $16 billion to online scams in the past year, with seniors accounting for nearly $5 billion of that total, according to FBI statistics. Losses increased 33% from the previous year, driven by surges in tech support scams (58% increase), extortion (91% increase), phishing (273% increase), and identity theft (38% increase). The report found that generative AI tools—including text, image, voice, and video generation—are enabling scammers to create more convincing and personalized fraud schemes at scale, while underregulated data brokers, payment platforms, and communication tools continue to facilitate scams across multiple points in the fraud pipeline.
sowetanlive.co.za
· 2025-12-08
A man in Limpopo was arrested after using a fake Facebook account under the name "Jeff Rals" to lure a young woman from Pretoria under false pretenses of employment, then kidnapped and repeatedly raped her. Police located the victim and suspect within five hours at a filling station in Giyani after a vigilant friend alerted authorities. The suspect faces charges of rape and kidnapping, and police warned online dating users to exercise caution with unfamiliar contacts and be wary of requests to meet in person.
yourharlow.com
· 2025-12-08
Between April 2022 and March 2025, dating scams cost UK victims over £271 million across 21,976 reported cases, with Essex residents accounting for 549 reports and £5.5 million in losses at an average of £10,142 per victim. The scams showed a concerning 17% year-on-year increase in reports, with women and transgender victims suffering disproportionately higher average losses (£16,370 and £27,234 respectively) despite fewer reports than men, and some victims losing as much as £500,000 or more.
tmj4.com
· 2025-12-08
Tony Lupo, an Oak Creek senior, fell victim to multiple scams including fake prize notifications and fraudulent calls claiming to involve his Social Security and Medicare benefits. Milwaukee County authorities report three prevalent phone scam tactics targeting residents: fake arrest warrants, missed jury duty claims, and Social Security impersonation scams. AARP hosted a community Scam Jam event featuring expert speakers and resources to educate residents on recognizing and reporting scams, with law enforcement emphasizing the importance of verifying suspicious calls through official agency contact numbers before providing any personal information.
wgel.com
· 2025-12-08
A St. Louis man, Alen Saric, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for his role in a vehicle sale scam that defrauded victims across four Illinois counties from 2018 to 2023 using fake cashier's checks to purchase vehicles on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, with the scheme totaling $1.7 million and involving the theft and resale of vehicles before victims discovered the fraud. The case highlights growing concerns about elder fraud, with financial institutions urging seniors to verify cashier's checks directly with banks, avoid acting under pressure, and consult trusted individuals before completing transactions with strangers online.
thesun.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Lisa Nock, a 44-year-old woman with autism from Staffordshire, was scammed out of £11,000 over 18 months by a romance fraudster posing as TV vet Dr Chris Brown on Instagram. The scammer used "love bombing" tactics, claiming to love her and proposing, then requesting money for flights, visas, and cryptocurrency payments, which Lisa transferred while sacrificing her own activities and disability allowance. The scam ended in December 2024 when Lisa could no longer afford to send money and the fraudster ceased contact.
droitwichstandard.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between 2022/23 and 2024/25, dating scams cost UK residents over £271 million across 21,976 reported cases, with West Mercia residents losing a collective £3,857,217 (averaging £12,206 per victim). Reports to Action Fraud increased 17% in 2024/25 to 8,122 cases with £102.2 million in losses, with women and transgender victims experiencing disproportionately higher per-case losses (£16,370 and £27,234 respectively) despite fewer reports than men, and victims averaging 49 years old.
ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to summarize this article as requested because the provided text does not contain the actual article content about the romance scam. The text only includes a headline and a list of unrelated shopping/product articles. To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article content describing the scam details, victim information, and outcome.
wellingtonadvertiser.com
· 2025-12-08
Between February and April 2025, a Guelph-Eramosa resident lost more than $80,000 in a romance scam after developing an online relationship with an unidentified individual who repeatedly requested money via e-transfers and cryptocurrency under false pretenses. The scammer used a fake profile with stolen photos and fabricated backstory to build trust, then exploited the victim's emotions to extract funds. Police warn residents to be alert to common romance scam indicators, including reluctance to meet in person and claims of fictitious emergencies requiring financial assistance.
sportskeeda.com
· 2025-12-08
"Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" is a Hulu documentary series following three women from Connecticut, Ontario, and Frankfurt who were defrauded by the same anonymous romance scammer using stolen photos and multiple fake identities (Scott Donald Hall, James Richards, Michael Silver). The scammer exploited each woman's emotional vulnerability through social media and private messaging, eventually extracting thousands of dollars under false pretenses, with one victim losing over $30,000 and another compromising her Social Security information. Despite the victims' collaborative investigation, the scammer's true identity remains unknown, illustrating how AI technology and deepfakes enable modern romance fraud, which resulted in $16.6
theherald.co.za
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Police in Limpopo arrested a man who used a fake Facebook account under the name "Jeff Rals" to lure women with false promises of employment, then kidnapped and repeatedly raped a young woman from Pretoria after transporting her to his homestead in Limpopo. The victim was rescued within five hours when the suspect ran out of petrol at a filling station and could not afford fuel; he now faces charges of rape and kidnapping. Police warn online dating users to exercise caution with unknown contacts and recognize that scammers establish false trust before requesting meetings or money that can lead to kidnapping and assault.
thecut.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old retired urban planner named Brian Ketcham lost significant money to romance scammers on the dating website Dream Singles, communicating with profiles of women (primarily one named "Vasilisa") who likely did not exist in real life. After his death in 2024, his children discovered hundreds of printed chat transcripts and documented evidence of the scheme, which required him to purchase credits for each message sent to the fake profiles. The article explores how his initial skepticism gradually eroded as the scammers built emotional connections with him, ultimately resulting in financial loss before his death.
pulse.com.gh
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite and musician Hajia 4Reall (Mona Faiz Montrage) was released from federal prison on May 22, 2025, after serving a one-year-one-day sentence for her role in a romance scam that defrauded U.S. victims between 2013 and 2019. She was ordered to forfeit $216,475 and pay $1,387,458 in restitution to victims, and will return to Ghana under a three-year supervised release agreement. The 32-year-old was convicted for conspiracy to receive stolen money as part of a West Africa-based criminal enterprise that used romance frau
gbcghanaonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian social media influencer Hajia4Reall (Mona Faiz Montrage) was released from a U.S. federal prison on May 22, 2025, after serving a one-year sentence for her role in a West Africa-based romance scam network that defrauded elderly Americans between 2013 and 2019. Montrage pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money and was ordered to forfeit and pay restitution of over $2.1 million; she personally controlled accounts that received more than $2 million in fraud proceeds from victims who were deceived into believing they were in romantic relationships with fictitious personas.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 44-year-old disabled woman from Staffordshire lost £11,000 to a romance scammer who impersonated Australian TV vet Dr Chris Brown on Instagram, extracting money over 18 months through love bombing, fake proposals, and cryptocurrency transfers funded partly from her disability allowance. The scammer convinced her to send funds for flights and visas, with the largest single payment being £7,000, before she recognized red flags in January 2025 and reported the case to West Midlands Police and Action Fraud. Lisa Nock shared her story publicly to warn vulnerable people, noting she never received a phone or video call from the fraudster and had sacrificed social activities and lessons
sportskeeda.com
· 2025-12-08
"Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" is a documentary series examining how AI and deepfake technology have made romance scams more sophisticated and harder to detect, following three women who were victimized by a scammer using fake personas and stolen photos. The victims suffered significant financial losses (including one woman who wired over $30,000) and psychological harm, while scammers exploit these technologies to create realistic video calls, voice messages, and convincing personas that build trust quickly. The series highlights that romance scams comprised an increasing portion of the $16.6 billion in online fraud losses reported in 2024, and demonstrates how these technologies enable criminals to evade law enforcement identification.
sportskeeda.com
· 2025-12-08
"Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" is a three-part docuseries released on Hulu in May 2025 that follows three women—Annette, Roxy, and Gabby—who were defrauded by the same man posing as their online romantic partner. The series explores how scammers exploit emotional vulnerability through psychological manipulation, examines common warning signs and patterns of online romance fraud, and documents the victims' journey from discovering the deception to confronting their perpetrator and seeking accountability.
graphic.com.gh
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Hajia 4Reall (Mona Faiz Montrage) was released from federal prison in Philadelphia on May 22, 2025, after serving a one-year sentence for conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance and internet fraud scams. She was part of a West Africa-based criminal enterprise that defrauded vulnerable older Americans of over $2 million, with Montrage personally receiving funds from approximately forty victims through false pretenses involving gold transportation, fake FBI investigations, and impersonation of a U.S. Army officer. She was ordered to forfeit $216,475 and pay $1,387,458 in restitution, with
nationalseniors.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting older Australians with "sextortion" scams, which now account for over 30% of personal scams, where perpetrators threaten to release compromising sexual images or videos unless victims pay ransoms in cryptocurrency. These emotionally manipulative schemes use artificial intelligence and personal information from data breaches to personalize threats and appear credible, with victims including seniors who were traditionally not targeted and who often experience profound shame and fear that prevents them from seeking help. Experts recommend protecting oneself by avoiding sharing intimate photos online, being skeptical of unsolicited emails with demands, verifying whether personal details actually indicate device compromise, and reporting incidents to the Australian Cyber Security
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "The secret world behind those scammy text messages"
Investigative reporter Zeke Faux received unsolicited text messages with casual openers like "Hi David, I'm Vicky Ho. Don't you remember me?" and intentionally engaged with the scam to investigate its origins. His pursuit led to an international investigation uncovering the network behind random wrong-number texts designed to defraud recipients, revealing previously hidden operations behind this common scam tactic.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
U.S. authorities seized over $868,247 in cryptocurrency from perpetrators of a confidence scheme in which criminals posed as investment advisors through text messages, dating apps, and professional groups to gain victims' trust and direct them to fake investment platforms. The scheme involved criminals encouraging victims to transfer bank funds to cryptocurrency accounts and then to fraudulent platforms that displayed false profits while routing all deposits to perpetrator-controlled wallets, ultimately locking victims out and stealing their funds. The FBI Honolulu Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Department of Justice and cryptocurrency platform Tether.
asaaseradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian socialite Hajia4Reall (Mona Faiz Montrage) was released from federal detention in Philadelphia in May 2025 after serving a one-year sentence for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded approximately 40 victims of over $1.3 million between 2013 and 2019. The scheme involved elaborate false narratives about gold shipments, fake FBI investigations, and fabricated military recovery stories, and she was ordered to pay $1,387,458 in restitution plus $216,475 in forfeiture while serving three years of supervised release.
asaaseradio.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams and sexual extortion cases in Ghana have increased by over 300% in the past year, according to the Cyber Security Experts Association of Ghana, with scammers using emotional manipulation and fabricated identities to defraud victims of large sums of money, often by faking medical emergencies. The actual number of victims is likely far higher due to underreporting driven by shame, and cases result in devastating consequences including financial ruin and long-term psychological trauma. Ghana's Cybersecurity Act 2020 criminalizes such activities with penalties up to 25 years, but experts emphasize the need for expanded public education, victim support services, and more trained cybersecurity
gript.ie
· 2025-12-08
Irish police (An Garda Síochána) warn the public about romance scams, in which fraudsters build fake online relationships to extract money from victims over extended periods. Reported cases include a Dutch woman whose account was used to launder stolen money after a three-year fake relationship, and an Irish woman who lost €48,000 to a romance scammer over 13 months; scammers typically request money for travel costs, medical emergencies, or business investments, with amounts escalating as trust builds. Gardaí emphasize that many victims delay reporting due to embarrassment and are working with Europol to disrupt organized romance scam operations.
shorelinemedia.net
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement in Michigan warns that scammers use urgency and secrecy to target victims, particularly seniors, requesting payment via hard-to-trace methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency. Common tactics include impersonating government agencies, using AI-generated calls, posing as family members or romantic interests on social media, and demanding payment for fictitious warrants or debts. Authorities advise victims to immediately freeze accounts, file police reports, avoid clicking suspicious links, verify caller identities through independent searches, and remember that legitimate businesses and government agencies never request payment via gift cards.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Tennesseans lost more than $23 million to investment scams in the first quarter of 2025, with cryptocurrency scams showing dramatic growth over the past 12 months, according to the Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau. While older adults remain frequent targets, younger adults are increasingly falling victim to these schemes, which typically promise quick returns on small investments of a couple thousand dollars with an average loss of about $5,000 per victim. The BBB emphasizes reporting these scams to help prevent future victimization and to assist government agencies in combating fraud.
edition.mv
· 2025-12-08
During the week of May 13-19, the Maldives Police Service's Anti-Scam Centre reported 45 fraud cases resulting in MVR 481,520 in losses, with MVR 383,610 recovered; the majority of scams (80%) involved e-commerce and online business fraud across platforms including e-commerce sites, Facebook Marketplace, Viber, and other social media. Since its establishment in March of the previous year, the centre has handled 229 scam reports over six months totaling MVR 2.2 million in losses, leading police to freeze 125 bank accounts and urge the public to exercise caution with unfamiliar
wjla.com
· 2025-12-08
U.S. Attorney Jenine Pirro warned of rising cryptocurrency scams in which fraudsters contact victims via texts, dating apps, or investment groups, then direct them to fake investment platforms mimicking legitimate exchanges. Scammers convince victims to transfer bank funds into these fake accounts, initially showing false profits to encourage larger deposits before locking victims out and stealing all funds; officials recovered $868,247 from one such scheme through the FBI and Computer Crime Section. Victims of cryptocurrency, romance, or investment scams can report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
thereporterethiopia.com
· 2025-12-08
Hundreds of thousands of people, particularly Ethiopians seeking employment, have been trafficked to Myanmar's rebel-controlled territories through fake job offers in IT and hospitality, where they are forced to participate in online fraud schemes (cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, identity theft) under threat of violence and torture. One victim, 27-year-old IT graduate Yosef Atirsaw, was held captive for months posing as a female model to lure victims into pyramid schemes, witnessing brutal abuse including lashings and forced labor. As of December, an estimated 3,000 Ethiopians were reported trapped in these scam centers, though diplomatic efforts have secured the release of
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
This NPR Planet Money episode explores "pig-butchering" romance scams, where scammers use fake text messages and romantic engagement to gradually manipulate victims into cryptocurrency investments before stealing their money. Journalist Zeke Faux deliberately engaged with a scammer named Vicky Ho to investigate connections between these scams and the cryptocurrency Tether, discovering how criminals use the platform to launder money and defraud victims of potentially millions of dollars.
echo-news.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Over the past three years, 549 Essex residents lost more than £5.5 million to dating scams, averaging £10,142 per victim, as part of a larger UK trend affecting 21,976 people and costing over £250 million between 2022 and 2025. Dating fraud scammers manipulate victims by pretending to pursue romantic relationships, causing not only financial loss but also significant psychological and emotional harm. Reports of dating scams increased 17 percent in 2024/25, making it a growing concern across the UK.
abc7.com
· 2025-12-08
A Hulu docuseries titled "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" follows three women who were defrauded by a fictional man they met online, with some victims losing their life savings. The scam utilized stolen photos and identity of actor and makeup artist Brian Haugen, whose image was replicated across thousands of fake profiles. The series explores how romance scams succeed and emphasizes warning signs including secrecy, requests for money, and online-only relationships.
slguardian.org
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 report by the Humanity Research Consultancy identifies Cambodia as the global epicentre of transnational cyber fraud, with senior Cambodian politicians allegedly supporting and profiting from scam operations that generate approximately $19 billion annually through forced labour and human trafficking. The industry primarily targets vulnerable individuals—particularly elderly men in the West—through "pig butchering" scams on dating apps, where scammers pose as women to extract large sums in cryptocurrency before disappearing. The Southeast Asian scam industry employs over 350,000 people worth an estimated $75 billion annually, with thousands of trafficked workers subjected to violence and abuse if they fail to meet fraud quotas
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost an estimated $47 billion to scams in 2024, with investment fraud accounting for at least $5.7 billion of those losses. Contrary to common assumptions, younger adults are 34% more likely than older adults to fall victim to fraud, which takes multiple forms including impostor scams using AI voice cloning, lottery/prize schemes, and phishing attempts. To protect yourself, watch for red flags such as unsolicited contact, pressure to act quickly, promises of guaranteed returns, unusual payment requests, and demands for login credentials—and always independently verify investment opportunities through official resources like the SEC's EDGAR database before committing funds.
techbullion.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency losses totaling millions of dollars annually occur through investment scams, romance scams, phishing attacks, exchange hacks, and accidental transfers, with blockchain's immutable nature making recovery extremely difficult. Tawny Swift Ltd has positioned itself as a specialized cryptocurrency recovery service in the United States, utilizing advanced blockchain analytics, forensic techniques, and data-driven investigations to trace and potentially recover lost digital assets. The firm's focus exclusively on crypto recovery and commitment to modernizing its tools and strategies distinguishes it in addressing a growing crisis that exceeds conventional law enforcement capabilities.
journalnews.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
Meta platforms Instagram and Facebook are experiencing a surge in scams operated by international fraud rings from China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with an internal Meta analysis revealing that 70% of newly active advertisers promote scams or low-quality products. Common scam tactics include phishing, fake giveaways, investment schemes, romance scams, fraudulent job offers, and sextortion, which exploit urgency and emotional manipulation to deceive users. Despite recognizing the problem, Meta has deprioritized scam enforcement, allowing repeat offenders to accumulate multiple violations before facing consequences.
mb.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
Meta platforms (Instagram and Facebook) are experiencing a surge in scams operated by fraud rings in China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with internal Meta analysis showing 70 percent of newly active advertisers promoting scams or low-quality products. Despite recognizing the problem, Meta has deprioritized scam enforcement, allowing repeat offenders to accumulate violations before facing consequences. Common scam tactics include phishing, fake giveaways, investment/crypto schemes, romance scams, fake job offers, and sextortion, which exploit urgency and emotional manipulation to deceive users.
globaltimes.cn
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh warned citizens against illegal cross-border marriage schemes, including "buying foreign wives" and using dating apps for matchmaking, which violate Chinese law and often constitute online romance scams or human trafficking. The embassy cautioned that those engaged in such activities in Bangladesh face severe penalties including 7 years to life imprisonment and fines up to 500,000 taka ($4,116), with lengthy judicial proceedings that can delay resolution for months or years. Citizens are advised to avoid commercial marriage agencies, remain vigilant against romance scams, and report victimization to Chinese authorities.
globenewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a promotional review of Senior Match, an online dating platform launched in 2001 for adults aged 50 and above, which boasts over one million registered members. The platform offers features including profile browsing, match suggestions, messaging (on paid accounts), and community resources, with both free and premium membership tiers available. The article serves as an informational guide for older adults seeking companionship, relationships, or friendships through a dedicated senior dating service.
nbcboston.com
· 2025-12-08
Massachusetts' Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations is conducting community education events to alert residents about increasingly common scams, noting that older Americans lost nearly $5 billion to fraud last year. Common fraud tactics include tech support, romance, and cryptocurrency scams, with advice to residents including changing passwords frequently, using two-factor authentication, avoiding calls from unknown numbers, and never sharing personal information with unsolicited callers. The state emphasizes that fraud affects all demographics and encourages residents to report scams or seek guidance through their consumer hotline at 617-973-8787.
emerj.com
· 2025-12-08
Financial institutions face mounting operational costs and resource challenges in combating cybercrime, which surged to 859,532 complaints and $16.6 billion in losses in 2024 according to the FBI. Effective fraud prevention requires sophisticated technology and stronger public-private collaboration between banks and law enforcement, as current anti-money laundering efforts are hindered by poor information-sharing and unclear coordination frameworks. The article emphasizes that banks must adopt holistic, data-driven approaches to suspicious activity detection while governments and regulators improve alignment to reduce conflicting compliance expectations.
leaderlive.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between April 2022 and March 2025, 386 romance scam cases in North Wales resulted in collective losses of £2.39 million, with an average loss of £8,457 per victim, as reported by Action Fraud. Across Wales, England, and Northern Ireland during this period, romance scammers stole £271.4 million from over 19,500 victims, with women and transgender individuals suffering disproportionately higher average losses despite reporting fewer cases. The data reflects a 17 percent increase in romance fraud reports in 2024/25, with scammers targeting victims through fake romantic relationships and manipulating them into sending money.
greaterkashmir.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka issued a warning to its citizens against marrying Bangladeshi women through informal or online channels, citing a widespread romance scam and human trafficking operation targeting vulnerable women from impoverished and indigenous communities. Victims are lured into fake marriages with Chinese nationals, transported to China, and forced into prostitution or servitude; documented cases include a woman from Chuadanga trafficked in 2023 and multiple indigenous women from the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Similar patterns have affected over 600 Pakistani girls since 2019, involving networks of local and Chinese traffickers operating across borders.
livemint.com
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese embassy in Bangladesh issued a warning to its nationals against participating in matchmaking scams and "buying foreign wives," cautioning them to avoid illegal matchmaking agents and online romance scams involving cross-border dating content on social media platforms. The advisory emphasized that under Chinese law, cross-border marriage matchmaking services are prohibited, and individuals engaging in such activities face legal consequences, while those arrested in Bangladesh for cross-border marriages may face human trafficking charges with severe penalties including imprisonment or death. The embassy urged citizens to report suspected online romance scams to Chinese public security authorities immediately.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese embassy in Bangladesh warned citizens against participating in cross-border marriage schemes after reports of widespread marriage scams and human trafficking targeting Chinese men seeking foreign brides. China's surplus of approximately 35 million unmarried men, driven by decades of gender-skewed policies and declining marriage rates, has fueled demand for international matchmaking services, leading criminal networks to traffic women and girls from South and Southeast Asia (particularly Bangladesh and Pakistan) under the false pretense of marriage. The embassy cautioned that those involved in illegal cross-border marriages could face trafficking charges, while experts highlighted the economic pressures on rural Chinese men who struggle to afford traditional marriage costs.
theweek.in
· 2025-12-08
The Chinese embassy in Bangladesh warned its citizens against romance scams and illegal cross-border matchmaking, particularly on social media platforms where fraudsters pose as potential spouses to exploit victims financially and personally. The warning was prompted by documented cases of human trafficking, including a 2023 incident where a Bangladeshi girl was sold to a Chinese man for 10 lakh takas under false pretenses of marriage, then forced into prostitution in China. China's severe gender imbalance has created vulnerability among millions of unmarried men seeking foreign wives, making them targets for scammers and traffickers.