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keysnews.com
· 2025-12-08
A California financial advisor, Paul Horton Smith, was convicted in January for operating a $24 million Ponzi scheme called "Northstar" from 2000 to 2020, defrauding hundreds of elderly victims who believed they were investing in annuities or real estate. The case exemplifies a broader trend of rising elder fraud nationally, with FBI data showing a 14% increase in reported elder fraud cases in 2023 and losses exceeding $3 billion annually, exploited through scams ranging from fake prizes and romance schemes to AI-generated voice impersonations. Financial experts recommend victims verify advisor credentials through free tools like BrokerCheck and the IAPD
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Billions of dollars are lost annually to scams targeting older Americans, with the FBI reporting over $3 billion in losses in 2023 alone, including devastating cases such as romance scams, sextortion schemes, and AI-enabled impersonations that have cost some seniors their entire life savings. The AARP Fraud Watch Network receives more than 100,000 calls yearly from affected seniors, and experts testified before U.S. Congress emphasizing that criminals continue to evolve their tactics with increasing sophistication. Lawmakers are responding with bipartisan legislation and recommendations for education, public outreach, and federal efforts to combat spoofing and robocalls as key strategies to protect vulnerable seniors.
coingape.com
· 2025-12-08
The CFTC has partnered with federal agencies including the SEC, FBI, and IRS to combat "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, which cost Americans billions annually and exploit victims through fake romantic relationships to lure them into fraudulent crypto investments. These collaborative efforts include developing educational infographics and investor alerts designed to help consumers—including experienced investors—identify and avoid such schemes. The CFTC advises the public to ignore unsolicited messages, report suspicious activity, and provide detailed information to law enforcement to assist investigations.
publishedreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
Cristine Petitfrere, 30, of Miramar, Florida, pleaded guilty to money laundering approximately $2.7 million obtained from elderly victims of romance scams, earning hundreds of thousands in fees by routing victim funds to foreign co-conspirators. Romance scams, which involve fraudsters creating fake online personas to manipulate victims into sending money, cost Americans $1.14 billion in 2023 according to the Federal Trade Commission. Petitfrere faces up to ten years in prison at her December 11 sentencing in the Southern District of Florida.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
At a September 2024 Senate Banking Committee hearing, Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighted the severe impact of romance and cryptocurrency investment scams on older Americans, noting that Massachusetts residents alone lost over $85 million to these schemes in 2023. Testimony revealed that scammers use extended emotional manipulation through dating apps before gradually coercing victims to deposit funds into fake trading accounts that show false profits, ultimately draining their entire savings; crypto scam losses nationally increased tenfold from 2020-2023 to over $110 million, with adults over 60 being three times more likely to lose money in such schemes. Senator Warren advocated for her bipartisan Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering
wsvn.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers used fake dating profiles impersonating Miami doctor Nataliya Bocharova on social media to defraud men out of millions of dollars through a "pig butchering" scheme, in which victims were lured by romance and promises of investment returns, then directed to fake trading sites where their money disappeared. One victim lost $300,000 before the real doctor's warning video on Instagram alerted him to the scam; the FBI is now investigating, though the schemes are typically run by organized crime groups overseas and most money is not recovered.
cw34.com
· 2025-12-08
Christine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old Miramar woman, was convicted of laundering over $2.7 million in stolen money from romance scams orchestrated by overseas conspirators, keeping hundreds of thousands of dollars for herself. Romance scams typically involve criminals creating fake online accounts to build trust with victims—often elderly—before stealing their money, with victims losing approximately $1.14 million in a single year. Petitfrere faces up to 10 years in prison at her December sentencing.
nbcphiladelphia.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers stole $1.14 billion from Americans in one year according to the FTC, though experts believe the actual amount is higher due to underreporting by embarrassed victims. A Philadelphia-area widow lost approximately $39,000 to a romance scam orchestrated by a man posing as a surgeon, who built an emotional relationship with her over months before requesting money for various fabricated needs, ultimately disappearing when they were supposed to meet in person. The victim has since recovered and now volunteers with the AARP Fraud Watch Helpline to help prevent others from falling victim to similar schemes.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
A Cambodian senator and entrepreneur, Ly Yong Phat, was sanctioned by the US Treasury for operating O Smach Resort as a forced labor camp where trafficked workers were coerced into promoting cryptocurrency and foreign exchange scams that defrauded victims globally. Workers at the resort reported being lured with false job offers, having their documents confiscated, and enduring beatings, electric shocks, ransoms, and threats; two victims reportedly died by suicide. The sanctions prohibit US persons from conducting business with Ly without permission and require reporting of his US-based assets.
thesun.ng
· 2025-12-08
Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old from Miramar, Florida, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy after funneling over $2.7 million from romance scam victims to an overseas co-conspirator, keeping hundreds of thousands in fees for herself. Romance scams—where fraudsters create fake online personas to exploit victims financially and emotionally—cost Americans $1.14 billion in 2023, often targeting elderly individuals. Petitfrere faces up to 10 years in prison at her December 11 sentencing.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
**Scam Losses in Cuyahoga County, Ohio More Than Double; Nationwide Fraud Crisis Escalates**
Reported scam losses in Cuyahoga County jumped from $1.2 million in 2023 to $2.7 million in 2024, with fraudsters using spoofed caller IDs, stolen personal data, and cryptocurrency to steal larger amounts in shorter timeframes. A particularly dangerous trend involves scammers posing as federal agents claiming victims' bank accounts are involved in drug trafficking, convincing them to move savings to crypto "wallets" and in some cases obtaining house sale proceeds—with national fraud losses reaching $
siliconvalley.com
· 2025-12-08
California's reported elder fraud complaints decreased slightly by 2 percent from 2022 to 2023 (from 145 to 142 complaints per 100,000 adults aged 60+), but the state remains among the top 10 most affected states in the nation. The FBI data shows significant variation across states, with Arizona leading at 289 complaints per 100,000 elders compared to Mississippi's lowest rate of 64, while nine states experienced increases of 19-36 percent in elder fraud complaints during the same period.
chronicleonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Elder fraud caused over $3.4 billion in losses to seniors in 2023, with an average loss of $34,000 per victim, and Florida had the second-highest number of complaints that year. The most common scams include tech support fraud, personal data breaches, romance scams, non-delivery scams, and investment scams (which cause the largest financial losses). To protect against fraud, seniors should never share personal information with unknown callers, verify requests by contacting organizations directly, be skeptical of unsolicited offers, and report suspected fraud to authorities as soon as possible.
witl.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan residents are being warned about three Amazon Prime Day scams: fake text messages impersonating Amazon to steal personal information, phishing messages falsely claiming Prime membership cancellation requiring payment, and account suspension scams using fraudulent links to compromise account access. Experts advise verifying any Amazon communications directly through the official app or website and never sharing personal details via unsolicited texts or calls.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost over $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022, with investment scams accounting for $4 billion of those losses, according to an FBI report. Fraudsters typically build trust with victims through dating apps and social media before directing them to fake websites that display false investment growth, then prevent withdrawals or demand fees. The FBI recommends verifying messages independently, scrutinizing websites for misspellings or character substitutions in domain names, and remaining skeptical of promises to earn quick profits with minimal risk.
smdailyjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
A California man lost over $300,000 in a cryptocurrency "pig butchering" scam that began in 2022 when a woman posing as a Taiwanese trader named Anna convinced him to invest in a fraudulent platform called BankCEX, using fake trading statements to build trust before demanding an additional $115,000 in taxes and fees. The victim's stolen funds—consisting of USD Coin, Tether, and Ethereum—were traced to major exchanges including Binance, Crypto.com, and OKX, and he has filed suit against these platforms. The case highlights the need for better cryptocurrency investor education and law enforcement expertise as crypto scams continue to prolif
sandiegouniontribune.com
· 2025-12-08
California's elder fraud complaints fell 2 percent from 2022 to 2023 (from 145 to 142 complaints per 100,000 adults aged 60+), yet the state remains in the top 10 nationally for elder fraud complaint rates. The FBI reported that nationwide, elder fraud complaints increased 14 percent in 2023 with associated losses rising 11 percent, though complaint rates likely underrepresent actual fraud incidents.
pictongazette.ca
· 2025-12-08
Sandra Goldie was scammed out of approximately $200 after posting her 1991 Mazda Miata for sale on Kijiji; a buyer directed her to a fraudulent VIN report website (vinfax.com) claiming to need a vehicle history check, but the "report" was worthless and the buyer then disappeared with a fabricated excuse. The scam is particularly concerning because scammers obtained Goldie's credit card information and personal data that could be used for identity fraud, and police later discovered similar incidents affecting other sellers across Canada.
siliconvalley.com
· 2025-12-08
California experienced a slight 2 percent decline in elder fraud complaints from 2022 to 2023, dropping from 145 to 142 complaints per 100,000 adults aged 60 and older, according to FBI data analyzed by All About Cookies. However, California remains among the top 10 U.S. states for elder fraud complaints per capita, ranking tied for ninth place with Maryland at 142 complaints per 100,000 seniors, while the nationwide rate of elder fraud reports increased 14 percent in 2023 with associated losses rising 11 percent.
banking.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
Senator Sherrod Brown testified before the Senate Banking Committee on the escalating problem of scams and fraud targeting Americans, particularly seniors. In 2023, Americans lost at least $10 billion to reported fraud—an increase of over $1 billion from the previous year—with Ohio alone experiencing $126 million in losses; scammers employ increasingly sophisticated tactics including AI voice mimicry, fake bank calls, and romance schemes to target retirees' savings. Brown emphasized that seniors, who represented more than half of fraud losses in Ohio, often hesitate to report crimes due to shame and self-blame, allowing criminals to continue victimizing others.
13newsnow.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Virginians lost $265 million to scams, with the FBI's Norfolk office receiving approximately 2,700 elder fraud complaints that year alone. Common schemes include investment scams targeting seniors, jury duty scams impersonating law enforcement, romance scams (the top locally reported type with 17,000 national incidents in 2023), and business email compromise attacks. The FBI advises victims and the public to verify suspicious requests, avoid clicking suspicious links, maintain open communication with vulnerable relatives, and report incidents to IC3.gov or local FBI offices.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
Cristine Petitfrere, 30, of Miramar, Florida, pleaded guilty to laundering $2.7 million obtained through romance scams, in which she and co-conspirators created fake online personas to defraud vulnerable victims, many elderly, and transferred funds through bank accounts to associates abroad while retaining hundreds of thousands for herself. She faces up to 10 years in prison at her December 11 sentencing. Romance scams cost Americans $1.14 billion last year, with victims often deceived by fabricated stories and fake professional identities designed to extract money through wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Cambodian billionaire Ly Yong Phat and his businesses for alleged human trafficking and forced labor at online scam centers that defraud unsuspecting individuals, including Americans, through romance scams and cryptocurrency schemes. Hundreds of victims from multiple countries were rescued from compounds including the O-Smach Resort, where workers were forced to labor up to 15 hours daily under threats of violence, beatings, and sexual trafficking. The sanctions target the infrastructure supporting these scam operations while highlighting widespread corruption and official complicity in Cambodia that has enabled traffickers to operate with impunity.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
"Hustle kingdoms" are informal training academies operating in West Africa (particularly Ghana and Nigeria) that teach individuals digital fraud techniques, with graduates carrying out online romance scams, business email compromise, and sextortion targeting victims globally. The U.S. lost approximately $50 billion to online scams in 2023, many linked to West African fraudsters, as these operations have evolved from 1980s-90s "business centres" into a coordinated global threat with hierarchical structures and increasingly sophisticated tactics. The phenomenon reflects a complex socioeconomic dynamic where some perpetrators justify their crimes as retaliation for historical injustices, while law enforcement and researchers emphasize the
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, cryptocurrency scams cost Marylanders nearly $94 million, with the state ranking 13th worst hit nationally among approximately 58,000 U.S. complaints, according to an FBI report. These scams frequently use emotional manipulation and romance tactics to lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes, with perpetrators collecting personal and financial data to facilitate theft. Experts recommend verifying online contacts, protecting cryptocurrency wallets, and remaining cautious of quick-return investment pitches, particularly when emotionally vulnerable.
whatjobs.com
· 2025-12-08
Cristine Petitfrere, 30, of Florida admitted to conspiring to launder over $2.7 million from romance scam victims by receiving funds in bank accounts, keeping a portion as fees, and forwarding the remainder to overseas co-conspirators. Romance scams involve fraudsters creating fake online personas to exploit victims financially, with Americans losing $1.14 billion to such schemes in 2023, many targeting elderly individuals. Petitfrere faces up to 10 years in prison at her December 11 sentencing in the Southern District of Florida.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Cristine Petitfrere from Florida pleaded guilty to operating romance scams that defrauded victims of millions of dollars; she laundered over $2.7 million and earned hundreds of thousands in fees with a co-conspirator, facing up to ten years in prison at sentencing. The case highlights the widespread impact of romance scams, which caused Americans $1.14 billion in losses in 2023, often targeting elderly individuals with both severe financial and emotional harm. Additionally, a Nevada man was convicted of fraudulently obtaining $11.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds through fake Paycheck Protection Program loan applications.
wftv.com
· 2025-12-08
A Kissimmee man lost tens of thousands of dollars to a romance scam that evolved into a cryptocurrency investment scheme, after meeting a woman named "Lisha" on a dating website who convinced him to invest in what appeared to be a lucrative crypto trading platform. Initially investing $12,000, Amado was shown fake profits of over $240,000, but when attempting to withdraw funds, he was pressured to pay additional "taxes," "security fees," and other charges totaling approximately $39,000 before the scammers disappeared and the woman changed her phone number. The FBI notes that romance scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with perpetrators maintaining detailed records on victims and continually adap
heraldstandard.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults are frequent targets of financial exploitation, both through remote scams and by trusted individuals with power of attorney. In one notable Fayette County case, a woman was charged with over 1,600 felony counts for allegedly stealing more than $690,000 from an elderly dementia patient over several years after being granted power of attorney. Experts recommend careful selection of financial agents, maintaining oversight of accounts, and awareness of common scams like "romance scams," which cause the greatest monetary losses to seniors.
wsvn.com
· 2025-12-08
A 30-year-old Broward County woman, Cristine Petitfrere, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in connection with romance scams, having funneled over $2.7 million from American fraud victims through bank accounts to overseas co-conspirators while keeping hundreds of thousands in fees. Romance scams, which use fake online identities to exploit victims emotionally and financially, cost Americans $1.14 billion in 2023 alone. Petitfrere faces up to 10 years in prison at her December 11 sentencing in the Southern District of Florida.
observer-reporter.com
· 2025-12-08
Older adults are frequent targets of financial exploitation through both remote scams and personal relationships. A Fayette County case exemplified the risks of power of attorney arrangements: a woman was charged with over 1,600 felony counts for allegedly stealing more than $690,000 from an elderly dementia patient over several years after being granted power of attorney in 2015. Experts recommend carefully vetting who receives power of attorney, monitoring financial accounts regularly when mentally capable, and remaining vigilant against "romance scams," which cause the largest monetary losses to older adults, typically through internet-based schemes using false personas.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old Mumbai lawyer was robbed of ₹5 lakh by two men posing as crime branch officials who approached him at an ATM and forced him into a car after inspecting his bag. The Khar police have registered a case against the unidentified perpetrators, who used the pretense of conducting an investigation to extract the money that the lawyer was carrying to deposit into customer accounts for his family's tourism business. This incident mirrors a similar scam where an IT professional from Vasai lost ₹1.41 crore to fake law enforcement officers using "digital arrest" tactics.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, U.S. victims reported $5.6 billion in losses to cryptocurrency scams, with people aged 60 and older filing over 16,000 complaints accounting for $1.6 billion of those losses. The majority of losses ($4 billion, a 53% increase from 2022) came from "pig butchering" investment scams, where fraudsters build fake romantic or friendship relationships with victims before convincing them to invest in bogus cryptocurrency platforms, often using crypto ATMs. Older adults are disproportionately targeted because they typically hold more wealth and are less familiar with cryptocurrency technology, according to the FBI and AARP.
chicago.suntimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Shalender Singh lost nearly $20,000 in an investment scam after a stranger contacted him on WhatsApp claiming to represent a legitimate investment firm and promising 30% returns through cryptocurrency. The scammer built trust over months by providing accurate market advice initially, added Singh to investor chat groups, and showed fake growth on a fraudulent app, but blocked him when he attempted to withdraw funds. According to the Better Business Bureau, investment scams are surging—particularly cryptocurrency and romance-based schemes—with reported losses reaching a median of $4,000 in 2023 and nearly $6,000 by mid-2024, with 80% of victims losing money and scammers
eastcentralreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
A Better Business Bureau study reports that investment scams are rising, with cryptocurrency and romance scams becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect. Scammers use professional-looking websites and fake dating profiles to build trust before convincing victims to invest in fraudulent schemes promising high returns with minimal risk. The BBB advises consumers to verify investment opportunities through trusted sources before responding to unsolicited offers.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Approximately 3,000 international victims of fraud facilitated by Western Union will receive a second distribution of $18.5 million in reimbursements, bringing the total compensation to over $420 million for more than 175,000 victims since the fund's establishment. The frauds, stemming from a 2017 deferred prosecution agreement, involved grandparent scams, lottery/sweepstakes scams, and romance scams, with Western Union having agreed to forfeit $586 million total after acknowledging it aided and abetted these schemes through complicit employees who failed to prevent fraudster activity. The Justice Department anticipates additional distributions in the coming months as it works
coindesk.com
· 2025-12-08
Investors lost a record $5.6 billion to crypto scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022, with investment fraud schemes accounting for $4 billion of losses, according to FBI data. While crypto complaints represented only 10% of total fraud reports, they comprised nearly half of all financial losses; victims over age 60 reported the highest losses at $1.24 billion. The FBI warned that many scammers operating these "pig butchering" schemes are human trafficking victims forced to conduct fraud operations from compounds in Southeast Asia.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice distributed $18.5 million from forfeited Western Union funds to approximately 3,000 fraud victims, representing the sixth distribution under the Western Union Remission Fund. Through two phases, the fund has now distributed over $420 million to more than 175,000 victims who received full compensation for losses caused by fraud schemes that Western Union aided and abetted, including grandparent scams and lottery/sweepstakes schemes targeting seniors. Western Union agreed to forfeit $586 million total following a 2017 deferred prosecution agreement for violations including the Bank Secrecy Act and wire fraud facilitation.
decripto.org
· 2025-12-08
Thailand reported 78.8 million phone scam and phishing cases since 2023, with international criminal gangs—often Chinese-coordinated—operating call centres primarily targeting people over 30, young adults aged 20-25, and online shoppers through romance scams and fake e-commerce schemes. Thai and Cambodian authorities have launched operations to dismantle these networks, with 165 arrest warrants issued, though gangs are relocating to neighboring countries; notably, a 60-year-old Thai woman lost over $160,000 in a year-long scam involving a fake Malaysian pipeline investment. U.S. authorities indicted four people in 2023 for
unionrecorder.com
· 2025-12-08
Since 2020, the Better Business Bureau has received over 4,000 reports of investment scams, with median losses rising from $1,000 in 2021 to nearly $6,000 in 2024. These scams frequently employ romance or relationship-building tactics combined with cryptocurrency investment schemes, often orchestrated by organized crime groups based in Southeast Asia, with victims losing anywhere from thousands to over $84,000. The BBB advises consumers to be wary of guaranteed returns, pressure to invest quickly, requests to share cryptocurrency wallets, and strangers offering friendship or investment opportunities.
thepaypers.com
· 2025-12-08
UK scammers defrauded numerous individuals through fake e-commerce websites displaying counterfeit products, netting approximately USD 8 million last year, with ecommerce fraud surging 211% over the past year. Fraudsters use social media to promote counterfeit sites with steep discounts, fake brand names, countdown timers, and suspicious domain extensions (.net, .org) to pressure buyers into purchasing items never delivered. Additionally, romance scams increased 22% in 2023, with victims losing an average of GBP 6,937 after fraudsters build trust through fake profiles on dating apps before requesting money for travel, medical, or family emergencies.
lifehacker.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies seven grammatical red flags commonly found in scam communications, including poor grammar, use of the word "kindly" (suggesting overseas origin), misplaced punctuation and capitalization, and generic salutations like "dear" instead of actual names. The piece notes that 15% of Americans report household members falling for scams and 8% admit personal victimization, emphasizing that scammers often replicate official communications but frequently reveal themselves through language patterns and writing errors.
flaglerlive.com
· 2025-12-08
An 83-year-old Maryland woman named Mae fell victim to tech support fraud when she clicked on a fake Safari warning, which led scammers to manipulate her into purchasing gift cards worth thousands of dollars over 10 hours. The case illustrates a broader problem: an estimated $8 billion is stolen annually from seniors age 60 and older through stranger fraud, with gift cards becoming an increasingly common payment method for criminals because they lack consumer protections similar to credit and debit cards. The article reveals systemic failures in federal regulation, inadequate retailer safeguards, and the profitable role that technology companies and retailers play in the gift card fraud ecosystem, where "everybody but the victim makes money."
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
A 20-year-old Thai man recruited into a Chinese-led scam syndicate in Myanmar described how he was trained to create fake social media profiles and identify victims for romance and investment fraud schemes. Thailand has reported 78.8 million scam incidents since last year with $2 billion in losses, while U.S. authorities have warned of Americans being trafficked into these operations, with the DOJ indicting four individuals in 2023 for laundering over $80 million in scam profits. Elderly victims like a 60-year-old woman who lost $163,642 over an 18-month romance scam face particularly devastating financial consequences compared to younger victims.
ketv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Type:** Publishers Clearing House Scam / Elder Fraud
**Victim:** Monty Thompson, Iowa resident
**Outcome:** Monty lost over $8,000 in two months and died by suicide on July 24th after being scammed.
Monty Thompson was targeted by offshore scammers claiming he had won millions of dollars and a Ford F-150 from Publishers Clearing House, but was required to pay taxes and fees upfront before receiving his prize. After losing over $8,000 and facing continued contact from the scammers (who called over 20 times), Monty took his own life. The Iowa Attorney
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Penny Mashburn signed up for magazine subscriptions thinking she was supporting a school fundraiser, but the scam led to years of telemarketer harassment and charges that escalated from $39 to $199 per subscription across multiple companies, ultimately costing her much of her savings. Penny and her sister Nancy's investigation into the fraud helped expose a 20-year conspiracy that defrauded over 150,000 victims nationwide of millions of dollars, ultimately leading them to testify in federal court to help shut down the operation.
franklinobserver.town.news
· 2025-12-08
This educational article provides guidance for older Americans to protect themselves from scams, which cost Americans $10 billion in 2023. Key protective strategies include slowing down before responding to emotional appeals, verifying contact information independently, carefully controlling access to sensitive documents and accounts, and seeking assistance from certified financial planners who can help monitor accounts and detect suspicious activity.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
This article identifies three common Instagram scams: fake retailers using artificial urgency and limited comments to sell non-existent or overpriced products; celebrity impersonators requesting money via direct message for charity donations or travel expenses; and romance scammers who build relationships with victims before requesting money for bills, flights, or medical expenses. The article advises users to verify company registration through Companies House, research products before purchasing, recognize that real celebrities won't solicit money via DM, and never send money to people met only online, as doing so risks both direct financial loss and identity theft through personal information misuse.
malaysia.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Malaysian police reported that women comprise 79.3% of love scam victims, with 2,223 cases recorded between 2022 and August 2024, resulting in losses of RM23.3 million in 2024 alone. Women are targeted due to emotional vulnerability, loneliness, and susceptibility to romantic narratives, with victims spanning all age groups, though the 21-30 age group has been most affected in 2022 and 2024. A notable case involved a 64-year-old retiree who lost RM1.98 million after being deceived by a scammer posing as a friend arranging parcel delivery.
decripto.org
· 2025-12-08
Dating scams exploit victims by creating fake online profiles and building trust before requesting money, with the FBI reporting over $1.3 billion in US losses alone and an average loss of $10,000 per victim. Older adults aged 50 and above are particularly targeted due to greater financial resources, and scammers typically employ tactics such as avoiding in-person meetings, creating emotional narratives requiring money, and requesting untraceable payment methods like cryptocurrency. Warning signs include premature declarations of love, requests for secrecy, unverifiable identities, and financial requests under the guise of emergencies or travel needs.