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justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, a 43-year-old Nigerian national extradited from Poland, was charged in federal court for operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme targeting American seniors over more than five years. The scheme sent fraudulent letters falsely claiming victims had inherited millions from deceased relatives in Spain and demanded upfront fees for delivery and taxes, with victims sending money through a network of compromised U.S. bank accounts and never receiving promised funds. Nnebocha faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and two co-defendants have already been sentenced to approximately 97 months incarceration.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans age 60 and older lost over $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with reported elder fraud complaints to the FBI increasing 14% year-over-year, though actual losses are likely much higher due to underreporting and unreported phone, mail, and in-person scams. Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to greater trustworthiness, financial assets, and unfamiliarity with technology, with tech-support scams being most common but investment scams proving costliest, while fraudulent call centers—increasingly using AI voice-cloning and deepfakes—accounted for at least $770 million in losses. Prevention through education on
abc3340.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence and phone number spoofing to commit sophisticated fraud, as demonstrated when an Etowah County resident nearly fell victim to a fake sheriff's deputy scam that kept her on the phone for 40 minutes while impersonating law enforcement and requesting bail money. Experts warn that these organized international crime operations disproportionately target senior citizens, who lose more money per scam despite younger age groups being victimized more frequently, and advise the best defense is awareness, verification of legitimate requests, and refusing to share personal information or transfer money over the phone.
thestar.com.my
· 2025-12-07
A 51-year-old housewife in Pahang, Malaysia lost RM223,000 in an investment scam after being called by a fraudster offering high returns and instructed to download a fake mobile application. She made 12 transfers from her personal savings—including money left by her late husband—to seven different bank accounts before discovering the scheme was fraudulent when her bank flagged the recipient account as linked to a fraud syndicate. The case is under investigation for cheating under Malaysian law.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-07
Impersonation and romance scams are increasing in sophistication, targeting both individuals and businesses through spoofed emails, fake profiles, and emotional manipulation. Impersonation scams mimic legitimate businesses (Amazon, Microsoft, banks) with nearly identical domain names and compromised vendor emails to pressure victims into updating banking information, while romance scams exploit individuals seeking connection, sometimes lasting years before victims realize they've lost significant money. Community banks like American Riviera Bank offer advantages in fraud prevention through direct access to fraud investigators who can help identify red flags such as minor domain misspellings, free email services used by established vendors, and pressure tactics requiring immediate action.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
Interpol's Operation Contender 3.0 arrested 260 alleged romance scammers and sextortionists across Africa, recovering 1,235 electronic devices and linking 1,463 victims who lost approximately $2.8 million. The criminals used fake online identities to lure vulnerable victims into romantic relationships before demanding money through bogus fees, fraudulent investments, or sextortion schemes involving explicit recordings. The operation highlights a growing problem in Africa where cybercrime accounts for 30% of reported crime, with Americans losing $1.2 billion annually to romance scams with median losses around $2,000.
sun-sentinel.com
· 2025-12-07
Tochukwu Albert Nnebocha and seven co-conspirators defrauded over 400 elderly victims in South Florida of more than $6 million between May 2017 and December 2023 through an inheritance scam, posing as attorneys and bank representatives to convince victims they were rightful heirs to deceased individuals' fortunes. The defendants purchased victim lists targeting people over 65, sent fake government documents, and demanded advance fees for "delivery," "taxes," and anti-terrorism certificates, instructing victims to send money through couriers who unknowingly facilitated the scheme. Nnebocha was extradited from Poland to face up to 20
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, a 43-year-old Nigerian extradited from Poland, faces federal charges for operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded elderly American victims over five years by falsely claiming they had unclaimed inheritances from Spain and requesting upfront fees for delivery and taxes. Victims sent money through a network of compromised U.S. accounts and never received promised funds, with Nnebocha facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted; two co-conspirators have already been sentenced to 97 months incarceration each.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
Joyce from Utah lost over $1 million in savings to a coordinated tech support and bank impersonation scam that occurred between March and May. The scammers used a fake computer warning to gain her trust, then posed as bank employees and Federal Reserve officials to convince her to liquidate her retirement accounts and purchase cryptocurrency and gold bars, which were then collected by accomplices. The article advises protecting against such scams by shutting down frozen computers rather than calling provided numbers, ignoring unsolicited tech support calls, and recognizing that legitimate companies never ask customers to call numbers displayed in pop-ups.
news.virginia.edu
· 2025-12-07
AI is enhancing both traditional scams and creating new fraud methods by automating mass attacks and making previously elite techniques accessible to ordinary fraudsters. Common AI-assisted scams include voice-cloned "grandparent scams," months-long fake relationship "pig butchering" schemes with cryptocurrency investments, synthetic identity fraud, sextortion with AI-generated images, and fake product reviews and job postings. To protect themselves, people should remain skeptical of urgent money requests especially via phone calls from claimed family members, verify identities through independent channels, and slow down decision-making during high-pressure situations.
mypolice.qld.gov.au
· 2025-12-07
A 68-year-old man was extradited from New Zealand to Queensland to face fraud charges after allegedly stealing over $1.145 million from an 83-year-old elderly woman he knew between 2014 and 2018, including unauthorized purchases and withdrawals totaling over $150,000 using her debit card. The investigation began in January 2021 following a complaint from the Public Trustee, and the man appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on charges of fraud with dishonesty causing detriment of at least $100,000.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A Nigerian man, Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, was extradited from Poland to face federal charges for orchestrating an elaborate inheritance scam that defrauded over 400 elderly victims in South Florida of more than $6 million between May 2017 and December 2023. The scheme involved posing as attorneys and bank representatives who sent fake letters claiming victims were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances, then demanded advance fees for delivery, taxes, and government certificates before the victims could receive the non-existent funds. Seven co-conspirators were also charged or convicted in the scheme, with two having already received sentences exceeding eight years in prison.
nclc.org
· 2025-12-07
Consumers lose $158 billion annually to fraud affecting approximately 57,000 new victims daily, according to a National Task Force on Fraud and Scam Prevention report. The report recommends that financial institutions, telecom companies, social media platforms, and tech companies implement stronger protections and accountability measures, while advocating for Congress to close consumer protection gaps, strengthen the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and hold VoIP providers accountable for facilitating scam calls and texts on their networks.
morningstar.com
· 2025-12-07
A scammer attempted to defraud an elderly Ohio homeowner by convincing him to take out a reverse mortgage to steal his home equity, but the scheme was foiled when EquityProtect's Property Title Lock service detected the unauthorized loan application and notified the homeowner's daughter, who held Power of Attorney over the property. The incident highlights growing financial crimes against seniors, with the FBI reporting $4.88 billion in losses from 147,127 elder fraud complaints in 2024, a 46% increase from the previous year.
consumerreports.org
· 2025-12-07
Texting and messaging scam attempts increased by 50 percent in the past year, with young adults experiencing the highest rise, according to Consumer Reports' 2025 Cyber Readiness Report. The report revealed significant disparities in scam vulnerability: low-income households were three times more likely to lose money from scams than high-income households (29% vs. 10%), and Black Americans who encountered scams lost money at more than twice the rate of white Americans (37% vs. 15%), partly due to lower credit card usage and reliance on less-protected payment methods. Consumers can protect themselves by not replying to suspicious texts, blocking senders, reporting to their mobile provider
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-07
Rome Police Department warned residents about the rising sophistication of scams targeting locals, particularly seniors who have lost significant amounts to romance, investment, and elder fraud schemes. Three recent victims lost a combined $1,019,000 to scammers, while national data shows fraud losses reached $16.6 billion in 2024, up 33% from the previous year. Police advise residents to avoid sending money or personal information to strangers and to verify communications, cautioning that about half of current local fraud cases involve seniors who often don't report incidents due to embarrassment.
theleafchronicle.com
· 2025-12-07
Consumers lost $470 million to text message scams in 2024, with fake package delivery notifications being the most common type, followed by phony job offers, fraudulent fraud alerts, fake toll notices, and romance scams. The FTC and BBB recommend never clicking links or replying to unexpected texts, not assuming messages from known companies are legitimate, and reporting suspicious messages using the phone's spam reporting feature.
freep.com
· 2025-12-07
Criminals are impersonating banks via fake texts and calls to convince customers their debit cards have been compromised, then intercepting replacement cards sent by mail or hiring accomplices to steal them from porches. In a metro Detroit case, David Andrew Williams was arrested in September 2024 after attempting to steal a Chase Bank customer's replacement debit card from a UPS delivery, and was charged with identity theft and theft of financial transaction devices. Debit card fraud ranked as the top payment method for both attempted fraud and actual dollar losses in 2024, with criminals using various tactics including card skimming and exploiting information obtained through spoofed communications to drain bank accounts.
gizmodo.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers are impersonating Elon Musk to defraud victims through cryptocurrency investment schemes, using tactics including fake livestreams during SpaceX/Tesla events, AI-generated videos, and fake endorsements from family members or political figures. FTC complaints reveal multiple victims, primarily elderly individuals, losing substantial sums ranging from $10,000 to $225,000, with some victims remaining confused about whether they interacted with the real Musk or impersonators. The scams exploit vulnerable populations, including those with serious illnesses or cognitive impairment, and often target victims through YouTube, Facebook, and fake cryptocurrency matching schemes.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A 39-year-old woman in Udupi lost Rs 4.2 lakh in an investment scam after being lured through a fake Instagram profile offering high trading profits. The scammer used fabricated transaction screenshots and WhatsApp messages to build trust, then repeatedly convinced the victim to send additional payments under the guise of tax charges and fees before she could access her returns. After the victim transferred the total amount, the scammer stopped responding, and police registered a case under fraud and IT Act provisions.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-07
The Placer County Sheriff's Office warned local businesses about a credit card fraud scheme where scammers purchase items using fraudulent or stolen credit cards, have them picked up by couriers, and then initiate chargebacks weeks later—leaving businesses without product or payment. Businesses are advised to scrutinize large or unusual purchases from new customers, verify the identity of pickup persons, and trust their instincts when transactions seem suspicious.
richmondsunsetnews.com
· 2025-12-07
This is an educational awareness piece in which California Assemblymember Catherine Stefani announces two free "Senior Scam Stopper" workshops designed to help seniors and their families recognize and prevent fraud. The events, held in partnership with the California Department of Consumer Affairs and featuring experts from state agencies and law enforcement, will cover common scams including fraudulent contractors, identity theft, Medicare fraud, lottery schemes, and mail fraud.
markets.financialcontent.com
· 2025-12-07
Indian youth are being trafficked to Southeast Asia and forced to conduct cryptocurrency scams—including fake investment schemes, romance scams, and phishing attacks—while stripped of passports and subjected to brutal conditions. The criminals launder illicit proceeds through cryptocurrencies like USDT and ETH via platforms such as Binance, exploiting the speed and relative anonymity of digital assets for international transfers. This ongoing crisis, active since early 2023, has prompted increased regulatory scrutiny globally and eroded trust in the crypto ecosystem, potentially deterring institutional investors and spurring stricter AML and KYC requirements.
irvinetimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Eighty percent of people worry about older friends and family being scammed online, with concerns heightened by bank closures forcing over-65s to rely on digital services; a 74-year-old woman lost approximately £20,000 to a Bitcoin investment scam involving a deepfake video of a celebrity. Virgin Media O2 is launching free "scam school" sessions across the UK to help vulnerable people recognize and prevent fraud as part of Get Online Week awareness efforts.
clickorlando.com
· 2025-12-07
A 75-year-old Florida man lost approximately $15,000 over several months after responding to a text message offering a flexible work-from-home job with promises of $50-$3,000 daily wages. The scammers, posing as "business managers" for Warner Brothers, initially had him perform simple tasks and sent small checks to build trust, then convinced him to invest his own money in cryptocurrency trading with promises of substantial returns that never materialized. Law enforcement noted that such scammers are often located overseas, making prosecution difficult, and advised people to delete unsolicited job offer texts rather than responding.
gazettenet.com
· 2025-12-07
Between 2023 and May 2025, the FBI's Boston Division documented 103 courier-based fraud schemes targeting elderly Massachusetts residents, resulting in over $26 million in losses, with 59 victims (98% over age 60) losing $18.6 million collectively. The scams typically impersonated family members, government officials, or tech support to convince victims to withdraw cash or gold bars for couriers to collect, with similar schemes causing approximately $186.2 million in losses nationwide during the same period. The FBI recommends victims report fraud immediately to ic3.gov or the DOJ Elder Justice hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 and advises
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
A 79-year-old woman from Manchester was scammed out of £500 after responding to a social media advert for older models, paying fees for professional photoshoots and a supposed cruise line modeling job that never materialized. The scam, which has evolved to target elderly people as the fashion industry embraces older models, typically involves charging victims hundreds of pounds for fake portfolios and fabricated job opportunities, with scammers repeatedly extracting money through promised lucrative contracts. To avoid this scam, experts recommend never paying upfront for modeling work, verifying companies through official channels like Companies House, and using secure payment methods with buyer protection such as PayPal's "goods and services" option
fox5dc.com
· 2025-12-07
Chase Bank warns customers of escalating scams where fraudsters impersonate bank staff and law enforcement to pressure victims into withdrawing cash or transferring funds to fake "safe accounts" or couriers, with caller ID spoofing making these schemes increasingly convincing. Nearly half of Chase-reported scams originate on social media platforms through fake listings, phony job/rental offers, and romance schemes, with scammers exploiting irreversible payment methods like Zelle and wire transfers. Chase advises customers to verify callers independently, avoid sharing banking credentials, use secure payment channels, and report suspicious activity to the FTC and the bank immediately.
nbcmontana.com
· 2025-12-07
Shawn Cutting, an Idaho man, was charged with operating a Ponzi scheme through a company called "CryptoTraders Management" that defrauded dozens of elderly investors of over $1 million in cryptocurrency investment funds. Cutting faces multiple charges including securities fraud, operating without a license, elder exploitation, and conspiracy, with two unidentified co-conspirators also involved in the scheme. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities emphasizing their commitment to holding perpetrators accountable and protecting Montana's elderly population from financial exploitation.
nanaimonewsnow.com
· 2025-12-07
A Parksville senior lost approximately $200,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam that began in June after being referred by a friend. The scam used what appeared to be a legitimate trading platform and initially showed quick returns on a $2,500 investment, prompting the victim to increase their investment substantially over several months before reporting it to Oceanside RCMP in September.
boomlive.in
· 2025-12-07
This article explains how scammers use fake Facebook accounts to perpetrate various frauds, including romance scams, investment schemes, phishing, and catfishing, by using stolen photos and fabricated profiles that appear legitimate. The piece provides detection methods such as reverse image searching profile pictures, checking posting history authenticity, and verifying mutual connections, along with protective steps including reporting suspicious accounts and blocking profiles. Key warning signs include vague bios, sparse activity, rapid profession of affection, and suspicious links or urgent requests for money.
thehindu.com
· 2025-12-07
The CBI arrested eight individuals and identified 45 suspects during Operation HAECHI-VI, an Interpol-led international operation targeting transnational cyber-enabled financial crimes including voice phishing, romance scams, sextortion, and investment fraud. The operation, conducted in coordination with the FBI and German authorities, dismantled illegal call centers in Delhi, Amritsar, and Siliguri that targeted U.S. and German nationals, resulting in the seizure of $66,340 in cash and the blocking of 30 bank accounts.
bitdefender.com
· 2025-12-07
Bitdefender's October 2025 "They Wear Our Faces" campaign highlights a surge in AI-driven fraud targeting Americans, who reported over $12.5 billion in fraud losses in 2024. The campaign exposes how scammers use deepfake technology, voice cloning, and personalized impersonation across email, SMS, and social media, with the U.S. receiving 37% of global spam between March-September 2025. Top threats include phishing impersonating Microsoft, Amazon, and Costco, along with increasingly sophisticated SMS scams and AI-powered deepfake videos promoting fake cryptocurrency investments.
thelogicalindian.com
· 2025-12-07
A 50-year-old MNC professional from Gurugram lost ₹73.42 lakh in a romance-scam investment fraud after meeting a woman on the dating app Bumble in August-September 2025, who convinced him to invest in a fake stock trading platform through emotional manipulation and fabricated profit screens shown via Telegram. The victim was blocked when attempting withdrawal and told to pay an additional release fee; Gurugram Cyber Police launched an investigation and warned the public that romance-driven financial scams are rising in urban India, with perpetrators using deepfake technology and social engineering tactics that make detection difficult. Experts advise verifying investment credentials
bbc.com
· 2025-12-07
A 79-year-old woman from Manchester was scammed out of £500 by a fraudulent modelling agency after responding to a social media advertisement for mature models; she was charged £200 for an initial photoshoot and £300 for a second one under the promise of a lucrative cruise line job that never materialized. A similar victim, 73-year-old Roland Parker, lost approximately £1,000 to the same scam across multiple fake job opportunities. Experts warn that reputable agencies never charge upfront fees, and victims should verify companies through official channels, use buyer-protected payment methods (avoiding "friends and family" transfers), and be wary of artificial urgency
acnnewswire.com
· 2025-12-07
The Global Anti-Scam Alliance released the 2025 Global State of Scams Report, surveying 46,000 adults across 42 countries and finding that 57% experienced a scam in the past year with 23% losing money. Shopping scams were most common (54% of victims), followed by investment and unexpected money scams (48% each), with South America, Africa, and Oceania experiencing the highest rates of financial losses. The report emphasizes that despite 73% of adults feeling confident in recognizing scams, awareness campaigns alone are insufficient, and stronger international collaboration, better prevention tools, and cross-sector accountability are needed to combat this growing global threat.
stimson.org
· 2025-12-07
Southeast Asia faces a rapidly escalating scam epidemic, with 79% of adults exposed to scams in the past year and global scam losses exceeding $1 trillion annually, threatening the region's digital economy projected to reach $1 trillion in five years. Scammers are leveraging advanced technologies like AI, instant payments, and encrypted messaging to conduct sophisticated cross-border fraud schemes including fake job offers, romance scams, and investment fraud. The article recommends that governments, companies, and civil society organizations collaborate through strengthened institutions, cross-border data-sharing, regional working groups, and partnerships to combat this transnational criminal activity.
acronis.com
· 2025-12-07
The Acronis Cyber Foundation and Digital Literacy Project are hosting a free cyber safety workshop for seniors on October 11, 2025, in Stoughton, Massachusetts, to address the vulnerability of older adults to online fraud. According to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report, seniors aged 60+ experienced the highest monetary losses from cyberattacks at $4.8 billion, with personal data breaches and investment scams being leading threats. The workshop will educate participants on recognizing AI-enabled deepfake scams, creating strong passwords, identifying phishing attempts, and protecting personal information.
mvprogress.com
· 2025-12-07
Mesquite Police detectives informed nearly 100 residents of Del Webb Sun City about prevalent scams targeting seniors, including grandparent scams, tech support fraud, romance scams, and investment schemes that exploit trust through calls, emails, and online platforms. Gift card scams are particularly prevalent locally, with thieves using untraceable cards or tampering with physical cards before purchase, while imposter scams involving government agencies and voice-cloning technology also pose significant risks. Residents were advised to verify claims independently, protect personal information, avoid public Wi-Fi, and report suspicious activity to the FTC or their bank immediately.
halifaxexaminer.ca
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Canadians lost $310.5 million to investment fraud, with Nova Scotia seniors accounting for approximately $1.56 million of reported cases in the province. Financial elder abuse—the unauthorized or coercive use of an older person's money—is most commonly perpetrated by family members, caregivers, and financial advisors, with social isolation, cognitive decline, and financial dependence identified as key vulnerability factors. Warning signs include unpaid bills, behavioral changes, requests to sign blank documents, and avoidance of account statements, and experts recommend careful communication with suspected victims and immediate reporting of suspicious activity.
khou.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational piece from the Better Business Bureau identifies common scams targeting older adults, including fake investments, fraudulent online purchases, medical scams, and romance fraud. Dan Parsons, BBB President for Metropolitan Houston and South Texas, provides guidance on recognizing red flags and hiring trustworthy businesses to help seniors and their families safeguard their money and avoid becoming fraud victims.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-07
Match Group's Head of Trust and Safety acknowledged the rising concern of romance scams on dating apps, particularly in India, where scammers use "catfishing" to manipulate vulnerable individuals (especially women and the elderly) into financial and emotional losses. To combat repeat offenders, the company is rolling out facial recognition technology called "Face Check" in India, requiring new users to verify their identity through video selfies, and is partnering with Indian law enforcement to respond to reports within 24 hours and support prosecutions.
the420.in
· 2025-12-07
A senior telecom executive in Pune lost ₹51.89 lakh in a Facebook-based cryptocurrency scam perpetrated by scammers posing as a fashion designer and agents of a Seychelles-based crypto exchange who promised high returns on Tether (USDT) investments. The victim made over 30 transactions in May 2025 after being deceived by fake credentials and professional documentation shared by the fraudsters. Cybercrime experts identified the case as classic social engineering and warned that cryptocurrency scams are rising due to their difficulty in tracing and immediate financial impact on victims.
info.gov.hk
· 2025-12-07
In Hong Kong during the first eight months of 2025, police reported 184 telephone scam cases targeting local tertiary students and 86 cases targeting Mainland students, resulting in approximately $32 million and $75 million in losses respectively. The government has implemented fraud prevention measures under the Theft Ordinance with penalties up to 14 years imprisonment, and is consulting with educational institutions and authorities to strengthen anti-scam awareness programs among students through seminars and enhanced promotional efforts.
koaa.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado Springs woman lost her entire $37,000 inheritance to a cryptocurrency investment scam after seeing a fraudulent post from a hacked friend's Facebook account. The scammers used a sophisticated multi-layered approach, including fake Bitcoin wallet instructions and a spoofed cryptocurrency website, to make the scheme appear legitimate and promise returns of $194,000. The victim, who was grieving her recently reconnected father, received nothing when she attempted to withdraw her funds, illustrating how investment fraud remains the top scam in Colorado with nearly 15,000 reports in 2024.
shorenewsnetwork.com
· 2025-12-07
Wall Township Police Department held an educational session with the Pride of Wall Seniors group to address the growing problem of scams targeting older residents, covering common fraud methods including phone impersonation, tech support scams, and fake investment schemes. Officials advised seniors to avoid unsolicited calls, gift card payment requests, and suspicious online messages while encouraging immediate reporting of suspicious activity to law enforcement. The department emphasized prevention through awareness and plans to continue community outreach partnerships to strengthen public safety education.
stomp.sg
· 2025-12-07
An elderly resident raised concerns about fraudulent job opportunity advertisements targeting seniors on Facebook, noting that multiple ads direct applicants to identical forms requesting personal information, with AI analysis flagging them as likely scams. The inquiry highlights the prevalence of job scams among the top five scam types affecting consumers, alongside investment scams and phishing schemes, and questions why such advertisements remain visible on the platform.
deloitte.com
· 2025-12-07
The FBI has highlighted "phantom hacker scams," where fraudsters impersonate tech support, banks, and government agents to manipulate victims—particularly seniors—into voluntarily transferring money directly to scammers' accounts. These scams are part of a broader category called authorized push payment (APP) fraud, which is rapidly growing; the Deloitte Center for Financial Services estimates APP fraud losses in the U.S. could reach $14.9 billion by 2028 (up from $8.3 billion in 2024), with investment scams like "pig butchering" driving the majority of growth, fueled by increasingly sophisticated AI-generated deepfakes and social engineering
bgindependentmedia.org
· 2025-12-07
In October 2024, the Ohio Department of Commerce warned Ohioans about rising cyber threats during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, noting that internet crime complaints reached nearly 860,000 nationwide with losses exceeding $16 billion in 2024—a 33% increase from the prior year, with Ohio ranking 7th in the nation with 25,000 complaints. Common scams include one-time passcode interception, cryptocurrency "pig butchering" schemes, financial institution impersonation, government imposter scams, and AI-fueled fraud, with the FTC reporting $12.5 billion in total consumer fraud losses in 2024, including $2
thesun.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
A woman identified as Adva Lavie is wanted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for a series of residential burglaries targeting elderly and lonely men across LA County; she allegedly used fake identities (including Mia Ventura and Shoshana) on dating apps to pose as a girlfriend, gain entry to victims' homes, and steal their valuables before disappearing. The case reflects a broader surge in online dating crimes in Los Angeles, including a separate case involving a man accused of using dating apps to lure, rob, and allegedly murder multiple victims.