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khou.com
· 2025-12-08
Darlington Akporugo, 47, and Jasmin Sood, 37, from Fulshear, Texas, were sentenced to 188 and 121 months in federal prison, respectively, for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 25 elderly victims out of $3.1 million between 2015 and 2022. The couple used fake social media profiles and online dating sites to pose as widowers and military personnel, gaining victims' trust before coercing them to send money for fake business investments or personal expenses, while using the funds for luxury vehicles and mansions. Both defendants must pay full restitution and serve three years of
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
This educational resource defines elder fraud as the exploitation of adults age 60+ for monetary gain through tactics like impersonation, romance scams, and fake investment schemes, with seniors losing over $5.9 billion annually. Common scammer tactics include using fear, false hope, romance, pressure, isolation, and threats, while phishing emails often urge account verification or threaten account closure. Protection strategies include never responding to unsolicited requests for personal information, verifying website security, avoiding suspicious links, maintaining updated security software, and consulting trusted family members before sending money.
news.shib.io
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Secret Service, with assistance from Coinbase, recovered $225 million in cryptocurrency (USDT) from "pig butchering" investment scams—long-term fraud schemes where scammers build fake relationships with victims to convince them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. Through blockchain analysis and collaboration among exchanges, investigators identified over 130 Coinbase victims who lost $2.3 million, though thousands more were affected across the operation involving scam centers in Southeast Asia. The recovered funds have been frozen and are being held pending redistribution to verified victims.
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
Michael Zidell lost $20 million in a "pig butchering" romance scam after being targeted on Facebook by a scammer posing as a woman named Carolyn Parker, who lured him into fraudulent NFT investments through fake account statements. Zidell sued Citibank for negligence, alleging the bank failed to detect and act on suspicious wire transfers—including twelve transactions totaling nearly $4 million to an account held by Guju Inc. that contradicted the account holder's declared business activity and violated Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering laws. Pig butchering scams resulted in $5.8 billion in investment fraud losses in 2024
wired-gov.net
· 2025-12-08
Ahmed Ali Suleman, 63, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for laundering over £1.9 million gained from a romance fraud operation between 2015 and 2017. Using his textile business as a front, Suleman processed fraudulent payments from 77 vulnerable victims—many elderly, lonely, or widowed—who were deceived by West African-based scammers posing as romantic partners on dating websites. The case demonstrates how money launderers enable romance fraud by providing the financial infrastructure that makes such schemes profitable and sustainable.
kvoa.com
· 2025-12-08
Jamaican man Sherwayne Benjamin Bellinfantie was extradited to Tucson to face federal charges for orchestrating a romance and sweepstakes scam targeting an 85-year-old Vail woman from 2015 to 2019. The victim lost $400,000 after being deceived into believing she was in a romantic relationship and had won a lottery; she has since passed away. This case reflects the FBI's growing concern over romance and lottery scams in Arizona, which saw a 400 percent increase in lottery scams between 2023 and 2024.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
Michael Zidell filed a lawsuit against Citibank in Manhattan federal court, alleging the bank ignored red flags and failed to monitor suspicious transactions that allowed romance scammers to steal $20 million from him—including nearly $4 million routed through Citibank accounts belonging to a company called Guju Inc. The scam began in early 2023 when Zidell was contacted by a fake persona on Facebook posing as a business owner named Carolyn Parker, who convinced him to invest in NFTs through a fraudulent trading platform that ultimately disappeared with his funds. Zidell claims Citibank processed 12 suspicious transfers totaling around $4
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to his role in a romance scam that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million between 2016 and 2019. Nwadavid created fake online profiles to gain victims' trust, then directed them to send money under false pretenses, using a Massachusetts resident as an intermediary to transfer funds through cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. He faces sentencing on September 23, 2025, on charges of mail fraud and money laundering, with potential penalties including up to 20 years in prison and deportation.
evanstonroundtable.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Evanston seniors fell victim to scams in recent months: a 76-year-old woman lost over $102,350 after being tricked into transferring funds to Bitcoin by someone impersonating a Microsoft employee, and an 83-year-old woman nearly lost $12,500 in a Publisher's Clearinghouse sweepstakes scam before loss prevention staff at Jewel-Osco intervened. Police emphasized that prevention requires education, as most scammers operate internationally making arrests rare, and urged families to discuss common scam tactics with vulnerable relatives, particularly impersonation schemes involving grandchildren, financial institutions, tech support, and government agencies.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Pradip Parikh, 67, and Alpesh Patel, 40, were convicted for operating an India-based call center scam that defrauded millions of Americans, predominantly elderly victims, by impersonating Social Security Administration officials and threatening arrest to pressure victims into transferring funds to bank accounts they controlled. Victims testified to losing significant sums, including a 70-year-old who transferred over $600,000 and a widowed mother of eight who lost more than $300,000, with the defendants retaining thousands for themselves before laundering the remaining funds. Both were convicted of money laundering and conspiracy charges, with Patel also convicted of wire fraud conspiracy
fox26houston.com
· 2025-12-08
A Nigerian national, Darlington Akporugo (47), and his wife, Jasmin Sood (37), both residents of Houston, were sentenced to federal prison—188 months and 121 months respectively—for operating a nationwide romance scam that defrauded over 25 elderly victims of $3.1 million. The couple used fake social media identities to build trust with victims, primarily older women and widows, then manipulated them into sending money for nonexistent businesses and fabricated emergencies, while Sood created fake businesses and bank accounts to launder the funds. Both must pay full restitution of $3,123,073
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 57-year-old widow, Laura Kowal, was defrauded of approximately $1.5 million by two Nigerian scammers (Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu) operating a romance scam using the fake persona "Frank Borg," a Swedish investment adviser they met on Match.com over a two-year period. The scammers coerced Laura into establishing fraudulent companies and bank accounts for money laundering, and her daughter Kelly discovered a suicide note before Laura's body was found in the Mississippi River in August 2020; the case was part of a larger criminal scheme responsible for at least $3.5 million
batamnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
A 76-year-old Singaporean man lost S$55,500 (nearly all his retirement savings plus S$10,000 borrowed from a friend) to a romance and investment scam orchestrated by a woman named "Ms Li" whom he met on TikTok in April. The scammer persuaded him to download a fraudulent app and virtual wallet, claiming to help him profit from an online business, and extracted funds through fake initial withdrawals before cutting off access. Despite losing his life savings and filing a police report in June, the victim remains convinced of the scammer's authenticity based on video chats and photos, illustrating how emotional manipulation and social engineering exploit elderly individuals on digital platforms.
news.shib.io
· 2025-12-08
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to stealing over $2.5 million from six victims through romance scams between 2016 and 2019, laundering the funds through cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. Nwadavid manipulated victims into sending money via fake dating profiles and romantic relationships, then transferred the stolen funds through a Massachusetts resident accomplice into crypto wallets on LocalBitcoins. He faces up to 20 years in prison on mail fraud and money laundering charges, along with potential deportation.
guardian.ng
· 2025-12-08
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a Nigerian man, pleaded guilty to operating a romance scam that defrauded six U.S. victims of over $2.5 million, which he converted into cryptocurrency through accounts under his control. Arrested in April 2025 after arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Nwadavid admitted to mail fraud and money laundering charges, using one victim from Massachusetts as a conduit to receive and transfer funds from five other victims. He faces up to 20 years in prison, fines up to $250,000-$500,000, restitution, and potential deportation to Nigeria upon sentencing.
fallriverreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
A 35-year-old Nigerian national pleaded guilty in federal court to orchestrating romance scams that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million between 2016 and 2019, using fake dating profiles to manipulate victims into sending money that was funneled through cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. He was arrested in April 2025 at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and faces up to 20 years in prison on mail fraud charges and up to 20 years on each money laundering charge, with sentencing scheduled for September 23, 2025, followed by deportation.
chronline.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first quarter of 2025, Washington fraud victims lost $38.2 million, with people ages 80 and over suffering the highest median loss of $1,286; "government imposters" remain the most prevalent scam type. Regional law enforcement agencies warned residents about evolving fraud schemes including fake DMV text messages demanding payment, cryptocurrency kiosk scams (which cost Washington $142 million in 2023), and romance scams that defrauded seniors 60+ of $389 million nationally in 2024. Authorities advise residents to verify claims directly with agencies using official contact information and avoid unusual payment methods like cryptocurrency, Venmo, or Pay
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 55-year-old Alberta man, Jeffrey Paul Kent, was declared a dangerous offender and sentenced to an indeterminate prison term after defrauding five women of over $170,000 through romance scams conducted online. Kent created false personas on dating websites, used "love-bombing" tactics and false promises of business opportunities, then requested money while spending it on gambling; the judge found him to be an accomplished manipulator with no prospect of behavioral change and a high risk of reoffending. Kent has been in custody since 2018 and will be eligible for parole in September, though dangerous offender designations rarely result in release in Canada.
spokesman.com
· 2025-12-08
Government agencies across Washington and Idaho are warning residents about multiple active scams, including government imposter schemes, fake DMV text messages demanding payment for traffic violations, romance scams, and cryptocurrency kiosk fraud. In early 2025, Washington fraud victims lost $38.2 million with people ages 80 and older experiencing median losses of $1,286, while Idaho residents lost over $63 million to cybercrimes in 2024, with seniors being predominately targeted. Authorities advise residents never to respond to unsolicited demands for payment and to independently verify any claims by contacting the legitimate agency using official phone numbers rather than information provided by the scammer.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines seven common Zelle scams and protective measures. Zelle, a money-transfer service used by major U.S. banks, is generally secure but vulnerable to scammer exploitation; the platform announced in November 2023 it would refund victims of certain imposter scams (financial institution, government, and Zelle refund impersonators) but not others like friend/family or romance impersonators. Users are advised to verify the identity of anyone requesting money transfers, use reverse phone lookup tools, and remember that legitimate institutions never request money via phone, text, or email.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Shirley Waller, 43, of Missouri pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy after admitting she aided Nigerian online scammers who defrauded victims of approximately $1.07 million, including a 71-year-old woman who sent $35,000 as part of a romance scam. Waller received cash shipments at her home (over 70 Express Mail packages in 60 days), forwarded portions to Nigeria via cryptocurrency, and was found with $59,150 in seized cash during a court-approved search in January 2024. She also separately pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining a $196,000 mortgage an
thisdaylive.com
· 2025-12-08
Fourteen Chinese nationals were convicted and sentenced to one year in prison each (or a fine of 1 million Naira) by a Federal High Court in Lagos for cyberterrorism and internet fraud following a plea bargain agreement. The defendants were part of a 792-person cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud syndicate arrested in December 2024 during an EFCC operation, with charges alleging they accessed computer systems to destabilize Nigeria's economy and social structure. The court ordered their deportation upon sentence completion and forfeiture of all seized items to the Nigerian government.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Alice, a solicitor from Shropshire, was defrauded of £42,000 (with total loans reaching £57,000, of which only £14,000 was repaid) by Mark, a childhood friend she reconnected with in 2020. Mark fabricated financial hardships due to the pandemic and claimed business debts while secretly maintaining a relationship with another woman throughout their entire romance, eventually revealed when Alice visited his home in October 2023. This case highlights "in-person" romance fraud, where the perpetrator uses a pre-existing personal connection and emotional manipulation rather than online deception, with police initially dismissing it as a civil matter until the victim
cryptorank.io
· 2025-12-08
An Australian investigation identified 90 individuals involved in cryptocurrency ATM fraud, revealing that scammers are exploiting vulnerable elderly victims through romance and investment schemes. A woman in her 70s lost $281,000 and another lost $130,000 after being manipulated into depositing cash into crypto ATMs, with over $3 million lost to such scams nationwide between January 2024 and January 2025. In response, AUSTRAC implemented new operational standards including transaction limits, mandatory scam alerts, and enhanced verification protocols to combat the misuse of the 1,600+ crypto ATMs across Australia.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian national Charles Uchenna Nwadavid pleaded guilty to orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million, using fake online profiles to build trust before requesting money for fabricated emergencies like inheritances and medical crises. One Massachusetts resident was manipulated into serving as a money conduit, receiving funds from five other victims across the U.S. and transferring the collective $2.5 million to Nwadavid through cryptocurrency transactions on LocalBitcoins. Nwadavid was arrested in April 2025 upon arrival at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and faces up to 20 years in prison on
dallasnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Complaints from adults aged 60 and older targeting online scams increased 46% from 2023 to 2024, with that age group losing over $4.8 billion to internet crimes in 2024, according to the FBI. Scammers target older adults for their assets through various schemes including romance cons, cryptocurrency investment fraud ("pig butchering"), and intermediary money-transfer operations, with criminals often establishing trust through social media before requesting payments. The article emphasizes that while cognitive aging increases vulnerability, everyone is at risk due to advancing AI technology, and recommends family members, friends, and service providers watch for unusual financial activity and intervene diplomatically.
kwqc.com
· 2025-12-08
AI-powered social media cloning and impersonation scams are increasing, with criminals using deepfakes and voice cloning to create realistic fake profiles that impersonate real people—including ordinary individuals, not just high-profile figures—to solicit money or personal information. To protect themselves, consumers should search for duplicate accounts, enable two-factor authentication, limit personal information online, and report fake profiles, while business leaders should train staff on social engineering tactics and monitor for brand misuse. Staying informed and proactive about AI-generated impersonation threats is essential as these scams spread rapidly through trusted-looking accounts.
chronline.com
· 2025-12-08
Washington residents lost $38.2 million to fraud in the first quarter of 2025, with people ages 80 and over experiencing the highest median losses of $1,286; "government imposters" represent the most common scam type, including fake DMV text messages demanding payment for traffic violations and romance scams targeting seniors. The FBI reported over 7,600 people age 60 or older lost approximately $389 million in romance scams in 2024, while cryptocurrency kiosk scams cost Washington state $142 million in 2023. Law enforcement agencies advise residents to verify requests independently using official phone numbers, avoid untypical payment methods like cryptocurrency or peer-to
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
An Atlanta couple lost $800,000 in retirement savings to a cryptocurrency scam that began with a WhatsApp message from a stranger promoting an investment opportunity through a trading app. After receiving initial positive returns, Jerry Dunaway invested larger amounts but was unable to withdraw his money when he tried to access it; law enforcement indicated recovery was unlikely. The couple now advocates for public awareness, while experts note that cryptocurrency fraud affected over 69,000 Americans in 2023 with losses exceeding $5.6 billion, with adults over 60 experiencing the highest losses at $1.2 billion through scams using artificial intelligence and fake trading platforms.
dimsumdaily.hk
· 2025-12-08
**Hong Kong Telephone Scam Operations (June 2025)**
Law enforcement in Hong Kong's New Territories South Region arrested three individuals (ages 22-24) involved in telephone scam syndicates targeting at least 15 victims with losses totaling over HK$10 million (individual losses ranged from HK$140,000 to HK$3 million). The scammers impersonated law enforcement officials using forged documents and fake credentials, falsely accusing victims of mainland crimes and coercing them into payments under threat of arrest and asset freeze; notably, one of the arrested perpetrators was a local law student. Law enforcement warns that youth
cryptorank.io
· 2025-12-08
An Australian investigation identified 90 individuals involved in cryptocurrency ATM fraud schemes, revealing that many were victims rather than perpetrators. A woman in her 70s lost $281,000 and another lost $130,000 after falling victim to romance and investment scams that directed them to deposit cash into crypto ATMs; between January 2024 and January 2025, over $3 million was lost to crypto ATM scams in Australia with nearly half of victims aged over 51. In response, AUSTRAC implemented new operational standards for crypto ATM providers including transaction limits, mandatory scam alerts, and improved verification protocols.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Charles Nwadavid, a 35-year-old Nigerian businessman, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering for his role in romance scams that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million between 2016 and 2019. He used a Massachusetts victim as an intermediary to receive funds from victims across the United States, then converted the money through cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. Nwadavid faces sentencing on September 23, 2025, with potential penalties including up to 40 years in prison, a $750,000 fine, and deportation.
khak.com
· 2025-12-08
33-year-old Ridwan Adeleke Adepoju, a Nigerian scam mastermind, was captured in the UK and extradited to the United States, where he pleaded guilty to operating a years-long fraud scheme involving phishing scams, romance scams, and fraudulent tax returns targeting multiple victims. He was sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison by a U.S. judge in the Northern District of Illinois.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned of cyberattacks resembling Scattered Spider targeting the aviation industry, with confirmed sightings also reported by Google's Mandiant and Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42. Scattered Spider, a group of younger hackers using social engineering and phishing, has previously conducted high-profile breaches including the 2023 MGM Casinos attack and a 2024 Marks & Spencer breach that resulted in over $807 million in market capitalization loss. The advisory notes that airlines, vendors, and contractors across the aviation ecosystem face heightened risk, particularly as third-party breaches have doubled to represent 30% of data breaches in the past year.
region.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Police across Australia are warning of a surge in cryptocurrency ATM scams targeting vulnerable victims, with over 150 reported cases in 2024 resulting in losses exceeding $3 million, including victims who deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars. Scammers manipulate victims—predominantly people over 50—through romance, investment, and employment fraud schemes, directing them to use cryptocurrency ATMs as anonymous cash pipelines after banks block traditional transfers. Authorities emphasize that cryptocurrency ATM transactions are irreversible and advise the public to never send money via cryptocurrency when pressured by unknown persons or promised quick profits.
euroweeklynews.com
· 2025-12-08
An 86-year-old woman's report of a €353,952 romance scam led Spanish authorities to dismantle an international network of romance scammers operating from Nigeria, resulting in the arrest of 14 suspects across six Spanish provinces in "Operation Doyun." The scammers created fake profiles impersonating attractive men and celebrities to emotionally manipulate victims into making bank transfers, with some Spanish elderly women recruited to help launder the stolen funds; approximately €45,000 was recovered from the network's accounts.
newuniversity.org
· 2025-12-08
Orange County officially recognized June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day through a Board of Supervisors resolution, highlighting that 14.3% of county residents are age 65 and older and that Adult Protective Services received over 2,500 abuse reports in 2024. Financial exploitation accounts for 40% of these reports, with common schemes including IRS impersonation scams, grandparent scams, and romance scams that deplete victims' savings. The California Department of Justice estimates that only one in six instances of elder abuse is reported statewide, and experts recommend never sharing financial information with unsolicited callers regardless of claimed identity.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article identifies common travel scams targeting tourists in popular cities including Riga, Istanbul, Budapest, Bangkok, and Barcelona, with schemes ranging from inflated taxi fares and fake tours to pickpocketing and restaurant surcharges. The article advises travelers to research local scams, use secure payment methods, verify pricing beforehand, and avoid carrying all valuables to protect themselves from scammers who exploit the confusion and crowding typical of tourist environments.
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Law enforcement in Spain, Estonia, France, and the United States dismantled a cryptocurrency investment fraud ring in Operation Borrelli that defrauded over 5,000 victims of €460 million ($540 million) globally, with five suspects arrested in June 2025. The scheme used romance baiting tactics to build trust with victims before directing them to fake crypto platforms, then laundered funds through Hong Kong-based banking networks and multiple international payment gateways. The operation highlights the growing sophistication of transnational cyber fraud, increasingly augmented by artificial intelligence, which authorities warn is outpacing legal systems designed to combat it.
vietnamnews.vn
· 2025-12-08
Vietnamese authorities issued a nationwide alert about a surge in sophisticated online scams, with cybercriminals using methods including fake government/police impersonation, fake investment platforms, romance scams, and phishing schemes. Police dismantled several major fraud networks, most notably a transnational ring operating in Myanmar and the Philippines that defrauded Vietnamese victims of over $76.58 million, resulting in nearly 100 arrests. The Ministry of Public Security is responding by updating laws, sending over 500 million warning SMS messages, and partnering with tech companies to combat the growing cybercrime threat.
dw.com
· 2025-12-08
Interpol reports that human trafficking-fueled online scam centers have expanded globally from Southeast Asia to at least 66 countries across all continents, with victims now sourced from South America, East Africa, and Western Europe in addition to original Chinese-speaking populations. Trafficking victims are lured with fake job offers, held captive, and coerced into committing online fraud targeting people abroad through increasingly sophisticated methods including AI-generated fake ads and deepfake profiles. These criminal networks are intertwined with other transnational crimes including drug and weapons smuggling, prompting Interpol to call for coordinated international action to disrupt trafficking routes and support victims.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Tinder is piloting a facial recognition security feature called Face Check in California that requires users to verify their identity through a short video scan to confirm they are real people and not bots or fake accounts using someone else's likeness. The move addresses the rising problem of romance scams on dating apps, where fraudsters create fake profiles to manipulate victims into sending money, with over 64,000 American victims reported in 2023 alone.
interpol.int
· 2025-12-08
Human trafficking-fueled online scam centres have expanded globally, with victims from 66 countries trafficked into fraudulent operations spanning Southeast Asia, West Africa, the Middle East, and Central America as of March 2025. Trafficking victims are detained in compounds and coerced into committing social engineering scams targeting financial fraud victims worldwide, while simultaneously suffering exploitation including debt bondage, beatings, and sexual abuse. INTERPOL warns this evolved regional threat now represents a global crisis, with emerging use of AI technology in fake job ads and deepfakes facilitating both victim recruitment and fraud schemes, requiring coordinated international law enforcement response.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-08
This article promotes a podcast episode featuring romance scam expert Becky Holmes, who combats scammers through counter-tactics while coordinating with law enforcement. Romance scams ensnare victims through prolonged campaigns of affection on social media, often impersonating celebrities or targeting vulnerable populations like widows and divorcees, with recent research showing 10% of the public have been victims and some losing over $10,000. The episode discusses how AI and video manipulation technology are evolving romance scam tactics, requiring updated protection strategies.
dallasobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
"Pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams—where fraudsters gradually build trust with victims before stealing their money—are rapidly growing across North Texas, with victims losing between $500,000 to $3 million each. Financial counselor Steve Benton has investigated a dozen cases involving seniors who were lured through fake social media profiles and fake crypto apps that displayed false investment gains, with global scammers stealing nearly $64 billion through these schemes in 2023 alone. The scams are difficult to prosecute because funds are moved through unregulated cryptocurrency channels, and many perpetrators operate from labor-trafficking compounds in Southeast Asia where workers are forced to target victims.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Singapore's police gained new powers under the Protection from Scams Act starting in 2024 to seize and restrict bank accounts of suspected scam victims who refuse warnings, allowing authorities to block transactions for up to 30 days with possible extensions while preserving access for essential expenses. The measure addresses a surge in scams to a record S$1.1 billion ($860 million) in 2024, with common schemes including job, investment, e-commerce, and romance scams, though critics have raised concerns about potential abuse of power and lack of accountability.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-08
A Texas man filed a lawsuit against Citibank alleging the bank enabled a $20 million pig butchering scam in which he was defrauded between early 2023 and April 2023. The victim was contacted via Facebook by a scammer posing as a California businesswoman who convinced him to send 43 wire transfers totaling $20 million to fraudulent NFT investment accounts, with $4 million going through a Citibank account for Guju, Inc. The plaintiff argues Citibank failed to exercise due diligence, as the account's actual transaction activity (exceeding $12 million in two weeks) drastically contra
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
INTERPOL issued a warning that organized scam centres have rapidly expanded globally from traditional Southeast Asian bases into Africa, Latin America, and beyond, with criminal groups trafficking thousands of people across borders under false job promises and forcing them to conduct online scams (romance, cryptocurrency, and sextortion schemes) from guarded compounds. Recent enforcement operations including Operation Storm Makers II and Operation Serengeti resulted in over 1,000 arrests and identified nearly 35,000 trafficking and cyber fraud victims, though these criminal networks continue generating billions annually through sophisticated use of AI, cryptocurrency, and other advanced tools. INTERPOL called for increased international cooperation, stronger border controls, public awareness campaigns, and closer coordination between financial
helpnetsecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
Human trafficking networks are forcing hundreds of thousands of victims into online scam operations that have spread from Southeast Asia to 66 countries across all continents by March 2025, with 74% of victims still concentrated in Southeast Asia while new hubs emerge in the Middle East, West Africa, and Central America. Trafficked individuals are lured through fake job offers, trapped in compounds, and forced to commit fraud while facing debt bondage and violence, while simultaneously victimizing people globally who lose money and suffer emotional harm. The criminal networks are increasingly leveraging AI technology to create fake job advertisements and deepfakes for romance scams, and law enforcement has identified connections between these scam operations and trafficking routes used for
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Interpol's analysis of global crime data reveals that online scam compounds—once concentrated in Southeast Asia—are expanding worldwide, with emerging hubs identified in West Africa, Central America, and the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of victims from 66 countries have been trafficked into these compounds over the past five years, typically lured by fraudulent job advertisements and forced to conduct romance scams and other social engineering schemes while facing debt bondage, violence, and exploitation. Interpol warns that perpetrators are increasingly using AI to create convincing recruitment materials and victim profiles, and calls for coordinated international law enforcement response to combat this growing global threat.