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pulse.com.gh
· 2026-08-02
Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi (Abu Trica) faces charges in a US federal court for allegedly orchestrating an $8 million romance scam targeting over 80 elderly Americans, using fake online identities to deceive victims into transferring money. A US court has designated the case as complex, granting his defense additional time to review extensive evidence, with a pretrial conference scheduled for August 25, 2026, and Kumi remaining in custody while pleading not guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges. The complex-case designation does not determine guilt or innocence but allows adequate preparation time for the defense to handle the voluminous digital and financial records involved.
aol.com
· 2026-08-01
A 68-year-old former attorney from Southlake, William Thomas Engle, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for a wire fraud scheme targeting small business owners from 2020 to 2022. Engle promised victims multi-million-dollar loans in exchange for upfront fees, stealing over $2 million and using the funds to purchase luxury items including a yacht, vehicles, and jewelry. He was required to forfeit all stolen goods as part of his sentencing.
cryptopolitan.com
· 2026-08-01
OpenAI shut down ChatGPT accounts linked to a Cambodian criminal organization that used the chatbot to conduct cryptocurrency investment fraud targeting hundreds of victims with total losses in the thousands of dollars. The scammers used AI to create fake identities, generate marketing materials, and produce forged documents like passports and trading dashboards to lure victims into fake investment schemes through romance or friendship tactics, ultimately redirecting them to fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. The investigation also uncovered evidence of labor trafficking, with the criminal network recruiting workers in Cambodia through deceptive job postings that promised free housing and visas while entrapping them in debt-based servitude.
cryptopolitan.com
· 2026-08-01
Hong Kong law enforcement received 25 reports of romance and cryptocurrency investment scams in late July, with victims losing approximately HK$70 million (US$9 million). The scams typically begin with romantic relationship-building on social media or dating apps, then convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency trading platforms that show false profits before blocking withdrawals. In 2025, online investment fraud cases in Hong Kong rose 30.7% to 5,135 cases with losses jumping 58.4% to HK$3.58 billion, representing 44.1% of all deception-related financial losses despite accounting for only 11.9% of deception cases.
dailyhodl.com
· 2026-07-31
Scott Kelley, a former Boston postal inspector who led the Mail Fraud Unit, pleaded guilty to stealing over $330,000 from nearly 2,000 packages sent by elderly victims (averaging age 75) and using the funds for personal expenses including escorts, home renovations, and Caribbean cruises. Kelley intercepted cash meant to be recovered from scammers and faces 44 federal counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and false tax filings. The case reveals significant vulnerabilities in mail-handling processes designed to protect elderly fraud victims and their recovered funds.
theguardian.com
· 2026-07-31
A senior Democratic congressman has accused FIFA of a "smash-and-grab scam" over its proposed $20 billion privatization of commercial operations, citing suspicious ties to the Trump administration and Joshua Kushner's investment firm Thrive Capital. The alleged scheme involves JPMorgan Chase facilitating the deal while FIFA simultaneously awarded Trump a "peace prize," reversed a red card decision following a Trump call to FIFA's president, and benefited from the Justice Department dropping long-running bribery cases against the organization. If Democrats gain House control, the judiciary committee plans to investigate FIFA's financial dealings, subpoena witnesses, and examine the organization's relationship with Trump officials and the Kushner family.
wislawjournal.com
· 2026-07-31
Roshan Shah, 22, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering after collecting over $3.7 million from 15 elderly victims across the United States. Co-conspirators in India called victims claiming their identities were used in crimes, then instructed them to surrender cash or gold to Shah, posing as a federal agent, for safekeeping. Shah was ordered to pay $4.2 million in restitution, including $526,095 to a New Berlin couple who liquidated investment accounts to purchase gold coins they believed would be placed in government protection.
cryptotimes.io
· 2026-07-31
The U.S. government filed a civil forfeiture lawsuit seeking to seize approximately $2.117 million in USDT held in an Ethereum wallet, alleging the funds are proceeds from a pig-butchering cryptocurrency investment scam that defrauded at least 13 victims. Victims were contacted via WhatsApp and directed to fake trading platforms showing false profits, then lost control of their funds when they made deposits. Law enforcement from the Secret Service and FBI traced the laundered money through 76 intermediate blockchain addresses, ultimately tracking over $2.1 million to the target wallet.
financefeeds.com
· 2026-07-31
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture action seeking to recover $2.12 million in Tether (USDT) from a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scam that targeted multiple victims through fake trading platforms and romance scams. Scammers built trust with victims via dating apps and social media, then persuaded them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms that displayed fake profits and repeatedly demanded additional fees before allowing withdrawals. Investigators used blockchain analysis to trace the stolen cryptocurrency through multiple wallets, and worked with Tether to freeze the tokens before pursuing legal recovery.
1380kcim.com
· 2026-07-31
A Ghanaian national living in Maryland, 43-year-old Nana Takyiwa Adonu, was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for operating a nationwide romance scam that defrauded victims of over $1.6 million, including an Iowa victim who lost more than $55,000. Adonu created fake online dating profiles and operated a fraudulent company to receive stolen funds from victims seeking romantic relationships, and she was ordered to pay $1.65 million in restitution. According to FBI statistics, an estimated 59,000 people have fallen victim to romance scams losing over $672 million, with many cases going unreported due to victim embarrass
aol.com
· 2026-07-30
A 44-year-old Rosemead man was charged with elder fraud, grand theft, and conspiracy after driving a courier to a Thousand Oaks woman's home to collect $14,000 in cash obtained through a tech support scam. The victim was tricked into believing her computer was infected with malware and that she was under investigation by federal authorities, prompting her to withdraw the cash from multiple banks while remaining on the phone with scammers. The defendant was arrested in July and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
elliptic.co
· 2026-07-30
The Royal Thai Police and blockchain analytics firm Elliptic collaborated to analyze over 500 cryptoasset-related cases involving individual victim losses of nearly $14 million, with suspicious incoming transactions totaling $520 million between January 2022 and October 2025. The investigation identified approximately $200 million in suspected investment, romance, and "pig butchering" scam proceeds, along with cryptoasset thefts and money laundering linked to criminal networks in Cambodia and Myanmar operating across 32 different blockchains. The analysis revealed criminals' use of decentralized exchanges and cross-chain bridges to launder proceeds while evading know-your-customer verification requirements.
ambcrypto.com
· 2026-07-30
The U.S. government seized $2.12 million in USDT cryptocurrency from a wallet linked to a "pig-butchering" investment scam that used dating apps, social media, and fake job offers to lure victims to fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms promising guaranteed returns. Scammers displayed fictitious profits to encourage larger deposits and charged victims fake tax and verification fees when they attempted withdrawals, with investigators identifying multiple victims who lost significant sums. The seized funds were recovered through blockchain analysis after being transferred across multiple wallets to obscure their origins, with the FBI reporting over 41,000 cryptocurrency investment fraud complaints totaling $5.8 billion in 2024.
namibian.com.na
· 2026-07-30
Young Namibians were recruited into an alleged N$8-billion international romance scam syndicate by Raylon Investment CC, which promised them iPhones, cars, and houses to lure foreign victims—primarily wealthy men from the United States and Europe—into fake cryptocurrency investments. Employees were housed in a compound under strict control, issued fake social media identities, and instructed to send at least 150 direct messages daily to potential victims, with performance bonuses tied to investment amounts secured. Chinese nationals, Namibian citizens, and recruits from other countries were arrested in 2023 and charged with 65 serious offences including human trafficking, racketeering, money laundering, and fraud,
ddindia.co.in
· 2026-07-30
Organized criminal networks are increasingly trafficking victims into online scam operations, forcing them to commit cyber fraud through coercion and violence after luring them with fake overseas job offers. India's National Crime Records Bureau reported 2,166 human trafficking cases in 2023, with the government establishing 827 Anti Human Trafficking Units and strengthening legal frameworks through new criminal laws to combat this emerging form of exploitation. The UN's World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlights this growing threat where victims are held in heavily guarded compounds and forced to conduct romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and other financial crimes under threat and debt bondage.
manoramayearbook.in
· 2026-07-30
Hundreds of thousands of people are being trafficked globally and forced into compounds where they are coerced through violence, debt bondage, and threats to conduct online financial scams targeting victims worldwide, generating an estimated $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion in annual losses across East Asia and the Pacific region in 2025 alone. Criminal networks recruit job seekers—often English-speaking degree holders—through social media, confiscate their documents, and subject them to torture, sexual abuse, and forced labor operating romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and other cyber-enabled schemes. The UN International Organisation for Migration emphasizes that these trafficking victims should be protected rather than prosecuted and has launched a regional strategy to
dailyguidenetwork.com
· 2026-07-30
Ghanaian national Derrick Van Yeboah was sentenced to 85 months in prison for his role in an international romance scam operation that stole over $100 million from victims, with Van Yeboah personally responsible for more than $10 million in fraudulent transfers. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was ordered to pay $10,149,429.17 in forfeiture, with victims including vulnerable older adults who were deceived into believing they were in romantic relationships with fake identities created by the conspiracy members. The criminal organization, based primarily in Ghana, used romance scams and business email compromises to target Americans, and Van Yeboah personally conducted multiple
americanbanker.com
· 2026-07-29
A 76-year-old New Jersey retiree, Jeffrey Maas, lost nearly $400,000 to scammers who impersonated PNC Bank employees and convinced him to wire money for gold purchases; he is suing PNC for negligence, claiming two bank employees failed to question suspicious large withdrawals despite red flags. The case highlights the legal gap in the U.S. where federal law does not require banks to reimburse customers who voluntarily transfer funds to fraudsters, though Maas is pursuing the lawsuit under state law. Elder fraud is a growing crisis, with Americans over 60 losing $4.9 billion in 2024 alone, prompting calls for banks to
coingeek.com
· 2026-07-29
A UNODC report reveals that scams in Southeast Asia and surrounding regions have caused losses of $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion in 2025, with criminal networks operating like "corporate franchises" across multiple illicit markets including investment fraud, romance scams, and cryptocurrency money laundering. The report warns that these interconnected criminal ecosystems exploit forced labor, use AI-generated deepfakes, and evade law enforcement through satellite internet and blockchain networks, with cybercriminals increasingly targeting victims with language skills from Western countries.
bbc.com
· 2026-07-29
Ghanaian national Derrick Van Yeboah was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment by a US court for his role in an international romance scam network that stole over $100 million from victims, including vulnerable elderly Americans. Yeboah personally defrauded at least two women of $4.2 million using fake identities and deceived a North Carolina man into sending $123,000 under false pretenses. The court ordered him to forfeit $10 million in assets, and his case is part of a broader FBI investigation into eight Ghanaians involved in organized romance fraud and money laundering schemes targeting US citizens.
mikebolhuis.co.za
· 2026-07-29
Romance scams are predominantly operated by organized criminal syndicates rather than individual actors, with some involving human trafficking victims forced to conduct fraud in overseas compounds. These operations employ sophisticated psychological manipulation tactics, often involving teams of criminals sharing fake identities who build emotional relationships with victims over months or years to extract money and personal information. The global illicit industry generates billions of pounds annually through deceptive practices that exploit victims' trust and emotional vulnerabilities.
hoodline.com
· 2026-07-29
Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, 38, from Parma, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for operating a romance scam that defrauded 15 elderly victims of over $220,000 between December 2017 and March 2024. The scheme involved creating fake online personas on dating websites and social media to build trust with victims before soliciting wire transfers under false pretenses like gold inheritances, with proceeds being funneled to accounts Assimiou controlled and used to purchase goods shipped to co-conspirators in Ghana. Assimiou was ordered to pay $220,485 in restitution to his victims as part of his
fincrimecentral.com
· 2026-07-28
Scott Kelley, a former U.S. Postal Inspector and Mail Fraud Unit Team Leader, pleaded guilty to stealing over $330,000 in cash from approximately 1,950 mail parcels sent by elderly scam victims between 2019 and 2023, then laundering the funds through luxury purchases including home renovations and vacations. The scheme exploited his position to intercept packages flagged as likely containing money from fraud victims, with seven identified elderly victims averaging 75 years old who lost between $1,400 and $19,100 each. Kelley faces a statutory fine up to $500,000 and potential decades of imprisonment for money laundering and related financial
capeargus.co.za
· 2026-07-28
Two suspects in Cape Town were arrested for orchestrating a R14 million romance fraud scheme that targeted an elderly woman between 2017 and 2018 through fake dating profiles and requests for money under false pretenses. The scammers created fake online identities, built romantic relationships with the victim, and repeatedly extracted money by inventing emergencies like failed trips and urgent fines. The suspects are appearing in Muizenberg Magistrate's Court alongside five other previously arrested co-accused as part of the larger money laundering investigation.
iol.co.za
· 2026-07-28
Two suspects, Sikelelwa Nqunu and Chibuzor Joseph, were arrested on July 24 in connection with a R14 million romance fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted an elderly woman between 2017 and 2018. The fraudsters created fake dating profiles to build trust with the victim, then repeatedly requested money under false pretenses such as failed trips and urgent fines. The arrests are part of a larger investigation involving seven suspects total, with the case proceeding through the Muizenberg Magistrate's Court.
ksl.com
· 2026-07-28
Utah victims of romance and job scams have unknowingly become "money mules" by transferring stolen funds and merchandise, with some facing criminal charges despite being defrauded themselves. Law enforcement struggles to distinguish between willing participants and manipulated victims, leading prosecutors to charge first and investigate later, though Utah law requires proof that defendants knew property was stolen. Victims can protect themselves by immediately ceasing suspicious activities, preserving all communications and records, and reporting to banks, local police, and the FBI.
iol.co.za
· 2026-07-28
Two suspects, Sikelelwa Nqunu and Chibuzor Joseph, were arrested in Cape Town for their role in a R14 million romance fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted an elderly woman from 2017 to 2018. The scam involved creating fake dating profiles to establish false romantic relationships and manipulate victims into transferring money for fabricated expenses like failed trips and urgent fines. The suspects are appearing in Muizenberg Magistrate's Court alongside five other co-accused who were arrested earlier in the year.
groundup.org.za
· 2026-07-27
A journalist posed as a job seeker to expose a romance/employment scam syndicate, losing approximately R4,000 (about $220 USD) after responding to fake Amazon job advertisements on TikTok that redirected to WhatsApp and Telegram. The scam, operated by a China-based syndicate using AI-generated ads and fake company names, used multiple handlers and progressively escalated requests for deposits while promising quick earnings from "order processing" work. Despite reporting to police and banks, authorities failed to assist in recovering the funds or shutting down the operation.
dailyguidenetwork.com
· 2026-07-27
Daniel Yusif, an alleged accomplice of Frederick Kumi (Abu Trica), has been granted extradition from Ghana to the United States to face charges related to an $8 million romance scam targeting elderly Americans. The criminal network used online dating sites, AI-driven video platforms, and fake identities to defraud victims, primarily widows and divorcees, who sent money via wire transfer between April 2023 and November 2025. Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges.
unodc.org
· 2026-07-27
Over 300,000 people are trapped in Southeast Asian scam centers where human traffickers force them to commit online fraud through deception and coercion, generating an estimated $18-$37 billion in losses across East and Southeast Asia in 2023 alone. Victims are recruited via fraudulent job postings offering salaries of $1,000-$1,500 with free accommodation, then have their passports confiscated and are forced to manipulate people into cryptocurrency scams, romance fraud, and other schemes. This form of human trafficking for forced criminality is rapidly expanding beyond Southeast Asia to nearly 80 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, with operations increasingly using
tokenpost.com
· 2026-07-27
U.S. authorities seized over $25 million in cryptocurrency linked to cross-border fraud schemes targeting residents in the U.S. and Canada, with the largest case being a romance scam affecting more than 200 victims and causing $12.1 million in losses. A second major case involving fraudulent investment platforms accounted for $10.4 million, with investigators identifying over 270 suspicious transactions and tracing suspected money launderers to Southeast Asia, including operatives in China, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Prosecutors filed five civil forfeiture complaints to permanently confiscate the assets recovered through the Cyber Fraud Task Force investigations.
pulse.ng
· 2026-07-26
The United States has implemented a new visa ban targeting foreign nationals involved in cybercrime—including online fraud, romance scams, and phishing schemes—with the restriction also applying to their immediate family members in an effort to disrupt international criminal networks. This policy comes after Americans lost an estimated $10 billion to scams in 2024, and will be enforced through visa denials, sanctions, and asset seizures as part of a broader international law enforcement effort. To protect yourself, remain vigilant against unsolicited messages requesting personal information or money, verify the identities of people you meet online before engaging financially, and report suspected fraud to the FBI or FTC.
cryptorank.io
· 2026-07-26
Scammers are targeting elderly victims at Bitcoin ATMs by coercing them to deposit cash and convert it to cryptocurrency, which is then moved through scammer-controlled wallets making recovery difficult. Blockchain analytics can help trace these stolen funds and identify scam-linked addresses, but there's currently a compliance gap preventing assets from being frozen, requiring faster coordination between banks, exchanges, and law enforcement. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious about anyone pressuring you to withdraw cash and use cryptocurrency kiosks, verify any request independently through official channels, and understand that crypto transactions are generally irreversible once sent.
patch.com
· 2026-07-26
A 38-year-old Chinese national living in Massachusetts was indicted for operating a scheme that involved stealing gift cards from American victims through romance scams, elder fraud, and hacking, then using those cards to purchase Apple products and electronics in New Hampshire (which has no sales tax) before shipping them to China and Hong Kong. The conspiracy, which defrauded victims of approximately $5 million, coordinated purchases via WeChat and cryptocurrency, with stolen merchandise funneled through a warehouse in Salem. To protect yourself, be cautious about unsolicited romantic advances online, monitor gift card usage, enable two-factor authentication on accounts, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.
itemlive.com
· 2026-07-26
A 38-year-old Lynnfield man named Jinbin Ren has been indicted for leading an international conspiracy that defrauded victims of millions of dollars by stealing gift cards through romance scams, elder fraud, and hacking, then using them to purchase approximately 4,000 iPhones (valued at $8-9 million) which were shipped to China and Hong Kong. Ren and his co-conspirators acquired the stolen gift cards, purchased Apple products tax-free in New Hampshire, and coordinated their operations through WeChat and cryptocurrency payments. Ren faces up to 20 years in prison, though his attorney has filed a motion to dismiss arguing the gift card
incrypted.com
· 2026-07-26
The US Department of Justice seized approximately $112 million in cryptocurrency assets linked to pig butchering investment fraud schemes, with assistance from the FBI and TRM Labs in tracking the criminal proceeds. Pig butchering scams, primarily coordinated by Southeast Asian criminal syndicates, defrauded victims of $5.8 billion in 2024 alone through fake investment platforms that trap victims into endless "tax" and "fee" payments until their funds are depleted. The operation led to the creation of a dedicated Darknet Marketplace and Digital Currency Crimes Task Force to combat cryptocurrency-enabled crimes including drug trafficking, money laundering, and fraud.
news24.com
· 2026-07-26
Two additional suspects, aged 37 and 46, have been arrested in a romance scam that defrauded an elderly pensioner of more than R14 million between 2017 and 2018 in Western Cape, South Africa. The perpetrators created fake dating profiles and used flirtatious language to establish trust before requesting money through various pretexts such as failed trips and urgent fines. This arrest brings the total number of suspects in the case to seven, with all facing charges of fraud and money laundering.
newsbreak.com
· 2026-07-26
Naabanyin Aniagyei-Cobbold, a 30-year-old Connecticut man, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison in March 2026 for operating Alpha Distributions LLC, a money-laundering operation that funneled over $1.5 million in romance scam proceeds from victims across multiple states. The scheme involved creating fake romantic relationships to defraud victims, then routing stolen funds through domestic accounts to obscure their origin, with Aniagyei-Cobbold taking a cut before moving money forward. He was ordered to pay $1,554,442.46 in restitution and his harsh sentence reflects a trend of federal judges treating domestic
novanews.co.za
· 2026-07-26
Two additional suspects were arrested in Cape Town in connection with a romance fraud and money laundering scheme totaling over R14 million, bringing the total number of accused to seven. The fraudsters created fake dating profiles to manipulate an elderly victim between 2017 and 2018, using fabricated stories to convince her to transfer money into various bank accounts. All seven suspects are scheduled to appear in Muizenberg Magistrate's Court on Monday.
weex.com
· 2026-07-26
The U.S. Secret Service and Department of Justice seized over $25 million in cryptocurrency from an international fraud scheme affecting thousands of victims in the United States and Canada, including a romance scam that defrauded over 200 people of approximately $12.1 million. Five civil forfeiture complaints have been filed targeting multiple money laundering networks, with suspected operators primarily located in Southeast Asia, China, Malaysia, and Cambodia. The recovered funds are linked to various fraud types including romance scams, fake investment platforms, and recovery schemes, with five additional investigations still ongoing.
thestar.com.my
· 2026-07-26
Youth in Malaysia are increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated scams including fake job offers, phishing campaigns, romance scams, and money mule recruitment, with young adults aged 21-30 recording the highest number of telecommunications fraud victims at 8,789 individuals in 2025. Malaysians lost RM2.97 billion to scams last year, with criminals now using AI-generated deepfakes, voice cloning, and personalized messages to deceive victims. Experts emphasize the need for tailored cyber safety education teaching verification literacy, AI literacy, and privacy awareness to help youth recognize and resist these increasingly sophisticated threats.
tradingview.com
· 2026-07-25
Scammers are targeting victims—often elderly people—by manipulating them into withdrawing cash and depositing it at Bitcoin ATMs, where the funds are converted to cryptocurrency and sent to criminal wallets. Once the money enters the blockchain, it becomes much harder to trace and recover compared to traditional bank fraud, making it an irreversible loss for victims. To protect yourself, be wary of urgent requests to move money or withdraw cash, especially from unknown callers claiming accounts are compromised or loved ones are in danger—legitimate organizations will never ask you to use Bitcoin ATMs.
sherepunjabradio.ca
· 2026-07-25
A Chinese national was indicted for leading an international gift card fraud conspiracy that victimized Americans through romance scams, elder fraud, and hacking, then used stolen gift cards to purchase electronics that were shipped to China through a New Hampshire warehouse. The defendant and his co-conspirators exploited the lack of sales tax in New Hampshire and used cryptocurrency and encrypted messaging to coordinate their illegal operations, netting millions of dollars. People should be cautious about unsolicited romantic connections and unexpected requests for gift cards, verify requests for money directly with loved ones through independent contact, and monitor their gift card accounts for suspicious activity.
africa.businessinsider.com
· 2026-07-25
The U.S. government has launched a new global visa ban targeting cybercriminals and their family members in response to a surge in online fraud, with Americans losing at least $10 billion to investment scams in 2024 alone. The policy will deny visas to foreign nationals involved in cybercrime, including "pig butchering" investment fraud schemes and sextortion, many of which are orchestrated by Chinese criminal organizations. Americans can protect themselves by being skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities, verifying the legitimacy of financial platforms through official channels, and reporting suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
qchron.com
· 2026-07-24
Federal authorities charged two members of a Chinese money laundering network with laundering over $40 million stolen from victims of "pig butchering" scams, a sophisticated fraud scheme where perpetrators build trust with victims through social media before convincing them to invest in fake opportunities and stealing their money. The defendants allegedly managed a network operating in Queens and Brooklyn between 2020 and 2022, using shell companies and bank accounts to funnel stolen funds to China. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment offers from people you meet online, verify investment opportunities through official channels, and avoid sending money to unfamiliar contacts regardless of promised returns.
cutoday.info
· 2026-07-24
Two Chinese nationals were charged with operating a money laundering network that moved at least $43 million stolen from "pig butchering" scam victims through shell companies and bank accounts before sending it overseas. "Pig butchering" scams work by fraudsters building trust with victims on social media, then convincing them to invest in fake opportunities that show false profits before stealing their money. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment offers on social media, verify investment opportunities through official channels, and never send money to people you haven't met in person.
aol.com
· 2026-07-24
TruStart Technologies, a Canadian cryptocurrency platform, blocked over $23.5 million in fraudulent transactions through its multi-layered fraud prevention program since June 2025, protecting customers from crypto scams including impersonation schemes and fake investment platforms. The company's system combines identity verification, human review, and blockchain analysis to catch suspicious activity before funds are transferred, addressing a critical gap in crypto security since losses from crypto fraud are typically irreversible once sent. Consumers should use regulated platforms like TruStart that employ human oversight and advanced screening before authorizing any crypto transactions, especially given that crypto scams surged dramatically in 2025 with losses estimated at $17 billion globally.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2026-07-24
A UN report reveals that organized scam networks operating from Southeast Asia defrauded victims across the Asia-Pacific region of between $88.3 billion and $114.1 billion in 2025—triple the losses from just two years prior. These industrial-scale operations use trafficked workers, AI tools, and cryptocurrency (particularly Tether stablecoins) to run romance scams and fake investment schemes, with East Asia accounting for 71% of losses. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited romantic advances or investment opportunities online, verify claims independently, and avoid sending money or cryptocurrency to unknown individuals or unverified platforms.
cryptonews.net
· 2026-07-24
Southeast Asian criminal networks cost victims between $88-114 billion in 2025 through interconnected scam operations, including romance scams and investment fraud, with proceeds laundered through cryptocurrency. The UN reports that these formerly independent syndicates have merged into a sophisticated, transnational operation offering specialized services like money laundering and data harvesting. To protect themselves, people should be wary of unsolicited investment and romance opportunities, especially those involving cryptocurrency, and authorities need better training to trace criminal funds through digital channels.
kpax.com
· 2026-07-23
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen hosted an Elder Justice Summit in Kalispell to warn seniors about sophisticated scams targeting older citizens, highlighting the case of Susan Bivins, who lost her entire $240,000 life savings to scammers posing as Amazon and DEA officials in 2022. Scammers increasingly use advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and emotional manipulation to exploit seniors' fears, making it difficult for law enforcement to recover stolen funds since criminals typically operate overseas. Knudsen advised Montanans to constantly question suspicious communications, immediately cut off contact with suspected scammers, and report incidents to law enforcement rather than sending money or personal information.