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ky3.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses emerging scam tactics targeting elderly individuals, featuring an interview between news reporter Ashley Reynolds and Mindy Thompson from Arvest Bank about new methods scammers are using to defraud seniors. The piece serves as an awareness segment highlighting current threats to elder financial security, though specific scam examples and details are not provided in the available text.
americanbazaaronline.com
· 2025-12-08
Pranav Patel, 33, from New Jersey, was sentenced to 75 months in prison and ordered to forfeit nearly $2 million for his role as a money mule in a government impersonation scam targeting senior citizens between October and December 2023. Patel picked up cash and gold from victims across the East Coast who had been fraudulently told by overseas call center operators posing as Treasury Department officials that they faced arrest warrants or needed to surrender assets for safekeeping. One victim was forced to sell his house and rely on Social Security after losing his savings in the scheme, which resulted in approximately $1.79 million in laundered fraud proceeds.
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-08
The Alliance released educational resources, including an infographic and financial institution checklist, to combat elder financial exploitation ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. These tools aim to help banks and credit unions identify and prevent fraud targeting people aged 55 and older, particularly relevant as 101,068 seniors reported $3.4 billion in losses to elder fraud in 2023, with average individual losses of $33,915.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Pranav Patel, an Indian-origin man, was sentenced to six years and three months in prison and ordered to forfeit $1,791,301 for his role as a money mule in a scheme targeting senior citizens between October and December 2023. Operating from overseas call centers, the perpetrators impersonated US Treasury Department officials and defrauded elderly victims by threatening arrest warrants or claiming to safeguard their money and gold, with Patel collecting funds and valuables from victims across the eastern United States. One victim was forced to sell his home due to the scam, and Patel was apprehended in December 2023 while attempting to collect what he
wibqam.com
· 2025-12-08
Indiana's Secretary of State Diego Morales is warning elderly residents about financial scams and exploitation, particularly around World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. The Indiana Securities Division recommends protective measures including naming trusted contacts on accounts, shredding personal documents, and recognizing red flags like threats of arrest or demands for payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. Residents seeking fraud prevention education can contact the Secretary of State's Office at 317-232-6681.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam text messages are increasingly prevalent, with the FTC reporting $470 billion stolen via text scams in the past year, up significantly from $372 million in 2023. Common scams include fake fraud alerts (like Apple Pay warnings), bogus toll notices, and phony job offers, which scammers distribute at scale using AI-powered automation and personal information harvested from the dark web. To protect yourself, avoid replying to or clicking links in unexpected texts, verify requests directly with companies using known contact information, and report spam texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM).
kwqc.com
· 2025-12-08
Two men posing as Federal Trade Commission officials defrauded a 63-year-old Bettendorf resident of $35,000 by claiming their bank account was compromised. When the scammers returned demanding an additional $40,000, police were waiting and arrested 37-year-old Lijin Wang and 39-year-old Chen Xing on charges of conspiracy and felony theft of an elderly individual. This case reflects a broader trend of government impersonation scams targeting seniors, which contributed to over $3.4 billion in elder fraud losses reported to the FBI in 2023.
wbrc.com
· 2025-12-08
In observance of World Elder Abuse Day, the IRS Criminal Investigation Field Office in Atlanta highlighted that millions of seniors are victimized annually by financial scammers who exploit their trust, with the FBI reporting that seniors lost $8.4 billion to scams in 2024. The IRS provided information on common schemes targeting older adults, including romance scams, lottery scams, government imposter scams, grandparent scams, and tech support scams, and encouraged oversight of seniors' finances by multiple trusted individuals. Resources for fraud prevention and reporting include the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311), the FBI's Internet Crime Center, the Pass It On
am1100theflag.com
· 2025-12-08
Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to address a widespread text message scam targeting Minnesotans, in which fake DMV messages claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threaten arrest to coerce online payments. The scam has been reported across multiple states including Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, and Smith has requested intervention from the Department of Justice to combat the scheme's scale and sophistication.
wvnews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The FBI Pittsburgh warned that elder fraud complaints reached 147,127 in 2024, resulting in $4.885 billion in losses—a 46% increase in complaints and 43% surge in losses year-over-year, with West Virginia victims reporting $5.7 million in losses. Common schemes targeting seniors include romance scams, investment fraud, tech support scams, and money mule schemes, with fraudsters exploiting seniors' perceived trustworthiness, isolation, and financial stability. The FBI recommends verifying unknown contacts, avoiding pressure-based decisions, protecting personal information, and reporting suspected fraud through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) to help law enforcement
mercercountyoutlook.net
· 2025-12-08
Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the FBI issued a public reminder about elder fraud, which caused $4.885 billion in losses across 147,127 complaints in 2024—a 46% increase from 2023. In Ohio specifically, seniors over 60 lost more than $95 million in 2024, with significant losses in investment scams ($31 million), romance scams ($11 million), and tech support scams ($10 million). The FBI emphasizes that scammers target elderly Americans because they are perceived as trusting and financially stable, and advises seniors to verify unknown contacts, resist pressure to act quickly, and report suspecte
local10.com
· 2025-12-08
South Florida FBI agents are warning seniors about rising elder fraud trends, with impersonation scams (including AI-generated voice calls mimicking grandchildren and tax/immigration-related schemes) and "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment fraud among the most prevalent tactics. According to FBI Florida data, tech support scams affect the most victims (235 cases), while investment scams cause the highest financial losses at $13.3 million across 105 cases, with agents advising potential victims to stay calm, verify requests through third parties, and recognize urgency tactics as red flags.
startribune.com
· 2025-12-08
A Maple Grove woman lost over $450,000 in bitcoin, gift cards, wire transfers, and cash to scammers posing as U.S. government agents between March and April. The suspects initiated contact via unsolicited email in early March, then used WhatsApp to communicate with the victim and falsely claim they needed funds for a federal investigation, promising reimbursement. The case represents at least the second major cryptocurrency theft in Minnesota involving email-based fraud, with suspects remaining at large.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Investment scams cost Americans over $6.5 billion in 2024, with phishing emails and tech support scams adding another $4.1 billion in losses, according to FBI data. This article provides ten expert strategies for protecting investments, including verifying platform legitimacy, recognizing phishing and impersonation tactics, avoiding Ponzi schemes, being cautious of social media/romance scams, conducting thorough research, and identifying fake tech support and recovery scams. The advice emphasizes that as digital fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated, investors must stay vigilant by checking security certifications, verifying credentials directly, and remaining skeptical of unsolicited investment offers promising guaranteed high returns.
deccanherald.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old Ohio surgeon lost $1 billion to a romance scam involving a fake Ukrainian model within one month of his wife's death, while in New Delhi, a woman lost Rs 5 lakh ($6,000) when scammers impersonated her phone service provider during a family medical crisis. Globally, seniors lost $4.8 billion to cyber fraud in 2024 (US), with India projected to lose Rs 1.2 lakh crore ($14.4 billion) in 2025, driven by psychological manipulation that exploits neurobiological changes in aging brains, cultural conditioning toward authority and politeness, and widesprea
actionnewsjax.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens in Baker County, Florida are being targeted by two related scams: one where fraudsters impersonate bank fraud department staff to convince victims to withdraw cash and deposit it into other accounts, and another where callers pose as sheriff's deputies claiming arrest warrants exist and demanding phone payment to avoid arrest. The Baker County Sheriff's Office warns that they never request payment over the phone and urges anyone affected to contact Detective Lieutenant David Mancini.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Las Vegas couple, Jong Rhee, 45, and Neelufar Rhee, 34, were arrested in May 2025 and face multiple charges for operating a $57 million investment fraud scheme through their businesses Twisted Twins Motorsports and Lusso Auto Spa, where they promised investors extraordinary returns on luxury vehicles and boats allegedly being resold to overseas buyers who investigators say never existed. The couple claimed vehicles like a $526,000 Rolls-Royce could be sold for $7.5 million and promised one investor a $57 million investment could yield $2.5 billion, but instead allegedly used investor funds for personal luxury purchases, travel, an
latimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Notario fraud—where scammers posing as lawyers exploit immigrants' confusion about U.S. notary services to extract money—is resurfacing amid increased federal immigration enforcement and a climate of fear. Maria Gutierrez Aragon, a housekeeper and domestic violence victim, was defrauded of over $100,000 over more than a decade by someone who promised expedited citizenship papers. Advocates and law enforcement warn that recent federal sweeps and immigration crackdowns have created conditions ripe for exploitation, while a shortage of affordable immigration attorneys compounds vulnerable immigrants' need for legitimate legal help.
10news.com
· 2025-12-08
An 11-year-old boy in Oceanside, California received a $100 gift card for his birthday that had been tampered with by scammers who replaced the barcode with a sticker and scratched off the last four digits, allowing them to drain the funds when the card was activated. The incident reflects a broader trend of gift card fraud linked to organized crime, with authorities conducting Operation Red Hook to crack down on schemes involving Chinese crime syndicates. The mother is advising consumers to inspect gift cards carefully for tampering signs, retain receipts, and watch for visible damage to packaging before purchase.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Americans lost over $4.8 billion to financial scams across 147,127 reported complaints—a 46% increase in complaints and 43% increase in losses compared to 2023, according to FBI data released ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Massachusetts was particularly hard hit, with over 3,200 victims losing nearly $100 million, while the broader Boston Division reported $135 million in losses. Scammers exploit trust, loneliness, and fear by posing as romantic partners, tech support agents, government officials, or advisors, pressuring victims to send money through untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
This article is a compilation of ten cyber crime news summaries curated by the Future Crime Research Foundation. Key cases include: a ₹3.34 crore fraud call center bust in Lucknow where 15 individuals lured youth via fake job ads on WhatsApp and Facebook to run scams targeting 1,000+ people; a Pune woman defrauded of ₹8.4 lakh in a matrimonial scam; a Mumbai man who lost ₹32 lakh in a cryptocurrency romance scam; and a multi-state investment and digital arrest scam network spanning Odisha, Gujarat, and West Bengal. The compilation also covers international
leisurebyte.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is an entertainment recommendation piece, not a news report about a specific fraud case. It summarizes a Prime Video documentary series called "Romcon: Who the F**k is Jason Porter?" that examines romance scams and emotional manipulation, then lists five similar true crime documentaries including "The Tinder Swindler" (featuring Israeli conman Simon Leviev who scammed women out of millions), "Love Fraud" (about serial romance scammer Richard Scott Smith), "Sweet Bobby" (a 10-year catfishing case), "Hey Beautiful" (three women scammed using the same stolen identity), and "Hunting the Catfish Crime Gang" (about organized catfishing an
abstractaf.in
· 2025-12-08
A two-part documentary titled "RomCon: Who the F**k is Jason Porter?" exposes romance scammer Jason Porter, who used aliases like "Jace" and "Don" to manipulate multiple women on dating apps, establishing long-term relationships while stealing from them and dating others behind their backs. Toronto real estate broker Heather Rovet, who dated Porter for three years before discovering his criminal past and infidelity, leads the documentary by sharing her experience and detailing her effort to gather evidence and pursue legal action for fraud and theft. The documentary highlights that romance scams cost Canada an estimated $59 million annually in reported cases alone, serving as a cautionary tale about recogn
northcentralpa.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Philadelphia marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) to highlight the growing crisis of elder fraud, reporting that Americans over 60 filed over 147,000 complaints in 2024 with losses totaling approximately $4.8 billion nationally, while Pennsylvanians over 60 alone reported 6,300 complaints resulting in $151 million in losses. The FBI emphasizes that elder abuse takes multiple forms and urges the public to recognize scam attempts, resist pressure to act quickly, protect personal information, and report suspected fraud to law enforcement. Education, community outreach, and victim support services are identified as critical tools in protecting vulnerable seniors from exploitation.
amp.scmp.com
· 2025-12-08
Two teenagers in Hong Kong—a 16-year-old girl and 18-year-old man—were arrested for defrauding an 85-year-old woman of HK$50,000 (US$6,369) through a phone scam in which they impersonated her daughter and claimed to need bail money. The victim discovered the fraud after contacting her actual daughter, and the suspects were apprehended the same day when they attempted to solicit additional "bail money." Both were charged with conspiracy to defraud, which carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence in Hong Kong.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Elderly adults worldwide are increasingly targeted by sophisticated digital scams using AI, voice cloning, and psychological manipulation, with Americans over 60 losing $4.8 billion in 2024 and India projecting ₹1.2 lakh crore in losses for 2025. Scammers exploit cognitive vulnerabilities, cultural conditioning, and loneliness among seniors—exemplified by cases like a Delhi woman losing ₹5 lakh to an impersonated telecom provider and a 72-year-old Ohio man defrauded in a romance scam. Experts call for urgent systemic interventions including tailored security measures, platform accountability, digital literacy programs
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Americans over 60 lost nearly $5 billion to elder fraud schemes in a 43% increase from the previous year, with approximately 150,000 complaints reported to the FBI. Common scams targeting seniors include tech support fraud, romance schemes, investment fraud, and government impersonation, increasingly enhanced by artificial intelligence technology that can mimic voices and create more convincing deceptions. The FBI recommends seniors protect themselves by avoiding sharing personal information with unverified contacts, researching unsolicited communications, resisting pressure for quick financial decisions, and reporting suspected fraud to law enforcement or the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
rdrnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The City of Roswell issued a warning after water customers received fraudulent phone calls and text messages from an unknown individual impersonating city officials and demanding payment while attempting to obtain financial information. The scam is part of a broader pattern of impersonation fraud targeting residents, including fake calls about arrest warrants, jury duty, and utility shutoffs, with scammers using caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate and creating urgency to prevent victims from verifying their identity. Authorities recommend hanging up, independently verifying the caller's identity through official websites or phone numbers, and advise seniors to consult trusted relatives before sharing personal information.
indeonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating process servers in phishing calls, claiming victims have non-existent court cases, liens on their homes, or unpaid debts, and threatening immediate legal consequences or arrest. The callers use intimidation tactics and secrecy about details to pressure victims into quick action, often to unknown or blocked numbers. To protect yourself, verify any legal claims directly with courts or official agencies rather than responding to unsolicited calls.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
UK victims lost over £106 million to romance fraud in the 2024/25 financial year, with 9,449 reported cases representing a 9% increase, according to City of London Police data. The average loss per victim was £11,222, with the 50-59 age group suffering the highest financial impact (£22.1 million total), though male victims slightly outnumbered female victims for the second consecutive year. Police believe the actual figure is significantly higher due to underreporting caused by victim shame and embarrassment, and they have launched a public awareness campaign to educate people about the emotional manipulation and financial exploitation tactics used by romance scammers.
wbiw.com
· 2025-12-08
Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 to encourage vigilance against elder financial abuse, exploitation, and scams targeting vulnerable seniors. The Indiana Securities Division provides ongoing education through events at churches, retirement homes, and civic organizations, offering prevention strategies such as naming trusted contacts on accounts, shredding personal documents, and recognizing common scam tactics like threats of arrest or demands for payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency ATMs, or gift cards. The state partners with IN-CASE (Indiana Council Against Senior Exploitation) and encourages organizations to request fraud prevention presentations by calling 317-232-6681.
butlerradio.com
· 2025-12-08
On World Elder Abuse Day, the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office highlighted that Pennsylvania seniors lost over $151 million to fraud last year, ranking the state 8th nationally. The FBI investigates multiple fraud schemes targeting seniors including investment scams, technical support schemes, money mule operations, and romance scams. Seniors are advised to verify business legitimacy through resources like the Better Business Bureau, avoid rushing into decisions, and never share personal information with unverified sources; victims can report fraud through 1-800-CALL-FBI or ic3.gov.
privatebank.jpmorgan.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals use social engineering tactics to target elderly individuals who are less familiar with technology and may trust official-looking communications, often isolating victims and creating pressure to share personal information or money. The article illustrates two common scams: a phishing email impersonating a charity that stole Jane's financial details when she donated to a fake disaster relief campaign, and a phone scam where "Amazon" and "FBI" impersonators convinced Gerald to withdraw cash before he recognized the fraud when asked to convert funds to Bitcoin. The best defense against these scams is community support from trusted friends, family, and financial advisors rather than acting alone.
news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybercrime scams cost Americans $12.5 billion last year, with sophisticated criminal networks operating from Southeast Asia using psychological manipulation tactics across romance scams, investment fraud, and payment platforms to target vulnerable victims. The article argues that current U.S. law enforcement strategies are inadequate and proposes three solutions: increased investment in specialized cyber crime units, streamlined coordination between federal agencies like the FBI's IC3, and diplomatic pressure against criminal networks operating internationally.
ccprosecutor.us
· 2025-12-08
Senior Veterans Administration Services (SVAS) founder Richard Rompala and four employees were indicted for defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs of approximately $20 million by falsifying documentation to make ineligible elderly veterans appear qualified for benefits, then withholding or demanding payment from the benefits they obtained. The scheme involved SVAS contacting veterans, falsely claiming they were eligible for free assistance, submitting fraudulent documents to the VA, and then either demanding direct payment or a large percentage of the benefits before releasing funds to the veterans. The case was investigated by the VA Office of Inspector General, Ohio Attorney General's Office, and Ohio Department of Commerce as part of Operation No VA
bigcountrynewsconnection.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI released a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day reminder highlighting that elder fraud caused $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints in 2024, representing a 46% increase in complaints and 43% increase in losses from 2023. Seniors are frequently targeted through investment scams, technical support schemes, romance scams, and money mule schemes because they are often perceived as trusting, financially stable, and less likely to report fraud. The FBI advises seniors to verify unknown contacts, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid unsolicited offers, never share personal information with unverified sources, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement, the FBI's tip line, or
grassley.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced a resolution designating June as National Elder Abuse Awareness Month to increase public awareness and prevention efforts. According to the resolution, an estimated one in six older Americans experienced some form of abuse in community settings last year, with only one in 24 cases of elder abuse and one in 44 cases of financial exploitation being reported. Grassley will chair a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to examine how scammers target seniors and promote long-term protections for vulnerable older adults.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a reinvigorated effort to combat transnational elder fraud schemes that cost billions of dollars annually, with several recent prosecutions targeting romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Key cases included Troy Murray, who pleaded guilty to selling a database of over 7 million elderly Americans' personal information to Jamaican lottery scammers, and his son Cutter Murray, who pleaded guilty to money laundering $1.6 million in fraudulent proceeds; other defendants were charged for operating Jamaica-based lottery fraud schemes that defrauded seniors across the country, with one victim losing over $400,
decrypt.co
· 2025-12-08
Alabama securities regulators recovered over $125,000 in crypto assets for two residents who lost a combined $580,000 to "pig butchering" romance scams—schemes where victims met scammers on dating apps and messaging platforms and were convinced to invest in fraudulent trading platforms over several months. One victim lost $185,000 after meeting a scammer on Bumble, while another lost $395,000 after responding to a WhatsApp advertisement for a fake platform falsely claiming Charles Schwab affiliation. Pig butchering scams accounted for 33.2% of the $9.9 billion in global crypto fraud in 2024, with criminals increasingly
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five members of a transnational organized crime syndicate were sentenced to federal prison in the Eastern District of Texas for defrauding approximately 100 victims of roughly $17 million through multiple schemes including romance scams, business email compromise, investor fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud beginning in January 2017. The defendants, ranging from 32 to 51 years old, received sentences between 9 and 40 years, with sentences totaling nearly 160 years combined. The scheme specifically targeted elderly and vulnerable persons, and the defendants laundered stolen funds through bank accounts and businesses in Africa and Asia.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Kwara State pilgrims in Saudi Arabia fell victim to a currency exchange scam where fraudsters swapped their $100 bills for $1 bills, primarily targeting elderly pilgrims unfamiliar with foreign currency who sought help converting dollars to Saudi Riyals. Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq reimbursed each affected pilgrim $500 to offset their losses. The incident has prompted support for the Central Bank of Nigeria's proposal to distribute pilgrimage allowances through preloaded debit cards instead of physical cash to prevent similar fraud.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, the U.S. Department of Justice announced reinvigorated efforts to prosecute transnational elder fraud schemes that cost American seniors billions of dollars. Recent prosecutions in the District of Rhode Island include: a British national convicted in a multi-state construction fraud targeting seniors across four states for over $1 million; eight individuals indicted for orchestrating transnational tech support scams that defrauded approximately 300 seniors across 37 states of over $5 million; and two residents charged with grandparent scams that defrauded seniors in Rhode Island and Massachusetts of at least $230,000. The DOJ urged seniors an
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Department of Justice announced reinvigorated prosecutorial efforts against transnational and domestic elder fraud schemes that cost seniors billions of dollars annually, highlighting recent cases involving romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. A notable Montana case resulted in the arrest of a man involved in an India-based scheme impersonating U.S. Marshals that defrauded an elderly victim of over $1 million. The DOJ emphasizes the importance of community vigilance, victim restitution efforts, and encourages seniors and their families to contact the free National Elder Fraud Hotline for assistance with
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 65-year-old Houston man lost approximately $500,000 of his life savings in a government impersonation scam after receiving a call from someone claiming to represent the Vietnamese Embassy warning him of identity theft and money laundering in his name. The scammer exploited the victim's prior receipt of an official IRS identity theft warning, then directed him over five months to transfer funds via wire transfer while communicating through encrypted messaging and using forged documents and AI-generated videos. The loss has forced him to sell his home and reconsider retirement, though his daughter has launched a GoFundMe that has raised five figures to help him recover.
magnoliareporter.com
· 2025-12-08
Five defendants in a transnational organized crime syndicate were sentenced to federal prison (109 to 480 months) for defrauding approximately 100 victims—including elderly persons, companies, and government entities—of roughly $17 million between 2017 and 2025 through online romance scams, business email compromise, investor fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud. The defendants laundered the stolen money through networks of bank accounts in Africa and Asia before being caught by an FBI-led multi-agency investigation in the Eastern District of Texas.
gazettengr.com
· 2025-12-08
Five Nigerian fraudsters were sentenced to a combined 129 years in prison for operating a transnational scam that defrauded at least 100 victims—predominantly elderly—of over $17 million through romance scams, business email compromise schemes, and investment fraud between January 2017 and their arrest. The gang laundered the stolen funds through bank accounts and businesses in Africa and Asia, with some victims losing their life savings and being unable to recover financially.
digit.fyi
· 2025-12-08
In the 2024/25 financial year, the UK experienced over £106 million in romance fraud losses across 9,449 reported cases—a 9% increase from the previous year, with victims losing an average of £11,222 each. The 50-59 age group suffered the highest losses (£22.1 million total), and while male victims slightly outnumbered female victims, women tended to lose larger sums; fraudsters employed tactics like "love bombing" to create emotional dependency and manipulate victims into financial transfers.
etedge-insights.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams on dating apps have escalated dramatically, with reported losses topping $1 billion globally in 2024 and a projected rise through 2025. Scammers use emotional manipulation, stolen photos, and increasingly sophisticated AI tools (deepfakes, voice cloning) to build fake relationships and extract money from victims, often through fake investment schemes or fabricated emergencies. The article illustrates this trend through Jay's experience with "Alina" and notes that India has been particularly hard-hit, with 39% of daters encountering scammers and 77% seeing AI-generated photos, while crypto-hybrid romance scams grew nearly 40% year-
fox23.com
· 2025-12-08
April Helm, a Broken Arrow woman and host of the Scammer Stories Podcast, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 17 about her mother's loss of at least $350,000 in a romance scam. Helm discussed both romance scams and "pig butchering" scams (hybrid romance and cryptocurrency schemes) and emphasized that addressing the problem requires coordinated efforts from dating platforms, law enforcement, prosecutors, and mental health professionals to combat transnational scam networks.
detroitnews.com
· 2025-12-08
In response to rising scam cases in Metro Detroit, Chase and the Detroit Police Department hosted a workshop for seniors to educate them on common fraud tactics and prevention strategies, coinciding with World Elder Abuse Awareness Month. According to the FBI, individuals 60 and older lost nearly $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, with Michigan residents alone losing over $206 million to fraud last year, and the average victim losing $35,101. The workshop emphasized the motto "trust but verify" and covered common scams including impersonation, spoofing, phishing, and vishing, recommending that seniors verify contacts, avoid sharing personal information, resist pressure to act quickly, an