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vocal.media
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It is promotional content about Ukraine dating websites and apps, designed to market online dating platforms. While the article mentions "avoiding scams and fake profiles" in dating contexts, it does not document actual elder fraud cases, scams targeting seniors, or abuse of elderly individuals. This appears to be commercial advertorial content rather than news reporting or educational material about elder exploitation.
bywire.news
· 2025-12-08
Global cryptocurrency scams surged 456% between May 2024 and April 2025, with scammers using AI-generated deepfakes, synthetic voices, and forged credentials to impersonate trusted individuals and platforms with increasing sophistication. In 2024, fraudulent crypto operations stole over $10.7 billion globally, with the U.S. accounting for nearly $3.9 billion in losses across approximately 150,000 reported complaints, though officials estimate actual figures are significantly higher due to underreporting, particularly among older adults and immigrant communities. Law enforcement operations have begun responding—including New York's freezure of $300,000 in stolen assets and seizure
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Indian authorities arrested 23-year-old computer science student Shaurya Singh for his involvement in a Rs. 3.81 crore ($457,000) cryptocurrency fraud scheme, where he allegedly assisted criminals by transporting financial documents and facilitating transactions through his bank and crypto accounts. Singh's arrest is part of a broader investigation into cross-border crypto fraud networks linked to Southeast Asia that employ romance scams and "pig-butchering" schemes, highlighting vulnerabilities in India's crypto ecosystem including weak KYC requirements and regulatory gaps that enable financial crimes.
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Between 2023 and July 2025, Chandigarh police registered 23 FIRs for "digital arrest" scams, with 13 cases reported in the first half of 2025 alone, indicating a rising trend. Fraudsters impersonate government officials (CBI, ED, NCB) via WhatsApp or video calls to convince victims—primarily elderly individuals—that they are under investigation, then coerce them into transferring money to fake "safe government accounts"; notable victims include a retired Colonel who lost Rs 3.41 crore, an 82-year-old woman who lost Rs 2.5 crore, and others.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Christopher Earl Lloyd, a 39-year-old from Whittier, California, was arrested and federally indicted on 14 counts for operating romance scams through dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble between April 2021 and February 2024, defrauding victims of over $2 million. Lloyd posed as a financially successful investment manager with false claims of property ownership and corporate positions, convincing victims to send money via wire transfers, Cash App, Zelle, and cash, which he then used for personal expenses such as a $40,000 car purchase. If convicted, Lloyd faces up to 20 years in federal prison
tucson.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old Tucson man drained his 75-year-old wife's $250,000 retirement account after developing an online romance with a woman claiming to be a chef, whom he met on Facebook and sent money to over several months for various fabricated needs including job fees and taxes. The couple also took out a loan on their vehicle and considered a home equity loan to continue funding the scam, which ended when the account was depleted and the scammer stopped contact. Arizona has the highest rate of elder fraud in the nation at 289 cases per 100,000 seniors, with authorities reporting that social media romance scams, phishing, and AI-
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are impersonating artists and messaging people on social media asking to use their photos for "art projects," then requesting personal information like full names and email addresses under the pretense of sending e-checks for commissions. The scheme is a variant of the common fake check scam, where fraudsters send counterfeit checks that appear legitimate, ask victims to wire back excess funds, and use the collected personal information for future fraud. The Federal Trade Commission warns this tactic is widespread and advises victims to report incidents to the FTC or Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker.
ehextra.com
· 2025-12-08
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued consumer alerts warning of an uptick in scams impersonating celebrities (Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, Kid Rock) and military leaders to steal money through romance scams, cryptocurrency/pig butchering schemes, and merchandise fraud. The scams often exploit people on dating platforms and social media by posing as celebrities to request money, investments, or personal information, with some using AI-generated deepfake audio and video to increase authenticity. Nessel and AARP recommend victims avoid sending money to online contacts, verify caller identities independently, and contact AARP's ElderWatch program at 800-222-4444 for
hackread.com
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated cyberattack campaign targeting German speakers uses romance and adult-themed emails to deliver malware through a legitimate traffic distribution system. Victims receive emails with links that, when clicked from Germany, trigger a 300MB ISO file download containing "lovely_photos.exe" malware, which establishes persistence on the system through a scheduled task named DragonMapper. The campaign was discovered by Sublime Security and demonstrates how attackers use geo-targeting, enticing social engineering, and multiple layers of obfuscation to bypass detection and increase infection success rates.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
This June 2025 conversation with economic crime expert Olivier Beaudet-Labrecque examines the global scam economy, revealing how economic hardship and youth unemployment in West Africa are driving individuals into online fraud schemes including romance scams and SIM-swapping, often learned through peer networks in cyber cafes. The discussion highlights that scams harm both international victims and local communities, strain under-resourced law enforcement, and damage entire nations' digital reputations and economic access. Key takeaway: combating online fraud requires empathy, education, and technological solutions to address the socioeconomic drivers fueling the scam ecosystem.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-08
John Clark from Longmont lost thousands of dollars in a combined investment and romance scam in which fraudsters posed as an investment opportunity referral, sent fake checks to establish credibility, then shifted to romantic overtures while requesting money via Apple Cash. After his bank discovered the checks were fraudulent, Clark had already sent $3,000 in payments, and recovery is unlikely despite filing police reports. The FTC warns that romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals—particularly those who are isolated or dealing with health challenges—are increasingly common, and victims should refuse any requests for money from online romantic interests.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A TikTok user warned of a scam in which fraudsters pose as artists requesting permission to use people's photos for art projects, only to later request personal information (full name and email) under the pretense of sending an e-check commission. The scheme is a variant of the common fake check scam, where fraudsters send fraudulent checks that include excess funds and instruct victims to wire the overage back, allowing scammers to access victims' personal information for future fraud while the victim ultimately loses money.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
An adult daughter in Australia discovered that her elderly father in California was being targeted by multiple romance and lottery scams, including a catfishing scheme involving a woman named "Bomba" who posed as a wealthy widow, and a subsequent lottery scam promising $580 million. The father, in his early 70s and struggling with physical disability, substance abuse issues, and financial decline, believed the scams were real despite his daughters' attempts to convince him otherwise and refused to admit whether he sent money to the fraudsters. The account illustrates how loneliness, past trauma, and the desire for financial recovery made the father vulnerable to elaborate deception schemes.
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Rosemary Grogan, an 82-year-old Pennsylvania resident, discovered $50,000 missing from her bank account due to fraud in 2024, a experience shared by growing numbers of elderly victims targeted by sophisticated scammers. U.S. cybercrime losses have surged from $4.2 billion in 2020 to $16.6 billion in 2024, yet small police departments lack resources to pursue international criminal networks, leaving most victims unable to recover stolen funds. Community leaders are calling for a coordinated federal response, including better data sharing and a national cybercrime task force, as current state-level and FBI resources address only large-scale patterns
kdhlradio.com
· 2025-12-08
The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin is warning residents about a rise in romance scams, which are among the most frequently reported scams to their office. Scammers initiate contact via social media (Facebook or Instagram), move conversations to private messaging apps, and quickly establish emotional relationships through "love bombing" while claiming to work far away to avoid in-person meetings. The scams rely on AI-generated fake profiles and pictures, and victims are eventually asked to send money to someone they've never actually met.
b105country.com
· 2025-12-08
The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin issued a warning about romance scams, which are among the most frequently reported scams to their office. Scammers initiate contact via social media (Facebook or Instagram), move conversations to private messaging apps, rapidly build emotional connections through love-bombing, and request money from victims who have never met them in person. The scammers use AI-generated photos and fake profiles to appear legitimate while claiming to work far away and asking victims to keep the relationship secret.
irishpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Police reported a surge in romance scams conducted through online dating platforms and social media, where fraudsters build trust with victims over weeks or months before fabricating emergencies and requesting money. Victims, often left emotionally distressed and financially devastated after losing significant savings, are manipulated into sending funds via fabricated medical crises, travel expenses, or personal emergencies. Police warn against key red flags including avoidance of in-person meetings, claims of overseas locations, rapid expressions of love, and requests for money or cryptocurrency, emphasizing that legitimate relationships should never begin with financial requests.
shreveporttimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Kenneth G. Akpieyi, 44, from Georgia, was convicted in July 2025 on charges of mail fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering for operating a "fake Romeo" romance scam that defrauded multiple women of over $3 million. Operating under the alias "Phillip Anderson," Akpieyi used social media platforms to build fake romantic relationships with victims, then convinced them to send money for fabricated reasons such as charitable work or family emergencies, funneling the funds through his auto brokerage company to obscure their movement. Eight victims testified during trial, with sentencing scheduled for November 2025.
jacksonvilleprogress.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are among the costliest fraud schemes, with victims losing over $1.3 billion in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers typically create fake profiles on dating apps and social media, build emotional trust, then exploit victims by requesting money, gift cards, wire transfers, or personal financial information under the guise of emergencies. To protect against romance fraud, individuals should be cautious of online dating contacts who quickly establish intimacy, avoid sharing personal or financial details, and verify identities before sending money.
kroc.com
· 2025-12-08
The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin issued a warning about a prevalent romance scam targeting local residents. The scam typically begins with a fraudster contacting victims on Facebook or Instagram, then moving conversations to private messaging apps, building a rapid romantic relationship through love bombing, and eventually requesting money from the victim while claiming to have reasons (such as a distant job) to avoid meeting in person. Scammers use AI-generated photos and fake social media profiles to appear legitimate, making it crucial for people to avoid sending money to anyone they have not met in person.
beijingtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A cross-dressing man known as "Sister Hong" was arrested in Jiangsu province for posing as a woman to sexually deceive over 1,000 men, secretly recording encounters and sharing them online. The case resurfaced interest in a similar 2016 romance scam in which a woman in Shenzhen dated 20 different men over six months, convincing each to buy her an iPhone 7, then sold the phones for over 120,000 yuan total, which she used as a down payment on a property. Both cases illustrate evolving digital-age romance and dating scams that manipulate victims into providing gifts or engaging in compromising situations.
asiaone.com
· 2025-12-08
A 59-year-old man in Singapore was defrauded of over $120,000 by an online romance scammer posing as a divorced woman from China on Facebook. After gradually requesting money for living expenses, the scammer convinced him to sell his HDB flat under the SERS scheme and transfer the $123,000 compensation to her across multiple bank transfers; he was finally alerted to the fraud in April when the scammer cut off contact claiming a mourning period. The victim lodged a police report in July and plans to work to recover financially from the loss.
tribnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are among the costliest fraud schemes, with victims reporting over $1.3 billion in losses in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers use emotional manipulation through online dating platforms to steal money, personal information, and identities from victims seeking romantic relationships.
yesweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
An increasing wave of AI-generated celebrity romance scams has defrauded Americans of millions of dollars, with victims including a 73-year-old who lost over $100,000 to a fake Kevin Costner on Facebook and an elderly woman scammed by a deepfake Liam Neeson voice. According to FBI data, Americans reported $672 million in losses to romance and confidence scams in 2024 alone, with elderly victims averaging $83,000 per person, though many cases go unreported due to embarrassment. The article emphasizes that while scammers continue to evolve their tactics using new technology and platforms, vigilance and skepticism—particularly about uns
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Emmanuel Ugbaja, a 56-year-old Georgia man, was sentenced to 5 years probation with 2 years home confinement for money laundering in connection with internet scams that defrauded two victims of $60,000 in 2018—one through a romance scam and one through an inheritance scam. Ugbaja received the fraudulent funds into his bank account, kept a portion for himself, and sent the remainder to a maritime broker as a vessel down payment. In addition to probation, he was ordered to pay over $97,000 in restitution to the fraud victims and over $135,000 to the Small Business Administration
bakersfieldnow.com
· 2025-12-08
Bear Valley Police Department is investigating a surge in romance scams targeting residents, in which criminals create fake dating or social media profiles, build trust with victims, and then request money for fabricated emergencies, medical expenses, travel, or cryptocurrency investments using untraceable payment methods. The department advises victims to stop communication immediately, perform reverse image searches on profile pictures, search online for red flags, and consult trusted friends or family, while recommending residents never send money to online-only contacts and be suspicious of individuals who avoid meeting in person or rush to leave dating platforms.
wealthsolutionsreport.com
· 2025-12-08
Ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals face increasingly sophisticated scams that exploit publicly available data, AI technology, and deep social engineering to target them with highly personalized fraud schemes. The article identifies seven major scam types affecting wealthy Americans: whaling (executive phishing), deepfake-driven impersonation and family emergency scams, synthetic identity fraud, tax and authority impersonation scams, and romance scams—each using tailored personal details and urgent requests to extract sensitive information, authorize fraudulent transfers, or manipulate victims into fake investments. Wealth managers and advisors are advised to educate clients on red flags including unusual communication changes, urgent financial requests from trusted sources, and demands
ocalagazette.com
· 2025-12-08
An 82-year-old Ocala woman lost $7,300 in cryptocurrency and nearly lost $160,000 in cash converted to gold in a multi-stage scam involving a fake computer hack, fraudulent bank officer call, and an accomplice attempting to pick up the gold at her home—the plot was foiled by law enforcement and a gold exchange company alert, resulting in the arrest of Jiann Cao. Local agencies report approximately $1 million stolen monthly from elder fraud victims in Marion County, with common scams including tech support fraud, romance scams, and investment schemes; officials recommend verifying the authenticity of unsolicited communications and emphasize education and reporting as key prevention strategies.
mustsharenews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 59-year-old Singaporean man lost more than S$150,000 in a romance scam after meeting a woman claiming to be named "Huang Ping" on Facebook in mid-2023, who gradually convinced him to send money for supposed financial difficulties and eventually to sell his HDB flat to relocate to China. Despite warnings from his bank over a year ago, Mr. Chen continued transferring funds through various methods until his friend helped him recognize the scam pattern, prompting a police report in July; the scammer disappeared in April claiming a mourning period and deleted chat records. The victim is now rebuilding his life by seeking employment and housing after losing both his savings and property to the frau
financial-planning.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering scams—which begin with casual text messages and evolve into romantic relationships—are rising in prevalence and causing significant financial harm. Scammers establish trust, often through romance and cryptocurrency investment promises, then direct victims to fraudulent trading platforms where they see initial gains but cannot withdraw funds due to fabricated fees; victims experience both financial loss and emotional trauma from the manufactured relationship. Financial advisors can help by monitoring for unusual withdrawal patterns and having nonjudgmental conversations with clients, while recognizing that many scammers themselves are human trafficking victims forced to operate from compounds in Southeast Asia run by organized crime networks.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
A violent border clash between Thailand and Cambodia near an ancient temple was linked to cyber-scam slave camps operating in Cambodia, where an estimated 100,000+ people are forced to run romance and investment scams targeting primarily Chinese and other Asian citizens. Thailand's threat to cut off internet and electricity to disrupt these camps—which generate an estimated $12.5 billion annually and allegedly involve high-level Cambodian government officials—contributed to escalating tensions between the two nations. The camps are documented by Interpol and the UN as severe human rights violations, with workers enslaved and forced to perpetrate financial fraud.
gmtoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Vineyard Church in Grafton hosted a free community education event called Scam SINGO on August 8, designed to help older adults recognize and avoid common fraud schemes. The interactive bingo-style game combined music with learning about scam types including phishing, romance scams, and fake IRS calls, aiming to empower participants with fraud prevention knowledge.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Kenneth G. Akpieyi, a 44-year-old Cobb County man, was found guilty of operating a years-long romance scam in which he posed as "Phillip Anderson" on social media platforms to build fake romantic relationships with victims and solicit money for fabricated reasons. Eight victims testified to losses exceeding $3 million, with Akpieyi using his business account and multiple banks to launder the stolen funds to accounts in foreign countries including China and the UAE. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each count of mail fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, with sentencing scheduled for November 5, 2025.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
A 21-year-old Malaysian woman disappeared in Thailand in April after traveling to meet her supposed Chinese boyfriend, and her family lost approximately 550,000 won after receiving an extortion call claiming the missing person needed money. Malaysian authorities suspect she was victim of a romance scam and subsequently trafficked to Myanmar, part of a pattern where missing persons last seen entering Thailand are believed to have been kidnapped and transported across borders to Myanmar or Cambodia for forced involvement in fraud schemes.
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Kenneth G. Akpieyi, a 44-year-old from Georgia, was convicted of operating a multi-million-dollar online romance scam targeting women globally through fake identities on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. He and his international fraud network defrauded victims of over $3 million by posing as military officers, businessmen, and philanthropists, then laundering the money through multiple U.S. bank accounts and overseas accounts in China and the UAE. Akpieyi faces up to 20 years in prison per count and financial penalties between $250,000 and $500,000.
atlantanewsfirst.com
· 2025-12-08
Kenneth Akpieyi, a 44-year-old from Marietta, Georgia, was convicted of operating romance scams that defrauded at least eight women of over $3 million. The scheme involved posing as wealthy figures on social media, building romantic relationships with victims, and requesting money under false pretenses, with funds routed through his auto brokerage company and sent to accounts internationally. Akpieyi faces decades in prison and substantial fines upon sentencing in November 2025.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security scams employ three primary tactics: fake remote job offers that request personal information and upfront fees, phishing emails impersonating the Social Security Administration to direct victims to fraudulent websites, and in-person schemes where imposters posing as government officials convince victims to provide cash or valuables. Recent cases include a victim who gave $2 million in gold bars to someone claiming to be a CIA agent and an Ohio woman who liquidated $500,000 in retirement savings to purchase gold for phone scammers. Protect yourself by avoiding unsolicited job offers and payment requests, verifying emails end in ".gov," and reporting suspicious activity to the Social Security Administration or Office of the Inspector General.
krebsonsecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters are operating a network of over 1,200 fake online gambling and wagering websites advertised on Discord and social media, using fake endorsements from celebrities like MrBeast and offering $2,500 free credits to lure victims. Once users attempt to cash out winnings, the sites demand cryptocurrency "verification deposits" (typically $100+) that are never returned, with all displayed winnings being fabricated. The scam network uses identical technical infrastructure, unique Bitcoin wallets per domain, and AI-assisted support to prevent withdrawals and block victims.
gillibrand.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Katie Britt (R-AL) introduced the GUARD Act, legislation designed to enhance law enforcement's ability to investigate cryptocurrency-facilitated fraud against seniors by providing federal grants for blockchain investigation resources and tools. According to the FBI, seniors lost over $4.8 billion to scammers in 2024, with cryptocurrency involved in over 30,000 fraud reports resulting in $2.84 billion in losses, particularly through "pig butchering" schemes that exploit victims into fake crypto investments. The bipartisan bill aims to strengthen federal-local law enforcement cooperation in tracking and prosecuting scammers who
mb.com.ph
· 2025-12-08
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) warned the public that oversharing personal information online, particularly about relationship status or romantic interests, makes individuals vulnerable to online love scams. Scammers typically use stolen photos and fake identities to target victims aged 35 and older, especially retirees and pensioners, employing psychological profiling and pretending to share the victim's interests to build trust. The PAOCC advised the public to watch for red flags such as profiles that appear "too good to be true" and to exercise caution when interacting with unfamiliar individuals online.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Tea is a women-only dating app with over 4 million users that became viral in July 2024 for allowing women to mark men as "red flags" to warn other users, but it experienced a significant data breach in late July that exposed approximately 72,000 images including 13,000 selfies and photo IDs, as well as direct messages. Despite the security incident and associated controversy, the app's Canadian launch was delayed to February 2026 while the company works to identify affected users and offer identity protection services. The app's continued popularity reflects widespread concerns about women's safety on mainstream dating platforms, with studies showing that one in five Canadian women experience online harassment and many feel unsafe using
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-08
**San Diego County elder fraud losses reached nearly $70 million in the first half of the year, with officials projecting the total will exceed last year's $98 million in losses.** The most prevalent scam type is "tech support fraud," where seniors receive fake pop-up messages instructing them to call a number for device repair. Local authorities have established the Elder Justice Task Force and encourage reporting suspected scams to the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311), though recovery remains difficult especially for international operations.
legaltalknetwork.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational podcast episode featuring cybersecurity expert Steve Weisman discussing scam prevention and identification strategies. The episode covers various scam types (including VA imposter and "free piano" scams), the role of AI in modern fraud schemes, and protective measures such as a "zero trust" verification approach where all transactions—particularly checks—must be independently confirmed before trusting them.
wxyz.com
· 2025-12-08
Beth Hyland of Michigan lost $26,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a construction project manager on Tinder, claiming he needed funds for legal fees related to a $10 million job payout in Qatar; when he requested an additional $50,000 a month later, her financial advisor identified the scheme. The scammer used stolen photos from a real man in Germany, and Hyland never met him in person despite their plans to marry and build a life together. She found healing through FightCybercrime.org's peer support group, which has served over 600 romance scam survivors in five years, and now emphasizes that victims experience not only financial loss but
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Simon Leviev, known as the "Tinder Swindler," defrauded victims worldwide of over $10 million by posing as a diamond heir and manipulating women into financial and emotional devastation. The 2022 Netflix documentary about his crimes became the platform's most-watched film, exposing his schemes and inadvertently protecting potential victims by making him recognizable. Two of his victims, Cecilie Fjellhoy and Pernilla Sjoholm, have since transformed their trauma into advocacy, traveling globally to educate about romance fraud and launching initiatives to combat online scams, while calling for stronger legal protections for victims of romance fraud.
dayakdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
A 64-year-old woman in Kuching lost RM1,213,742 (over RM1.2 million) to a romance scam between December 2024 and July 2025, after being contacted by a man posing as "Zhao Yong" on WhatsApp who promised a cash gift and enlisted fake accomplices (a lawyer and bank manager) to convince her to make 25 payments into 18 different bank accounts. The victim, desperate to recover the promised funds, borrowed money from relatives, sold her car, and took loans from moneylenders before realizing the deception. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Pe
ktvz.com
· 2025-12-08
Two women in Florida lost a combined $210,000 in a romance scam involving AI-generated voice and video impersonating actor Keanu Reeves; the scammers made initial contact through word games like Scrabble, built romantic connections with the victims, then requested money for fabricated reasons such as divorce or cancer research, with funds ultimately sent to Bitcoin accounts in Nigeria. Authorities indicated the victims have virtually no chance of recovering their money.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 63-year-old Calgary woman lost approximately $380,000 of her life savings to a romance scam conducted over five years by a man who claimed to work for the U.S. government and promised to relocate to Canada to be with her. She discovered the fraud when she questioned repeated requests for money and became suspicious of a fake photo of a house they were supposedly going to share, ultimately seeking help from an elder support organization. Romance scams affected over 1,030 Canadians who lost $58 million collectively last year, making it an increasingly common form of fraud targeting seniors.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
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cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Mount Lebanon police report a rise in romance scams targeting minors through social media, where scammers pose as teenagers of the opposite sex and pressure victims to send nude images before blackmailing them for money. While adults are also targeted this way, police note a concerning increase in younger victims falling prey to this scheme.