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in Romance Scam
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Calgary woman lost approximately $380,000 in a romance scam that spanned five years, after selling her deceased father's house and moving into a motel while waiting to relocate to the United States to be with a man named "Gilbert" who claimed to work for the U.S. government. Nelson eventually realized the scam when the man continuously requested money and sent her a photo of their supposed future home that appeared fake, leaving her homeless and dependent only on her pension while seeking affordable housing. Romance scams are an increasingly common form of fraud in Canada, with organizations like Unison at Kerby Centre regularly assisting seniors who have experienced similar financial abuse.
wlrn.org
· 2025-12-08
Senator Rick Scott led a bipartisan effort to introduce the GUARD Act, legislation designed to equip local and state law enforcement with advanced tools—including blockchain tracing technology—to investigate and combat financial scams targeting older Americans. The bill addresses a growing crisis: Americans over 60 lost $4.8 billion to scams in 2024, while those aged 50-59 lost an additional $2.5 billion, with estimates suggesting total fraud losses affecting seniors range from $28.3 billion to $137 billion annually. The legislation aims to expand federal grant programs for specialized training and improve coordination between federal and local agencies to prosecute scammers and recover stolen funds.
buzzfeed.com
· 2025-12-08
Millennials are vulnerable to a distinct set of scams despite believing themselves resistant to fraud, including crypto/bitcoin schemes promising quick wealth, multilevel marketing companies, romance scams, fake government websites, sham investment gurus, and algorithmic manipulation through rage bait and influencer culture. Other common vulnerabilities include online sports betting, QR code scams, fake job postings, buy-now-pay-later debt traps, and deceptive fast-fashion shopping platforms like Temu and Shein that misrepresent products or deliver hazardous items.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
This article compiles millennials' self-reported vulnerabilities to various scams and deceptive practices, including crypto/Bitcoin schemes where victims lose life savings, romance scams, MLM schemes, blackmail emails, fake government websites, and online shopping platforms like Temu and Shein that deliver counterfeit or substandard products. The piece highlights that while millennials believe themselves resistant to traditional scams, they fall victim to rage bait, online gambling, subscription traps, fake investment gurus, QR code scams, and identity theft schemes at notable rates.
inyourarea.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A June 2024 survey by Censuswide commissioned by TSB Bank found that 31% of social media users acted on financial tips from "finfluencers," with 55% of those losing money as a result. Young people aged 16-34 were particularly vulnerable, with two-thirds of 18-29-year-olds following financial influencers and 74% trusting their advice, while these scams often use Ponzi schemes or fake investments promising guaranteed returns through flashy lifestyle imagery. The FCA warns consumers to watch for unrealistic promises, pressure to act quickly, and complicated jargon, and recommends checking the FCA Warning List before investing an
the420.in
· 2025-12-08
Sprawling scam compounds in Myanmar (including Shwe Kokko and KK Park) have become major fraud factories where over 120,000 trafficking victims since 2023 are coerced into operating romance scams, crypto fraud, and pig-butchering schemes targeting foreign victims, with Americans losing an estimated $5 billion in 2024. Victims are lured with false job promises, then trapped under threat of violence and forced to commit crimes; while efforts by Thailand, Myanmar, and China have repatriated over 7,000 people, thousands remain stranded and the operations persist due to protection by ethnic armed groups despite U.S. sanctions and international crack
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A 63-year-old Calgary woman lost approximately $380,000 over several years in a romance scam after being contacted by a man claiming to work for the U.S. government who promised a future together but repeatedly requested money and never met her in person. The scam left Nelson homeless and living in an elder abuse shelter, unable to recover her life savings that would have allowed her to purchase a home. According to Canada's Anti-Fraud Centre, romance scams affected 1,030 Canadians who collectively lost $58 million last year, with such frauds becoming increasingly common among seniors.
witnessngr.com
· 2025-12-08
Two Nigerian nationals, Osakpamwan Henry Omoruyi (37) and Osaretin Godspower Omoruyi (36), were convicted by federal jury in Boston of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and money laundering conspiracy for operating romance scams and pandemic unemployment assistance fraud schemes. Between 2019 and 2021, the defendants used fraudulent passports to open fake bank accounts that collected over $1.7 million in proceeds from romance scams, which they then transferred overseas. Both face sentencing in September 2023, with potential sentences up to 30 years in prison for the fraud charges.
stacker.com
· 2025-12-08
This editorial piece highlights rising scam trends identified in July news coverage, including romance scams (which affected over 70,000 people in 2022 with $1.3 billion in losses), AI-powered impersonation scams (which increased 148% between April 2024 and March 2025), and counterfeit drug schemes. The author emphasizes the value of scam awareness journalism in helping readers protect themselves and vulnerable populations like elderly relatives from evolving fraud threats across technology and dating platforms.
manchesterjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece explains why intelligent people fall victim to scams, attributing victimization not to lack of intelligence but to social engineering tactics that exploit basic human emotions like fear, love, greed, and trust. The author emphasizes that criminals are skilled professionals who succeed by targeting the right person at the right time and that self-defense requires self-awareness, emotional control, and a team approach rather than going it alone. The piece concludes by urging readers not to shame victims and notes that fraud awareness presentations are available through AARP Vermont.
tradingview.com
· 2025-12-08
A UPay analysis of 236 major crypto scam cases revealed losses exceeding $60 billion, with the largest single loss being $40 billion from the Luna Yield collapse. The most prevalent scams included fraudulent trading platforms (112 cases), romance scams (46 cases), pig butchering schemes (39 cases), rug pulls (29 cases), and Ponzi schemes (28 cases). Common tactics involved building fake relationships to lure victims into fraudulent platforms with inflated balances, fake profit displays, hidden withdrawal fees, brand impersonation, and rug pulls where developers disappear after raising funds—with individual victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in each
financemagnates.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database. The content is a promotional announcement for a fintech industry panel discussion about trading technology, platform risk management, and AI in financial markets—topics unrelated to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. No summarization is needed.
southtexasnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are exploiting QR codes through various fraud schemes including fake parking meter payments, romance scams with cryptocurrency wallets, phishing attacks, and government impersonation, with codes typically shared via unsolicited messages or posted in public places. To protect themselves, consumers should confirm QR codes before scanning, avoid codes from strangers, be wary of shortened URLs that hide destination links, and check for signs of tampering on posted codes. Victims of QR scams should report incidents to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
wftv.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides guidance on using background checks as a safety measure when online dating, explaining that they can verify basic information like real names, ages, addresses, criminal records, and past aliases to confirm that potential dates are being truthful. The piece notes that while approximately 7% of dating app messages contain dishonesty, running a quick background check using a name, phone number, or email is a discreet and increasingly common way to rule out red flags before investing time in someone new. The article emphasizes that while background checks cannot assess emotional compatibility or intentions, they serve as a practical vetting tool to help daters stay empowered and safe during the online dating process.
bizzbuzz.news
· 2025-12-08
BreadXPay is a fraudulent fintech platform orchestrated by Joshua Sneider that targets retirees worldwide with promises of cross-border payment solutions and high investment returns (up to 10% monthly). The scam operates through shell companies registered in jurisdictions like Canada and the UK with puppet directors, funneling victim deposits through offshore accounts where they disappear; one documented case involved a 72-year-old Florida teacher who lost her $25,000 life savings after receiving fabricated account statements and being blocked from withdrawals. Elder financial abuse through schemes like this costs seniors over $28.3 billion annually globally.
tradingview.com
· 2025-12-08
WhatsApp removed 6.8 million accounts linked to "pig butchering" scams, which combine romance-baiting with fake investment fraud schemes that often result in cryptocurrency losses. Scammers used AI tools like ChatGPT to generate initial contact messages, then moved victims to Telegram where they were shown fake profits before requesting real money deposits. A study of 236 major cryptocurrency scam cases found total losses exceeding $60 billion, with pig butchering schemes accounting for 39 cases and representing one of the most damaging forms of fraud due to extended manipulation periods lasting months or years.
financemagnates.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a promotional announcement for a fintech industry panel discussion about trading platform technology and risk management for brokers—not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It contains no information about elder fraud cases, scams targeting seniors, or abuse of older adults.
reddit.com
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto man lost nearly $200,000 in a romance scam that began in March 2025 when he connected with someone posing as "Pierre" on a dating app. After months of building trust through daily communication and video calls, the scammer convinced Aning to invest in a cryptocurrency platform by claiming he could help fund Aning's $120,000 MBA goal, but the funds became inaccessible for withdrawal. This case exemplifies a broader trend affecting over 1,000 Canadians in 2024 alone, with combined losses exceeding $58 million, as scammers use psychological manipulation and organized tactics to exploit victims' basic human needs for connection an
newindianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Bengaluru has experienced a surge in online dating scams where fraudsters build emotional relationships with victims on matrimonial and dating apps before exploiting them through sextortion or fake investment schemes. Recent cases include a 32-year-old software engineer who lost Rs 79.3 lakh investing in a fraudulent trading app and a 37-year-old businessman who lost Rs 5.5 lakh in a sextortion scam. Cybercrime police advise against sharing personal or financial information with online strangers and warn against promises of quick financial returns.
cityandstateny.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, payment scams cost Americans over $12.5 billion, with New York reporting nearly 280,000 fraud cases to the FTC—a 25% increase year-over-year. Seniors are particularly targeted through scams involving impersonation of grandchildren, family members, and government agencies (like fake DMV and toll road warnings), sometimes using AI to replicate voices, resulting in victims losing tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. A bipartisan group of senators is proposing the TRAPS Act to establish a federal task force coordinating the Treasury, Justice, FTC, and other agencies to investigate and combat these rapidly escalating payment scams.
alreporter.com
· 2025-12-08
Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) introduced the bipartisan GUARD Act to combat financial scams targeting older Americans, particularly those using cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies. The legislation would allow state and local law enforcement to use existing federal grant funding to hire personnel and deploy advanced tracing tools, addressing gaps that enable scammers to escape prosecution. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans aged 60 and older lost over $2.3 billion to fraud in 2024—a 21% increase from 2023—with experts estimating total unreported fraud at $61.5 billion, including growing "
toronto.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto man lost nearly $200,000 in life savings to a romance scam that began on a dating app in March 2025, after months of communication with someone claiming to be named "Pierre" who convinced him to invest in a fraudulent cryptocurrency platform. The scam exploited the victim's desire for a romantic relationship and his charitable nature, with the scammer building trust through video calls and shared values before requesting the investment. According to Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre statistics, over 1,000 Canadians fell victim to similar romance scams in 2024, with combined losses exceeding $58 million, highlighting how scammers use psychology and manipulation as their "full-time job
boredpanda.com
· 2025-12-08
This article discusses various scams and questionable spending habits that millennials fall victim to, including multilevel marketing schemes, online sports betting, rage bait engagement, fake detox products, and premium food delivery services. The piece compiles Reddit comments from millennials admitting to these scams, though commenters debate whether some items (like detox products and food delivery) are actual scams or simply poor financial decisions and that similar issues affected previous generations.
sg.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 Payments Canada study found that 13% of Canadians experienced payment fraud over six months, with disproportionately higher rates among newcomers (25%) and younger adults aged 18-34. Cash fraud incidents were nearly three times more common than credit card fraud, driven by counterfeiting, pickpocketing, and scams such as romance schemes and advance fee frauds, though 65% of reported losses under $500 were fully reimbursed by financial institutions.
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams have evolved to exploit cryptocurrency investments rather than traditional forex trading, using dating apps as the initial contact point where scammers build emotional trust with victims before directing them to fake investment platforms. The scam operates by showing fabricated profits on fraudulent websites, then requesting additional "fees" or "taxes" to withdraw funds, with victims often investing money they cannot afford to lose and accumulating debt. The article advises protecting yourself by recognizing that emotional manipulation combined with promises of easy investment returns are classic warning signs, and following the principle of never investing more than you can afford to lose.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Texas men were arrested for defrauding approximately 75 elderly victims of $1.5 million through a loan scheme in which they posed as business representatives offering to reduce utility bills, then fraudulently applied seniors' electronic signatures to 20-year loans ($13,000-$32,500 per victim) without consent. The article notes that elder fraud has become increasingly sophisticated, with 2023 losses exceeding $3.4 billion nationally among seniors aged 60+, now involving investment schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, and AI-enhanced techniques like voice cloning and deepfakes.
thepress.net
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters stole over $12.5 billion from Americans over 55 in 2024, a 25% increase from $10 billion in 2023, according to the FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network report. Seniors are targeted due to limited online experience, accumulated wealth, and social isolation, with common scams including grandparent schemes, romance scams, impersonation of government agencies or utilities, tech support fraud, home repair scams, and cryptocurrency schemes. Experts advise that pressure to act quickly is a hallmark of scams, and legitimate government agencies and corporations typically do not contact people via unsolicited text messages or calls demanding immediate payment.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, older adults lost nearly $62 billion to scams and fraud out of an estimated $158 billion stolen overall, according to the FTC, with victims suffering devastating consequences including loss of homes and significant health/emotional impacts. The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline received over 100,000 calls in 2024 from scam targets, with notable cases including a Florida man defrauded of $400,000 from a home sale and another victim losing $650,000 to a romance scam. Scams have become increasingly sophisticated through artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and social media, prompting AARP to urge lawmakers to strengthen frau
vovworld.vn
· 2025-12-08
Meta's Decode Scam campaign identifies seven prevalent online scams targeting internet users: messaging scams (smishing) using fake links, romance scams building fake relationships to extract money, investment scams promising unrealistic returns, impersonation scams stealing identities, online shopping scams with fake websites, job scams exploiting job seekers, and account hacking scams. The campaign highlights how scammers manipulate victims through trusted channels, emotional connections, or false promises of financial gain and employment opportunities.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Four Ghanaian nationals were indicted and three were extradited to the U.S. for their roles in an international criminal organization that stole over $100 million through romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly victims and business email compromise schemes. The defendants, including high-ranking members "Isaac Oduro Boateng" and "Inusah Ahmed" who directed the operation, deceived victims into believing they were in romantic relationships before exploiting their trust to steal money, which was then laundered back to West Africa. Each defendant faces multiple charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and receipt of stolen property, with maximum sentences up to 20 years.
bbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Peter, a man struggling with depression, was catfished by serial fraudster Kerry Gray (37) who posed as "Charlotte," a nurse, on a dating app for over a year. Gray used fabricated stories about family crises, mental health struggles, and self-harm threats to extract nearly £3,500 from Peter before he discovered her true identity; Gray was convicted and received a suspended sentence for conning Peter and two other men out of more than £11,000 in total through the same scheme.
theforester.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers are increasingly targeting older singles during summer travel season, with a security specialist warning of a rise in cases as seniors plan August holidays. Scammers build emotional connections with victims over weeks before creating fake emergencies to solicit money transfers, with cases among those aged 65-74 rising 75 percent year-on-year in some UK areas. Experts advise seniors to be cautious of online connections—particularly those refusing video calls—as fraudsters often pose as fellow travelers or locals offering companionship or tour services.
netflix.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance fraud, where scammers use fake online personas to gain trust and steal money, has risen significantly with dating app popularity and costs Americans over $1 billion annually. Cecilie Fjellhøy, a victim featured in the 2022 documentary "The Tinder Swindler," teams up with private investigator Brianne Joseph in the Netflix series "Love Con Revenge" to investigate real romance fraud cases and help victims reclaim their lives and expose perpetrators.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Rep. David Valadao introduced the bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act in response to a surge in romance fraud, which scammers use to steal personal information, money, and assets from victims who believe they are in genuine relationships. One victim, Jackie Crenshaw, lost over $1 million after being deceived by a scammer posing as "Brandon Miller," ultimately resulting in a $57,000 IRS bill and preventing her from retiring; AARP reported receiving 100,000 fraud calls in 2024. The proposed legislation would require dating sites to track scammers and notify victims in an effort to combat the growing problem.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A 48-year-old NHS healthcare worker nearly fell victim to a romance scam in 2021 when an imposter posing as an army medic asked her to send gift cards, which she refused. After sharing her experience online and helping others identify similar scams, she built a large social media following (@staysafewithmjules) dedicated to warning people about fraud, but subsequently became a victim of identity theft when she sent copies of her passport and driving license to a fraudulent HMRC email. Her stolen identity was used to open a fake business for money laundering, leading to dozens of rejected loan applications, damaged credit, and a £16,000 fraudulent loan in her name
southernmarylandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal Trade Commission data reveals a more than four-fold increase since 2020 in reports from adults 60 and older losing $10,000 or more to impersonation scams, with combined losses exceeding $100,000 jumping from $55 million in 2020 to $445 million in 2024. Common tactics include fraudsters posing as government officials, banks, or tech companies to convince victims to transfer funds via cryptocurrency, gift cards, or courier delivery under false pretenses of account protection or legal issues. The FTC reported $12.5 billion in total scam losses nationally in 2024, with older adults accounting for $2.3 billion an
elderlawanswers.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, older adults lost significant amounts to scams, with those in their 70s losing an average of $1,000 compared to $417 for people in their 20s, according to FTC data. Scammers target seniors through phishing schemes impersonating government agencies like the SSA, IRS, and DMV, using fake text messages about unpaid tolls or traffic tickets to create urgency and trick victims into clicking malicious links or providing personal financial information. The FTC recommends verifying suspicious messages by contacting relevant agencies directly (not via links in the message), consulting trusted individuals, and reporting scams through phone reporting tools.
plansponsor.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission reports that scams targeting adults over 60 have grown exponentially, with total fraud losses climbing to nearly $700 million in 2024 from $122 million in 2020, and losses exceeding $10,000 increasing eight-fold during this period. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to romance scams and other fraud schemes because they typically have larger retirement savings and are perceived as less technologically sophisticated. Congress introduced legislation to allow penalty-free early withdrawals from qualified retirement plans for fraud victims, while the FTC recommends that seniors avoid sending money to unsolicited callers, verify government officials' identities, and block unwanted calls to protect themselves.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Ghanaian nationals—Isaac Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States to face charges for orchestrating an international fraud scheme that defrauded victims of over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise (BEC) operations. The transnational criminal organization targeted both individuals and businesses by tricking them into sending money under false pretenses, with the FBI intensifying its crackdown on such cyber-enabled crimes through international law enforcement cooperation.
innercitypress.com
· 2025-12-08
Two defendants, Inusah Ahmed (aka "Pascal") and Derrick Van Yeboah, were extradited from Ghana to the Southern District of New York and detained for their roles in an international criminal organization that defrauded victims of more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes. Both defendants appeared in U.S. District Court in August 2023 and were detained, with the case designated as USA v. Boateng, et al.
chimpreports.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Ghanaian nationals—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States in August 2025 and charged with leading a criminal network that stole over $100 million from American victims through romance scams and business email compromise schemes. The defendants, who allegedly targeted elderly Americans with fictitious romantic identities and deceived companies into wire transfers, face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. A fourth suspect, Patrick Kwame Asare, remains at large.
nilepost.co.ug
· 2025-12-08
Four Ghanaian nationals were charged with operating an international fraud ring that defrauded individuals and businesses of over $100 million through romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly victims and business email compromise schemes. Three of the defendants—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States and appeared in Manhattan federal court, while a fourth suspect remains at large. All four face multiple federal charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison per wire fraud count.
thecable.ng
· 2025-12-08
Four Ghanaian nationals were indicted in the U.S. for operating an international fraud ring that defrauded victims of over $100 million through romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly elderly people, and business email compromise attacks. Three of the defendants were extradited to the United States, while one remains at large; they face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with potential sentences up to 20 years. The stolen proceeds were laundered back to West Africa, with two defendants identified as coordinators of the criminal organization.
webpronews.com
· 2025-12-08
WhatsApp dismantled 6.8 million accounts linked to scam operations, many originating from call centers in Southeast Asia, in response to phishing, investment fraud, and other deceptive schemes targeting the platform's 2 billion users. The crackdown, powered by AI collaboration with firms like OpenAI, targeted fraud ecosystems including fake job offers and romance scams, with India alone seeing nearly 100 lakh accounts banned in January 2025. WhatsApp is introducing new safety features like in-app reporting and a "Safety Overview" tool, though experts note that scammers continue to adapt quickly and that international cooperation remains essential for long-term prevention.
chronicle.ng
· 2025-12-08
Four Ghanaian nationals have been indicted in the United States for their roles in an international fraud ring that defrauded victims of over $100 million through romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly elderly people, and business email compromise attacks on companies. Three of the defendants were extradited to the US in August, while one remains at large; they face multiple charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with potential sentences up to 20 years for some counts. The stolen proceeds were laundered back to West Africa, with the operation coordinated by leaders identified as "chairmen" of the criminal enterprise.
guardian.co.tt
· 2025-12-08
Shiva Bissessar, managing director of Pinaka Consulting Ltd., is advocating for public-private partnerships to combat online scams, which disproportionately affect elderly and youth populations. According to FBI data presented at international conferences in 2024, investment fraud caused over $6.5 billion in losses in the U.S., while phishing remains the most frequently reported crime type, with emerging threats including romance scams and AI-enabled deepfakes. Bissessar noted that Trinidad and Tobago lacks adequate data collection and classification systems to measure the true prevalence of these crimes locally, and calls for stronger coordination between authorities and social media platforms to address online harms.
newsbreak.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/Instagram), move conversations to private messaging apps, quickly build romantic relationships through "love bombing," and request money from victims they've never met in person, often using AI-generated fake photos to appear legitimate. The article advises people to be cautious of online relationships and never send money to people they haven't met face-to-face.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI announced the extradition of three Ghanaian nationals—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Insuah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—from Ghana to the United States on August 7, 2025, for their roles in an international fraud scheme that stole over $100 million from victims. The four members of the criminal organization known as "The Enterprise" targeted vulnerable elderly Americans through romance scams and business email compromise schemes, while a fourth suspect, Patrick Kwame Asare, remains at large.
cedirates.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Ghanaian nationals—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States in August 2025 to face charges in connection with an international fraud ring that stole over $100 million through romance scams targeting elderly victims and business email compromise schemes. The men allegedly led the Ghana-based criminal operation that deceived elderly Americans into false romantic relationships to extract money and also defrauded U.S. companies, with proceeds laundered back to West Africa. Each defendant faces multiple charges including wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and receipt of stolen money, carrying potential sentences
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin issued a warning about romance scams, one of the most frequently reported scam types in the area. Scammers initiate contact via social media (Facebook or Instagram), move conversations to private messaging apps, quickly build romantic relationships through love-bombing, and request money from victims who have never met them in person, often using AI-generated fake photos to appear legitimate.