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sf.gov
· 2025-12-08
San Francisco's Mayor London Breed joined city, state, and federal leaders on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to announce that over 1,200 seniors were reached through a multi-agency fraud prevention campaign, with presentations delivered in six languages across 37 locations. The coalition educated seniors on identifying red flags for scams including blessing scams, AI-based impersonation, grandparent schemes, and "pig butchering" cryptocurrency fraud, while highlighting that elder fraud caused over $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023, with the average victim losing $33,915. The effort aimed to help seniors and families recognize fraudulent schemes and report crimes to prevent victimization.
wuky.org
· 2025-12-08
Elder Kentuckians lost $12.8 million to scams in the previous year, with projections to double to $12.7 million by May of the current year, according to FBI officials who warn the problem is not declining. The three most common scams targeting Kentucky elders are investment fraud (including cryptocurrency and precious metals schemes), tech support fraud (phishing and fake security alerts), and romance fraud, with a detailed case study showing a 72-year-old woman losing nearly $200,000 to a military officer imposter who cultivated a romantic relationship with her over months before requesting money for military contract payouts and travel expenses. The investigation resulted in the indictment of three U
wkyt.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Elder fraud is escalating in Kentucky, with residents aged 60 and older losing over $12 million in the past five months to scams including pop-up malware, romance schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud. Law enforcement officials emphasize that education and public awareness are more effective than prosecution alone, urging families to discuss finances with elderly relatives, recognize warning signs, and report suspicious activity rather than engaging with unknown contacts.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
North Carolina authorities report that seniors lost approximately $7 million to scams in 2023, with over 500 elder fraud complaints resulting in an average loss of $50,000 per victim, though many cases go unreported due to shame or embarrassment. Tech support, investment, and romance scams are the most prevalent schemes, and a new helpline (2-1-1) has been launched to assist victims and provide fraud prevention resources. State officials emphasize that scammers employ increasingly sophisticated tactics and urge community members to support victims while maintaining healthy skepticism of unsolicited offers that sound too good or too urgent.
wabi.tv
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are affecting Maine residents at an increasing rate, with scammers using social media and dating sites to build fake relationships and convince victims to send money for plane tickets or other expenses that never materialize. According to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams in 2022, losing over $1 billion with a median loss of $4,400 per victim. Experts advise potential victims to watch for red flags such as requests for money, isolation from friends and family, and broken promises to meet in person, and emphasize that prevention through awareness is more effective than law enforcement recovery efforts.
picketfencemedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Online dating romance scams targeting seniors have increased dramatically over the past five years, with vulnerable and lonely older adults losing significant sums, sometimes their entire life savings, to scammers posing as potential romantic partners. The article details a case of a 75-year-old man who lost his life's savings to a scammer claiming to be a 37-year-old woman who contacted him via LinkedIn and later WhatsApp, using red flags such as a large age gap, refusal to meet in person, and requests for financial investments. The author advises seniors to approach online dating cautiously by being aware of warning signs, trusting their instincts, and insisting on in-person meetings before
hudsonvalleycountry.com
· 2025-12-08
New York officials are warning residents about a rising "pig butchering" scam targeting romance seekers on dating apps and social media. Scammers build trust with victims over time before convincing them to invest money in cryptocurrency or foreign currency schemes, often moving conversations to encrypted platforms like WhatsApp to evade law enforcement. New York Attorney General Letitia James recommends verifying people's identities, avoiding wire transfers to unvetted contacts, and being suspicious of those who resist video calls, pressure for investments, or request personal financial information.
k99.com
· 2025-12-08
A Colorado woman who co-owned a jewelry store was defrauded of over $700,000 over two years after meeting a man on Instagram who posed as a legitimate gold jewelry seller; she discovered the items she purchased were cheap silver worth approximately $4 each made to look like gold. After traveling to India to confront the scammers, she contacted authorities, and while one man involved in creating fraudulent authenticity documents was arrested, the father-and-son perpetrators remained at large as of June 2024.
saga.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Four people over 50 are victims of fraud every minute in the UK, according to Age UK research, yet most cases go unreported due to stigma and shame surrounding fraud victimization. The article identifies common scams targeting older adults including QR code fraud (fake codes redirecting to fraudulent payment sites), ATM skimming (devices that capture card details and PINs), and card trapping, while emphasizing that fraud is a crime of manipulation by criminals rather than a reflection of victim vulnerability. Experts recommend checking for tampered codes, protecting PINs at ATMs, reporting suspicious activity, and learning to recognize warning signs across emails, social media, phone calls, and in-person interactions
newarkadvocate.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraud cases are rising significantly across Ohio, with the Ashland Police Department reporting a 62% increase in fraud and forgery cases, while the FBI documented a 14% increase in fraud allegations against older adults in 2023, resulting in average losses of $33,915 per victim and over $3.4 billion in total losses. Scammers target all demographics—including business professionals and online daters—using tactics such as requesting gift card payments, threatening account hacks, and romance manipulation. Police recommend avoiding unsolicited money transfers to unknown individuals, using buyer-protected payment services, recognizing deals that seem too good to be true, and contacting local police if feeling uneasy
theintelligencer.net
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of West Virginia hosted a financial crimes conference in Wheeling to educate bank officials, credit union staff, and other financial professionals on identifying and preventing fraud targeting vulnerable populations. The conference covered multiple fraud types affecting West Virginians, including elder financial abuse (subdivided into "elder thefts" by known individuals and "elder scams" by strangers), romance scams, and money laundering, with federal law enforcement and prosecutors sharing current trends and investigation insights. The training emphasized helping financial professionals recognize suspicious activity, properly file reports, and understand why victims—particularly elderly and trusting West Virginians—often resist warnings about ongoing scams.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 91-year-old Rockland woman became a victim of credit card fraud when over $3,000 in fraudulent charges from Texas energy companies appeared on her statement in late 2022, shortly after she vacationed in Florida. Her daughter spent more than a year attempting to dispute the charges with Citibank, but the case was closed due to insufficient information, highlighting challenges elderly fraud victims face in resolving disputes. The incident reflects a broader trend in Massachusetts, where residents over 60 lost over $70 million to fraud in 2022, with seniors being significantly more vulnerable to online scams, investment fraud, and imposter schemes.
wtov9.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorneys' offices for West Virginia's Northern and Southern districts hosted a Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering Conference in Wheeling to educate banking officials, compliance officers, and other financial professionals on identifying and preventing money laundering, elder financial exploitation, and romance scams. The conference featured panels with FBI agents, IRS agents, and federal prosecutors discussing strategies to better protect older West Virginians, with particular focus on the challenge of preventing victims from sending additional money to their exploiters. Officials noted an uptick in elder financial exploitation cases across the region and committed to improving protective measures.
highlandcountypress.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "Raising awareness about fraud targeting seniors"
The FBI reported seniors lost $3.4 billion in 2023, an 11-percent increase from 2022, through scams including romance fraud, fake tech support, cryptocurrency schemes, and investment fraud. The article outlines six warning signs of scams and provides guidance on prevention measures and reporting channels, including contacting local police, the FTC, FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
An anonymous victim lost approximately $1.1 million to two pig-butchering romance scams between January 2021 and December 2022, where scammers posed as a romantic interest and investment advisor on Facebook to manipulate the victim into transferring funds for false business opportunities and cryptocurrency investments. The US government has filed a forfeiture complaint to seize nearly $200,000 in Tether (USDT) held on Binance that was traced to the scam and converted by suspect Izuchukwu Henry Okolo, with the funds now in FBI custody. Pig-butchering scams use romantic relationships and false investment promises to gain victims' trust
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer warning about romance scams involving cryptocurrency, in which scammers build emotional relationships with victims over time before convincing them to invest in crypto schemes with false promises of guaranteed profits and expert guidance. The FTC noted these scammers have stolen millions of dollars and advised consumers to watch for warning signs such as promises of large returns, guaranteed risk-free investments, and requests to send money. Canada's Anti-Fraud Centre similarly reported a surge in crypto romance scams on dating apps and social media, urging consumers to be cautious of online contacts promoting cryptocurrency investments.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers are increasingly targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly widows and widowers, through social media by building emotional connections before requesting money for investments, emergencies, or other financial needs. The Federal Trade Commission reports these scams stole billions of dollars last year, with recent victims in the Susquehanna Valley losing up to $40,000 or more. To protect themselves, people should verify online profiles, move slowly in relationships, avoid sending money to online contacts, and be suspicious of those who avoid meeting in person or push for isolation from friends and family.
crypto.news
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued a warning about the rise of "romance scams" (also called "pig butchering scams"), in which scammers pose as romantic interests to trick victims into making fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, with over $75 billion lost to these schemes between January 2020 and February 2024. The FTC advised that scammers establish emotional connections, conduct background checks on victims, promise unrealistic risk-free returns, and disappear after obtaining funds, and recommended that victims cut off contact and report incidents to the FTC. Notable cases include a Philadelphia woman who lost $450,000 in 2024 and crypto exchange Debiex, which allegedly solicite
blockonomi.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission warns about cryptocurrency romance scams in which fraudsters pose as romantic partners online, build emotional trust, and convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency schemes promising high returns with no risk. Over $75 billion was lost to these scams between January 2020 and February 2024. The FTC advises victims to cease communication immediately if an online love interest requests money via gift cards, payment apps, or cryptocurrency, and to report suspected scammers to both the social media platform and the FTC.
cryptobriefing.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission has warned consumers about crypto romance scams, where fraudsters pose as romantic interests on social media, build emotional connections, and then pressure victims to invest in cryptocurrency with promises of guaranteed high returns. Scammers use untraceable payment methods like gift cards and crypto transfers, with victims reporting losses ranging from thousands to millions of dollars. The FTC advises people to disconnect from suspected scammers immediately and report them to both the social media platform and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
weareiowa.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report, elderly people lost more than $3 billion to scams in 2023, with common schemes including romance scams (one victim lost over $300,000), lottery scams, and impersonation scams involving fake law enforcement or family members in distress. Clive Police Detective Maurio Coleman advises victims to establish code words with loved ones, verify claims by calling the person directly, avoid paying through gift cards or cryptocurrency, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or ic3.gov to help identify patterns across jurisdictions.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior citizens lost $3 billion to financial scams and fraud in the past year, with an average loss of $33,915 per victim, according to the FTC and FBI. Scammers target adults 60 and older through imposter scams (posing as banks, utilities, or the IRS with false urgency claims) and romance scams (developing fake relationships on social media before requesting payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency). Experts recommend that families discuss these fraud tactics with older relatives as a preventive measure, particularly during June's Elder Abuse Prevention Month.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 91-year-old Rockland woman became a victim of credit card fraud in late 2022 when over $3,000 in unauthorized charges from Texas energy companies appeared on her statement after a Florida vacation, though her family's dispute with Citibank was closed due to insufficient information. The case highlights a broader problem: Massachusetts residents over 60 lost over $70 million to fraud in 2022, with seniors 517 percent more likely to fall victim to online tech support scams than younger adults. Experts recommend families monitor elderly parents' financial accounts closely and discuss common scam tactics, including requests for unusual payment methods and pressure to act quickly.
capitalgazette.com
· 2025-12-08
Maryland policymakers held a public awareness event warning older residents about financial fraud, which affected 1,985 adults age 60+ in the state last year. A 79-year-old Montgomery County woman lost over $500,000 to an FBI imposter scam involving fake fentanyl trafficking investigations, experiencing severe physical and psychological health consequences. State officials announced expanded protections for seniors and encouraged fraud victims to report incidents to law enforcement at 833-372-8311, emphasizing that reports help build cases against scammers targeting vulnerable populations nationwide.
crapo.senate.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams, an 11 percent increase from 2022, prompting Senator Mike Crapo to co-sponsor a unanimously passed Senate Resolution to combat elder fraud. Common scams targeting older Americans include romance schemes, fraudulent tech support, cryptocurrency conversion fraud, and investment scams, with warning signs including unexpected contact with pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, and demands for untraceable payments. The Idaho Attorney General's office and other agencies provide educational resources and encourage seniors to report fraud without shame, noting that scammers are sophisticated and victims should contact law enforcement, their financial institutions, and relevant agencies rather than remaining silent due to
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) by partnering with law enforcement agencies, AARP, Meals on Wheels, and the FBI to combat elder fraud through community education. The office hosted three public outreach events in Raleigh, Wake Forest, and Supply to help seniors recognize signs of financial scams and connect them with resources and support services. U.S. Attorney Michael Easley emphasized that seniors are frequently targeted by fraudsters and prioritized prosecuting cases involving elderly victims as part of broader efforts to protect vulnerable populations.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
On June 15, 2024, U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and highlighted that financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse, costing older adults an estimated $23 billion annually. The U.S. Attorney's Office has expanded efforts to combat elder fraud through initiatives including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, which targets foreign-based schemes, the Money Mule Initiative to disrupt fraud networks, and Senior Scam Alerts educating the public about common schemes such as Social Security impostor scams, tech support fraud, and lottery scams.
mageenews.com
· 2025-12-08
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15, 2024) was recognized by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi to promote awareness of elder fraud and abuse. The Justice Department highlighted common scams targeting seniors—including Social Security impostor schemes, tech support fraud, and lottery scams—and emphasized that information and vigilance, along with partnerships between law enforcement and the public, are key to prevention. Resources like the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Senior Scam Alerts are available to help older individuals and families identify and avoid fraudulent activity.
actionnews5.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI reported an 11% increase in elder fraud losses in 2023 compared to 2022, with people over 60 losing $3.4 billion nationwide and $43 million in Tennessee alone. Common scams targeting seniors include cryptocurrency investments, tech support fraud, business scams, and romance scams, with scammers exploiting older adults' disposable income and lower proficiency with online services. The FBI advises victims to stop sending money, cut off contact with scammers, and file complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center immediately.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A sophisticated romance scam operation based in the Dubai desert targeted tens of thousands of people through fake text messages and WhatsApp messages, with scammers posing as wealthy Eastern European women and models to lure victims into cryptocurrency investment schemes. An insider named Evan, who took a job at the facility out of desperation, discovered the operation involved a three-stage "pig-butchering scam" where workers messaged 40-50 potential victims daily using stolen photos and video call actors. The syndicate was eventually exposed through the collaboration of an Australian victim (Murray Sargant), a private detective, a YouTube scam-baiter, and Evan himself, who worked from within to help
wsvn.com
· 2025-12-08
**Not applicable for this database.** This article ranks states for single people based on dating prospects and mental health resources, but does not describe a specific scam, fraud incident, or elder abuse case. While it mentions that Florida has heightened risks of catfishing and romance scams generally, it provides no details about actual victims, perpetrators, financial losses, or fraud outcomes relevant to elder fraud documentation.
moneymarketing.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Fraud affects one in 17 people in the UK and comprises 38% of all crime, according to an Anti-Money Laundering Professionals Forum. The article outlines seven increasingly sophisticated fraud types targeting victims: impersonation fraud (posing as banks or authorities), social media fraud (fake websites and phishing), cryptocurrency investment scams (promising false high returns), courier fraud (impersonating officials to extract money), romance fraud (building fake relationships to steal assets), investment fraud (promoting worthless overseas properties or shares), and payment diversion (using nearly-identical email addresses to redirect payments). Pension providers and authorities must work together to combat these scams through reporting and vigilance.
9news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
As Australia's financial year closes, authorities warn residents about tax phishing scams, with new Commonwealth Bank research revealing that while 90 percent of Australians are confident in identifying scams, only 69 percent successfully identified all three test examples, and 28 percent fell for a sophisticated MyGov impersonation scam. Around one in four Australians have been exposed to tax-related scams, with the Australian Tax Office receiving over 22,000 reports last year and phishing losses totaling approximately $4.7 million in 2024, averaging $2,000 per victim. The alert emphasizes that phishing scammers impersonate government organizations through fake links
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
**Romance Scam Warning Signs and Prevention**
Romance scammers employ multiple tactics to defraud victims on dating platforms, with key red flags including premature declarations of love, avoidance of video calls, requests for money or financial information, excuses to delay in-person meetings, and suspiciously tailored profiles. Protection strategies include keeping social media private, using strong passwords, installing anti-virus software, being cautious on public Wi-Fi, and monitoring one's digital footprint for personal information vulnerable to exploitation.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 19-year-old California man was indicted for stealing over $20,000 from a 74-year-old Kettering woman through a tech support scam that began with a phishing email. The victim was manipulated into mailing cash and transferring funds through multiple interactions before police arrested the suspect during an attempted in-person money exchange. The case highlights the prevalence of tech support scams targeting seniors, which the FBI identified as the most common elder fraud type in 2023, with victims aged 60+ losing an average of $33,915 each.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A scam-baiter named Jim Browning exposed a cryptocurrency investment scam operation based in Georgia, Eastern Europe, that targets victims worldwide by posing as financial advisors and recovery services. The scammers use fake celebrity endorsements and fraudulent websites to lure victims, then display fake cryptocurrency portfolios to convince them their money is growing, with some victims—including an Australian man Browning monitored in real-time—losing thousands of dollars. Australians reported losing over $2.74 billion to scams in the previous year, with attackers particularly targeting older adults with retirement savings.
troyrecord.com
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert about "pig butchering" romance scams, where fraudsters build romantic relationships with victims on dating apps and social media before convincing them to invest money in fake cryptocurrency or currency schemes. Victims typically deposit tens of thousands to over a million dollars before discovering they cannot withdraw funds or are asked to pay fake fees, at which point the scammers disappear. The Attorney General recommends verifying people's identities, consulting financial advisors before investing, and reporting suspected scams to law enforcement and the relevant platforms.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned of rising "pig butchering" romance scams in which fraudsters use dating apps and social media to build fake romantic relationships with victims before pressuring them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes. Victims have lost between tens of thousands and over $1 million, with two-thirds of the Attorney General's cryptocurrency complaints tied to these online crimes. The scammers typically move conversations to encrypted platforms like WhatsApp or WeChat before directing victims to fraudulent investment platforms, often operated by overseas perpetrators.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
New York State Attorney Letitia James warned of rising "pig butchering" romance scams targeting New Yorkers through dating apps and social media, where fraudsters build fake relationships before convincing victims to invest in cryptocurrency schemes. Victims reported losses ranging from tens of thousands to over $1 million, with two-thirds of crypto complaints to the State Attorney's office linked to online fraud, with communication often conducted through platforms like WhatsApp and WeChat.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Americans lost over $10 billion to scams last year, with organized criminal networks operating from India and Nigeria using US "cash mules" to launder money through untraceable Bitcoin accounts. Seniors with landlines are particularly targeted through various schemes including romance scams (with victims losing up to $2.5 million), fake emergency calls from supposed grandchildren, phishing emails, suspicious text messages, and fake billing notifications. The article advises never sharing personal or financial information with unsolicited callers, texts, or emails, and recommends blocking suspicious contacts, verifying charges directly with banks, and reporting fraud to email service abuse addresses.
northjersey.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It discusses dating market conditions and relationship challenges for singles in various U.S. states, not scams, fraud, or elder abuse. While it briefly mentions "romance scams" in Massachusetts, the article focuses on general dating difficulty metrics rather than elder fraud prevention or elder abuse awareness.
thetomahawk.com
· 2025-12-08
Tennessee experienced $36.6 million in elderly fraud losses in 2022, affecting 1,462 residents aged 60 or over (averaging $25,012 per victim), with an incident rate of 87.4 victims per 100,000 elderly residents. Nationally, investment scams caused the largest losses to seniors ($404 million), followed by business impostor and romance scams, with online contact methods and bank transfers being the most common fraud channels. Elderly residents aged 60+ were significantly more vulnerable to tech support scams, being 517% more likely to fall victim compared to younger age groups.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Romance scammers in Indian metro cities create fake identities on dating apps to build emotional connections with victims before luring them to expensive restaurants or clubs where accomplices present inflated bills ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 rupees. To protect themselves, users should verify identities through reverse image searches and video calls, meet in public places of their own choosing, avoid rushing into emotional commitments, and remain cautious about sharing financial information with online contacts they haven't thoroughly vetted.
wng.org
· 2025-12-08
A 96-year-old World War II veteran lost over $322,000 of his retirement savings to Ternion Group International LLC, a fraudulent Christian investment company that promised to build a vocational school and purchase homes in Chicago, with his own son (age 70) convincing him to invest; the DOJ charged five people in April 2024, including the son, after the promised projects never materialized and contact ceased in 2020. The case highlights the rising threat of investment scams targeting seniors, with Americans over 60 losing $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, and demonstrates the particular vulnerability of elderly victims who may distrust reporting due to family involvement
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont, partnering with federal law enforcement agencies, conducted outreach events at senior centers in advance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15, 2024) to educate older adults about financial fraud and elder abuse. The outreach highlighted prevalent scams targeting seniors including government imposter schemes, tech support fraud, romance scams, grandparent scams, and lottery schemes, while emphasizing that elder abuse remains often overlooked and underreported.
microsoft.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering scams are romance and cryptocurrency fraud schemes where scammers build trust with victims through fake personas on social media or messaging apps before directing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. After the victim deposits money into fake investment apps that show fake profits and allow small withdrawals to build confidence, scammers disappear with the funds. To protect against these scams, victims should verify identities through reverse image searches, maintain privacy, avoid discussing finances with new online contacts, and be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities.
fox5ny.com
· 2025-12-08
New York residents lost over $30.2 million to romance scams in 2023, with 819 victims reporting an average loss of $36,931 each, according to a Social Catfish study. Scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to conduct convincing video calls while impersonating celebrities or wealthy individuals, often directing victims toward cryptocurrency investments with no recovery options. The study recommends reverse image searches, video chat verification, avoiding rapid declarations of love, and never sending money to online contacts to prevent victimization.
wgrz.com
· 2025-12-08
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning about rising online romance scams across the state, where fraudsters use dating apps, social media, and text messages to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest money or make purchases—a scheme known as "pig butchering." The Attorney General's office provided guidance to avoid these scams, including not wiring money to unknown persons, researching profiles for signs of fraud or AI-generated images, and being suspicious of individuals who avoid video calls, isolate victims from family, or pressure quick investments. Victims are encouraged to report suspected scams to their state Attorney General's office or law enforcement while preserving all communications as evidence.
fingerlakesdailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
New York's Attorney General issued a consumer alert about "pig butchering" romance scams, in which fraudsters befriend victims on dating apps, social media, and text messages before directing them to fake investment platforms. Scammers build trust over time, send fake screenshots of trading profits and luxury lifestyle images, then convince victims to invest tens of thousands to over a million dollars in cryptocurrency or foreign currency schemes before cutting off contact and making funds irretrievable. The alert advises New Yorkers to avoid wiring money to unknown contacts, verify identities through reverse image searches, be suspicious of excuses to avoid video calls or requests to use encrypted platforms, and never rush into investments.
indiatoday.in
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are surging in metropolitan areas like Delhi and Hyderabad, where scammers use dating apps to lure victims into expensive outings at clubs and cafes, often in collaboration with establishment employees. Victims, predominantly men, are manipulated into paying inflated bills ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 rupees after their dates order expensive drinks and food without contributing, with scammers sometimes leaving before the bill arrives. The article advises victims to verify identities through reverse image searches and video calls, choose their own safe meeting locations, and be cautious of individuals who quickly express strong feelings or request financial information.