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ndtv.com
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, used dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to lure multiple men to Mexico, where she drugged them with sedatives and prescription drugs, then stole their money, financial information, vehicles, and identities. Between 2021-2022, Phelps targeted at least four men, stealing approximately $3.3 million in Apple shares from one victim's E-Trade account, and is currently in custody in Mexico facing 21 charges including wire fraud, identity theft, kidnapping, and one man's death; she could face life in prison if convicted.
channelnewsasia.com
Singapore reported at least S$1.1 billion in scam losses in 2024, a 70.6% increase from 2023, with one victim losing S$125 million in cryptocurrency through a malware-enabled scam involving fake interview links. E-commerce scams were the most common type, followed by job and phishing scams, with 51,501 total cases reported; however, the police's Anti-Scam Command recovered over S$182 million and averted S$483 million in potential losses through proactive interventions.
straitstimes.com
Scam victims in Singapore lost a record $1.1 billion in 2024, representing a 70% increase from 2023, with 51,501 cases reported—the highest number ever. The most common scams were e-commerce fraud (particularly concert ticket scams), job scams ($156.2 million lost), and phishing scams ($59.4 million lost), with nearly 25% of losses involving cryptocurrency; victims under 50 were most vulnerable to e-commerce scams while older victims predominantly fell victim to phishing schemes.
kalingatv.com
Berhampur University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Geetanjali Dash lost Rs 14 lakh to a digital arrest scam in which a fraudster impersonated an Enforcement Directorate official over four days of contact. The scammer claimed she was linked to a Supreme Court case and convinced her to transfer the money to resolve the alleged legal issue. Police have filed an FIR and advised the public to avoid sharing personal information with unknown callers and to report suspicious contact to authorities immediately.
abcnews.go.com
A growing "gold bar courier scam" defrauded Americans of $126 million in 2024, with scammers posing as federal agents convincing victims to purchase gold bars and hand them over to couriers in public locations. Kris Owen, a 79-year-old Indiana resident, lost $80,000 after being told his personal information was compromised and instructed to buy gold for safekeeping; he later worked with the FBI in a sting operation to catch one of the couriers. The scheme, which exploits rising gold prices and targets vulnerable individuals nationwide, has become increasingly sophisticated and widespread.
nbcnews.com
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to regulate cryptocurrency ATMs, which have been used in scams targeting seniors and other vulnerable adults. The bill would limit new users to $2,000 daily or $10,000 over 14 days, require verbal customer service interaction for transactions over $500, and mandate refunds within 30 days of police reports; this legislation follows reports of at least $114 million in crypto ATM scam losses to the FTC in 2023, including a case where a 67-year-old man lost $7,000 to a jury duty scam.
bbc.com
In 2024, scammers stole over £2.2 million from Isle of Man residents, with investment scams accounting for £1.2 million, voice call cons for £391,674, and romance fraud for £45,000, according to the Cyber Security Centre report. The number of suspicious emails and cyber concerns reported increased 50% compared to 2023, though officials believe this represents only a fraction of actual scams as many go unreported. Additional fraud methods included phishing attacks, account compromises, and impersonation schemes using celebrity names.
prnewswire.com
As AI-driven scams surge during tax season 2025, taxpayers face three major threats: W-2 phishing scams using AI-generated emails and deepfakes to steal employee tax documents, disaster relief fund scams exploiting tax extensions for disaster victims, and fake Offer in Compromise scams promising debt relief through robocalls and deepfake videos. According to LifeLock research, 56% of individuals have encountered AI-powered tax scams with realistic voices, and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit uncovered over $9.1 billion in tax fraud in 2024, with 81% of scam victims reporting financial losses. Taxpayers are advised to verify
ossoff.senate.gov
Senator Jon Ossoff pressed the Trump Administration's FTC to strengthen protections for Georgia's 1.2 million seniors, citing alarming increases in financial scams affecting the state's senior population. According to FBI data, losses from scams targeting Georgia seniors surged from $25 million in 2020 to $92 million in 2023, placing Georgia among the top five states for senior financial fraud. The senator emphasized the substantial financial and emotional toll on seniors and their caregivers, demanding stronger FTC action to restore confidence in the financial system.
localnewsmatters.org
The Marin County Sheriff's Office issued a warning about a surge in phone and internet scams targeting elderly residents, with scammers impersonating bank employees or law enforcement through fake pop-ups and bail scam calls. Common tactics include convincing victims to withdraw cash or purchase gold for collection, or claiming a loved one needs bail money. Authorities advise residents to contact financial institutions directly and verify suspicious claims with official sources rather than calling provided numbers.
westernmassnews.com
Aurora Phelps, currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, has been indicted on multiple charges for operating a deadly romance scam targeting older American men between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps allegedly met victims through online dating apps, drugged them with prescription sedatives, and stole millions in cash, stocks, vehicles, and luxury goods; at least three victims died shortly after encounters with her, including one man she wheeled across the border to Mexico City where he was found dead hours later. She faces charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, kidnapping, and kidnapping resulting in death, with a potential life sentence if convicted.
41nbc.com
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office and Better Business Bureau outline three prevalent scams: debt collection scams where fraudsters impersonate creditors or government agencies threatening legal action or arrest, advanced loan fee scams involving fake loan processors requesting payment with urgency, and road toll collection scams using text messages with malicious links to steal personal information. To protect yourself, hang up on suspicious calls, request written debt validation, contact companies directly using official numbers, avoid clicking links from unsolicited messages, and verify claims through official websites or customer service lines.
justice.gov
Kenneth J. Brown and Nicholas R. Shepard, both 45-46 years old from Lexington, South Carolina, were sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. The men operated Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange and received checks from business email compromise and romance scam victims through the mail, then deposited the funds into their business account and converted them to cryptocurrency. They were ordered to pay $415,196.66 in restitution to victims and face three years of court-ordered supervision following their prison terms.
live5news.com
Aurora Phelps, currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, has been indicted on multiple charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, and kidnapping resulting in death for operating a romance scheme targeting older U.S. men between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps allegedly lured victims through online dating apps, drugged them with prescription sedatives, and stole millions in cash, stocks, vehicles, and valuables; at least three victims died, including one she wheeled across the border in an incapacitated state who was later found dead in a Mexico City hotel. The FBI describes this as one of the most egregious romance schemes in recent history and suspects there
whdh.com
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to meet at least four older men in 2021-2022, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through a sophisticated romance scam; three victims died, including one she allegedly transported across the U.S.-Mexico border and left in a Mexico City hotel. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, with a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on all charges.
5newsonline.com
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was federally charged in February 2025 with wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft for carrying out romance scams targeting older men between July 2021 and December 2022, in which she allegedly drugged victims and stole from their financial accounts. She also faces Arkansas charges stemming from a June 2019 incident where she drugged a woman and stole her credit card, resulting in approximately $5,000 in fraudulent charges. Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges, with her Arkansas hearings postponed to March 2025, and authorities are
swlexledger.com
The FBI is warning of a widespread fraud scheme targeting elderly residents where scammers impersonate cybersecurity representatives, bank officials, and government officers to trick victims into converting their assets into physical gold and surrendering it to couriers. During 2024, 11 South Carolina elderly victims lost approximately $4.2 million to this scam, which typically begins with fake device compromise warnings and involves creating false urgency to move assets out of financial accounts. The FBI advises victims to verify identities independently, avoid using provided contact numbers, and report suspicious activity to the FBI IC3 website, with elder victims able to seek assistance through the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline.
harrisondaily.com
This article announces the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11), a Justice Department resource managed by the Office for Victims of Crime that provides personalized support to individuals age 60 and older who have experienced financial fraud. The hotline assesses victims' needs and helps identify appropriate next steps for assistance and recovery.
newsantaana.com
Two Santa Ana women, Irene Almanza (46) and Martha Silva Orozco Jimenez (51), were arrested at the Spectrum mall in Irvine after stealing over $3,800 in merchandise from six stores; they were found in possession of an older adult's credit cards and identification. Both suspects were charged with felony burglary, elder abuse, and fraud.
dailyhodl.com
**Summary:**
Shan Hanes, former CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas, was sentenced to 24 years in prison in August 2023 for embezzling over $47 million through a cryptocurrency pig butchering scheme. The bank's collapse wiped out generational wealth for hundreds of residents, including the Tucker family ($1.4 million in lost shares) and the Houtz brothers (hundreds of thousands), while Hanes also stole from his church and investment club to fuel the scam.
fox9.com
Wisconsin officials report a rising trend of scammers posing as car dealerships online to defraud consumers, using fake websites or social media profiles with stolen images of real vehicles priced below market value. Victims typically wire payment for vehicles that don't exist, after which the scammer ceases contact and the buyer realizes they have been defrauded. The Wisconsin DMV advises consumers to remain vigilant when conducting vehicle transactions with unknown sellers.
2news.com
A new scam is spreading nationwide that targets people with text messages claiming they owe unpaid tolls, attempting to trick recipients into paying fraudulent fees. The scam uses deceptive messaging to convince victims they have outstanding toll violations, though specific dollar amounts and victim numbers are not detailed in the available excerpt.
abilene-rc.com
The Abilene Police Department investigated two cryptocurrency scams in 2024, with each victim losing over $1,000 after depositing currency into local crypto ATMs. Police are raising awareness about these scams through posters and senior center presentations, noting that scammers typically build online trust relationships before directing victims to deposit funds into untraceable digital wallets. The FBI recommends avoiding unsolicited investment offers, never sharing financial information with online acquaintances, and reporting suspected scams to local law enforcement or ic3.gov.
cbsnews.com
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was indicted on multiple federal charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping for allegedly luring older men through dating apps and online services, drugging them, and stealing their financial information. Her alleged victims include at least two men who died and one who disappeared; in documented cases, she stole approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock from one victim and over $10,000 from another before his death in Mexico. The FBI is seeking additional victims and has taken custody of Phelps, who was arrested in Mexico in September 2023 pending extradition to the United States.
globalnews.ca
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, is accused of using online dating apps to lure at least four older men, then drugging them with sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through a sophisticated romance scam that resulted in at least three deaths. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, kidnapping, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death, with potential life sentences; she is believed to have targeted victims between 2019 and 2022, stealing their vehicles, bank accounts, credit cards, and attempting to access retirement accounts while victims were incapacitated.
ossoff.senate.gov
Senator Jon Ossoff pressed the Trump Administration's FTC to strengthen protections for Georgia's 1.2 million seniors from financial scams, citing alarming increases in fraud losses from $25 million in 2020 to $92 million in 2023. Georgia ranked among the top five states most affected by senior financial fraud in 2023, creating substantial financial and emotional strain on seniors and their caregivers.
wuga.org
Senator Ossoff urged the Trump Administration's FTC Chairman to increase protections for Georgia's 1.2 million seniors from financial scams. Georgia ranked among the top five states for senior fraud in 2023, with reported losses to Georgia seniors surging from $25 million in 2020 to $92 million in 2023, according to FBI data.
wvnews.com
**Financial Exploitation via Unauthorized ACH Transfers**
Steven and Ashley Simpson of Charmco, West Virginia were arrested and charged with financial exploitation and computer fraud after allegedly stealing approximately $36,000 from an 82-year-old victim's bank account between August 2023 and December 2024. The couple obtained the victim's banking information from a payment check issued for construction work they performed, then used it to conduct unauthorized ACH transfers until the victim discovered her account was overdrawn. Both defendants face 103 counts of computer fraud and related charges, with bonds set at $50,000 and $100,000 respectively.
centredaily.com
Five Florida residents, including Ronald Vargas who worked for a 401(k) management company, orchestrated a fraud scheme that stole over $1 million from the retirement accounts of 25 older, retired school district employees between January and March 2022. Vargas exploited his access to employees' personal information and authority to approve withdrawals, while his co-conspirators laundered the stolen funds through cash withdrawals and luxury purchases; the group successfully stole $1,007,563 of the $1.4 million they attempted to take. All five defendants have been convicted or pleaded guilty to charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and money laundering, with sentencing schedule
newsbreak.com
Five Florida defendants were convicted in a 401(k) fraud scheme that targeted retired school district employees, stealing $1.1 million in retirement funds between January and March 2022. Ronald Vargas, an employee of the retirement fund company, worked with co-conspirators to submit fraudulent withdrawal forms and transfer victims' funds to accounts they controlled. All five defendants face sentencing on April 28, 2025, with potential sentences up to 20 years imprisonment and mandatory minimum sentences of two years for conspiracy charges.
prnewswire.com
Janine Williamson, administrator of the Larry W. Cook Estate, is advocating for stronger protections against elder financial fraud following her uncle's loss of millions of dollars in a phishing scam. Williamson has met with banking industry leaders and is lobbying federal lawmakers to support legislation like Virginia's "Larry's Law," which would require financial institutions to train employees to identify and report senior exploitation, while also pursuing a $3.6 million negligence lawsuit against Wells Fargo and Navy Federal Credit Union. She is calling for a government-appointed Fraud Task Force to disrupt fraud schemes and help victims.
richlandsource.com
A 71-year-old widow named Linda Talbott was scammed out of nearly $12,000 by a man posing as "James" in an online romance scheme that lasted almost two years. The scammer manipulated Talbott into providing her Social Security number (redirecting her checks to Alabama), cashing fraudulent checks, and isolating her from support systems, ultimately leaving her homeless and living in her car in a Walmart parking lot. Between 2019 and 2023, the FTC received over 269,000 romance scam reports with total losses exceeding $4.5 billion, with scammers typically building trust through fake profiles and promises of
mainichi.jp
A man in his 70s in Sapporo, Japan lost 3.7 million yen (approximately $24,400) in a "special fraud" scam in January when three individuals posing as police officers and government officials convinced him he was involved in money laundering and needed to transfer funds to prove his innocence. The scammers used multiple tactics including fake arrest warrants, international phone calls with fabricated explanations, claims of confidential investigations, and persistent demands for daily ATM transfers, exploiting the victim's anxiety and social isolation over 10 days before he realized the deception. The victim, who lost his retirement savings, continues to experience psychological trauma including heart palp
thephuketnews.com
Scam calls and online fraud in Phuket, Thailand have dramatically escalated, with victims jumping from 1,365 in 2022 (B10.9 million in losses) to 5,510 in 2024 (B413 million in losses). In January 2025 alone, Thailand recorded 31,165 technology-related fraud cases averaging 1,005 per day, with fraudulent online sales, job offer scams, and investment schemes causing over B2 billion in damages. Authorities recommend verifying suspicious calls by hanging up and blocking the number, using caller ID apps, and remembering that legitimate government notifications arrive as physical letters, not
barchart.com
Scammers impersonate the IRS through phishing emails and smishing texts, directing victims to fake links or requesting personal information by claiming urgent account updates are needed. Tax season presents a prime opportunity for fraudsters, who exploited emotional tactics around penalties and refunds to steal $5.7 billion from U.S. taxpayers in 2022. The IRS recommends avoiding these scams by remembering that legitimate IRS contact occurs through regular mail, not email or text, unless you specifically requested a callback.
boredpanda.com
Evaldas Rimašauskas and co-conspirators defrauded Facebook and Google of over $120 million by impersonating Quanta Computer, a legitimate Taiwan-based hardware manufacturer both companies worked with, through a fake company established in Latvia with forged emails and invoices. Rimašauskas served as the formal director of the fraudulent operation while allegedly delegating actual account control to unnamed accomplices, and was extradited to the United States to face charges for the scheme.
dnronline.com
Dayton Police Chief Justin Trout presented to community members about common elder scams, noting that Americans ages 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023. Trout warned against multiple scam types including government impersonation (IRS scams, arrest threats), AI-generated fake messages, cryptocurrency payment requests, overpayment schemes, and phishing emails, emphasizing that money lost to most scams cannot be recovered. Key advice includes never paying money to avoid arrest, independently verifying company contact information, avoiding cryptocurrency transactions, and deleting suspicious emails without clicking links.
aol.com
Evaldas Rimašauskas and co-conspirators impersonated Quanta Computer, a Taiwan-based hardware manufacturer trusted by Google and Facebook, by creating a fake company in Latvia and sending forged emails with fake invoices to employees at both tech companies. The scheme defrauded Google and Facebook of over $120 million in wire transfers to accounts controlled by the scammers before Rimašauskas was arrested and faced extradition to the United States.
hindustantimes.com
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Los Angeles woman, was arrested in Mexico and charged with 21 counts of wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death for allegedly operating a "romance scam" targeting primarily elderly men on dating apps (Hinge, Tinder, Bumble) between 2019 and 2022. Phelps lured victims into meeting her in person, then drugged them with sedatives and stole their personal information to fraudulently access their bank, retirement, and investment accounts—in one case stealing $3.3 million in Apple stock; at least three of her victims died, including one
theguardian.com
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, Bumble) to target at least four older men seeking companionship, then drugged them with prescription sedatives and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars through identity theft, unauthorized bank withdrawals, credit card fraud, and asset liquidation—resulting in at least three deaths, including one victim she allegedly transported across the U.S.-Mexico border in a coma. Phelps, a dual U.S.-Mexico citizen currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, with a potential life sentence if convicted on all counts.
cnn.com
Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, has been charged in a 21-count indictment for an elaborate romance scam in which she allegedly used online dating apps to lure elderly men, drug them, and steal from their bank and investment accounts, resulting in at least three deaths and over $3 million in losses. One victim was allegedly drugged, pushed across the US-Mexico border in a wheelchair, and found dead in a Mexico City hotel room hours later; another victim died on his bathroom floor after a date in Guadalajara. Phelps, currently in Mexican custody, faces charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, kidnapping, and kidnapping
thetimes.com
Scams in the UK have become increasingly sophisticated and target all demographics, not just the elderly—16–34 year olds actually account for half of online fraud victims due to their frequent use of quick payment methods and distracted smartphone habits. Fraud is the UK's most common crime with an estimated nine million victims last year, yet only one in 1,000 reported cases results in conviction, with scammers employing tailored techniques ranging from AI deepfakes in video calls to romance baiting on dating apps. The article emphasizes that no online platform is safe and that even highly educated, tech-savvy individuals are vulnerable to sophisticated social engineering tactics.
bangkokpost.com
Malaysian authorities raided a luxury residence in Kuala Lumpur operating as an international scam call centre, arresting 42 foreign workers including six Thai nationals who were employed to conduct investment, gambling, and romance scams generating approximately 1.13 million baht daily. The suspects, aged 23-54 from multiple countries, confessed to earning around 30,080 baht monthly and targeted victims via Facebook, TikTok, WeChat, Telegram, and WhatsApp across Malaysia and internationally. Police seized 100,000 ringgit in cash along with phones, computers, and scam manuals, while the alleged syndicate leader, a Chinese national, remained at large.
nypost.com
An 85-year-old woman from Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, was defrauded of over $35,000 by Shania Baptiste, 25, from Brooklyn, and accomplices who convinced her she had won $1 million in the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes and needed to pay taxes and fees upfront. Bank tellers initially warned the victim about the scam, but the suspects instructed her to visit a different bank by falsely claiming the funds were for family home repairs in New York. Baptiste was extradited to Florida and charged with Organized Scheme to Defraud and Grand Theft over $20,000, with $20
vcstar.com
Two Los Angeles men were charged with felony elder abuse, conspiracy, and grand theft after defrauding an elderly Ventura couple in their early 70s through a "Norton virus" scam on February 13; the victims had withdrawn approximately $17,000 before police intervened and recovered the money. An Oxnard smoke shop's tobacco retailer permit faces revocation after a clerk allegedly sold nitrous oxide to a minor during a decoy operation conducted by the Oxnard Police Department.
the420.in
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting senior citizens and pensioners through sophisticated digital scams including QR code fraud, OTP theft, fake investment schemes, malicious apps, and impersonation of bank representatives and government officials, resulting in significant losses of lifelong savings. Cybersecurity experts attribute these attacks to seniors' limited awareness of digital threats and recommend education and vigilance in identifying fraudulent tactics such as fake customer service numbers and online marketplace scams. An awareness webinar organized by FCRF and Paytm on February 24, 2025, aims to help seniors learn how to identify scams, protect their bank accounts, and report cyber fraud.
islandpacket.com
**Article:** "What can I do about all these scams? Tips and tricks to keep you and your loved ones safe"
Beaufort County, South Carolina residents—particularly older adults—face a high risk of scams, with the state ranking seventh nationally for fraud cases. Common schemes targeting seniors include cryptocurrency scams (up 900% since 2020), contractor fraud, phone solicitation, and religious impersonation scams. The FTC advises identifying scams by recognizing when scammers impersonate legitimate organizations, create false urgency or prize claims, and pressure immediate action or unusual payment methods.
cbsnews.com
A Chicago woman lost nearly $5,000 in a tap-to-pay scam in November after two men approached her at Whole Foods requesting a donation for a deceased relative and pressured her to use contactless payment on their phone instead of cash. After disputing the charges with Fifth Third Bank and filing a police report, she spent three months fighting the bank's repeated denials before finally receiving her money back after media inquiries were made. The scam, which targets well-intentioned people by charging unauthorized amounts far exceeding the stated donation, has been affecting a growing number of Chicago residents.
newindianexpress.com
The call merging scam is a phishing method where fraudsters pose as acquaintances or professionals and trick victims into merging phone calls, then exploit the merged line to capture one-time passwords (OTPs) from banking apps and complete unauthorized transactions. The scam works by timing the call merge with a victim's bank OTP verification, causing the victim to unwittingly share sensitive authentication codes that enable account theft. The National Payments Corporation of India warns users to avoid merging calls with unknown numbers, never share OTPs over the phone, and immediately report suspicious OTP receipts to prevent financial loss.
scmp.com
Aurora Phelps, 43, used online dating apps to target at least four elderly men between 2021 and 2022, drugging them with prescription sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through a scheme the FBI called a "romance scam on steroids." Three victims died, including one whom Phelps allegedly sedated, transported across the U.S.-Mexico border in a wheelchair, and abandoned in a Mexico City hotel room; she also stole their vehicles, drained bank accounts, used credit cards for luxury purchases, and attempted to access their social security and retirement accounts. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 federal charges including wire fraud,