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in Romance Scam
disneydining.com
· 2025-12-08
A devoted General Hospital fan lost her entire life savings totaling $350,000 in a romance scam involving AI-generated videos and messages impersonating actor Steve Burton. Abigail Ruvalcaba was manipulated over more than a year into an emotionally invested fake relationship, eventually selling her family home and transferring the proceeds to the scammer before the fraud was discovered by her daughter. The victim now faces eviction as the property cannot be recovered despite the family's attempts to buy it back from the new owners.
ripplesnigeria.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Daniel Chima Inweregbu, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty in August 2025 to operating a romance scam that defrauded multiple American women of over $405,000 between July 2017 and December 2018. Inweregbu and his co-conspirators created fake social media profiles under the alias "Larry Pham" to build romantic relationships with middle-aged female victims, then solicited money under false pretenses and laundered the proceeds through intermediary accounts. He faces up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines upon sentencing in December 2025.
silive.com
· 2025-12-08
Scam text messages originating from China have reached epidemic levels worldwide, using disguises like missed package alerts and unpaid tolls to steal passwords and money through five primary schemes: package delivery fraud, fake job offers, phony fraud alerts, toll payment scams, and romance/investment scams. Apple's new iOS 26 feature addresses the problem by filtering suspected spam messages into a separate folder that blocks links and prevents replies, while the FTC advises consumers to avoid clicking links, replying to unknown texts, and to verify requests through independently confirmed contact information.
insidethemagic.net
· 2025-12-08
A General Hospital fan was defrauded of over $81,000 in cash plus an additional $350,000 from the sale of her family condo by a scammer impersonating actor Steve Burton using AI-generated video messages. The scammer built a romantic relationship with the victim over a year before requesting money, exploiting her mental health vulnerabilities and emotional attachment to the character Burton has played for thirty years. The victim's daughter is now fighting to recover the condo, which was sold to a third party who is demanding an additional $100,000 to return it.
tomsguide.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is about Netflix's new content releases and does not involve elder fraud, scams affecting seniors, or elder abuse. It is an entertainment preview article covering shows like "Wednesday" season 2 and a boxing match. This content is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database.
techcentral.ie
· 2025-12-08
Anthropic reported that its Claude AI tool is being misused for extortion, ransomware attacks, and fraud targeting 17 organizations across healthcare, government, and religious sectors in a single month, with some extortion demands exceeding $500,000. Criminals are leveraging Claude to identify network vulnerabilities, draft personalized extortion messages, and conduct romance scams, while North Korean agents have used the tool to impersonate remote programmers to funnel money to weapons programs. The widespread availability of AI has significantly lowered barriers to cybercrime, enabling individuals to conduct sophisticated attacks that previously required teams of expert hackers.
mk.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
Binance collaborated with law enforcement and blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis to freeze approximately $47 million in cryptocurrency proceeds from "Pig Butchering" scams—a fraud scheme where perpetrators build trust with victims through fake investment or romance opportunities before stealing their funds. The funds, held in Tether (USDT), were traced through multiple intermediary addresses concentrating money from dozens of victims before dispersal to five wallets, with Tether implementing a rapid asset freeze to prevent criminal organizations from cashing out.
koreatimes.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
South Korea launched a five-month nationwide crackdown on phishing crimes beginning in August, following a 95% year-over-year surge in losses to 799.2 billion won ($575 million) across 16,561 cases in the first seven months of the year. Criminal tactics have become increasingly sophisticated, targeting victims through investment fraud (343.8 billion won in losses), romance scams (70.5 billion won), and fake e-commerce schemes, with perpetrators using mass texts, fake identities, and impersonations to create urgency and steal personal data. The police response includes over 400 officers in newly formed special units across multiple provinces, targeting not only ph
zamin.uz
· 2025-12-08
Cyber fraud takes multiple forms with gender-based vulnerability patterns: women are disproportionately targeted by romance scams (54.9% of victims, 75.3% of financial losses), while men over 30 are more susceptible to investment and cryptocurrency fraud schemes. Other prevalent scams include fake online stores, technical support impersonation (which particularly affects older adults), with protection requiring caution against promises of quick profits or online emotional intimacy.
thegeorgiasun.com
· 2025-12-08
Georgia ranks 7th nationally for senior fraud losses, with older residents losing an estimated $1.57 million per 100,000 people in 2024, while seniors across the U.S. reported $4.8 billion in fraud losses total. The most common scams targeting older adults include imposter scams, shopping fraud, and high-stakes crypto and romance schemes, with individual crypto and romance fraud cases averaging over $108,000 in losses. Experts recommend families discuss scams with elderly relatives, watch for pressure tactics and unusual payment requests, and report suspicious activity to protect the state's 1.7 million residents over 60.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
The Justice Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint against $868,247 in Tether cryptocurrency that was allegedly stolen through investment scams operated by the LME Crypto Group, which impersonated the London Metal Exchange and defrauded at least four victims across DC, Texas, Illinois, and Florida between September 2022 and February 2025. The scheme involved criminals establishing trust through misdirected text messages, then directing victims to fake investment platforms that displayed false profits before locking victims out of their accounts and stealing their funds, with one victim losing $1.3 million and another losing $30,000. The FBI recovered and is forfeiting the laundered cryptocurrency funds that were transferred through
motorbiscuit.com
· 2025-12-08
An 80-year-old woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 (1 million yen) to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut claiming to be in space and in need of oxygen. The scammer exploited her emotional connection developed through online communication by fabricating an increasingly implausible story about being under attack on a spaceship and needing money for oxygen. Japanese authorities warn elderly residents to be suspicious of cash demands from social media contacts and to report such incidents to police, particularly given Japan's aging population vulnerability to romance scams.
eastbaytimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and social media with attractive photos and fabricated backgrounds, then build trust through romantic messages and personal connection before requesting money, gift cards, or banking information by claiming emergencies or travel expenses. Victims should be cautious when dating online, avoid sharing personal photos or private information with unmet contacts, and recognize that claims of temporary overseas work or inability to meet in person are common red flags.
wltx.com
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old Port Richey, Florida man lost approximately $22,000 to a romance scam involving an AI-generated woman named "Bonnie" who claimed to be working in Australia; the scammers were traced to Nigeria and used Facebook messages and videos to build trust before convincing him to take out loans, wire money, and send Bitcoin. Cruz now faces potential bankruptcy and the risk of losing his home as his bank demands repayment, though he is sharing his story to warn other seniors. The case highlights Florida's ranking as the second-highest state for elder fraud in 2023, with only one in five victims reporting such crimes and a 40% increase in reports over the past
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Caring.com report found that Indiana has the second-highest rate of senior fraud in the nation, with 76.9 complaints per 100,000 residents among people over 60, who collectively lost $4.8 billion to fraud nationally. Indiana experienced a 240% increase in fraud cases against older adults over three years, attributed partly to the state's growing elderly population projected to reach 20.1% by 2030. The report recommends seniors and families guard against pressure tactics, tech support scams (the most common type with over 17,000 cases in 2023), and cryptocurrency fraud schemes.
wtsp.com
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old Port Richey, Florida man lost tens of thousands of dollars to a romance scam involving an AI-generated persona named "Bonnie" that originated from Nigeria; the scammer convinced him to take out loans, wire money, and send Bitcoin, leaving him facing a $22,000 bank debt and potential bankruptcy with his home at risk. Cruz, a retired firefighter and police officer, attributed his vulnerability to loneliness after losing all his family members, and now advocates warning other seniors to trust their instincts when something feels wrong. Florida ranks second nationally in elder fraud cases, with only one in five victims reporting the crime and a 40% increase in reports over the past five
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately 1 million yen ($6,700) to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut in distress and claimed to need money for oxygen while stranded in space. The woman met the fraudster on social media in July and developed romantic feelings before being deceived into sending the funds. The case highlights the growing threat of romance scams targeting vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals in aging societies like Japan.
wionews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Japanese octogenarian living alone was defrauded of approximately $6,700 in a romance scam after meeting a man claiming to be an astronaut on social media who convinced her he needed money for oxygen while stranded in space. The scammer exploited her developing romantic feelings through online communication, ultimately persuading her to send funds to help with a fabricated emergency. Police classified the case as a "romance scam" and urged elderly individuals to be suspicious of cash requests from online contacts and to report such incidents.
thv11.com
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old Port Richey, Florida man lost tens of thousands of dollars to a romance scam involving an AI-generated woman named "Bonnie" who claimed to be in Australia; the scammers, traced to Nigeria, convinced him to take out loans, wire money, and send Bitcoin, leaving him facing a $22,000 bank debt and potential bankruptcy and loss of his home. The victim, a retired firefighter and police officer, is now advocating for other seniors to recognize warning signs, noting that Florida ranks second nationally in elder fraud cases, with only one in five victims reporting the crime.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately 1 million yen ($6,700) to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut claiming to need money for oxygen while stranded in space. The fraudster spent weeks building emotional trust through social media before making the urgent financial request, exploiting the victim's loneliness and desire for connection. Hokkaido police warn that romance scams are a growing global threat targeting vulnerable seniors, with the FTC reporting over 64,000 Americans lost more than $1 billion to such scams in 2023.
independent.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old Japanese woman lost £5,000 to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut claiming to be stranded in space and needing money for oxygen. The scammer contacted her on social media in July, built a romantic connection, and eventually convinced her to transfer funds for his alleged distress. Romance scams are surging globally, with Japan reporting over 3,300 cases in 2024 (double the previous year) totaling £173.8 million in losses, while UK victims aged 61+ lost an average of £19,000 in 2024.
japantimes.co.jp
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately ¥1 million ($6,700) in a romance scam after meeting a fraudster on social media in July who posed as an astronaut claiming to be stranded in space and needing money for oxygen. The victim, who lived alone, developed romantic feelings for the scammer during their online communications before he successfully extracted the funds from her. Police emphasized that elderly individuals should remain suspicious of any requests for cash from social media contacts and report such incidents to authorities, noting that Japan's aging population is frequently targeted by organized fraud schemes.
digitalterminal.in
· 2025-12-07
Quick Heal Technologies' report reveals that cybercrimes against seniors in India surged 86% from 2020 to 2022, with projected losses exceeding ₹1.2 lakh crore by 2025, as the senior population increasingly adopts digital platforms. The report identifies three primary fraud schemes targeting elders: impersonation and authority scams (fake police arrests, court sessions), technical deception scams exploiting digital unfamiliarity, and investment scams that can devastate life savings, exemplified by a Telangana case where a 75-year-old lost ₹13 crore. The company recommends combating this epidemic through
northwestgeorgianews.com
· 2025-12-07
The Elder Justice Initiative highlights common financial scams targeting seniors age 60 and older, including Social Security impostor scams (false suspension claims), tech support scams (fake virus/hacking warnings), lottery scams (foreign sweepstakes requiring upfront fees), and romance scams (online dating schemes requesting money). Digital technology has increased seniors' vulnerability to these schemes, which exploit personal information and trust, making elder fraud a recognized threat requiring public education and awareness efforts.
tribunact.com
· 2025-12-07
Jackie Crenshaw, a Connecticut resident, lost nearly $1 million to a cryptocurrency romance scam in which a fraudster built emotional trust to manipulate her into making false investments. She testified before the Connecticut legislature in support of House Bill 6990, which passed and was signed into law, establishing a legal framework for law enforcement to seize virtual currency used in criminal offenses—legislation designed to help recover stolen funds from future victims. Crenshaw's advocacy highlights how romance scams, which exploit emotional connections for financial gain, have become increasingly prevalent, with the FTC estimating true annual fraud losses at $137 billion despite only $9 billion being reported.
hola.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 of her life savings to a romance scam in which a man posed as an astronaut claiming his spaceship needed oxygen money. The article highlights the growing epidemic of romance fraud targeting vulnerable elderly populations, noting that in the U.S. alone over 7,600 seniors were scammed through romance and confidence fraud in 2024, losing nearly $389 million, and that seniors remain prime targets due to isolation, trusting nature, and available savings.
thetab.com
· 2025-12-07
Netflix's new documentary series "Love Con Revenge" features Cecilie Fjellhøy, a victim of romance scammer Simon Leviev (real name Shimon Hayut) who defrauded her of over £200,000 on Tinder by posing as a billionaire's son. The six-part series pairs Fjellhøy with private investigator Brianne Joseph to track down romance scammers, expose them, and help other victims rebuild their lives and seek revenge. The show premiered on Netflix on September 5th and highlights the methods used by digital predators targeting victims through fake romantic relationships.
news18.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old Japanese woman living alone lost approximately ¥1 million (₹5.5 lakh) to a romance scam in which a fraudster posing as an astronaut convinced her he was stranded in space and needed money to purchase oxygen. The victim met the scammer on social media in July and developed an online relationship before sending the funds when he claimed to be under attack in a spaceship. This case reflects a broader surge in romance scams targeting elderly populations globally, with Japan reporting 3,326 such cases in the first 11 months of 2024—double the prior year—resulting in ¥34.6 billion in losses.
koaa.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
Colorado author Josh Kern lost over $100,000 to a romance and investment scam involving an AI-generated persona who conducted convincing video calls on WhatsApp, then lost an additional $50,000 to a fake recovery scam. FBI Special Agent Eric Burns confirmed that scammers now use AI technology downloaded from the dark web or smartphone apps to disguise their voices and faces during video chats to appear as different people and target vulnerable individuals on dating websites. The FBI recommends meeting people in person before sending money and filing reports through the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center if victimized.
inkfreenews.com
· 2025-12-07
Indiana ranks second nationally for senior fraud complaints at 76.9 per 100,000 residents, with seniors age 60+ losing $4.8 billion to fraud nationwide in 2023. The state experienced a sharp 240% increase in elderly fraud complaints over three years, driven partly by its growing senior population expected to exceed 20% by 2030. The most common scams involved tech support impersonation, while cryptocurrency fraud proved most costly, with victims averaging losses exceeding $108,000 per case.
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2023, older Americans lost over $3.4 billion to scams, with the problem escalating in 2024 when individuals over 60 represented the largest group of cybercrime victims in the U.S., losing more than $1 billion since the start of the year through increasingly sophisticated schemes including tech support fraud, romance scams, investment fraud, and government impersonation. Experts recommend seniors protect themselves by never sharing personal information unsolicited, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, consulting family before financial decisions, and recognizing red flags such as urgent requests for money via gift cards or wire transfers, pressure to act quickly, and threats from callers.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 of her life savings to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut stranded in space and claiming to need money for oxygen after meeting her on a social media app in July. Local police classified the case as a typical romance scam targeting vulnerable elderly individuals, noting that similar schemes victimize older adults across the United States and other countries.
bluewin.ch
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Japan was defrauded of approximately 5,780 francs in a romance scam where a fraudster posing as an astronaut claimed to be under attack in space and needed money for oxygen. The woman met the scammer online in July, developed emotional feelings for him, and transferred the funds based on his fabricated emergency. Police warn that romance scams use elaborate stories and fake identities to manipulate victims into sending money, and advise people to remain suspicious of online acquaintances requesting funds and to contact authorities if targeted.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
A Japanese woman on Hokkaido was defrauded of ¥1 million (£5,000) in a romance scam after meeting a fraudster on social media who claimed to be an astronaut under attack on a spaceship in need of oxygen. The article also highlights a separate investment fraud case where an elderly UK man lost £120,000 of his and his wife's life savings to a fake Bitcoin scheme falsely endorsed by financial journalist Martin Lewis, involving manipulative phone contact three times weekly over an extended period.
97x.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman in her 80s from Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 after being targeted by a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut claiming his spaceship was under attack and needed money for oxygen. The victim, who lived alone and met the scammer on social media in July, developed emotional attachment through online conversations that made her vulnerable to his fabricated crisis. This case reflects a broader surge in romance scams globally, with the U.S. reporting over 64,000 victims and $1 billion in losses in 2023 alone, prompting authorities to urge the public to avoid sending money to online contacts and report suspicious requests immediately.
wild941.com
· 2025-12-07
A Port Richey, Florida senior lost $47,000 in an AI-powered romance scam after being deceived by a fake Facebook profile using deepfake videos of a person named "Bonnie Fleck" who claimed to need funds for work in Australia; the scammer, traced to Nigeria, used computer-generated video chats to build trust before convincing the victim to wire cash and send Bitcoin. The victim now faces an additional $22,000 bank liability and risks losing his home, and the case highlights Florida's growing senior fraud problem, with reports reaching 9,000 yearly and increasing 40% since 2019.
people.com
· 2025-12-07
A woman in her 80s in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 (1 million yen) in a romance scam that began on social media in July, when a con artist posed as an astronaut claiming to be in space under attack and in need of oxygen, convincing her to send money for his survival. The incident reflects a broader trend: in 2024, over 7,600 people over 60 in the United States fell victim to romance and confidence scams, resulting in more than $389 million in losses, with elderly victims being particularly vulnerable due to their trustworthiness, financial resources, and reluctance to report fraud.
drgnews.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman in Japan in her 80s lost approximately $6,700 (1 million yen) to a romance scam in which an online impostor claimed to be an astronaut in distress on a spaceship needing oxygen. The scammer's implausible story illustrates how anyone, regardless of age or intelligence, can fall victim to fraud, and Japanese officials warned the public to be suspicious of money requests from online contacts.
thesun.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Cecilie Fjellhoy met Simon Leviev (real name Shimon Hayut) on Tinder in 2018, who posed as a wealthy diamond company CEO and convinced her to lend him money for travel expenses over 13 weeks, ultimately stealing £200,000 from her credit card. Leviev defrauded an estimated £7.4 million from numerous women using the same romance scam tactics before being arrested in Greece in 2019 on unrelated charges; he was never prosecuted for the Tinder scheme. Fjellhoy, who experienced severe psychological trauma and required psychiatric care and therapy, has since released a Netflix documentary called "
cosmopolitan.com
· 2025-12-07
Norwegian woman Cecilie Fjellhøy was scammed out of £188,000 by Tinder romance scammer Shimon Hayut (alias Simon Leviev) in a sophisticated fraud involving luxury lifestyle fabrications. After speaking out in Netflix's 2022 documentary *The Tinder Swindler*, Fjellhøy partnered with a private investigator for a new docuseries called *Love Con Revenge* to help other victims of romance scams, which can result in losses exceeding $2 million and severe psychological consequences including depression and suicidal ideation.
cosmopolitan.com
· 2025-12-07
Cecilie Fjellhøy was defrauded of £188,000 by Simon Leviev (real name Shimon Hayut), a con artist who posed as a wealthy diamond mogul's son on Tinder and lured her into providing money by claiming his accounts were frozen due to attacks by enemies. Following her appearance in Netflix's 2022 documentary *The Tinder Swindler*, Fjellhøy partnered with private investigator Brianne Joseph to create the series *Love Con Revenge*, which helps other romance scam victims recover funds and reclaim their lives, as Leviev is believed to have swindled approximately $10
islandernews.com
· 2025-12-07
Florida residents lost $243.1 million to romance scams and confidence fraud between 2021-2024, ranking ninth nationally in per-capita losses at $11 per person, with 2021 being the worst year at $70.5 million in reported losses. Romance scams involve criminals using fake online profiles and emotional manipulation to build trust with victims before fabricating crises and requesting money, often isolating victims from their support networks. North Dakota experienced the highest per-capita losses at $21 per person despite its smaller population, while California had the largest total losses at $555.1 million.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman from Hokkaido, Japan lost $6,750 (1 million yen) to a romance scam in which a fraudster posing as a stranded astronaut claimed to need oxygen money while "under attack in space." The scammer built emotional trust over months of social media messaging before fabricating the emergency, exploiting the victim's isolation and the platform's lack of fraud detection. Romance scams cost Americans over $1 billion in 2023, and the case highlights how social media platforms fail to protect vulnerable elderly users from increasingly sophisticated psychological manipulation schemes.
scmp.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman from Sapporo, Japan was scammed out of 1 million yen (US$6,750) after meeting a man on social media who claimed to be an astronaut aboard a spacecraft in orbit. The scammer exploited her romantic feelings by fabricating an emergency situation where his vessel was "under attack" and he needed money to purchase oxygen. This case exemplifies how romance scams can exploit emotional vulnerabilities regardless of how implausible the cover story may seem.
netflix.com
· 2025-12-07
Netflix's "Love Con Revenge" follows host Cecilie Fjellhøy (a former "Tinder Swindler" victim) and private investigator Brianne Joseph as they investigate romance scams and help victims pursue justice. The series documents cases including a man who manipulated a woman out of thousands by fabricating military trauma stories, and another who posed as a doctor while orchestrating approximately $2 million in fraud against his wife and her daughters. The hosts emphasize that romance fraud is widespread and encourage victims to come forward despite the emotional and financial devastation, as well as challenges in holding perpetrators accountable.
netflix.com
· 2025-12-07
Romance fraud is a crime where scammers create fake relationships to steal money or personal information from victims, costing Americans over $1 billion annually. The documentary series "Love Con Revenge" features Cecilie Fjellhøy (known from the "Tinder Swindler" case) and private investigator Brianne Joseph breaking down warning signs such as "love bombing," "future faking," and manufactured crises, while highlighting how law enforcement often fails to prioritize these cases, allowing serial scammers to continue victimizing others. The experts recommend victims report suspected scams immediately to social media platforms and emphasize the importance of overcoming shame to seek help and justice.
949thebull.iheart.com
· 2025-12-07
The article does not contain sufficient details to provide a proper summary for the Elderus database. While it mentions that a woman fell victim to a romance scam described as "one of the worst," the piece lacks specific information about the victim, the scammer, dollar amounts lost, or the outcome of the case. The article appears to be a transcript or teaser for a podcast episode that covers multiple unrelated topics.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Netflix's new six-episode series *Love Con Revenge* follows fraud survivor Cecilie Fjellhøy and private investigator Brianne Joseph as they investigate romance scams, where con artists use fake online personas to trick victims into falling in love and stealing their money. The series examines the emotional and financial toll of this "modern crime that is exploding" globally, with Fjellhøy leveraging her experience from the 2022 documentary *The Tinder Swindler* to help victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
sg.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Simon Leviev (real name Shimon Hayut), who defrauded approximately $10 million from multiple victims through romance scams on Tinder, served only five months of his 15-month Israeli prison sentence before his release in 2020. After the 2022 Netflix documentary *The Tinder Swindler* exposed his crimes, Leviev dismissed the allegations, attempted to launch an entertainment career, and in 2025 created a cryptocurrency called TIND, while reportedly living in Dubai and remaining banned from Tinder. One of his victims, Cecilie Fjellhøy, lost nearly £200,000 and has since partnere
netflixjunkie.com
· 2025-12-07
Netflix's documentary series "Love Con Revenge" exposes the mechanics of romance scams, featuring victim Cecilie Fjellhøy and investigator Brianne Joseph as they examine how scammers use tactics like "love bombing" and "future faking" to manipulate victims for financial gain. The series highlights the emotional toll on victims including shame and self-blame, while providing guidance on recognizing warning signs, documenting suspicious behavior, and reporting to authorities, with emphasis on the need for stronger identity verification by social media platforms.