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Olamide Shanu, a 34-year-old Nigerian man, was extradited to the U.S. and charged with operating sextortion and romance scams that defrauded numerous victims across the country of at least $2 million. Shanu and his conspirators posed as women on social media to coerce victims into sending explicit images, then extorted money by threatening to share the images, while also running parallel romance scams using fake identities to manipulate victims into sending money through payment apps, gift cards, and cryptocurrency. If convicted on charges including wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and cyberstalking, Shanu faces up to 20 years in

Olamide Shanu, a 34-year-old Nigerian man, was extradited from the United Kingdom and charged in federal court in Idaho with defrauding victims of at least $2 million through sextortion and romance scams. Shanu and co-conspirators allegedly posed as women on social media to trick male victims into sending explicit images, then threatened to distribute them unless payments were made, with proceeds laundered through cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer payment apps. He faces eight federal charges carrying up to 20 years in prison and potential restitution to victims.

A US federal court sentenced Nigerian national Adetomiwa Seun Akindele to nearly six years in prison for defrauding an elderly American woman of $1.6 million in a romance scam, in which he posed as a wealthy Italian-American businessman and convinced her to transfer funds through cryptocurrency accounts between January and October 2018. Akindele was ordered to repay $1,692,945 in restitution and will be deported to Nigeria after completing his sentence following guilty pleas to wire fraud and money laundering charges.

A 34-year-old Nigerian man was extradited to the United States to face federal charges for operating cyber-enabled sextortion and romance scams that targeted victims across the country, including an Idaho college student. Shanu and his co-conspirators impersonated women on social media to coerce victims into sharing sexual images, then extorted money by threatening to distribute the images to family and friends, while also conducting romance scams and laundering at least $2 million in proceeds through payment platforms and cryptocurrency. If convicted on eight counts including wire fraud, identity theft, extortion, and money laundering, Shanu faces up to 20 years in federal prison and restitution to victims.

Americans lose billions annually to sophisticated investment fraud schemes that have evolved to exploit digital platforms and psychological manipulation, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting substantial increases in complaints related to romance scams and fake investment opportunities. Common fraud tactics include romance-based investment schemes, Ponzi schemes promising unrealistic returns, cryptocurrency fraud exploiting digital confusion, and fake financial advisor services targeting seniors, all of which use advanced technology, fake websites, testimonials, and social pressure to build false credibility. Recognizing warning signs—such as guaranteed high returns, pressure to invest quickly, difficulty withdrawing funds, and reluctance to provide detailed information—is essential for protecting against these increasingly sophisticated threats across all demographics.

37-year-old Nigerian national Adetomiwa Seun Akindele was sentenced to 71 months in prison for a romance scam in which he posed as "Frank Labato," a wealthy Italian-American businessman, and defrauded a widowed Colorado woman of $1.7 million in cryptocurrency over 10 months in 2018. Akindele will be deported to Nigeria after serving his sentence; he exploited the speed and irretraceability of cryptocurrency to move the funds through multiple exchanges before converting them to dollars in his bank accounts.

A Nigerian national living in Minnesota was sentenced to 71 months in prison for operating a romance scam that defrauded a widowed Colorado woman of $1.6 million. Adetomiwa Seun Akindele posed as a wealthy Italian American businessman named "Frank Labato" online, and after gaining the victim's trust, claimed financial hardship and requested money, which he then laundered through cryptocurrency before depositing it into his bank accounts. Following his prison term, Akindele will be deported.

A Nigerian national, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded over $6 million from more than 400 elderly and vulnerable victims. The scheme involved sending personalized letters falsely claiming victims had unclaimed inheritances from overseas relatives, then requesting upfront fees for delivery, taxes, and other costs; the perpetrators collected money through a network of U.S.-based money mules, and victims never received any inheritance. Akhimie is the eighth defendant sentenced in connection with the scheme, which was investigated by U.S. law enforcement and international authorities from

A Nigerian national was sentenced to 97 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that targeted over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans, defrauding them of more than $6 million. Akhimie and his co-conspirators sent personalized letters falsing claiming victims were entitled to overseas inheritances, then demanded upfront fees for delivery and taxes that victims never recovered. This is the eighth defendant sentenced in the scheme, with another co-conspirator extradited from Portugal also receiving a 97-month sentence.

Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, with adults over 60 being frequent targets due to their savings, limited digital experience, and trust in official-sounding communications. The article provides 10 protective strategies for seniors, including not answering unknown numbers, rejecting unsolicited calls from government agencies, never sharing personal information over the phone, resisting pressure tactics and unusual payment requests (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), verifying impersonators through independent sources, consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious requests, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.

In 2024, Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams, with adults over 60 being frequent targets due to their savings, limited digital experience, and trust in official-sounding messages. Modern scammers employ sophisticated tactics like AI voice cloning and deepfake videos to impersonate loved ones and government agencies. The article provides ten practical tips for seniors to avoid scams, including not answering unknown numbers, never sharing personal information over the phone, recognizing pressure tactics, avoiding unusual payment methods, verifying identities through trusted sources, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.

This resource is a law enforcement guide for investigating cryptocurrency-enabled scams, which have caused at least $53 billion in losses since 2023, with figures likely underreported due to delayed victim reporting. The guide provides investigators with essential terminology, investigation methodologies, and blockchain forensics techniques to trace fraudulent cryptocurrency transactions and identify the real-world controllers behind pseudonymous addresses. It serves as a practical manual for police and law enforcement professionals to understand and combat crypto-related investment scams, phishing schemes, and other cryptocurrency fraud.

An elderly woman in Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately $6,700 (1 million yen) to a scammer who contacted her on social media and claimed to be an astronaut stranded in a damaged spacecraft running out of oxygen. The victim sent money after the scammer requested funds to purchase oxygen, falling for what police identified as a classic advance-fee fraud scheme targeting vulnerable elderly populations.

A 40-year-old Nigerian national, Leslie Chinedu Mba, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $4 million fraud scheme from 2018 to 2023 that included business email compromise scams and romance fraud targeting victims across the United States. The scheme involved hackers gaining unauthorized access to business email accounts and redirecting payments to fraudulent accounts controlled by Mba and his co-conspirators, causing significant financial harm to small businesses, elderly individuals, and their retirement savings. To protect yourself, verify payment requests through independent contact with businesses using known phone numbers or websites, be cautious of unsolicited romantic advances online, and report suspicious financial activity to your bank and the FBI immediately.

Two Nigerian men face lengthy prison sentences in the United States after pleading guilty to serious crimes: Leslie Mba, 40, admitted to orchestrating romance scams and business email fraud schemes that stole $4 million from American victims between 2018 and 2023, along with fraudulent immigration applications, while 22-year-old Godson Oghenebrume pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm while on a student visa. Mba faces up to 20 years in prison with potential fines, with sentencing scheduled for February 2026, while Oghenebrume faces separate charges. To protect themselves, people should be cautious of unsolicited romantic advances from strangers online, verify requests for money or personal information directly with known contacts, and report suspicious emails or communications to authorities.

A Nigerian man was extradited from the UK to face eight federal charges for allegedly defrauding Idahoans out of at least $2 million through romance and sextortion scams. He posed as a woman on social media to deceive male victims into sending explicit images, then threatened to share the photos with their families unless they paid. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

This episode from the Bangkok Post examines Thailand's growing cyber scam epidemic, which has expanded into a trillion-dollar industry over the past three years as both scammer and victim numbers have surged. The content outlines common scam tactics including advance-fee schemes (fake Nigerian prince emails), phishing attacks impersonating banks and government agencies to steal identity and funds, and tech support scams where fraudsters pose as Microsoft to gain computer access. The episode illustrates how modern cyber scams are adaptations of centuries-old swindle techniques now conducted through digital channels.

This is a transcript excerpt from the Smashing Security podcast (Episode 413) featuring hosts Graeme Cluey and Carol Tero discussing cybersecurity topics, including a mention of a Swiss cybersecurity company launching a "CIS initiative" and references to Nigerian fraud schemes (419 scams). The transcript appears to be a partial, auto-generated recording with significant repetition and unclear audio quality, making it unsuitable for detailed summarization of specific fraud cases or elder abuse incidents.

Florida residents, particularly seniors, are experiencing widespread scam calls and text messages, including toll balance fraud and unsolicited calls from unknown numbers. According to board-certified elder law attorney Jana McConna, vulnerable seniors—especially those who are isolated, lonely, recently widowed, or experiencing memory issues—are actively being targeted, with scammers exploiting emotional vulnerability and cognitive decline to financially manipulate victims. McConna emphasizes that isolation and loneliness are key risk factors that make seniors susceptible to fraud schemes.

Three Nigerian men in their 40s were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating romance and investment scams that targeted victims across America from 2017 to 2021, including a Western Tennessee resident who lost $400,000. The perpetrators used fake identities on social media and dating sites, posing as romantic partners and repeatedly requesting emergency financial assistance from victims. Law enforcement urges scam victims to report incidents to police, as victims of romance scams often face additional risks including identity theft when they unknowingly share personal information with fraudsters.

This is an introductory webinar hosted by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau on payments industry practices for combating elder financial exploitation. The session provides participants with access to slides, resources, and a discussion platform to explore strategies and tools for preventing elder financial abuse within the payments sector.

This is a podcast introduction featuring Arun Rao, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ's Consumer Protection Branch, discussing the growing sophistication of fraud schemes targeting consumers and elders. Rao explains how technological advances such as robocalls, text, email, and social media have enabled fraudsters to refine their tactics and target victims with greater precision. The discussion covers the DOJ's consumer protection work, cybercrime, elder fraud, and data privacy issues.

A YouTube content creator known as "Skip" operates a scam-baiting channel with over 3 million followers that exposes online scams targeting vulnerable people. The creator deliberately engages with scammers through fake scenarios (such as fake cryptocurrency and gift card redemption schemes) to waste their time and reveal their tactics, preventing them from targeting actual victims. This educational approach demonstrates common scam methods and how scammers attempt to manipulate people into believing they can easily access free money or cryptocurrency.

Scammers are using artificial intelligence to clone voices and create fake audio and video impersonations to defraud victims, with AI impostor scams becoming the leading form of fraud in the past year, affecting over 850,000 people and causing $2.7 billion in losses. A common variant involves victims receiving frantic calls from AI-cloned voices of family members claiming to be kidnapped and demanding ransom money, as exemplified by an Arizona mother who testified before Congress after receiving a convincing call from her daughter's cloned voice begging for help. Experts warn this emerging fraud threat requires increased awareness and caution, as voice cloning technology has become easily accessible to bad actors worldwide

**Pig Butchering Scams Overview** "Pig Butchering" is a romance/investment scam that typically begins with unsolicited text messages appearing to be sent to the wrong person, establishing false familiarity and trust. Scammers then gradually build relationships with victims and persuade them to invest money in fraudulent cryptocurrency or trading schemes, often resulting in significant financial losses. The scam gets its name from the process of cultivating ("fattening") victims before extracting ("butchering") their money.