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in Romance Scam
wccbcharlotte.com
· 2025-12-07
Privacy Journal's 2025 study comparing 100 U.S. cities across six safety metrics found Vermont to be the safest state for online dating, while Nevada ranks as the most dangerous due to high rates of identity theft, romance scams, and violent crime. Arizona reports the highest number of romance scam cases, while South Carolina and North Carolina rank among the riskiest states overall, driven by elevated rates across multiple risk factors including STD incidence, violent crime, and fraud reports.
wdbj7.com
· 2025-12-07
A 70-year-old Virginia man lost thousands of dollars in a year-long romance scam in which he believed he was communicating with Canadian actress Amber Marshall on Facebook and messaging app Zangi, ultimately losing money meant for rent. According to Virginia Tech elder mistreatment expert Pam Teaster, seniors are disproportionately targeted by romance scams that exploit loneliness; the FBI reported 17,910 romance scam complaints in 2024 resulting in over $672 million in total losses. The victim is sharing his story to educate others, emphasizing that combating these scams requires both education and addressing societal loneliness among elderly individuals.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman from Hokkaido, Japan lost approximately 1 million yen (US$6,700) in a romance scam after a fraudster posing as a distressed astronaut contacted her on social media in July, gradually building trust before requesting money for "life-saving oxygen" through convenience store transfers. Police in Sapporo classified the case as a romance scam and warned residents of similar schemes. The article provides guidance on protecting oneself from romance scams, including avoiding money transfers to strangers, verifying profile pictures, recognizing red flags like platform-switching requests, and consulting trusted individuals before sharing personal information or funds.
sportskeeda.com
· 2025-12-07
Love Con Revenge is a docuseries hosted by romance fraud survivor Cecilie Fjellhøy and investigator Brianne Joseph that examines how scammers build false relationships to financially and emotionally exploit victims. The series exposes common tactics such as fake professions and fabricated crises while highlighting the personal toll on survivors and obstacles they face in seeking justice. The article also recommends six similar docuseries that explore fraud, manipulation, and psychological exploitation, including Love Fraud, Bad Vegan, and The Puppet Master.
gov.mo
· 2025-12-07
Macao Polytechnic University partnered with the Judiciary Police to conduct anti-fraud education for approximately 3,000 new students through seminars and an interactive "Anti-Scam Promotion Vehicle." The activities educated students about common fraud schemes including police impersonation, romance scams, brushing scams, and phishing, using real-world case simulations and engaging games to strengthen fraud awareness and prevention capabilities. The university plans to continue these anti-fraud initiatives as part of the Macao government's "On-campus Anti-scam 'Vaccination' Programme."
chainalysis.com
· 2025-12-07
This Q&A features Lieutenant Colonel Chitsanupong Waidee from Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau discussing how blockchain analysis tools help law enforcement investigate cryptocurrency crimes. He highlights a significant cross-border scam case involving TRON and Ethereum wallets used to launder funds from Thai victims through Myanmar scam compounds, connected to human trafficking networks. Waidee emphasizes that while blockchain is pseudonymous rather than anonymous, proper investigative tools and collaboration between law enforcement and financial institutions make crypto transactions traceable and have helped dismantle scam operations affecting ordinary people.
tribuneindia.com
· 2025-12-07
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime warned that East Timor, specifically the digital free trade zone of Oecusse Ambeno, has become a target for transnational scam centre operations linked to organized crime networks, including China's 14K Triad group and entities in Cambodia. An August law enforcement raid uncovered SIM cards and satellite communication devices used in scam operations generating billions through offshore gambling, romance scams, and investment fraud, while also exposing human trafficking risks and the use of shell companies and multiple passports to evade detection.
aviationa2z.com
· 2025-12-07
Two flight attendants at Biman Bangladesh Airlines orchestrated romance scams targeting affluent business class passengers, using their positions to build trust, manipulate travel schedules, and extract gifts, cash, and intimate media totaling nearly $18,000 before ghosting or blackmailing victims. Complaints filed with the airline and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh involved at least two confirmed victims—a Doha-based businessman and a Dhaka resident—who experienced emotional manipulation, threats, and demands for valuables including an iPhone 16, diamond rings, and wedding funds. The case highlights how scammers exploit professional roles and travel contexts to gain victim confidence, with investigators examining whether victims from other
philstarlife.com
· 2025-12-07
An elderly woman in Hokkaido, Japan was defrauded of approximately 1 million yen (about $382,764) in a romance scam after meeting a person claiming to be an astronaut on social media who convinced her he needed money for oxygen while stranded in space. The woman developed romantic feelings during their online exchanges, making her vulnerable to the scammer's fabricated crisis. Police warn that Japan's aging population is frequently targeted by various organized fraud schemes and recommend being suspicious of any social media contacts requesting cash payments.
onlineathens.com
· 2025-12-07
Dorian Wilkerson, a former math instructor from Georgia, scammed his wife Shareza Jackson out of more than $2 million by falsely claiming to be a cosmetic surgeon at Emory Hospital and convincing her to take out loans to fund a fake clinic called The Best U Now. The scheme was featured in Netflix's docuseries *Love Con Revenge*, which premiered in 2024, and revealed how Wilkerson used romantic manipulation and false credentials to exploit his spouse. Despite Jackson filing a civil suit and the national exposure from the documentary, Wilkerson was never criminally charged, remains free in Atlanta, and has not repaid the stolen funds.
techbuzzireland.com
· 2025-12-07
Romance fraud is increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using manipulated images, deepfake videos, and cloned voices to build trust before exploiting victims emotionally and financially. Since 2020, 245 people reported romance fraud in Ireland with average losses of €28,500, totaling over €7 million, with some victims losing over €450,000. Experts warn that as more people return to online dating in autumn, awareness of these emotionally manipulative scams is critical, as victims often discover the fraud too late due to how convincingly the schemes are designed.
businessworld.in
· 2025-12-07
Cybercrimes against India's elderly surged 86% between 2020 and 2022, with criminals exploiting vulnerabilities including loneliness, cognitive decline, and digital illiteracy through impersonation scams, investment fraud, romance scams, and technical deception. Notable cases include a retired colonel losing Rs 3.4 crore after fraudsters impersonated law enforcement and a 75-year-old losing Rs 13 crore through a WhatsApp investment scam, with digital payment fraud projected to exceed Rs 1.2 lakh crore by 2025. Experts emphasize that protection requires a blend of technological safeguards (AI
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-07
This article discusses how modern fraud tactics have evolved to become more sophisticated and technology-driven, with criminals using AI-powered tools and social engineering techniques to compromise accounts before transactions occur. Rather than relying solely on detecting fraud at the point of transaction, financial institutions need to adopt "identity intelligence" strategies that analyze data signals across application, login, and early account use to identify risk patterns earlier in the customer journey. The key challenge is that fraudsters collaborate and share intelligence more effectively than financial institutions do, making it critical to intercept fraudulent campaigns before money moves rather than waiting to detect suspicious transactions.
aljazeera.com
· 2025-12-07
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warned that East Timor's Oecusse enclave has become a new hub for transnational scam operations, following an August law enforcement raid that uncovered SIM cards, Starlink devices, and links to China's 14K Triad and Cambodian scam networks. The raid arrested 30 workers from Indonesia, Malaysia, and China, with authorities finding evidence of online romance scams, illegal gambling, investment fraud, and potential human trafficking schemes that generate billions in criminal revenue. Criminal groups are exploiting East Timor's newly established digital free trade zone and shell companies to evade detection as law
thestandard.com.hk
· 2025-12-07
I can see this is a news page listing multiple headlines, but it doesn't contain the full article text needed to provide a proper summary.
Based on the visible headlines related to fraud, here are summaries of the scam stories mentioned:
1. **Japanese woman romance scam**: A Japanese woman was scammed out of ¥1 million by an online scammer posing as an astronaut who claimed to have an oxygen emergency.
2. **Hong Kong married woman romance scam**: A married woman in Hong Kong lost $1.4 million to a scammer impersonating a handsome PLA (People's Liberation Army) officer.
3. **Hong Kong gold trader romance scam**:
gobankingrates.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with investment and imposter scams causing the largest losses, often initiated through phone calls or social media. Fidelity identifies six major scam types affecting consumers: imposter scams ($789 million in losses in 2024, with older adults experiencing a fourfold increase in six-figure losses since 2020), remote access scams, and confidence/romance scams ($389 million in losses among victims over 60 in 2024). Protection strategies include ignoring unsolicited contact requests, never granting remote access or sharing security codes, avoiding suspicious links and downloads, and refusing to send money to people met
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article outlines six prevalent scams targeting Americans: phishing emails and texts impersonating legitimate companies; online shopping fraud through fake websites (accounting for nearly one-third of reported scams in 2023); fake job offers requiring upfront payments (16,000+ complaints in 2023 totaling $81 million in losses); romance scams costing victims $1.14 billion in 2023; tech support scams resulting in $600 million in losses primarily affecting older adults; and fake check/overpayment scams targeting online sellers. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including verifying communications directly with companies, using secure payment methods, and avoiding clicking
chillifm.com.au
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Hokkaido, Japan, lost approximately $10,000 AUD between July and August after meeting a man online who claimed to be an astronaut stuck in space needing money for oxygen—a romance scam that exploited her emotional attachment to the fraudster. Police confirmed the scam and reported the case as a warning, noting this was not an isolated incident, as another elderly Japanese woman had paid $30,000 in a similar astronaut-themed scam in 2022. The case illustrates how online romance scammers manipulate victims' emotions and create false urgency to extract money, with recovery of funds being nearly impossible once transferred.
ourculturemag.com
· 2025-12-07
This article discusses the Netflix docuseries "Love Con Revenge," which premiered recently and follows victims of romance scams as they work toward recovery and confront their fraudsters. The show, featuring Tinder Swindler victim Cecilie Fjellhøy and investigator Brianne Joseph, educates viewers on recognizing romance scam warning signs while highlighting the psychological impact on victims and systemic failures by authorities and social media platforms to address these crimes.
futurism.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Sapporo, Japan lost approximately $6,750 (1 million yen) in a romance scam after meeting a scammer on social media who claimed to be an astronaut trapped in space and suffocating, requiring urgent funds for oxygen. The article notes that romance scams are surging globally, with U.S. victims losing $1.14 billion in 2023 with a median loss of over $2,000 per person, and warns that elderly populations are particularly vulnerable as scammers increasingly use AI deepfakes, voice synthesizers, and chatbots to make their schemes more convincing.
nz.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Sapporo, Japan, lost approximately 1 million yen ($6,750) to a romance scam in which a fraudster posing as an astronaut claimed to be stranded in space and urgently needed money to buy oxygen. The article notes that romance scams are surging globally, with US victims losing $1.14 billion in 2023, and that elderly people are particularly vulnerable due to advancing AI technologies enabling increasingly convincing deepfakes, voice synthesis, and chatbot interactions.
ca.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A Boise, Idaho gas station clerk named Avalon Hardy intervened to stop at least seven cryptocurrency scams targeting elderly customers by questioning suspicious Bitcoin ATM transactions and unplugging the machine to prevent a 79-year-old from losing $15,000 and a 75-year-old from losing $19,000. Crypto fraud has become increasingly prevalent, with scammers using tactics like impersonation, fake government agencies, and AI-powered deepfakes to target older adults, who reported losses exceeding $1.6 billion in 2023 alone and are the most vulnerable demographic to these schemes.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in the past year, with investment and imposter scams causing the largest losses, often initiated via phone calls or social media. Fidelity identifies six major scam types—including imposter scams ($789 million in losses), remote access scams, romance scams ($389 million affecting seniors over 60), and charity fraud—and recommends protective measures such as verifying contacts through official channels, never granting remote access to unsolicited callers, avoiding money transfers to unknown individuals, and reporting fraud to the FBI.
nasdaq.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in the last year, with investment and imposter scams causing the greatest losses, according to the FTC. Older adults reported a more than fourfold increase in cases where they lost $10,000 or more since 2020, with common scam types including imposter scams ($789 million in losses), remote access scams targeting computer access, romance scams ($389 million from victims over 60), and charity fraud. Protection strategies include ignoring unsolicited contact requests, verifying organizations directly through official channels, never granting remote access to unknown parties, and being cautious of romance solicitations that progress quickly or
webpronews.com
· 2025-12-07
The Bank of Thailand froze over 3 million bank accounts and imposed daily transfer limits of 50,000-200,000 baht in September 2025 to combat online scams that have cost victims an estimated 6 billion baht. While targeting fraudulent "mule accounts," the measures have inadvertently affected innocent users including small businesses, vendors, elderly citizens, and foreign residents, causing widespread economic disruption and panic. Critics argue the automated detection system casts too wide a net, and the BOT has promised expedited account reviews but faces skepticism over implementation delays and insufficient victim support mechanisms.
barristerng.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational guide explains how AI-powered deepfake scams work, including voice cloning, CEO fraud, and video impersonation schemes that use synthetic media to impersonate trusted individuals and extract money or sensitive information. Key protective measures include spotting subtle technical glitches and emotional manipulation tactics, using family "safe words" for verification, limiting personal content online, enabling two-factor authentication, and reporting suspected fraud to the FTC or local authorities.
news.ssbcrack.com
· 2025-12-07
In September 2025, Thailand's Bank of Thailand froze over 3 million bank accounts and imposed daily transfer limits of 50,000-200,000 baht to combat online scams that had stolen approximately 6 billion baht from victims. While the freeze targeted "mule accounts" used for money laundering, it inadvertently froze accounts of innocent users including small business owners and elderly individuals, causing widespread panic and economic disruption. The BOT committed to expedited account reviews but faced criticism over insufficient victim support systems, bureaucratic delays, and broader impacts on Thailand's digital economy and expatriate communities.
royalexaminer.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational article identifies six major cryptocurrency scam tactics targeting consumers: demands for crypto payment, fake investment managers showing false account growth, romance scams involving crypto solicitation, AI-generated celebrity endorsement videos, corporate impersonation schemes, and pressure tactics promising unrealistic returns. The article advises cryptocurrency investors and curious consumers to recognize these red flags, verify sources independently, and avoid sending crypto payments to anyone applying pressure or making unrealistic promises, noting that legitimate businesses and government agencies never demand cryptocurrency payment.
newsmobile.in
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams are a growing global fraud where perpetrators create fake online identities to build emotional trust with victims before requesting money for fabricated emergencies. Americans lost nearly $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023, with notable cases including a California woman losing over $2 million and a Bengaluru tech professional losing ₹35 lakh, while scammers typically disappear after extracting funds. Protection strategies include reverse-image searching profiles, avoiding money requests regardless of circumstances, using reputable dating platforms with verification, and reporting fraud to authorities like the FBI's IC3 or India's National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
soapcentral.com
· 2025-12-07
Netflix's September 2025 documentary series "Love Con Revenge" examines romance fraud on dating apps like Tinder, following victim Cecilie Fjellhøy and investigator Brianne Joseph as they expose how scammers use fabricated emotional intimacy, manufactured crises, and personal information exploitation to defraud unsuspecting users. The series highlights that victims suffer both significant financial losses and severe psychological trauma including betrayal and shame, while many perpetrators escape prosecution due to jurisdictional issues, insufficient evidence, and legal systems that do not treat romance fraud with appropriate seriousness. The documentary underscores how even cautious individuals are vulnerable to these schemes and advocates for stronger platform safeguards
pymnts.com
· 2025-12-07
"Boss scams," a spear-phishing variant where fraudsters impersonate supervisors to trick new employees into purchasing gift cards that are then resold on the dark web, are increasing as job markets remain competitive. Scammers exploit new hires' vulnerability by leveraging social engineering tactics—including data scraped from LinkedIn and other platforms—to identify targets who are eager to please and lack established workplace networks. Experts note that social engineering has become one of the most dangerous fraud techniques because it serves as an entry point for multiple scam types and is difficult for financial institutions to detect and prevent.
thedailyjagran.com
· 2025-12-07
Two Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight attendants, Mst Maury and Khadija Sultana Shimu, are under investigation for operating romance scams targeting wealthy businessmen and executives, including a Qatari businessman and Bangladeshi entrepreneur who reported losses including an iPhone 16, jewelry, cash totaling approximately 1.62 crore Bangladeshi Taka, and emotional harm through blackmail using intimate photos. The attendants allegedly manipulated flight schedules to create frequent encounters with victims, promised marriage and relationships, extracted expensive gifts and cash, and then abruptly ended contact or threatened victims with intimate images. Biman Bangladesh Airlines confirmed receiving complaints and stated that if
benzinga.com
· 2025-12-07
A 66-year-old Montana woman named Rita lost over $90,000 in a romance scam after being deceived by someone posing as a celebrity on social media who claimed to be going through a divorce; the scammer eventually moved conversations to an anonymous messaging platform and requested payments in Bitcoin. It took Rita approximately 4½ months to recognize she was being defrauded, and she shared her story publicly to warn others that romance scams—which use fake intimate relationships to manipulate victims—are among the costliest internet crimes, with over 7,600 victims aged 60 and older losing approximately $389 million in 2024 according to the FBI.
christianindex.org
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are increasingly targeting vulnerable older adults, particularly widows and widowers, with fake identities designed to extract money and personal financial information. Scammers typically initiate contact, move conversations to encrypted messaging apps to avoid detection, and create elaborate stories (such as being stranded overseas or in jail) to justify requests for money, with victims losing thousands of dollars. The nonprofit Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS) established World Romance Scam Prevention Day to raise awareness, noting that victims often experience psychological manipulation and financial hardship with little recourse for recovering lost funds.
thebaptistpaper.org
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams targeting vulnerable older adults, particularly widows, are increasing on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, with scammers using fake identities and emotional manipulation to extract money and financial information. One victim lost at least $40,000 after meeting a scammer through a Words With Friends game who claimed to work on an offshore oil rig and requested funds for various emergencies. The nonprofit Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS) established World Romance Scam Prevention Day to raise awareness, noting that scammers typically initiate contact on social media, move conversations to encrypted messaging apps to avoid law enforcement, and employ elaborate stories about foreign locations or financial hardships to justify requests for
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
· 2025-12-07
A woman in her 70s in Seoul was prevented from sending 27 million won ($19,400) to a romance scammer posing as a retiring U.S. soldier after a bank teller and police officers intervened. The scammer had built a relationship with the victim through social media, claiming he wanted to marry her and requesting money for shipping and travel expenses. Police spent three hours explaining the scam to the woman before convincing her not to transfer the funds.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A 66-year-old Montana woman named Rita lost $90,000 in a romance scam after developing an emotional connection with someone posing as a celebrity over social media and encrypted messaging platforms. The scammer, who claimed to be going through a divorce like Rita, eventually requested payments in Bitcoin, and it took her 4½ months to recognize the fraud. Rita shared her story as a public service announcement, noting that romance and confidence scams resulted in over $389 million in losses to more than 7,600 victims over 60 in 2024.
ca.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
An 89-year-old woman from Vaudreuil, Quebec, lost over $50,000 in February 2024 when a scammer posing as an anti-fraud squad member convinced her to provide bank information, resulting in bounced rent cheques and the threat of losing her home. The incident exemplifies a broader problem in Canada, where seniors are the most targeted demographic for fraud; the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported $638 million in fraud losses in 2024, with impersonation scams being among the fastest-growing types. To protect themselves, seniors should verify caller identity before sharing personal information, confirm relatives' whereabouts when contacted about emergencies, an
krdo.com
· 2025-12-07
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.
screenrant.com
· 2025-12-07
Shimon Hayut, the subject of Netflix's 2022 documentary *The Tinder Swindler*, was arrested in Georgia for allegedly stealing over $52,000 from a woman in Berlin through romance fraud and identity theft—his second arrest for fraud following a 2019 conviction. Hayut had run dating scams on women worldwide by posing as a diamond mogul's son on Tinder, and is believed to have defrauded over $10 million in total. He faces a three-month detention in Georgia pending potential extradition to Germany and additional criminal charges.
ladailypost.com
· 2025-12-07
This article describes a romance scam attempt on Instagram, where the author received a suspicious friend request followed by a message using flattering language from a fake profile featuring stolen images of an attractive, wealthy-looking man. The piece educates readers on identifying romance scammers by recognizing red flags such as unusual phrasing, vague profiles, refusal to video call, and eventual requests for money, and advises blocking suspicious accounts immediately rather than engaging with them.
independent.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams targeting people over 55 have surged 52% in the past year, with the 55-64 age group most frequently victimized and those aged 75-84 losing the most money on average (£8,068 compared to the £5,219 average across all ages), according to Lloyds Banking Group data. Scammers commonly impersonate military personnel, oil rig workers, doctors, or engineers and request money for medical emergencies, travel expenses, or legal fees, often directing victims to send funds via bank transfer or gift cards. The article provides warning signs and real cases, including an 80-year-old woman defraude
13wham.com
· 2025-12-07
Eight individuals, including a Rochester woman, were charged federally after defrauding over 139 Western New York seniors of approximately $11 million through romance scams, account hacking, identity theft, and customer support scams. Estermarie Jones allegedly used victims' personal information to create fraudulent driver's licenses and open bank accounts, while the suspects faced charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. The investigation was aided by a newly formed Rochester-based task force called Save Our Seniors.
wesh.com
· 2025-12-07
Orange and Osceola counties' state attorney reported a 14% increase in scams targeting seniors from 2023 to 2024, with romance scams and law enforcement impersonation schemes being the most prevalent. Scammers build fake online relationships with older adults, then create urgency to extract money via wire transfers or gift cards, while others impersonate law enforcement claiming outstanding warrants or bail needs. Prevention is critical since perpetrators are often overseas and difficult to prosecute; residents are advised to hang up on unsolicited calls, avoid clicking links, never send cash or gift cards to strangers, and verify suspicious emails through search engines.
wesh.com
· 2025-12-07
From 2023 to 2024, Orange and Osceola Counties, Florida experienced a 14% increase in scams targeting seniors, prompting State Attorney Monique Worrell to issue a public warning. The two primary scam types are romance scams—where perpetrators build online relationships and request money for emergencies or travel—and law enforcement impersonation scams claiming outstanding warrants or bail requirements. Worrell emphasized that prevention is critical since many scammers operate overseas and are difficult to prosecute, advising seniors to avoid sending cash or gift cards to unknown individuals, verify suspicious emails through search engines, and pause when confronted with urgent requests.
13wham.com
· 2025-12-07
Eight individuals, including a Rochester woman, were charged federally after defrauding over 139 Western New York seniors of approximately $11 million through romance scams, account hacking, identity theft, and customer support scams. The defendants used various tactics such as creating fake driver's licenses, opening fraudulent bank accounts, and impersonating government employees to steal victims' personal information and money. The charges include mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy, with the investigation led by a newly formed Rochester-based working group called Save Our Seniors.
ny1.com
· 2025-12-07
Eight individuals across the U.S. were arrested and charged with defrauding 139 seniors of over $11 million through multiple schemes including romance scams, counterfeit checks, account hacking, and identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. The coordinated operation resulted in charges related to both completed and attempted fraud against elderly victims.
hastingstribune.com
· 2025-12-07
This educational piece describes four common scams targeting seniors age 60 and older: Social Security impostor scams (where criminals falsely claim account suspension and request gift card transfers), tech support scams (fraudsters pose as company representatives to gain remote device access and charge bogus fees), lottery scams (perpetrators claim victims won foreign lotteries and demand fees until funds are depleted), and romance scams (scammers use dating sites to build relationships and solicit money). The Elder Justice Initiative provides information on these fraud schemes to help older adults recognize and avoid becoming victims of financial exploitation.
whec.com
· 2025-12-07
Eight individuals from Georgia, Ohio, Florida, New Jersey, and Western New York were arrested for participating in elder fraud schemes that defrauded over 139 victims nationwide of more than $11 million in actual and attempted fraud. The suspects employed various tactics including romance fraud, customer support scams, impersonation of federal employees, retirement account hacking, counterfeit checks, and identity theft. The arrests were made by the "Save Our Seniors" task force, a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, with one of the arrested individuals, Estermarie Jones, being from Rochester.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Eight people from across the U.S. were arrested and charged with defrauding 139 seniors of over $11 million through romance scams, counterfeit checks, gold bar schemes, account hacking, and identity theft. The defendants, operating in New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and New York, face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft, with sentences carrying up to 15-30 years in prison. The arrests were facilitated by Save Our Seniors, a working group of federal, state, and local authorities formed to collaborate on elder fraud investigations.