Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 19,276 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
7,257 results
in General Elder Fraud
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, older adults lost a record $12.5 billion to scams and fraud—a 25 percent increase from 2023—with adults in their 70s reporting median losses of $1,000 compared to $417 for those in their 20s. The most common scams were imposter schemes (particularly government impostors, which surged from $171 million to $789 million), followed by online shopping, job opportunity, and investment scams, with investment fraud being the most lucrative for criminals at $5.7 billion in reported losses. The FTC notes that fraud's impact on older adults is often catastrophic, affecting retirement security and forcing
news24.com
· 2025-12-08
Gen Z and Gen Alpha are surprisingly twice as likely to fall victim to online scams, phishing, and social media account hacks compared to baby boomers, despite being digital natives. In the workplace, younger employees prioritize cybersecurity on personal devices over work-issued ones, creating organizational vulnerabilities, while older workers demonstrate greater caution and compliance with security protocols. The research suggests that younger generations' overconfidence in their digital skills and comfort with online sharing leaves them more exposed to cyber threats than older, more security-conscious populations.
woai.iheart.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers target lonely Americans, particularly older individuals, through dating websites and services, exploiting emotional vulnerability to steal money and personal financial information. Cases range from online deception to in-person schemes where perpetrators drug victims to gain unauthorized access to bank accounts, with some victims losing their life savings. Experts note that the prevalence of romance fraud is increasing as more scammers enter the field, making online daters statistically likely to encounter fraudulent actors.
arabnews.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Thailand dismissed Deputy Police Chief Surachate Hakparn (nicknamed "Big Joke") on Tuesday following his involvement in an illegal online gambling network called "Betflix" that was raided in 2023. He was charged with money laundering, which he denies, and has 30 days to appeal his dismissal. While this case involves police corruption rather than elder fraud specifically, it illustrates how organized illegal gambling operations operate and the financial crimes associated with them.
law.georgia.gov
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's Consumer Protection Division secured nearly $80 million for Georgia taxpayers and consumers combined, including $3.3 million in restitution for nearly 500 older and disabled adults who were defrauded into purchasing unproven stem cell products. The division assisted over 26,755 consumers and conducted extensive education and outreach efforts, reaching more than 980,000 people through speaking engagements, webinars, and educational resources to help Georgians recognize and avoid scams and fraud.
wpsdlocal6.com
· 2025-12-08
While younger adults (ages 20-30) are more than twice as likely to fall victim to scams than those over 60, older adults lose significantly more money per incident, accounting for approximately $61 billion of the estimated $158 billion in total consumer fraud losses last year. Scammers tailor their tactics by age group, targeting seniors with tech support and gift card scams while exploiting younger people through romance, shopping, employment, and sextortion schemes. The persistence of the misconception that older adults are the primary victims masks the reality that vulnerability to fraud affects all age groups, requiring vigilance across demographics.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Star Strategies is hosting a Financial Elder Fraud Workshop on March 28 in Wooster, Ohio, featuring FBI Cleveland Division special agents who will discuss current fraud schemes targeting older adults. The workshop will educate participants on how financial scams have evolved and provide practical strategies for protection, in response to older adults losing $538 million to investment scams in 2024.
cyberdaily.au
· 2025-12-08
Australia's reported scam losses dropped 25.9% to $2 billion in 2024, with investment scams accounting for $945 million of losses, followed by romance, payment redirection, remote access, and phishing scams. However, experts warn the reported figures likely underrepresent the true impact, as many victims fail to report scams due to shame and embarrassment, with romance baiting scams being particularly devastating when combined with fake cryptocurrency platforms.
postguam.com
· 2025-12-08
Docomo Pacific issued a public warning about sophisticated AI-driven scam calls targeting elderly residents in Guam, prompted by an incident where the company's CEO's mother received a call from a scammer impersonating a federal agent demanding personal information and threatening home visits. The warning highlights how artificial intelligence now enables scammers to clone voices of family members and gather personal details from social media to pressure seniors into revealing information or sending money. The advisory recommends residents verify callers through trusted contacts, maintain skepticism of unexpected communications, and report suspected scams to the FCC.
powelltribune.com
· 2025-12-08
A senior citizen fell victim to two separate fraud incidents within weeks. First, a fraudulent $330 Amazon charge was made directly from his checking account, which his bank reversed; he later learned other locals had experienced similar fake Amazon charges. Subsequently, his credit card was compromised with multiple unauthorized charges including recurring $19.90 monthly payments to "SMUZIA" (an online gaming site) that had been withdrawing funds for months, along with charges from "SPORTIZAK" ($34.55) and "VIXJY" ($26.79), all of which he disputed with his credit card company.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Portland senior nearly fell victim to a $170,000 gold bar scam in which fraudsters impersonated law enforcement and claimed his Social Security number was compromised, pressuring him to purchase gold bars to "protect" his assets; he avoided the full loss but still lost $4,000 in price differences. A similar scam in Clark County resulted in a victim losing $500,000. The scam typically involves criminals posing as authorities claiming identity theft, then directing victims to quickly purchase precious metals as a supposed protective measure.
chestnuthilllocal.com
· 2025-12-08
AARP Pennsylvania issued a consumer alert about increasingly sophisticated phishing scams designed to steal personal and financial information, noting that phishing was the most commonly reported cybercrime in 2023 with nearly 300,000 complaints and losses exceeding $18.7 million. The advisory recommends protective measures including verifying sender information, avoiding suspicious links, using strong passwords with multi-factor authentication, and reporting suspicious messages to authorities or AARP's fraud helpline at 1-877-908-3360.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-08
A retired IT professional in northeast Ohio, known as "Eastside Eddie," combats robocall and text scams by posing as a victim to waste scammers' time and expose their tactics on YouTube and in community educational classes. Cuyahoga County residents lost over $3.4 million to various scams last year, with two victims losing their homes, prompting both Eddie's vigilante efforts and an official county awareness campaign highlighting common schemes (romance, grandparent, company/government, and lottery scams) and warning signs like requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or remote computer access.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-08
A 77-year-old woman lost $130,000 of her life savings to a lottery scam operated by Darien Deventon Smith and Sheniece Elaine Smith of Connecticut, who convinced her in March 2024 that she had won a jackpot and car but needed to pay various "taxes" and "processing fees" to claim the prize. Over months of manipulation, the victim opened multiple bank accounts and purchased money orders at the scammers' direction before becoming suspicious and contacting authorities; both suspects were arrested in February 2025 and face charges of obtaining money by false pretenses and conspiracy to commit a felony.
charkoosta.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a weather forecast, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. It cannot be summarized for the Elderus database as it contains no relevant information about elder fraud or exploitation.
hoodline.com
· 2025-12-08
A 25-year-old caregiver named Heather Moore was arrested in Ojai, California for financially exploiting an 81-year-old elderly woman by altering and forging checks to steal over $3,000. Moore's fraud was discovered when a vigilant bookkeeper noticed suspicious check alterations and reported the scheme to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Moore was arrested on January 23 and charged with elder abuse, forgery, and grand theft.
du.edu
· 2025-12-08
This article is an educational piece about the University of Denver's research initiatives to improve health outcomes for older adults, particularly focusing on dementia and neurological diseases. Key findings include: Professor Sunil Kumar is developing treatments to halt dementia and Parkinson's progression using a $2.8 million NIH grant, and researcher Daniel Paredes has created a simple blood test using AI to detect early signs of neurological disorders—a faster and more affordable alternative to traditional diagnostic methods. The article also provides practical caregiving advice for families supporting loved ones with dementia, emphasizing the importance of routine, clear communication, and safe environments.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
A 61-year-old personal assistant, Catalina Corona, was indicted on wire fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft charges for stealing approximately $10 million from an elderly New York couple between 2017 and 2024. Corona forged checks made out to cash and impersonated the victims to bank representatives, using the stolen funds to purchase luxury items including over $1 million in Louis Vuitton merchandise, designer goods from Cartier and Gucci, and pay personal expenses. The fraud was discovered in April 2024 when a suspicious $1,500 check prompted a bank representative to contact the victims, who confirmed they had not authorized numerous "
bai.org
· 2025-12-08
Financial institutions must implement transaction monitoring systems and staff training to combat elder financial exploitation, which totaled $27 billion in 155,415 suspicious activity reports between June 2022 and June 2023. The most common exploiters are known individuals—relatives or caregivers—who may have legal access to accounts and use manipulation or coercion, though romantic scams and government impersonation schemes targeting the elderly are also on the rise. Banks and credit unions must balance sensitive customer interactions with regulatory reporting requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act to identify and report suspicious transactions that may indicate elder abuse.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Catalina Corona, a personal assistant employed by an elderly married couple, was arraigned in Brooklyn federal court on charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft after forging her employers' signatures to steal approximately $10 million between 2017 and 2024. Corona deposited hundreds of checks to herself from the victims' accounts without consent and posed as one of the victims when contacting their bank, ultimately spending the stolen funds on luxury goods and credit card payments. If convicted, Corona faces up to 30 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of two years for the aggravated identity theft charge.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers, likely Chinese criminal gangs operating overseas, have launched a widespread toll road scam sending threatening text messages to millions of Americans claiming unpaid FastTrak, E-ZPass, or similar tolls with threats of fines and license revocation. The scam is highly effective because it is cheap to execute, targets personal information for further fraud, and exploits security gaps in both Apple and Android phones; cybersecurity researchers have identified 60,000 domains used in the attacks and documented a 900% increase in searches for "toll road scams" in recent months.
npr.org
· 2025-12-08
Smishing (SMS phishing) scams have surged significantly, with Americans receiving 19.2 billion spam texts in February alone, often impersonating toll agencies, utilities, and financial institutions to trick victims into clicking malicious links or providing payment information. Scammers quickly adapt their tactics to current events—such as NYC's congestion pricing launch in January 2025—to exploit confusion and urgency among consumers. To protect themselves, consumers should register with the National Do Not Call Registry, never click links in unsolicited texts, verify requests by independently calling companies, and report scams to the FBI's IC3 or by forwarding messages to 7726.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 25-year-old Ventura County caregiver named Heather Moore was arrested for allegedly stealing over $3,000 from an 81-year-old woman in Ojai by forging and altering her checks between September 2024 and January 2025. Moore exploited the victim's cognitive decline and access to her personal documents to deposit fraudulent checks into her own account until an alert bookkeeper discovered the scheme. Moore was charged with elder abuse, forgery, and grand theft and remains in custody pending court proceedings.
ca.style.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Canadians lost $638 million to scams in 2024, with impersonation and investment fraud being the costliest types, as fraudsters increasingly use sophisticated technology including AI to create convincing deepfakes and pose as legitimate organizations or celebrities. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports that while fewer cases were processed in 2024 compared to 2023, authorities estimate 90-95% of fraud cases go unreported, and recommend Canadians verify unexpected calls or messages and be aware of red flags such as requests for personal information or unsolicited payment demands. Key prevention strategies include trusting instincts, questioning suspicious communications, and educating seniors about evolving scam tactics.
afslaw.com
· 2025-12-08
This article summarizes predictions about DOJ enforcement priorities under the second Trump Administration discussed at the ABA's 40th White Collar Crime Institute in March 2025, notably in the absence of DOJ representatives due to travel restrictions. Panelists predicted the DOJ would continue pursuing elder fraud, opioid diversion, and healthcare fraud while likely decreasing efforts on public corruption, securities fraud, and corporate misconduct cases. The future of voluntary disclosure programs was also debated, with speakers theorizing these initiatives would likely survive and potentially be amended to provide greater incentives for self-reporting.
thenationaldesk.com
· 2025-12-08
Dozens of elderly people across the United States lost more than $6.6 million in a lottery scam conspiracy between October 2020 and January 2021, with two Jamaican nationals, Monique C. Clarke and Jon-Michael Hudson, indicted on money laundering charges. The scammers called victims claiming they had won lottery prizes, then convinced them to pay upfront fees for shipping, taxes, and processing by sending checks to money mules who deposited and transferred the funds to the defendants; Clarke personally received over $500,000 and used $150,000 to purchase a luxury Mercedes in Jamaica. Both defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicte
bransontrilakesnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Stone County Sheriff's Office is partnering with Branson Bank to offer a free educational presentation on identifying and preventing senior scams, with the first class scheduled for April 9 at the Galena Branch Library. Sheriff Doug Rader will instruct the class on recognizing scam callers and taking preventive action, targeting seniors 65 and older, with plans to bring the presentation to other locations and organizations upon request. This initiative responds to the growing problem of elder fraud in the county—seniors in Stone County have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to scams—and aligns with FBI data showing that people 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2
au.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 91-year-old Victorian woman lost $130,000 after receiving a phone call from a scammer impersonating her bank, who claimed fraudulent charges had occurred on her card and arranged to collect it in person. The scammer used the card over 130 times across multiple Melbourne locations over five days before it was cancelled. Bank impersonation scams have surged 25% in Australia's first nine months of 2024, with over 8,200 reports recorded, though the overall losses decreased to $9.35 million compared to $14.98 million the previous year.
americanbar.org
· 2025-12-08
A retired teacher named Daniel was targeted by a scammer named Jim on an online investment forum who posed as a successful investor and offered mentorship on cryptocurrency investments, eventually convincing Daniel to invest substantial retirement savings in a fraudulent scheme promising guaranteed high returns before disappearing with all the funds. Research shows that older adults experiencing social isolation are more susceptible to such fraud due to alterations in cognitive decision-making and risk evaluation, and seniors lost over $240 million to imposter scams alone in 2022.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Twenty-five Canadians were arrested in a joint Canadian-American law enforcement operation and charged with operating a grandparent scam from call centers in Montreal that defrauded elderly victims in 45 American states of $21 million between 2021 and 2024. The scammers used voice-over-internet protocol technology to mask their locations and employed a multi-step operation where "openers" called elderly victims claiming a grandchild needed bail money, then passed them to fake attorneys and sent couriers or mail-based collection schemes to retrieve funds, which were laundered through cryptocurrency conversion. The article notes that scammers exploit psychological vulnerabilities in older adults and advises families to
wbay.com
· 2025-12-08
A Suamico, Wisconsin woman was targeted by an elaborate phone scam in which scammers impersonating Medicare, pharmacies, and her doctors convinced her that her Medicare benefits had been terminated and coerced her into providing her Medicare number. The scammers then instructed her to accept unnecessary medical equipment (back braces, knee braces, and wrist braces), which were subsequently mailed to her; she refused the packages and obtained a new Medicare number after contacting the real Medicare to verify the fraud. The Wisconsin Senior Medical Patrol warns that Medicare never contacts people unsolicited to request personal information or Medicare numbers and does not terminate benefits in this manner.
winknews.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly Cape Coral woman fell victim to a romance scam in which she unknowingly acted as a "money mule," depositing fraudulent checks sent by a man claiming to be "Jeff Baker" and transferring over $250,000 through a bank account he convinced her to open. Cape Coral police are pursuing civil forfeiture to recover the funds, and authorities believe the suspect operates from outside the United States and may have additional victims in the area. Experts warn that romance scams are rising and recommend never sending money or depositing checks for people met online, being skeptical of quickly escalating relationships, and maintaining open family discussions about online interactions.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Richard Robinson, a serial romance fraudster who operated under the alias "Gary Rogers," conned 68-year-old Yvonne and at least one other woman out of more than £210,000 between 2017 and 2018 by posing as a wealthy, charming motor dealer. After being sentenced to 10 years in prison in July 2020, Robinson was released after serving just four years, prompting Yvonne to flee the UK due to fear for her safety, having lost over £115,000 and suffered physical violence including attempted strangulation. The case illustrates the growing threat of romance fraud in the UK, which increased 27% between
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax season 2025 has become a prime target for AI-powered fraud, with cybercriminals using generative AI, deepfakes, and voice cloning to create highly convincing phishing emails, fake IRS calls, and impersonations of tax professionals and agents. The IRS identified over $37 billion in tax and financial crimes in fiscal year 2023, with fake IRS calls using voice cloning jumping 150% in 2025, affecting individuals, small businesses, tax professionals, and large firms through personalized attacks that bypass traditional security defenses. Criminals are also creating synthetic identities to file fraudulent returns and claim illegitimate refunds, while deepfake videos
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, the IRS warns taxpayers about its annual "Dirty Dozen" list of common scams including email phishing, text smishing, misleading social media tax advice, fake charity donation schemes, and false claims for fuel tax credits and non-existent self-employment tax credits. These scams aim to steal personal and financial information, facilitate identity theft, and trick taxpayers into claiming ineligible tax credits. The IRS recommends taxpayers verify information directly through official IRS channels and remain cautious of unsolicited communications during tax season.
windsornewstoday.ca
· 2025-12-08
Chatham-Kent police issued a public warning after receiving multiple complaints about "grandparent scams" targeting seniors, where fraudsters impersonate family members claiming an emergency and demanding urgent money for bail or release. The scammers falsely claim to be affiliated with law enforcement, but police emphasized that no legitimate officer will ever collect money in person. Residents can report incidents to Chatham-Kent police at 519-352-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
mycouriertribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Senior scams and data breaches have reached all-time highs, with financial fraud against older adults worsening beyond previous levels. The article discusses current scam trends targeting seniors and offers guidance on how to respond to these increasingly sophisticated attacks.
lockhaven.com
· 2025-12-08
This is a community announcements section, not an elder fraud case. However, it includes a relevant notice: A free senior scams prevention seminar will be held at the Castanea Township Building on Tuesday, May 20, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., offering education on fraud threats to seniors, prevention strategies, and resources for safety concerns.
nbcmontana.com
· 2025-12-08
Montana State University graduate student Connor Green was inspired to create anti-fraud educational content after his grandfather received an AI-generated phone call impersonating Green's voice demanding $15,000. Green and fellow graduate students developed a presentation on common scams (family imitation, tech support, government impersonation, and phishing) that was so well-received at the Bozeman Senior Center that attendees extended it from 15 minutes to two hours with questions, leading to a second presentation to the MSU Alumni Foundation Retiree Association with 70 total attendees. The students emphasized the importance of the work given that seniors shared stories of losing thousands of dollars to scammers.
livebitcoinnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors in Malaysia have resulted in millions of ringgit in losses, with fraudsters impersonating government officials via fake phone calls to convince victims to transfer crypto funds and investments. A 74-year-old investor lost millions after falling victim to these schemes, which promise excessive profits but result in complete loss of deposited funds. Malaysian authorities warn that seniors aged 60 and above should exercise extreme caution with digital asset investments, as scammers increasingly use sophisticated phone tactics and impersonation to target older investors and professional workers.
ctvnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
I appreciate you sharing this, but these appear to be news headlines about weather in Alberta, a historic building in Istanbul, and the Chernobyl nuclear situation—none of which relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.
For the Elderus database, I need articles specifically about:
- Scams targeting seniors
- Elder fraud cases
- Elder abuse incidents
- Financial exploitation of older adults
- Scam awareness/prevention advice
Could you provide an article related to elder fraud or elder abuse that you'd like summarized?
channelnewsasia.com
· 2025-12-08
Standard Chartered Bank launched an updated MyWay savings account for seniors aged 55 and above, featuring complimentary digital scam insurance for the first year that covers up to S$50,000 in losses from phishing and malware attacks, along with higher tiered interest rates on account balances. The insurance, underwritten by MSIG, excludes authorized payment scams such as love scams and investment scams where customers willingly transfer funds, and requires customers to maintain device security and report incidents to the bank within 7 days to be eligible for claims.
wellingtonadvertiser.com
· 2025-12-08
A Mapleton senior was defrauded of approximately $250,000 over one year in an online phishing scam that began in February 2024, during which the victim was instructed to purchase gift cards at local businesses and provide the scammer with the card numbers. Wellington County OPP is warning residents to be alert to common fraud indicators such as unsolicited messages requesting personal information or payment via gift cards, spelling errors, and messages sent at odd hours, and encourages victims to report incidents to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
businesstoday.com.my
· 2025-12-08
Standard Chartered Bank launched a revamped savings account for customers aged 55 and above that includes complimentary digital scam insurance (covering up to S$50,000 from phishing and malware scams) for the first year and higher tiered interest rates. The insurance, underwritten by MSIG, does not cover authorized payment scams such as love scams, investment scams, or impersonation scams, but will cover legal costs if account holders pursue action against scammers. The bank also increased interest rates on the account, with the maximum effective rate rising to 2.37 percent annually for balances of S$5 million.
thesenior.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Kylee Dennis, a former NSW Police detective, established Two Face Investigations to help identify romance scammers, particularly assisting women over 50 who suspect their online love interests are fraudulent. Her work was inspired by her mother's experience with a romance scammer posing as "Donald Johnson" and has been recognized with a nomination for Micro Business of the Year Award in the global Women Changing the World Awards; in 2024, Australians reported losing $23.6 million to dating and romance scams. Dennis advises people seeking online relationships to meet in person within two weeks of interaction or walk away, emphasizing that scammers often use isolation tactics to manipulate vulnerable victims seeking
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonate law enforcement officials via phone calls, using spoofed numbers, fake police station backgrounds, and psychological manipulation tactics to convince victims they face arrest or legal penalties unless they immediately pay fines or verify financial information. The scam exploits fear and urgency to extract personal and financial data through untraceable payment methods, and notably affects educated and tech-savvy individuals who are caught off-guard by the perpetrators' sophisticated use of authority, firm tones, and high-pressure tactics. Investigators and psychologists attribute the scam's effectiveness to psychological exploitation rather than victim naiveté, as scammers deliberately create panic and confusion that prevents victims from
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A woman reported a fraud case to police after falling victim to a scam in which fraudsters impersonated law enforcement officers, using spoofed phone numbers and psychological tactics to pressure her into providing personal and financial information. Authorities traced the financial transactions, detained the individuals involved, and issued warnings urging the public to remain vigilant and never share personal details or grant remote device access to unsolicited callers. Police emphasized that legitimate law enforcement and government officials never request such information, and advised citizens to report suspicious calls to UIDAI's helpline at 1947.
boredpanda.com
· 2025-12-08
This article is a collection of various scam examples and general awareness advice rather than a single incident report. It showcases multiple types of fraud including restaurant billing schemes, GoFundMe donation fraud using deceased pets, charity scams involving emotional appeals (cancer), fake charity sales, and robocalls targeting business owners. The article highlights that scammers use psychological tactics such as professional language, appeals to trust, fear and urgency, and confusion to manipulate victims, and emphasizes the importance of verifying receipts, checking credentials, and remaining cautious even when feeling pressured.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Oleg Beretsky was arrested and indicted in Brooklyn federal court for operating a healthcare fraud scheme from January 2017 to April 2024, in which he exploited elderly Medicare patients—particularly immigrants from the former Soviet Union—by referring them to doctors in exchange for kickbacks and bribes totaling over $12 million. Beretsky, owner of Obest, Inc., conspired with healthcare providers to bill Medicare for unnecessary or non-performed services while pocketing the proceeds through his fraudulent referral operation. He faces charges including healthcare fraud conspiracy, Anti-Kickback Statute violations, and money laundering conspiracy.
therecord.com
· 2025-12-08
A Guelph-area senior lost $250,000 to an online romance scam that operated over approximately one year, during which the victim sent roughly $20,000 monthly to someone they met online and was instructed to purchase gift cards and provide the card numbers to the scammer. The victim eventually grew suspicious and reported the fraud to Wellington OPP, whose investigation is ongoing. The article also outlines common romance scam tactics—including fake profiles, requests for money under false pretenses, pressure to use private communication platforms, and discouragement from discussing the relationship with others—and provides resources for reporting suspected fraud.