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justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
An operation called "Save our Seniors" resulted in the arrest of eight defendants across seven criminal complaints for defrauding over 139 senior citizens out of more than $11 million through various schemes including customer support scams, romance fraud, check fraud, and account hacking. Key defendants include Dhruv Patel, accused of orchestrating customer support scams that defrauded at least 12 victims of over $9.1 million; Stephen Odiboh, who received $70,000 from a romance scam victim who lost $175,000; and Renee Thompson, charged with creating counterfeit checks totaling over $193,000. The defendants
wellsvillesun.com
· 2025-12-07
Eight defendants were arrested in "Operation Save our Seniors," a federal enforcement effort targeting fraud schemes against senior citizens, resulting in over $11 million in actual and attempted losses across 139 victims primarily in Western New York. The defendants engaged in various scams including customer support fraud, romance scams, check fraud, and identity theft, with ringleader Dhruv Patel alone accused of defrauding at least 12 elderly victims out of more than $9.1 million. Charges carry penalties ranging up to 30 years in prison, and several defendants had prior fraud-related convictions.
jocoreport.com
· 2025-12-07
An 82-year-old Johnston County woman lost over $1 million to a romance scammer who built trust through online attention and affection over the course of a year, convincing her to send money and gift cards. When she grew suspicious, the scammer directed her to a fake lawyer who extracted an additional $6,000, and the funds could not be recovered.
the-independent.com
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams targeting people over 55 increased 52 percent in the past year, with individuals aged 75 to 84 suffering the highest average losses at £8,068. Scammers typically impersonate professionals like military personnel or doctors and create urgency by claiming medical emergencies, travel expenses, or legal fees, requesting payment via bank transfer or gift cards. Experts recommend remaining cautious of rapid declarations of love, money requests, and isolation tactics, and advise discussing suspicious interactions with trusted friends or family.
saga.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams targeting people over 55 have surged 52% in the past year, with victims aged 75-84 losing an average of £8,068 and the typical loss across all age groups being £5,219, according to Lloyds Bank data. Scammers build trust through false relationships and isolation tactics before requesting money, often using excuses like "working on an oil rig" to avoid video calls or in-person meetings. Victims can become so psychologically invested that they resist warnings from bank employees and even authorities, making it difficult for them to accept they are being deceived.
dlnews.com
· 2025-12-07
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.
au.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Lloyds Banking Group reported a 52% rise in romance scams targeting people over 55 in the past year, with victims aged 55-64 being the most common targets. Scammers typically pose as military personnel, oil rig workers, or professionals working abroad and request money for medical emergencies, travel expenses, or legal fees, with victims aged 75-84 losing an average of £8,068 per scam. The bank documented cases including an 80-year-old woman who lost £11,000 and an 86-year-old man who lost £2,260 to elaborate stories about accidents, inheritances, and urgent travel needs.
savannahnow.com
· 2025-12-07
Dorian Wilkerson, a former Georgia instructor, defrauded his wife Shareza Jackson of over $2 million by falsely claiming to be a cosmetic surgeon and convincing her to fund a fake clinic called The Best U Now in Atlanta. The scam was exposed in Netflix's docuseries "Love Con Revenge," though Wilkerson has not been criminally charged, Jackson has not recovered her money, and he continues to live freely in Atlanta while pursuing a defamation countersuit against her.
rollingout.com
· 2025-12-07
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.
auroranewsregister.com
· 2025-12-07
Bank fraud prevention experts presented findings at a senior center on common scams targeting older adults, including tech support, phishing, vishing, and grandparent scams that use fear and emotional appeals to steal money. According to Federal Trade Commission statistics cited, consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023—a 14% increase from 2022—with tech support fraud being the leading crime type for those over 60, resulting in nearly $600 million in reported losses. The presentation advised seniors to recognize red flags in phishing emails, be skeptical of unsolicited tech support offers, and trust their instincts to avoid becoming victims.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Eight individuals from New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and New York 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, including Dhruv Patel who defrauded at least 12 victims of over $9.1 million, face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft carrying sentences of up to 15-30 years in prison. The arrests were coordinated through Save Our Seniors, a working group formed in April to combat elder fraud across state lines.
ny1.com
· 2025-12-07
Eight individuals 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 from New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and Rochester, face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft, carrying sentences of up to 15-30 years in prison. The arrests were facilitated by Save Our Seniors, a collaborative task force of federal, state, and local authorities formed to investigate elder fraud cases.
dailyfly.com
· 2025-12-07
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.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
Olamide Shanu, 34, a Nigerian national, was extradited to the United States and charged with eight counts including wire fraud, extortion, and cyberstalking for operating sextortion and romance scams that targeted victims across the United States. Shanu and his conspirators posed as women on social media to coerce male victims into sending explicit images, then threatened to distribute those images unless paid, defrauding victims of at least $2 million with proceeds laundered through peer-to-peer payment apps and cryptocurrency. If convicted, Shanu faces up to 20 years in federal prison and restitution to victims.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams are rising in frequency, with a Northeast Ohio woman sharing her story of how her ex-husband lost tens of thousands of dollars to such a scam, detailing how quickly these schemes escalate from initial contact to financial devastation. The segment highlights how romance scams begin and progress, serving as a warning about the tactics used in these fraudulent schemes.
koaa.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado Springs woman lost $200 in an imposter scam after someone posing as Justin Hayward, lead singer of the Moody Blues, contacted her on Facebook and built a false relationship over a month before requesting money for bills and gift cards. The scammer used common tactics including avoiding video calls, false promises of concert attendance, and romantic advances despite Hayward's known marital status. Imposter scams are the number one reported fraud type in Colorado, and authorities recommend victims report the incident, block the account, contact their bank, and monitor their credit.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-07
A 60-year-old Kansas woman lost $14,694 in a romance scam after meeting a man on Facebook in November 2023 who claimed to need money for various emergencies, including being detained at a Malaysian airport. The scammer also manipulated her into receiving and redistributing funds through her accounts, compounding the financial damage. Salina police confirmed the report as part of ongoing elder fraud investigations.
financialservices.house.gov
· 2025-12-07
A congressional Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing examined the escalating threat of financial fraud to American consumers, with particular concern for seniors and vulnerable populations. In 2024, there were 2.6 million reported fraud cases resulting in $12.5 billion in losses, involving schemes such as check fraud, romance scams, voice cloning, and AI-driven impersonation targeting grandparents. Federal lawmakers and banking industry representatives discussed the sophistication of criminal operations, many operating overseas, and called for improved federal agency coordination and consumer outreach to combat these growing threats.
financialservices.house.gov
· 2025-12-07
Subcommittee Chairman Dan Meuser announced a House Financial Services Committee hearing focused on examining financial fraud affecting American consumers, noting that the FTC reported 2.6 million fraud cases in 2024 with over $12 billion in losses—a 25% increase from 2023. Meuser highlighted that seniors experience the most devastating financial losses from scams while young adults are especially vulnerable, and emphasized the need for coordinated efforts across government, financial institutions, technology platforms, and telecom companies to combat various fraud schemes including romance scams, identity theft, and check fraud. The hearing aimed to strengthen consumer education, promote best practices, and improve fraud prevention while the Trump Administration pursued related efforts
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers in 2025 exploit AI, cryptocurrencies, and stolen data to target vulnerable individuals through deepfakes, impersonation, and emotional manipulation. AI-generated audio and video impersonations cost over $200 million in losses in early 2025, while cryptocurrency scams like "pig butchering" (romance fraud hybrid) and pump-and-dump schemes manipulate victims into investing in fake platforms. Traditional fraud methods—phishing, tech support scams, and fake job listings—have evolved with AI to become more convincing, with scammers leveraging emotions like duty, fear, and hope to exploit targets across all demographics, particularly elderly victims.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Scammers in 2025 exploit AI, cryptocurrencies, and stolen data to target vulnerable individuals through deepfakes, emotional manipulation, and evolving traditional fraud methods. AI-generated audio and video impersonations caused over 105,000 deepfake attacks in the U.S. in 2024, costing more than $200 million in Q1 2025 alone, with elderly victims particularly vulnerable to fake emergency calls from supposed relatives. Cryptocurrency scams include pump-and-dump schemes and "pig butchering" (romance fraud leading to fake crypto investments), while phishing, tech support scams, and fake websites continue to exploit victims by impersonating legitimate
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Two individuals from Queens were arrested in a Binghamton police sting after attempting to steal $30,000 from an elderly woman in a financial exploitation scam that was flagged by bank employees. Tao Zeng, 51, and Zhilei Wu, 36, were charged with third-degree grand larceny and fifth-degree conspiracy after police conducted a wellness check and intercepted the suspect attempting to collect the cash at the victim's home. The arrest is part of a broader federal effort targeting elder fraud, as a U.S. Attorney's office simultaneously announced charges against eight individuals accused of defrauding dozens of seniors of over $11 million through romance scams, account hacking
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-07
A 65-year-old man from Athens, Georgia was victimized by a celebrity romance scam in which he believed he had developed an online relationship with singer Miley Cyrus. The scam exploited the common tactic of impersonating a well-known celebrity on social media to build false trust with the victim. No dollar amount or final outcome was specified in the available excerpt.
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-07
Sue Collins' ex-husband Dave lost between $40,000 and $55,000 to a sophisticated romance scam after meeting a woman named "Sydney" on TikTok while living in a nursing home; the scammer used stolen photos, made false promises to meet, and eventually convinced him to open joint accounts for a fake inheritance scheme. Collins' story highlights the rising trend of romance scams targeting isolated older adults, with data showing a 20% increase in such scams, and experts recommend that family members approach victims with empathy rather than judgment to prevent them from becoming more defensive and further entrenched with scammers.
nj1015.com
· 2025-12-07
A Privacy Journal research study ranking states by online dating safety—measuring romance scams, fraud, identity theft, violent crime, STDs, and registered sex offenders per 100,000 residents—found that New Jersey ranks 16th safest overall, with particularly low rates of sex offenders, romance scams, and violent crime, though Vermont ranked safest and Nevada most dangerous.
providencejournal.com
· 2025-12-07
Craig Clayton, a 75-year-old Rhode Island man, laundered $35 million from internet-romance and elderly-fraud scams between 2019 and 2021 through his fake "virtual CFO" business, Rochart Consulting, using shell companies and fraudulent bank accounts to send victim funds overseas to countries including China, Switzerland, and Thailand. Clayton pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice, and was sentenced to four years in prison with $40,000 in restitution ordered. One of his shell companies, Providence Sanitizer, alone laundered at least $16.8 million from elderly victims and romance scam targets.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams targeting students and recent graduates are increasing, with victims losing an average of £2,228 per scam, according to new Tinder research that found 44% of young adults share personal details with people they've never met in person. Love Island star Georgia Steel has joined a campaign with Tinder and Get Safe Online to raise awareness after she was defrauded by a man posing as a wealthy American, who was revealed to be convicted fraudster Medi Abalimba (jailed for four years in 2021 for £170,000+ in total deceptions). Experts emphasize that romance scams exploit emotional manipulation and are difficult to spot, with young
legit.ng
· 2025-12-07
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.
9news.com
· 2025-12-07
Anthony Wright-Brown was arrested in Larimer County, Colorado, for using catfishing scams on dating apps to lure at least two victims into his vehicle, where he trapped them, threatened them, and in one case demanded sexual acts while threatening to call police. Both victims were transgender individuals, and investigators are examining whether they were deliberately targeted based on gender identity and seeking other potential victims. Wright-Brown faces multiple charges including criminal extortion, false imprisonment, assault, and theft.
dearmedia.com
· 2025-12-07
This article recounts a romance scam case involving Christy's father in Sydney, Australia, who fell victim to a manipulative woman named Rose after becoming vulnerable following family upheaval and his parents' separation. Rose gradually isolated him from his support system, drained his finances by having him pay all household bills, and took over his time and energy while contributing nothing to the household. The piece advises adult children to recognize warning signs of elder romance scams—including sudden isolation, financial requests, emotional manipulation, and unexplained behavior changes—and suggests using non-accusatory conversations and awareness-building to help protect vulnerable parents.
fingerlakes1.com
· 2025-12-07
Federal prosecutors charged eight individuals in the "Save Our Seniors" initiative for defrauding 139 elderly victims of over $11 million through schemes including fake government agent impersonation, romance scams, identity theft, and counterfeit checks. The charges involve defendants from multiple states accused of targeting seniors aged 60 and older, with individual losses ranging from $70,000 to $600,000. Authorities warn seniors never to send cash, gift cards, or make peer-to-peer payments to anyone claiming to be a government official, and advise reporting suspected scams to local police or the FBI.
cleveland.com
· 2025-12-07
A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty to money laundering as part of an online-romance scam that defrauded over $2 million from multiple victims. The scheme involved criminals using stolen photos and fake identities on dating websites to establish romantic relationships with victims, then convincing them to send money for fabricated medical expenses and other false reasons. Richard Opoku Agyemang, 41, faces up to 41 months in prison for laundering $32,000 in fraud proceeds in 2022.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-07
Elderly individuals are increasingly targeted by sophisticated cryptocurrency scams, with Beaufort County, South Carolina reporting $3.1 million in crypto-related losses in 2024 and Minnesota experiencing over $189 million in losses from crypto kiosk fraud in 2023, using tactics such as voice cloning, fake websites, QR codes, and emotional manipulation. A prominent councilman was released without charge during an investigation into one such scam, highlighting authorities' challenges in tracing funds through irreversible cryptocurrency transactions. Experts recommend seniors protect themselves through education, using trusted platforms with two-factor authentication, discussing large transactions with family members, and promptly reporting incidents to law enforcement and the FTC
birminghammail.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
Lloyds Bank warned that romance scam victims lost an average of £5,000, with victims aged 75-84 losing the most at an average of £8,068. Fraudsters typically initiate contact through social media and dating sites, build false romantic relationships, and then request money under pretexts such as military service, oil rig work, or emergencies. The bank advised customers never to send money to people met online and recommended educating vulnerable older adults about romance scam warning signs.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams cost British victims over £106 million in 2024, a 9% increase from the previous year, with an average loss of £11,222 per person across 9,449 reports. The scams involve criminals building trust through fake online dating profiles to manipulate victims into sending money, with tactics ranging from military deployment excuses to fabricated emergencies. Dating app Cherry Dating has called for cross-platform collaboration and data-sharing among apps to prevent serial scammers from simply moving to new platforms after being banned.
birminghammail.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Romance scam victims reported by Lloyds Bank lost an average of £5,000, with those aged 75-84 losing the most at an average of £8,068. Scammers typically initiate contact through social media, dating sites, or gaming platforms, build false relationships, and request money using excuses such as military service, oil rig work, or medical emergencies. Lloyds advises never sending money to online contacts you haven't met in person and recommends educating older adults about common warning signs.
ktvb.com
· 2025-12-07
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.
ksl.com
· 2025-12-07
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
miningjournal.net
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams, also known as "catfishing," cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars annually, with Michigan ranking particularly high in victim numbers. The article provides four key prevention strategies: never send money to online contacts, avoid sharing personal information that could enable identity theft, be cautious of scammers who rush romantic relationships, and insist on video chat or in-person meetings before developing deeper connections.
cowboystatedaily.com
· 2025-12-07
A 76-year-old man in Gillette, Wyoming was nearly victimized in a cryptocurrency ATM scam when he attempted to deposit $16,000 after being manipulated by a scammer who kept him on the phone; a bystander alerted police, preventing the loss. Cheyenne police have identified 50 BTM fraud cases totaling over $645,000 in unrecovered losses, part of a nationwide pattern where seniors lose retirement funds to overseas criminals who use emotional manipulation to direct victims to crypto kiosks. AARP is proposing new regulations for cryptocurrency machines as the FBI estimates $9.3 billion was stolen through various crypto frauds in
civilbeat.org
· 2025-12-07
A Kailua woman received a voicemail from someone claiming to represent Hawaiian Electric Company, warning that her home utilities would be disconnected unless she called back immediately—a common scam tactic that exploited her vacation anxiety and inability to verify the claim. The article discusses how artificial intelligence and readily available personal information are making it increasingly easier for scammers to create sophisticated frauds, including voice-cloning technology that impersonates trusted contacts, with particular vulnerability among seniors and young people.
birminghammail.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Lloyds Bank reported a 52% surge in romance scams targeting victims over 55 in the past year, with those aged 55-64 representing the most targeted group (20% of cases) and victims aged 75-84 losing the most on average at £8,068 per incident. The bank warned that romance scammers manipulate vulnerable individuals seeking companionship and advised customers to never send money to online contacts, verify requests through phone calls, and educate older family members about the signs of fraud.
birminghammail.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
A state pensioner in the UK lost £11,000 to a romance scam in which a fraudster posing as "Freddie" built an emotional connection by fabricating a series of crises—including a son's death and alleged arrest—to manipulate the victim into sending money. Lloyds Bank issued a warning about the rise of romance scams targeting vulnerable pensioners seeking companionship, noting that fraudsters exploit emotional vulnerability to extract tens of thousands of pounds from victims' accounts.
birminghammail.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
A Lloyds Bank customer attempted to transfer £10,000 to an online romance scammer, even offering to bet bank staff £20,000 that his "girlfriend" was genuine, claiming she was a chef working on an oil ship. Lloyds' fraud prevention director warned that romance scams exploit vulnerable people seeking companionship, and advised customers never to send money to people met online, noting that scammers commonly impersonate military personnel, oil rig workers, and doctors abroad.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A 78-year-old Rochester-area man lost $30,000 to a Publishers Clearing House prize scam that operated over six months, during which con artists repeatedly promised a $2.5 million prize while extracting fees under various pretenses. The article highlights that this case is representative of thousands of elder fraud crimes nationally, with federal authorities recently arresting eight people for defrauding 139 Western New York seniors of over $11 million through romance scams, imposter schemes, and identity theft. Common scams targeting seniors in the region include romance fraud, imposter scams impersonating government or businesses, and tech phishing, with scammers increasingly using AI and deep
irs.gov
· 2025-12-07
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the "Save our Seniors" initiative resulting in the arrest of eight defendants across seven criminal complaints for defrauding over 139 senior citizens of more than $11 million total. The defendants engaged in various schemes including customer support scams, romance scams, counterfeit check fraud, and identity theft, with notable cases including Dhruv Patel (accused of defrauding at least 12 victims of over $9.1 million through pickups of stolen goods), Stephen Odiboh (received $70,000 from a romance scam victim who lost $175,000), and Christopher Hernandez (stole $
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A national poll found that three in four adults ages 50-80 experienced scam attempts in the last two years, with approximately 30% losing money to fraud. The article identifies the most common scams targeting Western New York seniors, including romance scams, sweepstakes scams, imposter scams (government/business officials), grandparent scams, and tech phishing scams, and advises victims to disengage from suspicious contacts, verify requests independently, and report losses to the Federal Trade Commission, state Attorney General, or New York State Office of Victim Services.
cantonrep.com
· 2025-12-07
Since 2020, the BBB has received over 4,000 reports of cryptocurrency investment scams, with increasingly sophisticated schemes now targeting users on TikTok through direct messages offering unrealistic returns. Scammers create fake investment opportunities, request initial deposits via digital wallets, then demand escalating "service fees" while promising multiplied returns that never materialize. To protect yourself, verify investment opportunities through the SEC and BBB, avoid guaranteed get-rich-quick schemes, resist pressure tactics, and only use digital wallet services with trusted contacts.
vice.com
· 2025-12-07
An 80-year-old woman in Sapporo, Japan, lost approximately 1 million yen ($6,750) to a romance scammer who posed as an astronaut in distress, claiming he needed money for oxygen while stranded in space. The scammer initiated contact via social media in July and gradually built trust before requesting funds, exploiting the victim's loneliness and the elderly population's particular vulnerability to fraud schemes. Japan's aging demographic makes it especially susceptible to various romance and impersonation scams, including fake celebrity suitors and fabricated emergency situations.
timesofmalta.com
· 2025-12-07
A Maltese woman lost €170,000 over seven years attempting to purchase a non-existent dog, while another victim lost his entire life savings to a romance scammer posing as a Canadian woman, and a third sent her pension to a scammer impersonating Pope Leo XIV on Facebook. These cases exemplify a wave of sophisticated online scams sweeping Europe that affect educated, high-earning individuals—with research showing 40% of Malta's highest earners have lost money to such schemes. Experts warn that scammers use psychological manipulation and emotional investment to exploit victims, and the financial losses are compounded by severe mental health consequences.