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buzzfeed.com
Nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams to the FTC in 2022, losing $1.3 billion collectively with an average loss of $4,400; a notable case involved a French woman who lost €830,000 ($865,000) to a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt over 1½ years, who used AI-generated images of the actor in a hospital to claim he had kidney cancer and needed money. The article advises family members to watch for sudden mood changes and secretive behavior in loved ones, avoid victim-blaming, and approach conversations with curiosity rather than accusations, since scammers often prepare victims to expect such criticism from their social
fortune.com
Criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence and deepfakes to commit fraud, with consumers losing over $10 billion to fraud in 2023—a 14% increase from the previous year. Notable incidents include a $25 million deepfake video call scam targeting a Hong Kong firm employee and widespread AI-powered phishing schemes that bypass traditional detection systems. Experts project fraud losses could reach $40 billion in the U.S. by 2027 if current trends continue, with investment scams and imposter scams being the most prevalent threats targeting bank customers.
ctvnews.ca
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taylorvilledailynews.com
The FBI Springfield Field Office warns that romance scams—where criminals use fake online identities to exploit victims for money—remain prevalent, with Illinois residents losing nearly $19 million to these scams in 2023 and nationwide losses totaling $652.5 million. Warning signs include requests to move communication off-platform, premature declarations of love, claims of living far away, and requests for money or personal information. The FBI recommends moving relationships slowly, researching profiles, avoiding sharing personal details, and not sending money to people you haven't met in person.
yahoo.com
The FBI reported that romance scams resulted in losses exceeding $635 million in 2023, with scammers using rehearsed scripts on dating websites and apps to target victims. Common tactics include moving communication off dating platforms, using attractive photos, professing quick love, isolating victims from friends and family, and requesting money or personal information under false pretenses. The FBI urges victims to report these crimes to local law enforcement despite feelings of embarrassment.
forbes.com
A successful California businessman lost over $700,000 in a crypto romance scam after meeting a woman online who posed as an investment partner, showing him falsified wallet gains of $2 million before blocking his withdrawal attempts. Romance scams in cryptocurrency are increasingly common because the sector lacks banking-level regulatory oversight and uses anonymous wallets that make it nearly impossible to trace stolen funds once they are transferred through crypto mixers. Investors must exercise heightened due diligence when approached with unsolicited investment opportunities, particularly in the crypto space, as the combination of emotional manipulation and regulatory gaps creates significant vulnerability to fraud.
techradar.com
This educational article highlights cyberstalking risks on dating apps, noting that 23% of online daters have experienced some form of online stalking according to a Kaspersky report. Cybercriminals use dating apps to collect personal information from users to fuel scams and identify victims. The article provides practical privacy protection advice including concealing location, using aliases, adjusting social media settings, avoiding password sharing, and using VPNs to minimize digital stalking risks.
newstalk.com
Turn2Me, a national mental health charity, has launched an online support group for catfishing victims, with the first session held on February 5th. Catfishing—where individuals create fake online personas to manipulate or exploit others for material gain—can cause significant psychological harm including trust issues, anxiety, depression, and in severe cases, PTSD-like symptoms. The support group aims to help victims develop healthy coping mechanisms and reduce isolation, while the charity also offers up to six free counselling sessions to adults in Ireland.
paymentsjournal.com
Money mules—individuals who willingly or unwillingly move illicit funds between accounts—have become an increasingly effective tool for criminals to circumvent fraud detection systems, often recruited through social media platforms using "scam-fluencing" tactics that target students, retirees, and lower-income individuals seeking financial relief. Financial institutions face a complex challenge because many mules are already verified customers and may themselves be victims of coercion or deception, while the use of generative AI and fast digital payment systems enables criminals to scale mule recruitment and fund transfers rapidly and globally. To combat this threat, financial institutions need to implement continuous verification checks throughout the customer lifecycle rather than relying solely on initial Know Your Customer (
newschannel20.com
In 2023, Illinoisians lost nearly $19 million to romance scams, in which criminals create fake online identities to build trust with victims and steal money or personal information. The FBI identifies common red flags including requests to move communication off dating platforms, rapid professions of love, requests for money, and canceled in-person meeting plans, and recommends victims go slow, verify identities independently, never send money to online-only contacts, and report suspected scams to law enforcement.
tomsguide.com
Romance scams trick victims into believing they're in a genuine romantic relationship with a scammer who then manipulates them into sending money and personal information through emotionally exploitative tactics. According to FTC data, nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams in 2022, resulting in $1.3 billion in losses, with people aged 55-64 and those recently experiencing relationship loss being particularly vulnerable targets. The article advises protecting yourself by recognizing warning signs, verifying identities, being cautious about requests for money, and using security measures like VPNs to safeguard personal data.
boston25news.com
Scams and fraud losses reached over $1.03 trillion globally in 2024, with scammers increasingly leveraging new technology to evolve their tactics. Key emerging threats for 2025 include AI-powered scams (using deepfakes, AI-generated images, and synthetic voices to enhance phishing and imposter schemes), traditional imposter scams (including grandparent and romance scams, with median losses of $800 in 2023 and $14,740 for government imposter scams), and a shift toward email and text-based contact methods rather than phone calls. Learning about these developments helps potential victims stay ahead of scammers who aim to steal personal information
wsoctv.com
Over $1.03 trillion was lost to scams globally in 2024, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence, imposter tactics, and evolving technology to deceive victims. Key emerging threats include AI-powered phishing, deepfake videos, and voice cloning, alongside traditional imposter scams (including grandparent and romance scams) where median losses reached $800-$14,740 depending on the scam type. Scammers are shifting from phone calls to email and text messages as their primary contact method, making it essential for people to remain skeptical of unsolicited communications.
tomsguide.com
The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning about evolved "brushing" scams, where fraudsters send unsolicited packages to victims using stolen personal information, but now include malicious QR codes on cards or notes that direct recipients to phishing websites designed to steal credentials, financial information, and device data through malware infection. While victims can legally keep the unwanted packages, the FTC advises protecting oneself by avoiding unknown QR codes, using strong unique passwords with multi-factor authentication, monitoring credit reports, and installing antivirus software. This scam indicates personal information compromise and increased exposure to identity theft.
ksl.com
Senior citizens in Utah are increasingly targeted by sophisticated scams including romance fraud and AI-generated impersonation calls, with 19% of those over 60 reporting fraud to police (though actual rates are likely higher due to underreporting driven by shame). Authorities recommend creating shame-free environments for reporting, establishing family verification code words, and recognizing warning signs such as rushed requests for money, demands for cryptocurrency or credit card numbers, and quick declarations of love without effort to meet in person.
crowdfundinsider.com
Romance fraud remains a persistent threat, with scammers creating fake online identities on social media and dating apps to build trust with victims before manipulating them into sending money. Bank of Ireland warns consumers to remain vigilant, noting that red flags include refusals to video call, overly rapid declarations of love, and requests for money, and emphasizes that victims should never send funds to individuals they have only interacted with online. The bank calls for stronger platform safeguards and notes that many cases go unreported due to victim shame, with survivors experiencing significant financial losses and emotional trauma.
wjcl.com
At least two people in Chatham County fell victim to a kidnapping phone scam in which callers claimed a family member had been kidnapped and demanded ransom payments. Scammers used spoofed numbers appearing to come from family members and enhanced the deception with sounds of crying or threats of violence in the background. Police advise victims to immediately hang up and directly call the family member to verify their safety, and to never provide banking information or agree to deliver cash or gift cards.
trinidadexpress.com
A 72-year-old grandmother from Sangre Grande was reported missing after traveling to Brazil to meet a man posing as the Crown Prince of Dubai via Facebook and WhatsApp in a romance scam; the same week, a French interior decorator lost €830,000 to someone impersonating Brad Pitt. Romance scams exploit victims' emotional needs for connection and intimacy through careful trust-building, with scammers using fabricated stories to request money; in Trinidad and Tobago alone, over 100 people lost more than $2.3 million to suspected romance scams between 2020 and 2021.
mk.co.kr
A man in his 40s with hearing impairments nearly lost 100 million won (approximately $75,000 USD) to a romance scam involving a woman who contacted him via chat application starting in January. Police and post office staff intervened when he attempted to withdraw the funds, recognizing suspicious patterns including awkward translated speech, revealing photos, and requests for money tied to loan applications. The scam was prevented through the collaborative efforts of alert banking staff and police who convinced the victim to cease contact.
express.co.uk
Lloyds Bank is warning customers never to share one-time passcodes, passwords, or activation codes, as fraudsters are impersonating bank staff over the phone to steal account access and funds. Criminals use stolen personal details to appear legitimate and employ tactics like claiming they need codes to cancel fraudulent payments or secure accounts, though legitimate banks never request such information unsolicited. The warning comes as unauthorized fraud losses reached £358 million in the first half of 2024, with cases rising 19% year-on-year to over 1.5 million incidents.
allafrica.com
A 53-year-old French woman was defrauded of €830,000 ($850,000) by Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated images of actor Brad Pitt to pose as him on Instagram, claiming he needed money for a kidney transplant due to a frozen account. The three men in their 20s, operating from Nigeria, were identified by a scam investigator who gained access to their phone through a booby-trapped link, illustrating how fraudsters are adopting new technologies like AI to conduct increasingly elaborate romance and financial scams.
dimsumdaily.hk
An elderly man in Macao lost over HK$370,000 in an online romance scam between August 2021 and November 2022, after developing a relationship with someone posing as a Chinese American soldier and later being contacted by someone claiming to be an Indonesian lawyer. The victim was initially defrauded of HK$200,000, then lost an additional HK$25,000 in courier fees and HK$148,000 in purported legal costs when promised refunds fell through. Local law enforcement reported the case on January 24, 2025, with the investigation ongoing.
slguardian.org
Cryptocurrency scams targeting new investors are rising, including pump-and-dump schemes on meme coins, romance scams (causing $185 million in losses from 2021-2022), and fraudulent investment schemes promising unrealistic returns ($575 million in losses). Protection strategies include never sending crypto to strangers, verifying contact sources before engagement, and avoiding blackmail attempts, as cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible.
thefinanser.com
This educational article examines the growing scope of global fraud and scams, which cost an estimated $6 trillion annually worldwide—with businesses losing 5% of revenues and UK consumers losing £1.17 billion in 2023 alone. The piece highlights how technology and AI-generated deepfakes are enabling criminals to become more sophisticated, exemplified by a French woman who lost €775,000 (her entire divorce settlement) to a romance scam impersonating Brad Pitt using fake hospital photos and emotional manipulation. The article underscores the central challenge of digital identity: despite multiple security layers, criminals continue to exploit victims through convincing deception, with experts acknowledging they can
express.co.uk
Scam calls impersonating HMRC have increased by 84% since December, with fraudsters using automated messages in American-accented voices to threaten taxpayers with legal action and financial penalties ahead of the self-assessment deadline. Victims reported receiving intimidating calls claiming incorrect tax returns or demanding immediate payment, with scammers becoming aggressive when questioned. HMRC has warned the public never to share login details with unsolicited callers and provided red flags to identify fraudulent communications, noting that HMRC will never threaten legal action or arrest via voicemail.
1029thebuzz.com
A French woman named Anne lost money to a fraudster impersonating Brad Pitt in a romance scam, highlighting how these schemes exploit psychological vulnerabilities regardless of education level. Researcher Annie Lecompte found that scammers typically pose as high-status individuals claiming to work abroad or travel frequently to avoid in-person meetings, while targeting victims who are searching for meaning and have kind, impulsive personalities.
e.vnexpress.net
A Lafayette, Louisiana woman lost over $60,000 in a romance scam involving deepfake technology on Threads, where a scammer impersonated Elon Musk using AI-generated voice and video in fake video chats. The victim was manipulated into purchasing gift cards at multiple locations and eventually sending thousands of dollars after being promised a Tesla and falsely told a FedEx truck had crashed. Authorities could not recover the funds since they were voluntarily sent, and experts urge people to verify suspicious online relationships and watch for warning signs in loved ones.
premiumtimesng.com
A 53-year-old French woman was defrauded of €830,000 ($850,000) by Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated images of Brad Pitt, posing as the actor and claiming he needed money for a kidney transplant due to frozen accounts from his divorce. The three perpetrators in their 20s were identified through a scam investigator who gained access to their phone, and the victim's legal team is seeking intervention from Nigeria's EFCC to prosecute them. This case exemplifies how Nigerian internet fraudsters are adopting AI technology to conduct romance and impersonation scams on a larger scale.
theregister.com
A six-nation law enforcement coalition (including China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam) claims progress in dismantling cyber-scam labor camps across Southeast Asia, reporting 70,000 arrests and over 160 people freed in 2024. These camps operate as forced labor schemes where victims are lured with fake job offers in tech support or call centers, have their passports confiscated, and are forced to run scams (particularly romance and tech support schemes) to pay off mounting debts; an estimated 100,000 Chinese citizens have been victimized, with workers from Brazil and other countries also rescued from facilities in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos,
ladailypost.com
Los Alamos is launching the S.A.F.E. (Scam Awareness For Elders) initiative, a community-wide effort to combat the rising prevalence of scams targeting elderly residents. The program, supported by a $9,000 grant from the Non-Metro New Mexico Agency on Aging, will provide educational programs, training workshops, and outreach activities, including a kickoff event on January 29 featuring an FBI presentation on scam prevention. Planned activities include a February workshop on romance scams and a monthly book club beginning in March to help older adults recognize and avoid fraudulent schemes.
agrinews-pubs.com
Artificial intelligence is increasingly enhancing and creating new scams in 2025, enabling fraudsters to generate fake profiles, emails, images, audio, and videos to perpetrate investment schemes, romance scams, and impersonation fraud. The FBI recommends protecting oneself by establishing secret verification phrases with family members, hanging up on suspicious calls, avoiding sending money or gift cards to unknown persons, and learning to recognize AI-generated content through online research. Awareness and vigilance are essential defenses against these evolving threats.
mothership.sg
Singaporean actor Laurence Pang, 78, lost S$36,000 (approximately 1.5 million Philippine pesos) to a romance scam involving a woman named "Mika" whom he met on the dating website Pinalove in late 2024. After being charmed by the woman and fake photos she sent, Pang was lured into a fake e-commerce and cryptocurrency investment scheme disguised as a Rakuten Global reseller opportunity, where he was unable to withdraw his invested funds due to fake orders that continuously prevented him from completing transactions.
states.aarp.org
Imposter scams using AI and deepfake technology are among the most prevalent forms of fraud in 2024, with Floridians reporting approximately 35,000 complaints to the FTC between January and September. Scammers impersonate government officials, celebrities, and tech support representatives to steal money and personal information through spoofed calls, texts, emails, and convincing video calls. The article provides red flags to recognize these scams—such as demands for cryptocurrency payments, unsolicited security alerts, and threats of arrest—and advises victims to report incidents to law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline.
rte.ie
**Summary:**
Bank of Ireland has issued a warning about romance fraud, in which scammers create fake personas on social media and dating apps to build trust with victims before manipulating them into sending money. The bank notes that these scams occur consistently each month, often go unreported due to victim shame, and can persist for extended periods as fraudsters gradually establish relationships. The bank advises consumers never to send money to people they've only met online and to be suspicious of relationships that develop too quickly or involve financial requests.
studyfinds.org
A French woman in her 50s lost €830,000 ($1.2 million) to scammers posing as actor Brad Pitt using AI-generated fake photos, resulting in her financial ruin and three suicide attempts. The article details how romance fraud operates through a predictable pattern—fake profiles on dating sites, building trust through "love bombing," and escalating money requests—and notes that victims are often highly educated people seeking emotional connection rather than lacking judgment. Research indicates romance fraud affects both men and women globally, with Canadian authorities reporting 420 cases in 2022 resulting in $59 million in losses.
wionews.com
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 ($850,000) to Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated photos to impersonate Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and convince her they were in a romantic relationship, claiming he needed money for medical treatment. The case exemplifies how Nigerian fraudsters, historically known for romance and sextortion scams, are adopting AI and deepfake technology to exploit victims, with cybercrime experts warning this technological evolution threatens to undermine years of progress in combating internet fraud.
lawsociety.ie
A webinar on financial crime in Ireland's banking sector revealed that fraud sophistication is increasing, particularly psychological scams like romance fraud where criminals create fake identities to exploit victims. Experts highlighted that fraudsters increasingly target consumers directly rather than banks, making money recovery difficult once funds are transferred, and recommended that financial institutions implement better detection systems, educate the public, and foster organizational cultures prioritizing financial crime awareness. The webinar also discussed regulatory challenges, noting that while some funds may be recoverable through card transactions, recovery options are limited for authorized payments made through apps or online banking.
24-7pressrelease.com
AI-powered scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated in 2025, with fraudsters using artificial intelligence to create convincing phishing emails, deepfake videos, and fake dating profiles that manipulate victims into sharing financial or personal information. The scams span investment fraud, identity theft, and romance schemes, affecting millions worldwide. Protection requires strong cyber hygiene practices including multi-factor authentication, security software, profile verification through reverse image searches, and reporting suspected fraud to authorities like the Federal Trade Commission.
pandasecurity.com
A French woman, Anne, lost approximately $850,000 in an 18-month romance scam in which a cybercriminal impersonated Brad Pitt and his mother on Instagram, using AI-generated fake images to build an emotional relationship and eventually convince her to fund fake medical and legal expenses. After discovering the deception when the real Brad Pitt appeared at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, Anne reported the crime and shared her story publicly to raise awareness, but subsequently suffered severe cyberbullying and depression. The case highlights the prevalence of romance scams, which cost victims over a billion dollars in 2023, and demonstrates how fraudsters exploit emotional vulnerability and celebrity admiration to manipulate
extra.ie
A French woman lost €830,000 to fraudsters who impersonated Brad Pitt in a romance scam, but the article uses this case to highlight a broader crisis of online fraud and catfishing affecting tech-savvy young people across Ireland and beyond. The piece references an ongoing catfishing operation where a woman created multiple fake profiles to deceive dozens or hundreds of GAA players and others, demonstrating how sophisticated online deception has become beyond traditional Nigerian prince schemes. As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced and social media platforms neglect safety measures, the article warns that distinguishing real from fake online relationships and identities is becoming increasingly difficult for all users.
nypost.com
The FBI warns that phishing emails using urgent language like "act fast" are increasingly common red flags for scams, particularly those impersonating disaster relief charities or celebrities to solicit donations—with over 4,500 complaints reporting $96 million in losses to fraudulent charities and relief campaigns in 2024. The agency advises recipients to avoid clicking links or opening attachments from unknown senders, verify URLs and email addresses for errors, and never provide usernames or passwords to unsolicited messages. AI-powered scams are making fraud more sophisticated and believable, including romance schemes and impersonation scams that have cost victims thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
secretservice.gov
Pig butchering is a billion-dollar cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme where scammers build trust with victims—often through fake romantic relationships on dating apps or unsolicited social media contact—and convince them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency projects that promise high returns. Victims are gradually encouraged to transfer increasing amounts of money until they suffer financial ruin, with the scammer disappearing once substantial funds have been obtained. To protect yourself, avoid unsolicited investment advice from online contacts, verify investment legitimacy through regulatory authorities, never share personal financial information with people you haven't met in person, and be suspicious of projects with guaranteed high returns or romantic interests who refuse to meet in person or appear on video calls.
cxtoday.com
A CloudSek study found that Zendesk's free trial offering is vulnerable to abuse by scammers who create fake brand-impersonating subdomains to conduct phishing attacks and "pig butchering" investment scams. The research identified several cases over six months where Zendesk clients were targeted by fraudulent domains, demonstrating how attackers could exploit the platform's lack of email verification to deceive employees into clicking malicious links or revealing sensitive data. The report recommends blacklisting unverified Zendesk instances, using detection tools to identify suspicious subdomains, and implementing employee phishing awareness training to mitigate the risk.
theconversation.com
A French woman in her 50s named Anne lost €830,000 ($1.2 million) to romance scammers who impersonated Brad Pitt using AI-generated fake photos, resulting in three suicide attempts and public harassment after her story aired on French television. Romance fraud is an emotional manipulation scam where fraudsters build trust through fake online relationships before soliciting money, often targeting highly educated individuals and affecting both men and women equally. Research shows victims are not lacking in judgment but rather psychologically vulnerable people seeking emotional connection, making them susceptible to the predictable scam pattern of initial contact, platform switching, excuses to avoid meetings, trust-building through "love bombing," and escalating
huffpost.com
Nearly 70,000 people reported romance scams to the FTC in 2022, losing a total of $1.3 billion with an average loss of $4,400. A notable case involved a French woman who lost €830,000 ($865,000) to a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt over an 18-month period, who used AI-generated images of the actor in a hospital to convince her he needed money for cancer treatment. The article advises families to watch for warning signs like sudden mood changes or secretive behavior in loved ones, and recommends approaching suspected victims with gentle questions rather than accusations, as confrontation can actually strengthen the scammer's control over
citybeat.com
Pamela Moore, a 66-year-old grandmother with no prior criminal record, was sentenced to 24 months in prison in August 2024 for money laundering related to online romance scams. Between 2020 and 2023, Moore's bank accounts received over $8 million in criminally derived funds from romance scammers nationwide, and she personally converted approximately $1.7 million to Bitcoin at the scammers' direction. Moore herself had initially lost six figures to the same scammers after becoming emotionally vulnerable following her husband's death in 2015, eventually being manipulated into laundering their illicit proceeds through a fraudulent shell company.
gmanetwork.com
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) warns that Filipino victims of romance scams are expected to increase during February, with up to 15 people falling victim daily, as scammers exploit the emotional nature and financial stability of Filipinos through fake online relationships before requesting money. A case study features "Juliet," a former overseas worker who was targeted by someone posing as a Norwegian man who extracted personal information and attempted to pressure her into borrowing money from her employer. The CICC advises people to watch for red flags including overly perfect profile pictures, refusal to video call, requests for money or investments, and long-distance relationships with foreign
m.economictimes.com
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 ($850,000) to Nigerian scammers who impersonated actor Brad Pitt through AI-generated photos and fake romantic contact on Instagram, claiming he needed money for medical treatment. The case highlights how Nigerian fraudsters are evolving romance scams by incorporating deepfake and AI technologies, with authorities investigating three men in their 20s based in Nigeria. This represents a dangerous escalation of traditional "Yahoo Boys" internet fraud schemes that have plagued West Africa for years.
fosters.com
Hampton residents lost nearly $1 million to phone, email, text, and social media scams over 13 months, with many involving cryptocurrency, according to Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno—though he notes this represents only reported cases. One particularly devastating case involved a "pig butchering scheme" where a resident lost $480,000 after a scammer built trust through social media before introducing a fraudulent investment opportunity. The Hampton Police Department has become New Hampshire's first law enforcement agency to open a Coinbase account to potentially freeze and recover stolen cryptocurrency, and the chief urges residents to contact police before sending money rather than after they've been victimized.
cbsnews.com
Three Chicago-area residents involved in a romance scam network that bilked victims of over $3.5 million were sentenced, with one receiving probation and two receiving 10 and 20-year prison sentences respectively. The case centered on 57-year-old Laura Kowal from Illinois, who sent nearly $2 million to a fraudulent online persona called "Frank Borg" over almost two years before her death; the scammers, based in West Africa, used the defendants as "money mules" to launder the stolen funds. The sentencing highlighted the growing use of accomplices to facilitate romance scams and the devastating impact on victims and their families.