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rappler.com
· 2025-12-07
This article explores the digital divide among elderly Filipinos, highlighting that while some seniors like 67-year-old Paz Deocariza have successfully adopted technology to connect with family abroad, the vast majority remain excluded from digital life. A 2021 study found that only 18% of Filipinos aged 65 and older possess basic ICT skills, with barriers including poverty, lack of access, and limited interest in learning technology. The piece illustrates how this exclusion affects seniors' daily lives, from communication with distant family to accessing essential services and emergency help.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado man lost approximately $1.4 million in a crypto-romance scam after connecting with someone on a dating website who posed as a woman named Erin and convinced him to invest in cryptocurrencies. The scammer initially directed the victim to legitimate crypto apps but later funneled money into a fake app under their control, exploiting his emotional vulnerability during marital troubles. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case, which represents the largest crypto scam loss the agency has encountered, and authorities note that perpetrators are typically overseas, making recovery efforts the primary focus.
dddnews.com
· 2025-12-07
Older adults are frequent targets for financial scams because they have accumulated wealth, may experience cognitive or sensory decline, and often grew up in a more trusting era, making them vulnerable to exploitation. The FBI estimates seniors lose over $3 billion annually to fraud through common schemes including robocalls, government impersonation scams, romance scams, tech support scams, and emerging threats like deepfakes and grandparent scams. Protection strategies include hanging up on high-pressure calls, verifying caller identities independently, and familiarizing oneself with common scam tactics.
iharare.com
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
Interpol arrested 260 individuals across 14 African nations in a coordinated operation targeting romance scam and sextortion networks operating during July and August. The perpetrators defrauded over 1,400 victims of approximately $2.8 million by building fake romantic relationships, then demanding money or blackmailing victims with compromising images. Notable arrests included 68 suspects in Ghana, 22 in Senegal, and 24 in Ivory Coast, with authorities attributing the rise in these crimes to expanded access to online platforms.
markets.financialcontent.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado man lost his entire life savings of approximately $1.4 million to a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency romance scam after being lured by a woman on Ashley Madison who posed as a successful crypto trader on WhatsApp. Over six weeks, the victim was manipulated into transferring funds to a fraudulent investment app displaying fake profits, and the scam was only exposed when he was asked to pay an additional $400,000 in "fees" to withdraw his earnings. The case, under investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations, highlights the vulnerability of individuals facing personal difficulties and the difficulty in recovering cryptocurrency funds once they enter anonymous wallets.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Ruth Grover, a 69-year-old from Hartlepool, received three suspicious Facebook messages from men claiming to be widowed U.S. Army generals shortly after changing her relationship status to "widow" in 2010, which prompted her to investigate romance scams. Drawing on her police background, she founded ScamHaters United, a Facebook group that grew to thousands of members worldwide, where she helps victims identify and escape romance scammers who use fabricated military or oil rig worker personas and manufactured emergencies to extract money. Though most scammers operate internationally and remain unprosecuted, Grover's group now receives approximately 300 messages daily from potential victims and has
cointribune.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado retiree lost $1.4 million in retirement savings through a sophisticated romance scam where a fraudster posing as "Erin" on a dating platform built trust over several months before gradually directing him to invest in cryptocurrency on a fake platform controlled by criminals. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation confirmed this as the largest individual crypto scam loss in the state, highlighting how romance scams exploit emotional vulnerability and lack of crypto knowledge to steal funds. The case exemplifies the broader problem of unregulated cryptocurrency markets that lack consumer protections and enable cross-border criminal networks to operate with near impunity.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado man lost $1.4 million in retirement savings to a romance scam after meeting a woman on Ashley Madison who convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency over a six-week period. The scammer posed as an attractive woman with business expertise and exploited the man's unhappiness in his marriage, eventually transferring his funds to a fake crypto account; investigators traced the money to a digital wallet but recovery is unlikely without cooperation from crypto exchanges. The victim emphasized the importance of meeting people in person and verifying identities before engaging in financial decisions with online contacts.
mitrade.com
· 2025-12-07
The Colorado Bureau of Investigations investigated a crypto-linked romance scam in which a Colorado man lost $1.4 million from his retirement savings after being deceived by someone posing as "Erin" on a dating website who convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency. The scammer initially built romantic trust before transitioning conversations to financial investment, directing the victim to send funds first to legitimate crypto apps and then to a fake application controlled by the scammer. CBI Special Agent Zeb Semester noted this was the largest crypto scam loss he had witnessed, and authorities emphasized that romance scams combined with cryptocurrency investment schemes are increasingly common and difficult to recover from due to the unregulated nature of
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Australians lost over A$2.03 billion to scams across 494,732 reported cases, with most enabled through online or phone contact. Scammers exploit universal psychological principles—such as appeals to need/greed, authority, kindness, distraction, and social proof—that are similar to legitimate persuasion techniques used in sales and marketing. To protect yourself, evaluate whether a request has legitimate intent, who benefits, and whether you have a free, informed choice.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams targeting older adults have surged 52% among people over 55, with victims aged 75-84 losing an average of £8,068 each compared to £5,219 across all age groups. Scammers use fake dating and social media profiles to build emotional connections, then request money for emergencies like medical bills or travel expenses, often avoiding video calls or in-person meetings with elaborate excuses. Key prevention strategies include staying on monitored messaging platforms, consulting trusted friends and family before sending money, and never transferring funds to someone met only online.
oodaloop.com
· 2025-12-07
Interpol arrested 260 suspects across 14 African countries in July and August for orchestrating online romance and sextortion scams that victimized over 1,400 people and stole nearly $2.8 million. Ghanaian authorities arrested 68 suspects who used fake identities to charge victims fraudulent shipping fees and blackmail them with explicit videos, while in Senegal, 22 suspects impersonated celebrities on social media to defraud over 100 victims of $34,000. The operation underscores the growing prevalence of digital crimes, including romance scams and sextortion, facilitated by online platforms.
interpol.int
· 2025-12-07
INTERPOL has built a specialized network of cybercrime officers across Africa's 54 countries to combat the growing cyber threat, which now accounts for up to 30% of crime in some regions. Through coordinated operations and intelligence sharing with member countries and private partners, INTERPOL has achieved significant results, including over 1,200 arrests and nearly $100 million in recovered funds in their latest Africa-wide operation (Serengeti 2.0). The organization emphasizes rapid information exchange and cross-border collaboration to detect and respond to phishing, malware, and ransomware campaigns targeting financial institutions and vulnerable populations.
securityboulevard.com
· 2025-12-07
International law enforcement arrested 260 suspects and seized 1,235 electronic devices across 14 African countries in Operation Condor 3.0 (July-August), a crackdown on romance scams and sextortion rings operated by criminal syndicates originating in Southeast Asia. The operation identified 1,463 victims who lost an estimated $2.8 million and dismantled 81 cybercrime infrastructures, highlighting the growing threat of digitally-enabled scams exploiting human vulnerabilities across Africa and globally.
news18.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado man lost $1.4 million in life savings to a romance scam after meeting a woman on Ashley Madison who posed as a cryptocurrency investor and convinced him to transfer funds across four transactions over six weeks. The woman, using the name "Erin," built trust through photos, videos, and false claims of investment returns before disappearing with the money into untraceable cold storage cryptocurrency wallets. The case was referred to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Economic Crimes Unit, which reports a significant increase in cryptocurrency-related romance scams targeting individuals.
whas11.com
· 2025-12-07
A 2025 PrivacyJournal study ranked U.S. states by online dating safety based on reported romance scams, fraud, identity theft, violent crime, STD rates, and registered sex offenders per 100,000 residents. Vermont was found to be the safest state for online daters, while Nevada ranked as the most dangerous due to high rates of fraud, identity theft, and romance scams. Kentucky ranked fifth-safest overall, with notably low fraud and romance scam reports, though it had elevated identity theft cases and registered sex offenders among the top five states.
cnbctv18.com
· 2025-12-07
A Colorado man lost $1.4 million in a romance scam after meeting a woman on the dating site Ashley Madison who gained his trust and convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency, claiming she could help protect his finances in case of divorce. Over six weeks, he made four separate cryptocurrency transfers that depleted his retirement and savings accounts before realizing the money was gone. Colorado Bureau of Investigation officials warn that romance scammers exploit emotional vulnerabilities to build trust before introducing investment pitches, and advise people to be cautious of requests for money, promises of high returns, and conversations shifted to encrypted messaging apps.
cyberscoop.com
· 2025-12-07
An Interpol-coordinated operation spanning 14 African countries arrested 260 cybercrime suspects and dismantled 81 criminal networks involved in romance scams and sextortion, resulting in approximately $2.8 million in losses across nearly 1,500 victims. Ghana accounted for the largest portion of arrests (68 suspects) with victims losing $450,000, while other countries including Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Angola also made significant arrests; authorities seized electronic devices, forged documents, and SIM cards used in the schemes. The operation highlighted the growing threat of digitally-enabled fraud on social media and dating platforms across Africa, with
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-07
A bank employee in Colonie, New York alerted police when an elderly customer attempted to withdraw $30,000 after being directed to do so by an unknown person over the phone, leading to the arrest of Huifeng Jin and Qinghua Wang from Queens on charges including grand larceny and assault. This marked the second similar $30,000 fraud attempt targeting an upstate New York senior in one week, part of a broader pattern of elder fraud involving romance scams, account hacking, and identity theft that has defrauded seniors of over $11 million. Police urge families to discuss these scams with elderly relatives and remind residents not to disclose personal information or make financial arrangements over
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
**Summary:**
Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, a 43-year-old Nigerian national extradited from Poland, was charged in federal court for operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme targeting American seniors over more than five years. The scheme sent fraudulent letters falsely claiming victims had inherited millions from deceased relatives in Spain and demanded upfront fees for delivery and taxes, with victims sending money through a network of compromised U.S. bank accounts and never receiving promised funds. Nnebocha faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and two co-defendants have already been sentenced to approximately 97 months incarceration.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans age 60 and older lost over $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with reported elder fraud complaints to the FBI increasing 14% year-over-year, though actual losses are likely much higher due to underreporting and unreported phone, mail, and in-person scams. Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to greater trustworthiness, financial assets, and unfamiliarity with technology, with tech-support scams being most common but investment scams proving costliest, while fraudulent call centers—increasingly using AI voice-cloning and deepfakes—accounted for at least $770 million in losses. Prevention through education on
news18.com
· 2025-12-07
A woman in Bengaluru was scammed by a man she matched with on the Bumble dating app who claimed to be from Fiji; after they met at a cafe, he disappeared when the bill came, leaving her to pay for both meals before blocking her on social media and revealing his personal details were fabricated. The incident is part of a known dating app scam operating in Delhi and Bengaluru, though notably unusual because it targeted a woman rather than the typical male victim, with suspicions that restaurant staff may have been complicit in the scheme.
patch.com
· 2025-12-07
A 76-year-old Newton psychologist, Eric Brown, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering after falling victim to an internet romance scam and misusing a patient's $700,000 trust fund. Brown fraudulently invested approximately $600,000 of the trust overseas and deceived a family member into lending him an additional $310,000, sending both sums to the scammer he believed was his online romantic partner. The charges carry a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
masslive.com
· 2025-12-07
A 76-year-old Newton therapist agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud and unlawful money transactions after falling victim to an online investment romance scam and misappropriating $600,000 of a patient's settlement funds that he held as trustee. Brown was manipulated by a scammer posing as a romantic partner and secretly invested the patient's money overseas without their knowledge, while also deceiving a relative into lending him $310,000 under false pretenses. He faces up to 50 years in prison and fines up to $1 million.
parikiaki.com
· 2025-12-07
Over 100 Hertfordshire residents lost a combined £1.14 million to romance scams since the beginning of 2025, with individual losses ranging from £4,000 to £5,000. Fraudsters used dating apps and social media to build relationships with victims, fabricating stories about needing money for medical emergencies or travel, often claiming to work on oil rigs or for the military. Police advise verifying online contacts through image searches, never sending money to online acquaintances regardless of their circumstances, and consulting friends and family before responding to financial requests.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
This article from AARP provides relationship advice for couples with significant age gaps (10+ years), focusing on navigating life stage differences, retirement and family planning goals, and generational communication styles. The piece recommends open dialogue about expectations, regular check-ins about mutual support, and approaching generational differences with curiosity rather than judgment. No fraud, scam, or elder abuse is discussed in this article.
noozhawk.com
· 2025-12-07
Impersonation and romance scams are increasing in sophistication, targeting both individuals and businesses through spoofed emails, fake profiles, and emotional manipulation. Impersonation scams mimic legitimate businesses (Amazon, Microsoft, banks) with nearly identical domain names and compromised vendor emails to pressure victims into updating banking information, while romance scams exploit individuals seeking connection, sometimes lasting years before victims realize they've lost significant money. Community banks like American Riviera Bank offer advantages in fraud prevention through direct access to fraud investigators who can help identify red flags such as minor domain misspellings, free email services used by established vendors, and pressure tactics requiring immediate action.
cps.gov.uk
· 2025-12-07
Five money launderers were sentenced to between three years nine months and seven years ten months imprisonment for orchestrating a romance fraud scheme that defrauded 99 suspected victims of approximately £2.37 million. The criminals created fake dating profiles to manipulate victims into transferring money under false pretenses, such as business trip expenses or stolen wallets, with only 40 victims formally reporting the fraud. The convicted men laundered the stolen funds through their bank accounts, and authorities emphasize that victims should report such crimes without shame.
bitdefender.com
· 2025-12-07
INTERPOL arrested 260 alleged romance scammers, sextortionists, and online fraudsters across 14 African nations in "Operation Contender 3.0," identifying over 1,400 victims with estimated losses of nearly US $2.8 million. Law enforcement seized 1,235 electronic devices and dismantled 81 cybercriminal infrastructures used to lure victims and launder payments. The operation highlights the surge of digital crime across Africa, where sextortion attacks and romance scams are particularly prevalent due to low barriers to entry and high profit potential, with many victims reluctant to report crimes due to shame.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-07
Interpol's Operation Contender 3.0 arrested 260 alleged romance scammers and sextortionists across Africa, recovering 1,235 electronic devices and linking 1,463 victims who lost approximately $2.8 million. The criminals used fake online identities to lure vulnerable victims into romantic relationships before demanding money through bogus fees, fraudulent investments, or sextortion schemes involving explicit recordings. The operation highlights a growing problem in Africa where cybercrime accounts for 30% of reported crime, with Americans losing $1.2 billion annually to romance scams with median losses around $2,000.
royalnews.com.ng
· 2025-12-07
Tochuwku Nnebocha, a 43-year-old Nigerian, was extradited from Poland to face federal charges for operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of millions of dollars over five years. The scheme involved sending personalized letters to seniors falsely claiming they were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives in Spain, then requesting upfront fees that were routed through U.S.-based accomplices. Nnebocha faces charges including mail and wire fraud carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years, with two co-conspirators having already pleaded guilty and received 97-month sentences each.
regtechtimes.com
· 2025-12-07
Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, a 43-year-old Nigerian national, was extradited from Poland to the United States to face federal charges for allegedly operating a large-scale inheritance scam that defrauded elderly Americans over five years. The scheme involved sending personalized letters claiming victims had inherited millions from deceased relatives in Spain, then requesting fees and taxes upfront that victims never recovered. Nnebocha faces mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy charges carrying potential sentences up to 20 years, while two co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty and received sentences exceeding eight years each.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-07
Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, a 43-year-old Nigerian extradited from Poland, faces federal charges for operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded elderly American victims over five years by falsely claiming they had unclaimed inheritances from Spain and requesting upfront fees for delivery and taxes. Victims sent money through a network of compromised U.S. accounts and never received promised funds, with Nnebocha facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted; two co-conspirators have already been sentenced to 97 months incarceration each.
news.virginia.edu
· 2025-12-07
AI is enhancing both traditional scams and creating new fraud methods by automating mass attacks and making previously elite techniques accessible to ordinary fraudsters. Common AI-assisted scams include voice-cloned "grandparent scams," months-long fake relationship "pig butchering" schemes with cryptocurrency investments, synthetic identity fraud, sextortion with AI-generated images, and fake product reviews and job postings. To protect themselves, people should remain skeptical of urgent money requests especially via phone calls from claimed family members, verify identities through independent channels, and slow down decision-making during high-pressure situations.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
A woman lost a six-figure sum over eight months to a romance scammer who impersonated an Emmerdale actor after connecting with her on social media, claiming to need money for family emergencies, legal issues, and household repairs while repeatedly promising repayment that never occurred. Greater Manchester Police's Economic Crime Unit investigated the case, with detectives emphasizing the emotional and financial devastation of romance fraud and urging victims to report incidents to Action Fraud and their banks. The case highlights an ongoing problem of criminals using fake celebrity identities online, with actress Lisa Riley recently warning fans to verify her official blue-ticked social media accounts and avoid interacting with scams using her name.
showme.missouri.edu
· 2025-12-07
University of Missouri researchers studying online dating fraud found that scammers have evolved their tactics away from obviously fake "perfect" profiles toward "strategic imperfection"—including minor flaws like divorce or ordinary jobs—to build credibility with victims. The study of thousands of user reports revealed that scammers typically pose as 50-year-old professionals in high-status fields, fabricate emotional crisis scenarios (work or health emergencies), and successfully manipulate even cautious, educated people through emotionally compelling narratives. Researchers propose developing AI-powered tools using machine learning to identify suspicious linguistic patterns and provide real-time risk assessments on dating apps and social media platforms.
owensoundsuntimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A Hanover resident lost over $117,000 to a romance scam that began in 2021, in which a scammer posed as a romantic interest on social media and gradually built emotional trust before requesting money for false emergencies and investments. Police report these scams are increasing across Canada with hundreds of thousands in annual losses, though many cases go unreported, and note that investigating these crimes is challenging since perpetrators often operate from offshore locations. Authorities advise residents to be cautious of online relationships that require secrecy or repeated financial requests and to report suspicious interactions.
news.cumbria.police.uk
· 2025-12-07
Romance fraud victims in Cumbria reported 74 dating scams in the year ending October 1, with losses exceeding £630,000, predominantly affecting people aged 50-79. Scammers create fake online profiles to build trust and manipulate victims into sending money through fabricated emergencies or financial needs. Police emphasize that romance fraud is never the victim's fault and urge reporting, as many cases go unreported due to embarrassment and shame.
columbian.com
· 2025-12-07
A woman lost thousands of dollars in a romance scam where she believed she was in a relationship with a celebrity who communicated with her daily before disappearing with her money. Romance scams and other online crimes have surged dramatically in the United States, with the FBI reporting record losses of $16.6 billion in 2024.
natlawreview.com
· 2025-12-07
Interpol arrested 260 cybercrime suspects across 14 African countries in Operation Contender 3.0, dismantling 81 criminal networks involved in romance scams and sextortion schemes. The operation affected approximately 1,500 victims with total losses of $2.8 million, with perpetrators using fake profiles, forged identities, and stolen images to commit fraud through fake courier fees and blackmail schemes. Romance scams and sextortion continue to affect millions globally across all ages and genders.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-07
A woman in her 70s lost over £500,000 in a romance scam after being targeted on social media by a fraudster impersonating actor Jason Momoa who promised her a life in Hawaii; the victim, recently widowed and vulnerable, was manipulated over three years into selling her house and sending money, leaving her homeless and in debt. Cambridgeshire Police report seeing four romance fraud incidents weekly but face challenges in prosecuting cases due to organized criminals using cryptocurrency, operating outside UK jurisdiction, and moving money quickly. Police emphasize that education and awareness are key prevention tools, as romance fraud cases have risen nearly 60% over four years.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-07
A widow in Cumbria was defrauded three times by romance scammers who posed as potential romantic partners online, losing £30,000 in total. Police reported 74 dating scams in the county over 12 months, resulting in losses exceeding £630,000, with victims aged 50-79 most vulnerable and fraudsters using emotional manipulation tactics such as claiming to need money for inheritance release. Police emphasized that romance fraud is not the victim's fault and encouraged reporting to Action Fraud, noting many cases likely go unreported due to victim shame.
newsbreak.com
· 2025-12-07
Rome Police Department warned residents about the rising sophistication of scams targeting locals, particularly seniors who have lost significant amounts to romance, investment, and elder fraud schemes. Three recent victims lost a combined $1,019,000 to scammers, while national data shows fraud losses reached $16.6 billion in 2024, up 33% from the previous year. Police advise residents to avoid sending money or personal information to strangers and to verify communications, cautioning that about half of current local fraud cases involve seniors who often don't report incidents due to embarrassment.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Nigerian national Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, 43, was extradited from Poland and charged in federal court in Miami for operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded American seniors over five years. The scheme involved sending letters falsely claiming recipients were entitled to multi-million-dollar inheritances from Spain, then requesting upfront fees for delivery and taxes; victims' money was routed through U.S.-based money mules and never resulted in any inheritance payments. Nnebocha faces up to 20 years in prison, and two co-conspirators previously extradited from Portugal and the United Kingdom were each sentenced to 97 months in prison.
freep.com
· 2025-12-07
Criminals are impersonating banks via fake texts and calls to convince customers their debit cards have been compromised, then intercepting replacement cards sent by mail or hiring accomplices to steal them from porches. In a metro Detroit case, David Andrew Williams was arrested in September 2024 after attempting to steal a Chase Bank customer's replacement debit card from a UPS delivery, and was charged with identity theft and theft of financial transaction devices. Debit card fraud ranked as the top payment method for both attempted fraud and actual dollar losses in 2024, with criminals using various tactics including card skimming and exploiting information obtained through spoofed communications to drain bank accounts.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-07
A Staffordshire pensioner lost £130,000 in a romance scam after being contacted on Facebook by someone posing as a celebrity technology businessman who promised to relocate to the UK to be with her; she remortgaged her house to send the money. The fraud was discovered when her family noticed behavioral changes and that she was struggling to afford groceries on her pension, prompting intervention from social services and investigation by Staffordshire Police and Action Fraud. Police warn that such romance scams are common and exploit personal vulnerabilities, with perpetrators using excuses and false promises to delay meeting victims and continue extracting funds.
timesandstar.co.uk
· 2025-12-07
Cumbria Police warned the public about romance scams, where fraudsters use fake identities to build online relationships and extract money from victims. In the 12 months to October 1, there were 74 reports of dating scams in Cumbria resulting in losses exceeding £630,000, with victims predominantly aged 50-79. Key protective measures include never sending money to online contacts, verifying identities through reverse image searches, and reporting incidents to Action Fraud.
trtafrika.com
· 2025-12-07
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama pledged to prosecute romance scammers and cybercriminals abroad, following a major crackdown that arrested over 1,200 people and recovered approximately $100 million across 18 African countries. Ghana, heavily affected by romance scams and online extortion, launched a Joint Cyber Security Committee to combat cybercrime, which now accounts for over 30% of reported crimes in West and East Africa and caused Ghana an estimated $1.2 million in losses in the first half of 2025.
cknxnewstoday.ca
· 2025-12-07
A Hanover resident lost approximately $117,000 in an online romance scam that began in 2021, prompting police to warn the community about the growing frequency of such fraud. Romance scammers pose as romantic partners on dating platforms and social media, building emotional connections before fabricating emergencies or business opportunities to extract money from victims. Police note that investigating these crimes is challenging due to offshore perpetrators operating outside Canadian jurisdiction, and urge residents to report suspicious online interactions and remember that legitimate relationships should never require secrecy or repeated financial requests.
cmscritic.com
· 2025-12-07
This article discusses the rising threat of romance scams enhanced by AI technology, particularly targeting vulnerable populations. Romance scam losses in the United States increased dramatically from $547 million in 2021 to over $1.3 billion in 2024, with victims averaging $15,000 in losses, and the problem is expected to worsen as AI-generated avatars and voice cloning become more convincing. The article emphasizes that seniors aged 50-80 are especially at risk due to widespread loneliness and isolation, and advocates for education and awareness as primary defenses against this emotionally and financially devastating crime.