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in Romance Scams
yahoo.com
Romance scams involve fraudsters creating fake romantic relationships to manipulate victims into sending money or personal information. The Better Business Bureau advises people to be cautious of online dating matches who quickly profess affection, avoid sending money to romantic interests, and verify identities through video chat before developing emotional or financial connections.
wccbcharlotte.com
Social Catfish released a list of the 100 most commonly used fake photos in romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day 2025, based on analysis of 1.5 million reverse image searches. Romance scams cost Americans $1.14 billion in 2023, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes; North Carolina saw 453 victims lose $16.8 million in 2023. The company recommends verifying identities through reverse image searches, avoiding sending money to online contacts, using video chats, and being wary of rapid declarations of love or claims involving military service or overseas living.
koamnewsnow.com
The Better Business Bureau warned people to watch for romance scams during Valentine's Day, noting that scammers use online dating and social media platforms to target people seeking romantic relationships; regional BBB director Pamela Hernandez advised consumers to be aware of red flags when interacting with potential romantic partners online.
hindustantimes.com
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 to Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated photos to impersonate actor Brad Pitt and convince her they were in a romantic relationship, claiming the actor needed money for medical treatment. The case highlights how Nigerian internet fraudsters, known as "Yahoo Boys," are adopting AI and deepfake technology to conduct romance scams, a tactic experts warn could significantly increase the effectiveness and prevalence of such fraud schemes.
nzherald.co.nz
A 78-year-old Auckland man lost nearly $50,000 in a romance scam after being contacted by a woman who promised financial gains through cryptocurrency trading investments. The scammer built trust over six months through online messaging and occasional video calls, making false promises to visit and guaranteeing investment returns, before convincing the victim to transfer funds via crypto machines to evade bank detection. The victim made initial profits on a few trades but ultimately lost approximately $133,000 USD in a single failed transaction, with New Zealand authorities unable to recover the funds.
news3lv.com
Chase Bank and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are hosting a free educational event on February 5 at Clark County Library to inform the public about romance scams and financial fraud prevention. The session will be led by Chase representatives and a detective from the Theft Crimes Bureau, who will discuss common scam tactics and provide practical advice on protecting personal finances and information, with a special focus on romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day.
mondaq.com
Romance fraud—where scammers impersonate celebrities or create fake identities to build trust with victims before demanding money—is a rapidly growing crime, with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau reporting 8,792 cases and losses exceeding £94.7 million in the past year. A notable case involved a 53-year-old French woman defrauded of £700,000 over 18 months by someone posing as Brad Pitt, with fraudsters typically spending about a year building trust before requesting funds through pretexts like medical emergencies or investment opportunities. Authorities note that romance fraud is heavily under-reported due to victim shame, though early reporting without alert
salon.com
This article is a political opinion piece criticizing Donald Trump's inauguration and the MAGA movement, not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It contains political commentary about Trump's appearance, demeanor, and leadership style, but no information relevant to elder fraud research.
newsweek.com
A French woman named Anne lost $850,000 to a romance scammer who used AI-generated deepfake images of Brad Pitt to pose as the actor on Facebook Messenger beginning in 2023. The scammer initially pretended to be Pitt's mother, then Pitt himself, and manipulated Anne with promises of love and marriage while requesting money for fabricated financial troubles and cancer treatment, ultimately leading her to divorce her millionaire husband. Experts warn that AI-enabled romance scams are increasingly common and effective because they target emotional vulnerabilities rather than logical reasoning, with victims often overlooking red flags in their desire for companionship and connection.
koamnewsnow.com
**Online Romance Scams Warning (January 20, 2025)**
The Better Business Bureau issued a warning to consumers about online romance scams. The alert advises awareness of this fraud scheme, though the article excerpt provided does not contain specific details about affected victims, dollar amounts, or particular incidents.
chinadailyhk.com
Hong Kong authorities are implementing anti-fraud measures targeting mainland students after an 18-year-old University of Hong Kong student lost HK$9.2 million ($1.18 million) to phone scammers posing as government officials in a money laundering scheme. New requirements include mandatory fraud prevention questionnaires for mainland students applying to study in Hong Kong, anti-scam lectures, and educational kits, with over 60 HKU students having lost more than HK$60 million to various scams recently. Multiple Hong Kong universities have adopted mandatory anti-fraud quizzes and questionnaires, with early results showing reduced fraud victimization rates among students who
yahoo.com
This article outlines seven AI-powered scams that are becoming increasingly difficult to detect: voice cloning, deepfake impersonation, investment fraud, phishing, romance scams, and others. The article explains how scammers use AI technology to create convincing fake voices, videos, and messages to manipulate victims into sending money, revealing personal data, or clicking malicious links. It provides practical prevention tips for each scam type, including verifying caller identities with security questions, scrutinizing video quality and facial movements in deepfakes, verifying investment advisors, and avoiding suspicious links and downloads.
androidpolice.com
AI technology is making scams increasingly convincing and harder to detect, with fraudsters using voice cloning, deepfakes, fake investment schemes, phishing emails, and romance scams to target victims. The article outlines seven types of AI-powered scams and provides prevention strategies, including verifying caller identities with security questions, scrutinizing deepfake videos for unnatural movements or audio-visual mismatches, consulting registered investment advisors, and avoiding clicking suspicious links or sharing sensitive information with unverified sources.
yahoo.com
The NYPD issued a warning about romance scams targeting online dating app users ahead of Valentine's Day, noting that scammers typically profess love quickly, claim to be overseas, and request money for emergencies or travel through various payment methods including Venmo, Zelle, wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The alert advises people to be cautious when dating online and provides contact information for reporting suspected scams to the NYPD SCAM ALERT hotline.
evoke.ie
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 to a romance scammer who impersonated Brad Pitt, using fake AI-generated images and posing as the actor's mother to build trust before claiming he needed money for kidney cancer treatment. Brad Pitt's representative issued a public warning advising fans not to respond to unsolicited online messages from celebrities, particularly those not active on social media, as the victim subsequently experienced severe depression and online harassment following the exposure of the scam.
taipeitimes.com
In the fourth quarter of last year, Taiwan reported NT$37.19 billion (US$1.23 billion) in fraud losses, with investment scams accounting for 56.9 percent of total losses and affecting 1,242 victims, predominantly women over 50 (516 cases). Criminals used social media advertisements and messaging apps to recruit victims into fake investment groups, while romance scams and impersonation schemes targeting bank/government officials also contributed significantly to losses, with victims taking 2 months to 2 years to discover they had been defrauded.
nbcnews.com
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra received a sophisticated scam call impersonating a world leader using AI-generated voice technology, which escalated to requests for donations and bank transfers before she recognized it as fraudulent. The incident highlights Southeast Asia's emergence as a major hub for telecom and online fraud, where hundreds of thousands of trafficked individuals are forced into "pig-butchering scams" that have cost Americans alone $3.5 billion in 2023, prompting calls for regional cooperation to combat the threat.
sbs.com.au
In 2024, Australians reported 249,448 scams totaling $318.7 million in losses to the ACCC's Scamwatch, with investment scams being the most damaging at $192.3 million (median loss $9,500), followed by romance and phishing scams. People over 65 were worst affected financially with a median loss of $1,000, while men overall lost more money than women, with email being the most common contact method used by scammers. Key warning signs include promises of easy money, requests from unknown contacts, links in messages, and pressure to act quickly.
latimes.com
A French interior designer was scammed out of over $800,000 by fraudsters who impersonated Brad Pitt on Instagram, using AI-generated images and false claims about medical expenses and financial hardship to convince her to send her life savings over an 18-month period. Brad Pitt's representatives issued a statement reminding fans that the actor has no social media presence and urged people to avoid responding to unsolicited online contact from celebrities. The victim, identified as Anne, reportedly attempted suicide three times after discovering the deception, and the original French TV segment featuring her story was removed after she faced harassment online.
berkshireeagle.com
Romance scams are among the most destructive fraud schemes, exploiting victims' emotional vulnerabilities through manufactured relationships that can last months or years; in 2023 alone, the FTC reported 64,000 romance scam complaints resulting in over $1 billion in losses, with victims suffering severe emotional trauma beyond financial damage. Red flags include unmet face-to-face meetings, distant locations, quick relationship escalation, requests to move communication off social media platforms, and delayed money requests designed to build false trust. Those concerned about a victim should avoid shaming language, seek help from trusted figures in the victim's life, and develop a careful action plan, as victims often resist logic and evidence due to the
imdb.com
A 67-year-old California woman lost thousands of dollars to scammers impersonating actor Keanu Reeves in a romance scam, resulting in her becoming homeless and living in her car. Romance scams targeting celebrities are increasingly common, with $1.1 billion lost nationally and $1.3 million in San Diego County alone during 2023. The victim shared her story to raise awareness about warning signs, as scammers exploit the popularity of celebrities who typically have no social media presence.
discovermagazine.com
A Florida woman was convicted and pleaded guilty to laundering over $2.7 million in an online romance scam ring, exemplifying a growing problem where the FTC reported consumers lost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022—a 30 percent increase from 2021. Scammers employ sophisticated social engineering tactics including romance cons, fake investments, deepfake videos, and manufactured crises, with adults 60 and older being 73 percent more likely to fall victim to such schemes. Research reveals scammers exploit psychological principles like reciprocity (building trust through small gifts) and crisis manipulation (creating urgent financial emergencies) to manipulate victims into sending money
marca.com
A 53-year-old French woman named Anne lost approximately 9,000 euros to an online romance scam involving a scammer posing as actor Brad Pitt using AI-generated photos and videos, who claimed to need money for cancer treatment and customs fees. The incident caused severe psychological trauma to the victim, including three suicide attempts and admission to a mental health clinic, while her lawyer seeks to hold her bank accountable for failing to prevent the fraudulent transfers.
english.elpais.com
A Swedish man named Daniel lost €40,000 in a "pig butchering scam," a romance-based fraud scheme where a fake woman named Adele lured him into cryptocurrency investments through dating apps and WhatsApp. The scams, which generated $72 billion between 2020 and 2024, are operated from Southeast Asian compounds by crime syndicates with Chinese roots, where tens of thousands of trafficking victims—potentially 100,000 in Cambodia and 120,000 in Myanmar—are forced to impersonate romantic interests and financial advisors to defraud victims globally.
au.news.yahoo.com
Scammers are targeting Facebook Marketplace sellers with fake Australia Post links and QR codes, claiming payment has been made while actually attempting to steal payment card details and personal information through phishing. Australia Post warned customers in January 2024 that the company never provides prepayment services for marketplace listings or sends links/QR codes related to online sales. This scam reflects a broader trend where Australians lost over $58 million to social media scams in the first 10 months of 2024, making social media the leading contact method used by fraudsters.
news.com.au
Fraudsters are targeting Facebook Marketplace sellers with a scam involving fake Australia Post QR code links that appear to confirm payment for items, but actually direct victims to phishing sites designed to steal payment card details and personal information for identity theft. Australia Post reissued warnings about this scheme in January after it was first discovered in September, emphasizing that they never provide prepayment services or send payment-related links for marketplace listings. This scam is part of a broader trend in which over 6,000 Australians lost $58.3 million to social media scams in the first 10 months of 2024.
etsn.fm
A Louisiana woman lost approximately $60,000 in a catfishing scam where someone used artificial intelligence to impersonate Elon Musk on the Threads platform and subsequently in video conversations. The scammer convinced her to purchase gift cards (which could not be traced or retrieved) by promising her a Tesla and later requesting money for pizza and fabricated truck damage fees. Home Depot employees in multiple Louisiana locations became suspicious when the victim repeatedly purchased gift cards and refused to sell them to her, helping halt the fraud.
indiatoday.in
A 53-year-old French interior designer lost approximately Rs 7.5 crore in a romance scam involving fake accounts impersonating Brad Pitt and his mother, exploiting her emotional vulnerability during an ongoing divorce. The scammers used AI-generated videos and messages to build trust, then fabricated stories about customs fees, medical emergencies, and frozen bank accounts to extract money before she discovered the deception through real celebrity photos. This case reflects a rising trend of sophisticated romance scams targeting celebrity-obsessed individuals, with similar Brad Pitt impersonation schemes reported across Europe.
iomtoday.co.im
An Isle of Man Bank customer lost nearly £200,000 after fraudsters impersonated the bank's fraud team and convinced the victim to purchase gold and send it via mail to London; the scam succeeded because it coincided with the customer's genuine card problems, making the call seem legitimate. The Cyber Security Centre's report for late 2024 also documented additional fraud cases including a £200,000 cryptocurrency scam, sextortion attempts, smishing schemes, and fake Facebook travel offers, with 2,721 suspicious emails reported to authorities and recommendations emphasizing independent verification and family communication about financial matters.
nypost.com
A 53-year-old French interior designer was scammed out of $850,000 in an 18-month romance fraud scheme in which a catfisher impersonated actor Brad Pitt using AI-generated photos and videos, initially posing as his mother before claiming to be Pitt himself and later fabricating a kidney cancer diagnosis requiring medical funds. The victim eventually discovered the deception when photos emerged of the real Pitt with another woman, though the scammer remains at large and the victim subsequently faced cyberbullying after her story was publicly aired. Brad Pitt's representative issued a warning for the public to ignore unsolicited messages from celebrities, noting P
ladailypost.com
A 53-year-old French woman was defrauded of $850,000 by scammers posing as Brad Pitt using AI-generated images and videos to create a convincing fake romance from 2023 onwards. The scammers exploited her vulnerability as a cancer survivor and social media novice, fabricating stories about divorce proceedings and medical treatments to justify repeated money requests, and even created a fake AI newscast to counter her doubts. The article warns that AI-powered celebrity romance scams are increasingly effective and advises monitoring vulnerable relatives for warning signs such as online relationships with people who cannot meet in person or requests for money.
scmp.com
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 (US$850,000) in life savings to romance scammers who impersonated Brad Pitt through fake social media accounts, WhatsApp, and AI-generated images, convincing her they were in a romantic relationship and prompting her to divorce her husband. The fraudsters claimed Pitt needed money for medical treatment and had frozen bank accounts due to divorce proceedings. Pitt's representative warned fans not to respond to unsolicited online contact from the actor, who maintains no active social media presence.
yahoo.com
The Better Business Bureau warns of common tactics used in romance scams and advises potential victims to be cautious. The organization provides resources for reporting scams and obtaining recovery assistance through its website and ScamTracker tool.
mirror.co.uk
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 (£700,000) in a romance scam where she was deceived into believing she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt; the scammer claimed to need money for cancer treatment and fabricated financial problems following a fake divorce. A Paris-based private investigator traced the perpetrator to a young man in Nigeria operating as part of a team with at least 34 other victims, who is now impersonating Keanu Reeves and remains at large despite evidence being shared with Nigerian authorities and Interpol.
the-sun.com
A 53-year-old French interior designer was defrauded of approximately £697,000 (€775,000) by a Nigerian scammer impersonating Brad Pitt through a romance con lasting over a year, involving AI-generated photos and fake cancer treatment requests. The scammer, who was tracked down and found to be part of a small group operating from Nigeria with at least 34 victims, has since moved on to impersonating other celebrities like Keanu Reeves; the victim has since lost her marriage, home, and mental health, attempting suicide multiple times.
dailysabah.com
A 53-year-old French woman lost her life savings of 830,000 euros ($850,000) to scammers impersonating Brad Pitt through fake social media accounts, WhatsApp, and AI-generated images, who convinced her they were in a romantic relationship and needed money for medical treatment. Brad Pitt's representative warned fans against responding to unsolicited online contact and noted that the actor has no official social media presence, while experts highlight that AI technology has increased the risk of identity theft and romantic fraud schemes. Similar scams targeting other women using Pitt's identity have been reported in Spain, with five suspects arrested in September 2024.
wltx.com
A 53-year-old French woman lost her life savings of $850,000 to scammers posing as Brad Pitt through fake social media accounts, AI-generated images, and WhatsApp messages, who claimed the actor needed money for medical treatment. After revealing her story on French television, she faced severe online harassment and mockery, prompting the network to withdraw the interview to protect the vulnerable victim. The case illustrates how artificial intelligence has increased the sophistication of romance scams, with the FTC reporting over $1 billion in romance scam losses affecting 64,000 Americans in 2023 alone.
thewrap.com
A 53-year-old French interior designer lost $850,000 to a romance scammer who impersonated Brad Pitt, claiming frozen bank accounts and medical expenses over the course of a year-long online relationship. Brad Pitt responded by warning fans to avoid unsolicited online messages from celebrities and to recognize this as a common catfish scheme, noting this was not the first time he had been impersonated for such frauds.
fortune.com
A French woman lost $850,000 to romance scammers who used fake social media accounts, AI-generated images, and WhatsApp messages to impersonate Brad Pitt over more than a year, convincing her to transfer her life savings by claiming the actor needed money for medical treatment. Brad Pitt's representatives responded by warning fans not to engage with unsolicited online contact from celebrities, particularly those without legitimate social media presence. This scam is part of a broader trend of AI-enabled celebrity impersonation fraud targeting fans, with similar incidents previously affecting Spanish victims and other celebrities like Johnny Depp.
dailyrecord.co.uk
A 53-year-old French interior designer lost €830,000 (£700,000) to scammers posing as Brad Pitt over an 18-month period beginning in February 2023, after being initially contacted on Instagram by someone claiming to be Pitt's mother. The scammers used AI-generated photos and increasingly elaborate schemes—including fake news reports and claims of kidney cancer treatment—to convince the victim to send money, eventually depleting her entire divorce settlement. Action Fraud warns the public to avoid sending money to online contacts they haven't met in person, use reverse image searches to verify photos, and watch for red flags such as reluctance to video call, emotional
aol.com
A French woman lost over $850,000 to a scammer who used AI deepfake technology to impersonate Brad Pitt over an 18-month period, convincing her they were in a romantic relationship and that he needed money for cancer treatment. Brad Pitt's spokesperson issued a statement warning against responding to unsolicited online messages from celebrities, particularly those not active on social media. Romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals—especially older adults—cost victims $1.14 billion in 2023, with scammers exploiting emotional loneliness and leveraging sophisticated AI technology to create convincing fake communications.
imdb.com
A 53-year-old French interior decorator named Anne lost $850,000 in a romance scam where a scammer impersonated Brad Pitt over a year-long fake long-distance relationship. The scam began when the perpetrator initially contacted her posing as Pitt's mother on Instagram, then sent AI-generated photos and romantic messages to deceive her. Pitt responded publicly, describing the scam as "awful" and noting it exploited the strong emotional bonds between fans and celebrities.
newsweek.com
A 53-year-old French woman was scammed out of approximately $850,000 by someone impersonating Brad Pitt in a romance scam that began in 2023 through Facebook and continued over several years. The scammer used AI-generated images, love poems, and false claims about needing money for cancer treatment and bank access issues to manipulate the victim into sending increasingly large sums, leading her to eventually divorce her husband. The case highlights the growing threat of AI-enabled fraud, with Brad Pitt's representatives warning the public not to respond to unsolicited celebrity contact, as the actor maintains no verified social media accounts.
usatoday.com
Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty to running a scheme in 2023 that defrauded elderly Americans out of approximately $100 million through romance and elder fraud scams, using stolen gift cards to purchase Apple products that were stockpiled in a New Hampshire warehouse and shipped to China and Hong Kong for resale. The operation was part of a larger network of similar cells operating across the U.S., with investigators recovering $8 million in Apple products and additional counterfeit electronics during a warehouse search. This case demonstrates how proceeds from elder fraud and other scams fund organized crime operations abroad and fuel additional fraud schemes, including return fraud that costs retailers over $100 billion annually.
theguardian.com
A 53-year-old French interior designer was scammed out of €830,000 (£700,000) by someone posing as actor Brad Pitt in a romance scam lasting over a year, in which the scammer used fake accounts, AI-generated images, and fabricated stories about medical treatment to extract money. After she publicly discussed the case on French television, she faced significant online mockery and harassment, prompting the broadcaster to withdraw the segment. The victim had filed a police complaint regarding the scam.
cbsnews.com
A 53-year-old French interior decorator lost €850,000 ($850,000) to scammers who impersonated actor Brad Pitt using fake social media accounts, AI-generated images, and fabricated stories about kidney treatment and frozen bank accounts due to divorce proceedings. After the victim appeared on French television to share her story, she faced severe online harassment and mockery, prompting the network to remove the interview from its platforms to protect her wellbeing. The case illustrates how romance scams, increasingly sophisticated through AI technology, continue to target vulnerable individuals, with romance fraud losses in the U.S. exceeding $1 billion in 2023.
pcmag.com
This educational article identifies major online scams targeting people in 2025, including romance baiting (formerly called "pig butchering"), immigration fraud, and AI-generated scams that exploit vulnerable populations. The author advises vigilance against scammers who use social engineering tactics, noting that law enforcement offers limited recourse for victims and recommending awareness of common warning signs to avoid becoming a target.
newstalk.com
A French woman was defrauded of €830,000 by scammers who used AI to impersonate actor Brad Pitt and claimed to need money for cancer treatment. Romance scam expert Becky Holmes highlighted that victims are unfairly stigmatized compared to other crime victims and that fraudsters use sophisticated coercive control tactics, with AI now enabling scammers to manipulate images and create convincing fake communications.
firstpost.com
A 53-year-old French interior designer named Anne lost €800,000 over approximately one year in a romance scam involving a fake Brad Pitt persona. The scammer, posing as Brad Pitt and his mother, built an emotional relationship with Anne through daily messages, poems, and AI-generated videos before claiming to need funds for medical treatment (kidney cancer) and customs duties, exploiting her vulnerability following her divorce and receipt of a €775,000 settlement.
indianexpress.com
A 53-year-old French interior designer lost over €850,000 to a romance scam where a fraudster impersonated actor Brad Pitt using AI-generated videos and fake messages on Instagram, claiming to be in a relationship with her and later requesting money for medical treatment and customs fees. The victim, going through a divorce, was convinced by romantic poetry and fabricated hospital photos until she discovered authentic images of Pitt with another partner. This case is part of a larger pattern, with five individuals arrested in Spain in September 2024 for operating a similar Brad Pitt impersonation scam that defrauded two Spanish women of €325,000.