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aol.com
This article provides six free strategies for protecting finances from fraud, particularly during high-risk periods like the holiday season. The recommended safeguards include staying informed about trending scams (adoption, romance, grandparent, and elder fraud), freezing credit with major bureaus when not applying for loans, enabling multi-factor authentication on accounts, using password managers to create strong unique passwords, avoiding clicking links or calling numbers in unsolicited communications, and monitoring accounts regularly for suspicious activity. These preventive measures require no financial investment but can significantly reduce vulnerability to identity theft and fraud year-round.
bangkokpost.com
In 2024, Thailand experienced a surge in cybercrime with 739,000 complaints filed between March and November, resulting in 77 billion baht (approximately 77 million baht daily) in damages. The four most prevalent scams were romance scams involving fake social media accounts and bogus investment schemes, friend impostor scams requesting loans, phishing text messages with fraudulent links, and false accusation calls impersonating government officials demanding money or app installations. Thai authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspected fraud through the police online portal or the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau's 24-hour hotline.
curlytales.com
Two men from Kolkata reported being targeted in online dating scams orchestrated at specific venues. The first man matched with a woman on Hinge who arranged a date at Riders Cafe, where he discovered it was a known scam location and left before ordering; the second man was taken to Atmosphere Café and presented with an inflated bill of ₹2,500 for drinks and food after his date ordered expensive items. Both men recognized the schemes in progress and left the establishments before significant financial loss, highlighting a pattern of women using dating apps to lure men to complicit venues with exorbitant pricing.
bangkokpost.com
In 2024, Thailand recorded 739,000 cybercrime complaints between March and November, causing 77 billion baht in combined damage, with romance scams, friend impostor scams, fraudulent text messages with malicious links, and false government official calls identified as the most common tactics. These scams targeted victims by establishing fake relationships to solicit payments, impersonating friends or relatives to borrow money, sending phishing messages to steal banking information, and posing as officials demanding payment for alleged illegal activities. The Royal Thai Police advised vigilance and urged victims to report crimes via their online platform or the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau hotline.
pymnts.com
The social media platform Bluesky, which has grown to nearly 25 million users as an alternative to Twitter/X, is experiencing a rapid increase in scam activity including romance and "pig butchering" scams that use deceptive tactics to bilk victims of money. The platform's unique domain-based account verification system, while allowing users to self-verify, has created challenges in preventing fraud and may be too technically complex for average users. Though Bluesky reports aggressive efforts to shut down fraudulent accounts and claims scam issues remain below the scale seen on larger platforms, the trend reflects a broader 2024 landscape where scams have become the leading form of fraud affecting financial institutions.
news.abplive.com
A 77-year-old retired lecturer in Scotland was defrauded of £17,000 (approximately Rs 18 lakh) by a romance scammer who used AI-generated deepfake videos, fake documents, and impersonation to pose as a woman named "Alla Morgan." The scammer exploited the victim's loneliness following personal losses and gradually extracted money through various pretexts, including gift cards and a fake helicopter fare, before the victim's bank detected the fraud and alerted her. Scotland Police is investigating the case, and the scammer has reportedly continued attempting contact by sending false claims that the impersonated woman is imprisoned and needs money.
grandrapidsmn.com
This educational piece outlines how digital scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread across all age groups. Key tactics include phishing emails and texts impersonating banks or employers, phone scams posing as government agencies or tech support, and online shopping fraud, all enabled by advances in technology like AI-generated messages and deepfakes. The article emphasizes that staying informed about these evolving fraud methods is essential for protecting personal finances and information in an increasingly digital world.
wdef.com
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit against Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Zelle's parent company Early Warning Services, alleging they rushed to launch the peer-to-peer payment network without adequate fraud protections, resulting in over $870 million in losses to customers since 2017. According to the suit, the three banks received hundreds of thousands of fraud complaints totaling more than $870 million collectively and often denied assistance to victims, while Zelle has been slow to implement anti-fraud measures and close fraudulent accounts. The lawsuit claims the banks prioritized competing with rival payment apps like Venmo and CashApp over customer safety.
berkshireeagle.com
Ellen, a 48-year-old widow, met "Frank," a supposed widower, on social media in early 2022 and developed an online relationship that progressed to private messaging platforms. Over approximately two years, Frank manipulated Ellen into sending over $60,000 by claiming his son needed cancer treatment in South Korea, using emotional appeals and promises of future in-person meetings that never materialized. The article documents this romance scam and provides warning signs and prevention strategies, including requesting recent selfies, insisting on face-to-face meetings, and verifying details that don't add up.
punchng.com
On December 16, 2024, Nigerian authorities arrested 792 suspects involved in romance scam syndicates, including 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, and other foreign nationals along with Nigerian accomplices operating from a Lagos building. The foreign scammers paid their Nigerian recruits between N300,000 monthly and N80,000 weekly to conduct fraud activities on rotating shifts, with some workers earning N100,000 for just 10 days of work plus accommodation. The EFCC conducted a massive raid using over 30 buses and blocking all building exits, resulting in the arrest of the operation's core network engaged in online fraud schemes.
cbsnews.com
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed suit against Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo, alleging they rushed the Zelle peer-to-peer payment network to market without adequate fraud protections, resulting in over $870 million in customer losses across seven years of operation. According to the complaint, hundreds of thousands of customers filed fraud complaints and were denied assistance, with JPMorgan Chase alone receiving 420,000 complaints involving $360 million in losses. The banks and Zelle disputed the allegations, with the companies claiming the CFPB's figures are misleading and that they maintain strong fraud prevention measures.
thethaiger.com
A South Korean man lost over 10 million baht to a Thai woman he met in a Pattaya bar in December 2020 in a romance scam that escalated over months with false claims of medical emergencies, family deaths, and ultimately a fake cancer death. The scammer extracted money through various pretexts including funeral expenses, car accidents, gambling debts, and cancer treatment, and later her alleged sister demanded additional funds for a fake funeral and insurance claim before all contact was severed. The victim, who had been sending the woman 40,000-50,000 baht monthly while traveling between South Korea and Thailand, discovered the deception when he could find no evidence of her death at the
bbc.com
A 77-year-old retired lecturer from Edinburgh was defrauded of £17,000 by a romance scammer who used AI-generated deepfake videos to pose as a woman named "Alla Morgan" working on an oil rig. The victim was initially skeptical but convinced by the fake video messages, and subsequently sent money through gift cards and bank transfers before her bank flagged the fraud. The case highlights the growing use of AI technology in romance scams, where scammers create convincing deepfakes to build trust and exploit vulnerable individuals.
avonandsomerset.police.uk
Free training is being offered to professionals who work with vulnerable people—including housing association staff, care workers, and NHS employees—to help them identify signs of romance fraud, a scam where criminals build fake online relationships to manipulate victims into sending money. Romance fraud victims often lose thousands of pounds and suffer significant emotional and psychological harm; the training aims to equip frontline workers to spot warning signs like requests for money from online contacts they've never met in person and to intervene before victims are exploited.
yahoo.com
I appreciate you wanting me to summarize this article, but the text you've provided only contains the headline "Romance scam bust" and publication information from WGAL (Lancaster/Harrisburg). The actual article content is missing.
To provide an accurate summary following the Elderus guidelines, I would need:
- Details about what the scam involved
- Who was affected and how many victims
- Any dollar amounts lost
- How the scam was discovered or who was arrested
- The outcome
Could you please provide the full article text so I can create a proper summary?
gbhackers.com
**Summary:**
INTERPOL has advocated replacing the term "pig butchering" with "romance baiting" to describe scams where fraudsters emotionally manipulate victims into transferring money, often for fake cryptocurrency investments, before abandoning them with substantial financial losses. The organization argues that the new terminology is less stigmatizing and dehumanizing, encouraging victims to report crimes and seek support rather than remaining silent out of shame. This language shift is part of INTERPOL's broader Think Twice campaign to raise awareness about online scams and foster a justice system centered on victim dignity.
opindia.com
On December 10, Nigeria's EFCC raided a sophisticated romance and cryptocurrency investment scam operation in Lagos, detaining 792 suspects including 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, and various other foreign nationals who trained Nigerian accomplices. The syndicate operated from a luxury call center equipped with high-end technology, targeting victims primarily in America and Europe through social media platforms by impersonating foreign females and luring them into fake cryptocurrency investments on a platform called Yooto-dot-com, with activation fees starting at $35 USD. The operation recovered approximately 500 SIM cards and involved specially trained Nigerian operatives who were rewarded in cash for their participation in the frau
infosecurity-magazine.com
Interpol has advocated for replacing the term "pig butchering" with "romance baiting" when describing a type of cyber-enabled financial crime, arguing that the original terminology dehumanizes victims and discourages incident reporting. In this scam, fraudsters build romantic relationships with victims on dating sites before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency schemes or fraudulent opportunities, ultimately stealing their money and disappearing. According to the FBI, romance and confidence fraud resulted in victim losses exceeding $652 million, while investment fraud overall generated over $4.5 billion for cybercriminals.
news18.com
A 67-year-old Malaysian woman lost over Rs 4.4 crore (approximately $500,000) in a romance scam that lasted seven years, during which she transferred money 306 times to a man posing as a US businessman on Facebook, despite never meeting him in person or having a video call. The scammer used emotional manipulation and fabricated stories about relocation and business investments to gradually escalate financial requests, with much of the money borrowed from family and friends. The woman only discovered the fraud after confiding in a friend seven years later, prompting police to publicly warn about romance scams targeting vulnerable, lonely individuals seeking companionship online.
kiplinger.com
A 55-year-old machinist fell victim to a romance/catfishing scam where he sent money to a woman who repeatedly canceled meetings over the course of a year. The article features advice from social engineer Chris Hadnagy on how to help romance scam victims: avoid shaming language, threats to the scammer, or presenting evidence that triggers defensive reasoning; instead, gently encourage video verification and direct communication before any money changes hands, recognizing that victims in infatuation are less likely to think critically.
telus.com
This article highlights the rising prevalence of online fraud in Canada, with over 40,600 fraud reports and $503 million in losses as of October 2024, while noting that victims often experience significant emotional trauma alongside financial losses. The piece features the case of Miriam Edelson, who lost $7,500 to a scammer impersonating authorities and claiming her identity was compromised, emphasizing how shame and silence prevented her from seeking help initially. The article stresses that fraud can happen to anyone, encourages victims to report incidents and speak openly about their experiences rather than suffer in silence, and notes that scammer responsibility lies entirely with the perpetrator, not the victim.
mashable.com
**Scams Expected to Surge in 2025 with Advanced Technology**
Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using stolen personal data, AI-powered deepfakes, and auto-dialing software with AI chatbots to target victims with highly personalized schemes. Cryptocurrency scams—including "pig butchering" (romance baiting) and investment fraud—are expected to proliferate in 2025, with victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars on average. Security experts advise approaching unsolicited requests with skepticism and distrust rather than assuming legitimacy, as scammers now have access to information from data breaches and social media to make their schemes appear cre
hindustantimes.com
A 67-year-old Malaysian woman lost over RM2.2 million (INR 4.3 crore) in what authorities believe is the longest-running love scam involving a single victim, spanning nearly a decade from October 2017 to November 2024. The scammer, posing as an American businessman on Facebook, never met or video-called the victim but repeatedly requested money through voice calls, citing personal and business emergencies across 306 transactions to 50 different bank accounts, with funds sourced from loans given by family and friends. Malaysian authorities advise caution with online relationships, particularly when money is requested early, and recommend skepticism when relationships move too
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A 67-year-old Malaysian woman lost RM2.2 million (approximately Rs 4.3 crore) over nearly a decade in an online dating scam that began in October 2017 when she connected with a scammer posing as an American businessman on Facebook. After he claimed to need travel expenses to relocate to Malaysia, she made 306 bank transfers to 50 different accounts, never meeting or video calling the person despite his repeated requests for money citing various emergencies. The victim only discovered the fraud in November 2024 after discussing the situation with a friend, making this potentially the longest single case of a love scam victim in Malaysia.
malaymail.com
Three Malaysian victims lost a combined RM5.4 million to love scams and phone fraud between October 2017 and November 2024. A 67-year-old accountant from Sabah lost RM2.2 million to a Facebook romance scam over seven years, while a 57-year-old woman lost RM2.47 million after a scammer posing as customs officials claimed her online boyfriend had been arrested, and a 61-year-old government pensioner lost RM804,903 to a phone scam impersonating utility and bank officials. All three cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, with
fox26houston.com
In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams (up 11% from 2022), with an average loss of $34,000, according to FBI data. Common schemes targeting seniors include romance scams and fraudulent gold bar schemes where scammers pose as federal agents. Family members are encouraged to use holiday gatherings to check on seniors for signs of scams—such as secretive behavior, unexplained financial transactions, or unsolicited contact—and to educate them about recognizing red flags like urgent demands for money.
jamestownsun.com
Two Maryland men were sentenced for operating a romance fraud scheme targeting elderly women on social media, where they impersonated U.S. military members deployed overseas to convince victims to send money for fabricated emergencies. Chinedu Ikenna Nwafor received 25 months in prison and was ordered to pay $180,000 in restitution, while Vitus Uzoma Uzowuru received 10 months time served and $50,000 in restitution; one North Dakota victim lost $200,000 across two transfers to the co-conspirators. A third defendant faces trial for similar wire fraud charges involving an $800,000 loss to another North Dakota
wgal.com
Nearly 800 people were arrested in a raid on a luxury office building in Lagos, Nigeria, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals allegedly operating an international romance scam ring. The scammers targeted vulnerable individuals in America, Canada, Mexico, and Europe through social media and messaging platforms, building romantic relationships before directing victims to fraudulent investment opportunities that often depleted their life savings. Investigators confiscated over 500 SIM cards, mobile phones, and dozens of computers, and are investigating potential links to organized international fraud networks.
infosecurity-magazine.com
A network of 792 people, including 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, and other foreign nationals, was arrested in Lagos on December 10 in connection with a large-scale cryptocurrency fraud and romance scam operation targeting victims in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. The suspects operated from a sophisticated facility where they trained young Nigerians to conduct romance and investment scams using fake profiles, foreign phone numbers, and phishing techniques, directing victims to a fraudulent platform (yooto.com) where activation fees began at $35. The operation involved over 500 SIM cards and high-end equipment, with the foreign nationals exploiting Nigeria's reputation to establish their
thehackernews.com
INTERPOL is advocating for the term "romance baiting" to replace "pig butchering" when describing online scams where fraudsters build fake romantic relationships with victims to manipulate them into investing in bogus cryptocurrency schemes. The agency argues that "pig butchering" dehumanizes victims and discourages them from reporting crimes, while the new terminology focuses accountability on perpetrators rather than shaming those defrauded. These sophisticated schemes, which originated in China around 2016, are often run by transnational organized crime groups operating from Southeast Asia and involve complex fake investment platforms designed to appear legitimate.
news5cleveland.com
FBI Special Agent Edgar Koby highlighted the escalating threat of international scams targeting elderly Americans, particularly from West African and Indian call centers using law enforcement impersonation, romance, and tech fraud schemes. From January to October 2024, victims over 60 in Ohio lost more than $43 million, with some elderly victims losing homes, life savings, and taking their own lives due to shame. Koby urged victims to contact law enforcement immediately, as recovering funds becomes nearly impossible once money is transferred overseas.
bleepingcomputer.com
Interpol is calling for the cybersecurity community, law enforcement, and media to replace the term "pig butchering" with "romance baiting" when describing online relationship and investment scams, arguing that the former terminology shames victims and discourages them from reporting fraud to authorities. These social engineering scams involve fraudsters building trust with victims through fake relationships or friendships on social media before convincing them to invest money in fraudulent schemes, primarily involving cryptocurrency, with investment fraud losses increasing 38% from $3.31 billion in 2022 to $4.57 billion in 2023. Interpol advocates for victim-neutral language that places responsibility on perpetrators rather than
vice.com
"Pig butchering" is a sophisticated online scam in which fraudsters use romance or investment opportunities to manipulate victims into losing significant sums of money, often involving cryptocurrency theft. Interpol is urging governments and organizations to replace the dehumanizing term with neutral language like "romance baiting" or "investment scam," as the stigmatizing terminology discourages victims from reporting the crime and seeking help.
bbc.co.uk
This article announces a BBC World Service and CBC podcast called "Kaitlyn's Baby" about a woman named Kaitlyn Braun who deceived dozens of birth workers (doulas) with an elaborate false narrative involving pregnancy complications, rape, and health crises—only for the truth to eventually emerge that it was all fabricated. The six-part series, hosted by Sarah Treleaven, explores the psychological motivations behind Braun's deception and raises questions about accountability, though no specific financial losses are mentioned. This is a true crime podcast focused on deception and fraud rather than a news report of an actual elder fraud incident.
wmar2news.com
A Maryland man's family member lost $10,000-$20,000 to a romance scam involving a woman he met online over nearly a year, despite family efforts to convince him the relationship was fraudulent. According to the FBI Baltimore field office, romance scams are widespread, with 17,823 complaints reported last year resulting in losses exceeding $652 million, with victims typically losing $50,000-$100,000 on average. Scammers build trust over months before requesting money and often isolate victims; red flags include thick accents, unavailability by phone, and pressure to move conversations off dating platforms to apps like WhatsApp.
azfamily.com
Robert Giuliano, a multi-state romance scammer operating under the alias "Rob Scotto," defrauded an Arizona woman of $30,000 over several months by posing as a romantic interest on a dating site and requesting money for trips he claimed he couldn't afford. Giuliano, who was wanted by New York authorities for forgery, grand larceny, and identity theft, was arrested by Scottsdale Police in December after investigators received a tip from New York and discovered he was living in the area. He remains in custody awaiting extradition to New York.
justice.gov
On December 17, 2024, Chinedu Ikenna Nwafor was sentenced to 25 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $180,000 in restitution for his role as a U.S.-based middleman in a romance fraud scheme targeting elderly women, while his codefendant Vitus Uzoma Uzowuru received approximately 10 months imprisonment and $50,000 in restitution. The scheme involved foreign actors posing as U.S. military members on fake social media profiles who built romantic relationships with elderly victims and convinced them to send money for fabricated emergencies, with victims including a New Town, North Dakota resident who
justice.gov
Enorense Izevbigie, a leader of the "Black Axe" crime organization, was extradited from South Africa to face federal charges in New Jersey for operating a decade-long romance scam and advance fee fraud scheme from 2011 to 2021. Izevbigie and his conspirators used fake identities on social media and dating websites to defraud U.S. victims of money and valuables, sometimes threatening to distribute intimate photos to coerce payments, then laundered the proceeds through U.S. bank accounts to South Africa. He faces two counts of wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy, each carrying up to 20 years in prison
valleynewslive.com
An elderly woman in New Town, North Dakota lost $200,000 in a romance fraud scheme where perpetrators posed as high-ranking U.S. military members on fake social media profiles to build false romantic relationships. Two men were sentenced in December 2024: Chinedu Ikenna Nwafor received 25 months in federal prison and must pay $180,000 in restitution for organizing the scheme, while Vitus Uzoma Uzowuru received time served (approximately 10 months) and must pay $50,000 in restitution for receiving victim payments; a third defendant's trial is scheduled for July 2025.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Nigerian authorities arrested 792 individuals, including foreign nationals, in a raid on a Lagos fraud operation that targeted victims in North America and Europe through romance scams and fake cryptocurrency investment schemes conducted via WhatsApp and Instagram. The fraudsters, many recruited by international crime syndicates, would establish fake relationships or investment opportunities to pressure victims into sending money before handing off communication to foreign counterparts to complete the schemes. The EFCC seized evidence including phones, computers, and vehicles, and stated they are collaborating with international partners to dismantle the broader criminal networks involved.
yahoo.com
Nigerian authorities arrested 792 suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, in a raid on a Lagos call center that orchestrated romance scams and cryptocurrency fraud targeting victims in the Americas and Europe. The operation lured victims through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram with romantic overtures or fake investment opportunities, then pressured them to transfer money for phoney cryptocurrency schemes and non-existent projects. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seized computers, phones, and vehicles, and stated it would investigate potential links to organized crime and collaborate with international partners.
inforum.com
Two Maryland men were sentenced for operating a romance fraud scheme targeting elderly women on social media, where they posed as U.S. military members deployed overseas and convinced victims to send money for fake emergencies. Chinedu Ikenna Nwafor received 25 months in prison and ordered to pay $180,000 in restitution, while Vitus Uzoma Uzowuru received 10 months time served and ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution; one North Dakota victim alone lost $200,000 ($150,000 and $50,000 in separate incidents), and another victim from Tioga lost $800,000. A third defendant
manchesterjournal.com
Ellen, a 48-year-old widow, met "Frank," a purported widower, on social media in January 2022 and developed an online relationship that moved to private messaging platforms. Over approximately two years, Frank manipulated Ellen by fabricating emotional crises—particularly his son's cancer diagnosis requiring expensive treatment—and convinced her to send more than $60,000 before they ever met in person, making her a victim of a romance scam. The article outlines common characteristics of romance scams, including their extended timeline, emotional manipulation, avoidance of in-person meetings, and victim resistance to acknowledging the fraud, along with warning signs and verification steps victims can take.
forbes.com
AI-enabled scams are projected to cause $40 billion in losses by 2027, up from $12.3 billion in 2023, as fraudsters increasingly adopt deepfake technology, voice cloning, and AI chatbots for romance scams and business email compromise attacks. Criminal activity on fraud-focused channels surged 644% between 2023 and 2024, with scammers now offering "fraud-as-a-service" tools and recruiting workers to create deepfake content. The FBI and fraud experts warn that 2025 will see AI scams become mainstream, particularly in targeted business fraud (like the $30 million Hong Kong Zoom imperson
theintelligencer.net
Gift card scams are increasingly popular during the holiday season, with American consumers losing nearly $217 million to these scams last year, according to FTC data. Scammers pose as legitimate businesses or government agencies to pressure victims into making payments via gift cards, using tactics such as false tax claims, fake tech support, romance schemes, and prize scams. To protect themselves, consumers should only purchase gift cards from reputable sources, inspect cards before buying, avoid third-party sellers, keep receipts, and remember that legitimate businesses and government agencies never demand payment via gift cards.
prunderground.com
"Senior Savvy: A Comprehensive Guide to Avoiding Scams" is an educational resource released by financial expert Andy LaPointe that teaches seniors to recognize and prevent fraud across multiple platforms, including phishing emails, social media scams, cryptocurrency schemes, romance scams, and door-to-door deception. The guide provides step-by-step explanations, real-world examples, and actionable strategies for responding to scams, with particular emphasis on protecting seniors during high-risk periods like the holiday season when scammer activity increases.
lamilano.it
A 35-year-old man named Bruno Abbruzzese was arrested in Terzigno, Naples, for attempted extortion and fraud involving a "mirror scam." The scheme involved damaging a victim's vehicle (using rocks or fake damage created with black wax), falsely claiming the victim caused the damage, and demanding cash compensation while threatening the victim with a jack as a deterrent. Carabinieri arrived during the incident and arrested Abbruzzese, who is awaiting trial.
the420.in
This curated cybercrime report documents multiple fraud cases across India and internationally. Notable incidents include an Indore resident losing Rs 2.45 lakh to an AnyDesk remote access scam, a Rs 71 lakh online stock market fraud in Pune involving a Russian national, and a Chennai shopkeeper arrested for defrauding over Rs 1 crore through fake goods and job offer scams on social media. The report also highlights international cases including the extradition of a Nigerian cybercriminal to the US for wire fraud and romance scams, cryptocurrency scams targeting Jersey residents, and emphasizes that global scams cost $1.026 trillion annually
cbc.ca
Between January and September 2024, merchandise scams on platforms like Facebook Marketplace cost Canadians $7.1 million, with Ontario accounting for $2.6 million of losses. A Ontario woman lost $50 after a seller on Facebook Marketplace took her e-transfer payment for cast iron planters that were never delivered, and police note common red flags include sellers being overly eager, offering full price without negotiation, or requesting payment through third-party links. Authorities advise online buyers and sellers to question suspicious offers, verify addresses, and report fraud to help combat these scams that often involve money laundering schemes.
myjoyonline.com
Two Ghanaian nationals, 34-year-old Wigbert Bandie and 30-year-old Adam Khadijah, were sentenced in November 2024 to 63 and 30 months in prison, respectively, by a U.S. federal judge in Tennessee for internet fraud and money laundering. From June through December 2019, the defendants conducted romance and advance-fee scams via social media, impersonating overseas individuals and fake gold shippers to defraud at least 11 victims, including one victim (Richard Coleman) who lost $73,550; Bandie was ordered to pay $2.18 million in restitution.