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in Romance Scam
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NBC New York
· 2024-02-16
The FBI issued a warning about online romance scams, reporting that in 2022 alone it received 19,000 complaints totaling $740 million in losses. Scammers troll social media and dating sites to build trust with victims before fabricating emergencies to solicit money, with seniors being of particular concern due to isolation and fixed incomes. The FBI recommends limiting personal information shared online, using established dating platforms, and being cautious of matches who avoid meeting in person or pressure you to communicate exclusively online.
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WCNC
· 2024-02-17
A Hickory, North Carolina woman fell victim to a romance scam in 2022 after being contacted by a man posing as someone in Africa on LinkedIn, who gradually built trust through emotional manipulation before requesting money for medical expenses. North Carolina ranks ninth nationally for romance scams, with 4,422 victims losing $18 million in 2022, while Americans overall lost over $1 billion to such schemes that year, with scammers increasingly using AI, deepfakes, and voice cloning to deceive victims.
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KVUE
· 2024-02-19
Romance scams typically begin online through dating platforms, social media, or messaging apps, with scammers' goal being financial gain. Red flags include declarations of love very quickly, elaborate backstories (such as working in oil/gas or military deployment) to explain communication gaps, and reluctance to video chat; scammers may spend months or even years building trust before requesting money. People should recognize these warning signs early to avoid becoming victims of these prevalent scams.
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LastWeekTonight
· 2024-02-29
**Pig Butchering Scams Overview**
"Pig Butchering" is a romance/investment scam that typically begins with unsolicited text messages appearing to be sent to the wrong person, establishing false familiarity and trust. Scammers then gradually build relationships with victims and persuade them to invest money in fraudulent cryptocurrency or trading schemes, often resulting in significant financial losses. The scam gets its name from the process of cultivating ("fattening") victims before extracting ("butchering") their money.
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KFYR-TV
· 2024-02-29
An AARP North Dakota volunteer discusses romance scams and their warning signs, noting that while romance scams affect people of all ages, older adults—particularly those over 70—suffer the largest monetary losses because they typically have greater savings accumulated over their working years. The primary red flag for romance scams is when an unknown person quickly asks for money, such as requesting payment for gift cards or other financial transfers.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-03-02
**Romance Scams: Protection Advice**
Romance scams, where online dating contacts request money, gift cards, or wire transfers, are on the rise according to the Better Business Bureau, with median losses increasing from $900 in 2021 to higher amounts by 2022. Scammers use emotional manipulation tactics like "love bombing" followed by fabricated emergencies (health issues, family deaths) to pressure victims into sending money, and elderly individuals should be particularly cautious. To protect yourself, avoid sending money through gift cards or wire transfers, never share credit card or banking information, and be skeptical of online contacts who quickly request financial assistance.
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8 News Now — Las Vegas
· 2024-03-01
Multiple women have accused Las Vegas reality TV star Liel Birch (also known as "Mocha Blast") of romance scamming them after initiating contact via Facebook with charming messages and promises of monogamous relationships. Birch, who appeared on the show "Life After Lockup," allegedly deceived these women out of money; the investigation emerged following a 2023 incident in which he fatally shot a man during a live YouTube interview, which prosecutors ruled self-defense in a love triangle dispute.
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WION
· 2024-03-02
Multiple women have fallen victim to Facebook dating scams using the stolen identity of Danish doctor Christian Bing, including a 70-year-old woman from rural Missouri and a Ukrainian woman who left her home after being targeted. Scammers create fake profiles impersonating Bing across social media platforms and dating apps, and the real Bing has accused Meta of failing to remove these fraudulent accounts and called for stronger verification methods to prevent identity theft-based romance fraud.
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CityNews
· 2024-03-05
Fraudulent activity in Canada increased 133% in 2023, with common scams including Interac e-Transfer fraud, job scams, fake credit card transaction calls, and fraudulent Canada Post delivery messages that are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Those aged 18-24 are more vulnerable to online scams, while people over 45 are more susceptible to email and phone call fraud, with women reporting scams more frequently than men. The scams vary seasonally, with fraudsters adapting their tactics throughout the year.
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ABC11
· 2024-03-08
Scammers are stealing photographs and videos of U.S. military service members to create fake online dating profiles and romance scam victims out of thousands of dollars. An Air Force flight chief reports being contacted by one to three women weekly who believed they were in romantic relationships with him, when criminals were actually impersonating him using his stolen images and fabricated backstories about military service and family hardship. The affected service members say they are unable to stop scammers from repeatedly using their identities despite efforts to report the fraud.
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WION
· 2024-03-10
**Pig Butchering Scam Overview**
Pig butchering scams are a type of cryptocurrency investment fraud that targets victims globally through emotional manipulation and deceptive investment schemes. Scammers pose as romantic interests or long-lost friends on dating platforms to build trust, then convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency trading platforms controlled by the fraudsters, resulting in significant financial losses such as the $450,000 stolen from victim Shrea through an imposter posing as a French wine trader.
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NewsNation
· 2024-03-18
"Pig butchering" scams are on the rise, with Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel and other organized crime groups using artificial intelligence, large language models, and cryptocurrencies to execute sophisticated fraud campaigns. Hundreds of victims have been lured through social media and messaging apps, with some trafficked and forced to commit fraud; the scam typically begins with a random contact offering investment opportunities before the victim is manipulated into sending money. These AI-enabled financial crimes and human trafficking schemes are expanding globally across European, Asian, and African criminal organizations.
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News 19 WLTX
· 2024-03-21
The FBI warned South Carolinians about romance scams after 277 victims lost over $11 million in the previous year, though only 29 cases were reported to the State Department of Consumer Affairs. One victim, Sandra Sheely, was contacted on Facebook by a scammer who developed a fabricated relationship using photos and videos before defrauding her, and she continues working to repay the losses. The FBI emphasized the need for increased reporting of romance and confidence fraud, which are becoming an increasing threat in South Carolina.
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KPAX-TV
· 2024-03-21
Montana's Commissioner of Securities and Insurance is conducting community education on scams targeting seniors, who are particularly vulnerable because they typically have accumulated more wealth through paid-off homes and mature investments. The office has identified a rising trend of "pig butchering" schemes—a cryptocurrency-based variation of romance scams where scammers initiate contact through text messages, social media, or dating apps, build a relationship, and then solicit money or fraudulent investment advice, resulting in significant financial losses.
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Firstpost
· 2024-03-28
Global cybercrime costs approximately $3 trillion annually, with Southeast Asia emerging as a major hub according to Interpol; cryptocurrency-related scams represent a significant portion of these losses, particularly "pig butchering" schemes where scammers build relationships with victims to convince them to invest in crypto. These romance-based confidence scams often involve foreign nationals who have themselves been kidnapped and coerced by cyber gangs to participate in the fraud. The key warning sign is unsolicited contact from strangers promoting cryptocurrency investment opportunities.
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ABC News
· 2024-04-05
Officials in New York seized nearly two dozen web domains from IP addresses in China used to conduct "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, which operate across multiple states including California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Scammers use dating apps and group chats to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes that appear to generate returns, then steal their money; reported losses include $16,000 and $118,000 from individual victims in Brooklyn.
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WRAL
· 2024-04-18
An NC State University student lost approximately $41,000 USD (300,000 yuan) after falling victim to a global dating agency scam that began with contact through a dating app. The scam followed a typical pattern where fraudsters moved the conversation to encrypted messaging services and convinced the victim to make multiple bank transfers; federal authorities became involved after the student's family reported concerning behavioral changes during a welfare check in April. Experts note that these types of romance and dating agency scams are becoming increasingly common, with professional criminal organizations using established playbooks to manipulate victims.
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CBS Boston
· 2024-04-22
A Townsend, Massachusetts woman was defrauded by romance scammers posing as actor Christoph Waltz, who convinced her to send money. On the same day she reported the fraud to police, her husband Paul became unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital; she was subsequently investigated as a suspect in his alleged attempted murder. The case highlights how romance scammers use sophisticated scripts to build trust with vulnerable targets before exploiting them financially.
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CBS Philadelphia
· 2024-04-22
The FBI warns that romance scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often operating as organized crime rings who exploit dating app users through emotional manipulation and financial schemes. A victim in her mid-40s with a PhD was targeted by a scammer posing as a successful finance professional named "Evan," who built deep trust over weeks of communication before convincing her to borrow from her 401(k) and invest in cryptocurrency, claiming it would help pay off her student loans. Beyond financial losses, these scams cause significant psychological harm, leaving victims feeling heartbroken, depressed, and ashamed.
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CBS Mornings
· 2024-04-23
Online romance scams are costing victims over $1 billion annually—double the amount from four years prior—affecting people of all ages and genders, not just retirees. The article highlights a new twist where scammers employ victims as "money mules" and features the case of Laura Cole, a 57-year-old retired healthcare executive and widow, who fell victim to a romance scammer she met entirely online and over the phone, losing her life savings. Shame and embarrassment cause many victims to go unreported, likely making actual fraud numbers significantly higher than official statistics.
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WJZ
· 2024-04-22
Romance scams are crimes where scammers court unsuspecting victims online to deceive them into sending large sums of money. A CBS News investigation featured a victim who, after her husband's death in 2021, joined a dating site and was contacted by a man posing as a European engineer; within a month, the scammer created an emergency to manipulate her into sending money. The key to prevention is being cautious, conducting fact-finding to verify someone's legitimacy, and recognizing warning signs when new romantic interests suddenly request financial assistance.
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CBS Evening News
· 2024-04-22
A 57-year-old widowed healthcare executive from Illinois lost $1.5 million in a romance scam after meeting a man posing as a Swedish businessman on Match.com; the scammer used stolen photos of a Chilean doctor and manipulated her emotionally over an extended period. The case, investigated by CBS News, illustrates a growing threat affecting tens of thousands of Americans, with romance scammers defrauding over 64,000 people of more than $1 billion annually. The victim's daughter is seeking answers and working with law enforcement to understand how her mother fell victim to the sophisticated scam.
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CBS News
· 2024-04-23
A 57-year-old retired healthcare executive from Illinois was defrauded of her life savings through a romance scam after meeting a man posing as a Swedish businessman on Match.com; the scammer used stolen photos of a Chilean doctor and manipulated her emotionally over an extended period. The case highlights a growing epidemic of romance scams in the United States, with 64,000 Americans losing over $1 billion to such scams in the previous year—more than double the $500 million lost four years prior. The victim's daughter is seeking answers from law enforcement about the circumstances surrounding her mother's death in connection to the fraud.
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CBS Chicago
· 2024-04-23
Romance scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence technology to create fake videos and images of themselves to deceive victims into sending money, a trend that experts warn will only worsen as the technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated. AI-generated content, including deepfake videos that cost as little as $2 to produce, makes it increasingly difficult for victims to distinguish real from fake interactions online. The scam leaves victims with significant financial losses and emotional trauma as perpetrators build false romantic relationships to exploit their targets.
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CBS News
· 2024-04-24
An Illinois woman, Laura Coall, lost $1.5 million in a romance scam and was later found dead in the Mississippi River; her daughter discovered that Laura had been coerced into becoming a "money mule" for the scammers, laundering stolen funds through her accounts. This tactic has become increasingly common among romance scam perpetrators, who manipulate victims so deeply that they unwillingly participate in money laundering and other crimes, often without initially realizing they are committing felonies. Federal agents have issued warnings about this evolution in romance scams, where victims are exploited beyond financial loss to become unwitting accomplices in criminal activity.
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CBS Mornings
· 2024-04-24
A CBS News investigation found that dating apps have become major venues for romance scams, which cost tens of thousands of Americans over $1 billion annually. One victim, Laura Coall, was defrauded of $1.5 million by a scammer posing as a romantic partner on Match.com, and the FBI reports that scammers are increasingly using dating platforms to expand their reach, with more than half of dating app users reporting they believe they've been targeted.
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WENY TV NEWS
· 2024-04-25
This is an educational interview featuring Sheila Brewer-Montero, a scams prevention coordinator from Lifespan of Greater Rochester, discussing fraud schemes targeting older adults. The conversation introduces the top scams affecting seniors in the Southern Tier area, with government impersonator scams (Social Security Administration and IRS) identified as a primary threat, though the full details of prevention strategies and other scam types are cut off in the provided transcript.
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CBS Evening News
· 2024-04-25
Online romance scams cost victims over $1 billion annually, yet U.S. law enforcement struggles to combat them due to limited resources and the difficulty of pursuing scammers operating overseas, primarily in Nigeria and Ghana. The case of Laura Coal, a widowed mother who was scammed out of $1.5 million on Match.com and subsequently died by suicide, illustrates the severe consequences of these schemes. Law enforcement officials acknowledge they lack adequate funding and investigative capacity to address the rapidly accelerating problem, which is further complicated by scammers' use of artificial intelligence technology.
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13News Now
· 2024-04-27
The Norfolk FBI has issued a warning about the rising trend of cryptocurrency scams in the Hampton Roads region, where victims are tricked into sending thousands of dollars to purchase cryptocurrency or fake crypto investments. The FBI characterizes these schemes as "old tricks with a new look"—traditional fraud methods now facilitated through digital currency—with three common types including ransomware attacks, investment scams, and romance/advance-fee schemes. Victims can lose their life savings to these frauds, which are being reported with increasing frequency in the area.
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ABC News (Australia)
· 2024-04-29
A scam text impersonating HSBC Bank led Jenny's family to lose nearly $140,000 in life savings after criminals tricked them into revealing bank details. Record numbers of scams were reported in Australia last year, with losses totaling $2.7 billion and people over 65 most heavily targeted, though authorities note some progress through improved bank coordination and action. Consumer groups argue that meaningful industry obligations and victim compensation requirements are necessary to significantly reduce ongoing losses, facing resistance from banks on the compensation issue.
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CBS News
· 2024-04-29
**Romance Scam Epidemic**
CBS News investigated a national epidemic of romance scams involving victims who are manipulated into emotional relationships with scammers over dating sites, sometimes in as little as 12 days, resulting in financial losses totaling approximately one billion dollars. The investigation documented tragic cases where victims lost not only money but also their lives, including an Illinois woman whose death raised questions about whether she had been coerced into working for the scammers. Romance scams rob families of far more than financial resources, causing devastating emotional and psychological harm to victims and their loved ones.
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WSB-TV
· 2024-05-01
This educational piece explains how cybercriminals operate at scale, with millions of attackers conducting billions of daily cyberattacks targeting retailers, governments, hospitals, banks, and individuals. Cyber threat researcher Willis McDonald describes how malware and ransomware are sold as subscription services on criminal marketplaces—a multibillion-dollar industry in the U.S. alone—enabling hackers to easily launch attacks through malicious links and collect personal information like usernames and passwords.
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CBS News
· 2024-05-01
A CBS News investigation explored romance scams targeting vulnerable adults on dating platforms. The report featured the case of Laura Coal, a 57-year-old retired hospital executive who fell victim to a scammer posing as "Frank," a Swedish businessman with a fake profile photo on Match.com; within days of initial contact, she professed deep emotional attachment to someone she had never met in person. The story illustrates how lonely individuals seeking companionship can be manipulated by sophisticated scammers who exploit emotional vulnerabilities through online dating platforms.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2024-05-02
Tracy Davidson was contacted via social media in late February by a man posing as "James Williams," a military orthopedic surgeon working for the United Nations in Syria, who quickly professed romantic feelings and attempted to build trust by sharing personal details and photos. This case exemplifies a classic romance scam romance scams follow predictable scripts designed to earn victims' trust before eventually requesting money. The Secret Service investigative analyst confirms these scams are prevalent and typically escalate from relationship-building to financial exploitation.
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FOX NASHVILLE
· 2024-05-04
Romance scams are targeting hundreds of people in Middle Tennessee, with scammers building trust through daily messaging on platforms like LinkedIn before directing victims to invest money in fraudulent schemes involving gold trading, banking, finance, and cryptocurrency. Once victims send money to these scammers, recovery is nearly impossible. The schemes typically involve scammers posing as trustworthy individuals from overseas who gradually shift conversations from personal matters to investment opportunities.
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WLOS News 13
· 2024-05-04
According to an FBI report, elder fraud targeting people aged 60 and older increased by 14% in 2023, resulting in over $3 billion in losses with an average victim loss of $33,900. The five most common fraud types against seniors include personal data breaches, confidence and romance scams, non-payment or non-delivery scams, and investment scams, with non-payment scams being particularly prevalent in the Asheville area, where the police department received 48 elder abuse or fraud cases from Adult Protective Services in the year to date.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2024-05-06
According to an FBI report, Florida seniors over age 60 lost more than $290 million to fraud in 2023, ranking the state second worst in the nation, with scams targeting this age group increasing 11% from 2022 and averaging nearly $34,000 per victim. The most common fraud schemes include investment scams, fake tech support, online romance scams, and law enforcement impersonation schemes, with many cases going unreported due to victim shame.
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This Morning
· 2024-05-10
Becky Holmes began exposing romance scammers in 2020 after receiving suspicious messages from fake profiles on social media, turning her interactions with catfish into humorous content that gained thousands of followers and led to a published book titled "Kiana Reeves is Not in Love with You." The article features Holmes discussing her anti-scam mission and sharing warning signs to help others identify romance scams.
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CBC News
· 2024-05-24
Job offer scams are being distributed via text message to numerous recipients, with scammers posing as recruiters offering high-paying or flexible work-from-home positions and directing victims to messaging apps like WhatsApp. Toronto Star reporter Alex Boyd investigated these scams by responding to multiple unsolicited job offers to understand what scammers gain from the interaction and how the scheme operates. The article highlights this as a widespread fraud targeting mobile phone users who receive these deceptive recruitment messages.
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CBC British Columbia
· 2024-06-01
Romance scams are among the most prevalent fraud schemes, with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reporting 945 victims lost over $50 million in 2023, though actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting. Private investigator Suzanne Edmonson notes that romance scams have evolved significantly over 20 years, with scammers increasingly using AI technology to impersonate victims via video calls and other methods, making traditional protective measures less effective. Men are particularly underrepresented in reported cases, suggesting the true scope of romance fraud victimization extends beyond official statistics.
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wgaltv
· 2024-06-03
Romance scams in the Susquehanna Valley have claimed multiple victims, including a 53-year-old Lebanon County man who lost over $10,000 communicating with females online, and a woman who lost $40,000. A previous victim, Mark Heath, lost $165,000 in a romance scam and now warns others that scammers often target vulnerable populations such as widows and widowers. Key protective measures include monitoring online communications of single individuals and being alert to scammers who quickly express financial need.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2024-06-05
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 556 into law to protect seniors and vulnerable adults from scams, which allows banks to delay money transfers if employees suspect fraud is occurring. The legislation addresses a rising problem in senior communities, including romance scams, tech support scams, and sweepstakes fraud that have financially drained many elderly residents. The law empowers financial institutions to intervene and potentially prevent losses before money leaves accounts.
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WFMY News 2
· 2024-06-06
This is an educational transcript from AARP discussing fraud prevention resources and best practices. Mark Hensley and David Kirkman from AARP explain that AARP membership is available to anyone 21 and older (not just retirees), and highlight the organization's free Fraud Watch Network, which offers extensive videos and information about scams. They also recommend security software like Norton for phones and emphasize the importance of protecting personal information and identity online.
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wgaltv
· 2024-06-11
Romance scams have reached epidemic proportions, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting billions of dollars stolen from victims in the past year. Scammers target vulnerable individuals, particularly widows and widowers, by establishing emotional connections on social media before requesting money for cryptocurrency investments or fabricated emergencies, with victims in one region alone losing amounts exceeding $40,000. The FTC advises family members to monitor the online activities of recently bereaved loved ones to help prevent victimization.
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WTRF
· 2024-06-17
Elder fraud is rising, with elderly victims increasingly targeted through phone, email, and romance scams in which scammers pose as romantic partners to convince victims to send money for purported investments. US Attorney William Enfeld notes that victims often resist intervention even from bank officials and law enforcement, as they believe the relationships are genuine and are emotionally invested. Early reporting to the US Attorney's office is critical, especially for victims experiencing cognitive decline, to prevent complete depletion of savings.
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WCNC
· 2024-06-25
A former romance scammer from Nigeria who operated between 2016-2021, earning over $70,000, revealed his tactics to a news organization—targeting primarily single parents on dating apps through excessive compliments, emotional manipulation, and appeals to financial need (such as claiming inability to afford medicine). Last year, over 64,000 Americans lost more than $1 billion to romance scams, with North Carolina ranking 10th in losses; the scammer now works as a consultant for an identity verification company to help expose these schemes.
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wgaltv
· 2024-06-30
Romance scammers are creating fake profiles on dating apps while posing as military members, exploiting people's patriotism by using stolen photos and names of real service members. To protect yourself, use reverse image searches on profile pictures, search names online with terms like "scam" or "imposter," and be wary of anyone quickly requesting money for investments, travel costs, or payments via gift cards, payment apps, or cryptocurrency.
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CNBC Ambition
· 2024-07-05
In 2007, Dr. Patrick Bray, a former Navy doctor practicing in Cleveland, Ohio, was contacted by fundraisers claiming to represent the "US Navy Veterans Association" seeking donations for care packages and veteran support; he donated $300 based on the military-affiliated charity name. The article suggests this was a fraudulent charity scheme, part of a broader pattern of scams targeting individuals with military connections and patriotic appeals.
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12 News
· 2024-07-08
Americans lost over $1 billion to romance scams last year, with many Arizona residents targeted. The three most prevalent romance scam tactics involve deepfake video calls using face-swapping technology (employed by Nigerian crime groups), cryptocurrency investment schemes that promise high returns once trust is established, and celebrity deepfakes using artificial intelligence. Victims can protect themselves by watching for unnatural video call indicators like inconsistent blinking, mismatched skin tones, and words not synchronizing with mouth movements.
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WCBD NEWS 2
· 2024-07-09
The City of Charleston is hosting educational workshops to protect seniors from phone and online scams, which generate $36 billion annually in the United States with older adults as primary targets. The initiative focuses on teaching seniors to recognize common scams—such as lottery/prize winnings requiring upfront payments—and know what steps to take if targeted, as demonstrated by one senior who avoided losing money to a fake lottery scheme promising half a million dollars.