eu.36kr.com
· 2026-10-03
AI-powered pig-butchering scams are rapidly scaling through the use of artificial personas on dating apps, with a Chinese app studio deploying over 4,700 AI-driven profiles to interact with at least 25,000 users who purchase credits to communicate. These scams combine AI technology for relationship-building with real people for critical trust-building moments, and Chinese authorities have cracked over 300 AI fraud cases involving face-swapping and voice cloning that exceeded 500 million yuan in losses, with individual cases reaching up to 20 million yuan.
thesun.co.uk
· 2026-10-03
A 49-year-old school worker from Wiltshire was scammed out of £33,000 by someone impersonating Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper on a fake Facebook page over the course of two years. The scammer built an emotional connection, initially requesting money for a trip to Paris and eventually claiming he needed funds for various emergencies, before the victim realized the deception when the fake Bradley failed to show up for a planned Center Parcs trip three days before Christmas. This case is part of a rising trend of celebrity romance scams, with police reporting a 29% increase since 2024, with other victims losing even larger sums after being conned by scammers impersonating Brad Pitt
wrnjradio.com
· 2026-10-03
Manaseh Mintah, 43, of Massachusetts, was convicted of laundering approximately $1.2 million stolen from romance scam victims across the United States through bank accounts and a shell company called Dazionking LLC. He was found guilty of money laundering conspiracy, three counts of money laundering, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, with sentencing scheduled for March 2027. Romance scams particularly targeted vulnerable and older Americans who lost their life savings to the scheme.
crypto.news
· 2026-10-03
Greek police arrested 17 people, including nine military personnel, for operating a cryptocurrency investment pyramid scheme that defrauded at least 10,000 participants of over $8 million since 2025. The operation used fake online platforms across multiple Greek cities to promise guaranteed high returns and double investments within 50 days, while failing to return deposited funds. Police seized €295,090 in cash along with computers and mobile devices during raids on five offices.
gulfcoastnewsnow.com
· 2026-10-03
A Lee County woman avoided a scam in which fraudsters impersonated sheriff's deputies and threatened arrest over missed jury duty to extort money. The scheme instructs victims to withdraw cash from ATMs and purchase money vouchers, reading the voucher numbers aloud so scammers can steal the funds. Authorities warn that law enforcement never requests payment via ATM and encourage residents to hang up and call 911 if they receive such calls.
oag.ca.gov
· 2026-10-03
California's SB 1208 signed into law gives law enforcement new tools to return stolen cryptocurrency to fraud victims by allowing seizure of digital assets under search warrants and distribution to victims when perpetrators are beyond U.S. jurisdiction. Cryptocurrency scams in California resulted in over $3.67 billion in reported losses in 2025 alone, with nationwide losses estimated at $75 billion from 2021-2024. The law addresses the challenge that victims often cannot trace laundered assets themselves when funds are commingled across multiple accounts and transfers in organized fraud schemes.
cp24.com
· 2026-10-02
An Oshawa man, Christos Charalambous, has been charged with theft, fraud, and possession of stolen property after an elderly woman in Ajax lost more than $400,000 in an alleged fraud scheme discovered during a October 2023 welfare check. Police launched an investigation and arrested Charalambous on September 29, charging him with multiple counts over $5,000. Authorities believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to contact them.
patch.com
· 2026-10-02
Xuehai Sun, a 38-year-old from Flushing, Queens, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a transnational scheme that targeted elderly victims in the U.S. and Canada through deceptive pop-up messages claiming their computers were hacked or accounts compromised. The scam instructed victims to call fake "live agents" who posed as technology company representatives, financial institution employees, or government officials (including the FTC and Federal Reserve) and convinced them to transfer funds via wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash purchases of gold bars. Sun admitted to coordinating couriers to collect the cash and gold from victims and managing the logistics of converting and distributing the
wgal.com
· 2026-10-02
Pennsylvania's Senate passed legislation nearly unanimously to combat elder fraud by requiring banks to report suspected fraudulent transactions targeting seniors and allowing them to hold or prevent such transactions. The bill, prompted by cases like that of Carol Axler who was targeted in a $10,000 scam, would also authorize banks to contact a senior's authorized representative about potential fraud, addressing Pennsylvania's ranking as ninth in the nation for elder financial fraud. The legislation now awaits a House vote, which could occur within the remaining three legislative sessions scheduled for this calendar year.
aol.com
· 2026-10-02
This article is a product review comparing identity theft protection services rather than reporting on actual fraud incidents. It does not contain information about specific scams, victims, or dollar amounts lost to fraud—instead, it lists seven identity theft protection services with their features, coverage limits, and pricing tiers designed to help consumers prevent identity theft and fraud.
nationalseniors.com.au
· 2026-10-02
In the first half of 2024, Australians reported 91,767 scams resulting in $156.6 million in losses, with scammers increasingly using fake advertisements featuring the likenesses of wealthy Australians and celebrities like Andrew Forrest, Gina Rinehart, and Jacqui Lambie to promote bogus investment schemes, primarily on Facebook. Billionaire Andrew Forrest has spent over $60 million suing Meta for failing to prevent thousands of deceptive ads using his name and image since 2019, though Meta denies responsibility. The scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using fake news stories and deepfake-style content to create false endors
3news.com
· 2026-10-02
Cybercrime investigator Dunstan Guba is raising awareness about the growing romance scam epidemic in Ghana, where fraudsters build emotional relationships through social media before requesting money under false pretenses. Ghana reported GH¢23.3 million in cybercrime losses in 2024 and GH¢14.9 million in just the first half of 2025, with a 2025 pan-African operation revealing approximately US$450,000 in romance scam losses and US$8 million defrauded from elderly victims by a network using artificial intelligence to create false identities. Romance fraud is particularly dangerous because criminals exploit trust rather than just targeting devices, using tactics like fake
au.pcmag.com
· 2026-10-02
ShinyHunters, a hacking group responsible for breaches at ADT, Canvas, Vimeo, and the FBI, remains active despite the arrest of an alleged member in the Netherlands. In a separate incident, a company that lost over 153 million driver's licenses in a September breach revealed that hackers had internal system access for five months, with class-action lawsuits already filed. Additionally, Meta's AI agent Muse caused privacy violations by automatically approving Facebook Marketplace sales and doxxing a user, while a fake iPhone Duo preorder scam embedded the DarkSword exploit to steal cryptocurrency wallets, passwords, and personal data, and North Korea is suspected in a $351
insurancejournal.com
· 2026-10-02
A federal judge ordered Brian Early and Alisha Ann Kingrey to pay over $30 million in restitution and penalties for defrauding more than 9,000 people through the Fundsz trading website, which promised guaranteed returns on cryptocurrency and precious metals investments but fabricated weekly profits and never actually traded customer funds. The two defendants promoted the scheme on Telegram, misrepresenting historical returns and downplaying risks, while the CFTC froze the company's assets; about $4 million is expected to be recovered for investors from the estate of company founder Rene Larralde, who died in 2023.
mercerme.com
· 2026-10-02
A Hopewell Township resident lost over $20,800 in a fake Apple Security scam where fraudsters gained remote access to his computer and made unauthorized cryptocurrency transfers from his bank account. Another resident was targeted by a jury duty scam where a caller impersonating a sheriff's officer threatened her with arrest and demanded cash bail, and a third victim lost $15,000 after being tricked into withdrawing cash and meeting a courier through a computer pop-up scam.
foxnews.com
· 2026-10-02
"Ghost students" using stolen or fabricated identities—sometimes created with AI—have been exploiting federal student aid programs by enrolling in colleges and collecting grants and loans intended for legitimate students, costing taxpayers millions of dollars. The Education Department reported saving nearly $200 million after implementing identity verification requirements in June, with estimates of over $1 billion in savings this cycle, while the Trump administration has suspended over 870,000 borrowers allegedly involved in COVID-era fraud. Fraud investigators warn students and parents to watch for red flags such as multiple applications with common information, as scammers target student aid programs because of historically weak controls.
fox5vegas.com
· 2026-10-02
Nevada's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit leads the nation with 75 convictions over three fiscal years, investigating healthcare providers who defraud Medicaid and handling elder abuse cases. In fiscal year 2025 alone, the unit conducted over 300 investigations resulting in 35 convictions, 25 indictments, and $18.5 million in recovered funds. The state is seeking new legislation to expand the unit's capacity to better protect taxpayers and patients from Medicaid fraud.
ullaw.ca
· 2026-10-02
An Oshawa man has been charged in connection with an alleged fraud scheme that defrauded an elderly Ajax woman of over $400,000, with charges including theft over $5,000, fraud over $5,000, and possession of property obtained by crime. Durham Regional Police launched the investigation following a wellness check in October 2023 and are concerned there may be additional victims in the Greater Toronto Area. The accused faces serious criminal charges under the Criminal Code of Canada, and victims may also pursue civil litigation for asset recovery.
hoodline.com
· 2026-10-02
A 25-year-old Indian national pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after collecting $137,458 in gold bars from an 80-year-old Kaneohe woman who was tricked by fake Apple and U.S. Marshal scam calls into liquidating her IRA. The victim was caught in a controlled sting operation by federal agents who used prop gold to arrest the courier, who earned $25,000-$30,000 per ten pickups for an international fraud ring orchestrated from Gujarat, India. The case is part of a broader pattern targeting elderly victims, with similar schemes operating across multiple states through WhatsApp-coordinated courier networks.
newportdispatch.com
· 2026-10-01
A 32-year-old Bronx man was arrested after defrauding an elderly Irvington resident through an impersonation scheme in which a caller falsely claimed to be FBI and convinced the victim their bank account was compromised. The victim withdrew approximately $20,000 in cash over several days before police conducted surveillance and arrested Hoascalin Marmolejos at a scheduled cash pickup on September 29. Marmolejos was charged with attempted grand larceny in the third degree, with additional charges pending.
theapopkavoice.com
· 2026-10-01
Floridians age 60 and older reported over 17,000 cybercrime complaints with nearly $710 million in losses in 2025, with scammers using tactics like fake technical-support warnings, account lockouts, and cryptocurrency schemes to steal funds. One woman in her early 70s lost approximately $100,000 after being manipulated through a series of coordinated scams involving a fake bank transfer, computer security warning, and pressure to move money to cryptocurrency. Nationally, people 60 and older account for over 37% of all reported fraud losses ($7.75 billion) despite representing only 20% of complaints, with an average loss of $38,500 per
tribune.net.ph
· 2026-10-01
The NBI arrested 120 people, primarily Chinese nationals, operating a romance scam ring from an office on Ayala Avenue in Manila. The scammers used scripts and multiple employees posing as attractive women to build emotional relationships with victims, ultimately coercing them to send money and in some cases explicit photos for blackmail purposes. The operation was sophisticated enough to require significant infrastructure, raising questions about how such organized fraud networks continue to operate despite crackdowns on similar schemes.
undergroundpress.co.za
· 2026-10-01
Romance scams have become one of the fastest-growing financial crimes, with an estimated one in seven adults losing money to this deception, and scammers stealing over $1 billion from American victims in 2025 alone. National Geographic's new documentary "Super Scam Me" features Emmy-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller going undercover as a romance scam target to expose the tactics and psychological manipulation criminals use, including AI-generated impersonations of celebrities. The special premieres October 18, 2026, and includes interviews with victims whose lives were devastated by these scams, such as a woman who lost her home after being deceived by someone posing as Jon Bon J
jpmorganchase.com
· 2026-10-01
In 2025, scams affected over 15 million Americans with documented losses of at least $68 billion, though actual losses may reach $200 billion due to underreporting, according to JPMorgan Chase CEO Jennifer Roberts. Roberts emphasizes that scams now pose national security threats by funding transnational criminal organizations and calls for an ecosystem-wide prevention strategy involving banks, tech companies, social media platforms, law enforcement, and policymakers to combat increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled fraud schemes that operate across multiple channels.
helpnetsecurity.com
· 2026-10-01
Employment scams more than tripled at 370+ financial institutions across 21 countries in the past 12 months, with a 258% increase outpacing all other fraud types. The scams predominantly occur on mobile devices and include various types such as investment schemes (averaging $6,600 per case), purchase fraud, and romance scams, with researchers identifying specific behavioral patterns like active phone calls and unusual payment recipients that banks can use to detect and prevent losses. The article also highlights organized scam operations globally, including compounds in Nigeria, and a particularly severe variant targeting minors through financial sextortion that has resulted in at least 36 documented U.S. teen suicides since 2021.
attorneygeneral.gov
· 2026-10-01
Eleven Philadelphia-area business owners were charged with defrauding Pennsylvania's WIC program (Women, Infants, and Children) by forging invoices and submitting false reimbursement requests between 2021 and 2025. The defendants, who operated grocery and convenience stores approved as WIC vendors, submitted over $1 million in fraudulent claims and received nearly $985,000 from the state program. They face felony charges including theft by deception, forgery, and tampering with public records.
westerniowatoday.com
· 2026-10-01
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird presented information on various fraud schemes affecting Iowans of all ages, including fake job offers, romance scams, imposter scams posing as family or law enforcement, lottery scams, and fake equipment sales in rural areas. The presentation emphasized that scammers exploit Iowans' trusting nature and create false urgency to pressure victims into sending money. Victims are encouraged to report suspected fraud to the Attorney General's Office at 888-777-4590.
coingeek.com
· 2026-09-30
Token Recovery, a blockchain forensics company, analyzed cryptocurrency donations to British political figure Tommy Robinson for a Channel 4 investigation, tracing 0.92 Bitcoin from a donation wallet to a gambling address. The investigation highlighted that while cryptocurrency transactions are traceable through blockchain analysis combined with open-source intelligence (OSINT), attribution requires careful verification since wallet addresses don't automatically identify individuals. The case demonstrates how digital currency fraud investigation has become more sophisticated, with professionals using advanced tools to follow transaction trails despite the perception that crypto is anonymous.
scworld.com
· 2026-09-30
A Vietnamese national was charged with money laundering for his role in a "pig butchering" scam that defrauded a victim of $16 million in cryptocurrency through a fake investment platform called "Triangle." The suspect's cryptocurrency wallets received over $53 million between 2018 and 2024, with at least $24 million linked to pig butchering schemes where fraudsters build trust with victims online before luring them into fraudulent investments. The suspect allegedly transferred the stolen funds to private wallets to obscure their origins as part of a larger wire fraud scheme involving over $125 million in cryptocurrency.
guardian.ng
· 2026-09-30
A Nigerian federal court ordered the forfeiture of 431 mobile phones linked to Chinese cyber-fraudsters to the Federal Government following a major fraud operation bust in Lagos. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arrested over 700 individuals (approximately 500 Nigerians, 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, and others) in a December 2024 sting operation targeting an elaborate scheme involving romance, dating, cryptocurrency, and investment scams that primarily victimized Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and Europeans. The operation involved at least 500 laptops, 400 cell phones, and various telecommunications equipment used by foreign nationals and recruited Nigerian youths operating from a
scientificamerican.com
· 2026-09-30
Six men were extradited from South Africa for their involvement in a romance scam ring that defrauded over 100 U.S. women of more than $6 million by crafting elaborate fake romantic relationships. Researchers warn that artificial intelligence is making these scams increasingly difficult to detect and easier for criminals to scale up their operations. The scams exploit the normalcy of online dating to build trust with victims before extracting money through various schemes.
allenandgledhill.com
· 2026-09-30
On September 29, 2026, Singapore gazetted the Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Act 2026 to strengthen detection and prevention of fraud through new police powers including account disabling orders, disclosure orders, and service limitation orders. The legislation amends existing laws to enable information sharing between police and service providers via the National Scams List platform and increases maximum administrative penalties for non-compliance from S$1 million to S$10 million. The act will enable police to intervene in suspected scams before they occur and protects service providers from liability when they voluntarily share scam-related information in good faith.
nbcnewyork.com
· 2026-09-30
Scammers are impersonating real federal law enforcement agents and calling New Jersey residents, using the names of actual FBI employees and spoofed federal agency phone numbers to gain victims' trust and solicit money. The scheme is an evolved version of traditional federal impersonation fraud that makes it particularly difficult for victims and agencies to identify as fraudulent, with some scammers even creating fake virtual meetings with FBI office backdrops. The FBI Newark field office has documented multiple victims of this scam but has not disclosed specific dollar amounts stolen.
forsythnews.com
· 2026-09-30
Crystal Reyes-Jimenez, 42, was indicted on 11 counts in Forsyth County for alleged Ambien prescription fraud and financial exploitation of an elder. She is currently incarcerated at the Dawson County Detention Center. The indictment came from a Forsyth County grand jury in September.
wgxa.tv
· 2026-09-30
Two individuals, James Card and Tykeria Washington, were arrested after impersonating federal, court, and law enforcement officials to scam an elderly Perry, Georgia resident out of approximately $70,000. The suspects threatened the victim with arrest and coerced her to withdraw cash, purchase cryptocurrency, and transfer funds to other individuals before police located and intervened. Card was charged with theft by extortion, elderly exploitation, and impersonation of an officer, while Washington was charged with elderly exploitation, with the investigation ongoing to identify additional participants.
creators.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-30
A man impersonating an Adams County Sheriff's Department sergeant called the author claiming to discuss a legal matter, but the scammer made a critical error by calling it the "Sheriff's Department" instead of the correct "Sheriff's Office," which prompted the author to investigate further and discover the fraud. Police impersonation scams typically aim to extract money by claiming victims have missed jury duty, face arrest, or have other legal problems requiring immediate payment, and scammers can make these calls convincing by using real officer names, spoofed caller IDs, and personal information obtained from public records.
abajournal.com
· 2026-09-29
Attorney Timothy Mark Anderson, 67, of Iowa, pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud and was sentenced to six months in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme where he sold luxury vehicles, including a 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, to elderly clients at inflated prices to help them qualify for Medicaid benefits. The scheme involved the vehicles being "gifted" to heirs and resold back to Anderson at lower prices, resulting in $184,274.36 in restitution ordered to Iowa Medicaid and a $25,000 fine. In one documented case, an elderly couple purchased the Rolls-Royce for $186,000 as part of the fraud
yahoo.com
· 2026-09-29
In 2025, Floridians over 60 lost nearly $710 million to cybercrime, with the state ranking second nationally for elder fraud losses among that age group. A cybersecurity educator describes how her neighbor, a woman in her early 70s, lost approximately $100,000 in three days through a coordinated scam involving fake bank support calls, fake computer warnings, and pressure to move funds into cryptocurrency. Nationally, people age 60 and older account for over 37% of all cybercrime financial losses totaling $7.75 billion, with an average loss of $38,500 per victim.
theconversation.com
· 2026-09-29
In 2025, Floridians over 60 lost nearly $710 million to cybercrime across more than 17,000 reported complaints, making Florida second in the nation for elder fraud losses. The article highlights a case where a woman in her early 70s lost approximately $100,000 after scammers gained access to her bank account and convinced her to move funds to cryptocurrency, exploiting her isolation and fear during a three-day scheme involving fake technical support and computer warnings. Nationally, adults 60 and older account for over 37% of all cybercrime losses totaling $7.75 billion, with an average loss of $38,500 per complainant, driven
newsantaana.com
· 2026-09-29
An elderly Connecticut man lost $8,600 in a mail-based fraud scheme targeting seniors, but Fountain Valley Police recovered his funds along with an additional $46,000 from other victims when they arrested a suspect at a local address. The incident is part of a broader surge in elder fraud across Orange County, where reports have risen over 30% in three years, with scammers using mail schemes, spoofed calls, and local "money mules" to target older adults. Federal estimates show elder fraud causes over $3.1 billion in annual losses nationally, though experts believe the actual figure reaches $8-10 billion when accounting for unreported cases.
cpapracticeadvisor.com
· 2026-09-29
Lori Flowers lost $600,000 to a pig-butchering scam where a man claiming to be from Belgium built trust with her over months before convincing her to withdraw money from her retirement account. Because the IRS treated the retirement withdrawal as taxable income, Flowers owed approximately $225,000 in taxes and penalties on money she no longer had, leading her to file for bankruptcy. A bipartisan Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act recently passed the House that would restore theft-loss deductions for scam victims, addressing a gap created by 2017 tax law changes.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-29
A Vietnamese national was charged with money laundering for operating a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded victims of at least $16 million, with his crypto wallets receiving over $53 million from fraud schemes between February 2018 and December 2024. The 37-year-old suspect was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on September 24 after entering the U.S. through the California-Mexico border. Victims were lured through fake investment platforms with promises of high returns, then unable to withdraw their funds after transfers were moved to private wallets under the scammer's control.
fincrimecentral.com
· 2026-09-29
A 26-year-old man was sentenced to seven years and ten months for participating in a $10 million real estate fraud scheme that operated in 2021-2022, where conspirators used fake identities and fabricated documents to sell properties they had no authority to convey to unsuspecting buyers. The fraudsters laundered the stolen proceeds through Las Vegas casinos by depositing large amounts into gaming machines and cashing out after minimal or no play, with some funds subsequently used to purchase additional properties. The defendant pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft charges.
pbs.org
· 2026-09-29
A widower named Simon lost $812,000 to a romance scam after meeting a fake persona named "Emilie" on a dating app, who posed as a woman interested in cryptocurrency investments. Journalists uncovered that "Emilie" was operated from a scam compound in Myanmar using a documented five-step psychological manipulation playbook, with workers maintaining detailed fake profiles and taking shifts impersonating the character. The FRONTLINE documentary "Scammed" reveals how this global criminal industry steals billions annually from millions of victims, with most never recovering their losses.
thecable.ng
· 2026-09-29
A Lagos federal high court ordered the final forfeiture of 431 mobile phones to the Nigerian government that were seized from Chinese nationals arrested in December 2024 for operating cryptocurrency and romance scam networks from a Victoria Island building. The EFCC had arrested 792 suspects total—including 114 Chinese nationals, Filipinos, and others—who were allegedly training Nigerians to conduct romance and investment scams; digital assets worth $222,729 and thousands of other items including computers, SIM cards, and equipment were previously forfeited in the case.
fortune.com
· 2026-09-29
In 2025, U.S. consumers reported losing nearly $16 billion to fraud and scams—a 25% increase from the previous year—with imposter scams alone accounting for $3.5 billion in losses as criminals increasingly pose as trusted entities through social media, text messages, and phishing emails to manipulate victims into willingly sending money. Georgia's Attorney General argues that addressing scams requires a fundamentally different strategy than traditional fraud, demanding coordinated efforts across government agencies, technology companies, financial institutions, and law enforcement to intervene at multiple stages before victims lose money, rather than focusing only on the final transaction stage.
chinadailyasia.com
· 2026-09-29
A 71-year-old Hong Kong woman lost HK$2.9 million in an online romance scam where a man posing as a power company employee befriended her on Facebook, gained her trust through romantic attention, and then lured her into a fraudulent waste recycling investment scheme. After she was unable to withdraw funds, the scammer claimed he had been arrested and needed bail money, and instructed her to make cryptocurrency transfers, ultimately depleting her savings and forcing her to borrow from friends and a finance company across 17 transactions. The scam was discovered when debt collectors contacted her and she asked her daughter for money.
en.sedaily.com
· 2026-09-29
South Korea's voice phishing losses dropped 76.4% in August to 25.7 billion won, the lowest level since 2023, following the implementation of an Integrated Response Task Force that blocks criminal tools within 10 minutes of reports and has handled over 281,000 reports in its first year. Cases fell 49% in the January-August period to 8,584 from 16,765 a year earlier, with total losses declining 56% to 387.1 billion won, though new scam types like romance fraud and fraudulent investment schemes have emerged as a spillover effect. Police shifted strategy from reactive perpetrator tracking to proactive prevention through emergency blocking systems, pre
idahonews.com
· 2026-09-29
Scammers in Idaho's Treasure Valley are impersonating police and threatening victims with arrest warrants, instructing them to deposit cash into cryptocurrency ATMs to avoid prosecution. Between January 2025 and September 2026, victims across the region lost over $2.1 million, with approximately half of identified victims over age 60. Local governments are responding by considering bans on cryptocurrency ATMs within city limits to combat the fraud and prevent further losses.
foxnews.com
· 2026-09-29
Operation Blackout, an FBI global initiative, has seized approximately $17 billion tied to scam compounds operating primarily in Southeast Asia and the Middle East that target American seniors through cryptocurrency investment schemes, romance scams, and forced labor operations. The campaign combines overseas raids, asset seizures, and communications disruption efforts, while a domestic prevention component called Operation Level Up has contacted over 10,000 potential victims and prevented an estimated $660 million in losses. Criminal syndicates operate sprawling compounds where trafficked workers are forced to perpetrate fraud schemes against thousands of Americans, with victims often losing their life savings after being lured into fake investment platforms.
investx.fr
· 2026-09-29
Two men in Southern California used a card-swapping scheme at ATMs, memorizing victims' PINs and replacing their cards with duplicates during withdrawals, resulting in approximately $120,000 in losses across multiple counties with at least 30 documented incidents. Sergio Romero and Franklin Florez targeted at least five victims in Lemon Grove alone, with individual losses ranging from $100 to over $2,700, and two elderly victims led to elder fraud charges against Romero. Both men were identified through surveillance cameras and license plate readers; Romero faces charges including elder fraud, robbery, and identity theft, while Florez faces robbery, identity theft, and conspiracy charges.
punchng.com
· 2026-09-29
A Nigerian federal court ordered the permanent forfeiture of 431 mobile phones to the government that were seized from Chinese cyber-fraud operators and their accomplices. The phones were part of an elaborate international scam network operating in Lagos that conducted romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and investment swindles targeting victims in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe, with over N3.4 billion in fraud proceeds traced to the operation. A massive December 2024 sting operation arrested over 700 suspects involved in the scheme, including 148 Chinese nationals and 500 Nigerians, leading to convictions of the ringleader and his company on charges including cyber-terrorism and money laundering
wdio.com
· 2026-09-29
A fraud specialist at Park State Bank spoke at Duluth's Senior Go Show about three prevalent scams affecting the community: check fraud targeting rural customers through mail theft, romance scams that exploit the elderly by building trust before requesting money, and tech support scams using fake pop-ups to compromise bank information. In 2025, the Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 201,000 complaints totaling nearly $8 billion in losses, with the specialist emphasizing that scammers exploit urgency and AI sophistication to deceive people of all ages and intelligence levels. He advised victims and potential targets to pause before acting, verify requests by calling their bank or trusted contacts, and remember that legitimate financial matters rarely require immediate action
cbsnews.com
· 2026-09-29
This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or financial exploitation. It is a transcript of an interview between financial expert Jill Schlesinger and former NFL player Nate Burleson discussing his childhood, family values, and early financial decision-making regarding college scholarships. It does not contain information relevant to an elder fraud research database.
yonkerstimes.com
· 2026-09-28
An elderly Tarrytown resident was defrauded of approximately $29,000 through a sophisticated scheme in which scammers impersonated Apple's financial department, gained remote access to the victim's computer, and falsely claimed an erroneous $50,000 deposit required repayment in cash. Benny Cai was arrested on September 24, 2026, after receiving a second fraudulent payment from the victim and was found in possession of cocaine; investigators believe he is part of an organized group targeting elderly victims. Cai was charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a
wsbtv.com
· 2026-09-28
A suspect connected to a Georgia prison-based scam ring was arrested after a Florida woman lost $15,000 in Bitcoin in the scheme. The scam involved fraudsters operating from within a Georgia prison who targeted victims and convinced them to send cryptocurrency. This case highlights the growing problem of organized fraud operations being run from correctional facilities.
shockya.com
· 2026-09-28
FinCEN identified nearly $13 billion in illicit activity tied to a new China-linked money-laundering scheme that uses digital-asset guarantee marketplaces on Telegram to funnel drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cyber-fraud proceeds into U.S. banks by mimicking Mexican peso-credit structures. The overlay, exemplified by networks like the sanctioned Xinbi platform (which facilitated over $24 billion in illicit activity before relocating to Singapore), exploits regulatory gaps in AML oversight of cryptocurrency and cross-border transactions to move cartel cash through U.S. financial institutions with minimal detection. Major U.S. banks including JPMorgan and Citigroup have processed
kttn.com
· 2026-09-28
A Vietnamese national, Trung Nguyen Van, faces federal money laundering charges for his alleged role in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency fraud scheme that defrauded victims of millions of dollars. One victim alone transferred approximately $16 million in cryptocurrency between June and August 2024 after being deceived into believing funds were being invested through a platform called "Triangle," with investigators tracing over $53 million in cryptocurrency assets connected to wire fraud schemes targeting U.S. citizens passing through Van's wallets. Pig butchering scams typically begin with romance-focused contact through dating apps or social media, where scammers build trust before directing victims toward fraudulent cryptocurrency investment opportunities that appear profitable initially
fincrimecentral.com
· 2026-09-28
Vietnamese national Trung Nguyen Van, 37, was charged with money laundering in connection with a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scam that defrauded a victim of approximately $16 million between June and August 2024. Prosecutors allege Van received and laundered portions of victim funds through cryptocurrency wallets attributed to him, and attribute approximately $53.3 million in total receipts from schemes targeting U.S. citizens to wallets linked to him over nearly seven years. The scam involved building trust with victims through dating and social media before directing them to fake investment platforms where they could not withdraw their funds.
pymnts.com
· 2026-09-28
According to PYMNTS Intelligence research, scam victims exhibit varied payment timelines—63% pay within a day of contact, while 18% take at least two weeks—with romance scams averaging $27,587 in losses and investment scams averaging $14,225. FinCEN identified victims of digital asset and cryptocurrency scams liquidating savings accounts, investments, retirement accounts, and taking on debt to fund fraudulent payments, creating opportunities for banks to detect suspicious financial behavior. The research found that 11% of scam victims report their fraud to no one, rising to 40% among romance scam victims, indicating significant gaps in fraud reporting and awareness.
hindustantimes.com
· 2026-09-28
Romance scams are confidence tricks where criminals build emotional trust through fake online profiles over weeks or months, then request money after establishing dependence. These scams occur across dating apps and social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, targeting vulnerable individuals experiencing life changes such as divorce or loneliness, as well as financially literate professionals. Warning signs include constant messaging, avoidance of video calls, requests to move conversations to private channels, and elaborate excuses for why they cannot meet in person.
modernghana.com
· 2026-09-28
Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi (Abu Trica) has allegedly provided US investigators with eight names of people linked to laundering proceeds from a romance scam targeting over 80 elderly Americans of more than $8 million since 2023, though the claim remains unverified and disputed by his associates. Kumi was arrested in Ghana in December 2025 and extradited to face federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, with prosecutors alleging he and co-defendant Daniel Yussif used AI-driven video tools and fake personas to defraud victims. The broader investigation involves at least five Ghanaians accused of defrauding over 130
guardian.ng
· 2026-09-28
Access Bank launched a financial crime awareness campaign called "Spot the Scam" targeting Nigerian students to educate them on identifying and avoiding fraud schemes, which commonly include fake giveaways, job offers, celebrity impersonation, and investment scams. The campaign, running through December 2026, was prompted by concerns about young Nigerians' involvement in financial crimes, including a December 2024 incident where 792 young people were arrested for romance scams, hacking, and money laundering targeting overseas victims. The initiative includes nationwide financial education and a debate competition for secondary schools in Lagos State to help young people avoid becoming victims or perpetrators of financial crimes.
wabi.tv
· 2026-09-28
The Penobscot County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about scammers posing as law enforcement officials who call, text, or email demanding money and threatening arrest if payment is not made. These fraudsters impersonate sheriff's office or correctional facility staff to appear legitimate. Authorities emphasize that real law enforcement will never demand money or immediate payment by phone.
tovima.com
· 2026-09-27
Voice cloning scams are increasingly targeting families through deepfake technology, with scammers using just seconds of audio from social media to impersonate relatives and conduct virtual kidnapping schemes that pressure victims into sending money. Greek police reported a case where a 14-year-old was deceived by callers using a cloned recording of her father, and one in four Americans report receiving deepfake voice calls in the past year. Experts recommend families establish a "secret word" or phrase that only they know to verify identity during suspicious calls, combined with a backup plan to call or message the person back through verified contact information.
dailykos.com
· 2026-09-27
Across Southeast Asia, criminal networks operate compounds where trafficking victims are forced to run online scams, particularly "pig-butchering" investment schemes that manipulate victims into depositing money into fake trading platforms and cryptocurrency accounts. Traffickers lure people with false job promises, confiscate their passports, and use debt, threats, and violence to coerce workers into building fake relationships with targets and extracting billions of dollars, with victims like Indian engineer Mohammad Muzahir and Filipino mother Lily trapped in these facilities and subjected to physical abuse and fines for failing to meet quotas.
the420.in
· 2026-09-27
Global financial fraud losses reached approximately $442 billion in the last year, with organized criminal syndicates operating from Southeast Asia (particularly Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar) conducting sophisticated romance scams, cryptocurrency investment fraud, and other online financial crimes targeting victims worldwide. Interpol warns that these operations have evolved from regional networks into international criminal organizations employing thousands of people, causing not only massive financial losses but also leading victims to take their own lives and forcing businesses to close. The complexity of cross-border operations, use of cryptocurrency and digital platforms, and involvement of well-financed criminal networks have made enforcement efforts increasingly difficult for authorities.
malaymail.com
· 2026-09-27
Interpol warns that online romance and investment fraud linked to organized syndicates are draining billions from Asian economies, with global financial fraud losses estimated at $442 billion annually. Criminal networks operating from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar employ thousands to perpetrate scams including cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams via social media and dating apps, with Interpol's Operation Haechi uncovering $342 million in illicit funds and blocking 68,000 bank accounts across 40 countries.
newswire.lk
· 2026-09-27
Pakistani authorities arrested 212 people, including Chinese nationals, during raids on three illegal call centres in Islamabad that operated an international fraud network targeting victims in Pakistan and overseas. The scams included impersonating Google representatives, fake online task schemes, and romance scams, with investigators seizing over 300 mobile phones and nearly 400 computers and related equipment. Authorities are investigating financial links and potential connections to similar operations in India and Brazil.
tribune.net.ph
· 2026-09-27
The National Capital Region Police Office arrested two individuals in Pasay City for an alleged romance scam that exploited emotional manipulation and trust to extort money from victims. Police officials warned the public to be cautious of financial schemes using romantic relationships, emotional appeals, and unverified identities, and urged victims to report fraud immediately through the 911 hotline rather than remain silent out of embarrassment.
thestar.com.my
· 2026-09-27
Interpol warns that online financial fraud and romance scams linked to organized criminal syndicates are threatening Asian economies, with millions of dollars lost daily worldwide. Criminal networks operating from Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar use social media and dating apps to defraud vulnerable victims globally, with Interpol's 2023 assessment estimating US$442 billion in worldwide financial fraud losses annually. Operation Haechi (April-August 2023) uncovered US$342 million in illicit funds and blocked 68,000 bank accounts across 40 countries, targeting investment fraud, romance scams, voice phishing, and money laundering schemes.
jpost.com
· 2026-09-27
Pakistani authorities arrested 212 people, including Chinese nationals, in raids on three illegal call centers in Islamabad that allegedly ran international fraud schemes using tactics such as impersonating Google representatives, tasking fraud, and romance scams targeting victims in Pakistan and abroad. Investigators recovered 306 mobile phones, 383 computers, and 299 monitors and laptops, with ongoing investigations revealing possible links to fraud networks in India and Brazil. The operation is part of a broader crackdown on illegal call centers in Pakistan, following similar arrests in July 2025 (149 people in Faisalabad) and August 2026 (258 and 114 foreigners in separate Islamabad operations).
vietnam.vn
· 2026-09-27
Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi, founder of Prince Group, has been indicted by the US Department of Justice for operating forced labor camps in Cambodia that conducted "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scams, defrauding billions of dollars from victims worldwide. The scheme involved contacting victims via text and social media with false investment promises, stealing their cryptocurrency, and laundering proceeds through gambling and crypto mining. Federal prosecutors are simultaneously seeking to seize approximately 127,271 Bitcoin (valued at $15 billion) as illicit gains—the largest asset seizure in DOJ history—with Chen currently at large.
cryptorank.io
· 2026-09-27
A 37-year-old Vietnamese national, Trung Nguyen Van, has been charged with money laundering after wallets linked to him received approximately $53.3 million from "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, including one U.S. victim who lost roughly $16 million in summer 2024. Pig butchering schemes involve scammers building trust with victims over time before directing them to fake investment platforms, with cryptocurrency enabling rapid cross-border fund transfers that leave blockchain traces helpful for investigation but difficult for recovery. The case demonstrates how crypto fraud networks have become increasingly industrialized, though blockchain records can provide investigators with transaction trails even as funds move through multiple wallets and exchanges before authorities interv
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-26
Many brokerages offer view-only account access and trusted contact designations that allow adult children to monitor aging parents' financial accounts for signs of fraud or exploitation without controlling them directly. However, visibility alone is insufficient protection; a power of attorney document is needed to grant the legal authority to actually intervene when suspicious transactions are detected. Financial institutions like Fidelity and Charles Schwab enable this monitoring in real time, helping families catch potential elder fraud before significant savings are lost.
247wallst.com
· 2026-09-26
The article discusses how adult children can monitor their aging parents' brokerage accounts to detect elder fraud by using view-only access settings offered by major financial institutions like Fidelity and Charles Schwab. This monitoring tool allows family members to see account statements and transactions in real time without taking control away from their parents, while additional safeguards like trusted contact designations and powers of attorney provide additional layers of protection. Elder fraud can silently drain retirement savings, particularly affecting seniors aged 62 and older who may fall victim to sophisticated phone scams or unauthorized withdrawals.
hoodline.com
· 2026-09-26
Oklahoma has enacted Senate Bill 2067, which takes effect in November and grants banks and credit unions legal immunity to freeze suspicious transactions and report suspected elder exploitation to authorities. The law addresses a growing crisis in which Oklahoma seniors lost $53.3 million to financial scams in 2025, including $24 million from investment fraud alone, representing a 32% increase in elderly victims year-over-year. The measure removes previous legal barriers that prevented financial institutions from alerting law enforcement and Adult Protective Services to potential fraud without risking privacy lawsuits or regulatory penalties.
watfordcitynd.com
· 2026-09-26
Americans over age 60 filed more than 201,000 internet-crime complaints in 2025 with losses exceeding $7.7 billion, representing a 37% increase in complaints and 59% increase in losses compared to 2024, with average losses of $38,000 per victim. Scammers target seniors through various schemes including grandparent scams, fake law enforcement calls, technical support fraud, and romance scams, often manipulating caller ID and using urgency to prevent victims from verifying requests. North Dakota residents and authorities have reported increasing incidents of these fraud schemes, and law enforcement urges families to establish safeguards and teach seniors that legitimate government agencies will never demand immediate
crowdfundinsider.com
· 2026-09-26
A Vietnamese national, Trung Nguyen Van, has been charged with money laundering for allegedly moving over $53 million in stolen cryptocurrency from pig-butchering romance scams between February 2018 and December 2024. In one documented case, a victim lost approximately $16 million after being lured to a fake investment platform called "Triangle," with Van accused of quickly funneling nearly $568,000 of those proceeds into private, untraceable wallets. The case highlights how cryptocurrency enables rapid movement of stolen funds outside regulated exchanges, making recovery difficult for victims who have lost billions globally to this increasingly sophisticated fraud scheme.
news.bitcoin.com
· 2026-09-26
A Vietnamese national was charged with money laundering in connection with a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded one victim of approximately $16 million between June and August 2024, with investigators tracing transfers through his digital wallets. The suspect's accounts received an estimated $53.3 million in cryptocurrency tied to wire fraud schemes targeting Americans between February 2018 and December 2024, which was then moved off the blockchain to conceal its origin. Pig butchering schemes manipulate victims by establishing fake romantic relationships online before directing them to fraudulent crypto investment platforms where they are encouraged to deposit increasingly larger sums based on fabricated returns.
berkshireeagle.com
· 2026-09-26
This article discusses how scam victimization results from both criminal activity ("homicide") and victims' own vulnerabilities ("suicide"), identifying three key factors that make people susceptible to fraud: hardwired behaviors like automatic compliance, curiosity triggered by clickbait, and emotional distortion that clouds judgment. The author recommends combating scams through financial monitoring, software updates, and adopting protective behaviors such as slowing down and questioning requests from unknown sources.
ursinusgrizzly.com
· 2026-09-26
Collegeville, Pennsylvania currently does not use Flock license plate reader cameras, though the police department uses other types of LPR technology that have helped locate stolen vehicles, find missing elderly drivers, and identify suspects in crimes including jewelry store burglaries, robberies, and fraud cases. Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering legislative measures to regulate LPRs with safeguards for data privacy and civil liberties, and Collegeville officials have indicated that Flock cameras may be considered for future implementation in the area.
cryptonews.net
· 2026-09-26
Vietnamese national Trung Nguyen Van was charged with laundering approximately $53 million in cryptocurrency stolen from U.S. victims through romance scams between February 2018 and December 2024. The scams typically began on dating apps, social media, or text messages, with fraudsters gaining victims' trust before directing them to fake investment platforms like "Triangle" that displayed fabricated profits to encourage additional deposits. One Missouri victim alone lost about $16 million between June and August 2024, with investigators tracing Van's movement of stolen funds through various cryptocurrency wallets to conceal their illegal origins.
wbng.com
· 2026-09-26
Pennsylvania State Police are warning of a nationwide organized fraud scheme where scammers pose as federal agents, convincing victims their identities and bank accounts are involved in criminal investigations and directing them to purchase gold or withdraw cash to hand over to couriers. The scheme has stolen approximately $6.5 million from victims across multiple states, with two suspected couriers arrested in Pennsylvania in September. Authorities urge potential victims who were contacted during August or September to report the scam, emphasizing that legitimate law enforcement never directs people to buy gold or surrender assets to couriers.
wired.com
· 2026-09-26
Despite the rise of AI-powered digital fraud, old-school credit card scams remain costly threats worldwide, including fake replacement cards mailed to victims in Europe that direct them to fraudulent banking websites, and magnetic stripe skimming targeting government EBT debit cards in the United States. The US Attorney's Office recently indicted two Romanian nationals for EBT card skimming, while overall skimmer fraud causes over $1 billion in annual losses in the US alone, with scammers continuing to exploit outdated magnetic stripe technology because it remains profitable and vulnerable.
lex18.com
· 2026-09-26
Kentucky residents lost nearly $6.5 million to phone and text scams in 2025, with over 300 million robocalls placed in the state, according to Attorney General Russell Coleman's office. Scammers commonly use caller ID spoofing and AI voice cloning to impersonate law enforcement and create panic, with one documented case involving a woman losing her entire $128,000 life savings to a single call. Coleman and 49 other state attorneys general are urging the FCC to strengthen protections like STIR/SHAKEN protocols and implement stricter upstream provider monitoring to combat the escalating robocall threat.
pa.gov
· 2026-09-26
Scammers impersonating federal law enforcement officials have defrauded victims across multiple states of approximately $6.5 million through a scheme involving fake pop-up alerts claiming compromised identities, then directing victims to purchase gold bars or coins and hand them over to couriers. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the organized fraud ring and have identified a silver 2025 Honda Accord used in the scheme, with two suspects arrested in September 2026. Authorities warn that legitimate law enforcement will never instruct people to purchase gold or transfer cash or precious metals to couriers.
klin.com
· 2026-09-26
Two victims in Lincoln lost nearly $3,000 to scammers impersonating jail officials who demanded payment via digital payment apps, targeting both a recently released inmate told he had active warrants and a grandmother pressured to pay for her grandson's house arrest. Lincoln Police warn that Lancaster County Corrections never requests payments by phone, email, or text, and legitimate payments are made only in-person or through the official Access Corrections website.
newsbug.info
· 2026-09-26
The federal government loses between $116 billion and $304 billion annually to tax fraud, according to a Government Accountability Office report that found the IRS lacks an agency-wide anti-fraud strategy. The case of Carl Delano Torjagbo, who fraudulently claimed $3.3 million in tax refunds using false identities and spent proceeds on luxury items, exemplifies vulnerabilities in the system. GAO recommended the IRS develop a comprehensive anti-fraud strategy and designate a central entity to coordinate fraud risk management, though the IRS only partially agreed to these recommendations.
tradingview.com
· 2026-09-26
A 37-year-old Vietnamese national, Trung Nguyen Van, has been charged with money laundering after cryptocurrency wallets under his control received over $53 million linked to "pig butchering" scams, where fraudsters cultivate relationships with victims before directing them to fake investment platforms. One victim alone lost approximately $16 million after being deceived into transferring crypto through a fraudulent platform called Triangle. The case demonstrates how cryptocurrency enables rapid cross-border movement of fraud proceeds while simultaneously leaving blockchain records that investigators can use to trace the illicit funds.
financefeeds.com
· 2026-09-26
The U.S. Department of Justice charged a Vietnamese national with operating a cryptocurrency investment scam that defrauded victims of at least $16 million between June and August 2024, with investigators tracing over $53 million in total fraudulent crypto assets flowing through wallets linked to the suspect since 2018. Victims were lured through online relationships to invest in fake trading platforms offering high returns, but were unable to withdraw their funds once deposited. The case highlights the sophisticated nature of relationship-based crypto investment fraud schemes that have caused billions in global losses, though prosecutors have not yet seized or frozen the identified $53 million in assets.
cryptonews.net
· 2026-09-26
Vietnamese national Trung Nguyen Van, 37, was charged with money laundering after allegedly orchestrating a "pig butchering" romance scam that defrauded victims of approximately $16 million in cryptocurrency between June and August 2024, with investigators identifying over $53.3 million flowing through his wallets between 2018 and 2024 from wire fraud schemes targeting Americans. In the primary case, a victim was lured into a fake crypto investment platform called "Triangle" through an online relationship and wired $16 million in cryptocurrency after being shown fabricated returns. Van allegedly received over $569,000 from a single victim transfer and subsequently moved the funds through multiple wallets
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-26
A North Carolina woman lost approximately $600,000 to a pig-butchering scam where she built a relationship with a fraudster online before sending him money from her retirement account. After discovering the fraud, she faced an additional $225,000 tax bill from the IRS for the withdrawn retirement funds, forcing her to file for bankruptcy. A bipartisan bill called the Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act, which would restore tax deductions for fraud victims lost in 2017 tax law changes, recently passed the House and awaits Senate action.
press-herald.com
· 2026-09-25
Webster Parish residents are reporting scams to authorities three to four times weekly, with scammers increasingly using sophisticated tactics including spoofing the Sheriff's Office phone number and impersonating law enforcement to solicit bail payments for arrested relatives. One notable case involved a local businessman losing nearly $500,000 in a fake Bitcoin investment scheme, while romance scams remain prevalent among older adults, with perpetrators sometimes spending months building trust before requesting money. Officials emphasized that skepticism, independent verification of requests, and consulting trusted contacts are critical defenses against these evolving scams, which are often perpetrated by overseas criminals.
aol.com
· 2026-09-25
A 70-year-old Michigan woman lost over $270,000 after a scammer impersonating an FTC agent threatened her with arrest for money laundering and drug trafficking. Believing the false charges, she initially purchased gold and later cashed out her own and her late husband's pension accounts to pay the fraudster, who was eventually arrested after she reported the crime to police. This case exemplifies a common government impersonation scam targeting seniors, who collectively lost $7.7 billion to fraud in 2025.
itweb.africa
· 2026-09-25
Cryptocurrency-enabled financial crimes in Africa are moving faster than law enforcement can respond, with illicit funds crossing borders in minutes while legal processes take months, according to Chainalysis data showing $17 billion stolen through crypto scams in 2025. Criminal networks are using shared infrastructure across multiple jurisdictions to launder proceeds from romance scams, investment fraud, trafficking, and other crimes, with AI-enhanced scams proving 4.5 times more profitable than traditional fraud. African agencies are urged to implement real-time fraud detection systems and increase cross-border cooperation, as demonstrated by a Ghana case where coordinated international effort froze approximately $15.1 million in illicit crypto assets.
foxbusiness.com
· 2026-09-25
Hackers physically stole a Flock Safety license-plate camera and reverse-engineered it, recovering approximately 1.6 million images, 50,200 vehicle records, and 27,000 video clips covering about 21 days of activity. A former Secret Service cybercrime expert clarified that while the stolen device was compromised, Flock's broader cloud network was not breached, characterizing the incident as an isolated physical theft rather than a systemic security vulnerability.
crypto-economy.com
· 2026-09-25
A 37-year-old Vietnamese national, Trung Nguyen Van, faces federal money laundering charges for his alleged role in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded a victim of $16 million in summer 2024. The scheme involved fraudulent investment platforms like "Triangle" that displayed fake account balances and capital gains to lure victims into depositing funds, then blocked withdrawal access. FBI investigators linked Van's wallets to approximately $53.28 million in wire fraud losses collected between February 2018 and December 2024, indicating involvement in a transnational criminal network based in Southeast Asia targeting multiple victims.
cryptotimes.io
· 2026-09-25
A 37-year-old Vietnamese man, Trung Nguyen Van, was charged with money laundering for his alleged role in a cryptocurrency pig-butchering scam that defrauded at least one victim of approximately $16 million between June and August 2024. Investigators traced the victim's funds through multiple crypto wallets and found that Van's accounts received about $53.28 million in cryptocurrency connected to wire fraud schemes targeting U.S. citizens from February 2018 to December 2024. Pig-butchering scams typically begin with online contact through dating apps or social media, where scammers build trust before directing victims to fake investment platforms that prevent withdrawal of funds
cryptorank.io
· 2026-09-25
Vietnamese national Trung Nguyen Van was charged by federal prosecutors with laundering approximately $53 million in cryptocurrency stolen from U.S. victims through romance scams, with one Missouri victim losing $16 million between June and August 2024 after being directed to a fake crypto investment platform called Triangle. Investigators traced over $569,000 of the victim's stolen funds to a digital wallet linked to Van, who allegedly moved the proceeds through crypto investments to conceal their source.
nbclosangeles.com
· 2026-09-25
Michelle Bisnoff, a former Pacific Palisades resident, was found guilty of running a $2 million Ponzi scheme through her smart ring company Esos Rings, defrauding investors with false claims about the product's capabilities and fabricated partnerships with Apple and Roc Nation. Of the nearly $2 million raised from investors, approximately $1.4 million was never recovered, and Bisnoff also fraudulently obtained a $150,000 COVID-relief loan that she used for personal expenses. She was convicted of securities fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, identity theft, and COVID-relief fraud, with sentencing scheduled for January 21, 2027.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-24
A 70-year-old Michigan woman cashed out her and her late husband's pension accounts, totaling over $270,000, after a scammer posing as an FTC agent threatened her with arrest for alleged money laundering and drug trafficking. The victim was instructed to purchase gold and later withdraw cash to pay the fake charges, and was threatened with arrest if she contacted police. A 30-year-old man from Sacramento was arrested using community camera footage, though it's unclear whether the victim recovered her money.
broadandliberty.com
· 2026-09-24
Pennsylvania's elderly population, which comprises over one-quarter of the state's residents, lost over $215 million to scams in 2025 alone, according to FBI data. Common scams targeting seniors include romance and investment fraud, online shopping counterfeit schemes, phishing scams impersonating government agencies like Social Security and the IRS, and grandparent emergency scams. Scammers exploit seniors' vulnerability by using spoofed phone numbers, fake websites, and increasingly AI technology to deceive victims into divulging sensitive financial information or transferring funds.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2026-09-24
The Senate unanimously passed the Romance Scam Prevention Act requiring dating websites to notify users when accounts they've interacted with are banned for fraud, potentially involving false identities or attempted deception. The FTC and state attorneys general will enforce the law, which comes as financial regulators report approximately $12.7 billion in suspected romance and digital asset investment scam activity over a roughly two-year period beginning in 2023.
asahi.com
· 2026-09-24
A Japanese government panel endorsed legislation allowing police to remotely hack smartphones used by criminal networks, citing record losses of approximately 325.7 billion yen ($2.1 billion) in 2025 from special fraud schemes including social media investment scams, romance scams, and robbery-murders. The proposed "remote analysis" system would require judicial warrants and notification to targets after data collection, with safeguards including oversight by public safety commissions. The legislation is expected to be introduced to the Diet in the next extraordinary session.
yahoo.com
· 2026-09-24
Nigerian national Olamide Shanu pleaded guilty in federal court in Idaho to operating an international money laundering scheme involving sextortion and romance scams that targeted approximately 150 Americans and generated over $2.5 million in fraud proceeds. The scheme used fake social media identities to build relationships with victims and extort intimate images, with stolen funds laundered through peer-to-peer payment apps and cryptocurrency before being transferred to Nigeria. Shanu faces up to 20 years in prison at his December 15 sentencing.
japantimes.co.jp
· 2026-09-24
Cambodia is targeting licensed casinos suspected of serving as fronts for cybercriminal operations that have stolen billions globally, expanding enforcement actions beyond physical scam compounds. Authorities have already audited all 195 licensed casinos nationwide and suspended several linked to illicit activities, while also investigating approximately 30 subsidiaries of Prince Group—whose chairman was arrested and extradited to China in January—and tracing offshore assets across Singapore, the U.S., and the U.K. The crackdown aims to prevent criminal syndicates from using legitimate business structures and casinos to launder proceeds from online scams and illegal gambling operations.
unric.org
· 2026-09-24
Organized cyberfraud has become a global crisis, with Southeast Asia serving as a major hub for sophisticated scams involving AI-enabled fraud networks that operate across multiple countries and jurisdictions. Annual fraud losses globally reach approximately $500 billion, with Americans losing at least $18.2 billion in 2025 to Southeast Asian-based schemes, while the UK faces $19.2 billion in annual organized fraud costs. The UN, EU, and international partners are coordinating efforts to combat these networks through investigator training, victim support, and cross-border law enforcement cooperation, as no single country can address this transnational threat alone.
foxnews.com
· 2026-09-24
Americans lost $20.9 billion to internet-enabled crime in 2025, a 26% increase from the previous year, with seniors over 60 accounting for $7.7 billion of that total. Romance scams and social media-based fraud are driving the surge, with one woman losing nearly $1 million to a LinkedIn scammer impersonating a real man over two years. The crimes often involve sophisticated operations in Southeast Asia where scammers use AI and social engineering to persuade victims to voluntarily send money, making prevention challenging for banks and law enforcement.
kcra.com
· 2026-09-24
Elizabeth Holmes, founder of failed blood-testing startup Theranos, has been approved to move to a halfway house in Austin, Texas in August 2027 after serving more than a decade of her 123-month prison sentence for defrauding investors. Holmes was convicted in 2022 of conspiracy and wire fraud for misleading investors about her company's nonexistent proprietary blood-testing technology, which ultimately dissolved in 2018. Her sentence was recently reduced by one year after a judge found her eligible for a sentencing-guidelines reduction.
Wire Transfer
wesh.com
· 2026-09-24
Elizabeth Holmes, the Theranos founder convicted in 2022 of defrauding investors of millions through false claims about her blood-testing technology, has been approved to move to a halfway house in Austin, Texas in August 2027 after serving most of her 123-month prison sentence. Her conviction stemmed from her company's misrepresentation that it could perform hundreds of blood tests using proprietary technology, when in fact Theranos relied on third-party devices and performed only about a dozen tests with questionable accuracy. Holmes is currently imprisoned at a minimum-security federal facility in Bryan, Texas and was originally scheduled for release in February 2030, though her sentence was reduced by one year in March
Wire Transfer
cyberguy.com
· 2026-09-24
Data brokers including Epsilon Data Management, KBM Group, Macromark, and Wiland Inc. sold "opportunity seeker" lists—targeting vulnerable older Americans—to fraudsters running sweepstakes, lottery, and other scams, resulting in over $23.7 million in losses to more than 218,000 victims in one scheme alone. The Department of Justice prosecuted multiple employees and companies, securing over $129 million in victim compensation by June 2025, with Troy Murray sentenced to 121 months in prison for selling data on 7 million older Americans to Jamaica-based lottery scammers from 2016-2023.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2026-09-24
A 58-year-old North Carolina woman lost $600,000 to a pig-butchering scam after a man posing as a Brussels-based contact on LinkedIn built her trust and convinced her to invest in a fake business, resulting in a $225,000 tax bill when she withdrew $400,000 from her 401(k) and took out two personal loans for additional funds. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 limited personal theft loss deductions, leaving fraud victims responsible for taxes on stolen retirement funds, though pending legislation like the Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act aims to provide retroactive relief.
thevibes.com
· 2026-09-24
In Malaysia, victims lost RM2.97 billion to online scams, digital fraud, and cyber identity theft in the previous year, with authorities recovering only RM6.7 million, according to former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. Lim stated that current anti-scam efforts are inadequate and called for enhanced coordination and resources across government agencies, banks, and regulators to combat what he described as a national crime wave affecting elderly citizens, professionals, and ordinary Malaysians across all demographics. He emphasized that Bank Negara should lead a whole-of-government effort, with banks implementing mechanisms to flag suspicious account activities and prevent scammers from quickly transferring stolen funds.
onesafe.io
· 2026-09-24
The FBI Crypto Crime Forum highlighted the growing threat of cryptocurrency-related scams, including the WaterPlum syndicate (affiliated with North Korea) which compromised over 30,000 devices and stole $10.7 million through impersonation and malware tactics. The forum brought together law enforcement and crypto-security experts to address emerging threats such as Tornado Cash manipulation and pig butchering scams, while the FBI launched its new Virtual Assets Unit to coordinate international cryptocurrency investigations across the U.S., Japan, Germany, and Australia.
cryptopolitan.com
· 2026-09-24
The FBI has operated an invite-only crypto crime forum called the Virtual Asset Technical Exchange for nine years, bringing together law enforcement, overseas investigators, and crypto-security firms to address threats including terrorist financing, fraud, trafficking, and North Korean hacking activity. Recent discussions at the September 2024 event in San Antonio focused on emerging threats such as pig butchering scams, Tornado Cash usage, and cartels' use of cryptocurrency, with attendance limited to about 50 private-sector vendors and hundreds of total participants. The initiative reflects the FBI's broader efforts to combat crypto-related crimes, including recent seizures of over $560,000 destined for Hamas and coordination with international agencies to identify North Korean cyberc
inkl.com
· 2026-09-24
A 58-year-old North Carolina woman lost $600,000 to a pig-butchering scam orchestrated through LinkedIn by a man posing as a Brussels-based investor who convinced her to withdraw $400,000 from her 401(k) and take out two personal loans for additional funds. Due to federal tax law restrictions on personal theft loss deductions, Flowers faces a $225,000 tax bill on the retirement withdrawal despite losing the money to fraud. Pending legislation, the Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act, could retroactively eliminate such tax liabilities for qualifying victims if enacted.
ivpressonline.com
· 2026-09-23
Franco Fuentes, a 30-year-old Woodland Hills resident, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for defrauding elderly victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars through spoofed bank calls impersonating bank staff. Fuentes and his co-conspirators tricked victims into surrendering debit and credit cards, then made massive unauthorized withdrawals and luxury purchases totaling over $270,000 in losses. He was ordered to pay restitution and forfeit more than $37,000 in cash and seized assets, with investigators noting he repeatedly targeted seniors despite prior fraud convictions.
ekathimerini.com
· 2026-09-23
The Greek government is implementing stricter laws to combat fraud targeting elderly and vulnerable populations, which officials characterize as an epidemic. Current penalties treat fraud under €120,000 as a misdemeanor, but authorities plan to impose felony charges with harsher prison sentences regardless of transaction amount to better deter offenders.
hoodline.com
· 2026-09-23
Franco Fuentes was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for running a bank impersonation scam targeting elderly victims in San Diego, where he and associates posed as bank employees to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars and drain victims' accounts using stolen debit cards. The scheme exploited vulnerable seniors by deceiving them into surrendering their banking information, treating their accounts as personal ATMs to steal their money and peace of mind. San Diego County experiences over 1,000 elder fraud cases annually resulting in more than $100 million in reported losses, with California seniors losing $1.4 billion to financial fraud in 2025.
goldrushcam.com
· 2026-09-23
Franco Fuentes, a Peruvian national, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for impersonating a bank employee to defraud elderly victims of over $270,000 by convincing them to surrender their bank cards, which he then used for cash withdrawals and purchases including $43,000 from a single 80-year-old victim. Fuentes was ordered to pay restitution of more than $270,000 and forfeit approximately $37,000 in cash and other assets seized from his residence. The scheme targeted vulnerable seniors through deceptive phone calls claiming to investigate fraud on their accounts, causing significant emotional and financial distress to victims.
phemex.com
· 2026-09-23
Police in Hunan Province detained two suspects in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded a victim of approximately 30,000 yuan. The scammers used social media to lure the victim into downloading a fraudulent app, purchasing USDT, and trading for a manipulated token whose price was artificially inflated before being dumped to zero. Suspect Li was arrested on August 19 and accomplice Lei, who collected illicit funds, was detained on September 17.
saharareporters.com
· 2026-09-23
A 35-year-old Nigerian national, Olamide Shanu, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy for his role in international sextortion and romance scam schemes that defrauded approximately 150 American victims and generated over $2.5 million in criminal proceeds. Shanu and his co-conspirators targeted male victims with sextortion threats using intimate images and older men and women through fake romantic identities on social media, laundering the proceeds through peer-to-peer payments and cryptocurrency before transferring funds to Nigeria. Shanu was extradited to the United States and pleaded guilty in Idaho federal court in September 2026 as part of the Department of Justice's
brokernews.com.au
· 2026-09-23
National Australia Bank opened a Community Hub in Cairns connecting customers with dedicated fraud and financial hardship specialists, as scam losses in Australia reached $2.18 billion in 2025, a 7.8% increase from 2024, with over four in five referrals in Cairns linked to scams and fraud. The hub is NAB's second Community Hub location following a pilot in Werribee, Victoria, and aims to provide customers access to support before challenges escalate into crises.
newsmobile.in
· 2026-09-23
A 35-year-old Nigerian national pleaded guilty to money laundering for operating an international cyber-fraud network that targeted approximately 150 Americans through sextortion and romance scams, generating over $2.5 million in illicit proceeds. The scheme used fake identities to build emotional relationships with victims or threatened to share intimate images unless money was paid, with stolen funds moved through peer-to-peer payment apps and cryptocurrency to Nigeria. Olamide Shanu faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing scheduled for December 15, 2026.
theeagleonline.com.ng
· 2026-09-23
A 35-year-old Nigerian national, Olamide Shanu, pleaded guilty to operating international sextortion and romance fraud schemes that defrauded approximately 150 Americans of over $2.5 million. The scams involved fake identities used to establish relationships with victims and threats to expose sexual images, with proceeds laundered through cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer payment apps to co-conspirators in Nigeria. Shanu faces up to 20 years in prison at his December 15 sentencing.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-23
Daejon Love, 35, and accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged with wire fraud for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded at least 61 women across multiple states out of $1.3 million between February 2022 and August 2026. Love posed as an NFL player or wealthy real estate developer on dating apps, using AI-generated fake images and manipulated search results to build trust before convincing victims to invest money or take out personal loans. The pair were arrested at a Boise, Idaho airport and will be tried in federal court in Portland, Oregon.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-23
Investment fraud reports surged 37% with victims losing an average of £25,000 each, totaling £991 million in losses during 2025, according to the National Crime Agency. Criminals use fake companies, celebrity endorsements, and social media to promote schemes including share sales, cryptocurrency investments, and recovery fraud, often disappearing when victims attempt withdrawals. The NCA and Financial Conduct Authority urge people to verify firms using the FCA checker and warn against recovery scams targeting previous fraud victims.
macaubusiness.com
· 2026-09-23
Meta disrupted over 3.7 million scam-linked accounts and content in collaboration with Singapore Police Force, removing more than 113,000 fraudulent entities and pages from Facebook and Instagram between January and June. The partnership allows authorities to identify and dismantle scammer ecosystems operating across platforms, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence to mass-produce fake profiles and malicious content.
gsma.com
· 2026-09-23
Maxis, a Malaysian telecommunications operator, implemented a multi-layered anti-fraud framework combining SMS/call blocking, malicious website filtering, and fake base station detection to combat scams across Malaysia in coordination with regulators and law enforcement. The initiative achieved a 65% reduction in scam SMS deliveries between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, with technical controls including SMS firewalls, fraud detection systems, and international gateway filtering working alongside government directives and the National Scam Response Centre. While successful enforcement actions have removed rogue infrastructure, scammers are adapting by shifting to over-the-top platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook that operate outside direct operator control.
mountain-news.com
· 2026-09-23
Inland Counties Legal Services representatives presented information on scams targeting older Americans, noting that seniors lose over $3 billion annually with those over 80 experiencing the highest median losses. The presentation covered multiple scam types including phone fraud, caller ID spoofing, phishing text messages, social media scams (which grew from $19 million in 2019 to $380 million in 2023), and tech support scams that stole $587.8 million from victims over 60 in 2022. Attorneys emphasized that many scams go unreported due to seniors' reluctance to admit victimization, and advised the audience to pause before responding to suspicious contacts, avoid clicking links, and
aba.com
· 2026-09-22
A national survey commissioned by the American Bankers Association found that 92% of voters support the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act, legislation requiring social media platforms to verify advertisers, remove fraudulent ads, and prevent scams before they reach consumers. The survey revealed that 87% of voters believe online financial fraud is rising, and nearly 75% are concerned they or a family member could become victims, with 90% agreeing that social media companies should verify advertiser identities. The overwhelming support demonstrates public demand for stronger regulatory measures to hold social media platforms accountable for preventing fraud on their platforms.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2026-09-22
Reece Salmon, a 28-year-old fraudster who was recently deported from New Zealand after serving time for a $400,000 elder fraud scheme, was murdered in London on September 16. Salmon had posed as an undercover police officer to defraud elderly victims aged 69-95, stealing $239,500 in cash and $172,000 in gold bullion from 19 victims between July and August 2024 by convincing them to withdraw money or purchase gold as part of a fake police investigation. He was released on parole in February and deported to the UK in May, but was fatally stabbed on a London street weeks later with no arrests made
fortune.com
· 2026-09-22
Microsoft and Coinbase dismantled the "EvilTokens" phishing network, which sold a do-it-yourself phishing kit on Telegram for $100-$300 monthly that used AI to identify payment decision-makers and bypass two-factor authentication. The scam defrauded businesses including real estate firms, banks, and healthcare providers of approximately $1.1 million in cryptocurrency between October 2025 and June 2026, with two men arrested in September by London's Metropolitan Police. The kit's accessibility and effectiveness represented an evolution in phishing-as-a-service attacks, requiring minimal technical skill to operate on an industrial scale.
newstalkzb.co.nz
· 2026-09-22
Reece Salmon, 28, was murdered in London in September after being released on parole from a New Zealand prison where he had served time for a $400,000 fraud scheme targeting elderly New Zealanders. Salmon had posed as an undercover police officer to convince victims aged 69-95 to withdraw cash and purchase gold bullion, which he then collected as a courier, stealing approximately $239,500 in cash and $172,000 in gold from 19 victims between July and August 2024. He pleaded guilty to 15 counts of obtaining money and gold by deception and was sentenced to four years in prison before his release and deportation to the UK, where he
nbcmiami.com
· 2026-09-22
Two South Florida men were arrested after purchasing over $2,700 worth of items, including 70 cans of Spam and other bulk goods, at Sam's Club using fraudulent public assistance cards from compromised accounts. Myrthland Ince, 33, and Romario Stewart, 32, used 10 different NationsBenefits cards with victims' information at self-checkout, and were found carrying re-encoded debit cards used for the scheme. Both face charges including fraudulent use of identification, grand theft, and public assistance fraud.
lilifepolitics.com
· 2026-09-22
A 50-year-old Brooklyn man was arrested for attempting to steal $20,000 from a 68-year-old Baldwin resident through a tech support scam in which the victim received a computer warning message and was instructed to withdraw cash from his bank. The victim suspected fraud after withdrawing the funds and contacted police, leading to the arrest of Biaodi Jiang, who was charged with Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.
yahoo.com
· 2026-09-22
Indiana seniors lost $81.5 million to elder fraud last year, with scammers increasingly targeting them through gift card and prepaid money card schemes after cryptocurrency ATM machines were shut down. Con artists use emotional stories to convince victims to purchase Green Dot money paks or gift cards, which are untraceable and typically result in losses of $20,000-$50,000 per victim over 6-12 months. The Terre Haute Police Department warns that if someone is pressuring you to buy gift cards or prepaid cards for any reason other than as an actual gift, it is a scam.
hoodline.com
· 2026-09-21
A 34-year-old Hyattsville man was charged with federal bank fraud for stealing over $1 million from more than 40 seniors (averaging age 81) by intercepting their mail, changing their account addresses, and fraudulently using their debit cards for ATM withdrawals and luxury purchases. Roy Dave Davis obtained victims' personal information, rerouted their mail to addresses he controlled in Maryland, and spent over $100,000 of stolen funds on designer fashion items. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted.
longislandpress.com
· 2026-09-21
An 84-year-old Manorhaven woman lost $30,000 in a computer scam where she was tricked into withdrawing cash after receiving a fake security alert claiming to be from Citibank's fraud department. A 31-year-old Queens man was arrested while attempting to collect an additional $18,000 from the same victim four days later and was charged with attempted grand larceny and drug possession. The investigation is ongoing, and police are seeking other potential victims.
newtelegraphng.com
· 2026-09-21
Peter Okoye of P-Square admitted in court testimony that he received over $800,000 in royalties from SACEM (a French royalty collection agency) between 2016 and 2022 but did not share them with his brother Jude Okoye, claiming the payments belonged solely to the artists. Jude Okoye and his company Northside Music Limited are being prosecuted by the EFCC on allegations involving N1.3 billion and $1 million in fraud, with Peter's testimony disputing Jude's entitlement to the royalty payments despite acknowledging Jude managed P-Square and directed some of their music videos.
usatoday.com
· 2026-09-21
Lori Flowers lost $600,000 in a pig-butchering scam orchestrated by someone posing as a Belgian businessman on LinkedIn who convinced her to withdraw funds from her 401(k) and take out personal loans for a fake business investment. After losing the money in 2022, she faced an additional $225,000 tax bill from the IRS, which treated the stolen funds as income, ultimately forcing her to declare bankruptcy. The article highlights how Congress eliminated tax deductions for theft victims in 2017, and discusses proposed legislation to restore these protections for scam victims.
foxnews.com
· 2026-09-21
A 75-year-old South Carolina man with Parkinson's disease and a brain injury allegedly had his home transferred to his caregiver for $5 through a quitclaim deed after the caregiver obtained power of attorney, with the daughter claiming the vulnerable father may not have understood what he signed and that money subsequently moved from his bank account to the caregiver even after his death. The case highlights elder financial exploitation and the importance of monitoring property records and financial accounts for unauthorized changes, as the allegations involve potential undue influence rather than forged documents. Conway police are investigating the matter, though the allegations have not been proven in court.
fox26houston.com
· 2026-09-21
Scammers are using publicly available arrest information to contact families and fraudulently demand money for bail, bond, or supposed fees like ankle monitor costs. The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office warns that callers may sound convincing by citing real arrest details, but families should independently verify any arrest and contact the jail or court directly rather than trusting information provided by callers. Authorities urge residents not to let urgency or emotional pressure override verification steps before sending money.
northcentralpa.com
· 2026-09-21
State police and the Lycoming County Sheriff's Office are warning residents of a phone scam where callers impersonate law enforcement and claim victims missed jury duty, now facing arrest warrants, then demand payment to resolve the alleged warrant. The scammers sometimes have personal details about victims, including their names and jury summons information, and may spoof caller IDs to appear as "Private Number." Authorities emphasize they never demand phone payment, gift cards, or personal information, and advise residents to hang up and call agencies directly using official numbers.
wesh.com
· 2026-09-21
Daejon Love was arrested for wire fraud after allegedly scamming over a dozen women out of more than $1 million by posing as a San Francisco 49er on fake social media accounts, using fabricated workout videos and falsified bank statements. The FBI has identified 35 additional potential victims since his arrest and believes there may be more, with Love and his 18-year-old co-conspirator Taylor Chan facing up to 40 years in prison. Love also used artificial intelligence to manipulate Google search results to prevent victims from discovering the fraud.
oag.ca.gov
· 2026-09-21
Maki Martinez-Gruninger pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming to be an In-Home Support Services (IHSS) provider for a disabled family member and submitting false claims to California's Medi-Cal program over more than a decade, stealing $413,643.30 from the state. She was sentenced to two years in state prison for the felony conviction of Medi-Cal fraud. The case highlights how fraudsters exploit vulnerable populations and public health programs, with the discovery made in December 2019 when the actual caregiver uncovered the illegal scheme that began in 2007.
legalbrief.co.za
· 2026-09-21
Six alleged members of the Black Axe organized crime network were extradited from South Africa to the US to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering related to romance scams and advance fee schemes that operated from Cape Town between 2011 and 2021. South African law enforcement agencies, including the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority, collaborated with Interpol and US authorities to bring the defendants to justice, where they face potential sentences exceeding 50 years in prison. The defendants allegedly led the Cape Town "zone" of Black Axe and defrauded victims through internet-based romance scams and fraudulent advance fee schemes.
favorflav.com
· 2026-09-20
An international gang operating across France, Italy, and Switzerland was arrested for producing counterfeit wine labels and selling cheap bottles as luxury Bordeaux wines for up to €15,000 per bottle. The counterfeiters created perfect copies of famous winery labels and sold the fraudulent bottles through legitimate wine merchants, generating millions in profits before police seized dozens of bottles and arrested six people. The exact number of counterfeit bottles in circulation and total number of victims remain unknown.
sg.news.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-20
Phishing scams using fake Singapore Police Force pop-up alerts have resurfaced, claiming devices are locked for accessing illegal content and demanding payment of supposed fines within hours to prevent permanent lockdown. Victims are tricked into providing bank card details through urgent countdown timers, resulting in unauthorized foreign currency transactions that often exceed the fake fines. The Singapore Police Force clarified they never remotely lock devices or demand payment via pop-ups and advised people to call ScamShield Helpline 1799 if uncertain.
bbc.com
· 2026-09-20
Five men, all 19 years old, were arrested in London after elderly residents in Wolverhampton were defrauded through a courier fraud scam in which fraudsters impersonated police officers. Two victims in their 80s were convinced to hand over a combined £10,000 in cash to individuals posing as officers. The suspects remain in custody on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud.
ktla.com
· 2026-09-20
An 82-year-old woman in Pomona was defrauded of $2,500 in a lottery ticket scam on September 10, 2026, when two suspects convinced her that an undocumented immigrant had a winning $10,000 ticket and needed her help cashing it. The scheme involved multiple perpetrators, including a fake lottery official on the phone claiming a $2,500 processing fee was required, and the suspects drove the victim to her bank to withdraw cash before abandoning her. Authorities are seeking a man and woman who fled in a white 2014-2016 Ford Escape and urge anyone with information to contact the Pomona Police Department.
creators.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-20
A caller impersonating an Adams County Sheriff's sergeant attempted to scam the author by claiming there was a "legal matter" requiring attention, but the scam was foiled when the caller incorrectly referred to the agency as "Adams County Sheriff's Department" instead of the correct "Adams County Sheriff's Office." The scammer, identifying himself as "Sgt. Don Davis," was part of a broader scheme where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to extract money from victims by claiming they missed jury duty, have legal violations, or face arrest unless they pay fines immediately.
ground.news
· 2026-09-20
Two members of a telephone scam ring were arrested in Karpenisi after attempting to defraud a police officer through an extortion scheme involving fake calls claiming to be an accountant. The scammer posed as a financial official and demanded money and jewelry under the pretense of securing electronic devices. Police discovered stolen goods in the suspects' vehicle during the subsequent arrest operation.
sciotocountydailynews.com
· 2026-09-19
A woman lost nearly $1,000 from three accounts after calling a number in a fake Geek Squad refund email, where scammers impersonated company representatives and convinced her to send money before admitting the fraud. In a separate case, another woman reported suspicious gift-card charges totaling over $78 connected to a man she was communicating with through a dating app, highlighting two common scam tactics: fake refund schemes and online romance fraud. The FTC warns consumers to verify company contact information independently rather than using numbers from unsolicited emails or texts, and to never send money to people met only online.
abc45.com
· 2026-09-19
The Burlington Police Department is warning residents about multiple scam types including fake customer service, jury duty impersonation, malware pop-ups, sweepstakes, romance, and NFC/ghost tapping scams. Police advise residents to verify requests directly with official sources, never provide remote access or banking information to unsolicited callers, and report suspicious activity to avoid becoming victims of these evolving fraud schemes.
en.sedaily.com
· 2026-09-19
A woman in her 30s lost 35 million won ($25,000) to a romance scammer who impersonated South Korean actor Lee Dong-wook over eight months, claiming to be in a romantic relationship with her and repeatedly requesting money for customs clearance fees for a supposed gift package. The scammer built trust by sending selfies, offering career advice, and expressing affection, while the victim wired money to multiple accounts with different account holder names. Romance scams in South Korea have surged 73% in reports and more than doubled in losses, reaching 136 billion won ($97 million) in 2024, according to police data.
wesh.com
· 2026-09-19
A Seminole County gas station owner and his employees have prevented over $100,000 in losses by intervening in Bitcoin ATM scams targeting Central Florida residents. Scammers use threats of arrest, deportation, or legal consequences to pressure victims into depositing money into Bitcoin machines with false promises that transactions can be reversed. Authorities warn that legitimate organizations never request payment via Bitcoin, and victims should contact police if they suspect fraud.
hometownnewstc.com
· 2026-09-19
Barbara Ann Baumgarten, 60, was arrested and charged with grand theft, exploitation, and neglect of an 84-year-old Port St. Lucie resident she cared for, after an investigation revealed she isolated the victim from family, gained control of his finances and legal affairs, and depleted his assets from approximately $106,000 to $4,900 between March 2023 and April 2024. She also obtained a $616,550 mortgage on her home with the victim listed as co-borrower without his knowledge. The victim was removed from her care, placed under temporary guardianship, and reunited with family.
hoodline.com
· 2026-09-19
A 40-year-old Chinese national from Queens, Hong Zhang, was arrested in Lakeville, Minnesota and jailed on $500,000 bail after allegedly collecting $670,000 in stolen cashier's checks from an elderly St. Paul man in a romance or financial fraud scheme. Investigators found over $2 million in uncashed checks, fraudulent identification documents, and multiple cellphones in Zhang's possession and connected residences, suggesting a larger operation involving multiple victims. Zhang was charged with felony theft by swindle and admitted to knowingly collecting cashier's checks not addressed to him while claiming he was picking up misdelivered packages.
cyberguy.com
· 2026-09-19
Criminals purchased Google and Bing sponsored search ads mimicking legitimate banks to redirect customers to fake login pages, stealing credentials to access real accounts and initiate unauthorized transfers; a Russian web developer was extradited for his role in the operation, which resulted in approximately $14.6 million in actual losses across at least 19 identified U.S. victims by December 2025. The FBI warns this "SEO poisoning" tactic is effective because fraudulent ads appear high in search results alongside legitimate ones, and recommends using bookmarks instead of clicking search results to access banking sites.
dexerto.com
· 2026-09-19
A 64-year-old Pennsylvania man lost $42,700 in March 2026 to a scammer impersonating WWE star Rhea Ripley, with few details available about how contact was made or the victim's persuasion. This incident is part of a broader pattern of celebrity impersonation scams targeting older adults, including a 2024 case where a 74-year-old lost nearly $1 million to someone posing as WWE star Alexa Bliss. No arrests have been made, and the victim has refused to cooperate with police investigating the fraud.
thenewsenterprise.com
· 2026-09-18
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2978, the GUARD Act, with a 414-7 vote to provide additional federal funding to state and local law enforcement agencies for protecting seniors from fraud schemes. Co-sponsored by Representatives Brett Guthrie of Kentucky and Zach Nunn of Iowa, the bill still requires Senate passage and presidential signature to become law.
cbsnews.com
· 2026-09-18
Priscilla Johnson, 33, pleaded guilty to defrauding a 90-year-old Colorado man out of $40,000 through a romance scam that began with grocery store encounters and involved false stories about a deceased fiancé and cancer treatment. Johnson is accused of running the same scam on multiple victims totaling nearly $500,000, including one man who was allegedly defrauded of $450,000 through a fake gold company investment scheme.
quiverquant.com
· 2026-09-18
The House passed H.R. 2978, the "GUARD Act," with bipartisan support (414-7) to expand federal grant funding for state and local law enforcement to combat elder fraud and financial scams targeting seniors. The bill includes reporting requirements for agencies using the funds, as it addresses an estimated $16 billion in fraud losses in 2025 alone. Support for the legislation comes from organizations including AARP, the National Police Association, and the National Sheriffs' Association.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2026-09-18
Senior Americans lost $7.7 billion to fraud in 2025, a 59% increase from the previous year, prompting Aura to launch Trusted Family Access, a consent-based monitoring tool that allows caregivers to track identity theft, financial fraud, and compromised personal information while preserving the older adult's privacy and control. Research shows 65% of aging adults experienced a scam or fraud attempt in the past year, with nearly half losing money or personal information, while 70% of middle-aged caregivers view protecting their elderly loved ones online as part of their caregiving responsibility. The new feature addresses AI-driven scams that are increasingly sophisticated, with 81% of caregivers
thesun.ng
· 2026-09-18
Access Bank Plc launched a "Spot The Scam" financial crimes awareness campaign targeting teenagers aged 12-16 in Nigeria, prompted by rising cases of young people becoming victims or perpetrators of fraud including romance scams, hacking, and money laundering. The initiative, running until December 2026, combines financial crime education with a debate competition for secondary schools in Lagos State, teaching youth to recognize manipulation, question suspicious requests, and seek help when encountering fraudulent activities. The campaign addresses common fraud methods targeting young people such as fake giveaways, celebrity impersonation, fake job offers, and investment scams.
independent.ng
· 2026-09-18
Access Bank launched the "Spot The Scam" nationwide awareness campaign targeting Nigerian teenagers and students aged 12-19 to combat growing exposure to digital fraud schemes including romance scams, hacking, and money laundering. The initiative, running until December 2026, was prompted by the EFCC's arrest of 792 young people in Lagos in December 2024 who were allegedly operating fraud schemes targeting victims outside Nigeria. The campaign aims to equip young people with practical knowledge to identify and protect themselves from financial crimes while building safer digital habits.
fox13news.com
· 2026-09-18
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier proposed legislation to strengthen penalties for phone and text scams, including those using artificial intelligence, fake warrants, and impersonation, classifying high-volume or high-loss cases as elevated felonies with mandatory prison time. The proposal aims to address gaps in current Florida law that often treats such crimes as misdemeanors with minimal punishment, while also targeting phone farms and SIM farms used in large-scale scam operations. The Attorney General's Office has recovered nearly $10 million for scam victims this year and is seeking broader authority to investigate and pursue civil penalties against scammers and businesses trafficking in illegally obtained records.
rolandgarros.com
· 2026-09-18
Fraudsters are creating fake websites offering Roland-Garros 2027 tickets, hospitality packages, and travel services before official ticket sales have opened, potentially leaving buyers with invalid tickets, non-delivery, inflated prices, or no recourse for refunds. The tournament warns that individual tickets for 2027 are not yet available and directs customers to purchase only through official channels: tickets.rolandgarros.com, hospitality.rolandgarros.com, and travel.rolandgarros.com. Scammers frequently change website URLs and designs to mimic official sites, so consumers should verify exact web addresses rather than relying on appearance alone.
Check/Cashier's Check
dallasobserver.com
· 2026-09-18
A Texas family of four was indicted for operating unlicensed boarding homes where they exploited elderly and disabled residents, including orchestrating the fraudulent sale of a 79-year-old woman's home and stealing over $156,000 that they misrepresented as a family gift to purchase their own property. The defendants face up to 30 years in federal prison on charges of conspiracy and making false statements to financial institutions. The case reflects a broader surge in elder fraud, with adults over 60 reporting 201,266 fraud complaints totaling $7.7 billion in losses last year, and AI-powered scams accounting for $900 million in reported losses.
news3lv.com
· 2026-09-18
Las Vegas Metro police are clarifying that reckless driving warning letters mailed to residents are legitimate notices that do not result in citations or points on driving records, while simultaneously warning of jury duty scams where fraudsters claim victims have warrants and pressure them to withdraw money immediately. Police advise residents to verify information independently by looking up official agency contact numbers rather than using numbers provided by callers, and to hang up if pressured for money.
nbcconnecticut.com
· 2026-09-18
A months-long investigation by Thomaston Police, with assistance from federal agencies, uncovered an elaborate fraud scheme involving a 31-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man charged with multiple counts of identity theft, forgery, larceny, and fraudulent use of payment cards. The investigation began after reports from Thomaston Savings Bank's Fraud Department and resulted in the arrests of both suspects, who face charges related to forgeries, identity thefts, impersonations, and unauthorized ATM use. The woman was released on a $100,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court.
attorneygeneral.gov
· 2026-09-18
Fourteen individuals, led by 27-year-old Savannah Sperduto of Philadelphia, were charged in a stolen check fraud scheme that netted approximately $170,000 in actual proceeds while attempting thefts exceeding $1 million across Pennsylvania. The conspiracy involved obtaining checks from individuals, school districts, and businesses, then forging and altering them before depositing or cashing them at multiple banks. The defendants face charges including corrupt organizations, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, forgery, theft, and identity theft.
kcra.com
· 2026-09-18
A national investigation found only 513 proven voter fraud cases since 2016 out of more than 685 million votes cast, representing less than 0.00008% of ballots and contradicting claims of widespread fraud. The cases were scattered across multiple states with no evidence of coordinated effort or systemic fraud schemes. Election experts note this rate is rarer than being struck by lightning and reflects the strength of U.S. voting systems compared to fraud observed in other countries.
dailymail.com
· 2026-09-18
Priscilla Johnson, 33, pleaded guilty to defrauding a 90-year-old man out of $40,000 after meeting him at a Colorado grocery store, claiming financial hardship and health emergencies to gain his trust and affection. Investigators have since launched additional charges against Johnson, alleging she systematically targeted multiple elderly men at the same store with similar sob stories, defrauding them of nearly half a million dollars combined. Johnson employed various tactics including claims about a deceased fiancé, stolen work equipment, cancer diagnosis requiring a kidney transplant, and false investment opportunities to manipulate her victims into giving her cash.
flvoicenews.com
· 2026-09-18
The House passed four bipartisan bills targeting senior fraud, including the GUARD Act (H.R. 2978) allowing state and local police to use federal grants to investigate elder financial fraud and "pig butchering" schemes involving cryptocurrency, which passed 414-7. Two additional bills would make permanent a Justice Department fraud division created under President Trump and require states to share records from federally funded programs like Medicaid with federal investigators to combat an estimated $245.7 billion in fraud since January 2025. All four bills now await Senate action.
goldrushcam.com
· 2026-09-18
Juliet Mora, a former Hayward resident, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy related to a $36 million transnational fraud scheme targeting over 400 elderly American victims. The scheme involved fraudsters impersonating attorneys offering restitution to timeshare owners and fraud victims, collecting fees through fake agreements, and laundering money through shell companies and U.S. bank accounts. Mora, who operated from Nicaragua as an organizer directing co-conspirators, received and laundered approximately $1.57 million in victim funds before her arrest in December 2025.
newsmobile.in
· 2026-09-18
A Friendswood, Texas woman lost approximately $185,000 in gold bars after scammers impersonating federal agents claimed her Social Security information was compromised and instructed her to convert assets into gold for protection. The alleged courier, Rajdeep Singh from California, was arrested on September 16 and charged with theft, with investigators suspecting he targeted multiple victims in the Houston area. Authorities warn that legitimate law enforcement and financial institutions never request purchases of gold, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to protect assets or prevent arrest.
valdostatoday.com
· 2026-09-18
Ogechi Urenna Udunka of Decatur, Georgia was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in laundering $158,000 stolen through a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam targeting an agricultural company. The scam occurred when criminals sent fraudulent emails impersonating an Oregon seed company, tricking the victim into wiring funds that Udunka then received and disbursed to conceal their origin. Udunka was ordered to pay full restitution and perform 200 hours of community service.
yahoo.com
· 2026-09-18
In 2025, seniors lost over $160 million to scams, prompting the FBI Cleveland office to establish a dedicated team focused on recovering stolen funds from elder fraud victims. The scam targeting elderly individuals represents a significant financial threat to this vulnerable population.
ground.news
· 2026-09-18
The FBI received nearly 61,000 complaints of law enforcement and government impersonation scams between January 2025 and July 2026, resulting in losses exceeding $1.6 billion. Scammers use unsolicited phone calls, threats of arrest, fake uniforms, mock government offices, and video calls to convince victims to surrender money or personal information. The con artists impersonate police officers, judges, and other government officials to extort payments from their targets.
hoodline.com
· 2026-09-17
Samuel Turner, a 42-year-old from Science Hill, Kentucky, was convicted by federal jury on four wire-fraud counts for illegally accessing an elderly relative's bank accounts and credit cards, including cashing out a certificate of deposit valued at more than $35,000. The conviction followed three hours of jury deliberation, with sentencing to be determined at a later court appearance. This case highlights the ongoing problem of financial exploitation of seniors, as people over 60 reported more than $3.4 billion in losses to internet crimes in 2023 alone.
Wire Transfer
Cash
thecyberexpress.com
· 2026-09-17
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan GUARD Act on September 15, 2026, legislation designed to combat elder financial fraud and cryptocurrency investment scams by providing state, local, and Tribal law enforcement with additional resources, training, and blockchain tracing tools. The bill addresses the growing problem of "pig butchering" crypto scams and other financial crimes, with FBI data showing $20.9 billion in total internet crime losses in 2025, including $11.37 billion in cryptocurrency-related losses. The legislation now advances to the Senate and has garnered support from organizations including AARP, the Iowa State Police Association, and various financial and consumer protection groups.
cyberguy.com
· 2026-09-17
A 75-year-old South Carolina man with Parkinson's disease and a brain injury had his home transferred to his caregiver via quitclaim deed for $5, along with significant unauthorized bank transfers, after the caregiver obtained power of attorney and allegedly isolated him from family. This case of alleged elder financial exploitation highlights the risks of undue influence and coercion targeting vulnerable seniors, where a caregiver exploited the victim's cognitive decline. The FBI warns that such quitclaim deed fraud can involve forged documents or manipulation by close associates, and recommends families monitor property records and enroll in free county title alerts to detect suspicious ownership changes early.
yahoo.com
· 2026-09-17
Ohio seniors lost over $160 million to fraud in 2025, with an average loss of $20,000 per victim, according to FBI data. Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence, including voice imitation technology, alongside traditional methods like investment schemes, phishing emails, and impersonation of government agencies and tech companies. Many of these transnational scams originate in Southeast Asia, India, and Africa, with cryptocurrency schemes being particularly prevalent.
yahoo.com
· 2026-09-17
Five alleged leaders of the Black Axe organization were extradited from South Africa to the United States in September 2024 to face charges related to years of online romance scams, advance fee schemes, and money laundering spanning 2011-2021. The conspirators used fake identities on dating websites and social media to target U.S. victims with fabricated stories—such as romantic partners stranded in South Africa needing money—and pressured victims to send cash, electronics, and personal information, with some victims coerced through threats to distribute sensitive photographs. The scheme involved laundering proceeds through U.S. bank accounts controlled by victims and shell companies before transferring funds to South Africa.
macaudailytimes.com.mo
· 2026-09-17
This article examines Macau's safety paradox, noting conflicting safety rankings—Kakapo's study placed it 89th globally while Numbeo ranked it 5th—despite government statistics showing declining overall crime rates and very low violent crime. However, financial crimes remain a significant concern, with fraud cases totaling 1,006 in the first half of 2026 (down 10.8% but still substantial), including investment scams, official impersonation, and romance scams causing "high financial losses," alongside a troubling 12.2% rise in gambling-related cases. The article cautions that low violent crime rates should not mask the real financial harm documented in Macau
gazettengr.com
· 2026-09-17
The FBI secured the extradition of 235 fraudsters from Nigeria and other countries, representing a 60 percent increase in fugitive returns, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Notable cases include Samuel Ugberease, extradited in May 2024 for romance scams and wire fraud, and two Nigerian "Yahoo Boys" extradited in August 2024 for child exploitation and sextortion. The FBI's intensified international collaboration, including over 100 calls to foreign partners, has significantly increased the prosecution of internet fraudsters in the United States.
nationthailand.com
· 2026-09-17
Two US House committee chairmen requested the Trump administration investigate 28 people and entities, including Thai financier Vorapak Tanyawong, for possible sanctions over alleged links to Southeast Asian scam operations. The lawmakers attribute growing American financial losses to Chinese criminal organizations operating industrial-scale scam compounds in Southeast Asia that exploit approximately 400,000 trafficking victims forced to commit cryptocurrency fraud, romance scams, and other schemes. They estimate cyber-scam profits in the Mekong subregion equaled nearly 40% of combined formal GDP in 2024, with scam operations allegedly protected by corrupt officials in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.
news.tuoitre.vn
· 2026-09-17
A transnational fraud ring operating from Laos defrauded thousands of Vietnamese victims of approximately $57.7 million through a scheme involving fake Facebook accounts and bogus e-commerce websites promising commission payments. Police arrested 91 suspects (64 Vietnamese nationals and 27 foreigners) on September 12 following a coordinated raid by Vietnamese and Laotian authorities in Bokeo Province. The operation, which ran from early 2025 until its shutdown, lured victims by building trust on social media before redirecting them to fraudulent shopping task websites to steal their money.
wect.com
· 2026-09-17
Scammers in North Carolina are posing as police officers and court personnel to target domestic violence survivors, using public court records to create convincing stories and demanding immediate phone payments for bond, protective orders, and electronic monitoring. These callers exploit vulnerable victims by falsifying urgency and falsely claiming that legal services require fees, when in fact domestic violence protective orders and support services are always free. State officials urge victims to hang up on such calls and contact local law enforcement or the North Carolina Consumer Protection Division.
firstalert4.com
· 2026-09-17
Christopher Gibbon, 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for his role in a Jamaican lottery scam that defrauded at least four victims of approximately $96,302 between December 2016 and July 2018. The scheme involved co-conspirators in Jamaica calling victims claiming they won the lottery and needed to send taxes and fees to Gibbon before collecting their prizes, with Gibbon keeping 20% of the money before transferring the rest to Jamaica. Gibbon fled St. Louis in 2018 after learning of the investigation and was arrested in Connecticut in 2025, with sentencing scheduled for December 21.
wral.com
· 2026-09-17
A Durham woman lost nearly $2,000 to scammers impersonating sheriff's deputies who claimed she had missed jury duty and owed bail for three arrest warrants. The fraudsters used personal information about the victim and created urgency through fake legal documents and intimidating language to convince her to wire money. This jury duty scam is among hundreds reported across central North Carolina in 2026, with law enforcement agencies documenting over 100 similar complaints in the Triangle area alone.
bbc.com
· 2026-09-17
Scammers impersonated Kent Police officers in phone calls to multiple victims on Wednesday, attempting to obtain personal information that could be used for financial fraud. The criminals spoofed police phone numbers to appear legitimate while targeting residents. Kent Police advised the public never to provide personal or banking information in response to unsolicited calls and urged victims to report the incidents to the police or Report Fraud.
ic3.gov
· 2026-09-17
Between January 2025 and July 2026, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 61,000 complaints of law enforcement and government impersonation scams resulting in over $1.6 billion in losses. Scammers contact victims via phone, email, and text using spoofed official numbers and credentials to make urgent threats of legal consequences, demanding payment through prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, bank wires, or cash. Targeted victims include the general public, medical professionals threatened with license revocation, and foreign nationals threatened with extradition, with specialized schemes against these groups resulting in hundreds of millions in additional losses.
abc7.com
· 2026-09-17
Siddharth Jawahar, a Texas-based investment adviser, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for running a Ponzi scheme through his company Swiftarc Capital LLC that defrauded NFL star Travis Kelce and other investors of over $35 million beginning in 2015. Jawahar falsely claimed investors were making profits while consolidating 99% of client funds into a single failing investment, then used the money for personal luxury expenses and to pay earlier investors. He was ordered to pay $31.35 million in restitution to victims.
abc7.com
· 2026-09-17
A New Jersey social media influencer exposed a sophisticated arrest warrant scam in which callers impersonated Bergen County Sheriff's Office personnel and used personal information to convince victims to pay cash bail to avoid arrest. The scammers used fake arrest warrants, involved multiple callers to appear credible, and redirected victims to federal credit unions instead of the sheriff's office when suspicion arose. Law enforcement estimates the operation has stolen approximately $500,000 over four to five years and believe the scheme may be coordinated by an inmate in Georgia with outside accomplices.
wnky.com
· 2026-09-17
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2978, the GUARD Act, by a vote of 414-7, legislation cosponsored by Congressman Brett Guthrie that provides additional federal funding to law enforcement agencies to combat elder fraud and financial scams targeting seniors. The bill would enable law enforcement to use existing federal grant programs to hire and train officers dedicated to countering fraud schemes such as relationship scams, phishing, and confidence schemes, with requirements for agencies to report on implementation. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost nearly $16 billion in reported fraud schemes in 2025, with estimates suggesting actual losses exceed $190 billion when accounting for unreported schemes.
fox40.com
· 2026-09-17
A family in Placer County was defrauded of $12,000 after purchasing a stolen vehicle from three brothers—Gabi, Ionut, and Marius Tanase—who operated a vehicle scam scheme in May. The scam involved the suspects posing as buyers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, then tampering with vehicles by adding oil to create false mechanical problems during test drives. The brothers pleaded guilty to vehicle fraud and elder fraud charges, and authorities recovered the $12,000 and returned it to the victims along with seizing $33,000 in additional evidence.