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NBC New York
· 2024-02-16
The FBI issued a warning about online romance scams, reporting that in 2022 alone it received 19,000 complaints totaling $740 million in losses. Scammers troll social media and dating sites to build trust with victims before fabricating emergencies to solicit money, with seniors being of particular concern due to isolation and fixed incomes. The FBI recommends limiting personal information shared online, using established dating platforms, and being cautious of matches who avoid meeting in person or pressure you to communicate exclusively online.
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WCNC
· 2024-02-17
A Hickory, North Carolina woman fell victim to a romance scam in 2022 after being contacted by a man posing as someone in Africa on LinkedIn, who gradually built trust through emotional manipulation before requesting money for medical expenses. North Carolina ranks ninth nationally for romance scams, with 4,422 victims losing $18 million in 2022, while Americans overall lost over $1 billion to such schemes that year, with scammers increasingly using AI, deepfakes, and voice cloning to deceive victims.
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KVUE
· 2024-02-19
Romance scams typically begin online through dating platforms, social media, or messaging apps, with scammers' goal being financial gain. Red flags include declarations of love very quickly, elaborate backstories (such as working in oil/gas or military deployment) to explain communication gaps, and reluctance to video chat; scammers may spend months or even years building trust before requesting money. People should recognize these warning signs early to avoid becoming victims of these prevalent scams.
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LastWeekTonight
· 2024-02-29
**Pig Butchering Scams Overview**
"Pig Butchering" is a romance/investment scam that typically begins with unsolicited text messages appearing to be sent to the wrong person, establishing false familiarity and trust. Scammers then gradually build relationships with victims and persuade them to invest money in fraudulent cryptocurrency or trading schemes, often resulting in significant financial losses. The scam gets its name from the process of cultivating ("fattening") victims before extracting ("butchering") their money.
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KFYR-TV
· 2024-02-29
An AARP North Dakota volunteer discusses romance scams and their warning signs, noting that while romance scams affect people of all ages, older adults—particularly those over 70—suffer the largest monetary losses because they typically have greater savings accumulated over their working years. The primary red flag for romance scams is when an unknown person quickly asks for money, such as requesting payment for gift cards or other financial transfers.
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WHNT News 19
· 2024-03-02
**Romance Scams: Protection Advice**
Romance scams, where online dating contacts request money, gift cards, or wire transfers, are on the rise according to the Better Business Bureau, with median losses increasing from $900 in 2021 to higher amounts by 2022. Scammers use emotional manipulation tactics like "love bombing" followed by fabricated emergencies (health issues, family deaths) to pressure victims into sending money, and elderly individuals should be particularly cautious. To protect yourself, avoid sending money through gift cards or wire transfers, never share credit card or banking information, and be skeptical of online contacts who quickly request financial assistance.
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8 News Now — Las Vegas
· 2024-03-01
Multiple women have accused Las Vegas reality TV star Liel Birch (also known as "Mocha Blast") of romance scamming them after initiating contact via Facebook with charming messages and promises of monogamous relationships. Birch, who appeared on the show "Life After Lockup," allegedly deceived these women out of money; the investigation emerged following a 2023 incident in which he fatally shot a man during a live YouTube interview, which prosecutors ruled self-defense in a love triangle dispute.
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WION
· 2024-03-02
Multiple women have fallen victim to Facebook dating scams using the stolen identity of Danish doctor Christian Bing, including a 70-year-old woman from rural Missouri and a Ukrainian woman who left her home after being targeted. Scammers create fake profiles impersonating Bing across social media platforms and dating apps, and the real Bing has accused Meta of failing to remove these fraudulent accounts and called for stronger verification methods to prevent identity theft-based romance fraud.
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CityNews
· 2024-03-05
Fraudulent activity in Canada increased 133% in 2023, with common scams including Interac e-Transfer fraud, job scams, fake credit card transaction calls, and fraudulent Canada Post delivery messages that are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Those aged 18-24 are more vulnerable to online scams, while people over 45 are more susceptible to email and phone call fraud, with women reporting scams more frequently than men. The scams vary seasonally, with fraudsters adapting their tactics throughout the year.
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ABC11
· 2024-03-08
Scammers are stealing photographs and videos of U.S. military service members to create fake online dating profiles and romance scam victims out of thousands of dollars. An Air Force flight chief reports being contacted by one to three women weekly who believed they were in romantic relationships with him, when criminals were actually impersonating him using his stolen images and fabricated backstories about military service and family hardship. The affected service members say they are unable to stop scammers from repeatedly using their identities despite efforts to report the fraud.
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WION
· 2024-03-10
**Pig Butchering Scam Overview**
Pig butchering scams are a type of cryptocurrency investment fraud that targets victims globally through emotional manipulation and deceptive investment schemes. Scammers pose as romantic interests or long-lost friends on dating platforms to build trust, then convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency trading platforms controlled by the fraudsters, resulting in significant financial losses such as the $450,000 stolen from victim Shrea through an imposter posing as a French wine trader.
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NewsNation
· 2024-03-18
"Pig butchering" scams are on the rise, with Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel and other organized crime groups using artificial intelligence, large language models, and cryptocurrencies to execute sophisticated fraud campaigns. Hundreds of victims have been lured through social media and messaging apps, with some trafficked and forced to commit fraud; the scam typically begins with a random contact offering investment opportunities before the victim is manipulated into sending money. These AI-enabled financial crimes and human trafficking schemes are expanding globally across European, Asian, and African criminal organizations.
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News 19 WLTX
· 2024-03-21
The FBI warned South Carolinians about romance scams after 277 victims lost over $11 million in the previous year, though only 29 cases were reported to the State Department of Consumer Affairs. One victim, Sandra Sheely, was contacted on Facebook by a scammer who developed a fabricated relationship using photos and videos before defrauding her, and she continues working to repay the losses. The FBI emphasized the need for increased reporting of romance and confidence fraud, which are becoming an increasing threat in South Carolina.
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KPAX-TV
· 2024-03-21
Montana's Commissioner of Securities and Insurance is conducting community education on scams targeting seniors, who are particularly vulnerable because they typically have accumulated more wealth through paid-off homes and mature investments. The office has identified a rising trend of "pig butchering" schemes—a cryptocurrency-based variation of romance scams where scammers initiate contact through text messages, social media, or dating apps, build a relationship, and then solicit money or fraudulent investment advice, resulting in significant financial losses.
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Firstpost
· 2024-03-28
Global cybercrime costs approximately $3 trillion annually, with Southeast Asia emerging as a major hub according to Interpol; cryptocurrency-related scams represent a significant portion of these losses, particularly "pig butchering" schemes where scammers build relationships with victims to convince them to invest in crypto. These romance-based confidence scams often involve foreign nationals who have themselves been kidnapped and coerced by cyber gangs to participate in the fraud. The key warning sign is unsolicited contact from strangers promoting cryptocurrency investment opportunities.
Cryptocurrency
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ABC News
· 2024-04-05
Officials in New York seized nearly two dozen web domains from IP addresses in China used to conduct "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, which operate across multiple states including California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Scammers use dating apps and group chats to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes that appear to generate returns, then steal their money; reported losses include $16,000 and $118,000 from individual victims in Brooklyn.
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WRAL
· 2024-04-18
An NC State University student lost approximately $41,000 USD (300,000 yuan) after falling victim to a global dating agency scam that began with contact through a dating app. The scam followed a typical pattern where fraudsters moved the conversation to encrypted messaging services and convinced the victim to make multiple bank transfers; federal authorities became involved after the student's family reported concerning behavioral changes during a welfare check in April. Experts note that these types of romance and dating agency scams are becoming increasingly common, with professional criminal organizations using established playbooks to manipulate victims.
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CBS Boston
· 2024-04-22
A Townsend, Massachusetts woman was defrauded by romance scammers posing as actor Christoph Waltz, who convinced her to send money. On the same day she reported the fraud to police, her husband Paul became unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital; she was subsequently investigated as a suspect in his alleged attempted murder. The case highlights how romance scammers use sophisticated scripts to build trust with vulnerable targets before exploiting them financially.
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CBS Philadelphia
· 2024-04-22
The FBI warns that romance scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often operating as organized crime rings who exploit dating app users through emotional manipulation and financial schemes. A victim in her mid-40s with a PhD was targeted by a scammer posing as a successful finance professional named "Evan," who built deep trust over weeks of communication before convincing her to borrow from her 401(k) and invest in cryptocurrency, claiming it would help pay off her student loans. Beyond financial losses, these scams cause significant psychological harm, leaving victims feeling heartbroken, depressed, and ashamed.
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CBS Mornings
· 2024-04-23
Online romance scams are costing victims over $1 billion annually—double the amount from four years prior—affecting people of all ages and genders, not just retirees. The article highlights a new twist where scammers employ victims as "money mules" and features the case of Laura Cole, a 57-year-old retired healthcare executive and widow, who fell victim to a romance scammer she met entirely online and over the phone, losing her life savings. Shame and embarrassment cause many victims to go unreported, likely making actual fraud numbers significantly higher than official statistics.
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WJZ
· 2024-04-22
Romance scams are crimes where scammers court unsuspecting victims online to deceive them into sending large sums of money. A CBS News investigation featured a victim who, after her husband's death in 2021, joined a dating site and was contacted by a man posing as a European engineer; within a month, the scammer created an emergency to manipulate her into sending money. The key to prevention is being cautious, conducting fact-finding to verify someone's legitimacy, and recognizing warning signs when new romantic interests suddenly request financial assistance.
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CBS Evening News
· 2024-04-22
A 57-year-old widowed healthcare executive from Illinois lost $1.5 million in a romance scam after meeting a man posing as a Swedish businessman on Match.com; the scammer used stolen photos of a Chilean doctor and manipulated her emotionally over an extended period. The case, investigated by CBS News, illustrates a growing threat affecting tens of thousands of Americans, with romance scammers defrauding over 64,000 people of more than $1 billion annually. The victim's daughter is seeking answers and working with law enforcement to understand how her mother fell victim to the sophisticated scam.
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CBS News
· 2024-04-23
A 57-year-old retired healthcare executive from Illinois was defrauded of her life savings through a romance scam after meeting a man posing as a Swedish businessman on Match.com; the scammer used stolen photos of a Chilean doctor and manipulated her emotionally over an extended period. The case highlights a growing epidemic of romance scams in the United States, with 64,000 Americans losing over $1 billion to such scams in the previous year—more than double the $500 million lost four years prior. The victim's daughter is seeking answers from law enforcement about the circumstances surrounding her mother's death in connection to the fraud.
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CBS Chicago
· 2024-04-23
Romance scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence technology to create fake videos and images of themselves to deceive victims into sending money, a trend that experts warn will only worsen as the technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated. AI-generated content, including deepfake videos that cost as little as $2 to produce, makes it increasingly difficult for victims to distinguish real from fake interactions online. The scam leaves victims with significant financial losses and emotional trauma as perpetrators build false romantic relationships to exploit their targets.
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CBS News
· 2024-04-24
An Illinois woman, Laura Coall, lost $1.5 million in a romance scam and was later found dead in the Mississippi River; her daughter discovered that Laura had been coerced into becoming a "money mule" for the scammers, laundering stolen funds through her accounts. This tactic has become increasingly common among romance scam perpetrators, who manipulate victims so deeply that they unwillingly participate in money laundering and other crimes, often without initially realizing they are committing felonies. Federal agents have issued warnings about this evolution in romance scams, where victims are exploited beyond financial loss to become unwitting accomplices in criminal activity.
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CBS Mornings
· 2024-04-24
A CBS News investigation found that dating apps have become major venues for romance scams, which cost tens of thousands of Americans over $1 billion annually. One victim, Laura Coall, was defrauded of $1.5 million by a scammer posing as a romantic partner on Match.com, and the FBI reports that scammers are increasingly using dating platforms to expand their reach, with more than half of dating app users reporting they believe they've been targeted.
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WENY TV NEWS
· 2024-04-25
This is an educational interview featuring Sheila Brewer-Montero, a scams prevention coordinator from Lifespan of Greater Rochester, discussing fraud schemes targeting older adults. The conversation introduces the top scams affecting seniors in the Southern Tier area, with government impersonator scams (Social Security Administration and IRS) identified as a primary threat, though the full details of prevention strategies and other scam types are cut off in the provided transcript.
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CBS Evening News
· 2024-04-25
Online romance scams cost victims over $1 billion annually, yet U.S. law enforcement struggles to combat them due to limited resources and the difficulty of pursuing scammers operating overseas, primarily in Nigeria and Ghana. The case of Laura Coal, a widowed mother who was scammed out of $1.5 million on Match.com and subsequently died by suicide, illustrates the severe consequences of these schemes. Law enforcement officials acknowledge they lack adequate funding and investigative capacity to address the rapidly accelerating problem, which is further complicated by scammers' use of artificial intelligence technology.
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13News Now
· 2024-04-27
The Norfolk FBI has issued a warning about the rising trend of cryptocurrency scams in the Hampton Roads region, where victims are tricked into sending thousands of dollars to purchase cryptocurrency or fake crypto investments. The FBI characterizes these schemes as "old tricks with a new look"—traditional fraud methods now facilitated through digital currency—with three common types including ransomware attacks, investment scams, and romance/advance-fee schemes. Victims can lose their life savings to these frauds, which are being reported with increasing frequency in the area.
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ABC News (Australia)
· 2024-04-29
A scam text impersonating HSBC Bank led Jenny's family to lose nearly $140,000 in life savings after criminals tricked them into revealing bank details. Record numbers of scams were reported in Australia last year, with losses totaling $2.7 billion and people over 65 most heavily targeted, though authorities note some progress through improved bank coordination and action. Consumer groups argue that meaningful industry obligations and victim compensation requirements are necessary to significantly reduce ongoing losses, facing resistance from banks on the compensation issue.
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CBS News
· 2024-04-29
**Romance Scam Epidemic**
CBS News investigated a national epidemic of romance scams involving victims who are manipulated into emotional relationships with scammers over dating sites, sometimes in as little as 12 days, resulting in financial losses totaling approximately one billion dollars. The investigation documented tragic cases where victims lost not only money but also their lives, including an Illinois woman whose death raised questions about whether she had been coerced into working for the scammers. Romance scams rob families of far more than financial resources, causing devastating emotional and psychological harm to victims and their loved ones.
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WSB-TV
· 2024-05-01
This educational piece explains how cybercriminals operate at scale, with millions of attackers conducting billions of daily cyberattacks targeting retailers, governments, hospitals, banks, and individuals. Cyber threat researcher Willis McDonald describes how malware and ransomware are sold as subscription services on criminal marketplaces—a multibillion-dollar industry in the U.S. alone—enabling hackers to easily launch attacks through malicious links and collect personal information like usernames and passwords.
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CBS News
· 2024-05-01
A CBS News investigation explored romance scams targeting vulnerable adults on dating platforms. The report featured the case of Laura Coal, a 57-year-old retired hospital executive who fell victim to a scammer posing as "Frank," a Swedish businessman with a fake profile photo on Match.com; within days of initial contact, she professed deep emotional attachment to someone she had never met in person. The story illustrates how lonely individuals seeking companionship can be manipulated by sophisticated scammers who exploit emotional vulnerabilities through online dating platforms.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2024-05-02
Tracy Davidson was contacted via social media in late February by a man posing as "James Williams," a military orthopedic surgeon working for the United Nations in Syria, who quickly professed romantic feelings and attempted to build trust by sharing personal details and photos. This case exemplifies a classic romance scam romance scams follow predictable scripts designed to earn victims' trust before eventually requesting money. The Secret Service investigative analyst confirms these scams are prevalent and typically escalate from relationship-building to financial exploitation.
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FOX NASHVILLE
· 2024-05-04
Romance scams are targeting hundreds of people in Middle Tennessee, with scammers building trust through daily messaging on platforms like LinkedIn before directing victims to invest money in fraudulent schemes involving gold trading, banking, finance, and cryptocurrency. Once victims send money to these scammers, recovery is nearly impossible. The schemes typically involve scammers posing as trustworthy individuals from overseas who gradually shift conversations from personal matters to investment opportunities.
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WLOS News 13
· 2024-05-04
According to an FBI report, elder fraud targeting people aged 60 and older increased by 14% in 2023, resulting in over $3 billion in losses with an average victim loss of $33,900. The five most common fraud types against seniors include personal data breaches, confidence and romance scams, non-payment or non-delivery scams, and investment scams, with non-payment scams being particularly prevalent in the Asheville area, where the police department received 48 elder abuse or fraud cases from Adult Protective Services in the year to date.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2024-05-06
According to an FBI report, Florida seniors over age 60 lost more than $290 million to fraud in 2023, ranking the state second worst in the nation, with scams targeting this age group increasing 11% from 2022 and averaging nearly $34,000 per victim. The most common fraud schemes include investment scams, fake tech support, online romance scams, and law enforcement impersonation schemes, with many cases going unreported due to victim shame.
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This Morning
· 2024-05-10
Becky Holmes began exposing romance scammers in 2020 after receiving suspicious messages from fake profiles on social media, turning her interactions with catfish into humorous content that gained thousands of followers and led to a published book titled "Kiana Reeves is Not in Love with You." The article features Holmes discussing her anti-scam mission and sharing warning signs to help others identify romance scams.
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CBC News
· 2024-05-24
Job offer scams are being distributed via text message to numerous recipients, with scammers posing as recruiters offering high-paying or flexible work-from-home positions and directing victims to messaging apps like WhatsApp. Toronto Star reporter Alex Boyd investigated these scams by responding to multiple unsolicited job offers to understand what scammers gain from the interaction and how the scheme operates. The article highlights this as a widespread fraud targeting mobile phone users who receive these deceptive recruitment messages.
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CBC British Columbia
· 2024-06-01
Romance scams are among the most prevalent fraud schemes, with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reporting 945 victims lost over $50 million in 2023, though actual losses are likely higher due to underreporting. Private investigator Suzanne Edmonson notes that romance scams have evolved significantly over 20 years, with scammers increasingly using AI technology to impersonate victims via video calls and other methods, making traditional protective measures less effective. Men are particularly underrepresented in reported cases, suggesting the true scope of romance fraud victimization extends beyond official statistics.
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wgaltv
· 2024-06-03
Romance scams in the Susquehanna Valley have claimed multiple victims, including a 53-year-old Lebanon County man who lost over $10,000 communicating with females online, and a woman who lost $40,000. A previous victim, Mark Heath, lost $165,000 in a romance scam and now warns others that scammers often target vulnerable populations such as widows and widowers. Key protective measures include monitoring online communications of single individuals and being alert to scammers who quickly express financial need.
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10 Tampa Bay News
· 2024-06-05
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 556 into law to protect seniors and vulnerable adults from scams, which allows banks to delay money transfers if employees suspect fraud is occurring. The legislation addresses a rising problem in senior communities, including romance scams, tech support scams, and sweepstakes fraud that have financially drained many elderly residents. The law empowers financial institutions to intervene and potentially prevent losses before money leaves accounts.
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WFMY News 2
· 2024-06-06
This is an educational transcript from AARP discussing fraud prevention resources and best practices. Mark Hensley and David Kirkman from AARP explain that AARP membership is available to anyone 21 and older (not just retirees), and highlight the organization's free Fraud Watch Network, which offers extensive videos and information about scams. They also recommend security software like Norton for phones and emphasize the importance of protecting personal information and identity online.
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wgaltv
· 2024-06-11
Romance scams have reached epidemic proportions, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting billions of dollars stolen from victims in the past year. Scammers target vulnerable individuals, particularly widows and widowers, by establishing emotional connections on social media before requesting money for cryptocurrency investments or fabricated emergencies, with victims in one region alone losing amounts exceeding $40,000. The FTC advises family members to monitor the online activities of recently bereaved loved ones to help prevent victimization.
Cryptocurrency
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WTRF
· 2024-06-17
Elder fraud is rising, with elderly victims increasingly targeted through phone, email, and romance scams in which scammers pose as romantic partners to convince victims to send money for purported investments. US Attorney William Enfeld notes that victims often resist intervention even from bank officials and law enforcement, as they believe the relationships are genuine and are emotionally invested. Early reporting to the US Attorney's office is critical, especially for victims experiencing cognitive decline, to prevent complete depletion of savings.
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WCNC
· 2024-06-25
A former romance scammer from Nigeria who operated between 2016-2021, earning over $70,000, revealed his tactics to a news organization—targeting primarily single parents on dating apps through excessive compliments, emotional manipulation, and appeals to financial need (such as claiming inability to afford medicine). Last year, over 64,000 Americans lost more than $1 billion to romance scams, with North Carolina ranking 10th in losses; the scammer now works as a consultant for an identity verification company to help expose these schemes.
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wgaltv
· 2024-06-30
Romance scammers are creating fake profiles on dating apps while posing as military members, exploiting people's patriotism by using stolen photos and names of real service members. To protect yourself, use reverse image searches on profile pictures, search names online with terms like "scam" or "imposter," and be wary of anyone quickly requesting money for investments, travel costs, or payments via gift cards, payment apps, or cryptocurrency.
Cryptocurrency
Gift Cards
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CNBC Ambition
· 2024-07-05
In 2007, Dr. Patrick Bray, a former Navy doctor practicing in Cleveland, Ohio, was contacted by fundraisers claiming to represent the "US Navy Veterans Association" seeking donations for care packages and veteran support; he donated $300 based on the military-affiliated charity name. The article suggests this was a fraudulent charity scheme, part of a broader pattern of scams targeting individuals with military connections and patriotic appeals.
Bank Transfer
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12 News
· 2024-07-08
Americans lost over $1 billion to romance scams last year, with many Arizona residents targeted. The three most prevalent romance scam tactics involve deepfake video calls using face-swapping technology (employed by Nigerian crime groups), cryptocurrency investment schemes that promise high returns once trust is established, and celebrity deepfakes using artificial intelligence. Victims can protect themselves by watching for unnatural video call indicators like inconsistent blinking, mismatched skin tones, and words not synchronizing with mouth movements.
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WCBD NEWS 2
· 2024-07-09
The City of Charleston is hosting educational workshops to protect seniors from phone and online scams, which generate $36 billion annually in the United States with older adults as primary targets. The initiative focuses on teaching seniors to recognize common scams—such as lottery/prize winnings requiring upfront payments—and know what steps to take if targeted, as demonstrated by one senior who avoided losing money to a fake lottery scheme promising half a million dollars.
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WCBD NEWS 2
· 2024-07-09
The City of Charleston is working to protect senior citizens from phone and online scams through educational workshops that teach seniors to recognize common fraud tactics and warning signs. Scams targeting elderly people cost the United States $36 billion annually, with seniors being particularly vulnerable due to their trusting nature; the city's initiative focuses on raising awareness about scam types and advising victims on appropriate responses.
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CBC News
· 2024-07-11
This article is about dating trends and is **not relevant to elder fraud research**. It discusses why people are moving away from online dating apps in favor of in-person speed dating events, with participants citing burnout and inauthenticity as reasons for the shift. This content does not involve scams, fraud, or elder abuse and should not be included in the Elderus database.
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KRQE
· 2024-07-17
This New Mexico news podcast episode features an educational discussion on avoiding financial scams, hosted by Gabrielle Burkhart with guest Brian Watson, a former federal law enforcement officer who spent 28 years investigating financial crimes, including work as an IRS criminal investigator. The segment addresses how scams—particularly phishing and online fraud—affect people across demographics, including older adults, and aims to help listeners and their families recognize red flags and protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams.
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KOAA 5
· 2024-07-18
Seniors are increasingly vulnerable to scams delivered through suspicious texts and calls, with police noting that the high volume of daily attempts contributes to successful fraud. Some seniors have lost their entire savings to scams impersonating Microsoft, banks, law enforcement, and retailers like Amazon, with loneliness and a generational tendency to trust authority figures making older adults particularly susceptible to manipulation.
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CTV News
· 2024-07-25
A victim in Canada was defrauded of $14,000 after a four-year romance scam involving a man she met in person twice on a dating site who posed as a wealthy hedge fund manager before soliciting her for a fake investment opportunity. Romance scams are the third most common fraud affecting Canadians, with victims losing $52 million in 2023 and another $23 million already lost in the current year.
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CBS News
· 2024-07-31
Romance scams have become a national epidemic affecting victims across the country, with CBS News investigating a billion-dollar online fraud operation. The report features the tragic case of an Illinois woman who fell victim to a romance scam, developing an intense emotional attachment to a scammer in just 12 days, which ultimately had devastating consequences for her family. These scams exploit the emotional vulnerabilities of victims—often causing psychological harm and financial devastation that extends far beyond monetary losses.
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WGN News
· 2024-07-31
A Chicago widow lost over $100,000 in an online romance scam after meeting a man named "Gregory" on a dating site who gradually requested increasing amounts of money under various pretexts, eventually stopping contact once she ceased sending funds. The victim, living on a fixed income, cashed out an annuity to meet his escalating demands despite growing suspicions, driven by fear of losing the promised relationship and money. The case highlights how romance scams—which reported nearly 1.3 billion in losses nationally in 2022—use emotional manipulation and increasingly sophisticated AI-altered photos and videos to deceive victims, with arrests remaining rare and funds rarely recovered.
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Newzroom Afrika
· 2024-08-01
Romance scams exploit psychological vulnerabilities rooted in unprocessed emotional experiences and defense mechanisms that people carry from their past. A case study involving someone who met a person on Tinder and lost over half a million Rand illustrates how scammers manipulate victims by targeting these subconscious vulnerabilities. Clinical experts emphasize that awareness alone is insufficient; understanding the psychological factors that make individuals susceptible to romance fraud is essential for prevention.
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Newzroom Afrika
· 2024-08-05
Law enforcement has reported a rise in romance scams targeting unsuspected women seeking love online through dating apps like Tinder. Scammers build relationships with victims through messaging and video calls, providing false information about themselves and their origins, before eventually requesting money. Victims have come forward to share their experiences of being financially exploited through these deceptive romantic schemes.
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VICE
· 2024-08-05
A Northern Irish digital marketing entrepreneur discovered that scammers had created dozens of fake profiles impersonating him across multiple social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Bumble, Tinder, and others) using his photos and personal information to deceive people. After investigating the fraudulent accounts, he uncovered a larger criminal enterprise operating the identity theft and catfishing scheme, which involved fabricating romantic relationships and divorce scenarios to manipulate victims.
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Lawfare
· 2024-08-07
This is a podcast introduction featuring Arun Rao, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ's Consumer Protection Branch, discussing the growing sophistication of fraud schemes targeting consumers and elders. Rao explains how technological advances such as robocalls, text, email, and social media have enabled fraudsters to refine their tactics and target victims with greater precision. The discussion covers the DOJ's consumer protection work, cybercrime, elder fraud, and data privacy issues.
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9NEWS
· 2024-08-13
This article investigates Public Improvement Fees (PIFs) that retailers are adding to receipts as separate line items beyond sales tax. A content creator discovered a 2.5% PIF charge at a Target in Belmar and conducted undercover testing across multiple locations, finding PIFs ranging from 1-2.5% at various businesses in Belmar, Sheridan, and Lakewood. The piece highlights consumer confusion about these fees, as store employees were unable to explain their purpose or where the money goes.
Cryptocurrency
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CNBC
· 2024-08-18
A growing "pig butchering" scam scheme targets victims through dating apps and text messages, with scammers spending weeks building trust before directing them to fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms designed to mimic legitimate exchanges. One victim lost $152,000 after being lured through Bumble; the FBI reported $4.5 billion in investment fraud losses in 2023, with 86% involving cryptocurrencies. These scams employ sophisticated social engineering tactics and fake investment apps that have prompted tech companies like Google to take legal action against developers distributing fraudulent apps on their platforms.
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60 Minutes Australia
· 2024-08-25
This 60 Minutes Australia segment exposes a large-scale scam operation headquartered in Myanmar where transnational crime bosses traffic approximately 120,000 people and force them to conduct romance scams, phishing schemes, and investment fraud against Western victims. The scammers employ sophisticated AI-powered deepfake technology and brainwashing techniques to deceive victims, while the Australian Securities and Investments Commission has shut down over 7,300 fraudulent websites but scammers continue generating billions in illegal revenue.
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WGN News
· 2024-08-31
Federal Trade Commission data shows American consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with digital platforms making it easier for scammers to target victims. Common scams include romance/relationship scams on Facebook where perpetrators build trust before requesting money, "pig butchering" investment schemes promising fake returns, and grandparent scams, with reported losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Protection strategies include verifying urgent requests by hanging up and calling back the person directly, avoiding quick money transfers, researching websites and investment opportunities, and reporting scams to law enforcement and platforms to help track and recover stolen funds.
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FOX8 WGHP
· 2024-09-03
An elderly woman in Asheboro was defrauded of $25,000 after scammers used fear tactics and impersonation of law enforcement to manipulate her into withdrawing cash and purchasing gift cards. The suspect met the victim at a gas station to collect a large cash withdrawal before fleeing in a white van, and Detective Marcus Pierce is actively investigating the case while advocating for awareness of common red flags like requests for gift card payments.
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CBS TEXAS
· 2024-09-05
A 72-year-old North Texas woman lost $250,000 in bitcoin and her paid-off home to a romance scam after a man posing as a petroleum engineer on Facebook convinced her over five to six months that he needed financial help, eventually claiming he was in a car crash and needed money for medical evacuation to Turkey. The victim is now living in a motel with only her social security income after selling her house to pay the scammer. Detective John Haker reports that scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics, from long-term romance schemes to urgent bank impersonation scams, making victims vulnerable to devastating financial losses.
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ABC11
· 2024-09-05
"Pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams involve fraudsters grooming victims over months through social media to build trust before directing them into fake investment schemes promising high returns. Victims reported losing substantial sums—including Pamela Magnum who lost $70,000 and Jim Wilkerson who lost $790,000—after scammers disappeared when victims attempted to withdraw their supposed profits. The FBI has identified this as a widespread scheme stealing billions of dollars from Americans.
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ABC 7 Chicago
· 2024-09-05
A suburban woman lost nearly $1 million of her life savings in a "pig butchering" scam after meeting a man online who posed as an oil rig worker and promised to double her investment returns. The scammer used romantic manipulation to gradually coerce her into sending increasingly large transfers, eventually forcing her to sell her home to cover bank loans. The FBI reports this type of scam cost Americans nearly $4 billion in the past year alone.
Cryptocurrency
Check/Cashier's Check
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WHO13
· 2024-09-08
Congressman Zach Nunn introduced legislation to combat "pig butchering" scams, which target elderly victims into investing in fraudulent opportunities; authorities seized $300 million in stolen funds from these schemes in 2023 alone. The bill would provide federal grant funding to local and state law enforcement agencies to investigate these fraud cases. Iowa's Attorney General's office reported receiving over 13,000 fraud complaints related to these scams.
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Dare County
· 2024-09-09
The Dare County Sheriff's Office presented an educational overview of common scams affecting their community, including an explanation of "pig butchering" scams that operate through dating apps. In this scam type, perpetrators use VPNs to hide their location, create fake glamorous personas, and systematically contact potential victims through dating platforms with the goal of manipulating them into financial schemes. The presentation aims to help community members recognize and avoid falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics.
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13News Now
· 2024-09-11
The FBI warns that romance scams are the leading scam reported in the Hampton Roads area, affecting people across all age groups, not just seniors. Perpetrators are skilled manipulators who build emotional connections through online platforms and phone calls, conduct research on victims via social media, and eventually request money, often directing victims to encrypted communication apps to avoid detection. The agency advises vigilance about sharing personal information online and recognizing urgency tactics as red flags for potential fraud.
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WJZ
· 2024-09-12
Cryptocurrency scams cost Maryland residents nearly $94 million in 2023, according to an FBI report, with romance-based schemes being particularly prevalent. Though representing only 10% of financial fraud complaints to the FBI, cryptocurrency scams account for 50% of total money stolen, with approximately 1,400 Maryland complaints among nearly 58,000 nationwide. The scams exploit emotional manipulation and leverage the online nature of cryptocurrency to easily access victims' financial and personal information.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-12
Senator Elizabeth Warren held a hearing examining online dating scams targeting seniors, specifically highlighting romance scams combined with cryptocurrency investment fraud. The typical scheme involves a scammer building trust with an older adult over weeks or months through a dating app, then gradually introducing investment opportunities and encouraging the victim to set up their own trading account—creating a false sense of security and control while the scammer provides "tips" on investments.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2024-09-13
Kate Kleiner became a victim of a romance scam in 2020 when she accepted a Facebook friend request from someone claiming to be "Tony," a surgeon working for the UN in Iraq. The scammer built an emotional connection with Kleiner by mirroring her interests and eventually manipulating her into sending money. According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams stole $1.14 billion from Americans last year, though experts believe the actual figure is significantly higher due to underreporting from embarrassed victims.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-17
Senator Katie Britt discusses the surge of financial scams targeting seniors, noting that nationwide elder fraud losses exceeded $1 billion last year, with Alabama experiencing $74 million in losses (up from $55 million the previous year). She highlights that elder fraud cases in Alabama have increased dramatically, from 23 cases in 2016 to over 250 cases in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, and emphasizes the need for better education about common scams including romance schemes, sweepstakes scams, and impersonation fraud.
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India Today
· 2024-09-16
This educational segment from Tech Today discusses common scams and fraudulent practices on dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, particularly among Gen Z users in India. The piece explains key threats including catfishing (when someone creates a fake online profile to deceive others), fake profiles, and dating app scams, while emphasizing the importance of protecting oneself from these deceptive practices.
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News 4 Tucson KVOA-TV
· 2024-09-19
The FBI launched a "Take a Beat" awareness campaign in response to a sharp increase in scams, reporting a 25% rise in fraud cases and $300 million in additional victim losses compared to the previous year. The campaign targets various schemes including romance scams, phishing calls, and cryptocurrency fraud, with particular concern for retirees and fixed-income individuals in the Tucson and Phoenix areas who suffer severe financial harm from losses ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-18
The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on romance confidence scams (also called "pig butchering"), examining this multi-billion dollar fraud scheme that targets everyday Americans. The scam operates by building trust with victims over weeks or months before exploiting that confidence to extract money, with text-based contact attempts increasing dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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KCRG-TV9: Your Trusted Local News Source
· 2024-09-18
AARP Iowa's Fraud Watch Program uses education and support services to help prevent and respond to scams, particularly romance scams targeting older adults. The program offers presentations, hotlines, and personalized assistance to victims, helping them navigate both financial recovery and emotional healing while addressing the shame that often prevents victims from seeking help.
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WQAD News 8
· 2024-09-19
Federal investigators are raising alerts about "pig butchering" scams, which have reached crisis levels, with victims often losing their life savings. Scammers use dating apps and text messages to build trust with victims over months before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes, with $4 billion lost to these scams last year alone. Law enforcement is calling on Congress for increased funding to disrupt these operations, as victims typically cannot recover their money once locked out of fraudulent investment accounts.
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Forbes Breaking News
· 2024-09-19
Senator Bob Casey led a Senate Aging Committee hearing on fraud targeting older Americans, during which the committee released its annual "Fighting Fraud" resource book. The hearing addressed multiple scam types affecting seniors including grandparent scams, investment fraud, government impostor schemes, lottery scams, and tech support scams, while noting that scammers have become increasingly sophisticated in their tactics over recent years. The committee discussed both fraud prevention strategies and how federal law enforcement agencies respond to fraud reports.
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We Are Iowa Local 5 News
· 2024-09-19
"Pig butchering" scams have reached crisis levels nationwide, with victims losing their life savings after fraudsters build trust through dating apps or text messages before directing them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes. Law enforcement and Congress are pushing for increased funding and action to combat these scams, which cost victims $4 billion in the past year alone, as fake investment accounts lock victims out when they attempt to withdraw funds.
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WTVC NewsChannel 9
· 2024-09-22
"Pig-butchering" scams have reached crisis levels in the United States, with victims often losing their entire life savings after scammers build trust through dating apps or text messages before directing them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. Law enforcement reports $4 billion was lost to these scams last year alone, with victims unable to recover funds when they attempt to withdraw from fake investment accounts that appear legitimate initially but lock them out once money is deposited.
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WGN News
· 2024-09-23
AARP Illinois launched "Fraud-Fighting Fraudlettes," a collaborative awareness initiative featuring AARP representatives Theresa Jones and Courtney Herman to educate seniors about prevalent scams. The program aims to increase fraud prevention awareness among older adults, who are identified as particularly susceptible targets for scams.
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WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando
· 2024-09-23
In the past year, over 65,000 Americans lost more than $1 billion to romance scams, with Florida ranking second in the nation for victim count according to the Federal Trade Commission. An Orlando woman featured in the investigation fell victim after developing an online relationship with someone claiming to be "Matthew," who built trust through pictures, poetry, and personal conversations before requesting money for an overseas emergency when his credit card stopped working in Nigeria.
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WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando
· 2024-09-23
Over 65,000 Americans fell victim to romance scams in the last year, losing more than $1 billion collectively, with Florida ranking second nationally in victim count according to the Federal Trade Commission. An Orlando woman named Rebecca D'Antonio lost approximately $5,000+ across multiple transactions after developing an online relationship with someone posing as "Matthew Shawn," who fabricated an emergency overseas requiring financial assistance. The scammer used photos, poetry, and false promises of an in-person meeting to build trust before requesting money for a fabricated crisis.
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CBS News
· 2024-09-25
A 92-year-old woman lost her life savings to overseas scammers who impersonated Charles Schwab and government officials, convincing her that her computer had been hacked and persuading her to withdraw funds to purchase gold as a "safer investment." The scammers instructed the victim to keep the scheme secret, threatening legal consequences if she told family members, and Leslie's mother complied without notifying her family until the fraud was discovered through the bank's alert system. The case highlights a growing epidemic of online scams targeting vulnerable Americans, with banks stating they have limited ability to prevent such fraud.
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KOAA 5
· 2024-09-25
Romance scams rank among the top 20 most reported scams in the US, with victims losing $652 million nationally in 2023 and $10 million in Colorado alone. Scammers create fake online dating profiles to build relationships with victims and manipulate them into sending money under false pretenses. Experts recommend using established matchmaking services as a safer alternative to online dating apps.
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CBS Colorado
· 2024-09-26
Romance scams orchestrated by organized syndicates based in West Africa, particularly Ghana, target tens of thousands of Americans—especially older men over 60—through fake profiles on dating sites and social media. Scammers pose as American women to build romantic relationships and manipulate victims into sending money, with the operation run from underground "boiler rooms" where individual fraudsters work for larger criminal networks that provide them with equipment and infrastructure. These schemes siphon millions of dollars from American victims, with payments often evading detection by banks and law enforcement.
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CBS News
· 2024-09-26
American men, primarily aged 60 and older, are being targeted in romance scams by organized fraud operations based in Ghana, where scammers pose as women on dating sites to lure victims into sending money. The "Yahoo boys" operate from underground "boiler rooms" funded by crime bosses who provide equipment and connectivity, with the scheme swindling Americans out of millions of dollars annually. CBS News conducted a year-long undercover investigation documenting how these syndicates systematically target lonely older men through fake profiles and romantic manipulation.
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CBS Evening News
· 2024-09-27
A U.S. man lost $700,000 in an elaborate romance scam orchestrated by criminal syndicates operating from underground "boiler rooms" in Ghana. The scammers pose as romantic partners to gain the trust of elderly Americans and convince them to send money, devastating victims both emotionally and financially. The investigation revealed that unemployed youth in Ghana are recruited into these operations, viewing the scams as an alternative to other forms of theft or crime.
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WCIA News
· 2024-10-01
Courtney and Teresa, fraud prevention specialists with AARP Illinois, have partnered together as "the Fraud-Fighting Fraudlets" to expand their fraud awareness and prevention efforts across Illinois, combining resources from Springfield and Chicago. The duo emphasizes that scams are constantly evolving and criminals continuously target people of all ages to steal money and personal information, making ongoing education and awareness efforts essential.
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Eyewitness News ABC7NY
· 2024-10-04
This educational segment teaches viewers how to identify fake social media profiles and protect themselves from scam accounts. The key warning signs include receiving friend requests or follows from people you already know (which could be imposters), or unexpected contact from strangers with no clear reason for connecting. Scammers steal public profile pictures from legitimate social media accounts to create fake identities designed to deceive and defraud users.
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CBS News
· 2024-10-04
Overseas scammers defrauded a 92-year-old woman in Los Angeles of her life savings by impersonating IT experts and government officials, convincing her that her computer had been hacked and pressuring her to withdraw funds to purchase gold as a "safer investment." The scammers instructed the victim to keep the scheme secret, and despite her daughter's attempts to alert her bank (Charles Schwab) to the suspicious large transactions and wire transfers, the funds were lost. This case exemplifies a widespread epidemic affecting tens of thousands of Americans who fall victim to similar overseas fraud schemes operating through impersonation and deception tactics.
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CFPBLive
· 2024-10-09
This is an introductory webinar hosted by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau on payments industry practices for combating elder financial exploitation. The session provides participants with access to slides, resources, and a discussion platform to explore strategies and tools for preventing elder financial abuse within the payments sector.
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CBS Evening News
· 2024-10-11
A 92-year-old woman in Los Angeles lost her life savings to overseas scammers who impersonated IT experts and government officials, convincing her that her computer had been hacked and pressuring her to withdraw funds to purchase gold as a "safer investment." The scam involved large wire transfers from her Charles Schwab investment account, and the perpetrators instructed her to keep the scheme secret from her family. This case exemplifies a broader epidemic of multi-million-dollar fraud targeting Americans by overseas criminals operating tech support and investment scams.
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Atlanta News First
· 2024-10-10
Investigator Brendan Keefe uncovered a romance scam operation that uses AI-generated photographs of fake military personnel to target victims on social media platforms like Facebook. The scammers create convincing but flawed fake images (such as veterans with anatomical impossibilities) of patriotic military figures to build false romantic relationships and extract money from victims.
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CTV News
· 2024-10-11
A Newfoundland senior lost $20,000 in gift cards to a romance scam after a man contacted her on Facebook, claimed to be a widow her age, expressed his love, and gradually requested money. The victim was particularly vulnerable as a recent widow undergoing cancer treatment. Romance scams remain among Canada's top three frauds, with Canadians losing over $52 million annually, often targeting lonely individuals through social media.
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WFSB 3
· 2024-10-13
Detective Matthew Hogan of the Connecticut State Police discusses internet scams and their increasing sophistication, with a particular focus on cryptocurrency fraud. While crypto is often perceived as untraceable, it is actually traceable through blockchain technology; scammers favor it because wallet ownership is pseudo-anonymous, transactions move quickly, and assets can be easily co-mingled. The discussion emphasizes recognizing red flags to help people avoid falling victim to these evolving online schemes.
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News4JAX The Local Station
· 2024-10-14
Catfishing—when someone impersonates another person online—is a popular scam increasingly enabled by AI technology, with approximately 20,000 Americans reporting victimization annually. Warning signs include incomplete or blurry profile pictures, fewer than 100 friends, minimal posting history, and requests for money. To protect yourself, set your profile to private and avoid sharing personal details like your mother's maiden name or bank information with online contacts.
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KFDM YouTube
· 2024-10-14
Texas reported 13,000 allegations of financial exploitation of elderly residents in fiscal year 2023, with over 500 cases from Jefferson County alone. Adult Protective Services is hosting a "Your Money Matters" awareness event on October 16th at the Lakeside Center to educate seniors about fraud and exploitation through vendor presentations and community engagement.
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NBC4 Washington
· 2024-10-17
"Pig butchering" is a cryptocurrency confidence scam where fraudsters build trust with victims over months through social media or dating apps before introducing fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities. Scammers send victims links to fraudulent trading websites and convince them to send hundreds or thousands of dollars, which actually goes directly into the scammers' pockets; the fake friend, website, and investment returns are all fabricated.
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WKRN News 2
· 2024-10-17
Senior fraud represents a $3 billion problem, with scammers primarily targeting individuals aged 55-64 through contractor scams, Medicare fraud, Bitcoin investment schemes, romance scams, phone fraud, and phishing attacks. Phishing scams work by casting a wide net through texts, emails, and social media to trick victims into clicking malicious links or participating in fake surveys and contests that download malware and compromise personal information.
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NOLA.com
· 2024-10-17
AARP Louisiana hosted an educational presentation titled "Unmasking Fraud" featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to address senior fraud targeting older adults in Louisiana. The event emphasized that fraud against seniors impacts not only financial security but also causes lasting emotional and psychological harm, and provided practical strategies for protection. AARP directs people to its Fraud Watch Network resource for current scam information and personal data protection guidance.
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NOLA.com
· 2024-10-17
AARP Louisiana hosted a fraud awareness townhall event featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to educate seniors about scams targeting older adults. The event aimed to provide practical protection strategies and highlight how fraud impacts seniors beyond financial loss, including emotional and trust-related consequences. AARP encourages seniors to utilize resources like their FraudWatch Network to stay informed about emerging scams and safeguard personal information.
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wgaltv
· 2024-10-22
An FTC report on elder fraud reveals that while older adults reported losing $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023, the actual total may be as high as $61.5 billion due to significant underreporting—primarily because seniors fear embarrassment, family judgment, and loss of independence. Seniors who do report fraud lose an average of $918 per case compared to $432 for younger victims, with the most common scams being tech support fraud, lottery/sweepstakes schemes, and romance scams, typically executed through bitcoin or gift card payments.
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6abc Philadelphia
· 2024-10-25
Criminal networks are exploiting romance scams to recruit victims as unwitting money mules who move illegal funds on their behalf. A 70-year-old man was targeted on LinkedIn in August 2022 by a scammer posing as a romantic interest who gradually built trust, then gained access to his phone accounts and bank information to facilitate cryptocurrency and wire transfers, leaving him thousands of dollars in debt despite never willingly sending money himself. The FBI warns this scheme is becoming increasingly common as scammers leverage emotional manipulation to turn hopeful romantics into unknowing participants in money laundering operations.
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Tamron Hall Show
· 2024-10-31
A 71-year-old widow named Kate Kleiner lost $39,000 and her home in an online romance scam after a man posing as a surgeon named "Tony" befriended her on social media and developed a romantic relationship with her over three months before requesting money. The scammer was actually a 55-year-old man from another country who used deceptive photos and a false identity to exploit her. Kleiner came forward publicly to share her story and raise awareness that romance scams are on the rise and can happen to anyone, regardless of education or background.
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Bloomberg Television
· 2024-11-01
Sophisticated individuals who are comfortable with technology and social media are increasingly vulnerable to scammers using advanced psychological manipulation techniques that send millions of messages daily. According to a 2024 NASDAQ report, transnational scams including romance schemes, business email compromise, and "pig butchering" (fake investment scams) generated over $3 trillion globally in 2023, with $50 billion from pig butchering alone—mostly from U.S. victims—and tens to hundreds of millions stolen from Silicon Valley residents and diverted to organized crime networks in Southeast Asia.
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News 4 Tucson KVOA-TV
· 2024-11-02
Law enforcement is warning the public about a surge in romance scams during the holiday season, when vulnerable individuals—particularly those feeling lonely or grieving—are targeted by scammers. An Arizona man lost over $660,000 to a scammer posing as a single woman on Instagram, though he was able to recover some funds by canceling credit card transactions. Experts note that most romance scam victims are embarrassed to report their losses and that perpetrators are typically based overseas.
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WIRED
· 2024-11-05
This WIRED article features "Scammer Payback," a YouTube scam-baiting channel, answering audience questions about common fraud tactics and red flags. The content identifies three major warning signs of scams: scammers pressuring victims to make quick decisions (especially involving gift cards or Cash App transfers), requests for remote access to computers or phones, and demands for untraceable payment methods like Bitcoin or wire transfers. The educational piece emphasizes that time pressure is a deliberate tactic scammers use to prevent victims from consulting family members or others who might intervene.
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CTV News
· 2024-11-12
A Brampton woman lost $230,000 in a Facebook romance scam after being contacted by a man who built a relationship with her over a year, eventually convincing her to send money by claiming he needed funds while working in Texas and expecting a large payment. Romance scams cost Canadians over $52 million in losses last year, with scammers using social media platforms to establish trust before requesting money from victims.
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WREG News Channel 3
· 2024-11-13
Three Nigerian men in their 40s were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating romance and investment scams that targeted victims across America from 2017 to 2021, including a Western Tennessee resident who lost $400,000. The perpetrators used fake identities on social media and dating sites, posing as romantic partners and repeatedly requesting emergency financial assistance from victims. Law enforcement urges scam victims to report incidents to police, as victims of romance scams often face additional risks including identity theft when they unknowingly share personal information with fraudsters.
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WNEM TV5
· 2024-11-15
Catfishing, where scammers impersonate others online, affects approximately 20,000 Americans annually and is becoming easier with AI technology. Red flags include missing or blurry profile pictures, fewer than 100 friends, new profiles with minimal posting history, and requests for money. To protect yourself, keep your profile private, avoid sharing personal details like security questions or banking information, and verify suspicious contacts before engaging further.
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FOX43 News
· 2024-11-21
Fox 43's consumer awareness segment examines how much personal information is publicly available online and discusses whether consumers should pay companies to reduce their digital footprint. Cybersecurity experts advise monitoring your own online presence by searching your name and using tools like ChatGPT to identify what information exists about you, noting that significant personal data is sold behind the scenes and impacts daily life.
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WION
· 2024-11-25
Pig-butchering scams, which have stolen over $75 billion globally, are long-term confidence schemes that combine romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency deception. Scammers initiate contact through unsolicited text messages, pose as old friends or romantic interests to build trust, and then convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms controlled by the fraudsters before disappearing with the money. To protect yourself, never share personal information with online-only contacts and avoid sending money or cryptocurrency to anyone you have not met in person.
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WBIR Channel 10
· 2024-11-26
Ghanaian national Wigbert Bandy was sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to a $2 million romance scam targeting senior citizens on dating sites and social media. The scam defrauded 11 victims, with one East Tennessee resident losing over $280,000, and Bandy was ordered to repay approximately $2.2 million in restitution.
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WPLG Local 10
· 2024-12-04
The FBI Miami issued a holiday season warning about the rise of online scams, which increased 22% between 2022 and 2023, with South Florida's online investment fraud losses jumping from $12 million to $300 million. Elderly individuals are particularly targeted for romance fraud, tech support fraud, and impersonation schemes, with AI increasingly used to facilitate scams; charity fraud also peaks during the holidays. The agency advises consumers to be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, as billions of dollars are lost annually to fraud schemes nationwide.
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CBS LA
· 2024-12-06
A 77-year-old widow lost over $20,000 to a romance scam after meeting a man in a Facebook Christian group who posed as a wealthy oil rig worker. The scam had devastating family consequences—her daughter lost her relationship with her mother and learned during the investigation that her mother had sold the family home for $130,000 below market value, likely funneling most of those proceeds to the scammer. According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams caused over $1 billion in losses last year, affecting not just finances but also family relationships and homes.
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TODAY
· 2024-12-10
During the holiday season, when Americans are expected to spend over $240 billion online, scammers are exploiting increased shopping activity through fraudulent websites and online shopping schemes. Online fraud costs approximately $12 billion annually according to the FBI, with thousands of fake websites appearing during peak shopping periods to steal personal information. Consumers should protect themselves by checking for security padlocks on websites, scrutinizing URLs and website content for typos or errors, and being cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.
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Inside Edition
· 2024-12-11
A Miami doctor's photos were stolen and used in a "pig butchering" romance scam to fraudulently lure wealthy single men on dating sites, resulting in victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. The doctor discovered the identity theft when strangers began sending flowers to her workplace and showing up in person, prompting her to publicly warn others on social media about the sophisticated scheme.
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KTVB
· 2024-12-16
"Don't Click December" is an awareness campaign aimed at protecting consumers from online fraud during the holiday shopping season, when scammers exploit increased internet usage for gift purchases and charitable donations. U.S. Attorney Josh Hert advises consumers to be cautious of suspicious emails, text messages, and popups that use fear tactics to trick people into clicking malicious links or providing personal information.
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TVC News Nigeria
· 2024-12-15
The Anti-Corruption Unit of Zone Two Command in Lagos arrested two suspects engaged in romance scams and certificate fraud who impersonated foreign military officers on Facebook and Instagram to target vulnerable women. One suspect admitted to undergoing three years of training in romance scam techniques, while the other specialized in forging certificates using his phone; the pair offered police $42,000 in bribes and operated between Ghana and Nigeria.
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TV360 Nigeria
· 2024-12-17
In a major enforcement operation in Lagos, Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested 792 suspects involved in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams, including 148 Chinese nationals and citizens from the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The foreign perpetrators operated from a facility disguised as a corporate office, where they trained Nigerian accomplices using scripts to conduct romance and investment fraud schemes while using the Nigerians' identities to carry out the crimes.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2024-12-18
Monica Roose lost $4,000 to an online contractor scam while seeking help with a home improvement project in Northeast Ohio. FBI Special Agent Edgar Kobe reports that elder populations are especially vulnerable to scams perpetrated by organized crime groups operating from West Africa and India, and he is working to prevent victims from losing money to these international fraudsters who operate remotely.
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wgaltv
· 2024-12-18
Nigeria's anti-fraud agency arrested nearly 800 people, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, in a raid on a Lagos office building as part of a large-scale romance scam operation. The suspects used social media and messaging platforms to contact and deceive victims in North America and Europe, building romantic relationships before offering fraudulent investment opportunities. Investigators seized over 400 SIM cards, mobile phones, and dozens of computers, and are investigating potential connections to organized international fraud networks.
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KHON2 News
· 2024-12-18
The Better Business Bureau identified 12 common holiday scams, with misleading social media ads and imposter websites being the most prevalent. The list includes phishing emails, fake charities, puppy scams, unsafe holiday apps, and counterfeit product sales. To protect themselves, consumers should avoid interacting with unsolicited messages, only shop from trusted businesses, verify website authenticity, report scams to the BBB and financial institutions, and contact local law enforcement if money is lost.
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Hawaii News Now
· 2024-12-26
Honolulu police warn that romance scams are increasingly targeting elderly seniors, particularly during the holiday season when isolation increases vulnerability. Scammers create fake dating or social media profiles to build emotional connections with seniors, eventually claiming to be in love while requesting money. The scheme became especially prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic when seniors were homebound and lonely.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2024-12-26
A 67-year-old Vista woman lost her entire life savings over nearly two years in a romance scam where an imposter claimed to be actor Keanu Reeves. The scammer convinced her to send money through various requests, ultimately leaving her homeless and living in her car. She decided to publicly share her story to warn others about the dangers and prevalence of romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals.
Cryptocurrency
Wire Transfer
Gift Cards
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wgaltv
· 2025-01-04
Romance scams ranked as the third most prevalent scam of 2024, with victims in the local area losing tens of thousands of dollars each. Scammers research victims on social media, then contact them pretending to be romantic interests—particularly targeting widows and widowers—and gradually manipulate them into investing money in cryptocurrency or sending funds for fabricated emergencies. The article advises talking to recently bereaved individuals about this scam and monitoring their online interactions to prevent victimization.
Cryptocurrency
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PBS NewsHour
· 2025-01-04
Pig-butchering investment scams have cost victims worldwide an estimated $75 billion over the past four years, with Americans alone losing $4.6 billion in 2023, through fake romantic relationships that manipulate targets into investing in cryptocurrency on fraudulent platforms. The scams typically begin with a wrong-number text leading to conversation with a fake attractive persona who builds trust over 90 days before pressuring victims to invest increasingly large sums until they lose their life savings. Beyond the financial victims, the scammers themselves are often human trafficking victims forced by Asian organized crime syndicates (primarily Chinese, but including Yakuza and Korean groups) operating from compound cities built specifically to run these
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Arizona’s Family (3TV / CBS 5)
· 2025-01-07
Robert Giuliano, a multi-state romance scammer wanted out of New York for forgery, grand larceny, and identity theft, was arrested in Scottsdale but released on parole supervision by a Bronx Supreme Court Judge after extradition to New York. His victims expressed disappointment at his release, feeling "victimized twice," though legal experts note that judges often release defendants facing nonviolent crimes without substantial criminal histories pending trial.
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KREM 2 News
· 2025-01-07
Online romance scams cost Americans over $1 billion annually, with scammers posing as potential romantic partners on dating apps to defraud victims of their savings. A 66-year-old woman lost over $2 million of her retirement savings after connecting with a scammer on Match.com who used stolen photos, posed as a British private equity investor named Santos, and manipulated her with romantic gestures before requesting money for fabricated emergencies such as a professional license renewal.
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WKBW TV | Buffalo, NY
· 2025-01-09
New York State enacted legislation requiring dating apps to notify users when they interact with fake or scam accounts, following reports that approximately 7,000 Americans fell victim to romance scams in 2022. The law addresses concerns about the prevalence of fraudulent profiles on platforms like Tinder, with some users reporting that roughly one in five profiles may be fake or bot accounts designed to deceive online daters.
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Irish Independent
· 2025-01-14
Romance scams (also called "pig butchering") are surging in Ireland, primarily targeting middle-aged women through dating apps where scammers build emotional relationships over time before requesting money for bills, fees, and expenses. Detective Superintendent Michael Crry of Ireland's National Economic Crime Bureau explains that these online fraud schemes rely on social engineering, manipulation, and exploitation, with recent arrests highlighting law enforcement efforts to combat the crime, which is particularly prevalent during vulnerable winter months when people seek connection.
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Firstpost
· 2025-01-15
A 53-year-old French woman lost over $1 million to a romance scam between February 2023 and an unspecified later date, after being approached online by someone impersonating Brad Pitt using AI-generated videos and romantic messages. The victim, going through a divorce, believed she was in a long-distance relationship with the actor and was gradually manipulated into sending money, with the scammer using excuses about Pitt being busy to avoid video calls. This case illustrates how romance scams combined with AI technology and celebrity impersonation can exploit vulnerable individuals seeking emotional connection.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-01-17
A victim lost over $137,000 in life savings after receiving an email falsely claiming her social security number was used for drug trafficking, demonstrating how sophisticated social engineering scams exploit fear and panic rather than relying solely on cyber tactics. According to the FTC, Americans lost $10 billion to scams in 2023—the highest amount ever recorded—with scammers increasingly using organized crime networks, technology, and social manipulation to target victims through emails, texts, and social media.
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Sherri
· 2025-01-17
A French woman was defrauded of $800,000 by scammers who used AI-generated images to impersonate actor Brad Pitt and create a romantic relationship with her through catfishing. After building trust over an extended period, the scammers claimed "Brad Pitt" needed money for surgery, prompting the victim to send the substantial sum.
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12 News
· 2025-01-20
During national tragedies like natural disasters, scammers exploit public sympathy through fake charity scams and relief fund fraud. To protect yourself, verify charities directly through their official websites or CharityNavigator.org rather than clicking links in unsolicited calls, emails, or social media messages, and never donate through unverified channels.
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FOX 7 Austin
· 2025-01-27
According to a 2024 Better Business Bureau report, Texans lost over $10 million to scams, with the top five being: cryptocurrency investment scams (averaging $4,600 loss, primarily affecting ages 55-64), employment scams ($1.6 million total loss to ages 25-34), online purchase scams ($1.5 million in losses), phishing scams ($550,000 in losses), and additional unreported scams on social media. The report highlights that different age groups face different fraud risks, with older adults targeted for investment schemes while younger adults are more vulnerable to employment-related fraud.
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We Are Iowa Local 5 News
· 2025-01-27
**Summary:**
Romance scams, where criminals pose as potential romantic partners online, are currently running rampant according to the Federal Trade Commission and affect people of all ages. AARP's Fraud Watch Network volunteer Neil Schultz advises people to be cautious of suspicious dating app profiles—such as photos that appear too polished, requests to move conversations off the platform, or requests for money—as scammers use these tactics to build trust and defraud victims of significant sums.
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CTV News
· 2025-01-28
A serial romance scammer operating across Ontario under multiple aliases (including "Johnny Meers") defrauded at least three women of significant sums—Nicki McFee lost $30,000 in a fake business investment, Amy Todd lost $60,000 for a nonexistent horse business, and another victim lost money from a motorcycle sale—before being identified as 39-year-old John Moulder. The scammer used charm and fake investment opportunities to gain victims' trust after meeting them through online dating services, with red flags only appearing once victims stopped providing money.
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Local 3 News
· 2025-01-31
The Better Business Bureau warns of a surge in romance scams targeting dating app users ahead of Valentine's Day, particularly those in their 50s and 60s. Scammers use fake photos to catfish victims and eventually solicit money or personal information after establishing a false romantic connection. The BBB recommends researching potential dates, asking specific questions, and remaining skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
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CBS Philadelphia
· 2025-02-03
A Pennsylvania widow lost her life savings, home, and possessions to a romance scam after being targeted on Facebook by someone posing as "Tony," a surgeon who built an emotional relationship with her over months of daily communication. The scammer exploited her vulnerability as a widow by showering her with attention and affection before manipulating her into sending money, ultimately leaving her financially devastated and emotionally heartbroken. The case highlights how romance scams use deep emotional manipulation to target victims, who often remain silent due to embarrassment, and warns that thousands of people—particularly older adults—are affected by this type of fraud annually.
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WHNT News 19
· 2025-02-04
The Huntsville Police Department warned of a dating app scam where criminals pose as government investigators and claim victims face arrest warrants, then pressure them to pay money to avoid prosecution. Police documented two cases of this scam and advise potential victims to hang up, independently verify any claims by calling local police directly, and never pay money to resolve alleged warrants.
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KCRG-TV9: Your Trusted Local News Source
· 2025-02-05
Romance scams, also known as catfishing, occur when scammers use dating websites to build false relationships and extract money or credit card information from victims. The Better Business Bureau warns that these scams escalate around Valentine's Day and can result in significant financial losses, sometimes requiring legal intervention such as conservatorships to protect victims' assets. Red flags include unsolicited contact and requests for money or personal financial information.
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WPRI
· 2025-02-05
Romance scammers create fake online profiles to build trust with people seeking love on dating apps, then request money while promising long-term relationships. Victims have lost tens of thousands of dollars through these scams, which often involve requests for gift cards or money transfers via PayPal or Venmo. Banks advise never sending money to people you haven't met in person and never sharing personal banking information.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-02-06
An 82-year-old woman in Boulder City lost $40,000 in a romance scam after being contacted on Facebook involving a scheme to ship gold. Metro Police are hosting scam prevention events to educate the public about recognizing red flags in romance scams and what to do if victimized.
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WKRN News 2
· 2025-02-06
Romance scams rank among the top 10 most perpetrated scams in the U.S., with individual losses increasing dramatically from $1,600 in 2021 to nearly $4,000 in recent years. Scammers create false profiles on dating apps to build emotional connections and exploit victims financially. Red flags include attempts to move communication off the app to unmonitored platforms, which allows scammers greater freedom to manipulate targets.
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Texomashomepage.com - KFDX, KJTL
· 2025-02-06
Romance scams surge around Valentine's Day, with scammers using sophisticated tactics like the "wrong number" text approach to build trust with lonely people over days or weeks before requesting money or gift cards. Victims have lost tens of thousands of dollars falling for these schemes, which often involve stolen photos of attractive people found on social media or modeling websites. Red flags include requests for money, inconsistent details, and photos that reverse-image search reveals are used elsewhere online; users can verify identities through reverse image search tools and avoid using the same profile photos across multiple platforms.
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KPRC 2 Click2Houston
· 2025-02-05
Scammers exploit Valentine's Day shopping—when consumers are expected to spend a record $27.5 billion—through various fraudulent schemes, with fake jewelry websites being a primary concern. These fraudulent sites imitate legitimate jewelry retailers by copying logos and promotional materials while using nearly identical web addresses (differing by just one letter) to trick consumers into purchasing jewelry they never receive. Consumers are advised to carefully verify website addresses and watch for common Valentine's Day scams that exploit the holiday shopping season.
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FOX 2 St. Louis
· 2025-02-06
Romance scams are prevalent and increasingly sophisticated, with the Better Business Bureau reporting a median loss of $6,000 per victim. Scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and social media to build trust over weeks or months before requesting money or pushing cryptocurrency investment schemes, and they now use AI to generate realistic photos and communicate with multiple victims simultaneously. To protect yourself, verify profile photos using reverse image search, trust your instincts if something seems too good to be true, independently research any investment opportunities, and avoid clicking links or sharing financial information provided by potential romantic contacts.
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Eyewitness News ABC7NY
· 2025-02-07
Romance scammers are targeting people seeking relationships online, with the FTC reporting these scams cost Americans $1.3 billion annually. Scammers employ "love bombing" tactics, building emotional connections over months or even a year before requesting money, increasingly through cryptocurrency to remain untraceable. One Connecticut woman lost nearly $1 million to this type of fraud.
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WFMY News 2
· 2025-02-08
Romance scams cost victims over one billion dollars last year according to the FTC, with scammers typically requesting money from online dating prospects around Valentine's Day. The Better Business Bureau notes that victims lose money and experience emotional harm, as scammers are skilled manipulators who build trust before revealing their deceptive intentions. The key to protection is awareness that online romantic interests may not be who they claim to be and vigilance against requests for money from people you have not met in person.
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KVUE
· 2025-02-10
The U.S. Postal Service issued a warning ahead of Valentine's Day about romance scams, which target people seeking companionship by building trust online before requesting money or valuables be sent through the mail. Scammers create fake identities and fabricate urgent financial needs to pressure victims into sending cash, checks, wire transfers, or gift cards. The USPS recommends being cautious of quickly escalating online relationships, avoiding sharing personal information, and immediately reporting suspected scams.
Wire Transfer
Gift Cards
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KVUE
· 2025-02-10
In 2023, Texas ranked third in the nation for romance scams, with victims losing a combined $54 million, contributing to over $1 billion in total U.S. losses to these schemes according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers are increasingly using AI-generated images and videos to target victims based on their interests, including creating fake profiles resembling deceased partners to target widows. The FTC recommends verifying identities through reverse image searches and video chats, avoiding sending money to online acquaintances, and remaining cautious of individuals claiming military status, living abroad, or expressing rapid romantic commitment.
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News 3 Las Vegas
· 2025-02-11
Federal agencies launched a "Dating or Defrauding" awareness campaign ahead of Valentine's Day to warn Americans about online romance scams involving fake dating profiles, fraudulent apps, and unsolicited text messages. Scammers build romantic relationships with victims and then convince them to invest money or trade cryptocurrency, claiming they can generate significant returns. The multi-agency initiative advises Americans never to send money or invest with people known only online.
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CBS Mornings
· 2025-02-11
Relationship investment scams, known as "pig butchering," are sweeping the nation by targeting people seeking romance on dating apps and social media. Sophisticated criminals use fake profiles, AI-generated images, and fabricated romantic connections to persuade victims to invest money in fraudulent business opportunities, resulting in nearly $159 billion in losses in 2023 alone according to one estimate. Federal agencies including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are partnering with state and nonprofit organizations to warn the public about this growing threat.
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Good Morning America
· 2025-02-12
Meta announced new protections against romance scams across Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp, restricting accounts engaging in suspicious behavior such as messaging numerous users with fake profiles, impersonating dating agencies, or posing as military members. The move addresses the $1 billion in losses Americans suffered from romance fraud in 2023, with Meta having already removed over 500,000 fraudulent accounts and pages; users will now receive warning popups when potentially suspicious accounts or links are detected in messages.
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wgaltv
· 2025-02-12
Romance scammers build trust with vulnerable victims through fake dating profiles, often impersonating celebrities or researching social media accounts, then manipulate them into sending money through promises of investment opportunities or appeals to help with hardship situations. The FBI warns to protect personal information online, use reputable dating platforms, be suspicious of quick requests to move conversations offline, and watch for claims of overseas locations that prevent in-person meetings. Victims should report romance scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
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WLUK-TV FOX 11
· 2025-02-12
As Valentine's Day approaches with consumers expected to spend $26 billion on gifts, the Better Business Bureau warns of common scams including fraudulent online retailers, romance scams targeting vulnerable people, and phishing emails. To protect themselves, shoppers should verify seller legitimacy by calling businesses, checking for poor grammar on websites, and verifying website creation dates through tools like GoDaddy, while avoiding unrealistically cheap deals.
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ABC15 Arizona
· 2025-02-12
This article warns about three Valentine's Day scams: impostor websites selling fake jewelry, flowers, or dating services that use stolen logos and offer suspicious discounts or request untraceable payment methods; romance scams where fraudsters build fake profiles to establish emotional connections before requesting money; and wrong-number scams that target lonely individuals through unsolicited texts to lure them into conversations. The article advises consumers to watch for red flags including unrealistic deals, requests for cryptocurrency or cash transfers, relationships that move too quickly without in-person meetings, and requests to keep relationships secret.
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ABC News
· 2025-02-13
Romance scammers stole $1.14 billion from victims in 2023, with authorities warning Americans—particularly seniors—about this growing fraud. Scammers use fake identities to build trust quickly, then fabricate emergencies (medical or travel expenses) to solicit money; notable cases include a 76-year-old Georgia woman who lost her $70,000 life savings and a French woman defrauded of $850,000 by scammers using AI-generated deepfakes of celebrity Brad Pitt.
Cryptocurrency
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ABC11
· 2025-02-13
As Americans prepare to spend $27.5 billion on Valentine's Day, scammers are launching phishing emails and malicious websites to steal money and personal information. Checkpoint software identified over 18,000 Valentine's Day-related websites since early 2025, with approximately 1 in 72 identified as malicious, often impersonating well-known brands to appear legitimate. Consumers should protect themselves by verifying sender email addresses, avoiding suspicious links, and checking URLs before clicking to ensure they're on legitimate company websites.
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WKBN27
· 2025-02-13
A local nonprofit in Youngstown is hosting an educational class to help people recognize and avoid romance scams, which cost victims $23 million in reported losses last year according to the Federal Trade Commission. Romance scams involve fraudsters posing as romantic partners online to gain trust and then manipulate victims into sharing personal information or sending money, gifts, or cryptocurrency. Red flags to watch for include reluctance to meet in person, claims of wealth, requests for secrecy, pressure for money, and "love bombing" tactics.
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KSDK News
· 2025-02-14
Romance scams spike around Valentine's Day, with nearly 65,000 people reporting romance scams in 2023 and losses totaling $1.14 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. These scams involve fraudsters creating fake profiles on dating apps to gain victims' trust and manipulate them into sending money. Key protective measures include using reverse image searches to verify profile photos and being cautious of requests for financial information.
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KHOU 11
· 2025-02-14
**Romance Scams Rising with AI-Enhanced Deception**
The Better Business Bureau warns that romance scams are increasing, particularly around Valentine's Day, with scammers creating fake profiles on dating apps and social media to build romantic connections for financial exploitation. Advances in AI technology are making these scams harder to detect, as criminals can now create convincing fake images, voices, videos, and social media accounts to impersonate real people or celebrities, making anyone vulnerable to victimization.
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WMBB News 13
· 2025-02-15
The Bay County Sheriff's Office warns that romance scams, often perpetrated through social media via "catfishing," are increasing around Valentine's Day and primarily target elderly individuals by exploiting loneliness and emotions. Scammers build fake online relationships to manipulate victims into sending money, using emotional tactics and fear to cloud judgment. Residents are advised to be skeptical of requests for money from people they have never met in person and to report suspected scams to local law enforcement.
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NBC 7 San Diego
· 2025-02-15
A San Diego woman lost $32,000 in a romance scam after developing an online relationship over one year with a man posing as an architect working in Poland. The scammer slowly built trust and emotional intimacy before requesting money for various emergencies, exploiting the victim's affection to gain access to her finances. This case illustrates how romance scams differ from other fraud schemes by operating over extended periods to manipulate victims emotionally rather than through immediate pressure tactics.
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Tampa Bay 28
· 2025-02-14
Cybersecurity experts report an uptick in romance scams around Valentine's Day, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics on dating apps and websites. One victim, Rebecca De Antonio, lost $100,000 after falling in love with someone she met online, and experts note such cases are becoming more common as online dating grows. Common tactics include sending fraudulent links designed to steal personal information, with one security firm blocking over 321,000 malicious URLs in just two months; experts warn that scammers rushing victims into commitments or requests for money are major red flags.
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WTRF
· 2025-02-14
**Summary:**
The Better Business Bureau and FBI warn that thousands of people fall victim to dating scams annually, particularly around Valentine's Day. Red flags include scammers moving conversations off dating apps to private messaging platforms, quickly professing love, and requesting money or personal information. Experts advise verifying a person's intentions before sharing financial details and to immediately cease contact and review finances if scam activity is suspected.
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NBC News
· 2025-02-15
**Romance Scams Using Cryptocurrency on the Rise**
Scammers, often from Southeast Asian crime syndicates, are perpetrating "pig butchering" romance fraud schemes where they pose as romantic interests online and manipulate victims into fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities. One victim, Barry May from Mississippi, lost $500,000 of his life savings after being deceived by a scammer posing as a woman named Anna who promised investment returns and marriage. According to a Wall Street Watchdog report, these cryptocurrency-based scams result in untraceable fund transfers that leave victims with irreplaceable financial losses.
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KFOR Oklahoma's News 4
· 2025-02-15
**Summary:**
Romance scams increase around Valentine's Day, with scammers creating fake online identities on dating apps to build trust and manipulate victims into sending money via gift cards or cryptocurrency or stealing personal information. The Better Business Bureau warns that older adults and lonely individuals are particularly vulnerable targets, and advises people to be suspicious of quick relationship progression, requests for financial help, and unusual payment methods, while encouraging people to check on vulnerable loved ones.
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WTRF
· 2025-02-16
Scammers are targeting dating app users by building romantic relationships and requesting money or personal information to invest in cryptocurrency, with the Better Business Bureau reporting approximately $500 million lost to romance scams last year alone. Red flags include requests to convert cash, checks, or gifts into Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, and scammers typically delete their accounts and block victims once money is obtained. Experts recommend immediately stopping contact with suspicious individuals and reviewing personal finances for any unauthorized transactions.
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News 5 Cleveland
· 2025-02-18
Online romance scams caused $823 million in losses last year according to the Federal Trade Commission, with losses expected to grow due to increasing use of AI technology that makes fraudulent conversations sound authentic and personalized. Older adults are disproportionately targeted because scammers assume they are financially stable with steady retirement income. Red flags include rapid relationship progression, avoidance of in-person meetings, requests for secrecy, and requests for money; victims should report suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
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NBC10 Philadelphia
· 2025-02-19
Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence on dating apps to commit romance fraud, with 60% of online daters reporting conversations with AI-generated profiles according to a Norton survey. Scammers exploit AI technology to create convincing messages, fake profiles, and deepfake videos to impersonate real people and manipulate victims, particularly those seeking genuine connections. Experts recommend maintaining skepticism and awareness as the best defense, as romance scams remain a persistent threat enabled by advancing AI capabilities.
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ABC 7 Chicago
· 2025-02-22
Aurora Phelps, a U.S.-Mexico dual citizen, is accused by the FBI of conducting a deadly romance scam targeting older men in their 60s and 70s between 2019 and 2022. She allegedly met victims on dating apps, drugged them with sedatives, and robbed them, resulting in at least 11 victims across the U.S. and Mexico, with three confirmed deaths in the current indictment. Phelps is currently detained in a Mexican jail awaiting extradition to face charges in the United States.
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FOX5 Las Vegas
· 2025-02-22
The FBI charged 43-year-old Aurora Phelps of Las Vegas with operating a "sinister" romance scam targeting older men aged 60-70 whom she met on dating sites. Phelps lured her victims, drugged them with dangerous amounts of sedatives, and stole from them by accessing their bank and brokerage accounts, using credit cards, and attempting to withdraw millions in one case; authorities believe she may have killed at least one victim and are seeking the public's help to identify additional victims.
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KHOU 11
· 2025-02-24
Aurora Phelps, a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen, allegedly orchestrated a romance scam targeting older men through dating apps, meeting them in person to drug and rob them. The FBI confirmed at least 11 victims across the U.S. and Mexico, with at least three deaths resulting from the scheme; Phelps is currently held in a Mexican jail awaiting extradition and faces potential life imprisonment if convicted.
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5NEWS
· 2025-02-24
The FBI is seeking additional victims of Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman arrested in Mexico and charged with a years-long romance scam targeting older men between 2021 and 2022. Using aliases on dating apps like Tinder and OkCupid, Phelps lured at least four elderly victims, accessed their bank accounts, and allegedly drugged one victim into a coma while three others died; she faces 21 counts including bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping, with one charge involving transporting a heavily sedated victim across the U.S.-Mexico border in a wheelchair.
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ABC News
· 2025-02-24
Las Vegas resident Aurora Phelps, 43, is charged with a sophisticated romance scam targeting older men she met through online dating services, in which she drugged victims and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars by accessing their bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and credit cards. One victim died after Phelps allegedly sedated and transported him across the US-Mexico border to a Mexico City hotel room, and another victim had approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock fraudulently sold; Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico, and the FBI is seeking additional victims to come forward.
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CNBC Television
· 2025-02-24
Crypto-related scams generated nearly $10 billion in fraudulent revenue in 2024, with pig butchering scams surging 40% and representing 33.2% of overall crypto fraud schemes. Pig butchering scams involve fraudsters building trust with victims through romance or investment schemes before directing them to fake platforms to steal cryptocurrency funds. The surge is driven by increased professionalization of scam operations, easier access to sophisticated tools, and state actors using cryptocurrency to evade sanctions.
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WFAA
· 2025-02-24
Aurora Phelps, a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen currently in a Mexican jail awaiting extradition, is accused by the FBI of orchestrating a romance scam targeting older men on dating apps, meeting them in person, drugging them, and stealing their money. The scheme has resulted in at least 11 confirmed victims across the U.S. and Mexico, with three victims deceased. Phelps faces potential life imprisonment if convicted.
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News 19 WLTX
· 2025-02-25
Two Lexon County men, 45-year-old Kenneth Brown and 46-year-old Nicholas Shepard, were sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving business email compromise and romance scams. The men coordinated with others to receive checks from scam victims at their business, Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange, then deposited and converted the funds into cryptocurrency. They must pay $415,000 in restitution and are ineligible for parole under the federal system.
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5NEWS
· 2025-02-26
Aurora Phelps, 43, of Las Vegas is charged with federal crimes including fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death for romance scams conducted between July 2021 and December 2022, where she allegedly drugged victims and stole from them. Phelps has a prior 2019 Arkansas case where she was accused of drugging a woman and stealing her credit card, as well as a separate 2017 Benton County case involving a false police report; she is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges and faces extradition proceedings.
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The Online Citizen
· 2025-02-27
Rachel Ong called for strengthened mental health support for seniors in Singapore's Budget 2025 debate, highlighting that seniors aged 60 and above account for nearly 30% of suicide cases despite being least likely to seek help. She emphasized that seniors face profound grief, loss, and life changes while lacking adequate access to healthcare professionals and informal support networks, requiring urgent targeted interventions. Ong also referenced the need to address scam distress as part of comprehensive senior mental health support.
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CTV News
· 2025-03-01
March marks Fraud Prevention Month across Canada, during which law enforcement and community groups collaborate to educate the public about fraud prevention. According to Edmonton police and the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association, current fraud trends include investment fraud, online employment scams, and romance fraud, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated in targeting both money and personal identity. Key prevention advice includes being skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true and verifying whether you initiated contact with the person or organization reaching out.
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National Geographic
· 2025-03-02
Investigative journalist Mariana Van Zeller explores cryptocurrency "rug pull" scams, where fraudsters create fake crypto tokens to steal investor money—a scheme that victimized people of nearly $3 billion in 2021 alone. The episode follows Van Zeller's investigation into young, wealthy scammers who exploit cryptocurrency's unregulated decentralized finance space, and features interviews with victims like Xavier, who lost money across multiple rug pull schemes with no recourse in the largely lawless crypto market.
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CBS4 Indy
· 2025-03-04
A cybersecurity survey reveals that many Americans are overconfident in their ability to avoid online scams, with over a third believing victimization only occurs from oversharing and nearly half thinking misspellings easily identify scams—misconceptions that no longer hold true as scammers increasingly sophisticate their tactics. Despite 75% of respondents agreeing scams should be reported, actual reporting rates are significantly lower, dropping to 14% for romance scams, while seniors remain the most targeted demographic though younger age groups are experiencing the fastest growth in scam victimization.
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CBS 13 News
· 2025-03-04
Financial losses from scams in Maine are rising significantly, with scammers employing increasingly sophisticated and relentless tactics that have intensified since the pandemic, according to AARP Maine experts. Common scam types affecting Maine residents include door-to-door scams and romance scams, among others, and anyone can become a victim regardless of demographics. Experts emphasize that knowledge and vigilance are critical to protecting oneself from these evolving fraud schemes.
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CBS TEXAS
· 2025-03-05
A North Texas man fell victim to a combined romance and cryptocurrency scam after meeting a woman named "Giana" on a dating site for seniors. The scammer built trust through daily communication, then persuaded him to invest in cryptocurrency, ultimately causing him to lose nearly everything. The scam exemplifies how romance fraud is often layered with investment schemes to exploit victims' emotional vulnerability and financial resources.
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KGW News
· 2025-03-06
A Portland woman lost $40,000 after matching with a scammer on Tinder who built rapport through weeks of constant texting before requesting money. The scammer used fake documents, a fabricated hospital photo (stolen from former MLB pitcher Phil Hughes), and fraudulent financial transfers—including $750,000 moved into her retirement account—to manipulate her over months before the scheme unraveled when payments bounced and her account was frozen.
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wgaltv
· 2025-03-06
The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Risk Scam Report identifies investment/cryptocurrency scams, employment scams, and romance scams as the top three riskiest scams based on exposure, susceptibility, and monetary loss. While the likelihood of experiencing a scam loss decreased 15% year-over-year, the median loss per victim increased 30% to $130, with seniors age 65 and older and young adults age 18-24 reporting the highest median dollar losses, and Publisher's Clearing House impersonation being the most common scam tactic.
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ChannelOne TV
· 2025-03-07
Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the UK's National Crime Agency launched a whistleblowing campaign to combat rising romance fraud cases, revealing they have been investigating at least 107 cases since 2021 with approximately 2 million Ghana cedis recovered in 2024 alone. Romance scams remain a pervasive threat in Ghana, increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence to deceive victims. The campaign aims to leverage whistleblowing mechanisms to effectively address the growing problem of romance fraud.
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WFMJ
· 2025-03-08
Scammers are creating fake profiles on dating apps powered by AI chatbots that use artificial intelligence to engage victims in romantic conversations before soliciting cryptocurrency payments. These fake profiles typically contain minimal information (just a few photos and a name) and use chat GPT technology to generate convincing messages, allowing perpetrators to manipulate victims into sending hundreds or thousands of dollars. Security experts warn that these AI-powered catfishing scams represent a dangerous evolution of traditional romance fraud targeting dating app users.
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WTVC NewsChannel 9
· 2025-03-10
Tennessee is addressing a surge in romance scams targeting seniors through the proposed "Romance Scam Prevention Act," which would require dating apps to implement fraud prevention measures. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Tennessee residents over 60 lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with romance scammers building trust before requesting money or financial access through fabricated stories. Law enforcement recommends contacting local police if suspicious activity seems out of place, as officers can often quickly identify common scam tactics.
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NTV Kenya
· 2025-03-12
This episode of The Elevate Show features hosts discussing romance scams (also called "love scams"), where scammers pretend to be in love with victims to steal money, personal information, or cause emotional harm. The hosts note that while such scams have historically affected many women, they are discussing cases involving a man who has been victimized by this type of fraud twice. The episode explores real stories of heartbreak and deception through romance scams.
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FOX23 News Tulsa
· 2025-03-17
The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Scam Tracker Risk Report identifies the five riskiest scams targeting consumers. Cryptocurrency investment scams rank first, with 80% of victims losing an average of $5,000 through pressure to trade or store funds on fake exchanges; other high-risk scams include employment fraud (fake job offers requesting personal information and payment for training), romance scams (where victims send money to fabricated relationships), and scams using fake checks or overpayment schemes. Scammers continually adapt traditional fraud methods with new twists to exploit victims.
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Valley News Live
· 2025-03-19
Romance scams spike around Valentine's Day, with nearly 65,000 people reporting such scams to the Federal Trade Commission in 2023, resulting in $1.14 billion in total losses. Scammers create fake online dating profiles to gain victims' trust before manipulating them into sending money. The article recommends using reverse image search as a simple protective step to verify the authenticity of online dating profiles.