▶ VIDEO
CNN
· 2024-02-19
A financial columnist for New York magazine fell victim to an elaborate multi-stage scam in which fraudsters impersonating Amazon, the Federal Trade Commission, and a CIA investigator convinced her to withdraw $50,000 and hand it to them in cash over the course of a five-hour phone call. The scammers exploited her vulnerability by threatening her family and creating a false sense of urgency, using isolation tactics to prevent her from seeking help or verification. She came forward with her story to highlight that scam victims span all demographics and professions, and that sophisticated scammers are skilled at identifying and exploiting individual vulnerabilities.
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A Current Affair
· 2024-05-07
A mother in Australia intervened when her teenage son was targeted by online sextortion—a scam where criminals blackmail victims using intimate images or threats to coerce money or further exploitation. The mother's quick action likely prevented her son from harming himself, though she later learned of another young person who died by suicide after falling victim to the same scheme. Experts warn that sextortion can occur on any platform with chat functions, and parents are urged to maintain open communication with their children and educate them about not sharing personal information or intimate images online.
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CBS News
· 2024-07-24
Meta removed approximately 63,000 accounts linked to sextortion scams, primarily operated by criminals based in Nigeria. The scammers created fake Facebook accounts using stolen photos, built trust with victims through messaging, then solicited intimate photos before threatening to publicly release them unless payment was made. The scam operates as an extortion scheme designed to financially exploit victims through blackmail threats.
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CBS Mornings
· 2024-09-04
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 880,000 complaints last year, a 10% increase from 2022, with blackmail scam emails being a prevalent threat. These emails threaten recipients with claims of embarrassing footage or compromised browsing data and often include personal details like names, addresses, and street view images to appear credible. Experts note that while these scams are rarely genuine, they are personalized enough to deceive even cautious individuals.
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WCCO - CBS Minnesota
· 2024-09-10
A new extortion scam targets victims with personalized threatening emails containing their home addresses, phone numbers, and photos from Google Street View, falsely claiming the sender has installed spyware and possesses compromising images. The scammer demands payment in bitcoin (approximately $2,000 in the case documented) threatening to release the alleged images to the victim's contacts, exploiting data from previous breaches to make the threats appear credible. Cybersecurity experts note this is a modern variation of classic extortion tactics that exploits victims' fear and the sophistication of personalized information collection.
Cryptocurrency
▶ VIDEO
FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
· 2024-09-11
"Sextortion" scams are targeting victims nationwide by claiming spyware has been installed on their computers, allowing scammers to capture webcam footage and screenshots of their online activity. The scammers threaten to send this alleged evidence to the victim's contacts unless they pay a ransom, using personalized details like names, addresses, and photos to appear credible. The FBI recognizes this as an extortion scheme that relies on volume and fear to pressure victims into paying.
▶ VIDEO
NewsChannel 9 WSYR Syracuse
· 2024-10-03
This interview with Police Sergeant Ken Hatter addresses the "hello pervert" sextortion scam, in which fraudsters claim to have spied on victims through webcams and demand payment in Bitcoin. Hatter explains that these are mass-template emails sent to multiple recipients and are definitively scams, as actual hackers with computer access would steal money directly rather than request it via email.
▶ VIDEO
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.
▶ VIDEO
WISN 12 News
· 2025-01-30
Police and the Better Business Bureau are warning Wisconsin residents about a "sextortion" email scam in which fraudsters claim to have compromising video footage and demand approximately $2,000 in bitcoin, using publicly available personal information like phone numbers, addresses, and home photos to appear credible. The scammers, typically located in Africa, threaten to send the alleged videos to the victim's contacts unless payment is made; authorities advise recipients to ignore the emails and report them rather than respond, as the scammers will move on to other targets if no payment is received.
▶ VIDEO
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.
▶ VIDEO
CBS Mornings
· 2025-05-01
Former Nashville TV meteorologist Brie Smith has been battling an AI-driven sextortion scam for months in which criminals used deepfake technology to create explicit images and videos of her to extort money from her followers. The FBI reports that sextortion scams have targeted tens of thousands of Americans in the past year, with Smith documenting at least 24 fraudulent accounts impersonating her within a single week. Smith ultimately left her position at the local CBS station in January due to the ongoing harassment and emotional toll of fighting the scammers.
▶ VIDEO
KREM 2 News
· 2025-09-23
A Nigerian man was extradited from the UK to face eight federal charges for allegedly defrauding Idahoans out of at least $2 million through romance and sextortion scams. He posed as a woman on social media to deceive male victims into sending explicit images, then threatened to share the photos with their families unless they paid. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
▶ VIDEO
CBC News
· 2025-10-03
This Marketplace investigation exposes a sextortion scam targeting teenagers, particularly young boys, in which criminals create fake female Instagram profiles to lure victims into sending nude photos before blackmailing them for money. The reporters demonstrate how scammers operate by setting up realistic-looking fake accounts, infiltrating follower lists, and using social engineering to manipulate victims into compromising situations. The piece reveals that families across Canada are dealing with the serious consequences of this extortion scheme.
Gift Cards
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, consumers lost a record $10 billion to fraud, with imposter scams being the most prevalent, affecting nearly 854,000 people and resulting in $2.7 billion in losses at an average of $800 per victim. Imposter scams involve criminals posing as trusted entities (government agencies, companies, relatives, or romantic interests) via email, phone, text, or social media to steal money or personal information, with emerging technologies like AI and voice cloning making these frauds increasingly convincing. Older adults, particularly those 80 and over, experience significantly higher median losses ($1,450) and are particularly vulnerable to "phantom hacker" tech-
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Video call scams are fraudulent schemes conducted via platforms like WhatsApp where scammers use impersonation, deepfakes, and emotional manipulation to target victims through four main methods: blackmail (threatening to release recorded calls), investment fraud, tech support deception, and romance schemes. India's CERT-In recommends safeguards including avoiding video calls from unknown contacts, not sharing personal information, verifying identities, using secure platforms, and maintaining restricted privacy settings on social media.
winnipeg.ca
· 2025-12-08
Fraud Prevention Month 2024 highlights the importance of education and awareness in combating scams targeting Canadians, particularly seniors through schemes like the grandparent scam. In 2022, Canada reported 70,878 frauds affecting 37,047 victims with total losses of $529.3 million, while Manitoba alone experienced 1,850 scams resulting in $10.4 million in losses across 1,011 victims. Law enforcement agencies, including the Winnipeg Police Service, are promoting fraud prevention throughout March via radio panels, community events, educational articles, and social media campaigns focused on cryptocurrency, grandparent, bank investigator, and sextortion frau
oudtshoorncourant.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece provides ten practical strategies for avoiding romance scams on the internet. Key advice includes: not engaging with unknown online contacts, using reverse image lookups to verify identities, recognizing manipulation tactics (excessive terms of endearment, avoidance of video calls), never sending money to people you haven't met, and avoiding sharing personal information or intimate photos that could be used for sextortion or extortion. The article emphasizes trusting friends and family who recognize warning signs, as scammers often exploit emotional manipulation and create false scenarios to extract money or sensitive information.
ksfr.org
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion is a scam in which perpetrators, often adult males from West Africa or overseas, pose as teenage girls on social media to solicit sexually explicit content from teenage boys, then blackmail victims for money to prevent publication. The FBI reports thousands of victims and at least 20 suicides linked to these crimes in recent years. Fraud expert Steven Weisman recommends parents educate teens about the risks of sharing explicit material online and advises victims to report incidents to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
South Carolina state Rep. Brandon Guffey's teenage son Gavin died by suicide after falling victim to a sextortion scam in which criminals posing as a young female on social media demanded money after he sent explicit photos. Guffey filed an 81-page wrongful death lawsuit against Meta, alleging the company failed to prevent the scam and contributed to mental health crises among young people, while the FBI reports sextortion cases in Georgia increased 700% since 2021. In response to his son's death, Guffey passed "Gavin's Law," making it a felony to target minors or at-risk adults in sextortion schemes.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
Naperville police reported over $750,000 in cryptocurrency losses since February, with four cases involving residents aged 43-83 in March alone. Scammers employed various tactics including hacking, romance scams, arrest scams, and sextortion to manipulate victims into sending funds. Police advise residents to avoid sharing personal information, resist pressure to act immediately, consult trusted individuals before responding, and refuse requests for payment via cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
Brent Carey, CEO of New Zealand's Netsafe (which receives 15,000 scam reports annually with 25% year-over-year growth), discusses the expanding fraud landscape affecting victims across all demographics. Romance scams and sextortion are particularly devastating, with sextortion complaints up 88% and primarily targeting young males who are blackmailed after sending intimate images to fraudsters posing as young women. A Netsafe and Global Anti-Scam Alliance survey found New Zealanders lost over $2 billion to scams, with the average victim losing $3,165, contrary to the misconception that only elderly people are targeted.
ntd.com
· 2025-12-08
Syretta Scherer, a 42-year-old Georgia woman, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison in March for her role in a romance scam conspiracy that defrauded at least 28 seniors across multiple states of $5.8 million between February 2018 and November 2019. The scheme involved cultivating fake online relationships through dating apps, then pressuring victims to send money for fabricated emergencies; Scherer laundered approximately $1.1 million through bank accounts created under a sham company called Precise Carriers. Multiple co-conspirators were also prosecuted, with one receiving 78 months in prison and ordered to pay over $
thetimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Maria Woodhouse, a 34-year-old job seeker, lost £2,655 to a recruitment scam after being contacted via WhatsApp by a fake recruiter offering remote work for £13 per hour. The scammer created a false job using a cryptocurrency platform (OKX) as a payment method, tricking Woodhouse into depositing money for each "task" while the scammer redirected her funds out of the wallet. Recruitment scams are the third most commonly reported fraud type, with cases rising 156% year-over-year and averaging £3,000 in losses per victim.
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between 2022 and 2023, sextortion reports involving children in Greater Manchester increased by 300 percent, rising from 22 to 88 cases, with a greater than 600 percent increase since 2020. Sextortion is a blackmail scam in which criminals create fake identities to befriend victims online, request explicit photos, then demand money under threat of sharing the images with the victim's social media contacts. Greater Manchester Police emphasized the seriousness of these crimes and encouraged victims to report to authorities or contact Crimestoppers anonymously, noting that victims should not feel ashamed as this crime is not their fault.
westsussex.gov.uk
· 2025-12-08
In the final three months of 2023, West Sussex residents lost £3.5 million to fraud, with over half of the 53% of victims aged 75 and older falling prey to courier/impersonator fraud, dating scams, and sextortion. To address this, West Sussex County Council's Digital Safety Team is offering free 1.5-hour "Are you scam savvy?" educational sessions in May, June, and July 2024, available both online and in-person at three local libraries, with bookings required through Eventbrite.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
Cybercriminals based in China and Pakistan have launched a resurgence of sextortion scams targeting residents of Bhopal, with 21 cases reported in one month resulting in losses of Rs 8 lakh. The scammers use messaging apps with fake female profiles to lure victims into obscene video calls, record the interactions, then threaten to share the videos online unless paid. Authorities advise residents to avoid calls and messages from numbers with country codes +86 (China) and +92 (Pakistan) to prevent falling victim to this fraud.
uk.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Suzanne Famula, 39, was defrauded of £20,810 by Christopher Harris, 41, whom she met on the dating app Hinge in November 2020. Harris used a romance scam scheme, repeatedly claiming he had serious health conditions and requesting money for medical expenses, mortgage payments, and bills over their five-month relationship. Harris was sentenced to 30 months in prison in February 2023 after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation, and Famula is now campaigning to establish romance fraud as a specific criminal offense with dedicated victim support.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
A Hong Kong finance worker lost $25.6 million after being deceived in a video conference where the CFO and executives were entirely computer-generated deepfakes, representing a sophisticated AI-enabled fraud scheme. Criminals are increasingly weaponizing generative AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E to create convincing fake voices, videos, and identities for various scams including celebrity endorsement frauds, romance schemes, sextortion, and phishing emails. Experts warn that AI technology has dramatically lowered the barrier for fraud perpetration, enabling an "industrial revolution for fraud criminals" with potentially endless victims and losses.
lbc.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A Times journalist and a Conservative MP were targeted in a Westminster honeytrap scam involving fake identities ("Charlie" and "Abi") who posed as acquaintances and sent sexually explicit messages in attempts to gather compromising material. MP William Wragg admitted to sharing colleagues' personal phone numbers after being contacted on Grindr, while journalist Harry Yorke recognized the spear-phishing attempt and did not engage, only understanding it was a scam after POLITICO's reporting. Leicestershire police are investigating the incident, which exposed vulnerabilities in how British political figures can be targeted for cyberattacks and potential blackmail.
azfamily.com
· 2025-12-08
This is an educational podcast series covering consumer protection topics rather than a specific fraud or elder abuse incident. Key episodes address red flags in standard contracts, risks associated with rewards credit cards that can lead to debt, vehicle recalls affecting safety, and credit denial trends affecting consumers. The podcast provides advice on identifying problematic contract clauses, understanding credit card pitfalls, and navigating consumer financial decisions.
citizen.co.za
· 2025-12-08
Meta is testing new safety features to protect young people from sextortion and intimate image abuse, including machine learning technology to detect and blur nudity in direct messages, stricter default messaging settings for teens, and Safety Notices alerting users to potential scam accounts. The company is also sharing information about sextortion accounts with other tech companies through the Lantern initiative and supporting platforms like Take It Down that help young people regain control of intimate images and prevent their distribution.
moneysense.ca
· 2025-12-08
Young Canadians aged 18-34 are increasingly targeted by phishing scams, with nearly one-third falling victim despite being digitally native. Common schemes include fake boss emails requesting gift card purchases, fake delivery notifications from online shopping, employment scams offering unpaid gig work, and romance scams involving coerced intimate photos, with fraudsters contacting victims via email/text (74%), phone calls (64%), social media (43%), and online dating apps (10%). Cybersecurity experts recommend vigilance against authority figures requesting unusual favors and caution when sharing personal information in response to unsolicited messages.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers known as "Yahoo Boys," primarily based in Nigeria, are increasingly using deepfake and face-swapping technology in real-time video calls to impersonate fake romantic partners and defraud victims of thousands of dollars each. The FBI reports over $650 million was lost to romance fraud last year, with the scammers openly sharing their techniques and recruiting accomplices across Telegram and social media platforms. These experienced con artists, who have evolved their tactics as AI technology has improved, operate in loosely organized clusters without formal leadership structure and show little fear of consequences.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Kolkata resident lost Rs 50,000 to cyber criminals in a sextortion scam after being befriended on Facebook by a woman named "Suchitra Patel" who recorded their interactions. The scammers, posing as a Delhi Police officer named "Bipin Malhotra," then threatened to share obscene videos with the victim's relatives unless he paid. No arrests have been made in the case.
manoa.hawaii.edu
· 2025-12-08
The University of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Safety issued a warning about "financially motivated sextortion," a crime where online predators pose as someone else to coerce victims into creating sexually explicit images or videos, then demand payment or threaten to share the material with the victim's family and friends. Predators typically target victims through social media, dating apps, and gaming platforms by creating fake profiles or hacking legitimate accounts, and may demand payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Victims are urged to report incidents to law enforcement, block the predator, and avoid paying money, as cooperating with extortionists rarely stops the harassment.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams on dating apps cost Americans over $650 million in 2022, with the FTC reporting even higher losses of $1.3 billion and alleging that 25-30% of daily Match.com sign-ups were scammers. These scams, which primarily target older adults, include phishing attacks and sextortion schemes, and victims rarely recover their stolen funds due to the difficulty of tracing money once it leaves the country. Match Group's CEO acknowledged empathy for victims but emphasized the company's focus on platform safety, though the FTC has filed a lawsuit against the company over inadequate fraud prevention measures.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
Match Group CEO Bernard Kim acknowledged "empathy" for victims of romance scams on the company's platforms (Match.com, Tinder, Hinge, and others), but stated the company cannot prevent financial losses once users voluntarily send money to scammers. Foreign-based criminals stole over $1 billion in 2023 through romance scams on dating apps, with romance fraud cases sharply increasing from 2017 to 2023 as scammers exploited lonely and vulnerable users, affecting tens of thousands of victims including an estimated 40% men. Match Group emphasized its use of automated detection tools, user warnings, and trust and safety protocols to identify and prevent scams,
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
The Yahoo Boys, a loosely organized collective of thousands of scammers primarily based in West Africa, operate openly on social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, and YouTube, conducting romance scams, sextortion schemes, business email compromise, and AI-generated deepfake fraud that collectively total hundreds of millions of dollars annually. These cybercriminals openly share their identities, sell fraudulent scripts and fake identification documents, and coordinate their activities across dozens of groups with hundreds of thousands of combined members, with social media companies providing what experts describe as "free office space" for their criminal operations. While major platforms have removed many Yahoo Boys accounts after media scrut
thetimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Olamide Shanu, a 33-year-old Nigerian, was arrested and faces extradition to the United States on charges related to a sextortion scam that allegedly generated up to £2 million. Shanu is accused of posing as a teenage girl online to coerce boys into sending sexually explicit images, then blackmailing them with threats to share the photos with their families and friends unless they paid money; his cryptocurrency account received over 6,000 payments from hundreds of victims over three years. The case coincides with a surge in sextortion scams targeting minors in the UK and US, with at least three British children having taken their own lives after being vict
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A 16-year-old boy in Scotland was targeted by sextortion scammers who posed as a young girl, tricked him into sharing an intimate image, then threatened to distribute it to his contacts—tactics that led to his suicide. His parents are now raising awareness about the scam, which primarily targets young men, and calling for social media companies to implement stronger protections for teenagers against these predatory criminals who use psychological manipulation and panic tactics.
consumerwide.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigeria is a global center for romance scams, particularly targeting foreign victims, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reporting 1,129 victims and approximately $14 million in losses in 2021. The EFCC identified rapid growth in cyber-crime among young Nigerians, noting that societal acceptance of these crimes—including parental support of scammers—enables the criminal activity to flourish despite existing laws. Romance scams extend internationally, with documented cases involving Nigerian perpetrators defrauding victims across the US, UK, and Europe, ranging from financial extortion to cases resulting in victim suicides and prison sentences.
searchlight.vc
· 2025-12-08
St. Vincent and the Grenadines police have warned residents about rising online financial scams, particularly romance scams involving fake identities (catfishing) and phishing attacks targeting confidential information. Victims are predominantly older persons in their late 40s to 50s, with local law enforcement receiving reports of these incidents twice monthly. Authorities advise downloading apps only from official app stores and caution the public about fraudulent emails and websites, noting that identity-related crimes can result in fines up to $200,000 or three years imprisonment under the 2016 Cyber Crime Act.
kesq.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion scams, where online predators impersonate teens, build relationships with victims, and then blackmail them with intimate photos, are rising significantly across the U.S. Between October 2021 and March 2023, over 13,000 cases of sextortion targeting minors were reported, with most victims being boys ages 14-17, and at least 20 minors taking their own lives as a result. Authorities recommend parents monitor children's online activity, teach them to recognize warning signs like unsolicited contact and photo requests, and encourage victims to report incidents to police without fear of consequences.
arabnews.pk
· 2025-12-08
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) launched a new "Account Finder" service to help retail banking customers verify account ownership and reduce risks of unauthorized access, impersonation, and suspicious transactions. The initiative is part of SAMA's broader efforts to combat financial fraud in Saudi Arabia, where a joint study with Interpol identified five major types of fraud affecting Arab countries—including investment scams, business email compromise, romance scams, and sextortion—with fraudulent sites receiving over 137,000 daily visits from potential victims.
denverpost.com
· 2025-12-08
A scam called "financial sextortion" has become the fastest-growing cybercrime, targeting young men and teenage boys through fake romantic profiles on social media that collect explicit images and demand ransom payments (typically $300-$3,500) via cryptocurrency or gift cards. Between October 2021 and March 2023, the FBI received 13,000 reports of financial sextortion, with the vast majority involving minors, and at least 20 teenagers have died by suicide after being victimized, including 15-year-old Riley Basford in 2021. Scammers, often operating from Nigeria and other countries, use explicit images as leverage to extort
murrayledger.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans older than 60 reported over $3.4 billion in fraud losses across more than 100,000 complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, with losses increasing 11% from 2022. The most common scams targeting seniors include tech support and call center fraud ($1.3 billion in losses), phony investment schemes ($1.2 billion), and fake romance scams, with the particularly devastating "Phantom Hacker" scam draining victims of their life savings through multiple fraudulent personas. In Kentucky specifically, seniors reported $12.8 million in losses across 908 complaints, and the FBI notes that some victims have rem
intouchweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams, which exploited approximately 70,000 Americans in 2022 resulting in $1.3 billion in losses (a 78% increase from 2020), typically begin on social media platforms (40% of cases) or dating apps where scammers build trust before requesting money for investments, emergencies, or travel. Older adults aged 65 and above are the most frequently targeted demographic and suffer the highest financial losses, with victims experiencing not only severe financial consequences but also profound emotional trauma including shame, betrayal, and lasting psychological harm.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A Kolkata resident who fell victim to sextortion via Skype in January—where scammers posed as police after obtaining a compromising screenshot—transferred Rs 10 lakh to the fraudsters before police recovered the stolen funds five months later. Though the money was traced and accounts were frozen, the investigation to identify and arrest the perpetrators remains ongoing.
bbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion scammers, primarily based in Nigeria, targeted 17-year-old Jordan Buta on Instagram by posing as a girl, coercing him to send explicit images, then blackmailing him for hundreds of pounds—all within six hours before he died by suicide. The crime, which has been linked to over 27 US suicides and more than doubled to 26,700 reported cases last year, led to the extradition and guilty pleas of two Nigerian brothers, Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, on child exploitation charges. Jordan's mother now campaigns on social media to raise awareness about sextortion, one of the fastest-growing scams targeting teenagers
saharareporters.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion scams have been linked to over 27 suicides in the US, with 17-year-old Jordan Buta becoming a tragic victim in 2022 after scammers posing as a teenage girl on Instagram manipulated him into sharing explicit photos, then demanded hundreds of pounds while threatening to share the images with his friends. Jordan took his own life six hours after the scam began; the perpetrators, Nigerian brothers Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, were arrested, extradited to the US, and faced child exploitation charges. Jordan's mother, Jennifer Buta, has since become an advocate raising awareness about sextortion through social media, helping other families recognize
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
A UK health club chain, Total Fitness, exposed over 474,000 images of members and staff through an unprotected, publicly accessible database containing 47.7GB of data, including identity documents, payment card information, and phone numbers. The database was left without password protection, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive personal information of more than 100,000 members and 600 staff across 15 facilities. Total Fitness has since secured the database, notified affected individuals, and reported the breach to the UK's Information Commissioner's Office.
weareiowa.com
· 2025-12-08
Elderly Iowans lost over $16 million to scams in the past year, with FBI data showing this is likely underreported and mirrors rising national trends among seniors. Investment scams pose the greatest financial threat to older adults, while newer schemes like phantom hacker scams convince victims to convert assets to precious metals and cash for supposed protection. The FBI advises victims to contact their financial institutions immediately to freeze assets, avoid clicking unsolicited links, verify government officials independently, and report incidents to law enforcement.
wng.org
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. State Department released an annual report highlighting how human traffickers are exploiting encrypted messaging, digital currencies, social media, and online platforms (dating apps, gaming sites, fake job websites) to recruit and exploit victims, while a growing trend involves trafficking people for organ harvesting. Law enforcement and NGOs are countering these efforts using artificial intelligence, data analytics, and monitoring of online platforms, with recent international operations resulting in multiple arrests and seizures of trafficking infrastructure. The report notes that traffickers target not only women and girls but also children, with thousands of teenagers annually becoming victims of sextortion scams demanding money in exchange for not publicizing sexual images.
wbaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
I'm unable to provide a summary of this content. What you've shared appears to be a collection of advertisement headlines or news feed links rather than an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. To create a relevant summary for the Elderus database, please provide the actual article text or transcript related to elder fraud, scams, or abuse.
winonadailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
I cannot summarize this content. The text provided is simply a list of country names and their formal designations, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse.
To provide a summary for the Elderus database, please share an actual article or transcript that discusses:
- A specific fraud or scam incident
- Elder abuse or financial exploitation
- Scam prevention advice or research findings
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
**AI-Powered Scams and Protective Measures**
This educational piece identifies two primary AI-enabled scams targeting vulnerable individuals: voice cloning of family members to solicit emergency financial assistance, and personalized phishing emails using AI-generated text customized with stolen personal data to increase credibility. The article recommends verifying suspicious communications by contacting the person through normal channels, avoiding attempts to detect fake voices, treating unknown contacts as suspicious, and remaining skeptical of personalized messages that reference recent purchases or locations.
courant.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion, a cyber-based sex crime involving extortion for money, is rapidly increasing across the U.S. and Connecticut, with officials warning of its dangers. The scheme has been linked to the deaths of more than a dozen children who were targeted victims. Authorities are raising awareness about this growing threat to protect vulnerable populations from this form of exploitation.
masslive.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS is warning taxpayers about a scam involving unscrupulous tax return preparers who misrepresent rules for claiming clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, falsely claiming credits for taxpayers who do not qualify. Taxpayers who claim these inappropriate credits are responsible for repaying the inflated amount plus interest and penalties, and the IRS urges individuals to consult reputable tax professionals before claiming complex credits.
heraldsheets.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, cryptocurrency users lost nearly $2 billion to rug pulls, scams, and hacks, with losses exceeding $1.4 billion in the first half of 2024. Common crypto scams include phishing attacks (fake websites and emails stealing login credentials), romance scams (emotional manipulation leading to fraudulent investment requests), impersonation and giveaway scams (fake celebrity endorsements and deepfakes), and investment scams (Ponzi schemes and pump-and-dump schemes). Users can protect themselves by understanding these scam types, remaining alert, and staying informed about threats in the cryptocurrency sector.
marbleheadcurrent.org
· 2025-12-08
Retired teacher Doug Fodeman and his neighbor David Deutsch have operated TheDailyScam.com for 12 years to educate people about fraud prevention, inspired after their sons were targeted by online scammers. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with prevalent schemes including "pig butchering" text scams, fake package delivery notifications, romance and sextortion scams, and fake banking texts. Fodeman provides free weekly newsletters and resources to help people recognize and avoid these increasingly sophisticated scams.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
A 17-year-old Victorian boy, Rohan Patrick Cosgriff, died by suicide in July 2022 after being victimized by a sextortion scam originating from Nigeria, in which he was coerced into sending intimate images to someone on Snapchat who then threatened to distribute them unless he paid money. A coroner's report found that eleven other Australian young people have died by suicide over the past decade following sextortion or image-based abuse, and recommended a shift in online safety education from simply discouraging image-sharing to helping victims understand they have not done anything wrong and can recover from such situations. The coroner suggested these findings should inform a statutory review of Australia
therecord.media
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed 63,000 accounts operated by Nigerian cybercriminals known as "Yahoo Boys" that were conducting financial sextortion scams primarily targeting U.S. adults, though some attempts targeted minors, with scammers demanding payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, and wire transfers. Within these accounts, Meta identified a coordinated network of approximately 20 individuals in Nigeria who were selling scamming guides, scripts, and fake profile materials to other fraudsters. Meta designated the Yahoo Boys as a banned entity and shared detection tactics with other tech companies to improve prevention across platforms.
socialmediatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 70,000 accounts, Pages, and groups associated with "Yahoo Boys," a Nigerian scam collective that has shifted from traditional advance-fee fraud to sextortion and romance scams targeting primarily adult men in the US. The coordinated action identified a core network of around 2,500 accounts linked to approximately 20 individuals who used fake profiles to extract intimate images and money from victims through romantic deception. Meta also removed 1,300 Facebook profiles and 5,700 groups that were sharing scam scripts, guides, and fake photos to facilitate these schemes.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts and over 7,000 Facebook accounts/pages/groups based in Nigeria that were conducting financial sextortion scams, primarily targeting U.S. men but also attempting to target minors. The accounts were operated by cybercriminals known as "Yahoo Boys" who organized recruitment and training, with scammers soliciting explicit photos and threatening to share them unless victims paid money or sent gift cards. The FBI has reported a significant surge in sextortion cases involving children and teens, with some victims taking their own lives, prompting Meta to work with law enforcement and child safety experts to combat the threat.
Gift Cards
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian criminals are conducting widespread sextortion scams targeting American men on social media platforms, with Meta removing approximately 63,000 Nigerian accounts, 200 Facebook pages, and 5,700 groups used to coordinate these schemes. In these scams, criminals pose as attractive women to manipulate victims into sending nude photos, then extort money by threatening to release the images; the FBI reports at least 20 teen victims have died by suicide as a result. Meta is implementing protective measures including an auto-blur feature for nude images in Instagram DMs and recommends users exercise caution with unsolicited messages from accounts with highly polished photos.
apnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts operating sexual extortion (sextortion) scams primarily from Nigeria, along with thousands of Facebook groups organizing and recruiting scammers into the "Yahoo Boys" network. Sextortion involves coercing victims to send explicit images and then threatening exposure unless they pay money or comply with sexual demands, with recent cases showing increased targeting of minors despite most attempts targeting adult men in the U.S. Meta deployed protective tools including automatic nudity blurring in direct messages and advised users to be cautious of unsolicited messages from unknown accounts with unusually attractive photos.
mediapost.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed over 60,000 Instagram accounts linked to sextortion scams operated by Nigerian cybercriminals ("Yahoo Boys") who primarily targeted adult men in the U.S. using fake identities, and also identified accounts attempting to target minors, which were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The company simultaneously removed approximately 7,200 additional assets from Facebook (including 1,300 accounts, 200 Pages, and 5,700 Groups) that were distributing scam guides and fake profile materials to facilitate fraud schemes.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed over 60,000 accounts linked to sextortion scams, predominantly originating from Nigeria. Sextortion scams involve criminals threatening to release intimate images unless victims pay money, and the platform's enforcement action targets the coordinated networks facilitating these schemes.
socialmediatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 70,000 accounts, pages, and groups associated with the "Yahoo Boys," a Nigerian sextortion and romance scam network that primarily targeted adult men in the US by creating fake profiles to extract intimate images and money through extortion. The coordinated enforcement action, which included the removal of 63,000 Instagram accounts and smaller networks of about 2,500 linked accounts, also targeted 1,300 Facebook profiles and 5,700 groups that were distributing scam scripts and guides. Meta's investigation provided insights into the group's coordination tactics, allowing the platform to improve its automated detection systems to prevent future schemes.
thehackernews.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts based in Nigeria engaged in financial sextortion scams, including a coordinated network of around 2,500 accounts linked to roughly 20 individuals who primarily targeted adult men in the U.S. using fake identities; the company also dismantled 7,200 additional assets used to recruit and train scammers. The cybercrime group "Yahoo Boys" was attributed to these operations, which have previously targeted teenagers in Australia, Canada, and the U.S. by posing as minors to solicit explicit images for blackmail purposes. These enforcement actions align with a broader law enforcement crackdown, including INTERPOL's Operation
thebusinessjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts and thousands of Facebook groups and pages operating sextortion scams primarily from Nigeria, targeting victims by coercing them to send explicit images and then demanding money or sexual favors under threat of exposure. The majority of scam attempts targeted adult men in the U.S., though some targeted minors, with cases linked to a loosely organized group called the Yahoo Boys that has driven a marked rise in sextortion cases in recent years. Meta reported cases involving minors to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and deployed new protective tools on Instagram, including automatic nudity blurring in direct messages, while advising users to be cautious of messages from
siliconvalley.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria operating sextortion scams, along with thousands of Facebook groups used to recruit and train scammers, as part of its crackdown on a loosely organized group called the Yahoo Boys. Sextortion involves coercing victims into sending explicit photos and then extorting money or sexual favors by threatening to publicize the images; while the majority of attempts targeted adult men in the U.S., Meta reported some cases involving minors to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Meta recommends users be cautious of messages from strangers with highly stylized or exceptionally attractive photos, and to be suspicious if someone
inkl.com
· 2025-12-08
Meta removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts based in Nigeria that were conducting sextortion scams, primarily targeting adult men in the US and some minors, with threats to expose private sexual content unless financial demands were met. The takedown included a network of 2,500 accounts managed by roughly 20 individuals, with most sextortion attempts being unsuccessful, though cases targeting minors were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Meta's crackdown follows multiple tragic incidents where sextortion victims died by suicide, and the company has since developed AI-powered protection tools and automated systems to identify and block sextortion accounts.
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian internet fraudster Marcel, a 26-year-old "Yahoo boy" based in Abuja, destroyed evidence by hiding his phone in a toilet pipe when Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials raided his apartment building in May following a tip-off about suspected cybercriminals in the area. Though officers searched his room and discovered his phone charger, they did not locate the hidden device, and Marcel was not arrested during the raid, though he admitted to using the phone for "bombing and grinding" (finding and defrauding online victims) for over two years.
headtopics.com
· 2025-12-08
Eight major digital tech companies (Google, Meta, Yahoo, X, Snap, TikTok, Discord, and Twitch) have voluntarily adopted an Australian Online Scams Code to combat fraud while the government develops mandatory legislation, committing to verify advertisers, screen for suspicious content, and increase intelligence sharing with regulators. The code addresses growing scam losses, particularly social media scams which reached $95 million in reported losses in 2023—a 250% increase since 2020—with most fraud originating from WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and online dating platforms.
taipeitimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Taichung police issued a warning about a sextortion scam targeting young people on dating and video chat sites, where victims are persuaded to strip naked on camera and then blackmailed for money with threats to distribute the footage. Since the start of the year, police handled 718 cases of online sexual exploitation and blackmail, with male victims comprising over half, predominantly young adults and teenagers; in one case, a high school student was threatened for NT$60,000. Police urge victims to report incidents immediately, preserve evidence, and strengthen privacy settings, emphasizing that some victims have tragically taken their own lives due to pressure from repeated blackmail.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns that children are increasingly vulnerable to online scams due to their inexperience and trust, with more than half of American children under 11 now owning smartphones. Common scams targeting kids include social media contests requesting personal information, deceptive free ringtone offers with hidden subscription fees, malware-infected video games, and webcam security breaches. The BBB recommends parents educate children about scams, establish internet safety rules, monitor downloads, use security software, and report suspected fraud to the BBB Scam Tracker or FTC.
english.hani.co.kr
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers are using AI-generated deepfake voices to conduct voice phishing fraud, requiring only brief voice recordings (as little as 2-5 seconds) to impersonate victims and defraud their family members. Notable cases include a 2021 incident where a UAE bank was deceived into transferring $35 million based on a cloned executive's voice, and a 2022 case where a Canadian couple lost CA$21,000 to scammers using a deepfake of their son's voice. Experts advise people to avoid speaking during calls from unknown numbers, as even simple phrases like "hello" can provide sufficient audio samples for creating convincing frau
al.com
· 2025-12-08
Five men from Alabama and Georgia were arrested on federal money laundering charges for their role in an online sextortion scheme that targeted over 100 teenage boys and young men. The defendants controlled financial accounts used to launder at least $178,658 in extortion proceeds, converting funds to bitcoin and sending them to Nigerian co-conspirators; the scheme resulted in the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Michigan in November 2022.
deadlinedetroit.com
· 2025-12-08
Five men from Georgia and Alabama were charged with laundering at least $178,658 for a Nigerian sextortion scheme that targeted over 100 victims, including 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Michigan, who died by suicide after being blackmailed for $300. The Nigerian scammers posed as females on Instagram, coerced victims into sending nude images, then extorted money by threatening to share the photos with contacts. The U.S. money launderers received victims' funds through cash applications, kept approximately 20 percent, converted the remainder to bitcoin, and funneled it to the Nigerian perpetrators.
fox17online.com
· 2025-12-08
Five men from Alabama and Georgia were indicted for money laundering related to a foreign sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Marquette, Michigan. The defendants allegedly laundered at least $178,658 in proceeds from the sextortion operation, with each facing up to 20 years in prison on conspiracy charges. The case highlights how U.S.-based money launderers facilitate overseas predatory crimes targeting vulnerable populations including minors and seniors.
9and10news.com
· 2025-12-08
Five U.S.-based defendants were indicted on conspiracy to commit money laundering charges for facilitating a foreign sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Marquette, Michigan and targeted over 100 other victims. The defendants allegedly knowingly conducted financial transactions to conceal proceeds from the underlying sextortion crimes, which carries a maximum 20-year sentence. This case is related to the November 2022 indictment of three Nigerian nationals involved in the scheme, two of whom were extradited and pleaded guilty in 2024.
wilx.com
· 2025-12-08
Five U.S. men from Georgia and Alabama were charged with money laundering conspiracy for facilitating a sextortion scheme that resulted in the suicide of 16-year-old Marquette resident Jordan DeMay. The defendants allegedly received approximately $179,000 from victims, converted funds to bitcoin, and transferred the money to Nigerian co-conspirators, with DeMay sending $300 to one defendant hours before his death. The case involves over 100 sextortion victims and represents a major breakthrough in the two-year investigation into the criminal ring.
tv20detroit.com
· 2025-12-08
Five U.S.-based men have been charged with money laundering in connection to an international sextortion ring that led to the 2022 suicide of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Michigan. The scheme, run by two Nigerian nationals who posed as a woman and extorted victims after obtaining intimate images, involved the U.S. suspects controlling financial accounts, retaining 20% of victim funds, and converting the remainder to bitcoin.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Five U.S. citizens were indicted for money laundering in connection with a Nigeria-based sextortion scheme that resulted in the suicide of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Marquette, Michigan in March 2022. The defendants allegedly collected payments from over 100 sextortion victims totaling $179,000, keeping 20 percent and converting the remainder to Bitcoin sent to Nigeria; DeMay himself paid $300 to one defendant after being blackmailed by Nigerian scammers posing as young women. Two Nigerian co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting teens and face mandatory sentences of 15 to 30 years, while the five
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Five U.S.-based defendants were charged with money laundering conspiracy for facilitating a foreign sextortion scheme in which Nigerian nationals posed as young women online to extort sexually explicit images from teenage boys and young men, then blackmailed victims for money. The defendants controlled bank accounts receiving victim funds, kept 20% as commission, and converted the remainder to bitcoin for transfer to Nigerian co-conspirators, laundering at least $178,658 in proceeds—including funds from 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Michigan, whose death resulted from the scheme.
wrat.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article from the Federal Trade Commission outlines common online scams and fraud schemes affecting consumers. Key scams discussed include spoofing (falsifying caller ID to impersonate legitimate organizations), the 809 scam (international callback schemes with high rates), catfishing (creating fake online identities for romance or exploitation scams), cramming (unauthorized small charges on bills), and family emergency scams (targeting grandparents with urgent requests for money). The article advises consumers to hang up on unsolicited callers, verify numbers independently, never share personal information with unknown callers, and be cautious of suspicious requests—noting that while younger adults report romance scams more frequently, older consumers typically lose
ironmountaindailynews.com
· 2025-12-08
Five U.S.-based defendants from Georgia and Alabama were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of teenager Jordan DeMay of Marquette. Sextortion involves extorting money or sexual favors by threatening to expose evidence of sexual activity, and the charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. This case is related to an earlier conviction of two Nigerian men involved in the international sextortion ring that led to DeMay's death.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake technology, powered by AI advances, is increasingly used in fraud schemes targeting individuals and businesses. Criminals employ deepfake videos, face-swapping, and voice cloning to impersonate celebrities, executives, and recruiters in romance scams, job recruitment fraud, and investment schemes, with deepfake content increasing 900% between 2019-2020 and an estimated 26% of small companies and 38% of large companies experiencing deepfake-related fraud in 2023. Notable cases include a Japanese manga artist losing nearly $500,000 USD to a fake video call impersonating actor Mark Ruffalo, while experts warn that by
thesnaponline.com
· 2025-12-08
This Better Business Bureau alert identifies seven scams targeting college students during the back-to-school season, including phishing emails impersonating school financial departments, fake credit card offers, fraudulent rental listings, identity theft, scholarship scams, online shopping scams, and test preparation blackmail schemes. The BBB recommends students verify offers through official sources, check credit reports regularly, view apartments in person before paying, and research companies on BBB.org before providing personal information or funds. College students should remain vigilant about sharing personal data online and monitor BBB's ScamTracker for reports of current fraud schemes.
malaymail.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers today employ sophisticated social engineering tactics—including scripted phone calls using psychological manipulation techniques and impersonation of trusted institutions—rather than relying on victims' lack of knowledge. Common scam methods include mule account schemes targeting job seekers who are tricked into opening bank accounts and providing personal information, and APK file scams that grant scammers control of victims' mobile phones through fake job or service advertisements. Experts note that scammers may employ actual psychologists to craft these tactics, making them increasingly difficult for victims to detect regardless of their education or experience level.
wsaw.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau cautions college students to watch out for seven common scams targeting them during the school year: phishing emails impersonating the school's financial department, fake credit card offers, fraudulent rental listings, identity theft, scholarship grant scams, online shopping scams, and test preparation blackmail schemes. The BBB recommends students verify offers through official channels, check credit reports regularly at annualcreditreport.com, view apartments in person before paying, and research companies on BBB.org before engaging with them. Students are encouraged to report suspected scams to BBB's ScamTracker and contact their local BBB office with concerns.
wionews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 72-year-old doctor in Bengaluru lost Rs 2.3 lakh ($2,739) in a sextortion scam after being lured into an explicit video call with an unknown woman on July 27, who then recorded him. Scammers subsequently posed as police officers and YouTube employees, threatening to publish the videos online unless he paid for their deletion, extracting money through multiple demands over several days. Police warn against answering calls from strangers and explain that such scammers use screen recordings or fabricated pornographic content to extort victims by threatening to share material with their families and social networks.
malaysia.news.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Modern scammers use sophisticated social engineering tactics—not victim naivety—to defraud people, employing psychological manipulation techniques and scripted interactions that mimic legitimate organizations like banks and police. Experts explain that continuous phone conversation and repeated "yes" responses create mental compliance, while common scam methods include mule account schemes (where job applicants are tricked into opening bank accounts for criminals) and APK file installation that grants remote phone access. Scammers reportedly employ psychologists and use standardized scripts refined over decades, making their operations highly organized criminal enterprises rather than isolated fraud attempts.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake technology powered by AI is fueling a rising tide of scams in 2024, with deepfake content increasing 900% between 2019 and 2020. Cybercriminals use deepfakes to impersonate celebrities, recruiters, and romantic partners through fake video calls, job interviews, and investment schemes to steal money and personal information from victims. Key scams include romance fraud (where scammers conduct convincing video calls using face-swapping), recruiting scams (impersonating employers on LinkedIn to extract payment and data), and investment scams (using fake celebrity endorsements to promote cryptocurrency schemes).
tech.einnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Private Digital Investigations announced new measures to combat rising cybercrimes including Nigerian romance scams and sextortion schemes, which exploit victims emotionally and financially through fake profiles and blackmail threats. The agency employs AI-driven profile analysis, digital forensics, and law enforcement collaborations to identify scammers, and offers public education through workshops, support hotlines, and online resources. The article advises victims to cease communication with suspected scammers, report profiles to platforms, avoid sharing explicit content, and seek help from professional investigators or authorities rather than paying ransom demands.
azag.gov
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a warning about cryptocurrency scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly senior citizens, which exploit victims' unfamiliarity with digital currencies. Common scams include investment schemes promising high returns with zero risk, impersonation scams claiming account fraud or legal issues that can only be resolved via cryptocurrency transfer, and blackmail scams threatening to release compromising information unless paid in Bitcoin. The Attorney General advises Arizonans to verify caller information independently, remain skeptical of unsolicited requests, recognize that legitimate businesses never demand cryptocurrency payment, protect personal information, consult trusted family members before financial decisions, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement or the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
kvoa.com
· 2025-12-08
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued an alert about cryptocurrency scams targeting consumers through investment schemes, impersonation fraud, and blackmail extortion. Scammers use phone calls, emails, social media, and dating apps to pose as investment managers, government officials, or love interests to trick victims into buying and transferring cryptocurrency. The Attorney General recommends verifying caller information independently, remaining skeptical of unsolicited requests for cryptocurrency payments, never sharing personal information with unknown callers, consulting trusted individuals before major financial decisions, and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.
wmtv15news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns college students, particularly freshmen ages 18-24, about six prevalent scams: fake apartment listings (where scammers copy real listings and request deposits for properties that don't exist), fraudulent credit card offers targeting first-time users, identity theft (requiring regular credit report monitoring), fake scholarship and grant offers, and other schemes exploiting their inexperience. The BBB emphasizes the importance of verifying sources, researching offers that seem too good to be true, and protecting personal information to prevent financial and identity-related harm.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 48-year-old civil contractor from Pimpri lost Rs 21 lakh in an online share trading scam between July and August after responding to a stock market investment advertisement on social media. The scammer added the victim to a messenger group, promised high returns, and convinced him to transfer Rs 20.9 lakh to multiple bank accounts before becoming unresponsive and blocking contact. The Pimpri Chinchwad police registered a case after the victim filed a complaint with the cyber crime cell and are investigating using the contractor's bank transaction details.
zeenews.india.com
· 2025-12-08
Dating app scams are increasingly common due to anonymity, rising platform usage, and scammers' ability to exploit users' emotional vulnerability when seeking companionship. Red flags include overly perfect profiles, story inconsistencies, reluctance to meet in person, requests for money, and use of stock photos; common scam types include fake emergencies, phishing, investment fraud, and blackmail schemes. Users can protect themselves by verifying profiles through reverse image searches, meeting only in public places, guarding personal information, and reporting suspicious activity.
krebsonsecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
A personalized variant of the sextortion scam is circulating via email, claiming to have compromised recipients' webcams and threatening to release fabricated videos unless victims pay approximately $2,000 in Bitcoin within 24 hours. The emails now include recipients' names and photos of their homes obtained from online mapping services like Google Maps, along with threats to contact them physically or distribute videos to their contacts. The FBI advises victims not to send compromising images, to avoid opening suspicious attachments, and to cover webcams; those targeted should report incidents to their local FBI office or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
fox10phoenix.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion scammers are now incorporating personal information and Google Street View photos of victims' homes into threatening emails to increase intimidation and credibility. The emails claim the sender has compromised the victim's computer and recorded them via webcam, demanding $2,000-$2,200 in Bitcoin within 24 hours or threatening to distribute the video to contacts. The FBI reports these scams originate primarily from West Africa and Southeast Asia, and recommends victims not send money, disable webcams, report the accounts to platforms, and contact law enforcement.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Online blackmail scams are sending hundreds of thousands of personalized emails threatening to expose embarrassing footage or compromising information, often including victims' names and addresses obtained from public databases. These scams can be identified by vague language, urgent deadlines, and lack of specific details about alleged misconduct—legitimate threats would include evidence. To protect yourself, use email filters and spam reporting tools offered by providers like Gmail or Outlook, never reply to or pay blackmail emails, and report them as phishing.
malwarebytes.com
· 2025-12-08
The "Hello pervert" sextortion scam has evolved to include new pressure tactics: threatening to use Pegasus spyware and including photos of victims' homes obtained from Google Maps and data breaches. Scammers use stolen passwords from previous data breaches and falsely claim to have compromising footage of victims viewing pornography, demanding payment within 24 hours or threatening to share the content with contacts and visit their physical addresses. These threats are entirely fraudulent—Pegasus is government-controlled spyware never used by common criminals, and scammers have no actual footage or surveillance capability.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Online blackmail scams are rising, with scammers sending mass emails that threaten to expose embarrassing footage or information, often personalized with publicly available details like names, addresses, and street view images to appear credible. These emails can be identified as fraudulent by looking for red flags such as urgent deadlines, awkward wording, generic language, and a lack of specific details about the alleged compromising content. Recipients should not reply to or pay these emails, instead reporting them as phishing or spam to their email provider or IT department, as legitimate blackmailers would provide specific evidence of their claims.
2news.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI received over 880,000 complaints about online blackmail scams in a single year, indicating the widespread prevalence of this fraud type. Online blackmail scams involve criminals threatening to expose compromising information or images unless victims pay money, targeting vulnerable individuals across age groups.
oregonlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Portland-area residents are being targeted by an increased wave of blackmail cyber scams in which fraudsters threaten to expose internet browsing history or sensitive personal information unless victims pay in cryptocurrency, using tactics like including the target's address and photos of their home to appear credible. Police advise recipients to simply delete such emails without opening attachments, as there are rarely follow-ups and no confirmed cases of Portland residents losing money to the scam. Suspicious emails should be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
crowdfundinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
Security.org surveyed over 1,100 Americans and identified peer-to-peer payment apps as the top scam threat for 2024, with 63% of users experiencing scam attempts, followed by phishing texts, cryptocurrency schemes, and social media fraud. The research revealed that half of cryptocurrency owners have been targeted by pump-and-dump schemes, one in four social media users report scams, and 70% of Americans receive suspicious texts. Security experts recommend verifying recipient identities before P2P transfers, sending $1 test payments, using two-factor authentication, and only investing through reputable platforms to minimize fraud risk.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2025-12-08
A new sextortion email scam variant targets spouses by falsely claiming to have evidence of infidelity, with links to alleged proof, demanding payment of $500 to $5,000. The scammers use personal information including full names, maiden names, and pet names—potentially sourced from wedding planning sites like The Knot—to increase credibility and distress. While most recipients recognized the emails as scams and deleted them, authorities stress that these emails are fraudulent and recipients should not click the links, which may lead to phishing pages or malware distribution.
news.trendmicro.com
· 2025-12-08
Security experts warn of an evolving sextortion scam that uses victims' home addresses and photos sourced from Google Maps to increase psychological pressure and extract Bitcoin payments of $2,000-$2,200. The emails falsely claim the sender has compromised the victim's computer and recorded them via webcam, threatening to release fabricated videos to their contacts within 24 hours unless ransom is paid. The FBI recommends victims not comply with demands, avoid sending compromising images, cover webcams, and report incidents to law enforcement at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
fox4news.com
· 2025-12-08
"Sextortion" scams use fabricated claims of spyware and compromised webcams to extort victims, threatening to share alleged intimate videos or browsing history with contacts unless Bitcoin is paid. Scammers obtain victims' personal information—names, addresses, and photos—from public online sources and data breaches, then send targeted-seeming emails that are actually sent to numerous people in bulk. The FBI recommends reporting such extortion attempts to 1-800-CALL-FBI and advises victims to cover webcams and blur their homes on Google Maps, as these scams rely on easily accessible public information rather than actual spyware.
theconversation.com
· 2025-12-08
"Hustle kingdoms" are informal training academies operating in West Africa (particularly Ghana and Nigeria) that teach individuals digital fraud techniques, with graduates carrying out online romance scams, business email compromise, and sextortion targeting victims globally. The U.S. lost approximately $50 billion to online scams in 2023, many linked to West African fraudsters, as these operations have evolved from 1980s-90s "business centres" into a coordinated global threat with hierarchical structures and increasingly sophisticated tactics. The phenomenon reflects a complex socioeconomic dynamic where some perpetrators justify their crimes as retaliation for historical injustices, while law enforcement and researchers emphasize the
fox2detroit.com
· 2025-12-08
Metro Detroit residents received threatening extortion emails containing their names, lewd accusations of illicit behavior, and photos of their homes (likely sourced from Google) demanding small "donations" to prevent alleged compromising footage from being shared on social media. Birmingham police confirmed the scam and advised residents not to click any links in the emails, with victims like Elaine Bono and her daughter receiving multiple copies despite deleting them.
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Billions of dollars are lost annually to scams targeting older Americans, with the FBI reporting over $3 billion in losses in 2023 alone, including devastating cases such as romance scams, sextortion schemes, and AI-enabled impersonations that have cost some seniors their entire life savings. The AARP Fraud Watch Network receives more than 100,000 calls yearly from affected seniors, and experts testified before U.S. Congress emphasizing that criminals continue to evolve their tactics with increasing sophistication. Lawmakers are responding with bipartisan legislation and recommendations for education, public outreach, and federal efforts to combat spoofing and robocalls as key strategies to protect vulnerable seniors.
theprint.in
· 2025-12-08
"Hustle kingdoms" are informal training academies in West Africa (particularly Ghana and Nigeria) that teach individuals digital fraud techniques, including romance scams and business email compromise schemes, with graduates exporting these skills globally and contributing to an estimated $50 billion in online scam losses in the United States in 2023 alone. These operations evolved from 1980s-90s "business centres" and function as hierarchical knowledge hubs where novices learn sophisticated fraud tactics from experienced scammers. Some perpetrators justify their crimes as restitution for historical colonial exploitation, while employing both psychological manipulation and supernatural tactics like "juju magic" to defraud victims worldwide.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are conducting evolved sextortion scams that use fear tactics and images of victims' homes (obtained from data breaches or public listings) to extort money via email, claiming to have compromising videos and demanding Bitcoin payments of around $2,000. The scams falsely reference advanced spyware like "Pegasus" to appear credible, though legitimate cybersecurity experts note these threats are bluffs since actual spyware installation would make ransom demands unnecessary. Protection strategies include blurring your home on Google Maps, avoiding sharing personal information online, and recognizing common red flags in scammer communications.
wibx950.com
· 2025-12-08
Herkimer police are warning residents about multiple scams circulating in the area, including blackmail schemes where fraudsters claim to have installed spyware and threaten to release compromising information unless victims pay (such as $2,000 in bitcoin), and police impersonation scams where criminals falsely claim that Herkimer Police are searching for the victim. The article also highlights emerging AI-enabled threats including romance scams ("pig butchering") and virtual kidnapping ransom schemes where criminals use cloned voices to impersonate loved ones, urging residents to verify requests directly with police rather than through third parties.
almanacnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Atherton Police Department warned residents of a widespread extortion email scam in which fraudsters claim to have malware access to victims' computers and threaten to release sensitive information and photos unless paid in Bitcoin; the scam includes fabricated images of victims' homes sourced from Google Maps and other public sources to appear credible. Multiple Atherton residents reported receiving these "sextortion" emails, which exploit publicly available personal data harvested from previous data breaches, though police confirm the threats are false and victims should delete the emails immediately without responding or paying.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are conducting sextortion attacks that now include Google Street View images of victims' addresses to intimidate them into paying cryptocurrency fees. The attackers claim to have pornographic evidence and access to Pegasus spyware, using personalized emails with victims' addresses, phone numbers, and automatically-generated street images to imply they have visited or surveilled the target's location. Security researchers warn these attacks are difficult to detect because they use random Gmail addresses and avoid malicious attachments or URLs.
nbcwashington.com
· 2025-12-08
Maryland State Police warned residents about a sextortion scam in which victims receive threatening emails containing their names, Google Street View photos of their homes, and false claims of spyware installation and pornography viewing, demanding $2,000 in Bitcoin within 24 hours or threatening to expose them to contacts. The scam uses publicly available information to intimidate victims; authorities recommend deleting suspicious emails without clicking links and reporting to local police or the FBI rather than paying.
denver7.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wheat Ridge Police Department warned of a cryptocurrency extortion scam circulating through the community in which victims receive emails containing personal information (addresses, photos from Google Maps) and threats of blackmail involving fabricated malware and compromising videos, demanding cryptocurrency payment via Bitcoin QR code. None of the Wheat Ridge residents who received these emails fell victim to the scam, though police emphasized the importance of reporting such attempts to raise community awareness. The scam exploits urgency and fear through false claims, reflecting a broader national problem—Americans lost over $5.5 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with Colorado reporting more than 1,300 fraud cases costing residents $81 million
livingsnoqualmie.com
· 2025-12-08
The Snoqualmie Police Department is warning residents about a "Pegasus" sextortion scam variation where attackers send threatening emails claiming to possess explicit photos or videos and include personal details like Google Maps photos of victims' homes, demanding ransom payment within 24 hours. Law enforcement advises residents not to respond to or pay these scams and to delete the emails immediately, as the threats are false and information often comes from public sources or past data breaches. The FBI recommends avoiding compromising photos, suspicious email attachments, and leaving webcams exposed to prevent victimization.
saharareporters.com
· 2025-12-08
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered €5,100 from a Nigerian romance scammer and returned the funds to Spanish citizen Heinz Burchard Einhaus Uchtmann, with the handover made to Spain's Ambassador to Nigeria in September 2024. The recovery was achieved through collaboration between the EFCC and Spanish Police, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in combating cross-border financial crimes. EFCC leadership emphasized the agency's commitment to preventing Nigeria from becoming a safe haven for financial criminals and called for continued global partnership among law enforcement agencies to address the borderless nature of internet fraud.
dailytimesng.com
· 2025-12-08
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered €5,100 from a Nigerian romance scammer and returned the funds to Spanish victim Heinz Burchard Einhaus Uchtmann in collaboration with Spanish Police. The EFCC Executive Chairman formally handed over the recovered assets to the Spanish Ambassador on September 20, 2024, emphasizing that the case demonstrates the importance of international law enforcement cooperation in combating borderless financial crimes. The recovery underscores both countries' commitment to preventing Nigeria from becoming a safe haven for financial criminals and fraudsters engaged in romance scams and similar schemes.
chronicle.ng
· 2025-12-08
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered €5,100 from a Nigerian romance scam and returned the funds to a Spanish citizen, Heinz Burchard Einhaus Uchtmann, through the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria. The handover highlighted successful international cooperation between Nigerian and Spanish law enforcement agencies in combating transnational financial crimes, with EFCC leadership emphasizing their commitment to making Nigeria inhospitable for romance scammers and other fraudsters.
oneidadispatch.com
· 2025-12-08
The New York State Police warned the public about a nationwide automated sextortion scam in which fraudsters use illegally obtained email addresses and personal information purchased on the dark web to contact victims, threatening to release compromising material unless victims pay extortion fees. The scammers employ intimidation and threats of embarrassment to coerce payments from targets.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost thousands of Americans millions of dollars annually, with the FTC reporting 64,003 romance scam complaints in the previous year totaling $1.14 billion in losses (median $2,000 per victim). A Malwarebytes survey found that 66% of respondents were targeted by romance scammers, with 10% losing over $10,000 and 3% losing $100,000 or more, though 40% of victims never reported the fraud due to shame or lack of faith in law enforcement. Scammers typically build trust over weeks or months through online dating platforms and social media before requesting money or personal information, with 94%
verywellmind.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide explains romance scams, a type of fraud where criminals build fake romantic relationships to extract money from victims. The article outlines common tactics (including catfishing), warning signs, and vulnerable populations targeted by scammers, while noting that the FTC reported $304 million in losses from romance scams in 2020—a 50% increase from 2019. The guide provides advice on protecting oneself and recovering from romance fraud, emphasizing that victims should not be blamed for falling for such schemes.
marketplace.org
· 2025-12-08
This podcast episode features threat researcher Selena Larson discussing common online scams targeting teenagers, including sextortion/blackmail, job and scholarship scams, malware-laden game advertisements, shopping imposter scams, phishing attacks, and payment app fraud. Larson explains that scammers use social engineering techniques to manipulate teens emotionally—posing as authority figures, attractive individuals, or legitimate businesses—to trick them into sending money, compromising photos, or sensitive information. Key red flags include unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true, requests for payment upfront, and pressure to act quickly.
eff.org
· 2025-12-08
This article addresses a widespread "sextortion" phishing scam in which recipients receive threatening emails claiming hackers have compromised their computers and possess embarrassing photos or browsing history, demanding payment in bitcoin to prevent the information from being shared with contacts. The scammers use publicly available personal information (names, addresses, house photos from Google Street View) obtained from data breaches to create a false appearance of authenticity, but they have not actually hacked the recipients. The article advises recipients not to pay the ransom and recommends changing passwords, freezing credit, and monitoring for identity theft to protect against future scams using leaked personal data.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion scams are rapidly increasing, with the FBI reporting dramatic spikes in incidents targeting boys aged 14-17, where online criminals pose as attractive girls on social media to solicit nude photos and then blackmail victims with threats to share the images publicly. The scammers often continue demanding additional photos or money even after victims comply, and victims frequently remain silent due to fear and embarrassment, sometimes with tragic consequences. Parents are urged to educate children about the dangers of sharing intimate photos, and victims can report incidents to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
ktar.com
· 2025-12-08
A Komando staff member describes four active email scams currently circulating: a $40,000 fake invoice scheme that impersonates business contacts and uses social engineering to trick finance staff into payment; fake subscription receipt emails designed to extract credit card information or phone calls; sextortion scams threatening to share fabricated embarrassing footage unless victims pay Bitcoin; and direct deposit phishing emails attempting to steal banking information and business data. The article advises recipients to verify requests through established channels, be suspicious when normal approval procedures are bypassed, and recognize that scammers often lack the information they claim to possess.
dailystar.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Between March and August 2024, Santander UK customers lost £3.8 million to romance scams, representing a 27% increase from the previous six months, with victims ranging in age from 18 to 93 and losing an average of £4,500 each. A survey found that nearly one-third of respondents would send money to someone they've known for less than six months, while half had received suspicious romantic messages online. The bank advises potential victims to remove emotion from financial decisions, verify photos through reverse image searches, request video calls, and never share personal or banking information with new online contacts.
mashable.com
· 2025-12-08
In the first six months of 2024, Americans lost $65 million to Bitcoin ATM scams, with losses increasing nearly 10-fold since 2023. Scammers use various tactics—such as impersonating law enforcement and threatening arrest—to manipulate victims into depositing cash at Bitcoin ATMs; one Houston man lost nearly $60,000 after being told he had an active warrant. The median loss across all ages is $10,000, though consumers over 60 are more frequently targeted, and the FTC warns that if anyone directs you to use a Bitcoin ATM, it is a scam.
cnbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal officials warn of rapidly increasing cryptocurrency scams where fraudsters establish fake romantic or professional relationships on dating apps, social media, and messaging platforms, then convince victims to invest in crypto on fraudulent platforms. Consumers lost an estimated $5.6 billion to crypto-related scams in 2023 (up 45% from 2022), with relationship scams being the most prominent type and averaging $178,000 in losses per victim; the SEC brought its first enforcement actions against these schemes in operations involving platforms like WhatsApp and LinkedIn.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime issued a report warning that digital scamming in Southeast Asia is rapidly expanding and becoming more sophisticated through the integration of generative AI, deepfakes, and cryptocurrency theft tools. Criminal networks have trafficked approximately 200,000 people into compounds across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos over the past five years to operate scams, with "pig butchering" investment schemes alone defrauding victims of around $75 billion, while organized crime groups in the region earned an estimated $37 billion last year. These criminal operations are increasingly using AI-generated content, deepfake videos, and automated tools to overcome language barriers and scale their scams globally, low
engadget.com
· 2025-12-08
Instagram is implementing new safety features to combat sextortion scams targeting teens, including filtering suspicious follow requests, alerting users to messages from different countries, restricting scammers' ability to view follower lists, and automatically blurring nude images in direct messages. Meta simultaneously removed 800 Facebook groups and 820 accounts linked to the "Yahoo Boys" sextortion network that was recruiting and training scammers. These updates address findings that Instagram and Snapchat are the most common platforms used by sextortion scammers for initial contact with victims.
washingtontimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Instagram announced new platform features designed to combat sextortion scams, which involve criminals stealing intimate images and extorting victims for payment by threatening exposure. The new protections include blocking screenshots of disappearing stories, preventing suspicious accounts from viewing followers and tagged photos, alerting users when chatting with international contacts, and automatically blurring nude images on Teen Accounts. The FBI reported over 13,000 sextortion scams involving minors from 2021 to 2023, with most victims being males ages 13-17 and perpetrators primarily from West Africa and East Asia.
thetimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Kirat Assi, a 44-year-old London woman, was victimized by a nine-year catfishing scam perpetrated by her cousin Simran Bhogal, who created a fake online romance using the false identity of "Bobby Jandu," a cardiologist, and fabricated elaborate excuses to prevent in-person meetings. While Assi's case was unusual in involving no financial loss, charities report a 189-200 percent increase in catfishing cases overall, where perpetrators typically use emotional manipulation to extort money from victims, with some engaging in "sextortion" targeting teenagers. Assi won a civil settlement in 2
wisbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Extortion, particularly sextortion scams, ranked among the top five internet crimes in the FBI's 2023 report with over 48,000 cases, according to a Better Business Bureau warning. Sextortion scams operate through two primary methods: phishing (claiming to have hacked victims' devices and recorded compromising material) and romance schemes (building trust through fake relationships before blackmailing victims for money). Victims have reported losses ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, with the scams exploiting fear of public embarrassment and loneliness to pressure victims into paying via bitcoin, gift cards, or wire transfers.
berkshireeagle.com
· 2025-12-08
A 75-year-old North Adams man lost over $400,000 in a tech support scam that operated from June to September, in which a caller posing as a federal agent convinced the victim to withdraw cash and hand it to couriers, claiming he was implicated in money laundering. Boston resident Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel, 21, was arrested after an FBI sting operation at the victim's home and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud; he claimed he was hired to pick up packages and deliver them for a cut. The FBI advises that legitimate federal agencies never request money by phone or send couriers to collect funds
newsbytesapp.com
· 2025-12-08
Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters employing impersonation, voice-changing technology, and emotional manipulation to steal money and personal information from victims. Common schemes include "nude video call" blackmail on WhatsApp, voice-mimicking scams impersonating distressed family members, fake customs fees for parcels, lottery winnings requiring upfront payments, and romance scams. The article advises verifying caller identities through callbacks, avoiding unsolicited video calls from unknown numbers, confirming with legitimate companies before payments, and exercising caution when sharing personal information with people met only online.
scamwatch.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are sending emails falsely claiming to have hacked victims' computers or webcams and threatening to release compromising sexual images unless cryptocurrency is paid, using personal details from public data breaches to increase credibility. There is no evidence these scammers actually have access to victims' devices; recipients should delete emails, not pay, and report to authorities if they believe their information has been compromised. Hundreds of people have been targeted with this sextortion scam, and support services are available for those affected.
6abc.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are exploiting personal vulnerabilities through sophisticated cons that leverage information people share online. Two prevalent scams include sextortion emails that threaten to release fabricated compromising footage unless victims pay in Bitcoin, and pet-related scams where fraudsters build trust through fake social media accounts before requesting money for veterinary care of supposedly found animals. Consumers can protect themselves by scrutinizing new or empty social media profiles and using free scanning tools to detect scams and monitor data exposure.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending sextortion emails that include photos of victims' houses obtained from Google Street View, claiming to have compromising videos and demanding Bitcoin ransom while threatening to expose the content to contacts. The scams exploit data from previous breaches to personalize threats and create false credibility, though scammers do not actually possess any videos or camera access. Victims should not pay ransom or respond to emails but instead report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Division, monitor their credit, and check for unauthorized charges.
wccbcharlotte.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending extortion emails that include photos of victims' houses obtained from Google Street View, threatening to expose supposed explicit content videos and demanding Bitcoin payment within a short timeframe. The emails falsely claim the scammers have stolen passwords, installed malware, and recorded victims through their cameras, but these threats are fabricated—the scammers have no actual compromising videos or camera access. Victims should not pay the ransom or respond to emails, and should instead report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Division at IC3.gov.
kwch.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending sextortion emails that include photos of victims' homes (obtained from Google Street View) and falsely claim to have installed malware, recorded compromising videos, and stolen passwords, demanding Bitcoin payment within a short timeframe. The scam exploits personal information from data breaches and uses intimidation tactics, but the threats are not genuine—scammers have no actual videos or camera access. Victims should not pay, report the emails to the FBI's Internet Crime Division at IC3.gov, monitor their credit for fraud, and ignore all communication from the scammers.
thesun.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A 68-year-old woman named Jean was defrauded of £169,000 over seven years by a Facebook romance scammer posing as "Maxwell Johnson," a fake US Air Force serviceman whose profile image was stolen from a real military officer. The scammer, traced to Nigeria and linked to the "Yahoo Boys" sextortion gang, manipulated Jean—a disabled pensioner who used a wheelchair—by claiming he loved her and would move to the UK to marry her, while repeatedly requesting money for flights and expenses that never materialized. Jean accumulated significant debt (£9,000 to energy companies and £8,000 to caregivers) through pension and disability benefit transfers via
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Southern California residents are being targeted by a sophisticated email extortion scam that uses personal information—including names, addresses, phone numbers, and photos of homes—obtained from data breaches to threaten victims with exposure of alleged pornography browsing history, typically demanding approximately $2,000 in Bitcoin. The Ventura County District Attorney's Office warns this is a nationwide boilerplate scam perpetrated by scammers often based outside the country, who rely on creating fear and urgency rather than actual device hacking. Authorities recommend ignoring such emails, enabling two-factor authentication, monitoring accounts for suspicious activity, and reporting incidents to local law enforcement or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
**Scammer Payback Answers Scam Questions** (11/05/2024)
YouTube scambaiter Pierogi from Scammer Payback identifies key red flags of scams, including pressure to make quick decisions, requests for remote computer access, and demands for payment via gift cards, Cash App, wire transfers, or Bitcoin. The video addresses common scam types including tech support pop-ups, romance scams (citing a case where a 90+ year old woman was defrauded of tens of thousands of dollars by someone posing as a celebrity), and explains why scammers prefer gift cards for money laundering and anonymity, while demonstrating
thehindu.com
· 2025-12-08
A 74-year-old woman in Hyderabad lost ₹37.9 lakh in retirement savings to a fake money laundering account scam, while a 63-year-old man lost ₹50 lakh to a WhatsApp stock trading fraud—part of a rising trend of sophisticated cyber crimes targeting India's elderly population. Research and expert analysis reveal that older adults are particularly vulnerable because they often underestimate their cognitive decline, experience reduced cognitive flexibility and increased impulsivity, and may be unaware of these changes, while scammers deliberately target lonely seniors and exploit emotional manipulation and false profit promises. India's estimated 3.8 million people living with dem
aboutlawsuits.com
· 2025-12-08
This content is a compilation of legal case summaries and does not contain a single article suitable for Elderus summarization. However, the relevant elder abuse item is: The DOJ released its sixth Annual Report to Congress detailing federal progress in combating elder fraud, abuse, and nursing home neglect from July 2023 to June 2024, noting that multiple new and ongoing federal programs have been implemented in partnership with law enforcement agencies to address financial fraud and caregiver abuse affecting elderly Americans.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
An educational video game called "Dodgy or Not?" is teaching Australian primary school students to identify online scams and deepfake fraud by analyzing real-world messages and social media posts in real time. The game addresses the growing sophistication of cyber criminals using AI-generated deepfakes, with Australia losing $3-4 billion annually to reported online fraud, and educators warning that emerging threats like sextortion targeting young people are increasing globally.
jdsupra.com
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake technology is being weaponized for widespread fraud, including financial scams where criminals impersonate executives or loved ones to steal money (one case involved a $25.6 million loss), sextortion schemes, and romance scams enhanced with fake video. The technology poses escalating threats to individuals, corporations, and institutions as criminals exploit AI-generated deepfakes faster than legal protections can be established, with victims including everyday people, minors, and public figures targeted for financial exploitation and non-consensual explicit content.
theguardian.com
· 2025-12-08
Police warn that criminals are rapidly exploiting artificial intelligence to commit fraud, child sexual abuse, and other crimes at scale. High-profile cases include deepfake video conference scams that defrauded a finance worker of £20.5 million, generative AI systems used to create thousands of child abuse images, and sextortion schemes using manipulated photos. Law enforcement identifies child abuse imagery and fraud as the primary criminal uses of AI currently, while also warning of emerging threats including terrorist radicalization through AI chatbots.
wibx950.com
· 2025-12-08
A survey by Investor Loss Center using FTC data identified the top fraud types affecting New Yorkers in the first three quarters of the year, with imposter scams leading at 27,191 reports, followed by online shopping scams (14,019 reports), internet service scams (6,589 reports), healthcare scams (4,570 reports), and fake job opportunities (4,369 reports). The report emphasizes that residents should be skeptical of unsolicited offers, verify caller identity by calling official numbers, and trust their instincts when something feels suspicious.
interpol.int
· 2025-12-08
A five-month global law enforcement operation (July-November 2024) involving 40 countries arrested over 5,500 financial crime suspects and seized more than USD 400 million in assets across seven types of cyber-enabled frauds including voice phishing, romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency scams. Notable outcomes included Korean and Chinese authorities dismantling a voice phishing syndicate that defrauded 1,900 victims of USD 1.1 billion, and the recovery of USD 39.3 million in a Singapore business email compromise case affecting a commodity firm that lost USD 42.3 million.
independent.ie
· 2025-12-08
Irish law enforcement (Gardaí) recovered approximately €3.5 million from bank accounts as part of an international operation targeting organized fraud networks that employed sextortion, romance scams, and phishing tactics. Irish nationals were identified as victims across multiple types of cyber-enabled fraud schemes. The operation demonstrates coordinated global efforts to combat sophisticated organized fraud affecting vulnerable populations.
theregister.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Interpol's Operation HAECHI V (July-November) arrested over 5,500 suspected cybercriminals across 40 countries and seized more than $400 million in digital and fiat currencies. The operation targeted seven crime types including romance scams, investment fraud, voice phishing, and business email compromise, with a joint Korea-China effort dismantling a voice phishing syndicate responsible for $1.1 billion in losses from over 1,900 victims. Interpol identified an emerging trend involving romance scams that trick users into purchasing Tether stablecoins and surrendering wallet information through phishing links.
me.pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
A five-month international law enforcement operation led by Interpol arrested over 5,500 people and seized more than $400 million across 40 countries for cybercrimes including investment fraud, romance scams, and sextortion. Notable cases included a China-based voice phishing syndicate that defrauded at least 1,900 victims of $1.1 billion using fake law enforcement personas, and a business email compromise scheme that stole $42.3 million from a Singapore firm (of which $39.3 million was recovered). The operation, called Haechi V, achieved record results with nearly 8,309 cases solved.
americanbanker.com
· 2025-12-08
Ian Mitchell, founder of The Knoble—a network of over 7,000 members across 600+ financial institutions dedicated to combating human trafficking, child exploitation, and elder financial exploitation—discusses his organization's mission to fight human crimes alongside law enforcement and banks. Mitchell co-founded Mission Omega, a fraud consulting firm that donates 10% of gross revenue to The Knoble while helping financial institutions address fraud vulnerabilities. Mitchell transitioned into this work after his banking career, inspired by learning that human trafficking is a financially motivated crime, and now combines his expertise with creative pursuits, including releasing purpose-driven music on Spotify.
columbiabasinherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Local and federal authorities warn that scam attempts increase during the holiday season, with criminals using text messages, phone calls, and emails to target victims through blackmail, charity fraud, debt collection schemes, grandparent scams, and other deceptive tactics. Common red flags include unsolicited contact using fear or emotional manipulation to pressure victims into sending money via untraceable methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency. Authorities recommend verifying the legitimacy of charities through trusted resources, being skeptical of unsolicited requests, and hanging up if something sounds suspicious rather than providing personal or financial information.
telus.com
· 2025-12-08
**Article:** "I know where you live!": the latest sextortion scam exposed
The "Hello Pervert" sextortion scam emails intimidate victims to pay in cryptocurrency by threatening to expose compromising content and now include a new tactic—photos of recipients' homes obtained from Google Maps Street View. To protect themselves, victims should never pay or respond to such emails, report them to law enforcement and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and take preventive measures including blurring their homes on Google Maps, conducting dark web scans, maintaining strong passwords, and running regular security scans on all devices.
southernstar.ie
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide defines scams as illegal schemes designed to steal money or personal information, and describes current fraud methods including "quishing" (fake QR codes at parking meters), fraudulent text messages impersonating government energy credit schemes, and spoofed business emails requesting payment. The article provides protective measures such as avoiding QR code payments, using multi-factor authentication, verifying websites through cybersecurity tools, recognizing warning signs (unsolicited contacts, pressure to act quickly, grammatical errors), and safeguarding personal information by only sharing details in initiated communications and checking website security features.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides six free strategies for protecting finances from fraud, particularly during high-risk periods like the holiday season. The recommended safeguards include staying informed about trending scams (adoption, romance, grandparent, and elder fraud), freezing credit with major bureaus when not applying for loans, enabling multi-factor authentication on accounts, using password managers to create strong unique passwords, avoiding clicking links or calling numbers in unsolicited communications, and monitoring accounts regularly for suspicious activity. These preventive measures require no financial investment but can significantly reduce vulnerability to identity theft and fraud year-round.
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
Fraudsters increasingly use AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning to impersonate family members in scams demanding urgent money for emergencies like kidnappings or accidents. The FBI and banks now recommend families create secret passphrases to verify identity during suspicious calls or messages, using unique phrases unrelated to publicly available personal information and kept strictly private. While family passphrases offer a useful defense layer, experts caution that victims in genuine emergencies may struggle to remember them due to panic or adrenaline.
lexology.com
· 2025-12-08
DeepFake technology—AI-generated audio, video, and images that convincingly impersonate real people—has already caused an estimated $12 billion in fraud losses and can be created for under $15 in less than 10 minutes. Scammers use DeepFakes to impersonate executives for financial fraud (one employee transferred $25.6 million after a fake CFO video call), manipulate employees via fake voice calls to access company data, and spread political misinformation. Users should verify online connections before sharing personal or financial information, as the technology makes traditional visual and audio verification unreliable.
7news.com.au
· 2025-12-08
Former TV host David Koch's image was used without permission in a fraudulent investment scam that convinced victim Allison to lose $250,000. The article reports that fake celebrity-endorsed investment advertisements have defrauded over 600,000 Australians as part of a multi-billion-dollar scam industry, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes to impersonate celebrities and create fake endorsements. NAB warns that common red flags include unexpected contact, artificially created urgency, and celebrity or expert endorsements, particularly on social media platforms.
iomtoday.co.im
· 2025-12-08
An Isle of Man Bank customer lost nearly £200,000 after fraudsters impersonated the bank's fraud team and convinced the victim to purchase gold and send it via mail to London; the scam succeeded because it coincided with the customer's genuine card problems, making the call seem legitimate. The Cyber Security Centre's report for late 2024 also documented additional fraud cases including a £200,000 cryptocurrency scam, sextortion attempts, smishing schemes, and fake Facebook travel offers, with 2,721 suspicious emails reported to authorities and recommendations emphasizing independent verification and family communication about financial matters.
hindustantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 to Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated photos to impersonate actor Brad Pitt and convince her they were in a romantic relationship, claiming the actor needed money for medical treatment. The case highlights how Nigerian internet fraudsters, known as "Yahoo Boys," are adopting AI and deepfake technology to conduct romance scams, a tactic experts warn could significantly increase the effectiveness and prevalence of such fraud schemes.
fosters.com
· 2025-12-08
Hampton residents lost nearly $1 million to phone, email, text, and social media scams over 13 months, with many involving cryptocurrency, according to Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno—though he notes this represents only reported cases. One particularly devastating case involved a "pig butchering scheme" where a resident lost $480,000 after a scammer built trust through social media before introducing a fraudulent investment opportunity. The Hampton Police Department has become New Hampshire's first law enforcement agency to open a Coinbase account to potentially freeze and recover stolen cryptocurrency, and the chief urges residents to contact police before sending money rather than after they've been victimized.
m.economictimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 ($850,000) to Nigerian scammers who impersonated actor Brad Pitt through AI-generated photos and fake romantic contact on Instagram, claiming he needed money for medical treatment. The case highlights how Nigerian fraudsters are evolving romance scams by incorporating deepfake and AI technologies, with authorities investigating three men in their 20s based in Nigeria. This represents a dangerous escalation of traditional "Yahoo Boys" internet fraud schemes that have plagued West Africa for years.
wionews.com
· 2025-12-08
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 ($850,000) to Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated photos to impersonate Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and convince her they were in a romantic relationship, claiming he needed money for medical treatment. The case exemplifies how Nigerian fraudsters, historically known for romance and sextortion scams, are adopting AI and deepfake technology to exploit victims, with cybercrime experts warning this technological evolution threatens to undermine years of progress in combating internet fraud.
techradar.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion scams are evolving to use personalized intimidation tactics, including victims' home addresses, phone numbers, and images of their neighborhoods in emails to create a false sense of immediate threat. Scammers now exploit invoicing platforms to bypass email security filters, claim devices are infected with malware like Pegasus, and demand cryptocurrency payments while threatening public humiliation or physical visits. Organizations and individuals can reduce vulnerability through robust email filtering and user education about these sophisticated social engineering tactics.
wsoctv.com
· 2025-12-08
Over $1.03 trillion was lost to scams globally in 2024, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence, imposter tactics, and evolving technology to deceive victims. Key emerging threats include AI-powered phishing, deepfake videos, and voice cloning, alongside traditional imposter scams (including grandparent and romance scams) where median losses reached $800-$14,740 depending on the scam type. Scammers are shifting from phone calls to email and text messages as their primary contact method, making it essential for people to remain skeptical of unsolicited communications.
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
Scams and fraud losses reached over $1.03 trillion globally in 2024, with scammers increasingly leveraging new technology to evolve their tactics. Key emerging threats for 2025 include AI-powered scams (using deepfakes, AI-generated images, and synthetic voices to enhance phishing and imposter schemes), traditional imposter scams (including grandparent and romance scams, with median losses of $800 in 2023 and $14,740 for government imposter scams), and a shift toward email and text-based contact methods rather than phone calls. Learning about these developments helps potential victims stay ahead of scammers who aim to steal personal information
afp.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian authorities warned more than 5,000 potential victims via text message about romance scammers operating from the Philippines who targeted men over 35 using fake female personas on dating apps. The scammers convinced victims to invest AUD $300-$800 in cryptocurrency before stealing their funds, with the scheme uncovered after Philippine authorities raided a scam compound in Manila in November 2024 and identified Australian phone numbers linked to the operation. The investigation, known as Operation Firestorm, has resulted in over 250 arrests in the Philippines, and authorities advised victims to report funds to their banks and police immediately.
accc.gov.au
· 2025-12-08
Australian authorities identified over 5,000 potential victims of a romance scam operation run by Philippine-based cybercriminals who posed as Filipino or local females on dating apps to deceive mostly male victims over 35. The scammers convinced victims to invest AUD $300–$800 in cryptocurrency before transferring funds to their accounts; the investigation resulted in over 250 arrests and led authorities to send warning text messages to potential victims advising them not to send money and to report any losses to banks and police. This operation was conducted under Operation Firestorm, a global initiative by the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Collaboration Centre to disrupt offshore organized crime networks targeting
finextra.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are highly sophisticated fraud schemes that exploit emotional vulnerability and loneliness, affecting victims across all age groups but particularly targeting middle-aged adults (55-64) and older adults (65-74). In 2023, romance scams resulted in approximately $1.14 billion in reported losses in the United States, with a median loss of $2,000 per victim, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated images and fake social media accounts to build trust before requesting money for fabricated emergencies. A notable 2024 case involved a 53-year-old French woman who lost her entire life savings of $850,000 to scammers posing as
stocktitan.net
· 2025-12-08
A Norton study reveals that while 60% of online daters encounter AI-generated responses and many welcome AI tools for dating profiles, AI also enables increasingly sophisticated scams. Dating app users face significant threats: 40% have been targeted by scams with 41% of those becoming victims, including catfishing (55%), romance scams (34%), and sextortion (31%), while only 46% of users can identify fake AI-generated images and 27% have had their photos stolen without permission. Norton launched Genie, a free AI-powered scam detection app, to help users identify fraudulent profiles and protect themselves against these evolving threats.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
The Maharashtra Cyber Police issued a public alert warning senior citizens about four prevalent scam types targeting them: digital arrest scams (where fraudsters impersonate police demanding online payment), investment frauds (promising unrealistic returns), sextortion (extorting money after obtaining private photos), and phishing scams (using suspicious links and OTP theft). The alert emphasizes that legitimate authorities never demand online payments or threaten arrest via phone, and advises seniors to verify investments with trusted advisors, avoid sharing personal information online, and report suspicious activity to the Cyber Crime Helpline.
wbbjtv.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost victims over a billion dollars annually and typically begin with a scammer initiating contact through text or dating apps, building trust over time, and then requesting money, gift cards, or bank account information under false pretenses such as military deployment or travel expenses. Common red flags include stolen profile photos (which can be identified through reverse image searches), requests to move conversations off dating platforms, and inconsistencies in stories. To protect yourself, use unique dating app photos, avoid connecting with people who have no mutual friends, inform trusted contacts about new online connections, and conduct reverse image searches on suspicious profiles.
wrdw.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost victims over a billion dollars annually, with scammers using tactics like the "meet-cute" text and military impersonation to build trust before requesting money or financial information, sometimes defrauding victims of tens of thousands of dollars. To protect yourself, use reverse image searches to verify photos, avoid using dating app photos from social media, and consult friends and family about new online contacts, as anyone—from young people targeted in sextortion schemes to lonely older adults—can fall victim to these increasingly sophisticated scams.
waka.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost victims over a billion dollars annually, with scammers using tactics like fake "meet-cute" encounters, impersonating military personnel, and requesting money or banking information under the guise of plane tickets or other expenses. To protect yourself, perform reverse image searches on photos, avoid using the same profile photos across platforms, and inform trusted friends and family about online contacts, as anyone—from young people to lonely seniors—can fall victim to these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
about.fb.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers exploit Valentine's Day and other occasions by impersonating military personnel, celebrities, or fake dating agencies across social media and messaging platforms to build trust with victims before soliciting money via wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. A tech company disrupted multiple romance scam networks operating across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, and other platforms, with schemes originating from Nigeria and Kenya targeting users in the US, UAE, Japan, Africa, and other regions. The company recommends users verify identities, avoid sending money to unknown contacts, and use platform safety tools to protect against these schemes.
thecipherbrief.com
· 2025-12-08
Cyber-enabled scams originating primarily from criminal gangs in Southeast Asia, India, and Nigeria have become a global security emergency, with over 57,000 Americans scammed daily, resulting in $158 billion in annual losses and an average victim loss of $14,197 ($33,915 for seniors). These transnational fraud operations, often run by Chinese crime bosses using forced labor, fund additional criminal activities including human trafficking, drug manufacturing, and hostile nation weapons programs, while U.S. law enforcement capacity is severely overwhelmed and can only address a fraction of cases.
businesswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Sextortion has emerged as one of the most devastating romance scams, with fraudsters using fake profiles to manipulate victims into sharing intimate content before threatening exposure and demanding ransom payments. The FBI reported over 12,000 complaints in 2023 resulting in millions in financial losses, severe psychological trauma, and in some cases fatalities, with younger and newer online daters being particularly vulnerable. The article recommends that social media and dating platforms implement stronger identity verification measures, including biometric and government ID verification, to eliminate fake profiles and make it harder for scammers to operate across multiple platforms.
moodys.com
· 2025-12-08
Moody's identified 1,193 new entities and people globally with potential ties to romance scams in 2024, marking a six-year high and 14% increase from 2023. Romance scammers build fake online identities to manipulate victims into sending money or financial information, with older adults and emotionally vulnerable individuals (such as those experiencing divorce or grief) being particularly targeted. Financial institutions must strengthen their anti-fraud screening processes using advanced technologies like AI and machine learning, robust anti-money laundering protocols, and cross-sector collaboration with regulators and law enforcement to detect and prevent these schemes.
asianbankingandfinance.net
· 2025-12-08
Romance scam-linked entities reached a six-year high in 2024, with 1,193 new profiles globally (a 14% increase from 2023), exposing banks to significant reputational risks and regulatory fines as criminals attempt to launder proceeds through the traditional financial system. The United States accounted for 38% of new romance scam profiles, followed by Nigeria (14%) and India (12%), with notable surges in Malaysia (64 profiles in 2024 vs. 6 in 2023) and the Philippines (45 vs. 10). The rise has been linked to pandemic-era isolation and increased online vulnerability, with romance scam profiles in
en.vietnamplus.vn
· 2025-12-08
Thai police launched a "Senior's Community Cyber Police Club" to combat rising online fraud targeting older citizens, who lost 4.4 billion THB (125 million USD) in nearly 14,000 reported cases during 2024. The program provides weekly educational Zoom sessions teaching seniors about common scams such as fake product sales, fraudulent job offers, and extortion calls impersonating officials, with early results showing declining victimization rates and increasing membership. The initiative complements other awareness efforts including weekly Facebook programs and daily scam alerts as part of Thailand's broader cybercrime prevention strategy.
regtechtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams, where fraudsters create fake profiles on dating apps and social media to manipulate victims emotionally and extract money, have increased 14% globally in 2024 with over 1,193 new scam profiles detected. The United States (38%), Nigeria (14%), and India (12%) are the most affected countries, with scammers employing tactics like "love bombing," fake personas, and blackmail to exploit victims over weeks or months. Tech companies including Meta, Tinder, Bumble, and Google are implementing AI-powered detection systems, safety notices, and content filters to identify and remove fraudulent accounts and warn users of suspicious activity.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers are sending mass extortion emails threatening to expose alleged compromising material unless recipients pay money (often in Bitcoin), using publicly available personal information like names and addresses to create a false sense of familiarity and urgency. One Pennsylvania resident received such an email demanding $2,000 after the sender claimed to have malware and webcam access, though experts note that scammers rarely possess actual evidence and send these threats indiscriminately to thousands of people obtained from data breaches. The FBI advises recipients not to respond, not to pay, and to report such emails as spam or phishing.
rbcwealthmanagement.com
· 2025-12-08
Cryptocurrency investments carry substantial risk and have become a prime target for scammers, with crypto-related fraud losses reaching $5.6 billion in 2023, a 45 percent increase from the previous year according to the FBI. Common crypto scams include fake investment opportunities promising guaranteed returns, phishing schemes using counterfeit websites, celebrity endorsement fraud, and Ponzi schemes that recruit investors but misuse funds. Individuals considering cryptocurrency investment should familiarize themselves with these scam tactics and verify the legitimacy of any platform before providing personal information or money.
wccbcharlotte.com
· 2025-12-08
While younger people in their 20s and 30s fall for scams at more than twice the rate of those over 60, older adults lose significantly more money when victimized—the FTC estimates seniors lost $61 billion to fraud last year compared to $158 billion total across all ages. Scammers tailor tactics by age group, targeting seniors with tech support and gift card scams while exploiting millennials through romance, shopping, and employment fraud. The key takeaway is that vulnerability to scams is not age-specific; rather, financial impact differs substantially based on available resources.
waka.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
While younger people (ages 20-30) fall for scams at more than twice the rate of those over 60, older adults lose significantly larger amounts of money when victimized, accounting for approximately $61 billion of the $158 billion in total consumer fraud losses last year. Scammers employ age-specific tactics, targeting seniors with computer support and gift card scams while using shopping, romance, employment, and sextortion schemes against younger demographics. The key finding challenges the common misconception that older adults are the primary scam victims, revealing instead that vulnerability varies by age group in terms of both frequency and financial impact.
local3news.com
· 2025-12-08
While older adults are commonly perceived as primary scam victims, data shows that people in their 20s and 30s fall for scams at more than twice the rate of those over 60, though seniors who do lose money typically lose significantly larger amounts. Younger people are frequently targeted by shopping, romance, employment, and identity theft scams, while older adults are more susceptible to tech support and gift card scams. Despite accounting for only some of the overall scam losses, people over 60 lost approximately $61 billion to fraud last year, highlighting that all age groups face risk and require vigilance.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple closeted gay and bisexual men in Pune were victimized by organized extortion gangs operating on dating apps like Grindr, with victims losing between Rs17,500 and Rs89,000 through blackmail schemes involving forced videos and threats of outing them to family members. The scams, which have persisted for nearly two years, involved gangs posing as romantic matches, luring victims to isolated locations, and using threats of public exposure to coerce money transfers. Police response has been inadequate, with officers dismissing complaints or refusing to file reports, thereby emboldening the perpetrators to continue targeting vulnerable individuals.
kaaltv.com
· 2025-12-08
While older adults are commonly perceived as the primary scam victims, data shows that people in their 20s and 30s fall for scams at more than twice the rate of those over 60, though seniors lose significantly larger dollar amounts per incident. Scammers tailor tactics by age group, targeting younger people with shopping, romance, employment, and sextortion scams, while seniors face computer support, gift card, and financial fraud schemes. The Federal Trade Commission reported consumers lost over $158 billion to fraud last year, with people over 60 accounting for approximately $61 billion of those losses.
aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
A 70-year-old Missouri man fell victim to a sextortion scam in which he sent intimate photos to someone posing as a romantic interest, who then threatened to publish the images unless he paid $2,500; a second scammer then impersonated police and demanded additional money by threatening to contact his employer. Sextortion—coercing victims into financial or behavioral compliance by threatening to share intimate images—affects not only children and teenagers but also older adults, with surveys indicating that 7.6% of adults ages 50-64 and 8.4% of those 65+ have experienced it, though experts believe actual numbers are higher due to underreporting caused by shame