NEWS
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Cambodia Raids Scam Compound, Arrests 28 in Transnational Romance Fraud Crackdown
Cambodian authorities dismantled a major transnational online scam operation in Phnom Penh on Monday, arresting 28 suspects in a coordinated raid targeting a syndicate accused of romance fraud and digital extortion.
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Elderly Widow Loses $7,000 in Online Romance Scam, Police Warn Others to Be Cautious
The incident began in early November when Beverly Stern started receiving friendly messages from a man she had never met, who claimed to have found her on a dating app she says she never used. What started as casual conversation soon became a daily routine, with the man expressing love and promising a future together.
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Nigerian National Jailed in the U.S. for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Online Romance Scam
A federal jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina has found 34-year-old Nigerian national Saheed Sunday Owolabi guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
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The Man Was Too Perfect: Narakorn Tiyayon, a Former Thai TV News Anchor, Escaped a $100,000 Romance Scam
Bangkok, Thailand – For Narakorn Tiyayon, a 57-year-old former television news anchor, the initial message on Facebook seemed harmless. The man who contacted her had a charming smile and an impeccable online profile. She had no idea she was stepping into a meticulously planned "pig butchering" scam, a cruel blend of emotional manipulation and financial…
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Online Romance Scam in Cambodia Leads to Prison for Two South Koreans
Judge Ji Hyun-kyung from Busan District Court’s Criminal Division 12 revealed that a man in his 30s, referred to as A, received a four-year prison sentence and was fined 22 million Korean won for fraud, joining a criminal organization, and participating in its activities. Similarly, B, a man in his 20s facing the same charges,…
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Three Thai women arrested for alleged involvement in Nigerian romance scam
The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has apprehended three Thai women suspected of leading a significant cross-border romance scam network, which has reportedly caused financial losses amounting to nearly 6 billion baht
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Chinese, Vietnamese Arrested in Siem Reap Romance Crypto Scam Raid
Authorities in Siem Reap province have shut down a small-scale cyber scam operation suspected of defrauding foreign victims through so-called “romance scams.” The operation was based in a rented villa in Siem Reap city and was reportedly run by three Chinese men and one Vietnamese woman.
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Scammers Posing as ‘Squid Game’ Star Lee Jung-jae Defraud Woman of $350,000
A woman has reportedly lost approximately 500 million won (about $350,000) after falling victim to a romance scam carried out by a criminal group impersonating South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae, according to a report by JTBC. Lee’s management agency has vowed to pursue strong legal action in response.
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Toronto Man Warns Others After Losing $80,000 in Online Romance Scam
A man from Toronto is sharing his story after losing $80,000 to an online romance scam during one of the hardest moments of his life.
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Cybercrime Crackdown Across Africa: Inside Interpol’s Operation Contender 3.0
🚨 Interpol’s Operation Contender 3.0 has led to 260 arrests in 14 African countries, dismantling 81 cybercrime hubs & exposing scams worth $2.8M. Major blow against romance scams & sextortion networks.
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EFCC: 10 Internet Fraudsters Jailed in Benin City, Phones and Laptops Forfeited
The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 10 internet fraudsters before Justice M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.
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EFCC Launches Major Raid, Arrests 37 Internet Fraud Suspects in Nigeria
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of 37 individuals suspected of internet and cryptocurrency fraud in coordinated operations carried out in Warri, Delta State, and Owerri, Imo State.
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Pattaya-Based Crime Syndicate Behind Romance and Crypto Scams Busted; Losses Exceed ₩20 Billion
A transnational crime syndicate accused of orchestrating romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and “no-show” schemes out of Pattaya, Thailand, has been dismantled, South Korean police announced. Authorities say the group swindled victims out of more than 20 billion won (about $14.4 million).
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Bank Teller, Police Foil $19,400 Romance Scam Targeting Elderly Woman in Seoul
Seoul, South Korea - A woman in her 70s nearly fell victim to a romance scam orchestrated by a fraudster posing as a U.S. soldier, but quick action by a bank teller and local police prevented the loss of nearly 27 million won ($19,400), authorities said.
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EFCC: Court Jails 21 Internet Fraudsters in Ibadan
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 21 internet fraudsters in Ibadan, Oyo State, following prosecutions before both the Federal High Court and the Oyo State High Court.
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Japanese Woman Loses 1 million Yen in ‘Astronaut’ Romance Scam
An 80-year-old woman in northern Japan was defrauded of 1 million yen (about $6,700) after falling victim to an online romance scam involving a man who falsely claimed to be an astronaut, police said Tuesday.
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Nigerian Citizen Pleads Guilty in Romance Scam Targeting U.S. Victims
Daniel Chima Inweregbu, 40, from Lagos, Nigeria, pleaded guilty on August 21, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown in the Eastern District of Louisiana. He was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and the use of an assumed name, along with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
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North Dakota Man Sentenced in Texas Romance Scam, Ordered to Repay $4.7M
A North Dakota man has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar romance scam that defrauded victims across the United States. Daniel Boadu, 36, of Williston, North Dakota, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced on August 29, 2025, to 54 months…
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Southern California Woman Loses Home to Deepfake Romance Scam Involving ‘General Hospital’ Actor
Los Angeles, California. A 66-year-old Southern California woman, Abigail Ruvalcaba, lost her home after a sophisticated romance scam that used artificial intelligence to steal her life savings. Ruvalcaba believed she had fallen in love with General Hospital actor Steve Burton. Over a year ago, she met someone she thought was Burton on Facebook. After communicating…
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South Australia Police Issue Warning as Romance Scams Cost Victims Over $1 Million in 2025
South Australia Police (SAPOL) issued a warning about romance scams and provided guidance on how to avoid becoming a victim. According to police, more than $1 million has already been lost this year to 84 reported romance scams in South Australia. Nationally, the figure rises to $12 million across 1,415 reports, with women over 55…
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Nigeria Deports 50 Chinese Nationals in Cybercrime Crackdown | EFCC Operation Eagle Flush
Nigeria’s EFCC has deported 50 Chinese nationals and over 100 other foreigners in a major cybercrime crackdown. The operation, dubbed Eagle Flush, targeted one of the largest foreign-led internet fraud syndicates in Lagos.
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Facebook Scam: Man Jailed for Impersonating Katia Banks in Lagos
Lagos, August 20, 2025. A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced Salami Ponmile Bassit to three months in prison after he was found guilty of internet fraud involving the impersonation of a U.S. woman named “Katia Banks.”
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Meta Reports: WhatsApp Bans 6.8M Scam Accounts in 2025
WhatsApp is rolling out enhanced security features to help users recognize and combat scams in both personal and group chats. These measures are part of Meta’s broader initiative in collaboration with OpenAI and other partners. According to the company, 6.8 million accounts linked to fraudulent operations were blocked in the first half of 2025 alone.
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Teenager Loses Over HK$110,000 in Online Dating Scam
A 16-year-old boy in Hong Kong fell victim to an elaborate online dating scam, losing more than HK$110,000 after being tricked into purchasing gift cards.
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David Cruz from Florida Loses $47,000 in Online Romance Scam
Port Richey, Florida. A 70-year-old man from Pasco County, David Cruz, reported losing $47,000 after falling victim to an online romance scam.
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FBI Issues Updated Guidance on Combating “Fake Lawyer” Scams as Fraudulent Law Firms Targeting Crypto Victims Employ Multiple Exploitation Tactics
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has released an updated alert warning consumers about a growing wave of fraudsters masquerading as attorneys. These imposters prey on people who have fallen victim to cryptocurrency scams, offering to help recover lost funds while actually siphoning personal data and sometimes money from their targets.
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Elderly Man Dies After Attempting to Meet “Big Sis Billie” AI Chatbot
A 76‑year‑old New Jersey resident died on March 25 after falling in a parking lot while hurrying to meet a generative AI chatbot that had convinced him it was a real person. The bot, released by Meta in partnership with model Kendall Jenner, was marketed as a “ride‑or‑die older sister” and had been encouraging the…
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Nigerian Businessman Loses $70,000 in Fake Gold Scam in Kampala – Seven Arrested
In a case that has captured public attention, Ugandan police have arrested seven people accused of defrauding Nigerian businessman Mark Gbillah of US $70,000 in a bogus gold deal.
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Ghanaian Cybercrime Ring Extradited to U.S. Over $100 Million Romance and Email Fraud
Four Ghanaian nationals accused of orchestrating a sophisticated international cybercrime operation that defrauded victims of more than $100 million have been extradited to the United States. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the group combined highly targeted romance scams with advanced Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks to exploit…
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Dating Advice Tea Suffers Major Data Breach: 72,000 Images and Private Chats Exposed
In a major setback to online privacy and digital safety for women, the women-only dating and advice app Tea has suffered a data breach that exposed over 72,000 user images, including government-issued IDs and selfies uploaded for verification. The breach also compromised sensitive private messages.
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Anti-Fraud Centre: Canadians have already lost $103 million to crypto investment scams
Canadians lost a staggering $224 million to cryptocurrency-related fraud in 2024, with more than $103 million already reported lost in the current year, according to new data from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC).
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Indian Police Arrest Man for $180,000 Cryptocurrency Investment Scam Involving Fake Trading Platform
Harshik Patel was arrested in Gujarat for orchestrating a crypto investment scam that defrauded victims of over $180,000
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Tinder Introduces Mandatory Face Check for California Users to Combat Fake Profiles
Tinder, the popular dating app owned by Match Group, has introduced a mandatory facial recognition feature - called "Face Check" - for all new users registering in California. The move marks a major shift in the platform’s approach to user verification and safety, aiming to curb fake profiles, reduce romance scams, and increase trust across…
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Joe Subach Thought He Was Talking to Apple Support – It Cost Him Over $1 Million
While trying to resolve an issue with sending money via the Apple Pay app, Joe fell victim to an elaborate scam that cost him over one million dollars.
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Nigerian Court Jails 15 Asians for Cyberterrorism and Internet Fraud
A Nigerian court jailed 15 Asians for "cyber-terrorism and internet fraud", the national anti-graft agency said, one of the largest such cases in the country. Eleven Filipinos, two Chinese, one Malaysian and one Indonesian were sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of one million naira (about US$630)
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Punjab Police Dismantle International Cyber Fraud Syndicate Operating from Noida
The Mohali Cyber Crime Cell of the Punjab Police has busted an international racket of fraudsters by arresting seven nationals of Nigeria and Ghana from a rented accommodation in Noida from where they were allegedly operating a fake call centre, police said.