Six charged in dating app crypto scam that hit 800 Americans

Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C. charged six men tied to a Madagascar-based ring that posed as attractive women on dating sites and talked victims into linking their crypto wallets to fake NFT investment sites, which were then drained. The ring allegedly paid real "human models" to record videos and voice notes for the fake profiles. The FBI linked about 74 crypto wallets to roughly 800 victims nationwide.

What to do: A video call or voice note no longer proves a match is real. If someone you met online brings up crypto or an investment, end the conversation.

Source: FOX 5 DC, Oct 27

This story was part of The Fraud Briefing's Top 5 for the week ending November 1, 2026. Get it in your inbox every week: subscribe here. Watch the 20-second version on YouTube at @thefraudbriefing.