A broker in Asti, Italy has been arrested on fraud charges after misappropriating over €1.2 million from 43 investors. He promised returns of up to 27% annually using fake prospectuses for cryptocurrency and AI-related investments, but actually withdrew the funds as cash and dispersed them. The Financial Guard discovered he used a Ponzi-like scheme, paying early investors from later victims' funds.
Indonesia's National Police Criminal Investigation Bureau has escalated a mining investment fraud case reported by a Malaysian citizen to the investigation phase. Nineteen witnesses have been examined during the preliminary investigation, with authorities continuing to gather evidence.
Seoul police arrested a woman who defrauded victims of stock trading scams out of 400 million won. The woman impersonated a financial company employee and collected money from victims who believed they could earn large profits through stock trading signals. Police tracked her down using CCTV footage and surveillance.
Italian finance professionals are being impersonated in a Facebook scam using paid advertisements to solicit investments. Fraudsters clone authentic banker profiles and pose fake investment opportunities to deceive victims. After Meta failed to promptly remove the content, the targeted professional issued a warning and filed a report with cybercrime police.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested in Sri Lanka for allegedly scamming a victim out of Rs. 12.69 million through Telegram by promising lucrative online business opportunities. The North Western Provincial Unit of the Computer Crime Investigation Division arrested the suspect and an alleged accomplice who received part of the stolen money.
Singapore Police have warned the public about a new investment scam scheme where fraudsters impersonate well-known investors and financial experts on Facebook. Victims are lured into fake investment platforms through promises of exclusive advice and low-risk returns, and are unable to withdraw funds after deposits are made.
Can Tho police have issued a warning about online investment scams involving precious metals and gold. Notably, scammers use a two-stage approach: after initial fraud, they impersonate lawyers or financial experts to promise recovery of lost funds while demanding additional payments. Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and protect their assets.
Turkish authorities have dismantled a fraud ring operating through social media platforms in Alanya, which defrauded citizens of 3.3 million lira by promising high investment returns. Six suspects were arrested, with two formally charged. The victim was manipulated into transferring money to multiple bank accounts.
Turkish authorities conducted a major crackdown on an investment fraud network operating across 39 provinces, arresting 159 suspects. The criminal organization allegedly laundered proceeds through cryptocurrency accounts and money exchangers, causing losses to 23 victims totaling approximately 51.4 million Turkish Lira.
International media investigations reveal that Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich allegedly manipulated financial documents through Cyprus offshore accounts between 2003 and 2023 to conceal billions in assets and evade taxes. A senior manager at Deloitte Cyprus was allegedly involved in the scheme.
An Indonesian comedian named Nopek Novian has clarified his involvement in an alleged gold investment scam called "Emas Now." He confirmed his role was limited to a brand ambassador contract from May to May 2027, during which he received only 5% of contracted payments. The case involves 85 victims with estimated losses of 25 billion rupiah.
Bangladesh's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a 22-year-old woman for operating an online job and investment fraud scheme using a counterfeit Dutch company website. The suspect contacted victims via Telegram offering part-time work with daily earnings of Tk800-Tk2,500, initially paid them legitimately, then lured them into high-return investment schemes. The businessman victim lost approximately Tk24.19 lakh before the scammers ceased contact.
Chinese police in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, intercepted a sophisticated investment fraud that exploited personal information a victim had posted on social media. Scammers used her name, address, and birthdate to craft a customized fake persona, eventually coercing her to purchase over 200,000 yuan in gold jewelry. Timely police intervention prevented substantial financial loss.
An investment fraud case involving PT Divine Gold Jewelry has emerged in Indonesia, with 85 victims reporting losses totaling approximately 2.5 billion yen. The company offered precious metals purchase programs with buyback guarantees, promoted through celebrity endorsements on social media. Authorities are investigating the fund flows and promotional tactics.
A 60-year-old pensioner in Russia's Voronezh Region was defrauded by scammers who promised investment returns and transferred his savings to an account registered under a fictitious person. A court has ordered the return of funds following the prosecutor's lawsuit against the fraudsters who used intermediaries known as "droppers" to receive stolen money.
A 54-year-old man in Singapore is set to be charged on October 9 for his involvement in an investment scam targeting gamblers. Police revealed that the suspect is also connected to other fraud cases with total losses exceeding $2.2 million.
A 70-year-old man in Taipei lost 2.2 million NT$ to an investment scam, then nearly withdrew 2.7 million NT$ for another fraudulent scheme involving Japanese whisky investment. Police intervention at the bank prevented the loss and led to the arrest of a money courier.
Security firm Group-IB discovered an organized fraud scheme exploiting government payment gateways in GCC countries. Criminals use stolen credit card data to pay legitimate government fines and utility bills, then collect discounted payments from victims in return. Confirmed losses exceeded $2.01 million from October 2025 to August 2026, with approximately 300 related incidents documented.
As heating season begins in Italy, pellet scams are resurging. Fraudsters lure victims with fake e-commerce sites and sponsored social media ads offering pellets at less than half the market price. After advance payment, products never arrive and sellers disappear. The Italian Wood Energy Association (AIEL) has issued an official warning.
Thai authorities have arrested a Chinese-led fraud ring and seized 2.4 million baht in a fake online investment scam. The victim was deceived through personal and group LINE messages to invest funds, transferring approximately 1.44 million baht. The suspect withdrew cash and fled the country after receiving payments but was apprehended by police. The court sentenced the main perpetrator to 4 years imprisonment and ordered compensation to the victim.
Investment Scams
