8 Investigates: Mainers are losing thousands of dollars in scams involving bitcoin
A Maine man reports roughly 27,000 dollars lost to a romance scam using cryptocurrency.
Reported caseData from The GDELT Project · Reviewed and interpreted by RSRC
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The chart uses every search filter above and all matching records, across every results page. The percentage denominator is all included URLs in the same dates, before theme, language, country or text filters.
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A URL counts once per month and can appear in several months or themes. Themes describe the current record assessment; months show URL observations, not when events or each claim first appeared. Warnings, allegations and reported experiences are all included when coded. Partial months, collection gaps and changes in sources affect both measures. A higher share does not establish a higher risk to victims.
Read the graph as a table
| Observation month | Matching URLs | All included URLs | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 591 | 591 | 100.0% |
| Feb 2025 | 1,629 | 1,629 | 100.0% |
| Mar 2025 | 561 | 561 | 100.0% |
| Apr 2025 | 390 | 390 | 100.0% |
| May 2025 | 398 | 398 | 100.0% |
| Jun 2025 | 209 | 209 | 100.0% |
| Jul 2025 | 522 | 522 | 100.0% |
| Aug 2025 | 447 | 447 | 100.0% |
| Sep 2025 | 613 | 613 | 100.0% |
| Oct 2025 | 483 | 483 | 100.0% |
| Nov 2025 | 392 | 392 | 100.0% |
| Dec 2025 | 333 | 333 | 100.0% |
| Jan 2026 | 530 | 530 | 100.0% |
| Feb 2026 | 1,106 | 1,106 | 100.0% |
| Mar 2026 | 360 | 360 | 100.0% |
| Apr 2026 | 491 | 491 | 100.0% |
| May 2026 | 785 | 785 | 100.0% |
| Jun 2026 | 842 | 842 | 100.0% |
| Jul 2026 | 1,143 | 1,143 | 100.0% |
| Aug 2026 | 640 | 640 | 100.0% |
| Sep 2026 | 638 | 638 | 100.0% |
| Oct 2026 | 30 | 30 | 100.0% |
12,949 matching media records
Each record represents a source web page, not a verified incident. Different URLs can describe the same event. About these records.
Las Vegas woman faces extradition from Mexico in deadly romance scam
Aurora Phelps faces extradition from Mexico and an earlier Nevada indictment. The word deadly alone does not establish homicide, cause of death or completed extradition.
Reported caseTinder Romance Scam: टिंडरवर ओळख, प्रेमाचे नाटक आणि 52 लाखांचा गंडा! महिला न्यायाधीश ‘रोमान्स स्कॅम’च्या जाळ्यात
A judge reportedly lost 52 lakh through Tinder to a person claiming a secret government role. A question about bail is not a confirmed court disposition.
Reported caseNigerian Suspect Held in Istanbul Over US$2.5m Romance Scam
An Istanbul arrest concerns an alleged American-businessman persona, marriage promise and 2.5 million loss to a Hong Kong dentist. The clipped account-freeze phrase is not sufficient for a recovery code.
Reported case【Lennrar】網絡交友色網最終結果是投.資 - 873755d5 的部落格 - udn部落格
General relationship-based investment lure; no quantified loss or sexual violence inferred.
Commentary緣愛俱樂部是真的嗎❓小心陷阱快來自保 - 反套路字典 - udn部落格
Unverified purported dating-fraud experience. The text questions the stereotype that only foolish or greedy people are deceived; blame language is quoted, not endorsed by this research.
Commentary出圈｜"他把我当猪养"：五位情感"杀猪盘"受害者揭秘恋爱骗局 — 新京报
These titles describe emotional pig-butchering victim narratives; shared generic descriptions do not establish individual loss amounts.
Research & trends網路交友溫柔與福利是為了讓我投.資【NF MFX】 - 36e8a47b 的部落格 - udn部落格
Unverified claimed online-dating investment approach; no specific impersonated identity, loss or recovery established.
Commentary多名中老年男性被同城交友诈骗 涉案金额高达3400余万_新闻频道_中华网
The title reports a dating-fraud scheme affecting over 7,000 people and 34 million. The description reports rejection of four appeals and retention of an earlier judgment; do not infer fresh arrests.
Reported caseJudge swipes right on Tinder, loses ₹52 lakh to alleged honeytrap, gets domestic help to file complaint
A judge reportedly lost 52 lakh via Tinder and used a household employee to file the police report. Judicial discussion of embarrassment is not evidence of a diagnosed harm or victim culpability.
Reported case法律博主总结情感“杀猪盘”骗子惯用人设：富家公子落难最典型
A legal blogger describes losing 340,000 and later pursuing an offender. Prior job loss and relationship breakdown are not coded as consequences of the scam.
Reported case情況更新｜CJKISX無法提領該怎麼辦 - 清石日誌 - udn部落格
Repeated general explanation; promotional allegations and recovery offers are unverified, not independent victim events.
Commentary【重要提醒】遇到宏創e計畫提領異常請先做好這幾件事 - 管家日誌 - udn部落格
Repeated general explanation; promotional allegations and recovery offers are unverified, not independent victim events.
CommentarySussex ranks among Britain’s catfishing hotspots as dating scams net £4m
Reporting discusses catfish-related losses in Sussex; figures describe coverage claims rather than a complete population.
Research & trendsCops warn of cruel romance scams targeting the vulnerable
Police warning titles explicitly identify vulnerability to romance scams. Shared metadata do not identify individual cases or establish victim locations.
Prevention & support網戀「仙女」暈船了！甜喊共築未來誘投資黃金 台中阿北險噴11萬 - 社會 - 自由時報電子報
An online romantic persona encouraged a shared future and a gold investment; police intercepted an intended payment. No completed loss is established.
Reported case"Romance Scamming": Wie man Betrüger auf Singlebörsen erkennt
Advice on recognizing romance fraud also describes financial losses affecting two regional victims. The source language alone does not locate them.
Prevention & supportCops warn of cruel romance scams targeting the vulnerable
Police warning titles explicitly identify vulnerability to romance scams. Shared metadata do not identify individual cases or establish victim locations.
Prevention & supportFxtrading完整事件回顧，親歷者現身說法 - 自主空間 - udn部落格
Repeated general explanation; promotional allegations and recovery offers are unverified, not independent victim events.
Commentary38岁女教师网恋遇到杀猪盘被骗走400万_新闻频道_中华网
A documentary discussion describes a teacher losing four million to a fabricated boyfriend, emotional distress and repeated police warnings. Derisive framing is attributed to this commentary, not endorsed.
Commentary新闻8点见丨受害者揭秘情感"杀猪盘"；美加墨世界杯明日3时揭幕战 — 新京报
These titles describe emotional pig-butchering victim narratives; shared generic descriptions do not establish individual loss amounts.
Research & trendsマッチングアプリで「外国人女性」から誘導され…30代男性が暗号資産308万円被害 福井県警が捜査 | 事件・事故 | 福井のニュース | 福井新聞ONLINE
Tsuruga police investigate a matching-app romance scam after a man transferred crypto for purported side-business operating funds. An embedded unrelated police-impersonation link is excluded.
Reported case台中阿北網戀暈船⋯以為遇第二春！急匯11萬給「仙女」 美夢遭警戳破 | 社會 | 三立新聞網 SETN.COM
Taichung police and bank staff intercepted an intended 110,000 payment to an online romantic persona promoting joint investment. No completed loss is established.
Reported case[이승환의 어드바이스] 사기꾼은 외로운 사람을 노린다
General account of targeting and trust-building; no individual monetary loss or location established.
Commentary避免踩雷！Global Shop使用心得與評價 - 財富避風港 - udn部落格
Repeated general explanation; promotional allegations and recovery offers are unverified, not independent victim events.
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