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Scams in the US are at a record high. Yet most victims get no help and some end up losing even more
Summary by The Odessa Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: Associated Press , as published by Odessa American (oaoa.com)
· September 2, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: Odessa American (oaoa.com) · view original
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Summary created by The Odessa Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Associated Press, as published by Odessa American (oaoa.com) Original story Read at the source Source published Sep 2, 2026 Indexed here Sep 2, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key points Simon's financial troubles worsened as he had to pay back $185,000 he borrowed and additional taxes on the lost money. However, Emily was a fake and stole $800,000 from him.
Scams in the US have reached a record high, with most victims receiving no assistance. A case involving a widower, Simon, illustrates the severity of the issue. After his wife's passing, Simon sought online companionship and met someone claiming to be Emily. However, Emily was a fake and stole $800,000 from him. Simon's financial troubles worsened as he had to pay back $185,000 he borrowed and additional taxes on the lost money.
Further details about Simon's experience and the broader issue of scams in the US are available from the source. The case highlights the challenges victims face in seeking help and the potential for further financial losses.
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Category: News ·
Published: September 2, 2026 ·
Source: Odessa American (oaoa.com) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Scams in the US have reached a record high, with most victims receiving no assistance. A case involving a widower, Simon, illustrates the severity of the issue. After his wife's passing, Simon sought…
When was this published? This article was first published on September 2, 2026 by Odessa American (oaoa.com) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Associated Press at Odessa American (oaoa.com). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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