AARS News
Check back here often! We will put up everything from our work with congressional departments to media and awareness.
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You can provide your support by sending a letter to your congressional leaders and or to AARS.
AARS
P.O. Box 6112
Fresno, CA 93701
Share The Education
A PSA (Public Service Announcement) is a social media message designed to educate and encourage action on important issues. AARS invites you to share our PSAs on your profiles to help raise awareness about romance scams and fraud. Simply hit the share button on our posts or save and share them directly. Please don’t modify the content.
AARS Provides Guides
AARS would like to thank Black River Country Bank in Jackson County for contacting us and requesting our informational guides (our Anti-Romance Scam Guide and our After the Scam Guide) to help spread awareness during their talk on scams at the Jackson County 1st Annual Senior Health Fair! So glad we could help contribute!
United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Organized Fraud
On March 3-6, the United Nations hosted an expert group meeting in Austria on organized crime. AARS’ Executive Director, Kathy Waters, was invited and attended via video conference along with 28 other field experts. Kathy represented those victimized by organized crime groups through online romance scams, that, to this day, conduct their criminal activity on all social media platforms. The meeting reviewed a formal paper speaking of the different types of organized crime and how the nations can come together universally to combat these crimes.
The final paper was introduced on October 15, 2025 at the 12th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (COP12).
FBI/Match Group Conference
On July 17, 2023, Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS) was invited by the Los Angeles FBI and Match Group to present at a conference on online romance and pig butchering scams. AARS was the only nonprofit invited to speak about their services for victims and the upcoming World Romance Scam Prevention Day.
Meeting in D.C.
So many great things to report during our latest visit to D.C. Meetings were on March 22, 23 2023. We met with 4 congressional offices, ACCO team, the Unit Cheif of the IC3, attended a hearing to support a fellow ACCO member, and much more!
AARS On: The Easy Prey Podcast
“Online dating has become more complicated than ever. Learning how to verify that the person you’re talking to is actually the person in the dating profile can save you from heartbreak and financial loss.” -Easy Prey
Air Date: 11/30/2022
Follow Up To the Infragard Webinar
Participating in the webinar was an honor, and we are thankful for the opportunity to share what we do and why we do it!
Webinar on Romance Scams with Infragard, IC3, FBI & AARS
Thank you for joining us at the webinar September 23, 2022 at 1:00PM ET “Protecting Yourself Against Romance Scams A case Study & Resources.
New on AARS! The Innocent Faces used in Romance Scams!
You can now find the AARS Library of stolen images under the “Stolen Images Library” or click the link below! There are multiple pages to look through.
Helping Once Again to Spread Education on Romance Scams
AARS had a wonderful opportunity to be part of the docu-series Devil In The Web and help tell the story of romance scams. AARS’s Co-founder and Executive Director, Kathy Waters, helped bring the dark scam to light. The episode based on romance scams can be seen in the fifth episode (season finale), which aired on June 23, 2022.
Meeting with Senator Blackburn’s Staff
On 12/2/2021 at 1:00 pm PST, AARS had a virtual meeting with Senator Marsha Blackburn’s, National Security Advisor and Policy Advisor on romance scams. We shared the number of victims from Tennessee and the monies that left their state. The staff also shared with us how Senator Blackburn had recently been a victim of identity theft by erroneous use of her photos. The scammers used pictures of the Senator and her family as well. The office agrees that laws need to change, and we were thankful for us sharing our work and story with them. The Advisors also confirmed that they are discussing new policies with another Senator’s office.
We also mentioned our relationship with Rep. Kinzinger’s office and the two bills he has presented to the appropriate committees regarding cyber safety: H.R. 4654 and H.R.4653. They were aware. As for follow-ups, we extended our assistance concerning research, stories, and anything that can help spread awareness of romance scams. We also mentioned our partnership with the Alliance to Counter Crimes Online (ACCO) and how we collaborate to provide awareness and education on platform safety from all areas of different cybercrimes.
Overall, the meeting was well received and promising for future movement on new bills or amendments that benefit cyber safety! It’s good to hear and know the lawmakers are listening! Thank you to Senator Blackburn’s staff for their time and understanding with this matter!
The Newest Report is Out!
AARS’s latest report shows online crimes and platforms’ lack of security to keep users safe. It includes snapshots of online crimes, emails from Facebook to AARS, and disappointing reporting results based on Facebook and YouTube’s community standards.
Here's to Justice!
Before his retirement, AARS Board Member/Retired FBI Agent Roger Campbell was one of the lead investigators in the arrest of alleged romance scammer Richard Dorpe. Mr. Dorpe was found guilty and recently sentenced to 40 months in prison for wire fraud. Click the link to read the story from 10 Wavy.com
Facebook & Instagram Scams Exposure
Our initial report to Instagram. Showing the expected findings and wrongful takedowns.
Completed February 2, 2021
Public February 11, 2021
Oxygen's "Dark Web Exposed"
AARS was proud to be part of this incredible episode of Oxygen, “Dark Web Exposed.” Learn about Romance scams and the emotional and psychological effects of cybercrime.
Shout Out In Time!
What a fascinating article by Andrew Chow about online shopping scams! It gives a nice shoutout to AARS and the work we are doing to help prevent romance scams online.
The "Love" of the Arts
AARS partnered with ARA to help spread awareness on the issue of impersonating on platforms and identity theft. See how they are working together to combat online crime.
Big Tech Meeting
On October 28th, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. EST, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing focusing on Big Tech and Section 230 of the Communication Decency Act. AARS Sent a letter on behalf of change needed, along with 50 victim letters stating the same!
AARS is now on TikTok
You can now find educational and factual information on AARS on TikTok! Come follow us!
AARS's Op-Ed is Out
We are excited for you to read our Op-Ed and learn more about our work and the reason we are honored to be the voice for so many!
Congrats, Jan!
Let us be one of the first to congratulate Mrs. Janice N. Hart, CA! What a delight for AARS to share that one of our founding/current board members has met all National Advocate Credentialing Program requirements through the National Organization for Victim Advocacy. Jan was credentialed under the Intermediate Level, specializing in Identity Theft/Financial Crimes Specialist.
Jan has been a dedicated advocate for romance scam victims for several years. Her commitment is admirable, as she has devoted thousands of hours to providing support, understanding, a shoulder, and compassion. There has never been a time when she has given less than 100% of herself when assisting a victim. There is nobody more deserving of this achievement than Janice Hart.
It takes a beautiful soul to achieve such a selfless achievement. Believe us when we say that Jan is the epitome of extraordinary.
Congratulations, Jan! Our hearts are filled with joy for you!
U.N. Involvement
Read the full Organized Fraud Issue Paper from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crim (UNODC).
