Elder Fraud in Florida

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued Evolve Construction and six related individuals for operating a hurricane repair scam targeting at least 80 consumers across multiple counties, with over 60% being seniors. The defendants allegedly collected over $1 million from homeowners for roof repairs and water/mold remediation after Hurricanes Ian and Milton, then failed to complete promised work, used unlicensed representatives, and threatened liens and foreclosure to collect additional payments. The complaint alleges deceptive practices including misrepresented timelines and scope of work, unlawful insurance benefit assignments, and threats of physical collection tactics.

A lonely Jacksonville widower lost over $450,000 in a romance scam orchestrated by a male scammer operating from China who posed as a woman on WhatsApp and promised investment opportunities. An elder law attorney successfully used Florida's new SB 106 law to freeze an additional $200,000 wire transfer by serving the scammer through the same WhatsApp platform used in the scheme. The case highlights the vulnerability of isolated seniors to romance fraud, with FBI data showing elder fraud complaints rose 59% last year with total losses of $7.7 billion nationally, including $709.8 million from Florida victims.

Scammers are targeting University of Miami students through GroupMe chats using fake identities to sell concert and sports tickets, cameras, and other items, with one student losing money on a World Cup ticket scam after receiving a fake ticket via a phishing link. The scammers typically build trust by impersonating real students and using stolen identities, then pressure victims to make quick payments before revealing the fraud. Multiple students have been victimized through various GroupMe channels, including official-sounding ticket swap groups and club chats that require admin approval.

An elderly victim was pepper-sprayed through her car window during a road-rage incident in Miami-Dade's Hammocks neighborhood on September 14, which stemmed from a minor traffic collision. The suspect fled the scene in a newer model Mercedes-Benz, and authorities released images seeking the public's help identifying the driver. No dollar amounts or additional injuries were specified in the incident report.

Two South Florida men were arrested after purchasing over $2,700 worth of items, including 70 cans of Spam and other bulk goods, at Sam's Club using fraudulent public assistance cards from compromised accounts. Myrthland Ince, 33, and Romario Stewart, 32, used 10 different NationsBenefits cards with victims' information at self-checkout, and were found carrying re-encoded debit cards used for the scheme. Both face charges including fraudulent use of identification, grand theft, and public assistance fraud.

Jonathan Gonzalez Reyes was arrested for impersonating an ICE agent, aggravated assault, and impersonating an officer after he falsely claimed to hold a top position with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and used fake federal credentials to intimidate a Miami Gardens business owner. The suspect, who appeared at the victim's business with flashing police lights and a gun, threatened the victim and his son, demanding free food and claiming he could help with immigration issues, visiting the business eight to nine times over several months. Federal authorities obtained a warrant and arrested Gonzalez Reyes after the victim reported the scheme to Homeland Security in September.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier proposed legislation to strengthen penalties for phone and text scams, including those using artificial intelligence, fake warrants, and impersonation, classifying high-volume or high-loss cases as elevated felonies with mandatory prison time. The proposal aims to address gaps in current Florida law that often treats such crimes as misdemeanors with minimal punishment, while also targeting phone farms and SIM farms used in large-scale scam operations. The Attorney General's Office has recovered nearly $10 million for scam victims this year and is seeking broader authority to investigate and pursue civil penalties against scammers and businesses trafficking in illegally obtained records.

A Central Florida woman lost thousands of dollars to a romance scam after being catfished by someone impersonating social media influencer Thane Rivers, who convinced her to send money for airfare, hotels, and gift cards. When the scammer sent a fraudulent $4,000 check that her bank rejected, Rice became liable for the amount and now pays $130 monthly from her Social Security to repay it. Romance scams cost Florida residents $22.2 million in 2025 alone, with nearly $930 million lost nationally, as scammers increasingly use social media impersonation and AI to appear more convincing.

Jennifer Percival, a Florida Atlantic University director, pleaded guilty to defrauding an Epstein victims' compensation fund by falsifying documents to claim $750,000 she was not entitled to receive. She altered rejection letters and fabricated emails to make it appear she had been approved for compensation from the JPMorgan Chase settlement fund in 2024, though she had previously been denied by the original Epstein estate fund. Percival admitted the fraud was motivated by seeking validation and has agreed to repay $776,031 in restitution, facing a potential sentence of three to four years in prison.

Jonathan Christian Gonzalez-Reyes, 45, was arrested for impersonating an ICE agent and threatening a food truck worker in Miami-Dade on July 8, approaching the victim with a gun and badge while demanding money in exchange for immigration help and protection. The suspect threatened to harm the victim's son, pistol-whip him, and plant drugs at the business, even pointing a gun at the victim before driving away with police sirens activated. Gonzalez-Reyes faces charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, falsely impersonating an officer, and unlawful use of a police badge.

"Seniors vs. Crime Northwest Florida" is an organization recruiting volunteers to help prevent scams targeting elderly residents in the region. The group aims to reduce the number of fraud cases affecting seniors in Northwest Florida through community education and awareness efforts.

Jonathan Gonzalez Reyes was arrested in Miami for impersonating a high-ranking ICE agent and threatening employees at a food truck business, using a vehicle with blue lights, fake badge, and firearm to intimidate the owner into paying money for help with immigration issues. The suspect made multiple visits to the business, with the second visit involving alleged threats of gun violence and promises to plant drugs to shut down the operation. Authorities set Reyes' bond at $11,000, and investigators believe he may have targeted other victims.

Florida's Attorney General introduced the Florida Anti-Spam Communications Act to combat rising scam calls and texts targeting residents through spoofed government agencies, fake jury duty notices, and fraudulent payment demands. The proposed legislation aims to establish tougher penalties for scammers and the "phone farms" and "SIM farms" that blast thousands of numbers, addressing gaps in current law. Victims cited in the announcement lost amounts ranging from $190 to $700, with the state's Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit having recovered nearly $10 million from scammers to date.

FBI data shows elder fraud complaints surged 59% year-over-year with nationwide losses reaching nearly $8 billion, with Florida seniors losing approximately $710 million—the second-highest state total. The spike in fraud targeting seniors includes various scam types targeting aging parents' financial accounts. Authorities recommend families take protective measures to safeguard vulnerable elderly relatives from scammers.

Travel scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using AI tools to create fake websites and exploit real reservation data stolen from hotels and airlines to impersonate legitimate companies. Common scams include reservation hijacking (fraudulent payment requests using actual reservation details) and fake flight cancellation alerts that pressure victims into rebooking through malicious links. The FTC reported Americans lost $3.5 billion to impostor scams in the past year, with experts recommending travelers verify communications by calling official company numbers directly rather than using contact information from suspicious messages.