Elder Fraud in Georgia

Brittany Hudson was sentenced to 16 years and three months in federal prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme that defrauded Amazon of nearly $10 million between January and June 2022, using fake vendors and invoices to divert funds that were spent on luxury vehicles and real estate. Hudson and her co-conspirators, including an Amazon employee, submitted over 1,000 fictitious invoices that led Amazon to transfer approximately $9.4 million to accounts they controlled. While out on bond, Hudson compounded her crimes by forging federal judges' signatures to attempt defrauding a franchising company, and she was ordered to pay $9.47 million in restitution to Amazon

The Georgia Department of Agriculture warned residents about a fraudulent Facebook event promoting a fake "2026 GATE Atlanta Vendor & Artisan Market" scheduled for August 21-23 at the Atlanta State Farmers' Market. The scam was designed to solicit payment and business information from vendors and participants, with authorities issuing a cease-and-desist letter to the alleged organizer. State officials are urging Georgians not to send payment, personal information, or business details to anyone promoting this event.

Scammers are disguising phishing attacks as party invitations from platforms like Evite and Paperless Post, tricking recipients into entering passwords or verification codes by impersonating familiar hosts or compromised contacts. Once criminals obtain login credentials, they can take over email accounts, reset passwords for other services, and spread the same scam to the victim's entire contact list. The FTC warns that legitimate invitation platforms never require logins to view events and recommends verifying invitations directly with the host through trusted contact methods.

A federal jury convicted 41-year-old Babajide Adesayo of Douglasville, Georgia for his role in a transnational romance and business scam that defrauded elderly victims of $2.7 million between April 2020 and September 2021. Adesayo acted as a money launderer for an international network, receiving stolen retirement savings under the guise of an automotive business and then wiring the funds to accounts in China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria. He was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 16 counts of transactional money laundering, with sentencing scheduled for November 20.

Babajide Adesayo, a 41-year-old Georgia resident, was convicted of laundering over $2.7 million stolen from elderly victims of romance fraud and other online schemes between April 2020 and September 2021. Adesayo received the criminal proceeds through business accounts controlled by co-defendant Efemena Igbe, disguised the transfers as vehicle sales, and rapidly moved the funds to overseas accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and other jurisdictions. The victims, primarily elderly people deceived by fraudsters posing as romantic partners or business contacts, had been manipulated into sending retirement savings and substantial personal funds based on fabricated emergencies.

A Douglasville man was convicted of laundering over $2.7 million stolen from victims of romance and online scams between April 2020 and September 2021, with elderly victims losing retirement savings. Babajide Adesayo, 41, helped move the stolen funds through a transnational network to China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria by disguising them as vehicle payments through his automotive business. He faces up to 20 years in prison on conspiracy charges and up to 10 years on each money laundering count, with sentencing scheduled for November 20.

An Atlanta man, Babajide Adesayo, was convicted of conspiracy and other federal charges for stealing over $2.7 million from elderly victims through romance fraud and online scams. As a key member of a transnational criminal network, he posed as friends or romantic partners to gain victims' trust, then transferred their retirement savings overseas to China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria to prevent recovery. Adesayo faces up to 20 years in prison per conspiracy count and is scheduled for sentencing on November 20.

Florida, Georgia, and Texas rank among the states with the highest reported cryptocurrency fraud losses, with California leading at over $2.5 billion and Texas reporting nearly $1.4 billion in losses. Scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics including fake apps, social media solicitations, celebrity endorsements, and fraudulent educational courses that promise wealth through cryptocurrency trading but deliver little value or don't exist. These schemes often employ pump-and-dump tactics, fake trading platforms displaying fabricated profits, and high-pressure sales of expensive mentorship programs and VIP memberships costing thousands of dollars.

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As Georgia's population grows by nearly 100,000 residents annually, law enforcement reports increasing cybercrime and scams, with the state ranking among the top 10 for reported cybercrime nationwide and experiencing a 24% increase in cyber-enabled crime. Older adults are disproportionately targeted through gift card scams, fake grandchild emergency calls, and impersonation schemes where scammers pose as law enforcement claiming victims owe money for arrest warrants or unpaid citations. State officials are expanding partnerships with the FBI and Georgia Attorney General's Office to combat these emerging threats through coordinated investigations and intelligence sharing.

Minnesota enacted a complete ban on cryptocurrency ATMs effective August 1, 2026, after state officials documented approximately $1 million in scam losses connected to crypto kiosks between 2023 and 2025, with seniors disproportionately targeted through schemes involving manufactured emergencies and pressure to send funds irreversibly. The law required operators to deactivate functioning machines immediately and physically remove them by December 31, 2026, joining Tennessee in adopting an outright ban rather than regulation, as federal data showed Minnesota residents lost over $151 million to crypto-related fraud in 2025 alone.

Georgia law enforcement reports a surge in cybercrime and scams as the state's population grows, with cybercrime increasing 24% nationwide and Georgia ranking in the top 10 states for reported cyber-enabled crimes. Older adults are being disproportionately targeted through gift card scams, fake grandchild emergency calls, and impersonation schemes where scammers claim victims owe money for arrest warrants or unpaid citations. State officials are expanding partnerships with federal agencies to combat these emerging threats through intelligence sharing and coordinated investigations.

Bipartisan lawmakers are advancing legislation (H.R. 9500) to allow fraud victims to deduct losses from financial scams, addressing a tax code gap created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that left victims responsible for taxes and early-withdrawal penalties on stolen retirement funds. The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved the bill, which would let victims claim theft-loss deductions and potentially provide retroactive relief for those affected over the past eight years. The legislation aims to prevent the "second kick when you're down" scenario where crime victims face additional financial harm through IRS tax bills on money stolen by fraudsters.

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Scammers are sending postcards through the mail claiming recipients have qualified for free gas and grocery gift cards, often from a company called "AAPP," to trick people into paying "processing fees" that end up costing them $5 to $50 or more. The Better Business Bureau has received multiple reports of this scam, which uses official-looking design elements like barcodes and urgent language to appear legitimate and pressure quick responses. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited offers for free money or gift cards, research any company before paying fees, and check the BBB's Scam Tracker page for reports on suspicious mailings.