Elder Fraud in Maryland

Stanley G. Richards, a Prince George's County man, was fined $5.9 million and permanently banned from Maryland's securities industry for his role in promoting NovaTech, an unlawful pyramid scheme that posed as a cryptocurrency and forex trading platform. Beginning in 2021, Richards aggressively marketed NovaTech investments on YouTube, video calls, and social media, defrauding approximately 3,000 Maryland residents who lost around $37 million collectively, while the scheme generated between $600 million to $1 billion globally from 2019-2023. Richards operated as an unregistered investment adviser and rose to senior director status within NovaTech's hierarchy by selling over

A Maryland woman received calls from scammers impersonating Wells Fargo fraud department and a San Francisco police officer, who claimed she was involved in a federal money laundering case tied to fraudulent credit card purchases of thousands of dollars in guns and ammunition. The scammers used specific details to appear legitimate, moved the conversation to video chat, sent fake police documents, and threatened arrest and extortion to pressure her into compliance. The woman recognized the scam before providing critical information, but experts warn that real banks and police will not threaten immediate arrest or force victims to remain on the phone.

A 72-year-old Maryland woman named Janey Sears was sentenced to 20 years in prison (15 years incarcerated, 5 years supervised probation) for stealing $406,954 from a victim she met on a dating app and moved in with in 2019. She convinced him the money was being invested in stocks through Goldman Sachs and an exclusive investment pool, when she actually spent it on casinos and expensive cars. Sears was convicted of theft scheme, securities fraud, and misappropriation of funds by a fiduciary in a case that highlights the growing danger of romance scams, particularly targeting vulnerable individuals.

A 72-year-old Maryland woman named Janey Sears was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a romance scam in which she defrauded a victim of over $406,000 over three years after meeting him on a dating app and moving into his home. She falsely claimed to be investing his money in stocks like Pfizer through Goldman Sachs, but instead spent the funds on casinos and luxury cars. She was convicted of theft scheme, securities fraud, and misappropriation of funds by a fiduciary.

Janey Sears, 72, was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for defrauding a Montgomery County man of over $400,000 through a dating app romance scam. Sears posed as a CEO with fabricated credentials and convinced the victim, a federal employee, to let her invest his money, claiming she would place it in Goldman Sachs and Pfizer stocks, but instead spent the funds on casinos and a $55,000 vehicle. She was ordered to pay approximately $407,000 in restitution at $10,000 monthly after her release.

A 73-year-old D.C. woman, Janey Sears, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for romance scam fraud involving a federal worker in his 50s whom she met online and moved in with in 2019. Over less than two years (August 2021-May 2023), Sears convinced the victim to invest $406,954 into a fake Pfizer stock investment pool, while actually depositing the money into her own accounts and spending approximately $55,000 on a luxury car and over $100,000 gambling at casinos. She was convicted of securities fraud, misappropriation of funds by a fiduciary, and theft

Scammers are targeting job seekers through fake job offers via text messages, impersonating major companies like Amazon and requesting personal information including Social Security numbers and employment history. Experts advise job seekers to avoid clicking links or scanning QR codes from unsolicited messages, and to report suspicious contacts to their phone service provider and local law enforcement while monitoring their credit history.

Scammers in Maryland are spoofing the state's EBT customer service phone number to deceive new cardholders into revealing account information and compromising their benefits. The article warns that caller ID spoofing allows criminals to impersonate legitimate government agencies and banks, and advises residents to never share account details during unsolicited calls and instead verify requests through official contact numbers.

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office is hosting telephone town halls focused on scam prevention for seniors in New Baltimore, Michigan, with sessions scheduled for August 26th and September 9th. Residents can register to receive a phone call and participate in discussions about stopping crimes against seniors, with the option to ask questions or listen during the approximately 60-90 minute sessions. No in-person attendance is required.

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office is hosting a telephone town hall on September 9th focused on senior fraud prevention through their SCAMS (Stopping Crimes Against Macomb Seniors) program. Residents can register to receive a phone call and participate in the 60-90 minute discussion with Prosecutor Lucido, either asking questions or listening about scams targeting seniors in the community.

New York Attorney General Letitia James testified before Congress that cryptocurrency fraud complaints to her office have nearly tripled in three years, driven by scams including "pig butchering," romance schemes, and investment frauds perpetrated largely by anonymous overseas actors. James urged Congress to strengthen cryptocurrency oversight and reject the CLARITY Act, arguing it would preempt state laws and weaken state and local law enforcement's ability to prosecute crypto fraud, and she recommended requiring crypto platforms to comply with anti-money laundering requirements and hold them financially liable for consumer protection failures.

Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn and Prosecutor Paul Dobson conducted educational presentations at senior centers to warn older adults about scams, noting that seniors are targeted three to five times more often than other groups due to loneliness, trust, and limited technology knowledge. From 2020 to 2024, cases involving losses of $10,000 or more increased four-fold, while cases with losses exceeding $100,000 increased seven-fold in the county, though authorities believe actual numbers are higher due to underreporting. The officials advised seniors to never provide personal information to callers, avoid clicking suspicious links, be wary of urgency and fear tactics, and recognize red flags such as

Nana Takyiwa Adonu, a 43-year-old U.S.-based Ghanaian woman, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded Americans of over $1.6 million. The scheme involved creating fake dating profiles on social media to lure victims into sending money, with some victims losing their life savings, retirement accounts, homes, and vehicles; one Iowa victim alone lost over $55,000. Adonu operated Han-Dak LLC to launder the proceeds and provided false business documentation to obstruct the federal investigation.

A senior Democratic congressman has accused FIFA of a "smash-and-grab scam" over its proposed $20 billion privatization of commercial operations, citing suspicious ties to the Trump administration and Joshua Kushner's investment firm Thrive Capital. The alleged scheme involves JPMorgan Chase facilitating the deal while FIFA simultaneously awarded Trump a "peace prize," reversed a red card decision following a Trump call to FIFA's president, and benefited from the Justice Department dropping long-running bribery cases against the organization. If Democrats gain House control, the judiciary committee plans to investigate FIFA's financial dealings, subpoena witnesses, and examine the organization's relationship with Trump officials and the Kushner family.

A Ghanaian national living in Maryland, 43-year-old Nana Takyiwa Adonu, was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for operating a nationwide romance scam that defrauded victims of over $1.6 million, including an Iowa victim who lost more than $55,000. Adonu created fake online dating profiles and operated a fraudulent company to receive stolen funds from victims seeking romantic relationships, and she was ordered to pay $1.65 million in restitution. According to FBI statistics, an estimated 59,000 people have fallen victim to romance scams losing over $672 million, with many cases going unreported due to victim embarrass