Elder Fraud in North Carolina

Scammers posing as Wells Fargo fraud department and federal officials stole over $250,000 from Kaitlin Henze in May 2023 through a three-week scheme involving fake badges, letters, and documents that convinced her to empty her savings, retirement, investment accounts, and max out credit cards. Henze has since become an advocate for fraud victims and financial education, speaking publicly about her experience to help others recognize scam tactics and support fellow victims in their recovery.

Derrick Van Yeboah, a 41-year-old Ghanaian national and high-ranking member of a criminal organization, was sentenced to 85 months in prison for stealing over $10 million from vulnerable victims through romance scams between 2015 and 2024. Operating as a "sakawa boy," Van Yeboah impersonated fake romantic partners online and deceived at least 20 victims into sending money or laundering funds, with individual losses ranging from $123,000 to $2.3 million. He was arrested in Ghana in June 2025, extradited to the United States, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, and agreed to forf

A North Carolina man who spent 30 years building a castle on his property became entangled in a costly legal dispute after a brief romance with a woman he met on Match.com; he accused her of romance scam fraud to gain control of his property, while she claimed he targeted her for her wealth to fund the castle's construction. A judge dismissed both parties' claims before trial, leaving both individuals with significant financial and reputational damage after a two-year legal battle. The case serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of entering into joint business ventures with romantic partners, highlighting the importance of clear agreements and due diligence before mixing personal relationships with financial commitments.

Tech support scams trick people by displaying fake virus warnings or making unsolicited calls claiming to be from tech companies, pressuring victims to pay for unnecessary repairs, download malicious software, or grant remote access to their devices. These scams affect anyone online and are constantly evolving across pop-ups, phone calls, emails, and ads. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected security warnings or support calls—legitimate companies won't contact you unprompted about device problems, and you should never grant remote access or pay for repairs based on unsolicited alerts.

Georgia's new House Bill 945, effective July 1, 2026, allows banks and credit unions to pause suspicious transactions they suspect are fraudulent, protecting adults 65 and older as well as those with physical or mental incapacities, dementia, or Alzheimer's disease. Common bank scams involve callers claiming your account is under attack and pressuring you to transfer money to a "safe account" that actually belongs to scammers, potentially turning years of savings into irreversible losses. The law's effectiveness depends on your state, financial institution, and account type, so consumers should stay alert to scam calls, verify requests directly with their bank using official numbers, and consider registering for fraud prevention resources.

Multiple U.S. states, including North Carolina and Maryland, are expanding bank powers to combat rising financial exploitation of older adults by allowing financial institutions to temporarily freeze suspicious transactions for up to 30 days and notify authorities when fraud is suspected. Elder financial abuse costs older Americans approximately $28.3 billion annually through sophisticated scams involving impersonation, romance schemes, and AI-generated communications, prompting these legislative changes to provide protection before victims suffer irreversible losses. Older adults should remain vigilant about unsolicited financial requests, verify contact information independently before responding to urgent money requests, and consider designating a trusted contact with their bank who can be alerted to suspicious activity.

Congressmen Davis and Nunn introduced the STOP Senior Fraud Act to combat the $4.8 billion in fraud losses reported by Americans over 60 in 2024. The bill would allow banks to delay or refuse suspicious transactions for up to 85 days and require them to notify trusted contacts and report suspected exploitation to protective services and law enforcement. For seniors and vulnerable individuals, this legislation aims to provide crucial protection against increasingly sophisticated financial scams while empowering financial institutions to act as a safeguard without legal liability.

Representatives Don Davis and Zach Nunn introduced the STOP Senior Fraud Act (H.R. 9668), a bipartisan bill that would allow banks and credit unions to pause suspicious transactions for up to 55 days to prevent financial exploitation of seniors and vulnerable adults. Seniors over 60 lost more than $4.8 billion to fraud in 2024, and the bill aims to combat this by requiring financial institutions to notify trusted contacts, report suspected cases to authorities, and train employees on fraud detection. The measure provides legal protections for banks acting in good faith, helping to stop scams before victims' savings are depleted.

Scammers are increasingly using spoofed phone numbers and robocalls to defraud Americans, with nearly 30 billion scam calls and texts received last year, prompting Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and 48 other state attorneys general to urge the FCC to strengthen regulations blocking scammers' access to legitimate telephone numbers. The article emphasizes that while parents once warned children not to talk to strangers, modern consumers must now heed law enforcement warnings about sophisticated scams that exploit trust by appearing to come from legitimate sources. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited calls and texts, especially those asking for personal information or money, and report suspicious activity to authorities.

Four Washington residents lost over $673,000 in a coordinated scam spree where fraudsters impersonated Microsoft, the FTC, and Coinbase using various tactics including fake tech support calls, malicious email links, and fake apps to steal money and valuables. An 84-year-old victim lost more than $400,000 after being threatened with criminal charges and instructed to convert his money to gold for a stranger. To protect yourself, hang up on suspicious calls and directly contact any company or agency in question through official channels—remember that legitimate organizations never ask you to buy gift cards, cryptocurrency, or gold, or to avoid contacting law enforcement.

Older adults across North Carolina and the country are increasingly targeted by financial scams, prompting U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson to highlight common schemes and warning signs of fraud. The article emphasizes the importance of recognizing suspicious activity and provides resources for seniors and caregivers to report suspected financial exploitation. Those concerned about potential scams can visit ic3.gov to learn more information or report suspected fraud.

A North Carolina man lost $753,000 in a "pig-butchering" scam, where criminals spend months building trust with victims before stealing their cryptocurrency investments. While the FBI indicated he may recover about $630,000, experts warn that cryptocurrency's borderless nature makes it attractive to scammers and difficult for authorities to recover funds once they've been moved through multiple channels. To protect yourself, report suspected fraud immediately to the FBI and be wary of unsolicited investment offers online, especially those promising quick returns.

A North Carolina man lost $753,000 to a "pig-butchering" scam, where criminals build trust with victims over months before stealing their cryptocurrency investments, though he may recover about $630,000 after reporting it to the FBI. Experts note that scammers favor cryptocurrency because it's easy to move across borders, and while federal authorities recovered nearly $2.5 billion in crypto-related cybercrime in 2025, tracking stolen funds remains difficult since scammers often pool money from multiple victims. The key takeaway: reporting suspected fraud immediately to authorities can significantly increase the chances of recovering at least some stolen funds.

A North Carolina man lost over $753,000 in a "pig-butchering" scam—a fraud scheme where scammers build trust with victims before directing them to fake investment platforms showing false returns—and is now waiting for federal investigators to help recover approximately $630,000 of his lost savings. The victim, Wesley Marley, decided to speak publicly about his experience despite feeling embarrassed, hoping to warn others about the scam before they lose their own money. To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities, verify investment platforms independently, and report suspected scams to law enforcement immediately, as delays can allow scammers to move funds out of reach.

Employment scams have doubled in 2025, with fraudsters using AI technology to impersonate employers and send personalized messages to vulnerable job seekers desperate for work. Gen Z applicants have been hit particularly hard, with about 32% reporting they've fallen victim to job scams compared to 15% of Gen Xers. To protect yourself, verify job opportunities directly through official company websites and phone numbers, be cautious of requests for personal information or upfront payments, and remember that legitimate employers typically don't conduct initial interviews via email alone.