Elder Fraud in Ohio

Scammers exploited George Tsaftarides' popular TikTok account ("George The Tailor," 40,000+ followers) by creating fake profiles and AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating him to sell products on dropshipping websites and solicit donations through fabricated sob stories across multiple platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Tsaftarides and his daughter Daisy Yelichek have repeatedly reported and blocked these fraudulent accounts but continue to struggle against the scam, as platforms like Shopify offer little assistance in locating the perpetrators.

Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to Ohio residents impersonating state agencies including the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Ohio Turnpike, and Department of Taxation. State agencies will never contact citizens via unsolicited text messages, and residents should report suspicious messages to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

An elderly victim in Bristolville, Ohio, and his sister lost over $1.6 million in a cryptocurrency investment scam that began with a text from an unknown person claiming to be named "Zach." The scammer, operating under the username "Shaw Goddess" on Telegram, posed as a successful investor and convinced the victim to open accounts on Crypto.com and Strike.com, ultimately directing him to transfer over $1 million to a fake investment platform; when withdrawal attempts failed, the victim realized the fraud. Federal investigators used blockchain analysis to trace approximately $200,000 of the stolen funds to a Tether cryptocurrency address, which was frozen by Tether Limited in December

Lightning Shared Scooter Co. (LSSC), a fraudulent investment scheme posing as a Hong Kong-based scooter-sharing company, defrauded hundreds or thousands of victims by promising returns on initial investments of $2,000-$65,000 that could be monitored and withdrawn through a mobile app. The scam used fake endorsements from public figures (including Sean Spicer), local officials, military personnel, and fabricated storefronts in at least eight U.S. cities to gain credibility, particularly targeting immigrant and lower-income communities who invested life savings and college funds. Victims discovered last month they could not withdraw earnings, with law

The Better Business Bureau warns college students about fraudsters impersonating government agencies or legitimate lenders to offer fake financial aid and scholarship scams. Scammers typically lure victims with promises of free loans or favorable rates but require upfront payments before disbursing funds. The BBB recommends avoiding unsolicited offers, being wary of payment requests, and reporting suspected scams to the BBB and Federal Trade Commission.

Andrea Estell Cochran, a 51-year-old from Houston, was arrested and charged with federal bank fraud after using forged passports to impersonate account holders and withdraw approximately $11,000 from multiple banks across Washington state and Maine in 2024. She faces up to 30 years in federal prison plus additional state charges, with a plea deal hearing scheduled for August 28, 2025. A separate study by VPNPro found that seniors aged 60 and older across all U.S. states lost significant sums to fraud in 2022, with losses ranging from approximately $3 million to $31 million per state, highlighting the widesprea

Andrea Estell Cochran, a 51-year-old from Houston, was arrested and charged with federal bank fraud after using fake passports to impersonate account holders and withdraw approximately $11,000 from multiple Washington state banks in 2024, with similar attempts in Maine; she faces up to 30 years in prison and state charges across multiple Washington counties. Additionally, a VPNPro study reveals that seniors aged 60 and over across all U.S. states lost substantial sums to fraud in 2022, with per-victim losses ranging from $13,118 to $30,150 depending on the state, highlighting seniors as prime targets for scammers

Georgia prison inmates, including an imprisoned rapper, were sentenced in Ohio for operating a phone scam from behind bars that impersonated law enforcement officers and targeted registered sex offenders nationwide, netting thousands of dollars before being uncovered by Ohio investigators. Marquis Conner received four years in prison and ordered to pay $9,400 in restitution; co-defendants Emmitt Wells and Johnathan Ford each received three years, while Julissa Casanas was placed on community control for processing payments. The scheme involved contraband cellphones in Georgia prisons and represents part of a larger pattern of fraud within the state's correctional system.

Perry Forensic, a division of Perry & Associates CPAs, hired three experienced forensic professionals: Steven A. Bodge (certified fraud examiner with 30+ years of insurance fraud investigation experience), David A. Tracewell (retired IRS forensic accountant with 30 years of federal tax examination expertise), and Jeff Harper (CPA with 40+ years in financial management and consulting). Bodge will also provide free elder fraud prevention seminars in the Mid-Ohio Valley region, addressing a significant problem that cost Americans over 60 more than $4.8 billion in 2024.

An Ohio man was scammed out of $70 after receiving fake AI videos on Facebook from an account impersonating singer Jelly Roll, claiming he had won $50,000 and a car. The victim was convinced by a second video in which the AI used his full name, and was instructed to send money via Apple gift cards before a family member warned him of the scam. The victim reported the incident to police and is warning others to be skeptical of unsolicited prize claims and requests for payment via gift cards.

Scammers are increasingly targeting senior citizens with evolving schemes involving cryptocurrency, gift cards, and virtual currencies, often using urgent or threatening language about fines, arrests, or family emergencies to pressure victims into immediate payment. Ohio reported 16,741 financial exploitation referrals of older residents between July 2024 and June 2025, demonstrating the widespread impact of these frauds. Key prevention measures include avoiding sharing personal or financial information with unsolicited contacts, verifying requests through official phone numbers, researching businesses before sending money, and trusting instincts when offers seem suspicious.

The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services warned of rising cryptocurrency scams targeting the elderly, with victims in Muskingum County losing over $138,000 in 2025 alone due to the irreversible nature of crypto transactions. Officials advise Ohioans to be skeptical of urgent requests for crypto or gift cards from phone calls or emails claiming to be from banks or government agencies, and to report suspected elder exploitation of individuals 60 and older to local Adult Protective Services.

The Federal Trade Commission warned renters during peak moving season to avoid online rental listing scams, which often feature non-existent properties advertised at attractive prices to solicit upfront payments before victims discover the fraud. Red flags include payment demands via wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or money transfer services, as well as hidden fees buried in fine print; the FTC recommends verifying properties in person, researching landlords online, and using secure, traceable payment methods only after confirming lease legitimacy.

Financial fraud in Oregon resulted in an estimated $201 million in reported losses and $1.2 billion in unreported losses in 2025, with the FBI and FTC reporting significant increases in fraud cases nationwide. The state's economy faces a projected $3.9 billion reduction in GDP, $2.6 billion reduction in personal income, and approximately 15,000 job losses due to all financial fraud (reported and unreported). Oregon ranks 26th-28th among states for cyber-enabled crime losses and elder fraud complaints, with fraud cases up 3,336 since 2022 and total losses up 285% since 2020.

Cuyahoga County First Assistant Prosecutor Diane Russell and local law enforcement held an educational presentation at the Parma Heights Senior Center to inform approximately 80 seniors about current fraud and scam tactics targeting older adults. The presentation emphasized that most scams begin with unsolicited phone calls or texts, and advised seniors to hang up, verify caller identity independently, and consult trusted contacts or police before responding to suspicious communications.