Elder Fraud in Wisconsin

During back-to-school shopping season, scammers are targeting online shoppers through fake websites and social media ads offering counterfeit or non-existent items at appealing prices. The Better Business Bureau reports numerous complaints including cases where consumers lost money purchasing counterfeit Labubbi dolls ($88) and fake brand-name shoes, with some websites disappearing after the transaction. Consumers are advised to verify website legitimacy, use credit cards for protection, research sellers and reviews, examine URLs carefully, and report suspicious activity to the BBB Scam Tracker or FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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

This article describes common scams targeting consumers—including IRS impersonation calls, toll payment texts, and lottery email schemes—and notes that fraud losses reached $12.5 billion in 2024, a 25% increase from the prior year. Scammers typically use spoofed numbers, demand urgent payment, and attempt to steal personal information or get victims to click malicious links. The article provides five resources for victims: filing complaints with state agencies (Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection or Minnesota's Attorney General's Office), reporting to local police and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, contacting AARP's Fraud Watch Helpline at 877-908-

Wisconsin's Division of Trade and Consumer Protection warns that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools—including chatbots for mass messaging, deepfake videos, and voice cloning—to deceive people and steal personal information and money. Scammers leverage AI because it allows them to contact multiple targets simultaneously and maintain convincing conversations. Consumers should watch for typical scam red flags including artificial urgency, suspicious payment requests, and requests for sensitive personal information.

Wisconsin officials warn of two scams targeting Amazon users: text messages falsely claiming product recalls and offering refunds that direct victims to fake Amazon sites to steal personal and financial information, and a cryptocurrency investment scam where a fraudster impersonated an online course instructor and convinced a victim to invest $40,000, ultimately resulting in a total loss of $140,000 when fake fees and taxes were demanded before withdrawal. Consumers are advised to never click unsolicited links, be wary of cryptocurrency investment offers on social media, and report suspected scams to Amazon or state authorities.

Mary Kaphuka and her family of six fell victim to a rental apartment scam in Milwaukee after paying a $1,200 security deposit to a woman named "Ms. Allie" on Facebook who claimed to assist vulnerable mothers find housing; the apartment did not exist and the scammer disappeared, leaving the family homeless. Kaphuka has reported the case to police and plans to file a small claims lawsuit, while the family currently relies on shelters and temporary housing. According to the FTC, real estate scams are prevalent, with the FBI documenting 9,521 complaints in 2023 resulting in over $145 million in damages.

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin issued a public warning about a prevalent romance scam targeting local residents. The scam operates by having perpetrators initiate contact on social media (Facebook or Instagram), move conversations to private messaging apps, then rapidly build romantic relationships with victims using love-bombing tactics and AI-generated fake profiles before requesting money. Residents are advised to be cautious of online relationships with people they've never met in person and to never send money to strangers online.

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin issued a warning about romance scams, one of the most frequently reported scam types in the area. Scammers initiate contact via social media (Facebook or Instagram), move conversations to private messaging apps, quickly build romantic relationships through love-bombing, and request money from victims who have never met them in person, often using AI-generated fake photos to appear legitimate.

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin issued a warning about romance scams, which are among the most frequently reported scams to their office. Scammers initiate contact via social media (Facebook/Instagram), move conversations to private messaging apps, quickly build romantic relationships through "love bombing," and request money from victims they've never met in person, often using AI-generated fake photos to appear legitimate. The article advises people to be cautious of online relationships and never send money to people they haven't met face-to-face.

A Wisconsin man nearly fell victim to a sophisticated pop-up scam impersonating Target's account suspension process, which directed him to call a fraudulent number and provide financial information. The incident illustrates the increasing sophistication of fraud schemes; the FTC reported over 6.47 million fraud complaints in 2024 (a 25% increase from 2023), with Americans losing over $12.5 billion, and seniors over 70 experiencing median losses of $1,600. Law enforcement and organizations like AARP warn that scams are becoming more professionally organized—with an estimated 80% originating from crime syndicates outside the United States—and recommend protective measures including credit monitoring

A nationwide gold coin scam victimized more than 50 people in Wisconsin, resulting in over $15 million in losses. A New Berlin couple lost $526,095 after scammers posing as U.S. Treasury officials convinced them to convert their cash to gold coins for protection; however, they stopped a fourth transfer after seeing a news report and contacted police, who arrested courier Roshan Shah during a sting operation when he attempted to pick up a decoy package filled with rocks instead of gold coins.

A Grand Chute woman was defrauded of over $2.2 million in gold bars in a scam where she believed she was protecting her money, leading to federal charges against Antonio Peña and Brandi Durst for money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud. The scammers posed as Microsoft representatives, bank officials, and government agents to build trust, isolated victims from family members, and convinced them to convert retirement funds into gold bars, which the defendants would then steal. Gold bar scams have become increasingly common and specifically target elderly populations, as gold is difficult to trace and perceived as secure, making it ideal for money laundering schemes.

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Wisconsinites are being targeted with phishing text messages impersonating Amazon, claiming items failed quality inspections or are subject to recalls and offering full refunds without returns if recipients click provided links. The FTC issued an alert warning consumers to recognize red flags such as unexpected orders, unfamiliar sender numbers, and suspicious URLs, and to report suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Those who accidentally engage with scam links should immediately contact their bank and credit card companies, change passwords, and freeze their credit with the three major bureaus.