Elder Fraud in Wisconsin

A New Berlin couple lost $526,095 in gold coins to a nationwide scam after pop-up ads and fraudulent phone calls convinced them their bank accounts were hacked and they needed to convert cash to gold for protection. The couple helped police catch courier Roshan Shah during a sting operation after seeing a local news investigation about the scheme; Shah had already collected gold from 15 victims across eight states and was sentenced to four years in prison. Prosecutors are targeting the overseas call centers and handlers orchestrating the scheme, which has defrauded over 60 victims of more than $21 million nationwide, with law enforcement noting recovery is nearly impossible once funds leave the country.

A New Berlin, Wisconsin couple lost over $526,000 in gold coins to a nationwide scam that used pop-up ads and fake hacking alerts to convince victims to convert cash into gold for "protection," ultimately leading police to arrest courier Roshan Shah during a sting operation. Shah, who had collected gold from 15 victims across eight states, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison, with federal prosecutors noting that similar gold bar and coin scams have defrauded Americans of over $311.8 million annually. The scam typically originates from overseas call centers where operators direct victims to purchase gold that couriers pick up, with the funds and precious metals eventually sent back overseas or mel

A New Berlin, Wisconsin couple lost over $526,000 in gold coins after being deceived by pop-up ads and phone calls claiming their bank accounts were hacked, then convinced to convert their assets into gold for "protection." Their case helped police set up a sting operation that resulted in the arrest of courier Roshan Shah, who had collected gold from 15 victims across eight states and was sentenced to four years in prison. This scam is part of a nationwide scheme where victims are targeted online, instructed to purchase gold, and have it picked up by couriers who transport it to overseas operators, with the FBI reporting Americans lost over $311.8 million to similar scams last year.

Scammers are impersonating Spectrum Mobile representatives and calling Wisconsin residents offering to lower phone bills if they order a new phone and open a new line, then return the device. The scheme actually involves victims reshipping the phones to unknown addresses rather than Spectrum, resulting in charges for the unreturned devices and no discount received. Spectrum advises customers to never accept unsolicited devices, never reship equipment, and always contact the carrier directly through official channels to verify any offers.

Wisconsin's Department of Revenue is warning senior homeowners about an AI-generated video promoting a fake federal property tax relief program that claims to offer tax freezes or reductions through a nonexistent "IRS Form 1098-SR." The scam directs victims to contact fraudsters posing as county assessors to obtain sensitive information like Social Security numbers and banking details or pay fees for services that don't exist. Officials advise seniors to verify information independently and avoid providing personal data through unsolicited contacts or unverified online links.

Wisconsin residents over 60 lost $46 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2025, prompting a bipartisan legislative committee to examine whether the growing cryptocurrency industry requires additional state regulation. Common scams include pig butchering schemes that use fake romantic relationships to lure victims and phishing scams with bogus websites, with criminals favoring cryptocurrency due to its permanent, fast, and anonymous transaction nature. The Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage Committee is seeking public input on potential legislation and plans to meet again on October 15.

Antonio Franklin, age 47, from Milwaukee County was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for wire fraud involving the concealment of over $1 million in undisclosed bank account activity from January 2020 through March 2025. Franklin fraudulently received nearly $300,000 in disability and supplemental security income benefits from federal and state programs by failing to disclose information about his assets that would have affected his eligibility. In addition to imprisonment, the court ordered Franklin to pay full restitution of the fraudulently obtained benefits.

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.

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A Wisconsin woman lost $433,000 in an elaborate scam that began when she clicked a pop-up ad impersonating her financial company; scammers convinced her over three months that she was hacked and persuaded her to buy gold coins and liquidate assets to "protect" her money, which were then handed to couriers who never returned. The scammers impersonated government officials and the Better Business Bureau, sent forged documents, and used threats and non-disclosure agreements to silence the victim. Three victims reported similar gold-buying scams to the BBB with combined losses around $3 million.

AI-enabled investment scams cost Americans $632 million in 2025, representing the largest category of AI-related fraud with 4,356 complaints reported to the FBI. AI-assisted fraud grew 1,210% in 2025 compared to 195% growth in traditional scams, with criminals using deepfakes and AI technology to convincingly impersonate legitimate financial institutions and brokers. The FBI received over 22,000 total AI-related fraud complaints in 2025 with $890 million in losses, with investment scams, extortion, and data breaches accounting for the majority of cases.

A Milwaukee woman posed as a landlord named Quincy Jones on Zillow and scammed four families out of over $7,700 by collecting cash for rent on a property she didn't own and was actually facing eviction from. The fraudster, Yasmin Halimah Hameed, used an "identity verified" listing to gain trust, collected payments in cash, and then either locked victims out or ghosted them without providing keys. Zillow removed the fraudulent listing within days and blocked the account, but the incident highlights risks of rental scams even on legitimate platforms.

A woman using a fake identity posted a fraudulent rental listing on Zillow for a Milwaukee home she didn't own and wasn't authorized to rent, scamming four families out of over $7,700 in total by collecting cash payments for rent and deposits before ghosting them or changing locks. The perpetrator, Yasmin Halimah Hameed, was actually a delinquent tenant facing eviction at the property and was out on bail for fraud-related charges when she carried out the scheme. Zillow removed the listing and blocked the account days after it was posted, though the victims had already lost their money.

Fraud targeting older Americans has become a critical retirement security issue, with reported property crimes against seniors jumping 62% between 2015 and 2025, and the FBI receiving over 201,000 fraud complaints from people 60+ in 2025 alone—with average losses exceeding $38,000 per victim. Common scams affecting retirees include investment fraud, romance scams, fake tech support, government impersonation, and "grandparent scams" where criminals pose as family members in distress. To protect themselves, seniors should verify requests for money through independent contact with family members, be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities, never give remote access to their computer to unknown callers, and report suspicious activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

An elderly Wisconsin woman lost her life savings of $135,200 to a tech support scam that began with a fake Microsoft security warning on her computer in October 2024. Scammers impersonating Microsoft and her bank convinced her that fraudulent charges needed to be reversed, instructing her to make gift card purchases, Bitcoin transfers, and cash withdrawals over nearly a month, claiming the money would be protected in an escrow account. A suspect named Tao Wu was arrested when he arrived to collect cash from her home and received 2½ years in prison, though authorities discovered he was only the collector—the actual scammers behind the calls remain at large, highlighting how these schemes often involve multiple perpetrators working together.