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Scammers in Southern California are impersonating LA County Sheriff's deputies to extort money from residents by claiming they have arrest warrants and threatening immediate arrest or jail time. The scammers use caller ID spoofing technology to display official law enforcement numbers, obtain personal information from public voter records and online data brokers, and pressure victims to pay bogus fines via cryptocurrency or wire transfers, with at least one victim losing $1,200 before realizing the fraud. Law enforcement warns that legitimate agencies never call to demand payment and advises residents to hang up and verify claims by contacting the actual agency directly.

An East Oakland nursing home facility (Windsor Healthcare Center of Oakland) faces a lawsuit alleging that staff sexually assaulted a 79-year-old resident with dementia and Alzheimer's, neglected her care, and committed fraud by concealing the abuse for months. The victim's son reports discovering injuries consistent with rape days after the assault occurred and claims the facility, operated by one of California's largest nursing home operators, failed in its fundamental obligation to keep patients safe.

Officials in New York seized nearly two dozen web domains from IP addresses in China used to conduct "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, which operate across multiple states including California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Scammers use dating apps and group chats to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes that appear to generate returns, then steal their money; reported losses include $16,000 and $118,000 from individual victims in Brooklyn.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in San Diego and the FBI recovered $3.3 million for elderly fraud victims through a coordinated task force that began in January, freezing accounts and seizing transferred funds before criminals could access them. U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath emphasized that victims who report fraud within 12 hours have the best chance of fund recovery, while noting that San Diego County alone loses between $3-6 million monthly to elder fraud, with California statewide experiencing $2.1 billion in losses last year.

**Graceland Fraud Scheme** A Missouri woman, Lisa Janine Finley, was arrested by the Department of Justice for allegedly attempting to defraud Elvis Presley's family of millions of dollars and steal their ownership interest in Graceland. Finley falsely claimed that Elvis's daughter Lisa Marie had pledged the Memphis home as collateral for a $3.8 million loan, and she forged loan documents, a deed of trust, and filed false claims in California court in an attempt to foreclose on the property while posing as multiple fictitious lenders.

This news segment covers two separate topics: (1) Nearly two dozen suspects tied to Oakland gangs were charged with burglaries at marijuana dispensaries across Northern California counties, stealing approximately $1 million in combined cannabis products including edibles, gummies, and plants, which they then resold on social media; (2) A brief mention of text message scams targeting consumers with unwanted communications from unknown numbers. **Note:** This article contains limited elder fraud-specific content; only the text message scam reference may be relevant to the Elderus database.

A California man lost $25,000 in a classic car scam after wiring payment for a 1934 Ford Cabriolet advertised on a professional-looking website by a seller named James. The vehicle and the West Hartford garage where it was supposedly located did not exist, and the scammer stopped responding to calls. The Better Business Bureau and police are investigating whether the fraudster impersonated a legitimate company formerly located at that address.

Following California wildfires, law enforcement is warning criminals that looting, burglary, and disaster-related scams will result in prosecution. Authorities have established dusk-to-dawn curfews in affected fire zones, increased patrols, and deployed the National Guard to protect vulnerable disaster victims' homes and prevent exploitation.

During national tragedies like natural disasters, scammers exploit public sympathy through fake charity scams and relief fund fraud. To protect yourself, verify charities directly through their official websites or CharityNavigator.org rather than clicking links in unsolicited calls, emails, or social media messages, and never donate through unverified channels.

As Spring Break approaches, the Better Business Bureau reports a rise in travel scams targeting people booking vacations and making last-minute reservation changes. Scammers are creating fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate travel companies (such as Royal Caribbean), often using slightly misspelled URLs, and targeting consumers searching for customer service numbers or deals online. Recent reported losses include $444 in Southern California, $1,458 in Orlando, and nearly $88,000 in New Jersey.

An FBI report released in 2024 found that Americans lost $16.6 billion to scams, a 33% increase from 2023, with seniors particularly vulnerable and losing nearly $5 billion of that total. The FBI receives an average of 836,000 cyber fraud reports annually, with victims losing at least $20,000 on average, and California, Texas, and Florida experiencing the highest scam losses.

A California teacher attempted to leave a $5 tip at a vape store but mistakenly entered $5,000 due to a keypad error with no decimal point displayed; when she asked the clerk to delete it, he was unable to void the transaction. The $5,000 charge went through to her Wells Fargo account, resulting in a financial dispute that required intervention to resolve.

Romance scams targeting California seniors increased significantly in 2024, with seniors statewide losing nearly $833 million—a 43% increase from 2023. The FBI reports that romance and technology scams are the two largest fraud schemes affecting local seniors, with perpetrators exploiting emotional vulnerabilities through fake online personas to manipulate victims into sending money. In one documented case, a retired educator in his late 60s was defrauded after being contacted by someone posing as an attractive woman with a puppy, demonstrating how scammers use emotional triggers to bypass victims' logic and establish trust.

This awareness piece from Bakersfield highlights the prevalence of elder abuse in California, where an estimated 202,549 cases are reported annually, with 6,985 cases in Kern County alone in 2024—though experts note actual numbers are likely much higher due to underreporting. A certified nursing assistant and psychiatric technician emphasizes the importance of treating elders with respect and caution, as caregivers are entrusted by families to provide proper care, and abuses of that power cause significant harm.

Two sushi restaurant owners in Brevard County, Florida were accused of running a tech support scam that victimized elderly people across the country, with victims tricked into purchasing gift cards and wiring money after receiving fake computer warning messages. The investigation, which began in Wisconsin in 2023, resulted in the couple's arrest in late June, with one documented victim being a 76-year-old man who lost $14,300 (through $4,300 in gift cards and a $10,000 wire transfer to California).

Gift card scams are increasing nationally and in the capital city, with victims like one viewer who paid $350 for an Apple gift card only to discover it had already been cashed. In November, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office arrested four people accused of tampering with over 7,000 gift cards across Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. To protect themselves, consumers should purchase gift cards directly from companies, share codes rather than physical cards, and choose retailers that keep gift cards in secure, locked displays.

The California Franchise Tax Board is warning taxpayers about scams involving fraudulent text messages impersonating the FTB, which direct recipients to fake websites designed to steal personal and banking information. Officials advise recipients not to respond to suspicious communications claiming to be from the FTB or IRS, and instead contact the agencies directly to verify any claims.

California seniors lost $1.7 billion to fraud in 2024, with scammers increasingly targeting older adults through digital devices using evolving tactics like spoofing and gift card scams. Experts from AARP and Chase Bank conducted educational workshops in Sacramento to help seniors recognize common scams and protect their identities, emphasizing that awareness and vigilance are key to prevention.

Four California men have been indicted for operating a nationwide tech support fraud scam targeting elderly victims, with one indictment originating from a case involving a 78-year-old Missouri man and his 76-year-old wife who were defrauded of $88,000. The scheme involved scammers posing as tech support workers who convinced victims their computers were infected or compromised, then used recruited couriers to collect cash payments; approximately $7 million in fraudulent transactions occurred between March 2020 and July 2023. Two defendants have been arrested, one remains in custody, and one is still being sought.

Four California men were indicted in a nationwide tech support scam targeting elderly victims, with one serving as a courier collecting cash from victims under false pretenses of criminal prosecution. The scheme defrauded victims of millions of dollars between 2020-2023, including an $88,000 loss from a Missouri couple who became suspicious and alerted police; Yu-Chieh Huang (the courier) has been arrested, Liang Jin and Tsz Yin Kan have been apprehended, and Kaiyu Wen remains at large.

A 40-year-old man from Roseville was arrested in Novato after scamming an elderly resident by impersonating a data breach investigator and convincing the victim to withdraw large sums of cash. Police staked out the victim's home and arrested Volodymyr Pipskyy on February 9 when he arrived to collect additional money, and evidence suggests he conducted similar scams across Northern California. Pipskyy was booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of conspiracy and theft by false pretenses and is being held without bail.

Novato police arrested 40-year-old Volodymyr Pipskyy after he allegedly defrauded an elderly resident in a phone scam involving a fake "data breach" that convinced the victim to withdraw large sums of cash. When the victim's family alerted police and detectives learned a pickup was planned, they conducted surveillance and arrested Pipskyy at the victim's home on February 9. Seized electronics linked Pipskyy to scams throughout Northern California, and he is being held without bail on suspicion of conspiracy and theft by pretenses.

Four California men have been indicted for operating a nationwide tech support fraud scheme targeting elderly victims, with Yu-Chieh Huang arrested as a courier after attempting to pick up $88,000 from a Missouri couple who were told their computer contained evidence of a crime. The scam, which operated from 2020 to 2023, involved Liang Jin and Kaiyu Wen directing couriers and recruiting individuals to fraudulently open bank accounts, resulting in approximately $7 million in fraudulent transactions before authorities intervened. One suspect, Kaiyu Wen, remains at large.

A 29-year-old California man, Jiahao Xiao, was arrested in Archbald, Pennsylvania after conspiring to defraud a 59-year-old local resident, Ferdinando Santarelli, of $361,000 through a romance and investment scam. Xiao and unknown co-conspirators posed as an online romantic interest named "Jennie" on Telegram and falsely promised Santarelli access to millions in investments, convincing him to wire funds for fabricated tax payments. Xiao was caught attempting to collect a final $175,000 payment in cash and is being held on $500,000

A scam targeting vehicle sellers in California involves fraudsters meeting sellers under the pretense of buying their car, then deliberately sabotaging the engine by pouring oil into the radiator and engine during inspection to simulate engine failure. The scammers then pressure sellers into accepting significantly lower prices for their vehicles, resulting in victims losing thousands of dollars across Placer, Sacramento, El Dorado, and Nevada counties. Law enforcement is investigating and urges anyone who has experienced this scam to report it to the Placer County Sheriff's Office.

California emergency officials warn that disaster survivors should remain vigilant against common post-disaster fraud schemes, including fake repair contractors, fraudulent aid offers, and price gouging on essential goods. Key protective measures include using only licensed contractors with written guarantees, never paying money to anyone claiming to offer federal or state disaster aid, and verifying charities before donating. Residents should report suspected fraud to local law enforcement, FEMA's fraud division, or the Department of Justice hotline.

In summer 2022, 80-year-old Alice Lin lost over $700,000 of her life savings to a "pig butchering" scam after a fraudster on WeChat convinced her to download a fake cryptocurrency trading app and wire money over a three-week period. Lin sued Chase Bank in January 2024, claiming the bank failed to flag suspicious transaction patterns (seven large wire transfers totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars) and protect vulnerable elderly customers, citing California law that holds institutions liable for assisting fraudulent transactions against seniors. Chase disputes the claim, stating employees asked probing questions and warned Lin of fraud risks before completing the transfers.

This is a Q&A advisory piece rather than a news article about a completed scam. The questioner, an adult inheritor of multi-million-dollar Silicon Valley properties held in a special-needs trust, expressed concerns about pressure from a professional fiduciary and unresponsive attorney to sell the properties without full understanding. The response provides educational guidance on elder fraud awareness—citing AARP data that $28.3 billion is lost annually to elder fraud, with 72% perpetrated by known individuals—and directs the questioner to file complaints with California's Professional Fiduciaries Bureau and Santa Clara County Bar Association, contact Adult Protective Services, and hire specialized legal counsel before signing any documents.

Dr. Gary Wisner of Lodi was sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of defrauding Medi-Cal and Medicare between 2012 and 2016 by administering hundreds of medically unnecessary X-rays to patients at his clinic. The investigation of 10 randomly selected patients (5 Medi-Cal, 5 Medicare) revealed Wisner performed excessive X-rays on multiple body parts regardless of medical necessity to overbill the state and federal programs. He faces additional charges for workers' compensation fraud pending in San Joaquin County.

In January 2024, a federal district court dismissed Jody Kanter-Doud's lawsuit against Wells Fargo, in which she alleged the bank facilitated elder abuse after she fell victim to a Microsoft impersonation scam in 2021 that resulted in unauthorized wire transfers from her account. The court found that while Wells Fargo employees may have had reason to suspect fraudulent activity, the bank did not meet the legal standards for direct or indirect elder abuse under California law because it neither took property from Kanter-Doud nor had actual knowledge of the third-party scammers' conduct. The court also dismissed her Unfair Competition Law claim, though Kanter

A 96-year-old widow in Montecito, California was murdered in May 2022 as part of a murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by Pauline Macareno, a real estate fraudster who had previously targeted the victim in a property title scheme involving her $5+ million home. Authorities arrested Macareno and three men—Henry Rostomyan, Ricardo Martin Del Campo, and Harry Basmadjian—who allegedly carried out the home invasion killing; Macareno, facing elder fraud charges, grew impatient waiting for the victim to die naturally and allegedly orchestrated the murder to accelerate her access to the victim's assets

An elderly woman in El Granada, California was victimized by a phishing scam in which she received a fraudulent email impersonating a money exchange company, instructed her to withdraw cash, and met with a courier who took her money and fled. The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is seeking an Asian male suspect, approximately 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt and dark pants, and urges the public to avoid sharing banking information with unsolicited online or phone contacts requesting money.

A 96-year-old widow in Montecito, California, was murdered in May 2022 as part of an elaborate fraud and murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by Pauline Macareno, who posed as a real estate agent to fraudulently gain control of the victim's home and assets. After a 22-month investigation, detectives arrested Macareno along with three additional suspects (Harry Basmadjian, Henry Rostomyan, and Ricardo MartinDelCampo) for their roles in the premeditated killing by asphyxiation and conspiracy to commit murder. The victim, financially vulnerable and in need of money

**Jewelry Swap Scam in Placer County** Seniors in Sun City Lincoln Hills neighborhood in Placer County, California are being targeted in a jewelry theft scam where perpetrators pose as tourists needing directions, then swap the victim's jewelry for a fake piece within seconds. Between July 2023 and March 2024, multiple thefts occurred, including one victim who lost a gold family heirloom necklace valued for its sentimental worth; Lincoln Police Department is investigating and believes a large organized group is responsible for the scams.

**Scam Type:** Jewelry theft swap **Location:** Sun City Lincoln Hills, Placer County, California **Victims & Impact:** Multiple senior citizens targeted between July 2023 and March 2024; one victim (Ann) lost a sentimental gold family heirloom necklace valued for its heritage significance. The scam involves perpetrators posing as lost tourists from Dubai, offering victims a "gift" necklace while quickly swapping it for the victim's own jewelry in a matter of seconds, then fleeing the scene. Lincoln Police Department is actively investigating and believes a coordinated network of thieves is responsible for the thefts.

In 2023, California residents lost $1.38 billion to scams across 226,791 reported incidents, making the state second most defrauded in the nation relative to population size. Identity theft was the most common fraud type with 119,929 incidents (25% of total), followed by imposter scams (73,298 incidents) and credit bureau fraud (70,483 incidents). Victims are advised to verify the identity of anyone requesting personal or financial information and to report incidents to local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission.

A 96-year-old widow, Violet Evelyn Alberts, was murdered in her Montecito, California home in May 2022 as part of an alleged murder-for-hire plot connected to financial exploitation. Pauline Macareno, identified as the central figure, had manipulated Alberts starting in 2020 through forged documents and fraudulent reverse mortgage schemes to gain control of her valuable property, and was sentenced to six years in prison for fraud; three additional men were arrested on murder and conspiracy charges in connection with the case.

A 96-year-old California woman, Violet Evelyn Alberts, was murdered in May 2022 as part of a murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by Pauline Macareno, who had befriended the vulnerable widow and exploited her through financial fraud, forged documents, and a fraudulent reverse mortgage scheme to gain control of her property. Four suspects were arrested in connection with the case, with Macareno sentenced to six years in prison for elder abuse and fraud, while three others face murder and conspiracy charges; authorities determined the motive was to accelerate Alberts' death to fraudulently obtain her estate. Alberts was found dead from

A 96-year-old woman, Violet Evelyn Alberts, was murdered in Montecito, California in May 2022 as part of a murder-for-hire plot initiated by Pauline Macareno, who had been defrauding the victim using fraudulent real estate documents to access her house and money. Macareno was arrested in June 2022 and sentenced to six years in prison for elder abuse and fraud, while three accomplices (Harry Basmadjian, Henry Rostomyan, and Ricardo MartinDelCampo) were arrested in connection with the murder-for-hire scheme after Macareno decide

A 96-year-old California woman, Violet Evelyn Alberts, was murdered in May 2022 as part of an elaborate scheme involving reverse-mortgage fraud and murder-for-hire orchestrated by Pauline Macareno, who sought to illegally gain control of the victim's valuable Montecito home. Four individuals have been arrested: Macareno (sentenced to six years in prison for fraud in 2022 and now facing additional charges), Ricardo MartinDelCampo and Henry Rostomyan (charged with murder and conspiracy), and Harry Basmadjian (charged with conspiracy); investigators determined Alberts died by asphyx

A 96-year-old California woman, Violet Evelyn Alberts, was killed in May 2022 as part of an elaborate murder-for-hire and reverse-mortgage scam orchestrated by Pauline Macareno, who sought to gain control of Alberts' valuable Montecito home. Macareno forged documents and established fraudulent entities to illegally take over the property, then arranged for her murder when authorities determined Alberts' asphyxiation was a homicide; four people have been arrested, including Macareno (sentenced to six years in prison for fraud in 2022) and three men charged with murder and conspiracy.

An elderly woman in El Granada, California fell victim to a phishing scam in which she received a fraudulent email impersonating a money exchange company and was instructed to withdraw cash and meet a courier in person. She handed over an undisclosed amount of money to the courier, who then fled the area; the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is seeking the suspect and urging residents to avoid sharing banking information or sending money in response to unsolicited online or phone requests.

In May 2022, 96-year-old Violet Alberts was found dead in her Montecito, California home and ruled a homicide by asphyxiation; authorities later determined her death was part of a murder-for-hire plot following financial fraud and elder abuse. Pauline Macareno was sentenced to six years in prison for forging documents and establishing fraudulent entities to gain control of Alberts' assets, while Henry Rostomyan and Ricardo Martin Del Campo were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the scheme.

Violet Evelyn Alberts, a 96-year-old California widow, was murdered in May 2022 in a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated as part of a larger financial exploitation scheme. Pauline Macareno, who befriended the vulnerable elderly woman, engaged in elder abuse and fraud by forging documents to fraudulently acquire Alberts' property through a reverse mortgage scheme, then arranged her death to accelerate gaining control of her estate. Four suspects have been arrested and charged, with Macareno sentenced to six years in prison for fraud and the other three charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.

Violet Alberts, a 96-year-old widow living in Montecito, California, was defrauded of her multi-million-dollar home (valued between $4-11 million) through an elaborate scheme beginning with a fraudulent reverse mortgage offer from Pauline Lisa Macareno, who then orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot that resulted in Alberts' death by asphyxiation in May 2022. Macareno was sentenced to six years in prison on elder abuse and fraud charges and faces additional murder solicitation charges, while three men arrested in connection with the actual murder (Ricardo MartinDelCampo, Harry Bas

Fei Liang, 39, of Flushing, Queens, was arrested and charged with scamming over $628,000 from six seniors across the United States between October 2022 and March 2023. Working with a co-conspirator, Liang used spoofed calls impersonating Social Security Administration officials, banks, Microsoft, Amazon, and other entities to trick victims into wiring money to bogus corporate bank accounts he opened in Queens; the stolen funds were then transferred to accounts in Hong Kong and China, with some proceeds allegedly used for gambling. The victims ranged from Connecticut to California and lost between $48,000 and $190,000 each

Two suspects were arrested in Moorpark, California on March 7, 2024, for identity theft and conspiracy charges after intercepting packages containing significant sums of cash mailed by elderly victims from Texas, South Dakota, and Florida who had fallen victim to scams. Detectives identified the scheme after the first victim's adult child reported their elderly mother had mailed currency to the suspects' address, leading investigators to surveil and apprehend the two men when they arrived to retrieve a third package from a Florida victim. The suspects face multiple felony charges including grand theft, conspiracy, theft by false pretenses, and identity theft from an elder or dependent adult.

This article does not pertain to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It describes a fatal bicycle accident involving a 48-year-old man in Encinitas, California, which is outside the scope of the Elderus database. No summary is applicable.

On March 20, 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office presented an educational program at San Diego State University featuring Assistant U.S. Attorney Oleksandra Johnson, an elder fraud coordinator, who discussed various methods of elder financial abuse including mail, phone, computer, and in-person schemes. The presentation covered trending fraud types in Southern California such as grandparent scams, romance scams, and investment fraud, while providing information on recognizing signs of financial abuse and prevention strategies.

A California man was arrested in Montgomery County, Maryland for defrauding a 64-year-old woman out of $800,000 by posing as a federal investigator and convincing her to convert her assets into gold bars for supposed identity theft protection, then stealing the gold from a parking lot. The FBI reports this cash-to-gold scam resulted in over $55 million in losses nationwide from May to December of the previous year, with at least 12 victims identified in Montgomery County alone, as scammers exploit the lack of transaction scrutiny from gold bullion websites compared to traditional banking institutions.