Explore the Archive

A woman lost over $20,000 after receiving a fake Apple security alert on her iPad, calling the provided number, and being instructed by a scammer to withdraw cash and deposit it into a cryptocurrency ATM. Crypto ATM scams typically begin with fraudulent phone calls or messages that trick victims into withdrawing money and converting it to cryptocurrency, which cannot be recovered once sent to the scammer's wallet. Legitimate businesses and government agencies never request payments via crypto ATMs, and authorities warn that recognizing these red flags and hanging up immediately can prevent significant financial losses.

A Kansas City couple received a convincing jury duty scam call where scammers used personal information including their addresses, birthdates, and social security numbers to claim they had missed jury duty and had arrest warrants, demanding $5,000 in Walmart payment. The couple grew suspicious when instructed to remain on the line and not contact anyone, and the husband verified the scam by calling the actual sheriff's department using a second phone, ultimately avoiding financial loss. According to cybersecurity experts, scammers obtained personal details through public records, data brokers, breached databases, and social media, then used caller ID spoofing to make the fraudulent calls appear legitimate.

An Arizona couple's belongings were held hostage for months after contracting with a moving company that demanded additional payments and failed to deliver their items, leaving them scattered across warehouses in Kansas and Missouri. The scam, known as a "hostage load," involves moving companies refusing to deliver or unload belongings unless customers pay extra money beyond their original contract, and investigators found the same operators were using multiple company names across state lines to target victims nationwide. The companies involved, including those tied to Howard's Van Lines in New Jersey with nearly 200 complaints, are under federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

AARP is hosting a free document shredding event in Kansas City to help residents safely dispose of sensitive papers containing personal information that scammers could exploit. The event at Starlight Theatre on Saturday allows participants to bring up to two banker's boxes of documents containing Social Security numbers, medical information, and financial details for shredding. Experts warn that old tax documents, bank statements, and credit card information should be destroyed to prevent identity theft and fraud.

A moving broker scam left customers' household items abandoned in a Leavenworth, Kansas warehouse operated by Logistic Moving Services, which fell behind on payments and was eventually evicted by the landlord. Kevin Snethen paid $4,000 to move his belongings from Nebraska to Oklahoma but had to spend additional money to retrieve his items from the warehouse, where a landlord discovered boxes belonging to multiple customers across the country. The investigation also revealed connections to Howards Vanlines, a company under federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation with 185 complaints for moving fraud, including upcharges of thousands of dollars and non-delivery or damaged shipments.

Two consumers defrauded by Sunset Auto Sales, a now-defunct Kansas used car dealership, received full refunds totaling $20,600 after more than 500 days of investigation and litigation by the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office. The victims purchased vehicles without receiving titles or promised repairs, and after the dealership failed to resolve the issues despite multiple opportunities, authorities secured the refunds through a claim against the dealership's licensing surety bond. Investigator Jimmie Merrick led the case, which resulted in one consumer receiving $10,600 and another receiving $10,000.

Financial scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated using artificial intelligence, caller ID spoofing, and impersonation tactics targeting people of all ages in Hutchinson, Kansas. Common schemes include impersonation of law enforcement, courts, and government agencies claiming warrants or injuries to create urgency and pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information. Hutchinson Police Detective Pearson Schrag advises residents to slow down, verify caller information independently, and avoid providing personal details to unsolicited callers, with victims encouraged to contact their financial institutions and law enforcement immediately if money is stolen.

Dr. Jacquelyn McCray, an Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame inductee, had a bank account at Simmons Bank drained and closed by an unknown person who exploited her dementia. Her son Michael McCray reported difficulties getting police and state authorities to investigate adequately, leading the Pine Bluff NAACP branch to file a resolution adopted nationwide as "Designated Economic Development Resolution Number 12," which calls for identification and documentation of elder financial abuse cases. The McCrays are now working with state representatives to reform Arkansas law to better detect and investigate elder fraud cases.

Kansas residents are being warned about investment fraud schemes including romance scams and "pig-butchering" scams, where scammers use AI-generated photos and scripts to build false relationships or convince victims to repeatedly invest in fake opportunities. According to Kansas's Assistant Commissioner of Insurance, these schemes target people across all communities and age groups, with victims often not realizing they've been defrauded until significant money has been lost. Warning signs include promises of guaranteed returns, requests to use crypto ATMs, and pressure to invest more after initial investments show fake profits on fraudulent websites.

Two Indian nationals, Prashant Gajera and Dharaben Bavadiya, were sentenced to five years of suspended imposition of sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit theft in connection with an elder fraud scheme operating in Arkansas. The pair served as money couriers in a PayPal refund scam, where they were arrested in April 2024 during an undercover sting operation after attempting to collect $29,500 in cash from an undercover officer posing as an elderly victim. Both were ordered to pay $1,000 fines plus court costs, with convictions that could result in deportation.

Two Indian nationals were arrested in Arkansas during an undercover police sting while attempting to collect $29,500 from an elderly fraud victim as part of a PayPal refund scam. Prashant Gajera and Dharaben Bavadiya, who pleaded guilty and received suspended five-year prison sentences, were functioning as collectors in a scheme that convinces victims money was mistakenly credited to their PayPal accounts and must be returned. The operation coordinated by local police, Homeland Security Investigations, and a scam-baiting group involved handing the suspects a box containing counterfeit currency during a monitored cash pickup.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas is warning residents about an increase in jury duty scams where callers impersonate court or sheriff's office staff, claiming victims missed jury duty and demanding immediate payment of fines up to $1,500 to avoid arrest. These government imposter scams are widespread, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 375,000 complaints and $917 million in losses in 2025. Scammers use elaborate stories, fake caller IDs, and official-looking documents to trick victims into paying money or divulging personal financial information.

A former U.S. Postal Inspector, Scott Kelley, pleaded guilty to stealing over $340,000 in cash from elderly people and veterans between 2019 and 2023 by intercepting parcels containing money mailed by victims of lottery fraud scams. Kelley, who worked in the Boston division and was ironically tasked with investigating mail fraud targeting seniors, exploited his position by accessing a tracked list of suspicious parcels and stealing the cash inside them, then laundering the money and evading taxes. His victims included a 76-year-old retired Army veteran in Kansas from whom he stole $19,100, and he used the stolen funds for personal expenses including prostitutes

Job scams have become increasingly sophisticated, using professional-sounding emails, realistic fake interview links, and improved grammar to trick job seekers into clicking malicious links or providing personal information. One Arkansas woman nearly fell victim after receiving a convincing fake interview request from someone posing as a University of Arkansas recruiter, but she avoided the scam by checking the sender's email domain against the university's official directory. To protect yourself, verify recruiter identities by looking up contact information directly with the organization, watch for generic language in recruitment emails, and never click links in unsolicited messages—instead, go directly to the official website or app to verify any requests.

Brett Blackman, founder of HealthSplash, was convicted of orchestrating a $1 billion Medicare fraud scheme that operated from 2015 to 2020 across Florida, Kansas, and Arizona by billing Medicare for unnecessary medical equipment that vulnerable elderly and sick patients were coerced into purchasing. His co-conspirator Gary Cox received a 15-year sentence, while Blackman faces up to 30 years in prison for his role in what prosecutors called "cold, calculated, industrial-scale theft." To protect yourself, be cautious of unsolicited offers for medical equipment, verify that any recommended medical devices are actually prescribed by your doctor, and report suspicious billing or pressure from medical companies to your insurance provider or local authorities.

A courier named Syed M. Makki was sentenced to 15½ years in prison for his role in a nationwide elder fraud scheme that targeted seniors aged 61-80, convincing them to liquidate their savings and retirement accounts to buy gold bars under the false pretense that their money was unsafe. The scammers used malware to place fake Microsoft and government agency phone numbers on victims' computers, impersonating officials to build trust before directing victims to purchase gold and hand it over for "safekeeping." So far, 12 victims have lost more than $6 million to the scheme, and seniors should be wary of unsolicited calls about compromised identities or unsafe bank accounts—especially those pressuring immediate purchases of physical assets like gold.

A fake website called Rock Line Equipment has been scamming buyers nationwide by posing as a legitimate heavy equipment dealer, advertising tractors and excavators at unrealistic discounts and then disappearing after victims wire money—with reported losses totaling around $51,000 so far. The BBB warns that the fraudulent site appears professional with fake reviews and warranty promises but has no actual inventory, physical location, or legitimate connection to the Kansas businesses whose names it falsely used. To protect yourself, verify sellers before sending money, avoid wire transfers when possible, and research companies online for complaints before making large purchases.

A Kansas City grandmother avoided losing thousands of dollars to a scammer posing as her grandson by asking a personal question—his wedding anniversary—that only her real family would know. The scammer had called claiming he was in an accident and needed money, but Cox became suspicious when he used an unfamiliar nickname and had an accent. Experts recommend that all families establish a secret codeword, password, or personal question known only to family members, combined with screening calls and maintaining a "safe callers" list on your phone, to protect against these increasingly common scams.

Johnson County Park and Recreation District is offering free educational programs in June to help seniors and others recognize and protect themselves from scams, which are a common form of elder abuse. Two sessions—"Financial Prevention" and "Senior Medicare Patrol: Preventing Fraud and Protecting Yourself"—will teach participants how to spot warning signs of fraud, understand common scams targeting seniors, and learn practical steps to safeguard personal information and finances. Interested participants can register for the free programs by calling 913-831-3359 or visiting jcprd.com/50plus.

"Pig-butchering" scams originating from Southeast Asian fraud hubs involve criminals who build trust with victims (often through romantic or professional connections on social media) before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms, resulting in devastating losses like the $47 million stolen from a Kansas bank in 2022. These sophisticated long-con schemes target people across platforms like WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Telegram, exploiting cryptocurrency's difficulty to trace. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment advice from online contacts, verify investment platforms independently, and avoid sending money to anyone you haven't met in person, especially for cryptocurrency ventures.

Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E. Lancashire Blvd., is an evangelical interdenominational church. Support journalism that covers the topics that matter most to you. Donate today to preserve the qua...

# Romance Scams Warning for Valentine's Day Scammers are targeting people seeking love online by creating fake identities to manipulate victims into sending money or revealing financial information, with consumers losing over $1.1 billion to romance scams in 2025. Banks and the Federal Trade Commission are warning the public to watch for common red flags, including sob stories about needing money for medical emergencies or legal troubles, and to verify identities by reverse-image searching profile photos and never sharing personal details like your name or workplace. If you suspect you've been targeted, report it immediately and share these warning signs with friends and family who might be vulnerable to these scams.

Arkansas residents are losing millions to financial fraud through phone calls and text messages, with Americans losing over $16 billion in 2024 according to the FBI, though actual losses are believed to be much higher since many victims don't report crimes. Common scams include lottery and tax schemes that trick victims into sending money upfront, with affected individuals losing an average of $80,000 or more. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited messages claiming you've won money or owe taxes, and report suspected scams to authorities and your bank immediately—Arkansas passed Act 1015 in 2021 to help financial institutions identify and stop fraudulent transactions targeting vulnerable residents.

The FBI's Kansas City Office is warning people about romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, which can lead to financial loss and extortion. These scams typically target lonely individuals seeking romantic connections online. To protect yourself, be cautious about new online relationships that quickly ask for money or personal information, and verify the person's identity before sharing sensitive details or sending funds.

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office has arrested three foreign nationals working as "cash mules" for scam operations in recent operations coordinated with multiple law enforcement agencies and a social media organization. These individuals were traveling to the area to collect money from scam victims in person when electronic transfers weren't possible. The crackdown has been so effective that scam call centers have shut down operations and flagged Arkansas as hostile territory, significantly reducing scammer activity in the state. **Actionable advice:** Be cautious if anyone requests money through unusual payment methods like Bitcoin or prepaid cards, never send cash to strangers, and report suspected scams to local law enforcement or the FBI.

The FBI's Kansas City Office is warning people about romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, where scammers pose as romantic interests to extort money from victims. These scams exploit people seeking companionship, making them particularly prevalent around the holiday. To protect yourself, be cautious of online romantic connections that quickly escalate to requests for money or personal information.

Scammers are impersonating Kansas Legal Services by selling fake legal document kits for $175-$300 or falsely promising to move people up waiting lists for a fee, targeting low-income individuals seeking legal help. The legitimate Kansas Legal Services never charges for legal kits, expediting cases, or legal fees—only court filing fees and document service fees are legitimate charges, and they never request payment over the phone or ask for bank account information. If you encounter such offers, report them immediately to authorities with details about the scammer's name, company, phone number, and what payment was requested.

# Lottery Scam Conviction A man from out of state was sentenced to 10 years in prison for defrauding a 76-year-old Arkansas resident in a lottery scam scheme that promised an $11 million Jamaican lottery prize. The victim lost approximately $57,000 before law enforcement intervened during a cash exchange in May 2025, where the perpetrator attempted to hand over a briefcase containing only printer paper instead of winnings. Authorities advise elderly citizens and others to be suspicious of unsolicited lottery claims requiring upfront payments, as legitimate lotteries never ask winners to pay fees to collect winnings.

# Siloam Springs Couple Falls Victim to $35,000 Scam A Siloam Springs couple lost $35,000 after falling victim to a scam last month, demonstrating how easily fraudsters can target residents despite victims' awareness of the threat. While the article doesn't specify the exact nature of the scam or recovery details, it highlights the real financial damage such schemes cause to families in the community. Residents should remain vigilant about unsolicited requests for money or personal information, verify requests through official channels before sending funds, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

# Holiday Scams Surge with AI Technology The FBI is warning Kansas City shoppers that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to commit fraud during the holiday season, with over 535,000 Americans losing $13.7 billion to online scams in 2024 alone. Criminals are now using AI to create convincing fake social media profiles, clone voices, forge documents, and produce deepfake videos impersonating loved ones and public figures to pressure victims into quick decisions. To protect yourself, the FBI recommends verifying requests before clicking links, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and trusting your instincts if something feels suspicious—and reporting any scams you encounter, even if you didn't lose money, helps law enforcement stop future victims.

A 77-year-old Kansas man lost $200,000 in a multi-stage scam where three perpetrators first convinced him he'd won the lottery and a vehicle, then tricked him into sending gift cards for supposed fees, and finally posed as a helper to convince him to buy and sell a vehicle and transfer funds. The scam demonstrates how fraudsters use false promises and trust-building tactics to manipulate victims into sending money in increments. People should be cautious of unsolicited lottery or prize notifications, never send gift cards or cash to unknown contacts, and verify any assistance offers through official channels before taking action.

Law enforcement in Baxter County, Arkansas arrested three men acting as "money mules" who were sent to collect cash from senior citizens in elaborate scams. The arrests were part of undercover operations involving the FBI, Homeland Security, and a TV production company, where decoys and fake houses were used to catch the criminals—one operation involved a scammer trying to collect $250,000 from an 86-year-old and another targeting a 95-year-old for $60,000. Seniors should be extremely cautious of callers claiming to be FBI or government officials demanding urgent cash payments, overpayment refunds, or threatening legal action, and should always verify requests through official channels before sending money.

April Guadalupe Hernandez was indicted by a Bernalillo County grand jury for assuming the identities of licensed nurses and illegally providing hospice care, including mis-transcribing a medication order that nearly resulted in a fatal morphine overdose. Hernandez, a certified nurse assistant, allegedly stole the identities of three nurses from Texas, California, and Kansas to gain employment at three healthcare facilities over 18 months, defrauding them of approximately $40,000. She faces 19 charges including identity theft, nursing without a license, elder abuse, and violations of the Nursing Practice Act, with a potential sentence of up to 27.5 years in prison

A 26-year-old certified nurse assistant in New Mexico, April Guadalupe Hernandez, was charged with 19 counts of misconduct including nursing without a license, identity theft, abuse of a resident, and fraud for falsifying nursing credentials and stealing identities of nurses from Texas, California, and Kansas. Over one year, Hernandez worked at three hospice centers using different name variations, claiming to hold higher nursing credentials than she possessed, and made a potentially fatal medication error (an overdose of morphine) that was caught before administration; she has an arraignment scheduled for September 8th.

Baxter County, Arkansas is experiencing a rise in scams targeting residents, prompting local law enforcement to host a public call-in program with Sheriff John Montgomery to educate citizens on fraud prevention. The initiative follows recent arrests of three men accused of acting as "money mules" for overseas scam operations; common schemes affecting residents include government impersonation, tech support fraud, fake sweepstakes, romance scams, and home repair fraud using phishing emails, robocalls, and spoofed numbers.

This is an obituary for David Raymond Brockish, an 80-year-old Air Force veteran from Kansas who passed away on August 9, 2025. While not itself a scam or fraud incident, the obituary notably directs memorial contributions to "End Elder Fraud," suggesting the family's commitment to combating elder fraud awareness and prevention.

A patient at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita, Kansas received multiple scam calls on her husband's hospital room phone attempting to sell various insurance products (Medicaid, life insurance, and auto insurance), with six calls arriving within two hours and continuing into nighttime hours. The hospital acknowledged that room phone numbers can be reached by robocall technology, though they reported no widespread scam call issue at their facility; the problem affects hospitals nationwide despite federal legislation like the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act passed in 2019. Hospital staff advise patients to hang up on suspicious calls and never share personal, financial, or medical information over the phone

Cyber criminals are increasingly using malicious links hidden in emails, PDFs, and other documents rather than attachments to steal passwords and install malware, with over 3 billion such attacks reported. Emerging threats include "ClickFix" scams (fake error messages), QR code phishing (4.2 million attempts in early 2025), and "pig butchering" romance scams where criminals build trust with victims before pressuring them into fraudulent investments—including a 2023 case where a Kansas banker lost £34.6 million and received a 24-year sentence. Security experts warn these attacks exploit human psychology by using trusted brands and familiar technology rather

The Arkansas Department of Commerce is warning of phishing scams targeting former unemployment insurance claimants, in which scammers impersonate the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services via email to steal personal information like Social Security numbers and dates of birth through fake Wix websites. To avoid the scam, residents should verify that emails come from official @arkansas.gov addresses, avoid clicking suspicious links, and only enter information on official government websites including ezarc.arkansas.gov, arknet.arkansas.gov, login.gov, and launch.arkansas.gov.

The Kansas Department of Transportation warned of a text messaging scam falsely claiming to be from KDOT or the Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles demanding payment for unpaid traffic tickets. KDOT clarified that it does not collect payments via text message and urged recipients not to click links or share personal information, instead reporting suspicious messages to the FTC or Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Jordan Vales, 21, of Trumann, Arkansas, was arrested on charges of Medicaid fraud after submitting false claims for services he never provided as a fraudulent employee and caregiver at First Choice Home Care between June 2022 and December 2023. The scheme resulted in $96,711.68 in fraudulent Medicaid payments. Attorney General Tim Griffin praised the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Special Agent Laura Glover for their investigation and arrest of Vales on the Class A felony charge.

A Kansas City man discovered someone had attempted to fraudulently sell his undeveloped property after a realtor contacted him about a suspicious transaction. The scammer used convincing forged documentation including a fake driver's license, but the scheme was stopped before the property changed hands. Real estate professionals report this type of identity theft and property fraud is increasing, and recommend property owners watch for red flags such as sellers who only communicate virtually and use apps, and consider enrolling in county land sale alert programs.

Arkansas is experiencing a rise in SNAP card fraud, with thieves primarily using skimmers at retail card readers to steal benefits from accounts. The state's SNAP cards lack embedded security chips—a feature that has reduced fraud by 76% in credit and debit cards—though the Arkansas Department of Human Services is working with its card issuer to enhance security measures. Attorney General Tim Griffin noted that even with improved card security, scammers will continue using impersonation and phishing tactics to compromise cardholders' information.

"Pig butchering" scams are sophisticated fraud schemes operated by organized crime groups that have stolen billions globally, in which scammers build fake romantic or friendly relationships with victims online before pressuring them into fraudulent investments, typically over a few months rather than years. Notable victims include a Kansas banker who embezzled $47 million to cover his losses and a Connecticut woman who lost nearly $1 million in cryptocurrency investments, with scammers exploiting victims' desire for financial gain rather than solely relying on romantic manipulation. The scams operate in three stages—hunting for victims online, building trust, and executing the "kill" by pushing large financial commitments—and are typically run by highly organized criminal

A Chinese actor named Wang Xing was abducted in Thailand and taken to a scam compound in Myanmar in early 2025, sparking widespread concern about fraud operations in Southeast Asia. The incident highlighted the prevalence of "pig butchering" scams—a type of fraud where criminals build fake romantic or financial relationships with victims to manipulate them into large investments, with victims worldwide losing billions of dollars. These scams, typically run by organized crime groups, operate in three stages (hunting, raising, and killing) and can result in devastating financial losses, as exemplified by cases like a Connecticut woman who lost nearly $1 million and a Kansas banker who embezzled $47 million to cover

The Overland Park, Kansas Police Department warns residents against romance scams, where online romantic partners request money or ask victims to deposit checks on their behalf. Victims who deposit fraudulent checks risk becoming unwitting accomplices and having funds withdrawn from their own accounts. Residents who suspect they've been victimized are urged to report the scam to local law enforcement.

A 35-year-old Nigerian man, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, pleaded guilty to operating a romance scam that defrauded six women across Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Kansas of approximately $1.88 million between 2019 and 2024. Using fake identities such as "Williams Moore," "Manuel Sykes," and "Edward Nowak," Nwadavid posed as an oil rig worker and other professionals to build romantic relationships with vulnerable women online, then solicited money under false pretenses including medical emergencies and inheritance claims. The case highlights the growing threat of romance scams targeting women over 60, which

Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old married Nigerian real estate worker, pleaded guilty to running a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded six women across Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Kansas of approximately $1.88 million between January and June 2019. Using fake identities, he posed as men working on oil rigs or in overseas positions, love-bombing vulnerable victims and convincing them to send money for medical emergencies or travel expenses, with one victim losing over $896,000. The case reflects a broader epidemic of romance scams targeting older adults, with the FBI reporting nearly 18,000 complaints in 2024

Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old, admitted to orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded at least six women across multiple states of millions of dollars by posing as different men (including "Williams Moore" and "Manuel Sykes") claiming to need financial help due to oil rig injuries. Victims from Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Kansas were manipulated into opening cryptocurrency accounts and transferring funds totaling millions, with individual losses ranging from $235,000 to $896,000, which Nwadavid then laundered through his own Bitcoin wallets. The case reflects a broader trend of romance fraud, with the

Wendy Hopkins, a 54-year-old Kansas woman, was charged on July 2, 2025, with 48 counts including identity theft, computer crime, theft, forgery, and mistreatment of an elder person in connection with an alleged fraud scheme at Rockhill Women's Care. Patients of the women's care center who experienced financial fraud between September 2022 and November 2023 are asked to contact law enforcement, though specific details about the victims and amounts stolen were not disclosed. Hopkins' bond was set at $500,000.