Explore the Archive

Washington County, Maryland is warning residents and businesses of a phishing scam using fraudulent emails that falsely appear to be from the Planning & Zoning Department, requesting wire transfer payments for fake "Application Review and Approval Fees." The county clarified it does not request permit payments via email or wire transfer, and advised recipients not to respond or send money, while urging anyone who already paid to contact their bank and law enforcement immediately.

Gold scams targeting Marylanders typically involve fake dealers or government impersonators who deceive victims into purchasing precious metals, often by falsely claiming security concerns or promising profits. In October 2025, the Maryland Attorney General and CFTC won a $25.6 million restitution judgment against Safeguard Metals LLC, which defrauded at least 450 people of approximately $68 million in retirement savings, with six Maryland victims losing about $350,000. Montgomery County has been particularly affected, with victims losing over $5 million to gold bar scams in a single year, often after receiving calls falsely claiming bank account or identity theft.

A 34-year-old Hyattsville man was charged with federal bank fraud for stealing over $1 million from more than 40 seniors (averaging age 81) by intercepting their mail, changing their account addresses, and fraudulently using their debit cards for ATM withdrawals and luxury purchases. Roy Dave Davis obtained victims' personal information, rerouted their mail to addresses he controlled in Maryland, and spent over $100,000 of stolen funds on designer fashion items. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted.

Stanley G. Richards, a Prince George's County man, was fined $5.9 million and permanently banned from Maryland's securities industry for his role in promoting NovaTech, an unlawful pyramid scheme that posed as a cryptocurrency and forex trading platform. Beginning in 2021, Richards aggressively marketed NovaTech investments on YouTube, video calls, and social media, defrauding approximately 3,000 Maryland residents who lost around $37 million collectively, while the scheme generated between $600 million to $1 billion globally from 2019-2023. Richards operated as an unregistered investment adviser and rose to senior director status within NovaTech's hierarchy by selling over

A Maryland woman received calls from scammers impersonating Wells Fargo fraud department and a San Francisco police officer, who claimed she was involved in a federal money laundering case tied to fraudulent credit card purchases of thousands of dollars in guns and ammunition. The scammers used specific details to appear legitimate, moved the conversation to video chat, sent fake police documents, and threatened arrest and extortion to pressure her into compliance. The woman recognized the scam before providing critical information, but experts warn that real banks and police will not threaten immediate arrest or force victims to remain on the phone.

A 72-year-old Maryland woman named Janey Sears was sentenced to 20 years in prison (15 years incarcerated, 5 years supervised probation) for stealing $406,954 from a victim she met on a dating app and moved in with in 2019. She convinced him the money was being invested in stocks through Goldman Sachs and an exclusive investment pool, when she actually spent it on casinos and expensive cars. Sears was convicted of theft scheme, securities fraud, and misappropriation of funds by a fiduciary in a case that highlights the growing danger of romance scams, particularly targeting vulnerable individuals.

A 72-year-old Maryland woman named Janey Sears was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a romance scam in which she defrauded a victim of over $406,000 over three years after meeting him on a dating app and moving into his home. She falsely claimed to be investing his money in stocks like Pfizer through Goldman Sachs, but instead spent the funds on casinos and luxury cars. She was convicted of theft scheme, securities fraud, and misappropriation of funds by a fiduciary.

Janey Sears, 72, was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for defrauding a Montgomery County man of over $400,000 through a dating app romance scam. Sears posed as a CEO with fabricated credentials and convinced the victim, a federal employee, to let her invest his money, claiming she would place it in Goldman Sachs and Pfizer stocks, but instead spent the funds on casinos and a $55,000 vehicle. She was ordered to pay approximately $407,000 in restitution at $10,000 monthly after her release.

Linda Laird, 62, of Cordova, Maryland was convicted of financial exploitation of her 81-year-old grandmother, whom she served as co-guardian and co-conservator. Working with her father James Blizzard, Laird stole over $21,000 in Social Security benefits and $100,000 from the grandmother's bank accounts, using the funds for personal purchases including jewelry, designer shoes, and football tickets. She was found guilty on multiple federal charges including conspiracy to commit Social Security and mail fraud, wire fraud, and financial exploitation of a vulnerable elderly person.

Scammers in Maryland are spoofing the state's EBT customer service phone number to deceive new cardholders into revealing account information and compromising their benefits. The article warns that caller ID spoofing allows criminals to impersonate legitimate government agencies and banks, and advises residents to never share account details during unsolicited calls and instead verify requests through official contact numbers.

A stolen vehicle recovered in Virginia led authorities to discover gold coins and a gold bar connected to a $2 million fraud scheme targeting elderly victims who were persuaded to purchase gold for scammers. The investigation identified at least one victim in James City County who made multiple payments to the suspects, with approximately $2 million expected to be recovered. The multi-state scheme, involving suspects who transported the gold to New York to be melted down, is believed to extend across Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, and New York.

The Allegany County Library System is offering a free monthly SAFE Series program to help community members recognize and avoid scams, with sessions held on the third Wednesday of each month starting August 19. The educational series, offered in partnership with the Maryland Department of Labor, covers common fraud types including illegal robocalls, phishing scams, and financial exploitation, providing practical strategies to protect participants and their loved ones. Sessions are available both in-person at South Cumberland Library and online, with no registration required.

A Ghanaian national living in Maryland, 43-year-old Nana Takyiwa Adonu, was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for operating a nationwide romance scam that defrauded victims of over $1.6 million, including an Iowa victim who lost more than $55,000. Adonu created fake online dating profiles and operated a fraudulent company to receive stolen funds from victims seeking romantic relationships, and she was ordered to pay $1.65 million in restitution. According to FBI statistics, an estimated 59,000 people have fallen victim to romance scams losing over $672 million, with many cases going unreported due to victim embarrass

Three men were arrested for defrauding over $1 million from seniors in Virginia and Maryland using a two-stage scam: fake Amazon alerts warning of unauthorized purchases, followed by imposters posing as federal agents claiming the victims' identities were compromised and demanding they convert savings into gold bars or cash for "safekeeping." The scheme is part of a larger national trend combining business impersonation with government-agent impersonation to exploit elderly victims. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited calls about account problems, remember that legitimate companies and federal agencies never demand immediate payment or asset conversion over the phone, and verify any such claims by hanging up and calling the official organization directly.

Multiple U.S. states, including North Carolina and Maryland, are expanding bank powers to combat rising financial exploitation of older adults by allowing financial institutions to temporarily freeze suspicious transactions for up to 30 days and notify authorities when fraud is suspected. Elder financial abuse costs older Americans approximately $28.3 billion annually through sophisticated scams involving impersonation, romance schemes, and AI-generated communications, prompting these legislative changes to provide protection before victims suffer irreversible losses. Older adults should remain vigilant about unsolicited financial requests, verify contact information independently before responding to urgent money requests, and consider designating a trusted contact with their bank who can be alerted to suspicious activity.

A new Maryland law allows banks and credit unions to temporarily freeze transactions suspected of being connected to scams or elder exploitation, giving them time to investigate and potentially prevent financial losses. If you notice suspicious activity in your account, you should contact your bank immediately, as these new protections may enable them to pause the transaction while they look into it. Regularly checking your accounts is an effective way to spot unfamiliar charges early and protect yourself from fraud.

Carroll County, Maryland is hosting a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event on June 15, 2026, featuring a financial fraud investigator who will educate seniors about financial exploitation and scams targeting older adults. With an estimated 1 in 10 adults over 60 experiencing abuse or exploitation annually, the free educational program will include presentations from local experts in social services and law enforcement. Seniors interested in attending should register by contacting the Mt. Airy Senior Center at 410-386-3960 to learn how to protect themselves from financial fraud and exploitation.

Police departments across the country are warning drivers about the "screw method" gas pump scam, where fraudsters insert a screw into a pump's nozzle cradle to prevent the transaction from ending, allowing them to fuel up for free on a victim's card. This scam has been reported in multiple states including California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas, and can result in hundreds of dollars in fraudulent charges. To protect yourself, inspect the nozzle cradle before fueling, stay by your pump while filling up, and always wait for the transaction to fully complete (with a receipt prompt or zero balance display) before leaving.

In May 2026, a viral warning spread across social media claiming criminals were inserting screws into gas pump nozzle holders to trick pumps into keeping transactions open so they could steal gas using victims' credit cards. However, Snopes investigated and found no credible reports of this "screw method" scam actually occurring—even law enforcement agencies that initially promoted the warning, including Maryland's Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office, later retracted their claims after finding no verified incidents. The takeaway for consumers is to be skeptical of alarming scam warnings on social media and check official sources before sharing them, as this case demonstrates how easily unverified claims can spread widely online.

Thieves are using a "Screw Method" scam at gas pumps across the country, where they tamper with pumps using a carpenter's screw to disable the shutoff mechanism, allowing them to pump gas or fuel into containers while charges continue going to a previous customer's credit card—potentially costing victims hundreds of dollars. The scam has been reported in California, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, though not yet confirmed in Houston. To protect yourself, check your pump screen before leaving, monitor your credit card statements regularly, use tap-to-pay methods when possible, and never leave the pump unattended while fueling.

A Baltimore man nearly fell victim to a sweepstakes scam where a caller claiming to represent Reader's Digest and Publishers Clearing House told him he'd won $9.4 million and a Mercedes-Benz, then requested $500 in Apple gift cards for "document fees." The scam is part of a wider problem in Maryland—the Department of Justice recently charged Jamaican nationals with running a lottery fraud scheme that stole over $9.5 million from victims who were similarly asked to pay taxes and fees upfront. The key takeaway: legitimate sweepstakes will never ask you to pay money to claim a prize, so if you're contacted about a prize you don't remember entering and asked for upfront payment, it's a scam.

Three Maryland women—Dolores Miller, Judith Boivin, and Jane Dean—lost thousands of dollars to separate scams involving fake bank representatives and fraudulent alerts, but connected through an AARP support group and now meet monthly to help each other cope and warn others about these schemes. The scams often impersonated legitimate companies like Amazon and banks, using social engineering tactics to convince victims to withdraw and transfer their savings, with one woman nearly losing over $57,000 before a vigilant bank manager intervened. Experts and the victims themselves advise people to hang up on unsolicited calls claiming fraud, independently verify bank contact information before responding, and never withdraw large sums of money based on phone instructions alone.

Elder financial fraud in Maryland has surged dramatically, with one in 20 older adults reporting financial abuse in 2024 and losing a combined $47 million—nearly five times more than in 2020, according to state officials. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics, including impersonating police officers and grandchildren, and leveraging artificial intelligence to sound convincing; one Montgomery County resident lost $10,000 after a fake police officer convinced her to transfer cash to a cryptocurrency kiosk. State leaders recommend verifying caller identities by hanging up and calling official numbers directly, and emphasize that there is no shame in being targeted, as older adults are often deliberately chosen by scammers.

Maryland state and local officials and non-profit organizations have launched a public awareness campaign to combat financial abuse targeting seniors, featuring a press conference and input from fraud survivors. The initiative aims to educate older adults about scams and financial exploitation that disproportionately affect this vulnerable population. Seniors should stay vigilant against fraudulent schemes by verifying requests for money with trusted family members or officials before responding.

Maryland officials and non-profits launched "PROTECT Week," a statewide campaign to combat financial exploitation of older adults, which has become one of the fastest-growing forms of elder abuse. Seniors are being targeted at alarming rates—reports show one in 20 older adults experience financial abuse, with victims over 60 losing $4.885 billion in 2024 alone, a 43 percent increase from the previous year. To protect yourself, experts advise: if someone tells you to keep money transfers secret or claims authority and urgency, slow down and tell a trusted friend or family member before acting, and take advantage of free community resources like webinars and workshops being offered during PROTECT Week to learn how to spot and prevent fraud.

# Fraud Alert Summary International call centers operating from India defrauded hundreds of Americans out of nearly $49 million since 2022 through government impersonation and tech support scams, with Maryland residents losing over $6 million. Law enforcement in Maryland and India dismantled the operations and arrested multiple perpetrators, though authorities warn the scams continue to target vulnerable people, particularly seniors. To protect yourself, authorities advise being skeptical of unsolicited calls, texts, or pop-ups demanding urgent payment, and remember that legitimate government agencies will never call demanding money or threatening arrest.

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, Maryland's Attorney General is warning consumers about scams targeting sports fans, including illegal betting sites that steal money or personal data, fake prize emails, counterfeit merchandise, and malware-infected streaming links. To protect yourself, only use Maryland's 12 licensed online sportsbooks and 14 regulated fantasy competition operators, buy official merchandise from legitimate retailers, and stream only through authorized services. If you suspect fraud, contact the Maryland Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-8662.

A Maryland man and his co-conspirators defrauded victims across the United States between 2020 and 2024 by running a lottery scam that convinced people they had won prizes but needed to pay upfront fees to claim them. The scheme particularly targeted elderly individuals, and the perpetrators used fraudulent mail and stolen identities to solicit money from victims who ultimately received nothing. To protect yourself, be aware that legitimate lotteries never require upfront payment to claim winnings, so any request for advance fees should be treated as a major red flag.

The FBI shut down scam call centers operating in India that have stolen nearly $50 million from hundreds of victims nationwide since 2022, with Maryland residents losing over $6 million. Scammers posed as Social Security Administration officials via email and phone, falsely claiming victims' Social Security numbers were suspended due to criminal activity, then convinced them to send money or transfer assets like gold bars. Authorities advise that the government will never call you unsolicited—if you receive such a call or email, hang up and contact the official agency directly through a verified phone number.

An FBI investigation shut down an international scam operation with call centers in India that defrauded 660 Americans of over $48 million since 2022 by impersonating government officials and tech support to steal gold bars, cryptocurrency, and cash. Victims, many elderly and concentrated in Maryland, were told their identities or families were in danger, prompting them to drain savings and purchase gold or crypto to "protect" their assets, which they then handed to couriers. To avoid becoming a victim, be skeptical of unsolicited emails or calls claiming government emergencies, never wire money or buy precious metals based on official-sounding threats, and verify any suspicious claims by contacting government agencies directly through official channels.

Federal and Maryland authorities shut down three Indian call centers and arrested six leaders of a massive gold bar scam that defrauded over 600 American victims of nearly $50 million. Scammers impersonated federal agents and convinced mostly older Americans to convert their life savings into gold bars, then sent couriers to collect them under the pretense of secure storage. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited calls from people claiming to be federal agents, never convert large sums into gold or other commodities based on pressure from callers, and verify any official communication directly with government agencies.

A Maryland man named Richard Kirchner allegedly posed as a licensed contractor affiliated with a home improvement store to defraud Delaware homeowners, approaching victims at the store and taking deposits for door replacements that never happened, leaving at least two people in the Pepper Ridge Townhome Community out hundreds of dollars. Kirchner is now wanted on charges of home improvement fraud and criminal impersonation, and police believe there may be additional victims. To protect yourself, experts recommend thoroughly researching contractors, asking for references from friends and neighbors, and verifying that anyone claiming to represent a business is actually affiliated with it before handing over any money.

A Maryland man pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for running a technical support scam that deceived over 1,000 victims—primarily older adults—into paying for unnecessary computer repairs, resulting in losses exceeding $6.8 million. The scheme involved fake pop-ups, unsolicited calls, and impersonation of legitimate tech companies to convince victims their computers had serious problems requiring immediate payment. If you or someone you know has been targeted by financial fraud, especially if age 60 or older, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) for assistance.

Scammers posing as grandchildren are targeting elderly individuals by claiming emergencies (car accidents, arrests, etc.) and requesting urgent money transfers; thirteen Dominican Republic nationals were recently charged with defrauding approximately 400 U.S. grandparents of nearly $5 million across Massachusetts, California, New York, Florida, and Maryland. To protect themselves, grandparents should verify callers' identities through personal questions or video calls, avoid sharing financial information over the phone, and refrain from sending money immediately even if the caller claims to be a distressed family member.

Thirteen Dominican Republic citizens have been charged with operating a sophisticated grandparent scam that defrauded approximately 400 U.S. seniors out of $5 million by posing as their grandchildren in distress and repeatedly extracting money from victims. The victims, averaging 84 years old and located across Massachusetts, California, New York, Florida, and Maryland, were targeted with calls claiming emergencies such as car accidents or arrests, with fraudsters sometimes contacting the same victims multiple times. Nine suspects are in custody while four remain at-large, each facing conspiracy charges for mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering with potential sentences up to 20 years in prison.

A transnational elder fraud ring based in the Dominican Republic was disrupted after a two-year investigation resulting in nine arrests and four additional charges, with 13 suspects identified in total. The scheme defrauded over 400 victims (average age 84) of more than $5 million across Massachusetts, Florida, California, Maryland, and New York by using bilingual callers posing as distressed grandchildren in accidents or legal trouble, followed by a "closer" impersonating an attorney, then a "runner" collecting cash via rideshare services. Alleged ringleader Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia and associates face charges including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering,

A Maryland woman and multiple other customers were defrauded by Vehicle Veterans, a used car service, after paying thousands of dollars upfront with little follow-through. Debra Godsey paid $2,800 and eventually received a defective 2012 Chevrolet Traverse with over 167,000 miles and multiple recalls, while another victim lost $10,000 of her inheritance when the company went silent; co-founder Michael Henry allegedly disappeared with customer funds, and the Maryland Attorney General's office has received multiple complaints against the company.

**Summary:** A multi-state investigation called Operation Teller-to-Telegram resulted in the arrest of eight individuals, including three Maryland bank employees, who allegedly stole $8.8 million from elderly customers through a coordinated fraud ring. The bank employees Barbara Frazee, Camala Shafer, and Antonio Penn sold senior customers' personal information via the encrypted app Telegram to co-conspirators who used the stolen account details, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth to drain victims' savings accounts. All eight suspects face RICO charges, identity theft felonies, and other serious charges.

Drivers in New Jersey, California, and Maryland have received phishing text messages falsely claiming to be from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission warning of unpaid traffic tickets and threatening license suspensions and fines. The scam is a phishing attempt designed to trick recipients into clicking a malicious link and providing personal information; the actual New Jersey courts and MVC communicate only by U.S. Mail and never by text message, and legitimate traffic ticket payments go directly to municipal courts, not through the links provided in these messages.

Eight people have been charged in a sophisticated $8.8 million bank fraud operation that victimized over 230 people, many of them seniors, after three Maryland bank employees allegedly used their access to steal customer information including Social Security numbers and account details, which co-conspirators then used to open fraudulent accounts and transfer funds. The defendants, arrested across multiple states, face charges including racketeering, conspiracy, identity fraud, and unauthorized computer access, with bonds ranging from $10,000 to $1,020,000. Authorities recovered some stolen funds that were spent on personal purchases including vehicles, and the case involved coordination between Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and Missouri law enforcement agencies.

A multi-state fraud operation that stole $8.8 million from 235 predominantly elderly victims was dismantled, resulting in eight arrests in Polk County, Florida. The scheme involved three M&T Bank employees in Maryland who sold stolen customer data via Telegram to fraudsters, who then used the credentials to drain bank accounts and purchase luxury items. The perpetrators, including bank insiders Antonio Penn, Roshado Durrant, and others, face racketeering and related felony charges with bonds exceeding $1 million.

Government impersonation scams targeting older adults in Maryland have surged, with fraudsters posing as federal agents and law enforcement to pressure victims into transferring funds via untraceable methods like gold bars, gift cards, and cryptocurrency. Montgomery County alone reported over $5 million in gold-related scam losses in the past year, including a Bethesda woman who lost $1.1 million and a man sentenced to 6.5 years in prison for collecting nearly $800,000 in gold bars. The FTC warns that legitimate government agencies never demand immediate payment or ask people to buy gold, and urges victims to hang up, report incidents at ReportFraud.ftc

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration warned residents about a text message scam falsely claiming traffic violations, suspended licenses, and demanding immediate payment under threat of legal action. The scam attempted to trick recipients into sharing personal information and making payments for bogus penalties. The MVA clarified that it never contacts drivers via text to request personal information or payment and advised recipients to delete such messages and report them to the Federal Trade Commission.

In September 2023, scammers impersonating law enforcement and the FBI targeted 81-year-old Judith Boivin of Maryland by exploiting her well-researched background as a nurse, social worker, and humanitarian to convince her she needed to assist in an FBI operation against a Mexican cartel allegedly using her Social Security number for money laundering. Over three months of twice-daily contact with the fraudsters, who used authentic-sounding case numbers and FBI branding, Boivin transferred nearly $600,000 of her retirement savings before discovering the elaborate scheme was fraudulent.

James and Maureen Wilson of Baltimore County were sentenced to 12 and 4 years in prison, respectively, after defrauding insurance companies of over $20 million through a 25-year scheme involving more than 40 fraudulent life insurance policies and money laundering across multiple accounts and trusts. The couple was ordered to pay $16 million in restitution to victims, $2.7 million to the U.S., and forfeit nearly $14.8 million. The case highlights a broader problem in Maryland, where the FBI reported that over 3,200 residents over 60 lost $80 million to scams in 2024.

An 87-year-old Maryland woman lost tens of thousands of dollars in a tech support scam after receiving a fake pop-up warning that her bank accounts were compromised and demanding $18,000 to fix the issue. Two New York residents, Chongsong Chen (48) and Wei Hua Wang (71), were arrested and charged with theft and theft scheme after physically picking up cash from the victim's home, with authorities apprehending them during the handoff when the victim called the sheriff's office. The case prompted Harford County law enforcement to warn the public that elder fraud increased 14% nationally in 2023 and caused over $3.4 billion in losses

Montgomery County, Maryland police warn of a scam targeting seniors where fraudsters impersonate bank employees and claim the victim's ATM card is compromised, then request the PIN and arrange to pick up the card—only to use it to drain the account at nearby ATMs. Victims have lost considerable sums, with seniors being frequent targets of this scheme. Police advise that legitimate banks never send couriers to retrieve cards and recommend calling your bank directly to verify any claims about card issues.

Montgomery County held a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event highlighting scams targeting seniors, including tech support impersonation, government impostor schemes, and gold bar frauds. Maryland reported 1,385 complaints of tech support and government imposter scams in 2024 with nearly $30 million in losses—up 41% in complaints and 15% in losses over three years—while 84% of financial exploitation perpetrators were family members. Officials emphasized prevention through account monitoring, power of attorney transparency, and assertiveness in refusing suspicious requests, noting that recovery of scammed funds is rarely possible.

Maryland officials, the FBI, and AARP launched "Protect Week" to educate seniors and families about avoiding scams, following reports that more than 3,200 Marylanders over age 60 lost a combined $80 million to fraud in 2024. The statewide initiative highlighted common scam tactics including urgency, emotional manipulation, and impersonation, with officials advising seniors to verify sources before sending money and to report suspicious activity to law enforcement.

A multi-state text scam impersonating the North Carolina DMV claimed recipients had unpaid traffic tickets or toll charges and threatened vehicle registration suspension or required payment of $6.99 within hours. The fraudulent texts included links to fake websites mimicking official DMV sites, designed to steal personal information or payment card details from drivers across North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, New York, and Florida. The NC DMV advises recipients not to respond, to block the sender, and to report the messages to the FTC via text to 7726.