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At least four American tourists are facing lengthy prison sentences in Turks and Caicos after ammunition was discovered in their luggage, with one Virginia man potentially facing up to 12 years imprisonment. The Caribbean territory has strict firearms laws that impose mandatory minimum sentences of 12 years for possessing even a single bullet, and a recent court ruling requires tourists to serve prison time if convicted, eliminating the previous option of paying fines and leaving the country. Families of the detained Americans claim the ammunition was brought accidentally, but travelers are now vulnerable to severe penalties for what they describe as unintentional violations.

In 2023, nearly 1,000 Oklahomans aged 60 and older lost over $22 million to fraud, with scams targeting seniors increasing 15% in Oklahoma compared to 11% nationally. Tech support scams and sweepstakes prize frauds are among the most common schemes, with one Oklahoma couple nearly falling victim to a $500,000 sweepstakes scam before becoming suspicious of personal questions. The FBI emphasizes the importance of reporting scams without shame and advises seniors to be cautious about unsolicited contacts and requests for personal financial information.

Oklahoma seniors are receiving fraudulent Medicare enrollment postcards that appear official but are scams designed to trick them into calling unknown numbers during the Medicare open enrollment period. The Oklahoma State Insurance Department reports multiple scam types targeting seniors in October-December, including fake enrollment cards and unauthorized charges for medical devices appearing on Medicare statements, with similar fraudulent mailers also reported in Kansas and Louisiana. Seniors are advised to independently verify government agency phone numbers rather than calling numbers on suspicious mailers.

A 73-year-old Piedmont, Oklahoma woman lost approximately $52,000 in a phone scam where callers impersonated Social Security Administration officials and a local police officer, claiming her accounts were compromised and convincing her to withdraw cash for a man who collected it in person. The victim is now facing financial hardship including potential inability to pay rent and nursing home expenses for her husband, and authorities are investigating the case while she seeks public assistance through a GoFundMe page.

Financial institutions across Oklahoma and nationally are reporting a surge in customers being defrauded into withdrawing large cash amounts and depositing them into cryptocurrency ATMs following instructions from scammers. The article emphasizes that legitimate entities—banks, tech companies, law enforcement, regulators, attorneys, romantic interests, or investment advisors—will never request this type of transaction, making any such request a clear indicator of fraud.

Abdul Waris Akinsanya, a 26-year-old Nigerian citizen in Oklahoma City, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in a romance scam conspiracy that defrauded an Alabama victim of $2,650 in May 2020. Akinsanya opened fraudulent bank accounts under false identities using forged documents to deposit money obtained through the scam, keeping a percentage for himself. He was also ordered to pay $2,650 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

A 26-year-old Nigerian man living in Oklahoma City was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for perpetrating a romance scam against an Alabama woman. Akinsanya was ordered to pay $2,650 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.

A vehicle drove through the front door of the Senior Nutrition Center in Pryor, Oklahoma on March 11, 2024, causing significant structural damage to the building where approximately 250 meals per day are prepared for seniors at multiple locations. The driver, who may have experienced a medical or mental episode, struck the kitchen area, but no injuries were reported and the center resumed meal service within two days.

The Better Business Bureau of Eastern Oklahoma provides financial safety advice for spring break travelers, recommending they use credit cards instead of debit cards for purchases, obtain receipts for all transactions, and research vendors before booking activities to avoid scams and fraud. The BBB also advises travelers to avoid posting vacation photos on social media until after returning home to prevent burglaries, and suggests purchasing travel insurance if plans are uncertain.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond warns of rising Bitcoin ATM scams targeting elderly residents, in which scammers use various tactics—such as falsely claiming a bank account is about to fail—to convince victims to withdraw funds and deposit them into unregulated virtual currency kiosks. Once deposited, the cryptocurrency is sent to the scammer's wallet in irreversible transactions that drain victims' bank accounts. The Attorney General's office advises Oklahomans never to pay anyone demanding advance payment in cryptocurrency and to contact authorities at [email protected] or 1-833-681-1895 if they suspect they've been victimized.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond warned of rising Bitcoin ATM scams targeting elderly residents, where fraudsters convince victims their banks are failing and persuade them to withdraw cash and deposit it into cryptocurrency kiosks at retail locations, with funds then sent irreversibly to scammers' wallets. The advisory also outlined related crypto scams including romance scams, pig butchering, fake investment platforms, computer virus alerts, and impersonation of government agencies, urging Oklahomans never to pay anyone demanding cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers as advance payments.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond warned consumers about a rising wave of cryptocurrency ATM scams targeting elderly victims, where scammers convince people their banks are failing and convince them to withdraw funds and deposit them into virtual currency kiosks, with the crypto then sent irreversibly to the scammer's wallet. The advisory also detailed other related scams including romance scams, pig butchering schemes, fake investment platforms, computer antivirus scams, and impersonation of government agencies, all designed to trick victims into making cryptocurrency payments. Drummond advised Oklahomans to never pay anyone demanding advance cryptocurrency payments and to contact relatives or the Oklahoma Attorney General's office if victimized.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond warned consumers about rising Bitcoin ATM scams targeting elderly victims who are deceived into withdrawing bank funds and depositing them into unregulated virtual currency kiosks at retail locations. Scammers employ various tactics including fake bank failure warnings, romance schemes, investment advisor impersonation, and fake antivirus alerts to convince victims to convert their money to irreversible cryptocurrency transfers. The Attorney General advised Oklahomans never to pay anyone who requests advance payments in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or money transfers, and to contact relatives or the Oklahoma Attorney General's office if they suspect they have been victimized.

The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office is warning the public about scammers impersonating the AG's Office and claiming victims have won money, then demanding fees to collect the supposed winnings. Callers have used 918 area codes, spoofed the official AG phone number, and displayed "unknown" caller IDs, though no financial losses have been reported yet. The AG advises Oklahomans to never wire money or share personal information with unsolicited callers claiming to be government officials, to verify caller identity independently, and to disregard caller ID information as it can be faked.

Arvest Bank offered financial literacy guidance to help people avoid fraud scams, emphasizing the importance of spotting potential fraud and managing money wisely. According to the Federal Trade Commission, people reported losing $10 billion to scams in 2023—$1 billion more than 2022—with a median loss of $300 per person, while Oklahoma residents reported $29.8 million in total fraud losses with a median loss of $430 per person. The article highlighted imposter scams as the top fraud category in 2023, accounting for $2.6 billion in losses, and recommended steps such as avoiding suspicious links, contacting official business numbers directly, and researching before

The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office provides consumer protection guidance for disaster victims to avoid fraud following severe weather. The advisory warns against price gouging on essential goods and services, fraudulent contractors (especially unsolicited door-to-door solicitors), fake charities formed in response to the disaster, and advance fee loan scams that prey on those needing quick access to funds for rebuilding.

The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office provided guidance on identifying charity scams that may emerge following severe weather in the state. The advisory recommends verifying charities through the IRS, Oklahoma Secretary of State's Office, Better Business Bureau, and Guidestar; avoiding recently created charities with limited public information; not clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts; and exercising caution with crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe. Suspected charity fraud should be reported to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit at 1-833-681-1904 or online.

Following devastating Oklahoma tornadoes, MoneyGram warned consumers about fraudulent charity scams where victims average losses of $824 by sending money transfers to fake organizations with names similar to legitimate charities. The company identified five red flags including high-pressure tactics, wire-transfer-only payment demands, and lack of organizational information, and advised consumers to recognize, react to, and report suspected scams to authorities.

The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office has launched an online fraud complaint form to help seniors report suspected scams, which are increasingly targeting older adults through schemes like fake lotteries, tech support scams, and romance/grandparent scams. According to FBI data, seniors over 60 reported $3.4 billion in financial fraud losses in 2023, an 11 percent increase from the previous year. The A.G.'s office urges seniors to protect themselves by avoiding sharing personal information unsolicited, verifying emails before clicking links, and rejecting high-pressure payment requests.

The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office launched an online senior fraud complaint form to help older Oklahomans report scams, as financial fraud targeting people over 60 reached $3.4 billion nationally in 2023, an 11 percent increase from the previous year. Common schemes include fake lotteries, tech support scams, and impersonation of grandchildren, government officials, or romantic interests. The office advises seniors to protect themselves by avoiding sharing personal information unsolicited, not clicking email links or attachments, being wary of upfront payment demands, and rejecting high-pressure tactics from unknown callers.

This appears to be a news website homepage rather than a single article about elder fraud or scams. The content shown includes various local Alabama news stories (sex offender sentencing, police shootings, sports updates, weather, and traffic information), but none relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse that would be relevant for the Elderus database. To provide an appropriate summary for Elderus, please provide a specific article focused on elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.

In 2022, Oklahoma's elderly population lost over $19.4 million to fraud, affecting 790 victims aged 60 and older with an average loss of $24,627 per victim. Investment scams were the costliest fraud type nationally ($404 million), followed by business and romance scams, with online platforms being the most common fraud method for seniors compared to text-based scams.

This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a community events listing for Bartlesville, Oklahoma, featuring recreational activities such as farmers markets, historical tours, children's activities, and a health fair. It contains no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or related incidents.

Scammers originating outside the US are exploiting social media by posting missing persons alerts that gain thousands of shares, then editing them to fraudulent offers (free items or goods at suspiciously low prices) to steal identities and hack Facebook accounts, which they then use to target the victim's friends and family. Oklahoma City Metro Search and Rescue Director Brian Smith warns that these posts sometimes feature real missing persons to increase credibility, and advises people to verify posts by checking the poster's profile for red flags like new accounts, few friends, disabled comments, or unusual phrasing before sharing.

Scammers impersonating OG&E utility workers called a local Oklahoma business, falsely claiming an unpaid bill and threatening service disconnection, then directing the employee to pay via prepaid card at Walmart. The business owner and employee nearly fell victim before realizing the scam, noting the callers used a convincing script and seemed knowledgeable. OG&E warns that legitimate utility representatives never request phone payments or direct customers to retailers like Walmart; actual notifications come via mail or email, and customers should hang up and call OG&E directly if contacted by a live person requesting payment.

This article is not relevant to the Elderus fraud research database. It is a community events listing for Bartlesville, Oklahoma, featuring recreational and cultural activities such as farmers markets, museum exhibits, animal attractions, and family entertainment. It contains no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or financial exploitation.

Christopher Parks, Christopher Noah Parks, and Stephen Miller operated a fraudulent medical debt collection scheme through companies Assured Collections LLC and Assured Financial LLC, sending thousands of false debt collection notices nationwide to veterans and older Americans demanding payment for medical devices they either did not owe or had never received. The scheme, which Parks directed while incarcerated for prior healthcare fraud charges, caused consumers to pay debts that were largely illusory, leading a federal court in Oklahoma to issue permanent injunctions on August 2 barring the defendants from engaging in any future billing or debt collection activities.

Three Oklahoma men—Christopher Parks, his son Christopher Noah Parks, and nephew Stephen Miller—who operated Assured Collections (later renamed Assured Financial) defrauded military personnel, veterans, and seniors by sending thousands of fraudulent debt collection letters demanding payments for medical debts that often did not exist, with demands sometimes reaching thousands of dollars per victim. The elder Parks, while serving time for a health care kickback scheme, directed the scam from prison using misappropriated medical billing data. A federal court in Tulsa issued a permanent injunction permanently banning all three men and their company from further billing operations.

Deputy Tara Harding conducts financial safety classes throughout the metro area to help residents protect their accounts from fraud and abuse. The classes provide education on safeguarding financial information, with contact information available through the deputy's office or the National Elder Fraud Hotline for those seeking more information or to report incidents.

The Better Business Bureau in Oklahoma City received hundreds of text message scam reports this year, warning consumers never to assume text messages are legitimate and to watch for red flags like misspellings, suspicious senders, and suspicious hyperlinks. Clicking these links can expose personal information and lead to identity theft, so recipients should verify messages directly with the supposed sender and report suspected scams at bbb.org/scamtracker or to credit bureaus if personal financial information was compromised.

A car buying scam ring operating across California and involving at least three suspects—Michael Tanase, Constantin Mustata, and Florin Tanase—sabotaged vehicles listed for sale by pouring oil into radiators to simulate engine failure, then made lowball offers to purchase the damaged cars at a fraction of their value. Michael Tanase was arrested in Oklahoma in July 2024 on an outstanding felony warrant for vandalism and theft by false pretense filed by the Placer County District Attorney's Office, while his two co-suspects remain at large; the scam had been reported to multiple law enforcement agencies across California beginning in early 2024.

Elder fraud in Oklahoma increased 15% from 2022 to 2023, with nearly 1,000 seniors over age 60 falling victim to scams and losing over $22 million in total. The most common fraud schemes targeting seniors are fake tech support and romance scams, with criminals exploiting seniors' accumulated wealth; the FBI advises victims and potential victims to hang up, log off, and walk away from any pressure to conduct financial transactions.

Oklahoma ranked 27th nationally with 955 elder fraud complaints according to FBI data, part of a broader trend where Americans over 60 lost nearly $3.5 billion to scams in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year. Experts advise victims to report fraud immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov), as there is a 7 in 10 chance of recovering funds if reported quickly, and recommend hanging up on suspicious callers and telling family members rather than keeping requests secret. Cryptocurrency scams and pressure tactics to conduct immediate financial transactions are common red flags.

In 2023, nearly 1,000 Oklahomans age 60 and older lost more than $22 million to fraud, with complaints from this age group increasing 15% in Oklahoma between 2022 and 2023—higher than the national 11% increase. Tech support scams are the most common type targeting seniors, though lottery/sweepstakes scams also pose significant risks, as illustrated by an Oklahoma couple who nearly fell victim to a $500,000 prize scam. The FBI emphasizes that victims should report all scams and attempted scams without shame, as early reporting helps prevent fraud rather than merely respond to it after losses occur.

During 2023, Oklahoma experienced an increase in fraud targeting people over 60, with nearly 1,000 complaints filed resulting in over $22 million in losses according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Common scams include impersonation of government officials and fake tech support offers, with perpetrators using persistent pressure for money transfers. The FBI emphasizes that victims should immediately stop financial transactions, disconnect from the perpetrator, and seek independent verification from trusted contacts, while reporting crimes promptly to local law enforcement or the IC3 to improve recovery chances.

In 2023, nearly 1,000 Oklahoma seniors fell victim to fraud schemes, losing over $22 million combined—representing a 15% increase in elder fraud cases in the state from 2022 to 2023, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Common scams targeting seniors include romance schemes conducted through social media and fake tech support pop-ups, with criminals exploiting seniors' accumulated wealth over their lifetimes. The FBI advises older adults and their families to recognize warning signs and immediately disengage from any interaction involving financial pressure by hanging up the phone or logging off.

Lottery scams continue to frequently target seniors, with the BBB receiving weekly reports of elderly victims losing money to financial scams. A University of Southern California study found that seniors vulnerable to scams may show signs of Alzheimer's disease, with changes in brain cortex thickness impairing their ability to use past experience for decision-making. The BBB recommends caregivers monitor elderly relatives' financial behavior, restrict access to credit cards and phone numbers, and suggests financial vulnerability assessments become part of routine checkups for patients over 70.

Oklahoma lost $67 million to online scams last year, ranking 31st nationally, with Tulsa, Lawton, and Oklahoma City as the most targeted cities. Approximately 39% of scams used artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos and audio impersonations of business leaders, politicians, or family members to trick victims into sending money. Security experts recommend limiting digital footprints, enabling multifactor authentication, and watching for visual anomalies like fidgety movements and lighting inconsistencies to detect AI-generated scam videos.

QR code scams are increasing nationwide, with fraudsters using fake codes on parking meters, in unsolicited texts and emails, and on packages to impersonate utilities companies and the IRS, claiming urgent payments are due. The BBB recommends avoiding QR codes sent unexpectedly or appearing on social media and instead visiting official company websites directly to access legitimate payment portals and information. QR codes used by trusted businesses in person, such as restaurant menus, are generally safe, but consumers should be cautious of any codes that arrive unsolicited or claim that regular payment methods are unavailable.

Johnna Brown, a single mother and self-employed house cleaner in Avant, Oklahoma, purchased a truck for $2,000 through Facebook Marketplace that turned out to be a fraudulent sale. After the purchase, she discovered the engine fluids had been tampered with (containing additives that made oil foamy and milky), the odometer had been rolled back, and the VIN number did not match records on Kelly Blue Book, leaving her unable to recover her money through local police due to jurisdictional complications with Cherokee Nation tribal property. The seller refused refunds and told her the truck could only be sold for parts, with police indicating any legal recourse would be costly and lengthy through tribal

Gateway Church removed four elders and its spokesman after a third-party investigation found that they either knew about or should have investigated sex abuse allegations against founder Robert Morris by an Oklahoma woman beginning when she was 12 years old. Morris resigned in June 2024 after the allegations surfaced, and the church is cooperating with a criminal investigation, though neither the church nor current leadership are subjects of it. The investigation found that some elders and staff possessed knowledge of the abuse or allegations but failed to take appropriate action, leading to their removal from the church.

Oklahoma City is warning residents about a resurging scam where callers impersonate municipal court employees or law enforcement, demanding immediate payment of fake fines over the phone under threat of jail. The city advises residents to hang up, independently verify any debts by calling OKC Municipal Court at (405) 297-3898 or checking okc.gov/court, and notes that scammers increasingly use spoofed numbers, actual deputy names, and payment methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency to steal money.

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AARP Oklahoma is recruiting volunteers for the 2025 legislative session to advocate on issues affecting older residents, including protecting seniors from financial fraud and abuse, expanding access to home and community-based care services, and preventing utility rate increases. Volunteers can participate in-person or virtually, with a Senior Day at the Capitol scheduled for March 3 where advocates will meet with lawmakers and learn about resources for older adults.

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**Title:** Get Ready for Scams in the Digital Age Adults aged 60 and older reported over 100,000 complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2023, resulting in losses exceeding $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from 2022. Common scams targeting seniors include phishing, Medicare and health insurance fraud, and tech support scams. Protection strategies include staying skeptical of unexpected communications, avoiding sharing personal information online, monitoring finances for unauthorized activity, and reporting suspected fraud immediately to relevant authorities including the FTC, Medicare, or financial institutions.

In 2023, adults aged 60 and older filed over 100,000 fraud complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, losing more than $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from the previous year. Oklahoma's Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready outlines common scams targeting older adults, including phishing, Medicare and health insurance fraud, and tech support scams, and recommends protection strategies such as staying skeptical of unsolicited communications, avoiding sharing personal information online, and immediately reporting suspected fraud to relevant authorities including the FTC, Social Security Administration, or financial institutions.

I appreciate you providing this text, but this article does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database. The content covers Iowa State football, holiday events, and sports scores—none of which relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. I cannot provide a summary as it falls outside the scope of elder fraud research documentation. If you have an article about fraud, scams, or elder abuse, I'd be happy to summarize it for the database.

Ten U.S. states experienced significant increases in elder fraud cases between 2022 and 2023, with Arizona leading at a 36% increase (212 to 289 cases per 100,000 seniors), followed by Utah (23% increase) and Rhode Island (22% increase). Other states with notable rises include Texas, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, all ranging from 18-20% increases in fraud complaints per capita. The analysis highlights that popular retirement destinations are experiencing elevated fraud risk, prompting seniors in these states to increase financial vigilance.

A 2025 analysis of government elder fraud complaint data identified 10 states experiencing significant increases in fraud cases targeting retirees between 2022 and 2023. Arizona led with a 36% increase (212 to 289 cases per 100,000 seniors), followed by Utah (23% increase) and Rhode Island (22% increase), with Texas, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, Kansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma also showing substantial growth ranging from 18-20%. The data underscores the need for vigilance among retirees in these high-risk states.