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.

Two individuals, James Card and Tykeria Washington, were arrested after impersonating federal, court, and law enforcement officials to scam an elderly Perry, Georgia resident out of approximately $70,000. The suspects threatened the victim with arrest and coerced her to withdraw cash, purchase cryptocurrency, and transfer funds to other individuals before police located and intervened. Card was charged with theft by extortion, elderly exploitation, and impersonation of an officer, while Washington was charged with elderly exploitation, with the investigation ongoing to identify additional participants.

A 67-year-old Westmoreland County woman lost $5,000 after a caller falsely claiming to be a U.S. Secret Service agent convinced her to purchase gift cards and provide their numbers, exploiting the legitimacy of Washington, D.C. area codes. The scammer instructed the victim to keep the matter secret and not contact local law enforcement. Pennsylvania State Police warn residents to never provide personal information to unknown callers or make payments via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.

The FTC and Washington state reached a $225 million settlement with Amway and its affiliates—the largest monetary recovery ever obtained against a multilevel marketing company—for using deceptive tactics to recruit members and pressure them to buy unsellable products while misrepresenting earnings potential. Amway deceived Independent Business Owners (IBOs) by falsely claiming they could profit from selling consumer products, when the actual scheme focused on recruiting new members and requiring purchases regardless of resale ability. The settlement requires Amway and its affiliates to change their practices and will provide redress primarily to IBOs recruited through two major affiliate groups who lost money.

A 22-year-old Singapore-born man pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $245 million bitcoin theft from a Washington, D.C. resident in August 2024, using social engineering tactics to trick the victim into revealing security credentials. Malone Lam led a network of young scammers and laundered the stolen cryptocurrency into luxury purchases including sports cars, mansions, and nightclub spending before his arrest in Miami. He faces up to 20 years in prison and is the 11th of 18 defendants to plead guilty in what prosecutors describe as one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in U.S. history.

Nevada ranks second in the U.S. for seniors vulnerable to scams, with median losses ranging from $250 for victims ages 60-69 to $5,000 for those 80 and older, according to research analyzing FBI and FTC data. Senior fraud losses in Nevada grew 42% year-over-year, with scammers using varied tactics including phone calls, social media, and websites depending on the victim's age group. Arizona, California, and Washington also ranked among the top states for senior scam risk, with younger seniors primarily targeted through social media and websites while older seniors are most commonly contacted by phone.

A network of young men in their late teens and early 20s stole over $240 million in bitcoin from a Washington, D.C. resident through a sophisticated social engineering scheme in August 2024, then exposed themselves by embarking on an extravagant spending spree purchasing sports cars, private jets, and renting luxury mansions. The alleged ringleader, 22-year-old Malone Lam from Singapore, was arrested along with 17 others after investigators traced the stolen cryptocurrency through careless operational security, including an unmasked IP address used to create an exchange account. The case exemplifies the surge in cryptocurrency fraud complaints to the FBI, which rose nearly 50% in

A 22-year-old Singaporean man named Malone Lam orchestrated a $240 million cryptocurrency theft targeting a Washington, D.C. resident through a sophisticated social engineering scheme in August 2024, duping the victim into revealing security codes that allowed the theft of over 4,100 bitcoin. Lam and his network of young accomplices were caught after they went on a lavish spending spree purchasing sports cars, private jets, and renting luxury mansions, with Lam spending over $569,000 in a single night at an LA nightclub before FBI arrests followed within a month. Lam has a plea agreement hearing scheduled and faces charges alongside 17 others

A 35-year-old man named Daejon Love, along with an 18-year-old accomplice Taylor Chan, scammed at least 26 women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California by posing as an NFL player on dating apps and creating fake investment schemes. The pair collectively stole over $1.3 million from victims, with one woman losing more than $87,000, by using fake bank accounts to show fabricated investment growth before blocking victims once they ran out of money. Love and Chan were arrested last month, and two women who saw through the deception are speaking out to encourage other victims to come forward.

Two men, Daejon Labrayae Love and Taylor Jamie Chan, were arrested in August 2026 for operating a dating scam since February 2022 that targeted women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Love posed as an NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers on dating apps while Chan impersonated his financial adviser, defrauding 26 women and collecting approximately $1.3 million through fictitious investment schemes. Love also falsely claimed to have played college football at Syracuse University and used multiple aliases and fake videos of himself in luxury cars and 49ers gear to gain victims' trust.

Daejon Love, 35, was arrested in August for allegedly impersonating a San Francisco 49ers player and wealthy investor to romance and defraud at least 26 women across four states, netting approximately $1.3 million. Love's alleged accomplice, 18-year-old Taylor Chan, targeted victims in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California by falsely claiming to own multimillion-dollar homes, luxury cars, and NFL connections. Federal prosecutors are seeking to keep Love detained, citing him as a flight risk due to his use of multiple aliases and lack of permanent residence.

Five men were charged with laundering over $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly fraud victims through a network of 21 shell businesses registered in Washington State between October 2024 and March 2026. The defendants used false identities, fictitious business descriptions, and commercial mailboxes to obscure the flow of funds obtained through tech-support and impersonation scams that targeted seniors nationwide. The money was deposited into accounts and quickly dispersed through domestic and international wire transfers, ATM withdrawals, and money orders to conceal its criminal origin.

Daejon Love, 35, and co-conspirator Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested for running a romance scam targeting over two dozen women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California, defrauding them of $1.3 million. Love impersonated an NFL player and posed as a Swiss real estate developer on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, while Chan posed as a wealth manager to convince victims to transfer funds or take out loans for fake investments. Both men face federal charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with investigators confirming 26 victims identified so far.

Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged with wire fraud for operating a romance-and-investment scam that defrauded at least 26 women of approximately $1.3 million between February 2022 and August 2024. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player or wealthy real estate investor on dating apps, while Chan impersonated his financial adviser to show fake investment gains; victims were blocked when they ran out of money or asked questions. Both suspects were arrested on August 24 at Boise airport, and federal authorities believe there are additional victims across California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, was arrested by the FBI for orchestrating a multi-state romance and investment fraud scheme targeting at least 26 women across California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, defrauding them of approximately $1.3 million by posing as a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver with an accomplice who posed as his financial adviser. Love and co-conspirator Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged in federal court with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The article also highlights a similar case involving Uras Agee IV, who fraudulently posed as an NFL safety for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on social

Daejon Labrayae Love and Taylor Jamie Chan allegedly defrauded 26 women of $1.3 million through a romance and investment scam, with Love posing as an NFL player or wealthy real estate investor on social media and convincing victims to invest in fictitious opportunities. The scam, known as "pig butchering," targeted women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California, with both men arrested in Boise and charged with wire fraud conspiracy.

Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, allegedly defrauded 26 women of $1.3 million by posing as a San Francisco 49ers player or wealthy real estate investor on social media, then convincing them to invest in fictitious opportunities with accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan. Love would forge romantic relationships with victims in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California before directing them to fake investments that promised large returns, ultimately blocking them once their money ran out. Both men were arrested in Boise, Idaho and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

A 35-year-old man and his 18-year-old accomplice were arrested in Idaho for allegedly posing as a San Francisco 49ers player on dating apps to defraud 26 women of approximately $1.3 million through romance scams and fake investment schemes. The perpetrators used fake identities, social media photos, and false promises of romantic relationships and investment returns to manipulate victims across California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, then disappeared once victims ran out of money. Authorities believe there may be additional unreported victims and continue investigating the scheme.

Five men have been indicted for laundering $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly victims through tech support scams and impersonation schemes in Washington state. The defendants created 21 shell companies and 44 bank accounts to receive victim funds via cashier's checks and money orders, then rapidly transferred the money through wire transfers to accounts in Hong Kong and China. Trial is scheduled for November 9, with charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering by concealment and spending, each carrying sentences up to 20 years in prison.

Five men have been indicted for laundering $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly victims through tech support scams and impersonation schemes in Washington state. The defendants allegedly created 21 shell companies and opened 44 bank accounts to receive victims' funds via cashier's checks and money orders, then rapidly transferred the money to accounts in Hong Kong and China. The operation occurred between October 2024 and March 2026, with a trial scheduled for November 9.

Daejon Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested and charged with wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 26 women out of approximately $1.3 million between February 2022 and 2026. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player and wealthy investor on dating apps, while Chan posed as his financial adviser, convincing victims they were in romantic relationships and encouraging them to invest in fake schemes and take out personal loans. The scheme spanned California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, with the FBI believing there are additional victims beyond the 26 identified.

Two men were arrested for defrauding over 26 women out of $1.3 million through a romance scam where one posed as a San Francisco 49ers player and the other as his financial advisor, using fake investment accounts and dating apps to gain victims' trust across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Daejon Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, used mobile applications to create fictitious bank and investment balances, convincing victims their money was being invested while some were pressured to take out personal loans; no victims received any returns or account information. The pair were arrested in Boise on August 24 and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud

A 35-year-old man was charged with federal crimes for impersonating a San Francisco 49ers player and allegedly defrauding 26 women out of $1.3 million through romance and investment scams over four years. The perpetrator, using aliases including Daejon Love, created a fake Instagram profile and used AI-generated content to enhance his false NFL persona, meeting victims through dating apps and convincing them to send money directly or take out personal loans. An 18-year-old accomplice posed as his financial advisor, and the FBI believes there may be additional victims beyond the 26 identified women from California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged with wire fraud conspiracy for allegedly defrauding 26 women out of approximately $1.3 million across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player using fake videos, custom helmets, and fictitious investment accounts, while Chan posed as his financial advisor to convince victims to send money. Neither Love nor Chan had legitimate NFL employment, and investigators found no identifiable income sources supporting their claimed lavish lifestyle.

Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested for a romance and investment scam where Love posed as a wealthy San Francisco 49ers player on social media while Chan posed as his financial adviser to defraud at least 26 women out of $1.3 million. The scheme, which ran from February 2022 until their arrest in Boise, Idaho, involved fake investment opportunities and fabricated bank accounts that promised massive returns; victims reported receiving no returns or investment information after sending money. Authorities believe there may be additional victims beyond those identified from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California.

Five men have been indicted for laundering $7.4 million stolen from at least 77 elderly victims through tech support scams and impersonation schemes operating between October 2024 and March 2026. The defendants registered 21 shell companies and opened 44 bank accounts in Washington to receive funds via cashier's checks and money orders, then rapidly transferred the money to accounts in China and Hong Kong. The men face charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and multiple counts of money laundering, with trials scheduled for November 9, 2026.

A Washington man received a 30-month federal prison sentence for stealing a Vietnam veteran's identity to fraudulently obtain VA benefits over decades, while a New Hampshire man was indicted for defrauding an older veteran of $225,000 through bank and mail fraud. According to the FTC, fraud reports from servicemembers, veterans, and their families totaled approximately $584 million in 2024, with scammers exploiting veterans' trust in VA institutions and their predictable benefit payments through schemes including disability benefit fraud, VA home loan scams, and job scams.

Criminals are increasingly using AI tools to perpetrate fraud at unprecedented scale and profitability, with the FBI reporting over $893 million in AI-related fraud losses in 2025, including romance scams, business email compromise schemes, and voice-cloning extortion. Seniors aged 60 and older filed only 14% of AI-fraud complaints but suffered over a third of total losses ($352 million), making them disproportionately vulnerable to these sophisticated, personalized attacks at mass scale. Criminal networks are using AI to generate convincing profiles, synthetic content, and forged documents while automating fraud campaigns that previously required individual human attention for each victim.

Washington Trust Co. is launching the "Age With Wisdom" educational series to help older adults and their families in Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut prevent financial scams and fraud, covering topics such as impersonation, AI-enabled scams, and financial exploitation warning signs. The bank, which recently became a verified AARP BankSafe institution, will also address estate planning and coordination with financial professionals, drawing on employee experience working with customers affected by fraud and financial transitions.

Washington Trust Company launched the Age With Wisdom™ education series to help older adults in Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut prevent financial fraud and exploitation through fraud prevention training, financial planning guidance, and AARP BankSafe® education. The initiative addresses the growing threat of financial scams targeting seniors in a region where approximately 31% of Rhode Island residents are age 55 and older. Washington Trust, the nation's oldest community bank, has previously intervened to protect customers from significant financial losses, as highlighted in a New York Times article about banks' growing role in preventing elder financial exploitation.

An 82-year-old Louisiana man lost $30,000—roughly 40% of his life savings—after scammers impersonated Hancock Whitney Bank's fraud department and convinced him to withdraw cash from his bank. The fraudsters kept him on the phone during the withdrawal, instructed him to place the money in his mailbox, and a suspect in a silver SUV collected it minutes later. The Washington Parish Sheriff's Department is investigating the case but noted recovery may be difficult.

This article does not contain information about scams or fraud. It is a personnel announcement regarding Megan Cotton's appointment as Director of Tribal Relations for the Washington State Attorney General's Office. As this falls outside the scope of elder fraud research, no summary is applicable.

A 76-year-old Rhode Island woman nearly fell victim to an impersonation scam in which a fraudster posing as a Department of Criminal Investigations officer convinced her to withdraw $250,000 from her Fidelity account and $70,000 in cash from Washington Trust Company, claiming he was investigating her involvement in money laundering. The scam was stopped when a bank manager at Washington Trust recognized suspicious behavior and alerted authorities, protecting the woman's assets. Banks are increasingly training employees through programs like AARP's BankSafe to identify and intervene in elder fraud cases, as Americans age 60 and older lose an estimated $28 billion annually to financial exploitation.

A financial scam prevention seminar in Sequim, Washington on July 27 educated seniors about fraud tactics used against them, with law enforcement officials warning that Clallam County residents have lost millions of dollars to scams involving impersonation of government agents, gold and Bitcoin conversion, and identity theft. The presenters emphasized that prevention is critical because victims are extremely difficult to recover losses for, citing cases where residents lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and one 83-year-old woman lost her house after being scammed. The officials recommended seniors use locking mailboxes, monitor bank statements monthly, and obtain free annual credit reports to protect themselves.

Two men, Chu Lin and Xiean Cheng, were arrested in Washington, D.C., after posing as federal agents to scam an 85-year-old victim into purchasing over $200,000 in gold bars. The scammers contacted the victim by email and phone claiming his bank funds were in jeopardy and could only be secured by buying gold, but a vigilant gold dealer recognized the scheme and alerted authorities. Both men were charged with second-degree financial fraud when they arrived at the victim's home to collect the gold bars.

An 85-year-old Washington, D.C. man was targeted in a fraud scheme designed to steal over $200,000 in gold bars after scammers posing as federal agents convinced him his bank account was at risk. The plot was thwarted when a vigilant gold dealer recognized the fraudulent pattern and alerted law enforcement, leading to the arrest of two suspects, Chu Lin and Xiean Cheng, when they arrived to collect the gold. Both suspects face second-degree financial fraud charges, with potential for enhanced penalties due to the victim's age.

Scammers targeting seniors across multiple states, including New York, have stolen over $100 million in the past two years using a gold bar scheme that begins with fake pop-up messages claiming financial compromise, followed by impersonators posing as law enforcement who direct victims to purchase gold bars or coins as "protection" for their accounts. Victims are instructed to keep the scam secret and then hand over the gold to couriers, with one notable case involving an 85-year-old man in Washington DC who was targeted for $200,000 before a gold dealer recognized the scheme and alerted authorities. New York's attorney general is warning the public not to call numbers in unsolicited messages, grant remote computer

Vancouver City Council unanimously supported a resolution to ban cryptocurrency ATMs in Clark County, citing them as a major vehicle for elder fraud schemes. Scammers typically direct older adults to convert cash into cryptocurrency at these unmanned kiosks and send funds to fraudsters, with Vancouver residents losing $15 million to cyber-related crimes in 2024 and Washington state residents losing $204 million statewide. The Elder Justice Center, which developed the resolution, seeks to eliminate cryptocurrency ATMs, mining operations, and related large-scale businesses to protect vulnerable seniors from exploitation.

California's Employment Development Department lost over $30 billion to unemployment insurance fraud—the largest such case in U.S. history—after suspending identity verification during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which allowed criminal organizations to file fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims using fake identities. Six years later, investigators continue pursuing cases while federal and state authorities have made multiple arrests and implemented fraud prevention measures, with the U.S. Department of Labor recently deploying a team to review California's unemployment insurance program. The fraud was significantly more widespread than other states, with Washington State, the next closest, losing approximately $650 million by comparison.

An 86-year-old woman with dementia from Mount Washington lost $10,000 in a grandparent scam after a caller posing as a public defender claimed her grandson had been arrested and needed bail money. The scammer instructed her to withdraw cash from her bank and picked her up by car to transport her there, exploiting her concern for her grandchild and instructing her to keep the situation secret. Cincinnati police are investigating the case, and experts recommend families establish financial safeguards and open conversations about fraud prevention with elderly relatives.

A 53-year-old man has been extradited from Illinois to Utah to face felony charges for an elaborate romance scam that defrauded an Arizona woman of over $82,500 between August 2024 and July 2025. Todd Joseph Sweet posed as a retired Army sergeant major involved in classified operations and manipulated the victim into providing cash, credit card information, and $27,000 from her retirement funds, while also taking possession of her $65,000 pickup truck that he never returned. Investigators discovered Sweet has a pattern of similar romance scams across multiple states, including a 2010 Tennessee case where he swindled another victim out of $19,000 and

The National Probate Reform Coalition will present at Washington's 2026 Whistleblower Summit to raise awareness about adult guardianship abuse, a widespread problem where vulnerable seniors and adults are exploited financially through the guardianship system. The event will feature a screening of the documentary "The Bad Guardian," panel discussions with advocates and journalists, and aims to shift public perception of guardianship issues from private family matters to serious public policy concerns. If you or a family member is subject to a guardianship, experts recommend seeking legal counsel and contacting organizations like the Center for Estate Administration Reform to ensure proper oversight and protection against financial exploitation.

A Las Vegas business owner defrauded over 400 investors of $24 million in a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, and Nevada has seen a surge in "pig butchering" scams targeting retirees and seniors, with Americans losing $9.3 billion to crypto-related crimes in 2024. The article argues that cryptocurrency operates in regulatory loopholes that traditional banks don't have, allowing fraudsters to move money overseas through platforms with minimal controls, making recovery nearly impossible once funds leave U.S. jurisdiction. The author, a Nevada county commissioner, calls for Congress to close these loopholes by extending anti-money laundering laws to cryptocurrency platforms and requiring them to follow the same compliance rules as traditional banks.

Four Washington residents lost over $673,000 in a coordinated scam spree where fraudsters impersonated Microsoft, the FTC, and Coinbase using various tactics including fake tech support calls, malicious email links, and fake apps to steal money and valuables. An 84-year-old victim lost more than $400,000 after being threatened with criminal charges and instructed to convert his money to gold for a stranger. To protect yourself, hang up on suspicious calls and directly contact any company or agency in question through official channels—remember that legitimate organizations never ask you to buy gift cards, cryptocurrency, or gold, or to avoid contacting law enforcement.

Cryptocurrency fraud is devastating American families, particularly seniors, with Americans losing $9.3 billion to crypto-related crimes in 2024—a 66% increase from the previous year. Scammers exploit regulatory loopholes that allow cryptocurrency platforms to operate without the anti-money laundering controls required of traditional banks, making it nearly impossible to recover stolen funds once they're sent overseas. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited investment offers (especially those promising guaranteed returns or FDIC backing), verify cryptocurrency platforms are properly regulated, and never send money to unfamiliar digital wallets or investment schemes.

Washington State residents lost over $673,500 to sophisticated scams in just three days, with victims tricked by fraudsters impersonating Microsoft, the FTC, and Coinbase into surrendering cash, gold, and cryptocurrency. The scams exploited fear and urgency, targeting vulnerable individuals including an 84-year-old who lost $420,000 and a 64-year-old who lost $200,000 in cryptocurrency. Authorities warn that legitimate companies and government agencies will never ask you to buy gift cards or cryptocurrency, request remote computer access via unsolicited calls, or tell you not to contact law enforcement—so verify any suspicious requests independently by calling official numbers directly.

Over three days, scammers in Washington state defrauded four Clallam County residents of more than $670,000 using sophisticated tactics including impersonating Microsoft, the FTC, and Coinbase employees. The schemes ranged from tricking victims into buying gift cards and clicking malicious links to the most extreme case: an 84-year-old who was convinced they were under FTC investigation and handed $420,000 in gold to a stranger at their door. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited contact from tech companies or government agencies, never click links in suspicious emails, avoid downloading apps from people who contact you, and remember that legitimate authorities will never demand payment or ask you to keep contact secret.

An 84-year-old Washington resident lost $420,000 in gold after falling victim to a scam that started with a fake Microsoft alert and escalated into impersonation of federal authorities who falsely claimed the victim was under investigation for money laundering. This case was part of a broader fraud wave in Clallam County where residents lost over $673,000 in just three days through similar schemes involving cryptocurrency, gift cards, and other assets. Authorities urge people to pause before making any financial transactions or purchases, and to verify requests by calling trusted contacts, their bank, or local law enforcement—especially when pressured to keep transactions secret or given remote access to devices.

Washington state attorney Alexandra Lozano allegedly defrauded tens of thousands of immigrants by fabricating abuse and trafficking claims to obtain humanitarian visas, while charging clients up to $30,000 and using forged signatures and unqualified workers to process applications in an assembly-line system. Victims now face deportation despite having paid for legal services, and her firm's closure has created a "tidal wave" of consequences throughout the immigration system. Immigrants seeking legal status should verify their attorney's credentials, request to review and sign all documents personally, and consider seeking referrals from established nonprofit legal organizations rather than private firms promising quick results.

Older adults lost $7.748 billion to scammers in 2025—a 59% increase from the previous year—according to an IRS warning, with common fraud schemes including investment fraud, government impersonation calls, identity theft, and romance scams. The IRS emphasized that nearly 97% of prosecuted elder fraud cases result in convictions and urged seniors to protect themselves by monitoring accounts, avoiding suspicious links, verifying callers' identities, and never sending money to unknown people. Those who suspect fraud can report it at IRS.gov or contact the Washington D.C. Field Office directly.