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occrp.org
Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested upon entering the U.S. and charged with 14 counts of wire fraud for operating romance scams that defrauded multiple victims of over $3 million. Operating under fake aliases on dating sites like Match and Zoosk, Nwadialo posed as a deployed military member and manipulated victims—often elderly, widowed, or divorced individuals seeking companionship—into sending money for fabricated fees and investments, with some victims losing their entire life savings. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
southernillinoisnow.com
A 28-year-old Nigerian national, Ogheneofejiro Godswill Uzokpa, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for operating a romance scam that defrauded at least a dozen elderly and disabled women across the United States of hundreds of thousands of dollars between March 2020 and February 2021. Uzokpa and his co-conspirators posed as romantic interests online to gain victims' trust, then used U.S.-based "money mules" to collect and transfer stolen funds totaling at least $329,470, which he was ordered to repay in restitution.
justice.gov
Fraud in Utah has increased significantly, costing residents $55.2 million in the first half of 2024 compared to $36.4 million in 2023, with imposter scams ranking among the top fraud schemes in the state. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah is prioritizing financial crime prosecutions, recently securing convictions and sentences including a 72-month sentence for a romance scam causing over $6 million in losses and a 50-month sentence for agricultural fraud totaling $1.2 million. Citizens are encouraged to report fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov or the FTC at
lawandcrime.com
Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam between December 2019 and December 2023, defrauding multiple women out of more than $3 million. Operating under various aliases (Giovanni, Tony Giovanni, David Giovanni, Antoni Giovanni) on dating websites, Nwadialo targeted older, often widowed or divorced women by posing as a U.S. military officer deployed overseas, then requesting money for fabricated expenses such as military fines, funeral costs, and tuition. One victim liquidated her deceased husband's retirement account, took
asaaseradio.com
Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested at a Texas airport and indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million. Using fake military personas and profiles on dating sites like Match and Zoosk, Nwadialo convinced victims he needed money for various expenses, including military fines, funeral costs, and investments, with one victim alone losing $2.4 million. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
timesofsandiego.com
The San Diego Seniors Community Foundation and FBI are hosting free Elder Fraud Prevention seminars during International Fraud Week to educate seniors about recognizing and avoiding scams. In 2023, seniors over age 60 reported losses exceeding $3.4 billion to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, with tech support fraud being the most common crime type affecting this age group ($600 million in losses) and investment scams being the costliest ($1.2 billion). The seminars will cover common fraud schemes including romance scams, tech support fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and investment fraud.
kgun9.com
Arizona experienced a 36% surge in elder fraud cases from 2022 to 2023, prompting the Green Valley Council to host Fight Fraud Day at a local recreation center, where the Pima County Sheriff's Department warned residents about evolving scams including voice cloning, number spoofing, and romantic fraud schemes that increasingly target the retirement community. The presentation demonstrated how artificial intelligence and voice cloning technology are being weaponized to impersonate family members and create fraudulent stories, with Green Valley residents reporting 2-3 scam attempts daily ranging from telephone fraud to compromised bank accounts. The PCSD provided fraud prevention resources and encourages residents to remain skeptical of unsolic
sdvoice.info
The Department of Justice's annual report documented over 300 enforcement actions against more than 700 defendants targeting older adults, recovering nearly $700 million and disrupting major transnational schemes. Notable cases included convictions of two Pittsburgh nursing homes for falsifying Medicare and Medicaid records to hide inadequate care, and investigations into New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes finding constitutional rights violations through poor infection control and medical care. The DOJ also addressed broader elder fraud affecting over 225,000 seniors through romance scams and government impersonation schemes, stopped $27 million in fraudulent transfers, and advanced prevention through nearly 1,000 elder justice events and a National Elder Fraud Hotline that handle
nemasket.theweektoday.com
Two men, Roberto Munoz and Jason Rhodes, were arrested for serving as couriers in a multi-state "grandparent scam" that targeted elderly residents, including those in Lakeville, collecting approximately $230,000 from victims across Rhode Island and Massachusetts in early March. The scam involved fraudsters posing as family members, attorneys, or law enforcement officials to convince elderly victims their grandchildren needed bail money, which the couriers then collected in person. Both men faced federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
states.aarp.org
This AARP article identifies six major holiday scams affecting U.S. consumers: card declined scams that result in double charges; fake delivery/order notifications designed to collect shipping fees or harvest personal information; charity fraud using legitimate-looking solicitations; online shopping scams through fake websites and social media ads; travel scams offering unrealistic discounts; and gift card theft through tampering or code theft. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, including verifying websites independently, researching charities through tools like Charity Navigator, using credit cards for donations, and registering gift cards when possible.
grantthornton.com
Criminals are conducting elaborate recruiting scams targeting job seekers, primarily on LinkedIn, where fake recruiters pose as legitimate hiring professionals and conduct staged interviews to steal personal information including Social Security numbers and banking details. Grant Thornton LLP warns that legitimate employers only request confidential information through official secured platforms and formal job offers, never via social media or unsolicited contact.
delawarepublic.org
The Delaware Judiciary issued a warning about rising phone scams in which callers impersonate court officials or law enforcement to fraudulently demand immediate payment for alleged arrest warrants, jury duty failures, or outstanding fines. The scammers use pressure tactics and request untraceable payment methods like cash, gift cards, Venmo, or Zelle, and may send fake "order of arrest" documents via text. Residents are advised to hang up immediately, contact local law enforcement, and verify any court matters through official channels using the provided phone numbers.
mynorthwest.com
Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested and indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million in Western Washington. Using false profiles with the name "Giovanni" on dating platforms like Match and Zoosk, Nwadialo posed as a military serviceman and manipulated victims into sending money through various pretexts, including claims about his father's death, military fines, and investment opportunities. One victim alone lost $2.4 million, while others lost between $270,000 and $310,000 each
graphic.com.gh
Two Ghanaian nationals and one U.S. resident were convicted for operating a romance scam that defrauded elderly Americans between March 2019 and March 2022 by creating fake romantic relationships and convincing victims to send money. Sadia Alhassan and Mohammed Saaminu Zuberu, along with co-conspirator Shawn William Smith, were sentenced to prison terms and ordered to pay $581,261.67 each in restitution for their roles as money handlers and coordinators funneling victim funds to scammers based in Ghana. The operation involved receiving packages of cash from victims via postal services, converting funds to money orders
regtechtimes.com
Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian man, was arrested upon arrival at a Texas airport and charged with 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million. Using fake dating profiles under the alias "Giovanni," Nwadialo posed as a U.S. military member overseas and convinced victims to send money through various pretexts, including military fines and investment opportunities, with one victim losing over $2.4 million. If convicted, Nwadialo faces up to 20 years in prison per count.
yahoo.com
Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel, 21, of South Boston was indicted on conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges for his role in a scheme that defrauded a 75-year-old Berkshire County man of approximately $500,000 between February and October. A co-conspirator posed as U.S. Treasury Department official "Sam Wilson" and convinced the victim to withdraw cash and place it in boxes for "safekeeping," with couriers (including Patel) collecting the funds using predetermined security procedures before authorities apprehended Patel in North Adams. The investigation is ongoing, and the conspiracy charge carries a potential sentence of
boston25news.com
A 21-year-old South Boston man, Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel, was indicted on wire fraud conspiracy charges for his role in a scheme that defrauded a 75-year-old Berkshire County victim of approximately $500,000 between February and October. The scam involved a co-conspirator impersonating a U.S. Treasury Department official who falsely claimed the victim was involved in money laundering and instructed him to withdraw cash and place it in marked boxes for couriers to collect; Patel was arrested after attempting to pick up one of these boxes in North Adams on October 7.
dhs.gov
Two men, Roberto Munoz (29) of Florida and Jason Rhodes (34) of New York, were charged federally in November 2024 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for operating as couriers in grandparent scams targeting elderly victims across multiple states. Operating in March 2024, Munoz and Rhodes collected approximately $230,000 from victims in over a dozen communities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by posing as family members, attorneys, or law enforcement and directing seniors to pay fake bail or legal fees; they were arrested after police set up surveillance at a victim's home where one grandparent couple had already paid $18,000.
northdallasgazette.com
The Department of Justice released its annual elder fraud report detailing over 300 enforcement actions against more than 700 defendants that resulted in nearly $700 million in recoveries, including high-profile convictions of two Pittsburgh nursing homes for falsifying Medicare compliance records and investigations into New Jersey veterans' facilities for constitutional rights violations. The DOJ's broader anti-fraud initiative addressed over 225,000 seniors affected by romance scams and government impersonation schemes, preventing $27 million in fraudulent transfers and handling over 50,000 calls through its National Elder Fraud Hotline. The department emphasized prevention through nearly 1,000 elder justice events, including a national law enforcement summit bringing together
justice.gov
A 71-year-old Huffman, Texas woman named Marcia Nickette Remedies pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing $24,887.75 from a 91-year-old hospice patient she was hired to care for, making unauthorized ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases at casinos and stores between November 2022 and April 2023. Remedies was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay full restitution. The case was investigated by the Hardin County Sheriff's Office and FBI after the victim discovered the unauthorized transactions.
yahoo.com
Two men from New York and Florida were arrested in March for their roles as couriers in grandparent scams targeting seniors across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and multiple other states. In early March, Roberto Munoz and Jason Rhodes allegedly collected approximately $230,000 from victims in over a dozen communities before police arrested them during a surveillance operation at a victim's home in Warwick, Rhode Island. The scams involved fraudsters posing as family members, attorneys, or law enforcement to convince elderly victims to send cash via couriers, with evidence suggesting the scheme targeted victims across at least nine additional states.
boston25news.com
Two men from New York and Florida were arrested in March for serving as couriers in grandparent scams targeting seniors across multiple states, collecting approximately $230,000 from victims in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Iowa, and beyond. Roberto Munoz and Jason Rhodes allegedly received victim names and addresses from scam organizers and traveled to collect bail payments that victims believed were needed for arrested grandchildren, with one victim pair paying $18,000 before recognizing the scheme. Both men were released on unsecured bond with GPS monitoring while the investigation continues, with authorities believing numerous additional families across Rhode Island and Massachusetts were victimized.
cbs12.com
Three defendants—Tallahassee couple Sadia Alhassan and Shawn Smith, and Ghanaian man Mohammed Zuberu—were sentenced to prison for operating a military romance scam that defrauded elderly U.S. victims of approximately $500,000. The scammers contacted elderly victims online to pose as romantic interests, then instructed them to send money via USPS or commercial carriers to addresses and accounts controlled by Alhassan and Smith, who served as money launderers while Zuberu acted as an intermediary. Alhassan received 18 months in prison, Smith received one day plus community service, and Zuberu received 5
thesandpaper.net
New Jersey's Senate unanimously passed legislation S-1887 in late [month], which establishes a new criminal offense of "financial exploitation of the elderly." The bipartisan bill, introduced by Senators Carmen Amato and Troy Singleton, creates legal provisions to prosecute individuals who unlawfully obtain property from elderly persons through exploitation.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Police in Telangana's various districts conducted awareness programs alerting senior citizens to rising cybercrime threats, with particular focus on "digital arrest" scams where fraudsters pose as police officers and use video calls to intimidate victims into surrendering money by claiming they or their relatives are in legal trouble. Senior citizens were advised against clicking suspicious links, sharing OTPs, accepting video calls from strangers, and engaging with offers of quick money through jobs, stock trading tips, or fake health/insurance schemes. Authorities emphasized that legitimate police will never conduct "digital arrests" or make unsolicited video calls to residents.
wpxi.com
Allegheny County police are warning older adults about an increasing "check washing" scam, in which criminals use chemicals to remove ink from checks and alter them for fraudulent purposes. To prevent victimization, authorities recommend using black gel ink pens, mailing checks from nearby collection boxes close to pickup times, and switching to online or electronic bill payment methods.
indiatvnews.com
A 63-year-old man in Hyderabad lost ₹50 lakh after joining a fraudulent "Stock Discussion Group" on WhatsApp where a scammer posed as financial advisor "Kunal Singh," promised unrealistic returns, and funneled him to a fake platform called "Skyrim Capital." Simultaneously, scammers in Bengaluru used deepfake videos of prominent business figures Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani to defraud elderly investors, with victims like Ashok Kumar losing ₹19 lakh. Authorities warn senior citizens to avoid unverified financial groups on social media, verify investment advisors
seattlemedium.com
The Department of Justice released its annual report detailing over 300 enforcement actions against more than 700 defendants targeting older adults, resulting in nearly $700 million in recoveries. Notable cases included convictions of two Pittsburgh nursing homes for falsifying Medicare/Medicaid records to hide inadequate care, and findings that New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes violated residents' constitutional rights through poor infection control and medical care. The DOJ also addressed broader elder fraud schemes affecting over 225,000 seniors through romance scams and government impersonation, halting $27 million in fraudulent transfers and handling over 50,000 calls through its National Elder Fraud Hotline, while promoting prevention through nearly
justice.gov
A 21-year-old South Boston man was indicted for his role in an elder fraud conspiracy that defrauded a 75-year-old Berkshire County victim of approximately $500,000 between February and October 2024. The scheme involved a co-conspirator impersonating a U.S. Treasury Department official who convinced the victim to withdraw cash and hand it to couriers using prearranged passpins; the defendant was arrested while attempting to collect one of the cash boxes. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
justice.gov
Andy R. Miqui-Castillo, a 35-year-old from Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud after serving as a courier for a scheme targeting elderly victims. Between October and November 2023, he collected over $550,000 in cash and gold bars from four victims by delivering items to co-conspirators who had falsely claimed to be from financial institutions or government agencies; Miqui-Castillo was arrested while attempting to pick up $196,000 in gold bars from a St. Louis victim and faces up to 20 years in prison at his February 2025 sentencing.
pressdemocrat.com
A 93-year-old Napa man lost $20,000 to a romance/overpayment scam that began with a fraudulent PayPal email; he was instructed to withdraw cash and give it to a courier. Police conducted a sting operation and arrested Zhi Deng, 28, a courier from New York who was part of a larger fraud ring targeting elderly victims across the Bay Area. The victim's money was not recovered, and Deng was charged with obtaining money by false pretenses, elder abuse, and grand theft.
foxnews.com
Jason Rhodes and Robert Munoz were charged with federal wire fraud and identity theft conspiracy for operating grandparent scams in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, collecting approximately $230,000 from elderly victims. The scammers posed as attorneys or family members calling seniors to claim a relative needed bail money, with Rhodes and Munoz acting as couriers to collect cash; they were arrested in March after police set up an operation at a victim's residence and seized $60,000 in cash and evidence from a hotel room. Victims are urged to contact local police or the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311) if they believe they've been targeted.
justice.gov
**Summary:**
Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested upon arrival in the U.S. and indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million. Operating under the alias "Giovanni" on dating websites, Nwadialo posed as a deployed military member and convinced victims to send money for various fabricated emergencies, including military fines, funeral expenses, and investment schemes, with one victim losing at least $2.4 million. Wire fraud carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
justice.gov
Three individuals were sentenced for their roles in a Ghana-based romance scam targeting elderly Americans between March 2019 and March 2022. Sadia Alhassan (18 months prison), Shawn William Smith (1 day prison), and Mohammed Saaminu Zuberu (5½ months prison) served as money launderers and intermediaries, receiving funds that victims sent via mail and commercial carriers after being deceived into believing they had romantic relationships with scammers in Ghana. The defendants were ordered to pay $581,261.67 in restitution to their victims.
lifehacker.com
Last year saw 2.6 million fraud reports with $10 billion in losses, as scammers employ psychological manipulation tactics to deceive victims. The article identifies three primary techniques scammers use: impersonating authority figures to exploit deference, creating time pressure and artificial scarcity to trigger emotional responses, and using incremental requests (foot-in-the-door) to gradually escalate victim cooperation. Awareness of these tactics—such as recognizing that legitimate authorities welcome verification and that legitimate businesses never demand snap decisions—can help people protect themselves from Romance Scams, Impostor Scams, Delivery Scams, and similar frauds.
infosecurity-magazine.com
Since the announcement of Oasis reunion shows in late August, hundreds of UK fans have been scammed through fake ticket listings, primarily on social media, losing an average of £346 each with some victims losing up to £1,000. Those aged 35-44 were most frequently targeted, and approximately 90% of the scams originated from fake Facebook ads or posts directing victims to pay upfront for non-existent tickets. New regulations taking effect in October will require banks to reimburse APP fraud victims up to £85,000, while Meta has agreed to share threat intelligence with UK banks to help remove fraudulent accounts.
wired.com
**Scammer Payback Answers Scam Questions** (11/05/2024)
YouTube scambaiter Pierogi from Scammer Payback identifies key red flags of scams, including pressure to make quick decisions, requests for remote computer access, and demands for payment via gift cards, Cash App, wire transfers, or Bitcoin. The video addresses common scam types including tech support pop-ups, romance scams (citing a case where a 90+ year old woman was defrauded of tens of thousands of dollars by someone posing as a celebrity), and explains why scammers prefer gift cards for money laundering and anonymity, while demonstrating
echolive.ie
A retired Irish police officer and his wife fell victim to a sophisticated phishing scam while in Cyprus when they received a convincing text message impersonating their bank; though a scammer obtained personal information during the subsequent phone call, the bank's fraud detection team blocked an attempted €2,500 transaction and prevented financial loss. The incident caused significant inconvenience including card cancellations, replacement delays, and disrupted standing orders, and the author emphasizes that such scams are increasingly convincing and can target even tech-savvy, educated individuals, urging people to follow professional fraud awareness advice from organizations like FraudSMART rather than assuming they cannot be deceived.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A resident of Alambagh, Lucknow fell victim to a digital arrest scam in October 2024, losing Rs 1.24 lakh after receiving a fraudulent WhatsApp call claiming to be from TRAI that falsely linked her Aadhaar to unauthorized numbers involved in money laundering. The victim was subsequently contacted by someone impersonating a Mumbai Police official who instructed her to transfer funds to specified accounts for verification purposes, resulting in losses of Rs 64,000 and Rs 60,000 from her HDFC and Kotak accounts respectively. This was the 40th such digital arrest case reported in Lucknow since January 2024.
finrafoundation.org
The FINRA Foundation partners with organizations including the Cybercrime Support Network, Better Business Bureaus, and AARP to educate consumers about financial fraud and support scam survivors through counselor-led peer programs, interactive workshops, and helpline services. The Foundation provides free resources including publications, educational tools, games, and a documentary to help consumers recognize fraud red flags, verify investment professionals, and protect themselves from various scams including romance imposter scams and disaster-related fraud.
marketech-apac.com
A TransUnion report on Hong Kong fraud reveals that 51% of Gen Z and 41% of Millennials report being targeted by fraud schemes over three months, with Millennials experiencing the highest victimization rate at 7%. Vishing (fraudulent phone calls) and phishing were the most common attack methods, while digital fraud attempts in Hong Kong reached 5.7% of transactions in H1 2024—10% higher than the global average—with the community sector (dating and forum sites) recording the highest fraud rates at 15%.
justice.gov
Two men were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for operating as couriers in grandparent scams targeting elderly victims across multiple states in early 2024. Roberto Munoz and Jason Rhodes collected approximately $230,000 from victims in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by posing as lawyers or law enforcement officials claiming grandchildren needed bail money, with evidence suggesting victims in at least nine additional states were also targeted. The defendants were apprehended after police set up surveillance at a victim's home where one defendant allegedly came to collect money, and investigators seized over $60,000 in cash from their vehicle and hotel room.
abc6.com
Taunton Police Department is warning residents about phone scams in which callers impersonate police officers and claim victims have outstanding warrants or fines requiring immediate electronic payment, sometimes falsely claiming a relative was arrested overseas. The scammers spoof legitimate Taunton Police Department phone numbers to appear authentic. Police emphasize that law enforcement never requests payment over the phone and urge residents to hang up and contact the department directly if they receive such calls, as electronically sent money is rarely recoverable.
decrypt.co
A Keystone, Colorado resident lost over $6,000 in Bitcoin to scammers impersonating law enforcement who threatened arrest for missed jury duty, with an additional $4,000 transfer prevented by deputies. Similar incidents have occurred across Colorado, including a Denver woman who lost nearly $5,000 in Bitcoin through the same scheme; the state documented over 1,300 crypto fraud cases totaling $81 million in losses during 2023. Law enforcement warns that scammers use number spoofing to appear legitimate and target crypto because transactions are irreversible and difficult to trace.
communityjournal.net
The Department of Justice released its annual report detailing over 300 enforcement actions against more than 700 defendants targeting older adults, recovering nearly $700 million and disrupting major transnational schemes. High-profile cases included convictions of two Pittsburgh nursing homes for falsifying records to hide inadequate care, and investigations into New Jersey veterans' facilities for constitutional rights violations and unsafe conditions. The DOJ also addressed fraud affecting over 225,000 seniors through cases ranging from romance scams to government impersonation schemes, stopped $27 million in fraudulent transfers, and expanded prevention efforts through nearly 1,000 elder justice events and a National Elder Fraud Hotline that received over
pressdemocrat.com
A 93-year-old Napa man lost $20,000 to a phishing scam that began with a fraudulent PayPal email; he was instructed to withdraw cash and hand it to a courier. Police arrested courier Zhi Deng, 28, a New York resident who traveled to California to collect money from elderly victims on behalf of scam operations across the Bay Area. The victim's funds were not recovered, and Deng was booked on charges of obtaining money by false pretenses, elder abuse, and grand theft.
yahoo.com
The Elmira Heights Police Department is hosting a free scam prevention educational class on November 11 at Village Hall, presented by the Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan of Greater Rochester. The presentation will teach seniors how to recognize and avoid common scams targeting older adults, including impersonation, romance, tech support, virtual kidnapping, military, charity, and check scams.
planetradio.co.uk
A survey of over 5,000 Essex residents found that fraud victims lost an average of £839 and spent 70 hours resolving their cases, with 88% believing fraud is a significant problem. Virgin Media O2 and campaign partners are calling on the government to establish an independent national anti-fraud body and appoint a dedicated fraud minister, citing that police lack adequate resources (with only 84 fraud convictions per force annually) and that fraud accounts for 40% of all crime in the UK. The campaign emphasizes that without stronger action and prosecution, professional fraudsters will continue targeting the public with minimal consequences.
abc6.com
Roberto Munoz and Jason Rhodes were indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for operating as "couriers" in grandparent scams targeting seniors across multiple states including Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The scammers impersonated grandchildren in legal trouble, convincing victims to wire money for bail and legal fees, with one Rhode Island couple losing $18,000 before being asked for an additional $40,000; police arrested both men during a sting operation and recovered over $60,000 in cash, with evidence suggesting they targeted victims in at least 14 cities across nine states.
portageonline.com
On October 30, the RCMP received multiple reports of grandparent scams across Manitoba, with seniors in Portage la Prairie, MacGregor, Minnedosa, Kleefeld, and East St. Paul targeted by callers posing as lawyers claiming their grandchildren were in jail and needed bail money. Victims ranging from one to several individuals handed over cash to suspects who either picked it up at their homes, met them on the street, or drove them to banks to withdraw funds. The RCMP suspects scammers are obtaining personal information from social media and urges seniors to verify emergency calls by hanging up and calling family members directly, never to hand money to stran