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California's Court of Appeal ruled that physicians providing medical care at skilled nursing facilities do not qualify as "caretakers" under the state's Elder Abuse Act, and therefore cannot be held liable under the enhanced civil liability scheme for allegations of substandard medical care absent evidence they assumed managerial or custodial responsibilities. The decision stemmed from a case involving Dr. Siamak Etehad, who treated 75-year-old James Frankland at a nursing home before Frankland's death in 2022; the court determined that the physician's negligent medical services fall under a statutory exemption for medical malpractice rather than elder neglect.

In response to rising scams targeting older adults in California, Assemblymember Greg Wallis and the Desert Recreation District are hosting a free Senior Scam Awareness Seminar at the Palm Desert Community Center on August 13, 2025. Older adults reported approximately $700 million in combined losses nationally in 2024, prompting the event to feature law enforcement and consumer protection experts discussing scam identification, reporting procedures, and protective measures against identity theft, Medicare fraud, and financial exploitation.

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,

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.

This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It concerns a federal court ruling blocking the Department of Health and Human Services from sharing Medicaid beneficiaries' healthcare data with the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement purposes, as challenged by Michigan's Attorney General and other states. This is a data privacy and government policy matter unrelated to the Elderus database's focus on elder fraud and scam research.

Coachella Valley residents are experiencing rising scam cases through phone calls, texts, and emails, prompting officials to launch awareness initiatives including a Senior Scam Awareness Seminar hosted by Assemblymember Greg Wallis and the Desert Recreation District. Fraud officials are advising older adults not to engage with scammers and directing victims to report incidents to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission, or the FBI depending on the type of fraud.

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.

Nebraska residents lost a reported $42.5 million to scams in 2024—tripling over four years—with experts attributing the increase to more accessible and affordable artificial intelligence technology that enables scammers to operate at scale and create increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, including voice cloning and realistic chatbot-generated scams. Peter Hines, a 76-year-old Fremont insurance business owner, lost $936 to a Facebook ad lead scam and was unable to recover the money due to the company's out-of-state location and legal protections in his agreement, highlighting the difficulty of prosecution when scammers operate overseas or across state lines. Authorities recommend limiting online presence,

An elderly Barry, Illinois resident lost $40,000 in a sophisticated impersonation scam after receiving a fake Apple Pay alert claiming his Social Security number was compromised and a federal officer would collect payment at his home. A 27-year-old California man, Akhmet Kuzgov, arrived at the victim's residence and collected the cash before demanding an additional $40,000, leading to his arrest on charges of Theft Over $10,000 and a federal Homeland Security warrant. Authorities believe this represents a newer, more dangerous trend involving international crime rings conducting in-person fraud targeting small communities, with a similar prevented incident occurring nearby when a bank alerted a family member

This article does not contain content relevant to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The featured stories involve criminal charges against a Seattle woman in a Border Patrol agent's death, a California lobbyist's fraud conspiracy plea, and a resolved 1984 murder case—none of which pertain to elder-targeted fraud or exploitation.

Two Romanian nationals were arrested in Vacaville, California on August 8 for operating a "cash drop scam" targeting elderly victims, with investigations linking them to over 40 fraudulent cases across six states. The scam involved criminals observing victims withdraw cash at ATMs, obtaining their PIN and card information through distraction techniques (such as dropping bills on the ground), then stealing or switching their cards. The suspects faced multiple felony charges including fraud, identity theft, conspiracy, and elder abuse, and are being held in Solano County Jail pending further investigation with FBI assistance.

A 47-year-old California woman ignored text messages from her toll road account administrator claiming her FasTrak balance was low, believing them to be phishing scams based on widespread warnings from the FTC and FBI. After repeatedly deleting the legitimate messages, her account was deactivated, and she only discovered the problem when receiving an email notice of violation, forcing her to manually restore service and risking potential legal consequences for unpaid tolls.

**Summary:** This article is an educational guide for finance professionals in Escondido on implementing AI tools in 2025, not an elder fraud case. The piece highlights that AI can automate up to 95% of routine accounting tasks and save 6+ hours monthly per client on bookkeeping, while noting that elder fraud is a local priority with seniors representing Escondido's fastest-growing population yet receiving less than 3% of philanthropic dollars. The article recommends finance teams pilot AI implementation in month-end close or accounts payable processes and offers a 15-week AI training course ($3,582) to build staff capabilities in ethical AI use.

Three men were sentenced to federal prison for stealing $520,910 in pandemic unemployment benefits between August and October 2020 through a scheme involving stolen debit cards and fraudulent unemployment claims. Kamaldeen Karaole, Stephen Olamigoke, and Johnson Omodusonu obtained 168 UI debit cards issued by California, Arizona, and Nevada using stolen personally identifiable information, then made 529 ATM withdrawals in Indianapolis to steal funds intended for workers unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each defendant received sentences ranging from 2 to 4.25 years in prison and was ordered to pay full restitution of $520,910.

Texas seniors lost over $480 million to scams in 2024, ranking second nationally according to FBI data, with common schemes including charity fraud, romance scams, and jury duty threats targeting vulnerable older adults. Local organizations like San Angelo's Better Business Bureau and retirement communities are addressing the surge through education programs that teach seniors to recognize red flags, avoid panic-driven decisions, and report crimes without shame. Experts note that official complaint numbers likely underrepresent the true scope, as many victims fail to report due to embarrassment.

A 21-year-old college student lost all $4,400 of his savings after receiving a spoofed phone call claiming to be from Wells Fargo about unauthorized charges; the scammer instructed him to transfer his funds to an Apple Wallet, which actually drained his account. Wells Fargo stated it would not reimburse the victim, emphasizing that customers who follow instructions from spoofed calls do so at their own risk, and provided guidance on avoiding such scams including not trusting caller ID, refusing to share personal information or passcodes, and verifying requests through legitimate company channels.

California seniors lose an average of $46,000 daily to scammers, ranking the state third-worst nationally for elder fraud losses. In 2024, investment scams caused $1.8 billion in losses to older adults, while phishing and spoofing attacks surged 700% year-over-year, with 72% of cybercrimes enabled by exposed personal data. In response to rising elder abuse cases in LA County, the La Pintoresca Branch Library in Pasadena is hosting a free bilingual "Financial Exploitation Prevention Workshop" to educate seniors on recognizing and preventing fraud.

A 35-year-old Chinese national, Jiaci Liu, was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a tech support scam that defrauded six elderly victims in California and Arizona of over $200,000 in a single week. Liu collected cash from victims who were deceived by fake pop-up virus warnings and fraudulent bank representatives claiming unauthorized transfers were occurring; he was arrested at a Poway victim's home in June 2023 after the 63-year-old victim became suspicious when told a U.S. Marshals representative would pick up his $28,000 withdrawal. Liu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and at least one

Jiaci Liu, a Chinese national, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a multinational fraud conspiracy targeting seniors in Southern California and Arizona. The scam involved posing as tech support specialists, bank representatives, and government officials to convince victims to withdraw cash under false pretenses; Liu personally collected over $202,000 from elderly victims in a single week in June 2023, with a 63-year-old Poway resident thwarting the scheme by reporting his suspicions to authorities before Liu could retrieve the victim's $28,000 withdrawal.

A Chase Bank and AARP awareness event in Sacramento educated approximately 50 seniors about fraud prevention after California consumers lost over $1.7 billion to fraud in 2024, with people aged 60+ suffering hundreds of millions in losses. Experts highlighted common scams targeting older adults through fear (utility shutoffs), excitement (lottery wins), and romance schemes, emphasizing that identity theft is the #1 form of fraud occurring every two seconds in the U.S. The presentation recommended securing personal documents in safes, updating passwords regularly, avoiding unsolicited calls and links, and reporting suspicious activity to prevent emotional and financial devastation.

Jiaci Liu, a Chinese national, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for operating a tech support scam targeting seniors across Southern California and Arizona. Liu and his co-conspirators used pop-up windows to trick elderly victims into believing they had computer viruses, then impersonated bank representatives and government officials to convince victims to withdraw cash, stealing over $202,000 in just one week in June 2023 from victims in their 70s and 80s. One Poway, California victim lost $28,000 before becoming suspicious and alerting authorities, leading to Liu's arrest when he arrived at the victim's home to collect the money.

This article covers multiple bank fraud cases prosecuted in 2025. Former Cathay Bank manager Weixin "Tony" Chen was indicted on charges of siphoning funds from customers' home equity lines and deposit accounts across Southern California branches, facing up to 30 years per count. The article also highlights the case of Jiaci Liu, a Chinese national sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for a sophisticated elder fraud scheme where he impersonated technical support and law enforcement to extract over $202,000 from elderly victims in Southern California and Arizona, including one victim who withdrew $28,000 after believing his computer was compromised.

A 66-year-old California woman lost her home and life savings after falling victim to an AI deepfake romance scam in October 2024. The scammer used artificial intelligence to create realistic video impersonations of soap opera actor Steve Burton and convinced Abigail Ruvalcaba they were in a romantic relationship, ultimately extracting over $81,000 in cash and checks, then pressuring her to sell her condo for $350,000 and surrender $70,000 of those proceeds. After the house-flipping company that purchased her home below market value refused to reverse the sale despite pleas from her family and attorneys, Abigail now faces eviction an

Jonathan Tudor, a 64-year-old West Hollywood man, was arrested in July and is facing 78 criminal charges including elder theft, securities fraud, grand theft, money laundering, and forgery after defrauding 38 victims out of approximately $500,000. Tudor posed as a BMW luxury car executive and investment advisor, promising high-end vehicles and doubled investment returns that never materialized; detectives recovered over $250,000 in luxury goods from his home and found no evidence the vehicles existed. The scam victimized people across California, New York, and Washington dating back to 2023, with Tudor allegedly using funds from new victims to pay smaller returns to earlier victims in

Twenty-eight alleged members of a Chinese organized crime ring operating since at least 2019 were charged in federal indictments for a $65 million fraud scheme targeting thousands of seniors across the United States, including a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor's widow who lost her entire life savings. The network, composed primarily of Chinese nationals working with India-based call centers, used impersonation and psychological manipulation to trick victims into wiring money, with scammers posing as technical support agents or government officials and often convincing victims they had received mistaken refunds. After a nationwide takedown operation, 25 defendants were arrested, $4.2 million was seized from financial accounts

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an alert about ongoing text-based scam activity targeting state taxpayers, in which scammers impersonate the California Franchise Tax Board to trick victims into providing personal and financial information under the guise of tax refunds. These government imposter scams are part of a larger fraud problem, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods. Consumers are advised to avoid clicking links in suspicious texts, verify messages directly with official agencies, and report suspected tax fraud to the IRS or California Franchise Tax Board.

A 66-year-old Southern California woman lost over $81,000 and nearly sold her home after being deceived by a romance scam using AI-generated deepfake videos and messages impersonating actor Steve Burton. The scammer manipulated her over more than a year before her daughter, acting as power of attorney, intervened to prevent the sale of the victim's $350,000 condo and subsequent $70,000 transfer. The family filed a lawsuit to reverse the home sale and is raising awareness about AI-enabled romance scams targeting elderly victims.

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

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

Federal prosecutors in Southern California charged 28 members of a Chinese organized crime ring with defrauding seniors out of $65 million since at least 2019, with the scheme involving overseas call centers in India and U.S.-based conspirators who posed as government officials and bank representatives to pressure victims into sending money via wire transfer, cash, or gift cards. The operation targeted thousands of Americans, including a 97-year-old San Diego widow who lost her entire life savings, and laundered proceeds through luxury vehicles and high-end rentals until federal agents seized $4.2 million and multiple vehicles including a Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. The breakthrough came partly from YouTube scam

Two Chinese nationals, Yushan Lin and Shuyi Xing, pleaded guilty to defrauding Apple Inc. of at least $16.2 million through a scheme involving the fraudulent return of counterfeit iPhones, iPads, and other devices smuggled from China using serial numbers of genuine Apple products. Xing also pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy related to over $1 million laundered from elder fraud schemes, making him part of a six-defendant operation that operated across Southern California from December 2015 to March 2024.

Medical equipment scams are spreading across California, where fraudsters obtain Medicare numbers from seniors through offers of free equipment or services, then bill Medicare for items the beneficiaries never requested or needed. This fraud not only drains Medicare resources but can prevent seniors from receiving legitimately prescribed equipment in the future when claims are denied due to duplicate billings. Seniors should verify with their doctor if they ordered any unsolicited equipment, report fraudulent claims to Medicare, and contact the Senior Medicare Patrol or 1-800-Medicare for assistance.

Two Chinese nationals from Corona, California pleaded guilty to a $16.2 million Apple device fraud scheme in which counterfeit iPhones and iPads were exchanged for genuine devices at Apple stores across Southern California using cloned serial numbers, then resold for profit primarily in China. Yushan Lin and Shuyi Xing, along with four other co-conspirators, exploited Apple's warranty program by visiting multiple retail locations and deceiving the company into replacing counterfeit devices with authentic ones. Additionally, Xing pleaded guilty to laundering over $1 million from elder fraud schemes in a separate money laundering operation.

Scammers increasingly target seniors through digital platforms, with California consumers reporting over $1.7 billion in fraud losses in 2024, particularly involving identity theft and smartphone scams. Seniors are vulnerable because they are more likely to respond to unsolicited calls and urgent emails, and common tactics include impersonating government agencies or family members to pressure victims into quick payments via gift cards. Experts recommend that seniors never give personal information over the phone, keep antivirus software updated, verify website legitimacy before transactions, and immediately notify law enforcement and financial institutions if targeted, while family and friends can support prevention through regular check-ins and open conversations about fraud.

Florida residents lost $243.1 million to romance scams and confidence fraud between 2021-2024, ranking ninth nationally in per-capita losses at $11 per person, with 2021 being the worst year at $70.5 million in reported losses. Romance scams involve criminals using fake online profiles and emotional manipulation to build trust with victims before fabricating crises and requesting money, often isolating victims from their support networks. North Dakota experienced the highest per-capita losses at $21 per person despite its smaller population, while California had the largest total losses at $555.1 million.

Two California men pleaded guilty to a $16.2 million fraud scheme in which they smuggled counterfeit Apple devices from China and returned them to Apple stores across Southern California, fraudulently claiming warranty coverage and receiving genuine replacements that were resold for profit. Shuyi Xing, 35, also admitted to conspiring to launder over $1 million from elder fraud schemes and faces up to 40 years in prison, while co-defendant Yushan Lin, 31, faces up to 20 years; the defendants returned or attempted to return at least 1,584 counterfeit devices using stolen serial numbers from genuine products.

Shengsheng He, a California man and co-owner of the Bahamas-based Axis Digital Limited, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for his role in an international digital asset investment scam that defrauded U.S. victims of more than $36.9 million. The conspiracy involved overseas scammers contacting victims through unsolicited social media and dating apps to solicit fraudulent digital asset investments, with stolen funds laundered through shell companies, international banks, and digital asset wallets connected to scam centers in Cambodia. He was ordered to pay $26,867,242.44 in restitution, and eight co-conspirators have ple

Maria Erolina Delgado, owner of J & M Happy Guest Home in San Diego County, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of felony elder abuse for severely neglecting elderly residents by leaving the facility severely understaffed, resulting in residents being left in soiled diapers for extended periods and suffering from bed sores, dehydration, and malnourishment. The California Attorney General's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse filed the charges in San Diego Superior Court.

A Special Investigation Team in Kochi is investigating a massive digital fraud scheme involving the bogus online trading platform Capitalix, which has defrauded multiple Kerala residents of an estimated Rs 28 crore total. A 49-year-old pharmaceutical company owner lost Rs 24.76 crore after depositing money in installments since March 2023 based on promises of high returns, while a 59-year-old woman lost Rs 2.88 crore through a related "virtual arrest" scam where perpetrators impersonated police officials. The platform, registered in California but believed to operate from Cyprus, used Malayalam-speaking operators contacting victims via phone and Telegram

On September 9, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced felony charges against Maria Erolina Delgado, owner of J & M Happy Guest Home in San Diego County, for severe neglect of elderly residents. Delgado allegedly maintained dangerously low staffing levels, leaving residents in soiled diapers for extended periods, resulting in bed sores, dehydration, and malnourishment among multiple residents. The case was investigated by the California Department of Justice's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse.

Romance scams are a growing global fraud where perpetrators create fake online identities to build emotional trust with victims before requesting money for fabricated emergencies. Americans lost nearly $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023, with notable cases including a California woman losing over $2 million and a Bengaluru tech professional losing ₹35 lakh, while scammers typically disappear after extracting funds. Protection strategies include reverse-image searching profiles, avoiding money requests regardless of circumstances, using reputable dating platforms with verification, and reporting fraud to authorities like the FBI's IC3 or India's National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

A Kochi resident was defrauded of ₹25 crore between March 2023 and 2025 through a fake online trading platform operated by an international cyber fraud syndicate with suspected Malayali masterminds. The scammers, who posed as legitimate traders and used a call center in Cyprus to contact victims, transferred stolen funds across multiple bank accounts to obscure the money trail, with one Malayali woman already arrested for receiving a share of the proceeds. Investigators believe the fraud operation was planned in California and involved purchasing bank accounts to facilitate transfers while evading detection.

Research from a University of Southern California brain health expert found that poor financial decision-making in seniors may be an early indicator of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, even before other cognitive symptoms appear. Warning signs include missed bill payments, unusual purchases, and giving away large sums of money to unfamiliar charities or strangers, with social isolation identified as a significant risk factor. The researcher recommends documenting suspected elder fraud and contacting authorities, while encouraging seniors to engage in brain-stimulating exercises to maintain cognitive sharpness.

An 82-year-old California woman lost $35,000 to a scam after receiving a text message about a suspicious charge; when she called the number provided, a fraudster impersonated a U.S. Treasury official and threatened her with arrest for money laundering, convincing her to send cash hidden in packages. She made two payments totaling $35,000 before family members alerted her to the scam after a third payment was requested. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case, with authorities noting that such scams commonly use fear tactics and impersonation.

This is an educational awareness piece in which California Assemblymember Catherine Stefani announces two free "Senior Scam Stopper" workshops designed to help seniors and their families recognize and prevent fraud. The events, held in partnership with the California Department of Consumer Affairs and featuring experts from state agencies and law enforcement, will cover common scams including fraudulent contractors, identity theft, Medicare fraud, lottery schemes, and mail fraud.

Event planner Juan Martin Gaspar of "VIP Eventss" in San Jose, California faces felony grand theft charges after scamming at least seven families out of tens of thousands of dollars between 2023 and 2024 for quinceañera planning services. Families paid upfront fees ranging up to $4,500 for vendors and venue reservations, but Gaspar failed to make the bookings or pay vendors, leaving families with ruined events and unreturned money. The District Attorney's office suspects additional victims beyond the seven reported cases and has ordered Gaspar to cease operations while his criminal case proceeds.

This is an event announcement rather than an article about a specific scam or fraud case. It describes an upcoming consumer protection workshop scheduled for October 29th featuring State Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab, Newark Police, the Contractors State License Board, and the California Privacy Protection Agency, designed to educate attendees on scam prevention, safety resources, and support services available from state agencies.