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Two New York men, Amarjot Singh (30) and Jaykumar Raval (20), were arrested in July and charged in September for facilitating a scheme that defrauded a 71-year-old Brookline woman of $45,000 in June. The scam began with a fake Apple Pay alert text, followed by impersonation calls from fake Apple Security and Federal Trade Commission representatives who convinced the victim her accounts had been compromised and instructed her to withdraw cash for pickup by supposed undercover federal agents. Raval is also suspected in connection with nearly $200,000 stolen from elderly women across New York and New Hampshire through similar schemes.

New York Attorney General Letitia James warned of the "Phantom Hacker" scam, a three-phase coordinated fraud targeting seniors that has stolen over $1 billion since 2024 by impersonating banks and government agencies to gain remote computer access and convince victims to transfer retirement savings via wire, cash, or cryptocurrency. The scam begins with a fake security alert prompting victims to download malware, followed by impersonators claiming to be from the victim's bank and a government agency, creating a false sense of legitimacy to steal funds. The AG advises New Yorkers to avoid clicking unsolicited links, calling provided numbers, granting remote computer access, or transferring

Gabrielle Borthwick, a 23-year-old from New York, pleaded guilty to attempting to deposit $2.7 million in fraudulent checks across Missouri and Illinois banks by using counterfeit cashier's checks, stolen personal information, and fake identification documents bearing her photograph but victims' names. She successfully fraudulently obtained $271,667.98 before banks discovered the scheme, and faces sentencing on December 17 with potential penalties up to 30 years in prison plus restitution. The fraud targeted multiple unidentified victims whose identities were stolen for the account openings.

The New York StateWide Senior Action Council designated AI-enabled scams as the "Medicare Fraud of the Month for September," warning seniors about fraudsters using artificial intelligence to commit prescription fraud, spoof Medicare representatives, create fake medical documents, and operate fraudulent telehealth websites. The council advised seniors to review Medicare statements for unauthorized charges, hang up on unsolicited calls requesting personal information, avoid clicking suspicious links, and verify medical providers directly with their offices. Medicare fraud costs taxpayers an estimated $60 billion annually nationwide, and seniors can report suspected fraud by calling the NYS Medicare Fraud Helpline at 800-333-4374.

Eight individuals, including a Rochester woman, were charged federally after defrauding over 139 Western New York seniors of approximately $11 million through romance scams, account hacking, identity theft, and customer support scams. Estermarie Jones allegedly used victims' personal information to create fraudulent driver's licenses and open bank accounts, while the suspects faced charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. The investigation was aided by a newly formed Rochester-based task force called Save Our Seniors.

Eight individuals, including a Rochester woman, were charged federally after defrauding over 139 Western New York seniors of approximately $11 million through romance scams, account hacking, identity theft, and customer support scams. The defendants used various tactics such as creating fake driver's licenses, opening fraudulent bank accounts, and impersonating government employees to steal victims' personal information and money. The charges include mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy, with the investigation led by a newly formed Rochester-based working group called Save Our Seniors.

Eight individuals across the U.S. were arrested and charged with defrauding 139 seniors of over $11 million through multiple schemes including romance scams, counterfeit checks, account hacking, and identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. The coordinated operation resulted in charges related to both completed and attempted fraud against elderly victims.

Eight individuals from Georgia, Ohio, Florida, New Jersey, and Western New York were arrested for participating in elder fraud schemes that defrauded over 139 victims nationwide of more than $11 million in actual and attempted fraud. The suspects employed various tactics including romance fraud, customer support scams, impersonation of federal employees, retirement account hacking, counterfeit checks, and identity theft. The arrests were made by the "Save Our Seniors" task force, a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, with one of the arrested individuals, Estermarie Jones, being from Rochester.

Eight people from across the U.S. were arrested and charged with defrauding 139 seniors of over $11 million through romance scams, counterfeit checks, gold bar schemes, account hacking, and identity theft. The defendants, operating in New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and New York, face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft, with sentences carrying up to 15-30 years in prison. The arrests were facilitated by Save Our Seniors, a working group of federal, state, and local authorities formed to collaborate on elder fraud investigations.

An operation called "Save our Seniors" resulted in the arrest of eight defendants across seven criminal complaints for defrauding over 139 senior citizens out of more than $11 million through various schemes including customer support scams, romance fraud, check fraud, and account hacking. Key defendants include Dhruv Patel, accused of orchestrating customer support scams that defrauded at least 12 victims of over $9.1 million; Stephen Odiboh, who received $70,000 from a romance scam victim who lost $175,000; and Renee Thompson, charged with creating counterfeit checks totaling over $193,000. The defendants

Eight defendants were arrested in "Operation Save our Seniors," a federal enforcement effort targeting fraud schemes against senior citizens, resulting in over $11 million in actual and attempted losses across 139 victims primarily in Western New York. The defendants engaged in various scams including customer support fraud, romance scams, check fraud, and identity theft, with ringleader Dhruv Patel alone accused of defrauding at least 12 elderly victims out of more than $9.1 million. Charges carry penalties ranging up to 30 years in prison, and several defendants had prior fraud-related convictions.

An Irondequoit, New York couple lost $9,000 to an imposter scam after receiving a fraudulent PayPal phishing email on July 14 claiming unauthorized activity on their account. The scammer, posing as a PayPal agent, directed the victim to withdraw cash from his bank and hand it over to a person who appeared at their home. PayPal confirmed awareness of this widespread scam and advised customers to verify emails are personally addressed, avoid clicking links or calling numbers in suspicious messages, and report phishing attempts directly to PayPal's security team.

Eight individuals from New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and New York were arrested and charged with defrauding 139 seniors of over $11 million through romance scams, counterfeit checks, gold bar schemes, account hacking, and identity theft. The defendants, including Dhruv Patel who defrauded at least 12 victims of over $9.1 million, face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft carrying sentences of up to 15-30 years in prison. The arrests were coordinated through Save Our Seniors, a working group formed in April to combat elder fraud across state lines.

Estermarie Jones, 35, of Rochester, New York, faced federal charges for identity theft and fraud targeting senior citizens between June 2024 and July 2025, causing $190,032 in losses and attempted losses. Jones used victims' personal information to create fraudulent identification documents and bank cards, which she used to open accounts, register businesses, and steal funds. A fraud prevention expert emphasized the devastating impact on elderly victims who may lose their life savings with no resources to recover, and authorities recommend filing complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Eight individuals across the U.S. were arrested and charged with defrauding 139 seniors of over $11 million through romance scams, counterfeit checks, gold bar schemes, account hacking, and identity theft. The defendants, operating from New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and Rochester, face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft, carrying sentences of up to 15-30 years in prison. The arrests were facilitated by Save Our Seniors, a collaborative task force of federal, state, and local authorities formed to investigate elder fraud cases.

Two women—Kimberly VanKline of Maryland and Rhonda Brown-Moore of New York—pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for creating and submitting falsified documents to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief funds, including Paycheck Protection Program loans for a West Virginia resident, with both defendants profiting from the scheme. They each face up to 20 years in federal prison, with sentencing to be determined by a federal judge.

Two New York men, Didi Huang (47) and Li Geng Lin (58), were indicted on felony charges of attempted theft by deception after attempting to scam a 76-year-old Seabrook, New Hampshire resident out of $20,000. The scheme involved a phone call impersonating a PayPal employee claiming the victim had an account overpayment, followed by the defendants arriving at her home to collect cash, though the victim was not defrauded. Both men face 7½ to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Federal prosecutors charged eight individuals in the "Save Our Seniors" initiative for defrauding 139 elderly victims of over $11 million through schemes including fake government agent impersonation, romance scams, identity theft, and counterfeit checks. The charges involve defendants from multiple states accused of targeting seniors aged 60 and older, with individual losses ranging from $70,000 to $600,000. Authorities warn seniors never to send cash, gift cards, or make peer-to-peer payments to anyone claiming to be a government official, and advise reporting suspected scams to local police or the FBI.

Two New York men, Didi Huang, 47, and Li Geng Lin, 58, were indicted on class A felony charges of attempted theft by deception for targeting a 76-year-old Seabrook woman in a PayPal overpayment scam on June 2. The scammers called the victim claiming to be PayPal employees and convinced her to prepare $20,000 for pickup, then arrived at her home to collect the money before being arrested by Seabrook Police. If convicted, each man faces 7½ to 15 years in prison and a $4,000 fine.

Brett Thomas Graham, a 61-year-old former New York City financier, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for stealing $8.4 million from his elderly mother using power of attorney, falsely claiming she had higher medical and care expenses. Graham used the stolen funds to purchase luxury vacations, jewelry, and artwork; authorities recovered $2 million in fraudulently purchased items. The case was investigated by the FBI's Miami office, the SEC, and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Brett Thomas Graham, a 61-year-old former New York City financier, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for defrauding his elderly mother of $8.4 million by using power of attorney to make false claims about her medical expenses, then spending the stolen funds on luxury vacations, jewelry, and artwork. Law enforcement recovered $2 million in fraudulently purchased items, and Graham pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in September.

Two Kent State University students, Touhedul Tuhin (24) and Iftekhar Latif Nieon (23), face federal charges for acting as "money mules" in an elder fraud operation targeting victims in New York and Ohio, collecting over $276,000 in cash directly from elderly victims who had been defrauded through tech support scams, fake government agency impersonations, and other schemes. The defendants allegedly collected money from at least five victims ranging in age from 68 to 82 years old, with individual losses between $15,000 and $40,000, using vehicles tracked by license plate readers traveling between Kent and New York on the dates of the frau

Consumers lost over $1 billion to social media fraud in the first half of the year, nearly 10 times the amount from five years ago, with scammers using deceptive ads on platforms like Instagram to sell counterfeit or misrepresented products. An education lawyer in New York fell victim to a fake clothing ad, receiving a poor-quality skirt with an illegible return address and no recourse for a refund. Experts recommend consumers check the Better Business Bureau's scam tracker, reverse-image search suspicious products, and watch for red flags like suspiciously low prices and unrealistic guarantees before making purchases on social media.

A 78-year-old Rochester-area man lost $30,000 to a Publishers Clearing House prize scam that operated over six months, during which con artists repeatedly promised a $2.5 million prize while extracting fees under various pretenses. The article highlights that this case is representative of thousands of elder fraud crimes nationally, with federal authorities recently arresting eight people for defrauding 139 Western New York seniors of over $11 million through romance scams, imposter schemes, and identity theft. Common scams targeting seniors in the region include romance fraud, imposter scams impersonating government or businesses, and tech phishing, with scammers increasingly using AI and deep

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the "Save our Seniors" initiative resulting in the arrest of eight defendants across seven criminal complaints for defrauding over 139 senior citizens of more than $11 million total. The defendants engaged in various schemes including customer support scams, romance scams, counterfeit check fraud, and identity theft, with notable cases including Dhruv Patel (accused of defrauding at least 12 victims of over $9.1 million through pickups of stolen goods), Stephen Odiboh (received $70,000 from a romance scam victim who lost $175,000), and Christopher Hernandez (stole $

A national poll found that three in four adults ages 50-80 experienced scam attempts in the last two years, with approximately 30% losing money to fraud. The article identifies the most common scams targeting Western New York seniors, including romance scams, sweepstakes scams, imposter scams (government/business officials), grandparent scams, and tech phishing scams, and advises victims to disengage from suspicious contacts, verify requests independently, and report losses to the Federal Trade Commission, state Attorney General, or New York State Office of Victim Services.

A national poll found that three in four adults ages 50-80 experienced scam attempts over the past two years, with approximately 30% of respondents falling victim and losing money to fraud. The article identifies common scams targeting seniors in Western New York that attempt to gain unauthorized access to their bank accounts. The data underscores the widespread nature of elder fraud affecting thousands of older adults in the region.

A 78-year-old Rochester-area man lost $30,000 to scammers posing as Publishers Clearing House who convinced him he had won $2.5 million and needed to pay fees upfront to claim the prize. The victim, facing financial difficulties after a work-ending injury, was persuaded to wire money before realizing the fraud. The article illustrates how scams targeting New York seniors can cause significant financial and emotional harm to vulnerable older adults.

Crime reporter Michael Wilson, an experienced scam observer, was nearly defrauded by scammers posing as Chase Bank employees using a spoofed phone number and social engineering tactics. The scammers attempted to trick him into sending $2,100 through Zelle by claiming fraudulent transfers had occurred on an account he never opened, using pressure tactics and a fake "supervisor" to build legitimacy. Wilson's skepticism—particularly when asked to meet in person to resolve the issue—broke the scam after 16 minutes, though the incident revealed that multiple people had fallen victim to the same scheme.

Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to New York residents claiming they need to take action to receive state inflation refund checks, using tactics like fake Philippine phone numbers and urgent time-sensitive demands to trick recipients into sharing banking information. At least one person fell victim and entered her card number; authorities advise that the state will automatically send refund checks to those who filed 2023 taxes and residents should never click links in unsolicited texts or provide financial information without verifying the source.

Governor Hochul warned New Yorkers of scams exploiting the state's inflation refund initiative, which arrive via text, voice calls, emails, and mail requesting personal payment information to claim refunds. The New York State Tax Department and IRS do not contact taxpayers unsolicited to request personal information; recipients should block senders, delete messages, and report suspicious communications to authorities.

Governor Kathy Hochul warned New York residents to be vigilant against scams targeting inflation refund checks, which will be distributed to approximately 8.2 million households over the coming months. Scammers are actively attempting to defraud residents by impersonating legitimate refund programs during the distribution period.

On September 24th in Colonie, New York, an elderly man was nearly defrauded of $30,000 in a phone scam where he was told to withdraw funds for a "construction project." Alert employees at Community Resource Federal Credit Union recognized the man's confusion and notified police, leading to the swift arrest of two suspects, Huifeng Jin and Qinghua Wang of Flushing, New York, who were charged with grand larceny and related offenses.

**Summary:** A bank employee at Community Resource Federal Credit Union in Colonie, New York prevented a $30,000 elder fraud scam on September 24, 2025, by recognizing that an elderly customer appeared confused while attempting to withdraw cash for a suspicious "construction project" and alerting police. Officers arranged a sting operation posing as the victim, leading to the arrest of two men from Queens—Huifeng Jin and Qinghua Wang—on charges including grand larceny and felony assault. Police credited the bank staff's vigilance with protecting their customer and urged families to discuss scam awareness with elderly relatives, emphasizing the importance of not sharing financial information over the phone.

A bank employee in Colonie, New York alerted police when an elderly customer attempted to withdraw $30,000 after being directed to do so by an unknown person over the phone, leading to the arrest of Huifeng Jin and Qinghua Wang from Queens on charges including grand larceny and assault. This marked the second similar $30,000 fraud attempt targeting an upstate New York senior in one week, part of a broader pattern of elder fraud involving romance scams, account hacking, and identity theft that has defrauded seniors of over $11 million. Police urge families to discuss these scams with elderly relatives and remind residents not to disclose personal information or make financial arrangements over

Governor Kathy Hochul warned New York residents of scams targeting the state's inflation refund program, in which fraudsters falsely claim via text, email, voicemail, and mail that recipients must provide personal payment information to receive their checks. Approximately 8.2 million New York households are eligible to receive inflation refund checks of up to $400 mailed automatically starting Friday through November, with no action required from recipients, and the state emphasized that legitimate tax authorities do not contact individuals requesting personal information.

**Summary:** Governor Kathy Hochul warned New York residents about scammers impersonating tax officials to steal personal information from people expecting inflation refund checks, which were being sent to approximately 8.2 million households. The scammers used fake text messages, emails, and calls requesting "accurate payment information," though Hochul clarified that the IRS and Tax Department never contact residents unsolicited for personal details. Residents need only meet eligibility requirements to receive their checks automatically and can report suspected fraud to authorities.

Governor Kathy Hochul issued a warning about scammers targeting New York's inflation refund checks by sending fake text messages, emails, and direct mail requesting payment information or personal data—information that is not needed to receive the checks. The state automatically mails refunds based on 2023 tax year information already on file, with eligible recipients receiving $150-$400 depending on income and filing status. Hochul advised New Yorkers to ignore fraudulent communications, never provide personal information via unsolicited contact, and report suspicious calls or emails to the state Tax Department.

An alert teller at Community Resource Federal Credit Union in Latham, New York stopped an elderly man from losing $30,000 in a tech support scam on September 24 when she recognized signs of fraud and called police; the man had been contacted by scammers posing as Microsoft support who convinced him his accounts were compromised. Police arrested two suspects—Huifeng Jin and Qinghua Wang from Flushing, New York—after undercover investigators posed as the victim and arranged a meeting at the man's home, though one investigator was seriously injured during the arrest. The credit union reported preventing nearly $70,000 in fraudulent transactions that week and emphasized that customers

On September 24, 2025, an elderly man in Colonie, New York, received a phone call instructing him to withdraw $30,000 for a "construction project" in what was identified as an elder fraud scam. Alert employees at Community Resource Federal Credit Union recognized the victim's confusion and notified police, leading to the swift arrest of two suspects: Huifeng Jin and Qinghua Wang of Flushing, NY. Jin was charged with felony assault on a police officer and felony grand larceny, while Wang faced felony grand larceny charges and was released on probation.

Over 100 members of the Anash community were defrauded by a man posing as a travel agent who sold them fake airline tickets for travel from Israel to New York for Tishrei, leaving many stranded abroad with non-existent reservations. The scammer, Shai Sandik, provided authentic-looking confirmation emails, but passengers discovered upon airport arrival that their names were not in airline systems, with some left stranded at connecting flight locations. Israeli police arrested Sandik in Afula, and Chabad-affiliated travel agents worked to help victims secure alternative travel arrangements.

New York State announced inflation refund checks ranging from $150-$400 for over 8 million eligible residents, but scammers have begun targeting recipients with fraudulent text messages impersonating the Department of Revenue and requesting payment information. Red flags include non-U.S. area codes, non-dot-gov links, and threats of disqualification; legitimate inflation checks require no action from recipients, and the state will not contact citizens via unsolicited text messages.

Two men, Danny Piao, 29, of New York City and Chul Paik, 44, of New Jersey, were charged with felony theft for targeting at least 10 elderly residents in Lake County, Illinois through elaborate scams involving fake PayPal and antivirus company emails that tricked victims into withdrawing cash. In one case, an 80-year-old woman lost $17,000, and in another, a Lake Forest resident lost $25,000; investigators used license plate reader technology to identify the suspects' rental vehicle and apprehend them with over $16,000 in cash found in their car. Both suspects were denied pretrial release.

New York State officials are warning residents about a surge in scams targeting people receiving tax refunds and rebate checks totaling billions of dollars this fall, including fake texts, calls, and emails impersonating state agencies. The state advises New Yorkers not to click links, call back suspicious contacts, or share personal information, and to report suspicious communications to 7726 (SPAM) or call the Consumer Protection help line at 1-800-697-1220. Officials emphasize that legitimate refund checks require no verification since amounts are pre-calculated from tax filings, so any requests to confirm personal details are red flags.

Quotient Wealth Partners partnered with Carefull, an AI-powered financial safety platform, to help protect clients from fraud, scams, and financial exploitation through continuous monitoring of transactions and accounts. The partnership provides Quotient clients with $1 million in identity theft insurance, a scam verification tool, and digital legacy planning services, addressing the growing threat of sophisticated scams targeting wealthy families and older adults.

New York State Police warn of a phone scam targeting senior citizens in which callers falsely claim identity theft has occurred and pressure victims to withdraw large sums of money or purchase gold bars for "safekeeping," with scammers then sending couriers to collect the funds. In one documented case in Tompkins County, victim(s) lost $500,000 in gold bars across two incidents in 2024, leading to the indictment of Akash B. Thakkar, age 41, on Grand Larceny charges after investigators identified him as a courier who picked up the gold bars. Authorities advise victims to hang up and contact trusted family members rather than comply with such demands

The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection is warning consumers about event ticket scams and unfair pricing practices, following the FTC's complaint against Ticketmaster and Live Nation for allegedly engaging in illegal resale tactics. Scammers exploit high demand and resale markets by posing as sellers and stealing consumers' money through fake tickets sold on social media, fake websites, and online marketplaces. The agency recommends purchasing only from official sources, using legitimate resale platforms, verifying sellers' credentials, avoiding suspiciously low prices, and paying with credit cards for buyer protection.

An 82-year-old in Northern Virginia nearly lost over $20,000 to a fake lawyer scam in October, where a caller claimed the victim's son needed legal representation and used emotional manipulation (including recorded crying) to pressure payment. Quick intervention by a family member and coordinated law enforcement stopped the fraud; investigators identified the scammer as Yordanys Rodriguez, 33, of New York, who used the name of a deceased attorney and was arrested in Pennsylvania on charges of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses, and was also found to be impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Scammers are targeting New Yorkers with text messages impersonating the Department of Taxation and Finance, falsely claiming recipients are eligible for "inflation refunds" and requesting personal and financial information. While New York State is legitimately issuing one-time inflation refund checks ($150-$400) to eligible taxpayers, the state explicitly does not contact people via text and will not request additional information; victims should report these scam texts to the Tax Department rather than responding to them.

Scammers are impersonating the New York State Tax Department via calls, texts, and emails to trick residents into providing personal information under the false premise that they need to submit payment details to receive legitimate inflation refund checks. The phishing campaigns use urgency tactics and fake websites to steal sensitive data like Social Security numbers and banking information for identity theft, though eligible residents are automatically sent refunds without needing to provide any information or take action.