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Five men from Alabama and Georgia were indicted for money laundering related to a foreign sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Marquette, Michigan. The defendants allegedly laundered at least $178,658 in proceeds from the sextortion operation, with each facing up to 20 years in prison on conspiracy charges. The case highlights how U.S.-based money launderers facilitate overseas predatory crimes targeting vulnerable populations including minors and seniors.

Five U.S. men from Georgia and Alabama were charged with money laundering conspiracy for facilitating a sextortion scheme that resulted in the suicide of 16-year-old Marquette resident Jordan DeMay. The defendants allegedly received approximately $179,000 from victims, converted funds to bitcoin, and transferred the money to Nigerian co-conspirators, with DeMay sending $300 to one defendant hours before his death. The case involves over 100 sextortion victims and represents a major breakthrough in the two-year investigation into the criminal ring.

Five U.S.-based defendants from Georgia and Alabama were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of teenager Jordan DeMay of Marquette. Sextortion involves extorting money or sexual favors by threatening to expose evidence of sexual activity, and the charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. This case is related to an earlier conviction of two Nigerian men involved in the international sextortion ring that led to DeMay's death.

Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, Alabama, was charged with wire fraud for executing a Power of Attorney over an elderly family member without permission and fraudulently transferring over $500,000 from the victim's bank accounts to his own between September and December 2023. Pruitt also became a joint account holder and altered payable-on-death beneficiaries on the victim's accounts. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

A 47-year-old Bessemer man, Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud for stealing over $500,000 from an elderly family member between September and December 2023. Pruitt obtained a Power of Attorney without the victim's knowledge, became a joint account holder, manipulated beneficiary designations, and transferred the funds to his personal accounts. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

**Elder Financial Abuse Surge in Alabama** Alabama has experienced a dramatic increase in elder financial abuse cases since 2016, with reports growing from 23 cases that year to 243 cases nine months into the current fiscal year, according to the Alabama Securities Commission. Recent convictions include Gina Cook Gilbert ($2.5 million stolen from her elderly mother), Nicholas Houston Allen ($370,000 in ordered restitution), and James Langford III (accused of taking $200,000-$600,000 from an elderly woman's account as trustee). The exploitation typically exploits relationships of trust, often involving family members or caregivers targeting victims between

Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, Alabama, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud for defrauding an elderly family member between September and December 2023. Pruitt fraudulently obtained Power of Attorney over the victim without consent, became a joint account holder on the victim's bank accounts, altered payable-on-death beneficiaries, and transferred over $500,000 from the victim's accounts to his own personal accounts. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Terrance Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, Alabama, was charged with wire fraud for executing a Power of Attorney over an elderly family member without their knowledge or consent in late 2023. Pruitt allegedly became a joint account holder on the victim's bank accounts by manipulating payable-on-death beneficiaries and transferred over $500,000 from the victim's accounts to his own personal accounts. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Alabama experienced a dramatic increase in reported financial elder abuse cases, rising from 23 in 2016 to approximately 250 cases reported since January, largely due to a 2016 law requiring financial institutions to report suspicious account activity. Scammers employ two primary methods: online schemes and personal manipulation targeting vulnerable elderly individuals, often widowed, with perpetrators frequently coming from out of state across various professional backgrounds. While most victims do not recover their stolen funds, Alabama authorities actively prosecute these cases and pursue restitution.

The Senior Fraud and Scam Summit in Huntsville, Alabama brought together experts from the Better Business Bureau and local police to educate seniors on protecting themselves from fraud and identity theft, following a 14 percent nationwide increase in elder fraud reports during 2023. Speakers emphasized that victims should immediately report scams to police and local authorities rather than remaining silent, as doing so helps prevent fraudsters from targeting additional seniors. The summit provided resources and practical tips designed to help older adults safeguard their finances and identities.

The Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) held an educational summit in Huntsville to raise awareness about rising scams targeting seniors, with elder fraud reports to the FBI increasing 14% in 2023. Attendee Teresa Hazzard shared her experience of losing $700 to a fake Netflix offer that requested her credit card information, though her bank recovered the funds. The summit covered cybersecurity, consumer fraud definitions, and legal implications, emphasizing that seniors should recognize and report scams—particularly those promising free offers or services.

Montgomery, Alabama leaders held a free educational workshop for senior citizens to address the growing fraud problem affecting older adults, with 200 fraud cases filed in Alabama that year. Guest speakers including Montgomery County Probate Judge JC Love and other leaders discussed common scams and protective programs like the React Program, which alerts seniors to fraudulent activity related to their property. The workshop highlighted that seniors are particularly vulnerable to fraud due to technology gaps, isolation, and misplaced trust, and provided resources including the Alabama Department of Senior Services and AARP's scam-tracking map.

This article is not related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It reports on airport infrastructure funding through Alabama's Department of Transportation. This falls outside the scope of Elderus, a database focused on elder fraud research.

Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, from Bessemer, Alabama was charged with wire fraud for an elder fraud scheme in which he fraudulently obtained Power of Attorney over an elderly victim without consent and became a joint account holder on their bank accounts between September and December 2023. Pruitt altered payable-on-death beneficiaries and transferred over $500,000 from the victim's accounts to his own personal accounts. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Jeffery Sikes, a 43-year-old former Nebraska man, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for wire fraud schemes conducted between 2012 and 2014 that defrauded multiple businesses and individuals of $819,000 total. His largest scam targeted Speedway Properties in Lincoln, a real estate developer, which he swindled out of $507,000 by posing as a consultant for a non-existent company and using fraudulent documents to request funds for a fake commercial lab project. After pleading guilty in 2017, Sikes fled to Alabama where he assumed an alias and became involved in arson; he must complete his 18-year

Scammers in South Alabama are increasingly using sophisticated social media impersonation schemes across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and CashApp, studying victims' profiles to gather personal information and contact their friends and family with convincing details. To protect themselves, residents should verify requests through security questions, establish safe words with loved ones, avoid sending money to unverified sources, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.

"Quishing" (QR code phishing) is a rising scam in Alabama and nationwide that embeds malicious URLs into QR codes, commonly placed on parking meters and other locations to trick victims into visiting fraudulent websites. The Better Business Bureau reports an alarming increase in these scams, particularly in parking lots where people scan codes hurriedly without verifying website legitimacy. Experts recommend stopping to confirm QR code destinations before scanning, never sharing personal information with unfamiliar sources, and immediately changing passwords and reporting to the attorney general's office if you suspect exposure to a malicious QR code.

This article provides guidance on avoiding ticket scams when purchasing sporting event tickets, particularly for University of Alabama games. The Better Business Bureau recommends using authorized ticket services like SeatGeek rather than peer-to-peer payment apps (Venmo, Cash App, PayPal), and emphasizes paying with a credit card rather than debit cards or digital payment apps, as credit cards offer fraud protection if tickets are fraudulent or never arrive.

The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to avoid fraudulent charity scams following Hurricane Helene, as scammers create fake donation websites, social media campaigns, and crowdfunding pages to exploit donors' generosity. The BBB recommends verifying charities through trusted sites like Give.org and Charity Navigator, donating directly through official websites using credit cards, and avoiding unsolicited requests via social media or payment apps. The advisory provides a list of verified national and state-specific relief organizations where donations can be made safely.

I appreciate you sharing this content, but what you've provided appears to be a website navigation menu and headline listings from a news station rather than an actual article about elder fraud or scams. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the full text of an article that discusses a specific scam, fraud case, or elder abuse incident. Could you please provide the complete article content about elder scams or fraud that you'd like summarized?

Four suspects from Alabama and Tennessee were arrested in Maryland after defrauding an elderly woman of nearly $40,000 through a "pigeon drop" scam, in which they falsely claimed to have found cash and convinced her to withdraw her own money as "collateral" for a charitable donation. Police apprehended James Davis, Connie Williams, Kenneth Gooden, and Mary Daniel on October 24 just as they attempted to target a second victim at a shopping center in Clinton. The Financial Crimes Unit tracked the suspects following the initial incident on October 21 and encourages anyone with information to contact them.

Four suspects were arrested in Prince George's County, Maryland on October 25 after scamming a 74-year-old woman out of over $30,000 in a "pigeon drop" scheme, where they posed as people who found money and convinced the victim to deposit funds into an account to avoid tracing. The suspects, with addresses in Alabama and Tennessee, allegedly approached elderly victims alone in parking lots claiming they had found cash and needed help laundering it through the victim's bank account before splitting the proceeds. Police warn that this scam targets seniors with promises of quick financial gain or threats of legal trouble, and urge families to discuss such schemes with elderly relatives.

Four suspects from Alabama and Tennessee were arrested in Maryland after scamming a 74-year-old woman out of over $30,000 in a "pigeon drop" scam, where they approached her in a parking lot claiming to have found money that needed to be deposited into an account to avoid tracing before being returned to her. The suspects, ranging in age from 36 to 77, may be connected to similar frauds across multiple states, and police emphasize that elderly citizens should be wary of unsolicited interactions involving monetary gain or urgent requests for money or account information.

Scammers are impersonating legitimate bail bond companies in North Alabama, contacting relatives of jailed inmates and demanding payment via Cash App or prepaid gift cards before disappearing with the money. Red flags include requests for payment through apps or gift cards and communication only by phone or email, whereas legitimate bail bond companies require in-person office visits and signed contracts. At least two reported cases in Huntsville and Florence resulted in losses of $1,120 and similar amounts, with vulnerable populations like elderly family members and concerned parents being particularly susceptible to this fraud.

The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to remain vigilant during Black Friday shopping, as scammers increasingly exploit the holiday season using fake websites, phishing emails, counterfeit products, and deceptive deals to steal personal and financial information. The BBB recommends safe shopping practices including verifying secure websites (HTTPS), avoiding suspicious links, comparing prices, researching businesses, using credit cards for better fraud protection, and planning purchases in advance. These precautions apply to both online and in-store shopping to help consumers protect themselves and their wallets during the busy retail period.

The Better Business Bureau president identified five prevalent scams affecting consumers in 2023: investment/cryptocurrency schemes (averaging $3,800 in losses), employment fraud involving fake job postings and counterfeit checks, online purchase scams where goods don't arrive or misrepresent quality, and home improvement fraud targeting storm-damaged properties. The BBB recommends verifying secure websites (https), using credit cards for online purchases, researching businesses on bbb.org, and being skeptical of promises that seem too good to be true.

I cannot provide a summary for this content. The text provided is a website navigation menu and header structure from a news website, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. To summarize content for the Elderus database, please provide an actual article or transcript that discusses: - Scams targeting older adults - Financial fraud or exploitation - Elder abuse incidents - Fraud awareness/prevention advice Please share the relevant article content, and I'll be happy to create a summary.

The Better Business Bureau warns holiday shoppers to watch for common scams including misleading ads, fake gift cards, phishing emails and texts, and fraudulent online marketplaces. The BBB recommends slowing down before purchases, price-checking items, using credit cards for fraud protection, verifying return policies, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts. Victims of holiday fraud should dispute charges with their credit card company, cancel compromised cards, change passwords, and report incidents to local police and state attorneys general.

Southwest Alabama RSVP, Cadence Bank, and the Area Agency on Aging co-hosted a fraud awareness seminar at the Thomasville Civic Center to educate senior citizens about common scams. Speakers discussed various scamming tactics targeting seniors, reviewed real scam attempts made at Cadence Bank, and advised attendees to protect their Medicare information and regularly monitor their statements for unauthorized charges.

In 2023, Alabama residents lost $96.4 million to online scams across 5,763 victims, ranking the state 27th nationally for scam susceptibility. The article identifies rising threats including AI-generated deepfakes (which accounted for 39% of national scam losses), look-alike fraudulent websites, and untraceable payment methods like cryptocurrency and gift cards, with scammers predominantly operating overseas where U.S. law cannot reach them and 95.7% of stolen money goes unrecovered.

Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, Alabama was convicted of two counts of wire fraud for defrauding an elderly family member with dementia of $550,000 between September and December 2023. Pruitt illegally obtained power of attorney, became a joint account holder, changed account addresses, altered beneficiary designations, and transferred the victim's funds to his personal accounts, later moving $500,000 to an account excluding the victim. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama.

Multiple senior citizens across Alabama counties received Medicare scam calls from fraudsters claiming to offer discounts on prescriptions and insurance payments while requesting Social Security numbers and bank account information to "verify." The scammers, who possessed some personal information like addresses and phone numbers, were unable to answer when victims asked them to recite the sensitive data they claimed to have, indicating the calls were part of a widespread fraud scheme targeting seniors.

An elderly woman named Mathis was financially exploited by her two nieces who convinced her to transfer over 70,000 Aflac shares to them under the pretense of reducing estate taxes, a form of affinity fraud that exploited the family trust and her known tax aversion. A FINRA arbitration panel awarded Mathis's estate approximately $3.3 million in compensatory damages in February 2023, though she was only able to recover about 26,000 of the transferred shares, leaving roughly 28,800 shares still with the nieces. The case illustrates the dangers of affinity fraud and highlights the importance of designating trusted contact persons at financial institutions to

Alabama residents lost $32 million to investment fraud in 2023, a 45.8% increase from $22 million in 2022, according to a study using FBI data, with people aged 30-50 accounting for roughly two-thirds of victims despite their tech savviness. Investment scams typically lure victims with promises of large profits and quick returns, though emerging schemes are increasingly sophisticated and target retirees, business owners, and first-time investors through personal relationships and trust-building tactics. The Alabama Securities Commission received 637 financial exploitation reports since 2020 with elder abuse identified in 619 cases, though officials note that elder exploitation remains grossly underreported in

TikTok influencer Macy Blackwell lost $5,000 after being scammed while attempting to purchase tickets to Morgan Wallen's Sand In My Boots festival through a Facebook resale group. She sent the money via Apple Pay to someone claiming to be a group administrator, who sent fake tickets from a Gmail account with typos and incorrect location details, then demanded an additional $500 in fees before deleting their account. Blackwell publicly shared her experience as a cautionary tale about verifying sellers and not sending money to strangers online for ticket purchases.

Four Jamaican nationals were arrested in Baldwin County, Alabama as part of "Operation Jamaican Knights," a fraud ring that targeted elderly victims across the United States with a lottery scam, stealing over $200,000 from more than 75 victims nationwide. Victims were deceived into sending cash payments via FedEx, believing they needed to pay taxes to claim lottery winnings, with shipments intercepted at a Mobile FedEx center revealing the scheme in February 2023. The FBI recovered more than $180,000 and has returned most of it to victims, with six additional suspects identified and the investigation ongoing.

Four Jamaican nationals were arrested in Foley, Alabama in February 2023 for operating a lottery scam that defrauded over $200,000 from victims nationwide, primarily elderly people. The suspects used a Publisher's Clearing House scheme, telling victims they had won a lottery but needed to pay "taxes" before claiming winnings; while FedEx intercepted thousands of dollars in cash and checks between April 2020 and February 2023, some victims still lost money. The four men face federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy, with potential sentences up to 20 years in prison.

A 71-year-old widow named Linda Talbott was scammed out of nearly $12,000 by a man posing as "James" in an online romance scheme that lasted almost two years. The scammer manipulated Talbott into providing her Social Security number (redirecting her checks to Alabama), cashing fraudulent checks, and isolating her from support systems, ultimately leaving her homeless and living in her car in a Walmart parking lot. Between 2019 and 2023, the FTC received over 269,000 romance scam reports with total losses exceeding $4.5 billion, with scammers typically building trust through fake profiles and promises of

Scammers in Etowah County, Alabama targeted a mother with an elaborate accident scam, impersonating her injured daughter, a paramedic, and a police officer to extract personal information and money. The scammers demonstrated knowledge of the victim's location and family details, though the mother avoided falling victim after contacting her daughter directly. County investigators advise people to hang up and independently call local authorities or emergency services to verify claims rather than providing information during the initial call.

Alabama residents received a surge of toll scam text messages and PDF documents in late February claiming unpaid toll bills with threats of legal consequences or license suspension. Cybercriminals obtained phone numbers from personal data sold on numerous websites and used automated programs to send thousands of messages simultaneously, exploiting tax season when they could also attempt to steal tax refunds. Experts recommend avoiding suspicious links, monitoring personal information, and freezing bank accounts if a breach is suspected, noting this nationwide scam affects people across the country.

Makayla Crumedy of Huntsville, Alabama, fell victim to a text message scam claiming she owed unpaid toll fees after visiting Florida; after entering her banking information through a suspicious link, she was charged over $1,000 to her account but successfully recovered the funds through fraud claims. The scam, which also targeted her grandmother, involved a text from an email address with random letters—a red flag that legitimate toll offices never use text messages with links to demand payment and may threaten license suspension. The Better Business Bureau advises recipients to delete and block such messages, as reputable agencies will never text toll payment demands.

Trump-themed memorabilia scams, particularly the Trump Rebate Banking (TRB) scheme, have defrauded supporters who were promised their coins and merchandise would appreciate in value or generate cash payouts. An Alabama woman lost over $152,000 in cryptocurrency after being promised a $13 million rebate for her Trump items, though the FBI later froze the stolen funds in federal custody. These scams exploit supporters' emotional investment in Trump's brand and remain prevalent across platforms like Telegram and X, with victims typically losing thousands of dollars to fraudsters posing as legitimate investment facilitators.

Scammers are targeting Trump campaign supporters through the "Trump Rebate Banking" (TRB) scheme, falsely promising that Trump memorabilia (coins, hats, etc.) purchased during the campaign would become valuable investments or generate cash rebates once Trump took office. An Alabama woman lost over $152,000 in cryptocurrency after being promised a $13 million rebate, though the FBI recovered her funds by freezing stolen assets on Binance in November. These scams exploit supporters' political enthusiasm and continue proliferating on platforms like Telegram and X despite growing public awareness.

The Lincoln Public Library organized an educational initiative pairing high school cybersecurity students with senior citizens to teach fraud prevention, recognizing that seniors are frequently targeted by cybercriminals. High school students presented research on common cyber criminal tactics at an "Avoiding Online Scams" event held on March 14 at The Laundry Room in Lincoln, Alabama, open to the public.

Blount County, Alabama authorities are warning of an evolving phone scam in which callers impersonate court officials and threaten victims with arrest warrants for missing jury duty, sometimes sending fake court notices to appear authentic. Scammers demand payment over the phone, at kiosks, or pressure victims to stay on the line to pay a "bond," though legitimate warrants are never handled this way. Authorities advise hanging up on such calls and reporting them immediately.

The Better Business Bureau's 2024 scam tracker report identified investment and cryptocurrency scams as the most dangerous fraud type, with a median loss of $5,000 per victim, often involving fake accounts showing false profits to lure additional investors. The report highlighted a concerning rise in "financial grooming" scams, where perpetrators build false romantic or business relationships to gradually extract money from victims until they have nothing left, targeting vulnerable individuals across all demographics, particularly those experiencing personal or financial hardship.

This educational article identifies New Jersey as the safest U.S. state for retirees based on FBI data analysis, citing low violent and property crime rates, minimal senior involvement in fatal accidents, and strong healthcare access. The article also lists nine additional safe states for retirement (New York, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, Alabama) and warns against five states with higher risks of elder fraud, property crime, and scams (Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico).

NARCOG is hosting a Fraud Summit on April 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Moulton Senior Center to educate older adults on protecting themselves from scams, health insurance fraud, and financial exploitation. The event will feature expert speakers from the Better Business Bureau and Alabama Securities Commission, as well as representatives from Senior Medical Patrol and the State Health Insurance Program. Seating is limited and registration is required by calling Julie Campbell at 256-355-4515.

Scammers have conducted multi-state toll fraud campaigns since late 2024, targeting residents with automated texts, calls, and spoofed websites claiming unpaid toll bills—even in states like Arizona, Connecticut, Missouri, and Mississippi that have no toll roads. The scams have grown increasingly sophisticated, mimicking official state transportation department websites and using threatening language, prompting state DOTs to issue warnings and work with law enforcement to track perpetrators. Residents are advised to verify messages by checking sender phone numbers, contacting toll agencies directly, and recognizing that legitimate agencies never request payment via text.

Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, a 47-year-old man from Bessemer, Alabama, was sentenced to 50 months in prison for defrauding an elderly family member with dementia of $550,000 between September and December 2023. Pruitt executed a fraudulent Power of Attorney, became a joint account holder, altered beneficiaries, and transferred funds to his personal accounts without the victim's knowledge or permission. His sentence was enhanced due to perjury committed during his trial testimony.