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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

"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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

**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 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.

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.

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 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 men from Georgia and Alabama were charged with laundering at least $178,658 for a Nigerian sextortion scheme that targeted over 100 victims, including 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Michigan, who died by suicide after being blackmailed for $300. The Nigerian scammers posed as females on Instagram, coerced victims into sending nude images, then extorted money by threatening to share the photos with contacts. The U.S. money launderers received victims' funds through cash applications, kept approximately 20 percent, converted the remainder to bitcoin, and funneled it to the Nigerian perpetrators.

Five men from Alabama and Georgia were arrested on federal money laundering charges for their role in an online sextortion scheme that targeted over 100 teenage boys and young men. The defendants controlled financial accounts used to launder at least $178,658 in extortion proceeds, converting funds to bitcoin and sending them to Nigerian co-conspirators; the scheme resulted in the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Michigan in November 2022.

The Central Alabama Aging Consortium held its annual Elder Justice and Fraud Caregiver Conference in Prattville to educate the public about scams targeting elderly people. Conference organizers emphasized that scammers continuously evolve their tactics across online and phone fraud schemes, making it challenging to stay current on threats. The conference provided resources and recommended warning signs of fraud, such as elderly individuals being reluctant to discuss finances or having difficulty paying bills, with additional tips available on the CAAC website.

In 2023, elder fraud reports to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 14 percent, with over 101,000 victims aged 60 and older losing more than $3.4 billion—an average of $33,915 per victim. The most common scams included tech support fraud, investment schemes (costing $1.2 billion alone), government impersonation, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, with scammers often using spoofed caller IDs and posing as agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration. TARCOG hosted a Fraud & Scam Summit in Alabama to educate the community about these schemes and provide resources to

Online vehicle purchase scams are increasing, where fraudsters post fake listings with photos and addresses to trick buyers into wiring deposits for vehicles that don't exist or are never delivered. Recent victims in Alabama, Utah, and Missouri lost between $25,000 and $36,000 each after transferring funds based on fraudulent contracts and dealer credentials. To protect themselves, buyers should verify the vehicle's VIN through services like CarFax, inspect the car in person, and avoid electronic transfers in favor of cashier's checks.

Alabama's Department of Human Resources warned SNAP recipients of over 100 phone scams in which fraudsters impersonated DHR or EBT Customer Service representatives to steal EBT card numbers and PINs; the department could not quantify total losses but noted most scams go unreported. Additionally, Alabama's Board of Pharmacy alerted pharmacists to a spoofing scam where callers falsely claim to represent the board and demand payment to resolve fabricated license sanctions.

Scammers are defrauding victims across the country, including Alabama, by using stolen photos and videos from legitimate dealerships to sell classic cars that don't exist. Victims typically lose $5,000 to $30,000 after sending deposits electronically, with little chance of recovery as the money is often moved offshore and scammers disappear after payment. The Better Business Bureau recommends personally inspecting vehicles and paying in person rather than sending money electronically to avoid this scam.

Police Chief Denise McCain and representatives from the FBI, Better Business Bureau, and other agencies presented at an East Alabama Regional Planning Commission Summit to educate seniors about fraud targeting older adults. The presentation covered common scams including jury duty imposters, tech support blackmail, grandparent scams using AI-generated voices, lottery scams, and IRS fraud, emphasizing that older adults with good savings and credit are lucrative targets who often delay reporting due to shame or uncertainty about where to report. Key prevention advice included never providing information over the phone, calling loved ones directly to verify requests, and immediately reporting blackmail to police.

"Pig butchering" is a rapidly growing romance scam where fraudsters pose as romantic partners and lure victims into fake cryptocurrency investments, with the scammer gradually building trust through small initial returns before requesting large sums of money. In Alabama alone, 88 victims lost more than $22 million to this scheme, with individual losses ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, exploiting victims' emotional vulnerability and the lack of regulation in the crypto market.

**Summary:** The Alabama Securities Commission released guidance on identifying and reporting elder financial abuse in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The FBI estimates seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, and Alabama has seen a significant increase in reported cases, rising from 90 in 2022 to 215 in the current year. The ASC advises staying connected with elderly relatives, watching for warning signs such as sudden isolation or new acquaintances interested in finances, and contacting authorities at 800-222-1253 to report suspected exploitation.

This appears to be a news website homepage rather than a single article about elder fraud or scams. The content shown includes various local Alabama news stories (sex offender sentencing, police shootings, sports updates, weather, and traffic information), but none relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse that would be relevant for the Elderus database. To provide an appropriate summary for Elderus, please provide a specific article focused on elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.

A Birmingham FBI agent specializing in financial crimes identified six common scams targeting seniors in Alabama—including lottery/sweepstakes, tech support, romance, grandparent, home improvement, and government impersonation scams—noting that elder fraud is rising in the state and that scammers create artificial urgency to pressure victims into quick decisions. The article advises seniors and their families to secure social media accounts, seek second opinions before acting on urgent requests, and contact law enforcement if targeted, while noting that many victims don't report scams due to shame, embarrassment, or fear of retaliation.

A 92-year-old World War II veteran in Houston lost over $300,000 to a fraudulent investment scheme operated by Ternion Group International LLC, a fake "Christian" company that promised high returns on construction and job training projects but never delivered any funds. Five defendants from Florida and Alabama were arrested and charged with wire fraud and conspiracy, with one defendant allegedly manipulating the victim into changing his will and granting power of attorney. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

The FBI reports that seniors over 60 are prime targets for fraud, with Alabama residents in this age group losing over $33 million to scams. Elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023, with tech scams, personal data breaches, and romance scams—particularly the "grandparent scam"—leading the way, as scammers increasingly use urgency and fear tactics to pressure victims into sending money or revealing sensitive information. Experts recommend that seniors and their family members hang up immediately when pressured for banking information, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, as these are hallmarks of fraud.

A 36-year-old Montgomery man, Nicholas Allen, was sentenced to 64 months in state prison for financial exploitation of the elderly, securities fraud, and theft after defrauding multiple elderly victims of over $200,000 through misrepresentations and solicitations. Allen's state sentence runs concurrently with a 76-month federal sentence imposed in February 2024, and he was ordered to pay approximately $370,000 in restitution and permanently barred from the securities industry in Alabama.