Explore the Archive

The FBI issued a warning to Houston residents about a hospice care scam in which fraudsters illegally enroll seniors in Medicare's $22 billion hospice program without their knowledge or consent, then bill insurance thousands or tens of thousands of dollars before victims realize what happened. The scam involves doctors, recruiters, and company employees working together, and can prevent victims from accessing end-of-life care with providers of their choice when they actually need it. The FBI recommends residents avoid sharing personal information with strangers, hang up suspicious calls, and report them to authorities; meanwhile, Medicare has increased oversight in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas, and recently convicted a California hospice company owner who

A California man was recently sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded two elderly Arizona women of hundreds of thousands of dollars. AARP Arizona warns that romance scammers exploit victims' desire for companionship by professing love early, requesting money for emergencies, and using increasingly sophisticated AI-generated photos and videos, with scams often escalating to fraudulent bank account access. AARP recommends never sending money to online contacts and offers free resources through their Fraud Watch Network (1-877-908-3360 or AARP.org/fraudwatchnetwork) to help people identify and report suspected scams.

A California man was sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded two elderly Arizona women of hundreds of thousands of dollars. AARP Arizona warns that romance scammers exploit desires for companionship through dating apps and other platforms, with warning signs including premature declarations of love, requests for money, and broken promises to meet in person. Victims should avoid sending money to online contacts, be aware that advancing AI technology makes scams more convincing, and contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network (1-877-908-3360 or AARP.org/fraudwatchnetwork) for free assistance.

A California man was sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded two elderly Arizona women of hundreds of thousands of dollars. AARP Arizona warns that romance scammers exploit victims' desire for companionship through dating apps and other platforms, escalating requests from gift cards to bank account access, with warning signs including early declarations of love, emergency money requests, and broken promises to meet in person. Resources like AARP's Fraud Watch Network (1-877-908-3360) provide free assistance, and experts advise never sending money via wire transfer or cryptocurrency to online contacts.

North Korean hackers posed as American IT workers to secure remote positions at over 300 U.S. companies, including Fortune 500 firms in technology, aerospace, and entertainment sectors, using stolen identities and laptop farms to funnel salaries into Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program while potentially installing malware on company networks. Two conspirators were arrested—Oleksandr Didenko (Ukrainian, facing up to 67 years) and Christina Chapman (Arizona, facing up to 97 years)—with the latter operating a laptop farm containing over 90 computers from her home, while authorities continue searching for additional foreign co-conspirators and offer a $5 million reward for information

I cannot provide a summary of this content. What you've shared appears to be a table of contents or index page listing various news articles and topics from a regional publication, rather than a specific article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse. While I notice one item titled "Arizona group warns of romance scams, offers tips," the actual content of that article is not included. To help with your request, please provide: - The full text or content of a specific article about fraud/scams/elder abuse, or - A link to the article you'd like summarized I'm ready to create an Elderus database summary once you share the actual article content.

I cannot provide a summary of this content. This appears to be a table of contents or index listing for audio articles and podcasts rather than a substantive article about a specific scam, fraud, or elder abuse incident. While one item mentions "Arizona group warns of romance scams, offers tips," the full article text is not provided. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the complete text of a specific article about elder fraud or scams.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sued The Ensign Group, Inc., which operates dozens of health care facilities across Arizona including Sun West Choice Health & Rehab Facility in Sun City West, over illegal secrecy clauses in arbitration agreements that prevented families from reporting abuse and neglect. Robert Knight, 58, died in March 2022 from neglect at the facility—including a severe bed sore 1.5 inches deep—after his wife was forced to sign an arbitration agreement with an illegal secrecy clause that prevented her family from warning others or reporting to the Attorney General. The lawsuit challenges the use of these clauses, which Mayes stated are illegal

Senators Collins and Sinema introduced a bipartisan resolution designating May 15 as "National Senior Fraud Awareness Day," which passed unanimously, highlighting that seniors lost over $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023—an 11% increase from 2022. A new phone scam targeting Maine residents involves fraudsters impersonating U.S. Marshals through spoofed phone numbers, demanding immediate payment of fines or promising money transfers, using publicly available personal information to appear credible. Federal officials advise seniors never to provide financial information to unknown callers and to report suspected scams to the FBI and FTC.

Jiaci Liu, 34, was arrested and charged in federal court for his role in a multinational fraud conspiracy targeting seniors, including a 63-year-old Poway man who lost $28,000 in a layered tech support, bank impersonation, and government impersonation scam. Evidence from Liu's seized cellphone revealed he had collected over $348,000 from multiple victims across Southern California and Phoenix, Arizona in just one week in June 2023. Liu faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud with a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

A Privacy Journal study analyzing FBI, CDC, FTC, and Internet Crime Complaint Center data ranked U.S. states by danger levels for online dating users, identifying Nevada, Alaska, Georgia, Florida, and Arizona as the five most risky states. The analysis considered romance scams, identity theft, fraud, violent crime, STD rates, and registered sex offender concentrations, with Arizona having the highest romance scam rate (9.2 per 100,000), Nevada the second-highest (8.1 per 100,000), and Georgia leading in identity theft and fraud victimization rates. The findings highlight that geographic location can predict vulnerability to various threats when using dating apps.

**Summary:** Ariell Dix, age 37, was convicted of two felonies related to illegal control of an enterprise and sentenced to three and a half years in prison for her role in an Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS) fraud scheme. Dix helped establish fraudulent clinics, obtained patient lists for illegal billing, and falsified records to enable the scheme, which defrauded the state of tens of millions of dollars between January 2019 and September 2021.

According to an FTC report, scammers most frequently impersonate Best Buy's Geek Squad (52,000 reports in 2023), followed by Amazon, PayPal, Microsoft, and Publishers Clearing House, using methods including fraudulent emails, phone calls, and social media to pressure victims into urgent action. Microsoft impersonators caused the highest financial losses, exemplified by a Mesa resident who lost nearly her entire life savings after being directed to a fake support line and tricked into depositing $25,000 in Bitcoin. Consumers can protect themselves by recognizing red flags such as demands for cryptocurrency payments, pressure to act immediately, and unsolicited contact, and should verify company ident

Taylor Trost, a business owner from Scottsdale, Arizona, lost $25,000 in April to a sophisticated social engineering scam in which a caller impersonated her bank and convinced her to provide account access by claiming an impostor was using her identity. After weeks of calling her bank and receiving conflicting information, she received only a $128 refund and her case was closed without explanation. Trost shared her story on TikTok and discovered other victims, while cybersecurity experts advise consumers to verify company contact information directly rather than using provided numbers and to avoid wire transfers, cash apps, and gift cards when conducting sensitive transactions.

The FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report revealed that Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud, an 11% increase from 2022, with Arizona seniors alone losing $128 million (a 56% jump from $82 million in 2022). The article highlights the growing severity of elder fraud and directs readers to resources like R.O.S.E. (Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly) for information on scams targeting seniors, while noting that vigilant staff at a Green Valley UPS store prevented nearly $200,000 in scammer losses over two years.

This article does not contain content related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The news briefs cover unrelated topics including a body found in a canal, a dog shooting incident, school funding decisions, and a bicycle crash. It is not suitable for the Elderus fraud research database.

The FTC reported $10 billion in fraud losses in 2023, with AARP estimates suggesting adults over 60 lose more than $28 billion annually to fraud. Older adults are targeted for their access to substantial savings, available time, and sometimes limited online safety knowledge, with common scams including gift card/refund schemes, romance scams, and cryptocurrency investment frauds. Protective measures include verifying communications, guarding personal information, remaining skeptical of unsolicited money requests, and maintaining open communication with trusted networks and caretakers.

Arizona seniors have lost over $82 million to fraud, with tech support scams causing average losses of $23,000 per victim and affecting people 60+ at 500% higher rates than younger adults. The Peoria Police Department is actively combating the "Phantom Hacker Scam," where criminals use pop-ups to trick seniors into sending money via cryptocurrency ATMs while posing as fraud detectives, and authorities are installing warning signs at crypto machines and urging community members to educate elderly relatives about avoiding such scams.

Arizona ranked fifth nationally for online romance scams in 2023, with more than 800 victims losing over $22 million, averaging $27,000 per victim—significantly higher than the national average of $2,000. The most dangerous emerging scams involve deepfake video calls, cryptocurrency investment schemes, and fake celebrity profiles using artificial intelligence technology. To protect themselves, potential victims should verify identities through reverse image searches, watch for signs of deepfakes like unnatural blinking and mismatched mouth movements, and never send money or cryptocurrency to unknown online contacts.

This article is primarily a website navigation/subscription page for a local Arizona news outlet. The substantive content focuses on elder fraud awareness in Arizona, highlighting that behind FBI statistics on elder fraud are real victims with emotional and financial losses, and features stories of three Arizona victims. The piece also mentions that UPS staff in Green Valley stopped scammers from stealing nearly $200,000 over two years, and references R.O.S.E. Resources as a local organization providing senior fraud prevention information.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a demand letter to Buenas Communities LLC after approximately 400 units at the Buenas on 32nd apartment complex in Phoenix lacked adequate air conditioning during record-breaking heat, creating serious health risks for residents. The letter cited violations of the Arizona Landlord Tenant Act, Phoenix City Code, and Arizona Consumer Fraud Act, requiring the company to repair all affected units by July 26, 2024, and provide written confirmation by July 29, 2024. The Attorney General's Office indicated it would pursue further legal action if the company failed to comply.

This article collection does not contain content relevant to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The articles cover education policy, traffic incidents, immigration enforcement, workplace accidents, and restaurant features—none of which relate to fraudulent schemes or elder victimization. No summary for the Elderus database is applicable.

Scammers impersonated the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department using the fake name "Lt. Justin Branberry" in phone calls to extract money from residents across multiple states including Ohio, Arizona, and Florida. At least one victim lost $3,000 (her entire Social Security check) to the scheme, which used professional-sounding language, badge numbers, and case numbers to establish false authority; authorities warn that legitimate sheriff's departments contact people in person or by mail, not by phone.

A study by PrivacyJournal.net ranked Nevada as the most dangerous state for online dating based on reported romance scams, fraud, identity theft, and violent crime per 100,000 residents. Nevada ranked second nationally for romance scam reports and third for fraud reports, making it a higher-risk state for online daters seeking to avoid financial and personal victimization. The analysis identified Vermont as the safest state for online dating, while other risky states included Alaska, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, and South Carolina.

AI-generated voice and video impersonation scams are making traditional emergency fraud increasingly difficult to detect, with scammers using snippets from social media or voicemail to realistically replicate loved ones' voices and deepfake technology to create convincing video calls. Notable cases include an Arizona mother who received an AI-generated call from her daughter's voice demanding $50,000 ransom and a Hong Kong finance worker who lost $25 million to scammers using deepfake video to impersonate his CFO. To protect against these scams, individuals should establish family code words, verify caller information, have a third party independently contact the loved one, and maintain emotional awareness that anyone can be

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a warning about cryptocurrency scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly senior citizens, which exploit victims' unfamiliarity with digital currencies. Common scams include investment schemes promising high returns with zero risk, impersonation scams claiming account fraud or legal issues that can only be resolved via cryptocurrency transfer, and blackmail scams threatening to release compromising information unless paid in Bitcoin. The Attorney General advises Arizonans to verify caller information independently, remain skeptical of unsolicited requests, recognize that legitimate businesses never demand cryptocurrency payment, protect personal information, consult trusted family members before financial decisions, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement or the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued an alert about cryptocurrency scams targeting consumers through investment schemes, impersonation fraud, and blackmail extortion. Scammers use phone calls, emails, social media, and dating apps to pose as investment managers, government officials, or love interests to trick victims into buying and transferring cryptocurrency. The Attorney General recommends verifying caller information independently, remaining skeptical of unsolicited requests for cryptocurrency payments, never sharing personal information with unknown callers, consulting trusted individuals before major financial decisions, and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced state grand jury indictments against Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges including theft, misuse of public monies, harassment, and destruction of public records. Whiting's spouse, Apache County School Superintendent Joyclynn Whiting, was charged with misuse of public monies and conflict of interest, and Whiting's aide Daryl Greer faced separate charges including misuse of public monies and harassment. The investigation into the Apache County Attorney's Office remains ongoing.

Elder fraud targeting Americans over 60 increased 3% between 2022 and 2023, with victims losing an average of over $36,000 per incident. Arizona, Utah, and Rhode Island experienced the largest increases (36%, 23%, and 22% respectively), with research suggesting scammers are increasingly targeting high-income areas with large senior populations. Prevention measures include educating seniors and financial professionals about common scams, improving digital literacy among older adults, and implementing stronger security settings on financial accounts.

Arizona ranks among the nation's worst states for online dating safety, according to a Privacy Journal study that analyzed romance scams, identity theft, fraud, and other risk factors. The state has the highest rate of romance scam victims at 9.2 per 100,000 residents annually, along with the 10th-highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases and eighth-highest fraud rate, placing it 46th out of 50 states overall. The study recommends vigilance when using dating apps like Bumble and Tinder to avoid catfishing, romance scams, and other online dating dangers.

A study ranking online dating safety across U.S. states identified Nevada, Alaska, Georgia, Florida, and Arizona as the five most dangerous states, based on rates of romance scams, identity theft, fraud, violent crime, and encounters with registered sex offenders. Georgia and Florida ranked among the least safe due to particularly high identity theft and fraud rates, while Arizona led the nation in romance scams specifically. The research demonstrates that geographic location significantly influences online dating risks for users.

California's reported elder fraud complaints decreased slightly by 2 percent from 2022 to 2023 (from 145 to 142 complaints per 100,000 adults aged 60+), but the state remains among the top 10 most affected states in the nation. The FBI data shows significant variation across states, with Arizona leading at 289 complaints per 100,000 elders compared to Mississippi's lowest rate of 64, while nine states experienced increases of 19-36 percent in elder fraud complaints during the same period.

California ranks among the top 10 U.S. states for elder fraud reports per capita, with 142 reports per 100,000 adults aged 60 and older in 2023, a slight 2% decrease from 2022's rate of 145 reports per 100,000 seniors. Arizona leads the nation with 289 reports per 100,000 elderly residents, followed by Nevada (264) and Colorado (242), according to an analysis by All About Cookies based on FBI data.

This legal filing does not relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse and falls outside the scope of the Elderus research database. The article concerns a federal court's decision to deny a removal motion in a criminal prosecution case unrelated to elder fraud or victimization.

The FBI reports a 25% increase in scam victims and $300 million in additional losses over the past year, with particularly harsh impacts on retirees in Arizona living on fixed incomes. The bureau has launched the "Take a Beat" awareness initiative to combat various schemes including romance scams, phone fraud, and cryptocurrency scams (which alone resulted in $4.5 billion in losses nationally last year). The FBI advises potential victims to pause before sending money, verify requests independently rather than using provided phone numbers, consult financial advisors or law enforcement, and report scams quickly—noting a 70% success rate in recovering wired funds within 24 hours.

During a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly discussed the escalating threat of sophisticated fraud targeting seniors, including AI-generated voice cloning, cryptocurrency schemes, and "pig butchering" scams orchestrated by organized crime networks operating internationally, with reported losses totaling $100 billion. Law enforcement and consumer advocates emphasized the need for increased investigative resources, industry engagement, and a comprehensive national strategy to combat these crimes. Kelly highlighted his legislative efforts to protect seniors, including the Stop Senior Scams Act (2022) and the EdCOPS Act (2024), while discussing successful collaborative models like San Diego's Elder Justice Task Force.

Fountain View Village Senior Living Community in Fountain Hills hosted a fraud prevention seminar on October 3 as part of National Cybersecurity Month, featuring Tiffany Lam from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. The seminar educated seniors on recognizing and avoiding scams, highlighting five red flags including unexpected results, unrealistic promises, scare tactics, urgent demands, untraceable payments, and suspicious communication. Arizona ranks sixth nationally for fraud losses, with seniors losing approximately $128 million in 2023.

William J. White, a 63-year-old Arizona resident, was sentenced to 15 months in prison on September 25, 2024, for attempting to cash a forged check at a local bank using false identification. White was also ordered to pay a $100 mandatory assessment fee and will serve two years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

Yuniel Rodriguez-Leon was sentenced to 2.75 years in prison plus 2.5 years probation for operating a gift card cloning scheme at Walmart stores across Arizona counties (Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal) from October to December 2023. Rodriguez-Leon removed gift cards from shelves, cloned the card numbers, returned them to stores, and then used the cloned cards to drain balances after consumers loaded funds, causing financial losses to victims. The Arizona Attorney General's Office, in partnership with Walmart's Global Investigations, identified Rodriguez-Leon through video surveillance and transaction records, leading to his guilty pleas on felony charges of frau

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed an amended complaint against Heritage Village Assisted Living in Mesa, adding racketeering charges to existing elder abuse and consumer fraud allegations, while seeking control of two related facilities (Visions Mesa and Visions Apache Junction). The investigation revealed that owners Gary and Tracy Langendoen diverted over $2.9 million from resident care funds to other properties, submitted forged license applications, failed to maintain required insurance coverage (costing $500,000 in emergency replacement), and charged residents $25,000 monthly for management services while they suffered abuse and neglect. A court-appointed receiver has already improved operations and is now seeking new owners for the facility

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes amended her lawsuit against Heritage Village Assisted Living to include racketeering charges and seek court receivership of two additional facilities (Visions Mesa and Visions Apache Junction) owned by the same operators. The investigation uncovered that owners Gary and Tracy Langendoen diverted over $2.9 million from Heritage Village's operating accounts to pay debts on other properties, including at least $890,000 transferred to Visions Apache Junction, while residents suffered abuse and neglect and insurance coverage lapsed until the receiver secured replacement coverage at an additional cost of $500,000. The amended complaint also alleges that Heritage Village submitted six forged license applications

Last year, over 100,000 seniors reported being scammed, with total losses exceeding $3 billion according to FBI data, and Arizona ranks 6th nationally for senior fraud losses. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is conducting community presentations to educate seniors about scams, including a case where a resident was tricked into providing personal information after being contacted about a billing issue. Authorities emphasize that scammers are sophisticated and encourage victims to report incidents without shame, as doing so can help protect other seniors from becoming victims.

Arizona residents lost approximately $325 million to romance fraud in 2023, making the state the eighth highest in the nation for cyber scam losses. The FBI's Phoenix bureau emphasized on romance fraud awareness day that perpetrators use online dating platforms to deceive victims into sending money, highlighting the need for caution when using dating apps and websites.

Last year, over 100,000 seniors reported scams totaling more than $3 billion in losses, with Arizona ranking 6th nationally for senior fraud losses. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office held awareness presentations at senior communities after resident George Wilen fell victim to a sophisticated billing scam where fraudsters transferred him between fake departments to steal personal information. County officials emphasize that scammers are highly skilled and encourage seniors to report incidents without shame, as doing so can prevent others from becoming victims.

The FBI reported over 100,000 seniors were scammed last year with total losses exceeding $3 billion, prompting the Maricopa County Attorney's Office to conduct fraud awareness presentations at senior living communities in Arizona, which ranks 6th nationally for senior fraud losses. A local senior named George Wilen shared his experience of being targeted by a sophisticated scam involving a fake billing department that extracted personal information from him. County officials emphasize that seniors are deliberately targeted for their assets and encourage victims to report scams despite feelings of embarrassment, as reporting can help protect other potential victims.

Arizona's Attorney General filed an amended complaint in October 2024 adding racketeering charges against Heritage Village Assisted Living and its owners Gary and Tracy Langendoen, alleging over $2.9 million was diverted from resident care accounts to pay personal debts and fund other Langendoen-controlled properties across multiple states. The lawsuit also seeks to expand court receivership to two other assisted living facilities (Visions Mesa and Visions Apache Junction) and alleges additional misconduct including forged license applications, fraudulent insurance claims of $200,000, and illegal fund transfers between facilities without proper documentation.

**Not Relevant to Elderus Database** This article is about gardening and landscape design, specifically showcasing native rabbit brush plants in Arizona. It does not contain information about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse, and therefore is not appropriate for summarization in the Elderus fraud research database.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a cease-and-desist warning to iDentidad Advertising Development LLC (also known as iDentidad Telecom) for transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic, joining 50 other state attorneys general in an Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force. The company routed nearly 200 traceback-identified illegal calls involving IRS/Social Security imposters, utilities scams, and financial scams, including spoofed calls impersonating the Illinois Attorney General's Office. The FCC simultaneously issued its own cease-and-desist, and state attorneys general warned they will pursue legal action including damages, civil penalties,

Peggy Judd, a Cochise County election officer, pleaded guilty to failing to canvass the 2023 election as required by law, receiving a Class 3 misdemeanor charge for Failure or Refusal to Perform Duty by an Election Officer. She was sentenced to a minimum of 90 days unsupervised probation and ordered to pay up to $500 in fines as part of a plea deal announced by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is hosting a townhall on November 1 in Yuma to gather community input on how elder scams and fraud impact local residents. The event will take place at Community Christian Church from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and attendees can RSVP in advance.