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Tolulope Samuel Bodunde, a 33-year-old Nigerian citizen, was sentenced to two years in prison for participating in a multi-country business email compromise scheme that defrauded multiple victims including Connecticut, Colorado, Alaska, and New York-based companies. Bodunde specifically exploited elderly women through romance scams to serve as unwitting money mules and was ordered to pay $494,939 in restitution to three victims. The criminal network, led by co-conspirator Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, operated over several years by impersonating legitimate entities in electronic communications to trick victims into transferring money to accounts controlled by the conspirators.

Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in September-October 2024, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado issued a public alert warning of charity scams targeting disaster relief donations. Fraudsters exploit disasters by creating fake charities and deceptive websites through email, social media, and unsolicited communications to steal money and personal information from well-intentioned donors. The alert advises the public to donate directly to verified established charities, avoid clicking unsolicited links, use credit cards or checks instead of cash, and report suspected fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at (866) 720-5721.

A Colorado man, Amondo Antoine Miller, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his role in a $300 million nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that defrauded over 150,000 victims, primarily elderly and vulnerable individuals, by deceiving them into unwanted magazine subscriptions. The scheme, which operated from 2000 onward, caused some victims to face monthly charges exceeding $1,000 from multiple fraudulent billings simultaneously. This case marked the largest elder fraud prosecution in the nation and was the first in Minnesota prosecuted under the Senior Citizens Against Marketing Scams Act of 1994, which provides enhanced penalties for telemarketing fraud targeting seniors.

Amondo Antoine Miller, 48, of Colorado, was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a $300 million nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that defrauded over 150,000 victims, predominantly elderly and vulnerable individuals, between 2000 and at least 2023. The scheme involved Miller and co-conspirators fraudulently convincing victims with existing magazine subscriptions to "renew" them, when in reality they were signing up for unwanted new subscriptions, with some victims billed by up to ten companies monthly totaling over $1,000. This was prosecuted as the largest elder fraud case in the nation under the Senior Citizens Against Marketing Scams Act, marking

Amondo Antoine Miller, a 48-year-old from Littleton, Colorado, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for operating a magazine subscription fraud scheme that defrauded approximately 150,000 elderly victims nationwide of an estimated $300 million. Miller and his co-conspirators would contact people with existing subscriptions, offer renewal deals at lower rates, then trick them into signing up for multiple new subscriptions, with some victims billed by up to ten magazines totaling $1,000 monthly. This was the first conviction under the Senior Citizens Against Marketing Scams Act of 1994.

Two Lexington men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud after scamming at least five victims across five states out of more than $500,000 through email and romance scams between December 2021 and late 2022. Kenneth J. Brown Jr. and Nicholas R. Shepard, who owned Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange, converted stolen funds into cryptocurrency and face up to 20 years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines. The scams targeted individuals from Colorado to Florida, with victims losing thousands of dollars each in schemes involving false claims about money transfers and fraudulent romance solicitations.

Romance scams cost Colorado residents $10 million in 2023, with nationwide losses reaching $652 million that year, according to FBI data. Scammers create fake online dating profiles to build emotional relationships with victims before requesting money for fraudulent purposes. The FBI advises users to be cautious of anyone unwilling to meet in person and to avoid becoming emotionally invested in online conversations without verification.

The Wheat Ridge Police Department warned of a cryptocurrency extortion scam circulating through the community in which victims receive emails containing personal information (addresses, photos from Google Maps) and threats of blackmail involving fabricated malware and compromising videos, demanding cryptocurrency payment via Bitcoin QR code. None of the Wheat Ridge residents who received these emails fell victim to the scam, though police emphasized the importance of reporting such attempts to raise community awareness. The scam exploits urgency and fear through false claims, reflecting a broader national problem—Americans lost over $5.5 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with Colorado reporting more than 1,300 fraud cases costing residents $81 million

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.

Senior Law Day is a free educational event scheduled for September 21, 2024, in Boulder County, Colorado, designed to help older adults, family members, and caregivers learn about legal and lifestyle matters through expert presentations and consultations. The event features sessions on topics including scams and fraud, estate planning, Medicaid, elder rights and abuse, and dementia caregiving, with attendees able to schedule one-on-one consultations with attorneys, Medicare counselors, and fraud protection experts.

Linda Pierce of Colorado was targeted by tech support scammers who posed as Apple support and falsely claimed to represent FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act), convincing her to withdraw $3,000 in cash and purchase $3,000 in gift cards to resolve a fake account security issue. The scammers kept Pierce confused about the fraudulent nature of the scheme by claiming to help her restore her own money, but she ultimately lost the funds after sending images of the gift card codes to the perpetrator. Through persistent follow-up with retailers and her credit union, Pierce recovered approximately $1,500 from Target gift cards and is awaiting a response from Walmart.

This article does not involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It describes a violent incident in which two teens fired on a police officer during a traffic stop in Englewood, Colorado, resulting in attempted murder charges. This content falls outside the scope of the Elderus research database.

**Summary:** Scammers are exploiting Colorado wildfires by creating fake fundraising appeals for firefighting efforts and personnel. The Boulder Office of Disaster Management warns residents to avoid clicking email links from unverified sources and to research organizations before donating, directing people instead to legitimate charities like Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active, Colorado Baptist Disaster Relief, and Volunteers of America Colorado.

A Colorado woman lost over $19,000 after falling victim to a fake Geek Squad email scam that directed her to call a fraudulent support number. In a related incident, another Colorado resident, Rhiannon Pearson, was targeted by scammers posing as Navy Federal Credit Union and now faces a $12,000 loan fraudulently taken out in her name. Authorities advise verifying unsolicited communications by contacting companies directly through official channels rather than using contact information provided in suspicious emails.

The Paul Freeman Financial Security Program at the University of Denver expanded the Colorado Older Adults Financial Justice Coalition to combat elder financial fraud, which costs older Americans over $20 billion annually. The coalition brings together state agencies, advocacy organizations, and researchers to develop prevention tools and frameworks that address the complex relationship between cognitive health, financial decision-making, and vulnerability to exploitation. The team is creating a financial vulnerability scale and training programs for frontline workers to identify and protect at-risk individuals across the lifespan.

A Colorado woman lost over $19,000 to scammers who impersonated Best Buy's Geek Squad support services via a fraudulent email claiming her subscription was expiring. The victim followed the scammers' instructions across multiple calls, ultimately transferring the funds before realizing she had been defrauded. Authorities recommend verifying suspicious communications by contacting companies directly using official numbers found on their legitimate websites, rather than using contact information provided in the suspicious message.

Scammers in Colorado are targeting pet owners who post about lost animals by impersonating Humane Society representatives and demanding immediate payment over the phone for veterinary care before releasing the pet. The Northern Colorado Humane Society warns that legitimate animal shelters never request money by phone or electronic app to reunite owners with their pets; any fees are handled in person upon pickup.

Colorado Springs police report that scams are increasingly catching seniors due to both the volume of daily attempts and seniors' particular vulnerability to emotional manipulation. Victims lose anywhere from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with romance scams proving especially devastating—one woman lost her life by suicide after being defrauded of thousands of dollars monthly by a romance scammer posing as her fiancé. Experts identify key red flags including requests for non-traditional payment methods (gift cards, cryptocurrency, direct bank transfers) and note that seniors' generation-based tendency to trust authority figures, combined with isolation and loneliness, makes them prime targets for scammers posing as law enforcement, banks, or tech companies.

The 2024 Senior Law & Safety Summit in Colorado will bring together local law enforcement and experts to educate seniors on fraud prevention, elder abuse, ID theft, and related topics through various classes. The July 13 event in Lone Tree covers online scams, estate planning, investment fraud, and health and safety matters, with registration costing $10 (including lunch) or free for those unable to pay.

A Colorado woman who co-owned a jewelry store was defrauded of over $700,000 over two years after meeting a man on Instagram who posed as a legitimate gold jewelry seller; she discovered the items she purchased were cheap silver worth approximately $4 each made to look like gold. After traveling to India to confront the scammers, she contacted authorities, and while one man involved in creating fraudulent authenticity documents was arrested, the father-and-son perpetrators remained at large as of June 2024.

Two Irish nationals, Dean Morgan and John McNamara, were arrested at JFK Airport after being identified in a roofing scam targeting Denver residents, particularly older homeowners in the Congress Park area. The scam involved the men approaching homeowners, claiming to spot roof damage, then planting worms under shingles and falsely presenting them as maggots requiring immediate paid repairs; victims lost over $10,000 each, with some having their roofs deliberately damaged. The investigation expanded from an initial three confirmed victims to a wider international case after CBS News Colorado's report generated community leads, with prosecutors believing the men may have perpetrated similar scams in California and other states.

Two Irish nationals, Dean Morgan and John McNamara, were arrested at JFK Airport after running a roofing scam targeting Denver residents, primarily older homeowners, between mid-April and May. The scammers approached homeowners claiming to have spotted roof damage, then planted worms under shingles and falsely claimed they were maggots requiring immediate paid repairs, resulting in victims losing thousands of dollars for work never completed. The investigation expanded from initial reports of three Denver victims to an international case after CBS News Colorado's coverage prompted additional victims to come forward, with prosecutors investigating potential scams in other states including California.

Two Irish nationals, John McNamara and Dean Morgan, were arrested in New York City and charged with four counts of theft and one count of racketeering for operating a roofing scam targeting elderly Denver residents between April and May 2024. The men allegedly defrauded homeowners by falsely claiming their roofs were infested with pests and required urgent repairs, leaving some properties damaged; both men are also under investigation for similar offenses in California.

Dean Morgan and John McNamara, two Irish men, were charged with racketeering and theft in Denver, Colorado after allegedly defrauding elderly homeowners by convincing them their roofs required expensive emergency repairs due to infestations of insects, squirrels, or raccoons between April and May. The pair, arrested in New York City before fleeing the country, left some victims with damaged roofs and large financial losses; they are also under investigation for similar allegations in California.

Scammers across Colorado are using phone calls, texts, and emails impersonating law enforcement, the IRS, tech support, and other trusted entities to defraud victims of thousands of dollars. In 2023, Colorado reported $188 million in losses across 11,000+ victims, ranking 7th nationally per capita, with Summit County Sheriff's Office reporting 80 fraud cases so far this year totaling tens of thousands in losses. Authorities advise remaining skeptical of urgent requests, offers that seem too good to be true, and unsolicited contact, and recommend reporting suspicious activity to StopFraudColorado.gov or IC3.gov, noting that once funds are

This educational article highlights five emerging scams targeting Colorado seniors and emphasizes the importance of awareness to prevent fraud. The piece stresses that as technology evolves, criminals develop increasingly sophisticated tactics that exploit older adults' unfamiliarity with digital schemes, and recommends that seniors and their families stay informed about these threats rather than avoiding technology altogether.

This educational article highlights five emerging scams targeting Colorado seniors and emphasizes the importance of awareness to prevent fraud. The piece stresses that as technology evolves, criminals are developing increasingly sophisticated methods to target older adults, and encourages seniors and their families to stay informed rather than avoid technology entirely. The article references AARP resources as a valuable tool for seniors to learn about current scams and protect themselves.

Joseph Tyler and his wife Amelia Tyler were sentenced for operating a tree-trimming scam targeting 50 residents across six Colorado counties, primarily elderly victims over age 80. Joseph Tyler received an eight-year prison sentence and was ordered to repay $23,000 after pleading guilty to two felony theft counts, while Amelia Tyler received three years probation; the couple would solicit tree-trimming work, collect payment by cash or check, and abandon the job after completing minimal work between February 2020 and their arrest in October 2022.

A Colorado homebuyer lost nearly $100,000 in down payment savings to a wire transfer scam after receiving a realistic-looking email that appeared to be from his bank requesting the transfer to complete his home purchase; the scammers had gained access to his emails and included accurate account information to make the request seem legitimate. The FBI received over 2,000 wire fraud complaints daily in 2023, with Americans losing $311 million total to wire transfer scams according to the FTC. To protect themselves, homebuyers should verify wire transfer requests by calling their bank directly using a number they find themselves, use secure portals through title companies, and never send funds without direct verbal confirmation from the intende

In 2023, scammers stole $188 million from over 11,000 victims across Colorado, with Summit County experiencing 80 fraud reports so far this year totaling tens of thousands in losses. Common scams include phone and email schemes where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement, the IRS, tech support, or claim urgent family emergencies or warrant arrests. Victims are advised to be suspicious of unsolicited messages offering unrealistic rewards, report suspicious activity to law enforcement, and file complaints with StopFraudColorado.gov or IC3.gov, though most stolen funds are unrecoverable once scammers operate from overseas jurisdictions.

The FBI Internet Crime Center has issued a warning about fraudulent SMS texts impersonating toll services like Colorado's ExpressToll, which request recipients to pay outstanding tolls to avoid late fees and direct them to fake payment websites. The Colorado Transportation Investment Office (CTIO) does not use text messaging for toll collection, and while no complaints have been filed locally, the FBI has received over 2,000 complaints about this toll fraud scheme nationwide. Recipients are advised to verify toll balances through official websites, report suspicious texts to the FBI's IC3, and secure their personal information if they clicked any links or provided details.

San Miguel County is experiencing a significant increase in scam victimization, with the Sheriff's Office warning residents about sophisticated fraud schemes targeting the area. Common scams include cryptocurrency fraud, inheritance scams with fake legal notifications requesting upfront fees, and increasingly AI-enabled schemes that impersonate authorities and create personalized content. Colorado residents lost $196.5 million to scams in 2022, with investment fraud victims typically between ages 30 and 68, and the Sheriff's Office advises victims to report compromised accounts to financial institutions and contact law enforcement rather than engaging with scammers.

Colorado residents lost more than $187 million to cybercriminals in 2023, an increase of nearly $9 million from 2022, with investment fraud ($60 million), business email compromise ($57 million), and tech support scams ($23 million) being the top three fraud types reported in the state. Nationally, seniors were the most victimized age group with over 100,000 complaints totaling more than $3 billion in losses, while those over 60 accounted for more than half of tech support scam losses. The FBI received over 880,000 cybercrime complaints nationwide in 2023 with potential losses exceeding $12.5

John Kyle Muller of Boulder, Colorado pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a prize notice scam from 2012 to February 2018 that defrauded thousands of consumers, predominantly elderly victims, of over $15 million. The scheme involved mailing millions of fraudulent notices claiming recipients had won cash prizes, then charging $20-$50 fees to claim non-existent rewards, while victims received only worthless reports or trinkets. Muller and his co-conspirators were shut down in February 2018 through U.S. Postal Inspection Service search warrants and a federal court order.

A Colorado woman lost $158,162 in Ethereum cryptocurrency in a 2022 scam after being deceived by a fake Instagram account impersonating Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin, which promised to double any cryptocurrency sent to it. Federal Secret Service agents, assisted by a private cryptocurrency forensics firm, were able to freeze an account containing approximately $17,000 of the stolen funds, though the suspected scammer is believed to be located in Kazakhstan and the case is not prosecutable locally. Experts note that such scams typically target people unfamiliar with cryptocurrency and that cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed once completed.

This is a program announcement from Apex Active Adult Programs in Arvada, Colorado, listing recreational and educational activities for April 2024, including billiards, bingo exercise classes, movie nights, museum trips, and a job expo for adults 50+. The programs are hosted at the Community Recreation Center and include a free AARP presentation on scam and fraud protection targeting older Coloradans, designed to educate seniors about common schemes.

A 2023 QRFY study found that Colorado ranked seventh in the nation for fraud losses, with residents losing $161.2 million total ($2.8 million per 100,000 residents) across 40,625 reported scams to the FTC. Imposter scams were the leading fraud type at 19% of incidents, followed by identity theft at 17%, with scammers commonly posing as banks, utilities, or police to trick victims into sending money or purchasing gift cards via phone, email, or text.

Scams in Colorado increased 34% year-over-year leading up to the April 15 tax deadline, with the FTC reporting that Coloradans lost $164 million to fraudsters in the previous year. Experts advise consumers not to respond to urgent money requests via messages and recommend freezing credit with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to protect against identity theft, which can take years to recover from.

In 2023, U.S. consumers lost $4.6 billion to investment scams—a 21% increase from 2022, with $1.4 billion lost on social media platforms alone. The most common schemes include cryptocurrency investment scams (featuring fake websites and fabricated profit statements), romance scams ("pig butchering" where scammers build relationships before soliciting money), and real estate scams (fraudulent property developments). The Colorado Division of Securities urges consumers of all ages to verify investment opportunities and report suspected fraud to protect themselves from these increasingly prevalent online schemes.

Colorado-based companies (Patriots Dynasty, Patriots Future, and USA Patriots) scammed thousands of people, including seniors, by selling "Trump Bucks" — novelty checkbooks, coins, and commemorative currency featuring Donald Trump's likeness — with false promises that these items could be cashed in for substantial sums if Trump returned to office or as rewards for loyalty. Victims spent anywhere from $1,500 to thousands of dollars on products that banks and retailers explicitly stated they would not honor, with at least one FTC complaint filed and all three companies receiving "F" ratings from the Better Business Bureau.

This is an educational piece by KKTV news examining common scams affecting Colorado Springs and the broader region. The report features anchor Katie Pelton interviewing experts to identify warning signs and provide protection strategies, though specific scam types and dollar amounts are not detailed in the summary provided. The piece highlights that scammers continue to cause significant financial and emotional harm to residents across southern Colorado and beyond.

A 26-year-old Jersey City man, Sagar Patel, was arrested and extradited to Colorado, where he faces grand theft charges for scamming a 79-year-old woman out of $120,000 in gold bars. Patel was taken into custody in February and now faces 4 to 12 years in prison if convicted.

This educational guide advises international students on recognizing and protecting themselves from five common scam types: threatening calls impersonating government officials, employment scams with suspicious job offers, requests for gift card payments, phishing emails/texts, and caller ID spoofing. The resource recommends reporting any scams to local police and federal agencies like the FTC or Colorado Attorney General, and directs victims who shared personal information to on-campus support services including victim assistance and counseling.

Douglas County law enforcement agencies announced the arrest of 26-year-old Sagar Patel for scamming a 79-year-old Highlands Ranch resident out of over $120,000 in gold bars through a months-long investigation involving cell phone and credit card records. Multiple police departments partnered to launch a public awareness campaign promoting the SCAM acronym (Stop, Call, Ask, Make informed decisions) and provided education on common scam tactics, emphasizing that victims should watch for pressure to act quickly, requests for unusual payment methods, and demands for secrecy.

Fraudulent calls, texts, and phishing scams targeting bank customers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers operating from organized call centers rather than acting individually. Alpine Bank and Community Banks of Colorado recently warned customers to avoid disclosing confidential banking information in response to unsolicited communications, as these operations often employ multiple employees who sound professional.

Three suspects were indicted in federal court in St. Louis for operating a nationwide tech support fraud scam targeting elderly victims, including a scheme where a 69-year-old Missouri couple was deceived into believing their computer was infected and coerced into paying $99,000 to prevent criminal prosecution. A related case involved a man posing as an FBI agent who defrauded an elderly Union man out of nearly $50,000 in gold by claiming his identity had been stolen, with similar scams occurring across Colorado and Oregon.

A Colorado Springs woman lost her entire $37,000 inheritance to a cryptocurrency investment scam after seeing a fraudulent post from a hacked friend's Facebook account. The scammers used a sophisticated multi-layered approach, including fake Bitcoin wallet instructions and a spoofed cryptocurrency website, to make the scheme appear legitimate and promise returns of $194,000. The victim, who was grieving her recently reconnected father, received nothing when she attempted to withdraw her funds, illustrating how investment fraud remains the top scam in Colorado with nearly 15,000 reports in 2024.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office warned of scams in which fraudsters impersonated Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP employees to solicit personal information from residents under the guise of providing "priority assistance" during the government shutdown. The scammers contacted victims via phone calls and text messages, and authorities cautioned that legitimate government agencies do not initiate contact through these methods and that caller IDs can be easily spoofed. The sheriff's office advised residents to avoid sharing personal information with unsolicited callers and to never pay unknown individuals using cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, or money transfer apps.

A Colorado man lost $1.4 million in a cryptocurrency romance scam after meeting a woman on a dating website who posed as a successful businesswoman and crypto investor, convincing him to transfer his savings and retirement funds for cryptocurrency investments over six weeks. When he attempted to withdraw his purported earnings, he was denied access and asked for an additional $400,000, a red flag that prompted his sister to alert authorities; a Colorado Bureau of Investigation agent confirmed this was the largest such loss he had encountered, with recovery prospects described as "likely slim" due to the funds being traced to an offline cryptocurrency wallet.

A Colorado man lost $1.4 million in a romance scam after meeting a woman on the dating site Ashley Madison who gained his trust and convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency, claiming she could help protect his finances in case of divorce. Over six weeks, he made four separate cryptocurrency transfers that depleted his retirement and savings accounts before realizing the money was gone. Colorado Bureau of Investigation officials warn that romance scammers exploit emotional vulnerabilities to build trust before introducing investment pitches, and advise people to be cautious of requests for money, promises of high returns, and conversations shifted to encrypted messaging apps.