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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.

The Mesa County Sheriff's Office warned the public about a phishing scam in which drivers receive fraudulent text messages claiming they have outstanding express toll charges and requesting personal information. The scam messages do not originate from ExpressToll or the E-470 Public Highway Authority, and legitimate toll fees are never collected via text message or unsolicited requests. Authorities advise recipients not to click links or provide personal information if they receive such messages.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

**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.

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.

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.

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.

Approximately 3,000 international victims of fraud facilitated by Western Union will receive a second distribution of $18.5 million in reimbursements, bringing the total compensation to over $420 million for more than 175,000 victims since the fund's establishment. The frauds, stemming from a 2017 deferred prosecution agreement, involved grandparent scams, lottery/sweepstakes scams, and romance scams, with Western Union having agreed to forfeit $586 million total after acknowledging it aided and abetted these schemes through complicit employees who failed to prevent fraudster activity. The Justice Department anticipates additional distributions in the coming months as it works

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.

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

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.

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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.

Two Lexington men, Kenneth J. Brown Jr. and Nicholas R. Shepard, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to wire and mail fraud after scamming at least five victims across five states out of over $500,000 through email and romance scams between December 2021 and 2022. The pair operated Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange and converted stolen funds into cryptocurrency, facing potential sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison and $250,000 fines.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Pig-butchering scams have defrauded an estimated $75 billion globally, with criminals increasingly using sophisticated AI-powered deepfake technology for real-time video impersonation and purchasing Starlink satellite dishes to maintain reliable internet connections from Asia. The scams follow a formula of building trust through romantic or investment relationships before redirecting victims to fraudulent crypto platforms, with reported victims losing hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars—including a Colorado retiree who lost $500,000 in life savings and an Illinois widow who lost over $1 million.

Text message phishing scams are among the most common fraud tactics targeting potential victims, with scammers impersonating shipping companies like USPS, UPS, or FedEx to claim packages are undeliverable and trick recipients into clicking links or calling numbers to provide payment or device access. Experts advise recipients to avoid clicking links or calling numbers in unsolicited texts, delete messages from unknown senders, and expect an increase in such scams during the holiday season. Those who encounter fraud can report it to AARP ElderWatch at 1-800-222-4444 (option 2).

A 28-year-old California man was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution after nearly defrauding an 85-year-old man and 83-year-old woman in Colorado through a fake Microsoft Support Services pop-up scam. The suspect collected $30,000 from the couple in March 2024 and subsequently attempted to obtain an additional $70,000 by directing them to purchase gold, but was arrested in April 2024 and the gold was recovered. The case highlights how scammers use psychological manipulation and fear tactics to exploit elderly victims, with authorities noting the suspect may have victimized others in different areas

A Keystone, Colorado resident lost over $6,000 in Bitcoin to scammers impersonating law enforcement who threatened arrest for missed jury duty, with an additional $4,000 transfer prevented by deputies. Similar incidents have occurred across Colorado, including a Denver woman who lost nearly $5,000 in Bitcoin through the same scheme; the state documented over 1,300 crypto fraud cases totaling $81 million in losses during 2023. Law enforcement warns that scammers use number spoofing to appear legitimate and target crypto because transactions are irreversible and difficult to trace.

A Colorado resident lost over $6,000 in Bitcoin after scammers called claiming he had missed jury duty and threatened arrest unless he paid thousands in cryptocurrency; deputies prevented a second $4,000 payment and the victim's personal information was compromised during the call. The Summit County Sheriff's Office warned that this "jury duty scam" has circulated multiple times in Colorado, with a similar incident occurring in September where a woman was nearly defrauded of $8,000. Law enforcement emphasizes that legitimate authorities never call to threaten arrest or demand payment, and victims should hang up and independently contact the agency to verify any such claims.

A Colorado woman named Debbie Fox fell victim to a romance scam after meeting a man named Russell online who posed as a successful businessman; after weeks of communication, he manipulated her into sending him nearly $60,000 by claiming he needed help with a work crisis overseas and appealing to her guilt when she initially refused. The scam highlights how fraudsters exploit emotional connections and personal values to persuade victims to transfer funds, and the podcast episode features Debbie's courageous decision to share her story publicly to help raise awareness about this common type of elder fraud.

AARP ElderWatch, a joint program between AARP and the Colorado Attorney General, surveyed 907 Colorado residents in June 2024 and found that fraud and scam concerns have reached crisis levels, with 75% of adults viewing these issues as a critical problem. Identity theft incidents among Coloradans increased from 15% in 2020 to 21% in 2024, with financial losses nearly doubling from 12% to 23%, though younger adults using online accounts and P2P payment platforms (89% usage) are less vigilant about account monitoring compared to older adults. The survey recommends continued education and awareness, noting that residents prefer phone contact with specialists

A Florida couple, Phil and Nicole Scolaro, were indicted on five felony charges including fraud and theft after deceiving two elderly Colorado women into sending over $4 million by posing as owners of a working gold mine in Africa and promising them partial ownership. Law enforcement emphasized that seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams due to their trusting nature, accumulated savings, and perceived lower tech-savviness, and recommended victims report fraud quickly to authorities and banks to prevent further financial loss.

Phil and Nicole Scolaro were arrested in Florida and charged with five felonies for defrauding two elderly Colorado women of over $4 million through a fake African goldmine investment scheme spanning three years. A Douglas County Sheriff's Senior Resource Deputy emphasized that seniors are frequent targets due to greater trust, lower tech-savvy, and accumulated wealth, and recommended using the "SCAM" and "STOP" acronyms to identify red flags, while encouraging families to establish trust so victims will report incidents to authorities and banks promptly.

A Florida couple, Phil and Nicole Scolaro, defrauded two elderly Colorado women out of over $4 million over three years by claiming they were partial owners of an African gold mine and persuading the victims to send money for supposed mine ownership stakes. The couple was arrested in late October and faces five felony charges including fraud and theft, with bail set at $1 million combined. The article also highlights that seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams due to being more trusting and having accumulated savings, and emphasizes the importance of reporting fraud quickly to law enforcement and financial institutions.

Colorado residents face an emerging threat from AI-powered deepfake scams expected to surge in 2025, including deepfake audio and video that impersonate loved ones or celebrities to manipulate victims into sending money. These scams exploit emotional connections by creating convincing fake videos of people the victim knows requesting financial assistance or using fake celebrity identities to build relationships before requesting money. The article advises all Colorado residents to learn to recognize scam warning signs and stay informed about these evolving tactics to protect themselves from financial loss.

Violent crime against seniors in the United States increased 331% over the past decade, prompting a comprehensive safety analysis of all 50 states across seven categories including scams, violent crime, property crime, falls, and healthcare access. New Jersey ranked as the safest state for retirement with low elder fraud and violent crime rates, while East Coast states dominated the top 10; conversely, Western states like Colorado, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon ranked as the least safe due to high property crime, elder fraud, and limited police presence. The research reveals a significant shift in retirement planning priorities, with older adults now prioritizing security alongside traditional factors.

Violent crime against seniors in the United States increased 331% over the past decade, prompting a shift in retirement planning toward safety considerations. Seniorly's analysis of FBI data and federal statistics identified New Jersey as the safest state for older adults to retire, followed by New York and Mississippi, while Colorado and Western states (Nevada, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico) ranked as the most dangerous due to high rates of elder fraud, property crime, and violent crime. The safest states were characterized by strong police presence, lower elder fraud rates, and better healthcare access, with East Coast states dominating the top 10.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser warned residents about emerging AI-enabled fraud schemes that use voice recordings to create convincing fake calls claiming victims or loved ones need money, often impersonating law enforcement or creating "grandparent scam" scenarios. Common red flags include requests for gift cards or wire transfers, and Weiser advised victims to verify calls by contacting official numbers from organizations' websites rather than using numbers provided by callers. Coloradans who suspect they've been targeted by these scams can file complaints with the attorney general's office.

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Frank Andrew Stevens, 62, a former Colorado oil and gas company owner, pleaded guilty to defrauding the State of Michigan by submitting false sales reports in 2016, underreporting his company's oil sales by nearly $34,000 ($77,852 actual vs. $43,951 reported). As part of the plea agreement, Stevens agreed to pay $15,000 in restitution to Michigan and faces sentencing in December 2025, following completion of a 15-month federal prison sentence for related tax evasion charges.

A 2025 awareness article from AARP highlights that 73% of Colorado adults worry about scams and fraud, then outlines six common red flags to recognize fraud attempts, including requests for non-traditional payments, unsolicited contact, demands for personal information, artificial urgency, unrealistic offers, and lack of verifiable contact information. The article encourages individuals to trust their instincts and provides resources including the AARP ElderWatch helpline (800-222-4444) for fraud questions and assistance.

Two individuals were arrested as "couriers" in gold bar scams that defrauded at least three Indian River Shores residents of nearly $2 million in early 2024. The scams involved fake government officials calling victims and instructing them to purchase gold bars, which couriers then collected in person; one 77-year-old woman lost $156,000 across two separate meetings, handing over gold bars worth approximately $72,904 and $83,000. Rakeshbhai Harshadbhai Patel, 35, was arrested in January 2025, and Syed Makki, 36, was arrested in Colorado and awaits ext

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office warns Northern Colorado residents about 13 emerging scams in 2025, including cryptocurrency investment fraud, fake security warnings, rental and car buying scams on online marketplaces, romance schemes, and impersonation of law enforcement or government agencies. Common tactics involve pressure, secrecy, and requests for untraceable payments via Bitcoin, wire transfers, or gift cards. The advisory recommends verifying all financial transactions with official sources, never sending money to unknown parties, and treating urgent demands with skepticism.

The U.S. Postal Service warned of romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, in which scammers create fake identities online, build trust over weeks or months, then request money through the mail by fabricating urgent financial emergencies. Victims suffer financial and emotional losses as scammers pressure them to send cash, checks, wire transfers, or gift cards that are difficult to recover. USPS advises never sending money to online contacts you haven't met in person, remaining cautious of quickly escalating relationships, and reporting suspected scams to the Postal Inspection Service, local law enforcement, or the Federal Trade Commission.

Colorado drivers have been targeted by a widespread texting scam impersonating state highway authorities, claiming unpaid toll invoices or traffic violations and demanding immediate payment via text message. The Colorado Department of Transportation has confirmed this is at least the third wave of the scam, which appears to originate from either bulk Colorado phone number databases or randomly generated numbers, with some victims reporting they paid specific amounts like $18.49 before realizing it was fraudulent. CDOT advises drivers never to click links or respond to such texts, noting that legitimate toll violation notices are only sent through official ExpressToll accounts or U.S. mail, and warns the scam will likely continue to circulate.

The United States Postal Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service warned the public about romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, which typically begin online and escalate to requests for money or valuables sent through the mail. One Colorado victim lost $500,000 to a romance scammer posing as an investment partner in a cryptocurrency scheme. The agencies recommend being cautious of relationships that escalate quickly, avoiding video calls, never sending money to people you haven't met in person, and reporting suspected scams immediately.

A 55-year-old Colorado contractor, Lance Slayton, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for defrauding an elderly woman of over $70,000 in a home restoration project while also exposing an Arvada neighborhood to hazardous asbestos contamination. Instead of properly removing and abating asbestos from a fire-damaged property, Slayton used unlicensed workers, improperly disposed of the carcinogen, and failed to complete the work, placing residents and workers at risk. Prosecutors are seeking $85,000 in restitution, to be determined at an April hearing.

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Scam victims are petitioning Congress to change a 2017 tax law that requires them to pay taxes on funds lost to fraud, compounding their financial devastation. Debbie Fox lost $58,000 to a romance scam and faced an additional $7,000 tax bill on withdrawn retirement funds, exemplifying how the law eliminates fraud loss deductions that previously existed. Annual fraud losses have surged from $1.5 billion to $12.5 billion since the tax law change, and advocates argue the approximately $100 million cost to the government should not be recovered from crime victims.

The FBI Denver Field Office warns of a rising cybercrime trend where criminals use free online file converter websites to install malware that steals personal information like Social Security numbers, banking details, and passwords; victims are advised to use built-in tools like "Print to PDF" instead. Colorado authorities also report ongoing "smishing" scams impersonating toll and parking agencies via text message, with Coloradans filing 44,945 fraud reports in 2024 totaling $210.7 million in losses, and experts emphasize that fraud targets people of all backgrounds and education levels.

Americans aged 60 and older are the most targeted group for scams, with elder fraud costing the nation $3.4 billion annually and averaging $33,915 per victim in 2023. Scammers exploit older Americans' cognitive vulnerabilities, loneliness, trust, and technological inexperience through impersonation via calls, texts, emails, and social media—sometimes using artificial intelligence to mimic voices. Protection strategies include monitoring accounts, using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, verifying unexpected requests directly with contacts, and reporting suspected fraud to the FBI, FTC, local police, or state attorney general offices despite potential embarrassment.