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A 72-year-old Michigan woman lost $40,000 after scammers posing as federal agents convinced her that her money was at risk due to identity theft and bank insolvency, then persuaded her to withdraw her life savings for "safekeeping." When the two men from Illinois attempted to return a week later for more money, an alert neighbor reported the activity to authorities, leading to their arrest. Authorities urge the public to verify the identities of anyone claiming to be law enforcement or government officials before providing personal information or transferring funds.

A 72-year-old Michigan woman lost $40,000 after scammers posing as federal agents convinced her that her life savings were at risk due to identity theft and bank insolvency, then persuaded her to withdraw the cash for "safekeeping." When the perpetrators returned a week later seeking additional funds, an alert neighbor reported them to authorities, leading to the arrest of two men from Illinois. Authorities stress the importance of verifying the identities of anyone claiming to represent law enforcement or government agencies before transferring funds or sharing personal information.

According to an FBI report, Americans over 60 experienced elder fraud crimes at record levels, with victims losing an estimated $3.4 billion in reported losses. Common scams targeting seniors include the grandparent scam (impersonating grandchildren claiming arrest), sweepstakes fraud requiring upfront payment, gift card serial number schemes, and government imposter fraud. Elderwerks, a Palatine, Illinois nonprofit, is hosting free educational presentations on scam prevention and identity theft protection to help seniors and caregivers recognize and avoid these crimes.

Scammers are impersonating toll collection services with phishing text messages claiming recipients owe small amounts (typically $12) with threats of large late fees ($50), directing them to fake payment links to steal personal and financial information. The Better Business Bureau received multiple reports of this scam in spring 2024, including cases targeting travelers in Illinois and Missouri, where scammers falsely claimed to represent toll agencies in states without toll roads or services. Consumers should verify toll balances directly through official agency websites or phone numbers rather than clicking unsolicited text links, and should report suspicious messages to BBB Scam Tracker or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about impersonation scams targeting seniors in Illinois and nationwide, where fraudsters pose as government officials (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare) to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics such as spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or refunds), threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS recommends hanging up on unexpected calls claiming to be from the IRS, never returning calls using provided numbers, and verifying legitimacy by contacting IRS customer service at 800-829-1040.

The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about impersonation scams targeting seniors in Illinois and nationwide, where fraudsters pose as IRS or other government agency officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics such as spoofed caller IDs, fabricated urgent scenarios (false tax debts or refunds), threats of arrest, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to pressure victims into immediate action. The IRS advises recipients of unsolicited calls claiming to be from the IRS to hang up immediately and contact legitimate IRS customer service at 800-829-1040 to verify any communications.

Unsolicited packages from major e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Temu have been delivered to consumers nationwide as part of "brushing scams," where third-party sellers send random items to addresses obtained online to create fake verified-buyer reviews and artificially inflate product ratings. Affected consumers across Minnesota, Illinois, Massachusetts, and other states received unwanted items ranging from baby balloons to military hats and electronics. The Better Business Bureau recommends recipients document incidents, contact retailers to stop deliveries, monitor their accounts for fraudulent reviews and orders, and check credit reports, as the FTC has warned about this deceptive practice for at least a decade.

I cannot summarize this content as it does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database. The provided text is a list of unrelated news headlines covering topics such as train incidents, political campaigns, municipal finance, film nominations, and house fires—none of which pertain to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. Please provide an article or transcript related to senior fraud or elder abuse for summarization.

This Forbes Tax Breaks newsletter covers multiple tax-related topics, including rising gas prices in Illinois due to a new motor fuel tax, and warnings from the IRS about increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled scams targeting taxpayers and professionals. The article also discusses international tax cases, including the acquittal of 28 Panama Papers defendants and a $350 million tax evasion scheme involving offshore accounts, along with new IRS guidance on corporate stock buyback reporting and proposed regulations allowing direct credit card payments for taxes.

A resident received a phishing text message impersonating the Illinois Tollway, claiming an unpaid toll of $7.59 with threatened additional charges of $75.90, and nearly fell for the scam before realizing it was fraudulent. The Illinois Tollway warns I-PASS customers to disregard such texts and instead verify account status directly through their website or customer service line at 1-800-UC-IPASS.

State Representative Kevin Schmidt partnered with the Illinois Attorney General's Office to present fraud prevention education to seniors at an assisted living facility in Millstadt, covering how to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams. Schmidt emphasized the critical need for awareness and proactive measures, and announced a follow-up free presentation scheduled for July 18th at the Millstadt Senior Center.

**Summary:** Sebastian Chelemen, a 38-year-old Canadian national, was sentenced to 50 months in prison on July 11, 2024, for his role in a grandparent scam targeting elderly Americans between April and June 2023. Operating as a fake bail bondsman, Chelemen and co-conspirators in Canada called seniors posing as arrested grandchildren and collected over $380,000 directly, with co-conspirators obtaining an additional $78,000 through mailed funds, while attempting to fraudulently obtain at least $290,000 more. Chelemen was ordered to pay $460,350 in restitution and was found with over $

Sebastian Cheleman, a 38-year-old Canadian, was sentenced to over four years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of an international elder fraud scheme operating between April and June 2023. Cheleman and co-conspirators called elderly victims across the U.S. impersonating their relatives, claiming they had been arrested and demanding bail or legal fees; Cheleman directly received over $380,000 from victims and the scheme attempted to steal approximately $750,000 total, with successful thefts reaching around $460,000 for which he must pay restitution. The fraud targeted numerous victims nationwide, including $138,000 from Central Illinois residents who were in

State Senator Paul Faraci and Illinois Attorney General's Office representative Heather Calcara held an educational forum in Danville on July 15th to alert seniors about evolving scams and fraud schemes that exploit technological advances and electronic payment methods. The speakers emphasized that criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated and encouraged seniors to use common sense—such as hanging up on unsolicited bank calls and initiating their own phone calls to verify claims—and to report suspected fraud through the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Bureau form or local authorities.

A phishing text scam impersonating USPS has been circulating in Illinois, luring recipients with messages about delivery issues and malicious links designed to steal personal information like Social Security numbers and credit card details. The scam exploits people who are actively expecting packages, making the fraudulent texts appear legitimate at first glance. The article advises recipients to never click links in unsolicited delivery texts, instead tracking packages directly through usps.com, and to remember that USPS does not send text messages about deliveries.

Illinois women are being targeted by two prevalent text message scams: a fake banking alert claiming unauthorized charges and requesting account verification information, and a "wrong number" romance scam where perpetrators build emotional relationships before stealing victims' money. The state is also warning of an additional tollway-related texting scam specific to Illinois, emphasizing that victims should not respond to or provide personal information in response to unsolicited messages.

Four individuals pleaded guilty to federal charges for operating a Nigeria-based international mail and wire fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims through fake online identities posing as romantic interests, buyers/sellers, and loan officers. The defendants used social media, text messages, and phone calls to convince victims to send money, with some victims losing retirement savings or taking out home loans as a result. All four defendants face sentencing on January 14, 2025, with potential prison time and restitution orders.

Residents are receiving phishing text messages impersonating the Illinois Tollway, claiming unpaid tolls and requesting payment information via embedded links. Monmouth Police Department Investigator Josh Kramer warns recipients to delete these messages and instead verify toll information directly through the official illinoistollway.com website rather than clicking suspicious links.

Illinois Tollway customers received phishing text messages from a "438" area code (Montreal) claiming unpaid toll invoices and urging them to click links to settle balances; the scam, first reported in spring 2024 and resurfacing around July 4th and again on Wednesday, targets I-PASS customers. The Illinois Tollway warned drivers to delete suspicious texts, avoid clicking any links, and report them to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. To protect themselves, customers should verify toll issues directly through the official Illinois Tollway website and watch for red flags like requests for personal information, false urgency, poor grammar, and suspicious sender addresses.

A 23-year-old man was arrested at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in July and extradited to Maryland for his role in a gold bar scam targeting an elderly Montgomery County resident in March. The scheme involved perpetrators falsely claiming the victim was involved in identity theft and a federal drug investigation, then instructing them to convert assets into gold bars worth $779,000, which were to be picked up by couriers posing as FBI agents. Patel has been charged with felony theft of more than $100,000 and a misdemeanor, with a trial scheduled for September 23; a second suspect was also arrested.

**Event Type:** Scam Awareness Educational Initiative The Palos Park Police Department held a National Night Out event to educate residents about elder fraud, highlighting that seniors in their predominantly elderly, affluent community are particularly vulnerable targets. Key scams discussed included door-to-door service schemes and "grandparent scams," with the FBI reporting that elder fraud caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 (up 11% from 2022), averaging $33,915 per victim, though many cases go unreported due to victim embarrassment and fear. Police advised residents to verify caller identities, trust their instincts when something feels off, and be

Illinois residents are receiving phishing text messages and emails falsely claiming to be from the Illinois Tollway, requesting payment for alleged unpaid tolls and attempting to collect personal information for identity theft. The Illinois Tollway has confirmed these messages are scams and advises customers to delete such texts, verify account information directly through the official website or customer service line, and report the phishing attempts to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

The Cook County Sheriff's Department is launching an educational program to help seniors recognize and avoid "sweetheart scams," which involve scammers building fake romantic relationships to extract money or personal financial information. In 2023, over 101,000 Americans aged 60+ reported losses totaling $3.4 billion to financial fraud, with Illinois accounting for 2,887 victims and nearly $138 million in losses. Sheriff Thomas Dart advises victims to pause and verify suspicious requests with trusted contacts or law enforcement rather than providing immediate responses or financial access to unknown callers.

Edward L. Stief, Jr., a 41-year-old from Effingham County, Illinois, was federally charged with wire fraud, mail fraud, and related crimes for defrauding an elderly victim of over $330,000. Stief exploited his position as the victim's appointed Financial and Healthcare Power of Attorney by moving the elderly individual into his care, gaining access to bank accounts, and persuading him to cash out life insurance policies, with most funds deposited into Stief's personal accounts. The case highlights the vulnerability of seniors to financial exploitation and resulted in federal charges carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years imprisonment.

Rita Crundwell, former comptroller of Dixon, Illinois, embezzled $53.7 million from the city over 20 years through a secret bank account and falsified invoices, making it the largest municipal fraud case in U.S. history. The theft went undetected due to inadequate internal controls, negligent auditing, and insufficient oversight by bank personnel, city council, and residents. Crundwell used stolen funds to purchase and maintain a prized quarter horse stable.

State Representative Dan Swanson reported on a community scam awareness event held in Alpha, Illinois, organized in collaboration with Farmers State Bank, the Illinois Attorney General's office, and local sheriffs to educate residents—particularly seniors—about various fraud schemes ranging from local to international operations. Swanson emphasized that awareness and simple precautions, such as avoiding unknown calls and protecting personal information, are the best defenses against becoming a scam victim. Additionally, an upcoming senior and veterans fair was announced for September 9 in Macomb to provide health screenings and information from senior service agencies.

Cybercriminals have expanded text message scams impersonating state electronic toll collection systems across multiple U.S. states (Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, and Washington), with the FBI reporting over 2,000 complaints since early March. The scams use fake government websites and urgent messaging to trick drivers into clicking links and entering personal and financial information, with some scammers also collecting data for additional criminal activities. Symantec researchers recommend state governments increase public awareness campaigns and coordinate with federal agencies to combat these threats, which have also affected Australia, Canada, and Japan.

This article discusses online dating safety in Illinois, ranking the state 30th for safety among U.S. states, primarily due to high STD rates of 839.2 per 100,000 people annually. The piece mentions various online dating risks including romance scams, catfishing, and dishonest actors, while noting that Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire are the safest states for online dating, whereas Nevada, Alaska, and Georgia pose the greatest risks.

A phishing text scam impersonating the Illinois Tollway has been targeting residents by falsely claiming they have outstanding toll fines and directing them to click malicious links. The Illinois Tollway has confirmed the scam is active and advised customers to ignore such texts and verify any toll issues directly through their official website or customer service line at 1-800-824-7277, with law enforcement now investigating the fraudsters.

An educational seminar on senior fraud protection is being held Tuesday, September 3rd at Meridian Village in Glen Carbon, featuring a presentation from an Illinois attorney general's office expert on how seniors can protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams. State Representative Amy Elik is highlighting the importance of fraud awareness as scams targeting seniors become more complex.

An Illinois woman lost nearly $1 million to a "pig butchering" scam, where a fraudster she met online gained her trust over months with romantic gestures and promises of investment returns, then convinced her to send multiple large wire transfers totaling almost her entire life savings. The scammer disappeared with the money, forcing DeMask to sell her home and its contents, leaving her with only $400 and owing taxes and bank debt she cannot pay. The FBI estimates such scams cost Americans nearly $4 billion in 2023, and authorities note that victims who wire money internationally have minimal recovery prospects.

Two Irish brothers, Patrick and Matthew McDonagh, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for stealing over $400,000 from elderly homeowners across the Northwest and Illinois by posing as home repair contractors. Using high-pressure tactics and false claims of necessary repairs (roof holes, foundation cracks), they defrauded victims in Washington, Oregon, and Illinois of hundreds of thousands of dollars, with one Shoreline, Washington homeowner losing $435,000. The brothers have agreed to make restitution totaling over $1 million to their victims and face sentencing in November 2024, with prosecutors recommending 26 months in prison for each defendant.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notified nearly 947,000 Medicare beneficiaries that their personal information, including Social Security numbers and Medicare claim numbers, may have been compromised in a data breach affecting Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corp., a claims processor in six states. The breach occurred between May 27-31, 2023, through a vulnerability in MOVEit file-transfer software, but was only discovered during a May 2024 security review; CMS and the contractor reported no confirmed cases of identity fraud resulting from the exposure but are advising beneficiaries to monitor their accounts.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias issued a warning that scammers are using sophisticated AI technology, including voice cloning and deepfake videos, to fraudulently access personal information and financial accounts from Illinois residents. The alert highlights four prevalent scam types—deepfakes, romance scams, Ponzi schemes, and affinity scams—and recommends that prospective investors validate identities, verify licenses through BrokerCheck or Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, and avoid suspicious links and attachments.

Tanya M. Aboseada, 39, of Florida, was sentenced to 3 years in prison for defrauding her elderly grandmother in Illinois of $317,049 through wire fraud between November 2021 and August 2022. Aboseada made multiple false claims to convince her grandmother to wire money, including fabricated stories about needing funds for vehicle transfers, IRS debts, legal fees, and to pay off a family after a fatal accident. She was ordered to pay full restitution of $317,049 and serve three years of supervised release.

Abdul Mohammed, 31, of Des Plaines, Illinois, was federally charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud for his role in a scheme that defrauded elderly victims of hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement savings. The conspiracy involved scammers posing as FBI agents who falsely claimed victims' identities or accounts were compromised and instructed them to withdraw cash or purchase gold bars for "protection," with one documented victim losing at least $125,000 across multiple transactions. Mohammed is currently a fugitive with an outstanding warrant and faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted.

A 39-year-old Florida woman, Tanya Aboseada, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to 12 counts of wire fraud for scamming her elderly grandmother in Illinois out of $317,049 between November 2021 and August 2022. Aboseada fabricated elaborate stories—including claims about owing IRS money, paying attorney fees, and needing to pay a family after a fatal accident—to convince her grandmother to wire money into her bank account on multiple occasions. She was ordered to pay full restitution of $317,049 and serve three years of supervised release.

Abdul Mohammed, 31, of Des Plaines, Illinois, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud for his role in a scheme targeting elderly victims. The conspiracy involved posing as government agents ("Agent Roy" and FBI officials) who convinced seniors their accounts were compromised, instructing them to withdraw funds and convert them to cash or gold bars for "protection"—with documented losses including $80,000 and an attempted collection of $45,000. Mohammed faces up to 60 years in federal prison if convicted.

First Baptist Church in Quincy, Illinois hosted a senior awareness seminar featuring a presentation by the Better Business Bureau on common phone and mail scams targeting older adults. Key advice emphasized thinking before acting, avoiding sharing personal information, and maintaining vigilance about suspicious communications—described as maintaining "eagle eyes" when answering calls and protecting sensitive data.

Abdul Mohammed, 31, of Des Plaines, Illinois, has been federally indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud involving a scheme targeting elderly victims. Mohammed and co-conspirators posed as FBI and Department of Justice agents, falsely claiming victims' information was compromised and instructing them to withdraw savings and retirement funds as cash or gold bars for "protection," with one elderly victim defrauded of at least $125,000 across multiple transactions. Mohammed is currently a fugitive, and if convicted, faces up to 60 years in federal prison.

Emmitt Williams III, a 39-year-old former pastor of Springfield Missionary Baptist Church in Evanston, Illinois, was arrested and charged with felony loan fraud for acquiring three unauthorized mortgages totaling $178,000 on the church's property between April and December 2023 without trustee approval. The church terminated his employment in January 2024 after discovering multiple breaches including opening unauthorized accounts and misrepresenting himself as the church's corporate agent. Williams faces up to $25,000 in fines and 4-15 years in prison if convicted.

Scammers are using AI deepfakes, fraudulent websites, and fake donation links to target voters ahead of Election Day, with schemes ranging from charging fees to register to vote (which is always free) to installing malware through phishing emails and texts. Voters should verify voter registration deadlines and polling locations through official Illinois election boards, cross-reference suspicious images and videos with trusted news sources, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited political fundraising messages, as AI-generated content and emails now closely mimic legitimate communications.

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,

This educational piece highlights common scams targeting individuals in 2024, including the grandparent scam, romance scam, and investment or advance fee scams. Blackhawk Bank & Trust in the Quad Cities region provides guidance on recognizing and avoiding these fraud schemes as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month awareness efforts.

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.

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign demonstrated that OpenAI's Realtime API can be used to create AI agents capable of automating phone scams and credential theft at an average cost of $0.75 per attempt, with a 36% success rate across various scam types including bank transfers, gift card fraud, and credential exfiltration. The study revealed that these scamming agents require minimal coding (1,051 lines) and can execute complex multi-step attacks on victims, exploiting vulnerabilities in the AI model's safety controls through jailbreaking prompts. The findings highlight significant security concerns with voice-enabled AI APIs, as phone sc

Scammers in Northbrook, Illinois impersonated Cook County Sheriff's Office personnel, calling residents claiming they had an "urgent legal matter" or outstanding warrant for missing jury duty in an attempt to extract personal and financial information. Northbrook Police warned residents not to provide any such information to these callers and encouraged them to share the warning with friends, family, and neighbors.

**Summary:** Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's Community Outreach Team is offering a free educational program for seniors to help them recognize and prevent consumer fraud scams, which disproportionately target older adults who are viewed as vulnerable. The program covers how to identify potential fraud, stop scams, and report incidents to the Attorney General's Office via their Senior Help Line (1-800-243-5377 or [email protected]). A presentation was scheduled for November 7 at Oak Park Township Senior and Disability Services in Illinois.

A 28-year-old Nigerian man, Ogheneofejiro Godswill Uzokpa, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for operating a romance scam that defrauded at least a dozen victims, primarily elderly or disabled women, of hundreds of thousands of dollars between March 2020 and February 2021. Uzokpa and co-conspirators posed as American professionals abroad using false identities, built romantic relationships to gain trust, then solicited money for fabricated emergencies like "processing fees," with U.S.-based accomplices acting as "money mules" to transfer funds to Nigeria. The court ordered Uzokpa to pay $329

Romance scams targeting online daters are increasing across Illinois, with scammers employing tactics such as rapid relationship escalation, requests for money via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and avoidance of in-person meetings. The Illinois State Police warned residents to watch for red flags including suspicious links, isolation from loved ones, and pressure to communicate on private apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. Victims are encouraged to report incidents to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and contact their financial institutions if they have suffered monetary losses.