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This UITS News article is primarily an educational resource covering IT services and updates at Indiana University, with one fraud awareness component. The article includes tips for spotting scam emails and text messages that impersonate trusted sources and request personal information, alongside announcements about new Microsoft 365 AI tools, VPN upgrades, email domain changes, digital accessibility requirements, and various student and faculty programs.

An Indian Master's student at Indiana University Bloomington lost $5,000 in gift cards to scammers impersonating ICE and police officers who threatened her with arrest and deportation over a three-hour phone call in May. The scammers used spoofed phone numbers, detailed personal information about her, and psychological manipulation to coerce her into purchasing Apple and Target gift cards before disappearing without following through on promised bond papers. The victim emphasized that legitimate government agencies never call directly or request gift cards, and she advised international students to hang up and contact a lawyer rather than comply with such demands.

DMV text message scams, known as "smishing," are expanding across multiple states including Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, California, Michigan, and North Carolina, with earlier warnings issued in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. These fraudulent texts falsely claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets or outstanding bills and threaten consequences like vehicle registration loss, driving privilege suspension, or credit score damage unless they click a link and pay. The Federal Trade Commission advises recipients not to click links or respond, instead contacting their state DMV directly through official channels and reporting the messages to their wireless provider, the FTC, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Residents of South Bend, Indiana received fraudulent text messages impersonating the Indiana Department of Motor Vehicles, claiming unpaid traffic tickets and threatening vehicle registration suspension unless recipients clicked a link and paid a "fine" by June 6. The scam can be identified by several red flags: it comes from a suspicious email address, references nonexistent agencies ("Indiana Department of Vehicles" and "North Indiana State Administrative Code"), and promises an illegal 35% service fee. Police advise recipients not to click the link and note that legitimate DMV issues are handled through official mail, not text messages.

Nirav B. Patel, a 44-year-old illegal immigrant from India, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in an imposter scam that defrauded elderly victims across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana of over $400,000. Patel served as a cash collector for the scheme, which involved fraudsters posing as federal agents and convincing elderly victims that their accounts were compromised, then pressuring them to withdraw life savings into fake government trust accounts; in one instance, he collected $177,000 in gold bars from an elderly woman using a walker at an assisted living facility. The scammers, based in India, use

Following weekend storms in Indiana, officials warn residents to watch for contractor scams targeting disaster recovery, where fraudsters pose as repair or cleanup services, collect down payments, and either disappear or deliver poor work. The Indiana Attorney General advises verifying contractor credentials, avoiding upfront full payments or payment via gift cards and cryptocurrency, and being cautious of FEMA impersonators requesting fees and donation fraud schemes. Suspected scams can be reported to the Indiana Consumer Protection Division at indianaconsumer.com or 800-382-5516.

Multiple states including Kansas, New Mexico, Missouri, and Oregon have warned residents about widespread text and email scams falsely claiming unpaid toll debts and threatening license suspension or legal action to pressure victims into revealing personal and financial information. Scammers are targeting states with no toll roads, and in Indiana's case, fraudulent emails posing as the state DOT requesting payment for TxTag balances were traced to a contractor's hacked account. Authorities recommend reporting suspected scam texts and emails to the Federal Trade Commission and Internet Crime Complaint Center.

**Summary:** Scammers exploited compromised contractor accounts within Granicus's GovDelivery email system—used by U.S. federal and state governments to send official notifications—to send fraudulent emails impersonating government agencies in Indiana and New Mexico. The fake toll and payment scam emails, sent from official government addresses, contained malicious links directing recipients to phishing websites designed to steal personal and financial information. Granicus confirmed the breaches resulted from compromised user accounts rather than system vulnerabilities, but did not disclose the number of affected recipients.

In June 2024, Mary Ellen Strange, a retired nurse from Indiana, fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam in which fraudsters posing as Amazon, FTC, and federal agents convinced her she faced serious federal crimes including money laundering and child pornography. The scammers used a fake "alternative dispute resolution" process to manipulate Strange into withdrawing large amounts of cash from her bank under the false premise that she would receive restitution and clearance letters from government officials. This case illustrates a common elder fraud tactic combining authority impersonation, fear-based manipulation, and false promises of resolution.

Mary Ellen Strange, a retired nurse from Indiana, fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam in June 2024 where fraudsters posing as Amazon, FTC, and federal officials falsely accused her of money laundering, drug trafficking, and other federal crimes. The scammers convinced her to withdraw cash from her bank accounts under the guise of an "alternative dispute resolution" process, exploiting her fear of legal consequences and promises of eventual restitution. This case illustrates how sophisticated fraud schemes manipulate victims through authority impersonation and psychological manipulation, with the victim's story being shared as part of AARP's awareness campaign to encourage fraud victims to speak publicly about their

Indiana State Police warned the public about text and email scams impersonating legitimate companies like PayPal, Geek Squad, and McAfee, where scammers attempt to trick recipients into calling back and divulging personal information or granting computer access. Sgt. Stephen Wheeles advises recipients of suspicious messages to verify the sender independently, research before responding, and look for red flags in supposedly legitimate communications.

On April 10, 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana honored 22 federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals who demonstrated exceptional commitment to supporting crime victims and advocating for their rights and well-being. The ceremony recognized individuals across five categories—Federal Law Enforcement Victim Assistance, Victim Advocate, Assistant U.S. Attorney Victim Assistance, Support Professional Victim Assistance, and Community Partnership—for their compassionate work in guiding survivors through the criminal justice process and connecting them with critical resources.

Employment scams are increasing as the job market becomes more competitive, with scammers exploiting job seekers through unsolicited messages offering work-from-home positions. In 2023, 810 people in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin reported employment scams resulting in $2.4 million in losses. Job seekers should be cautious of unsolicited offers, avoid clicking links or sharing personal information, proceed slowly through the hiring process, and look for verified badges on legitimate job postings.

Following severe storms and flooding across Indiana, scammers are targeting homeowners with fraudulent repair services, promising quick affordable fixes then disappearing after collecting down payments or delivering substandard work. The Indiana Attorney General's office advises vigilance and provides resources for reporting suspected scams through their website or hotline (1-800-382-5516).

This is not an elder fraud case. The article describes a federal drug trafficking conspiracy involving five defendants from Muncie, Indiana, who distributed over 2,000 grams of fentanyl, 10 kilograms of cocaine, and 203 pounds of methamphetamine between May and November 2022, resulting in combined sentences totaling 70 years in prison. The case does not involve elder abuse, senior fraud schemes, or crimes targeting elderly individuals.

A smishing scam targeting Indiana residents falsely claims consumers owe unpaid toll road fees via text message, using urgency and threatening language to pressure victims into clicking malicious links and entering personal financial information. The Indiana Toll Road Concession Company warns that it never requests sensitive information by text or phone, and advises recipients to report scam messages to the FBI at www.ic3.gov, verify account status directly with the company, and contact their bank immediately if they clicked any links or shared information.

Marcie Jean Doty, an Operations Manager in Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for stealing approximately $1.8 million from her employer between May 2017 and June 2022 through 99 unauthorized ACH transfers ($503,151.59) and 279 unauthorized checks ($1,300,314.79), while falsifying accounting records to conceal the theft. She also willfully failed to report approximately $1.79 million in fraudulent income on her tax returns for 2018-2022, and was ordered to pay $2,517,343.05 in restitution.

A nationwide scam targeting toll road account holders uses text messages claiming unpaid fees are due within 12 hours to create false urgency and pressure victims into paying or revealing personal information. Indiana State Police warn that legitimate toll road operators do not contact customers via text and advise recipients to verify through their account portals and report suspicious messages to the IC3, FTC, or identity theft authorities if information may be compromised.

Frank Lassen Garay, 45, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for bank fraud after he created fraudulent checks based on banking information from a legitimate $15,066.95 settlement check and used them to purchase over $400,000 worth of vehicles, jewelry, and services between November and December 2022. Over a span of just two weeks, Garay passed fifteen fraudulent checks to dealerships and businesses, making no attempt to conceal his identity and often leaving with the purchased items before the checks were discovered to be fake. Garay has a lengthy criminal history spanning over 15 years with prior convictions for theft, fraud, forgery, and receiving

A Dubois County, Indiana resident fell victim to a tech support scam in which they were directed to withdraw their checking account funds and deposit them into Bitcoin machines after fraudsters claimed their account had been hacked. The victim subsequently provided the scammers with Bitcoin information, allowing them to access and steal the funds, though the exact amount lost was not specified. The Sheriff's Office advises residents to never share personal or banking information with unsolicited callers and to hang up or consult family members or law enforcement before taking action.

A widespread scam is targeting victims across the U.S., with scammers posing as tech support or federal agents and convincing victims to convert their savings into gold bars, claiming their accounts have been compromised, then having courier accomplices collect the gold. Notable victims include an Indiana widower who lost $80,000 and a New York City woman who lost $700,000, while the FBI has traced the scheme to call centers in India and is investigating both the masterminds and the couriers used to transport the stolen assets.

Rebecca Fields, 70, of Kokomo, Indiana, pleaded guilty to falsely claiming her deceased husband continued to live with her in order to illegally receive his Social Security benefits for over 16 years after his death in April 2006. Fields completed at least 13 fraudulent Representative Payee Reports between 2007 and 2022, fraudulently obtaining approximately $231,203.10 in benefits, and was sentenced to three years' probation with orders to pay full restitution.

A growing "gold bar courier scam" defrauded Americans of $126 million in 2024, with scammers posing as federal agents convincing victims to purchase gold bars and hand them over to couriers in public locations. Kris Owen, a 79-year-old Indiana resident, lost $80,000 after being told his personal information was compromised and instructed to buy gold for safekeeping; he later worked with the FBI in a sting operation to catch one of the couriers. The scheme, which exploits rising gold prices and targets vulnerable individuals nationwide, has become increasingly sophisticated and widespread.

James Watt, 26, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 3 years of probation after pleading guilty to unlawful document production and money laundering for manufacturing over 30,000 fraudulent driver's licenses between 2019 and 2023. Watt was paid more than 14 Bitcoin (worth $1.3 million as of January 2025) to produce and mail fake IDs through U.S. Postal Service collection boxes, with customers uploading their photos and addresses to receive the false identification documents. While many fake IDs were purchased by underage individuals, others were bought by adults for fraudulent purposes including boarding planes, obtaining prescriptions, r

Two Indian nationals were convicted in federal court for operating a massive money laundering scheme that defrauded victims across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana through "phantom hacker" scams between May and November 2023. Pranay Kumar Mamidi and Kishan Vinayak Patel posed as customer service representatives and fake law enforcement agents (impersonating Amazon, FTC, and DEA) to trick elderly and unsuspecting victims into converting their life savings to cash or gold bars for purported "investigations," with tens of millions of dollars laundered through their U.S.-based operation connected to a criminal network in India. Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison for each money

James Henley, 35, of Greenwood, Indiana, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for orchestrating complex fraud schemes over three years that defrauded homeowners, government agencies, a bank, and an attorney of approximately $2.9 million. His crimes included COVID-19 unemployment fraud ($1.1 million), home title theft (5 homes stolen and sold), mortgage fraud, and auto loan fraud, all facilitated through five fake businesses used to mask his identity and launder proceeds. Henley was ordered to pay $1,887,426.63 in restitution, with co-conspirators including his wife and an associate also facing

This article does not relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. Mitchell T. Skelton, 38, was arrested in Fort Wayne, Indiana after allegedly damaging a police officer's vehicle tire with a knife and fleeing the scene; he faces charges including intimidation, criminal confinement, criminal mischief, voyeurism, and domestic battery. **Note:** This article is outside the scope of Elderus, which focuses on fraud and abuse targeting older adults.

Three Indiana men were arrested after two of them allegedly purchased a firearm on behalf of a third man who had been denied a gun purchase due to threats and false statements on federal forms. Charles Denton was charged with intimidation and conspiracy, while Nathan Mahuron and Shawn Cooper were charged with using false information to complete the illegal purchase at a Walmart. The case involved alleged threats by Denton, including statements about "fumigating" a local meeting and "standing with arms" against local rulings.

Robert Powell, 23, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 79 months in federal prison for armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service mail truck in June 2022 and for operating a "card cracking" fraud scheme. Powell robbed a postal worker at gunpoint, stole mail containing checks, and used social media to recruit victims to share their bank account information so he could deposit altered stolen checks and quickly withdraw the funds. The scheme defrauded countless victims before Powell's arrest through investigation by U.S. Postal Inspectors and the Avon Police Department.

Jennifer Bleeke's Facebook account was compromised by a scammer who posted false listings claiming her sister-in-law was selling vehicles and equipment to fund cancer treatment, resulting in at least two of Bleeke's friends losing money ($500 and $400 respectively) before the fraudulent posts were removed weeks later. The article advises protecting accounts by using unique passwords, verifying suspicious posts through direct contact with friends, and contacting the person directly before sending money.

An uptick in jury duty scams has been reported across multiple U.S. locations, where scammers impersonate court officials or police officers and threaten victims with fines or arrest for allegedly missing jury duty, demanding immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers. Incidents have been documented in Elkhart County, Indiana and Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with authorities emphasizing that legitimate courts communicate about jury duty through official mail only and never solicit payments or personal information by phone or email. Citizens should verify caller claims independently, avoid immediate payments, and report suspicious calls to local law enforcement or the court clerk's office.

This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It describes a 26-year-old Indiana man, Marvin T. Golden Jr., sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for methamphetamine distribution, firearm possession by a convicted felon, and involvement in a fatal shooting of Anthony Shelman on I-70 in March 2023. The case involved gang activity, drug trafficking, and a murder investigation—criminal matters unrelated to elder abuse or fraud targeting seniors.

This press release announces the resignation of U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers from the Southern District of Indiana, effective January 18, 2025. The release summarizes his office's accomplishments during his tenure, including prosecutions focused on gun violence, domestic abuser cases, and drug trafficking, but contains no information about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.

Jennifer Lynn Horton, 49, of Kentucky, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing over $1.1 million from her employer, a family-owned contracting company in Indiana, between 2016 and 2022. Using her position as office manager, Horton inflated her salary by $515,000, fraudulently added her husband to payroll for $107,000, redirected customer credit card payments totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars to her personal account, and misused company credit cards for personal purchases including vehicles and a house. She concealed the theft by manipulating payroll data and accounting records, and was ordered to forfeit four vehicles an

This press release does not summarize a scam, fraud case, or elder abuse incident suitable for the Elderus database. Instead, it announces the retirement of James M. Warden, the longest-serving Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Indiana's 97-year history. While the release mentions various prosecutions Warden handled throughout his nearly 40-year career—including bank fraud, money laundering, public corruption, and bank robbery—it is a personnel announcement rather than coverage of a specific fraud or elder abuse case.

In Fiscal Year 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana collected $33.86 million in asset forfeiture and financial litigation debt, including $18.84 million in criminal restitution and civil collections and $15.02 million from criminal and civil forfeiture actions. These funds are used to compensate crime victims and support federal and state victim compensation and assistance programs. The office emphasized its commitment to holding criminals financially accountable and recovering funds for victims of crime through partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

This is an educational piece from the Better Business Bureau of Northeast Indiana warning consumers about holiday shipping and returns scams during peak shopping season. The advisory advises recipients to verify package tracking messages through official websites rather than clicking links that could steal personal information or install malware, and recommends reviewing store return policies promptly since holiday return windows are often limited.

Smishing scams impersonating the U.S. Postal Service are rising in Indiana, particularly around the holiday season when people expect package deliveries. Scammers send text messages disguising themselves as USPS, attempting to trick recipients into clicking malicious links, though the legitimate USPS never sends unsolicited tracking texts and does not include clickable links in messages. Residents should verify tracking information directly through the USPS website and report suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM) and [email protected].

Kroger implemented security locks on gift card displays at all 116 of its Louisville and southern Indiana stores in response to a major gift card fraud scheme that cost customers over $1 million. Four men were arrested in October and charged with organized crime after tampering with gift cards at a local Kroger; the new locks make cards harder to remove and prevent altered cards from being returned to shelves. Police recommend customers continue inspecting gift cards for tampering before purchase.

Brandon Alford, a 47-year-old employee in Washington, Indiana, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for defrauding his employer through a scheme involving a fake company called A&D Distributing LLC. Between December 2017 and January 2023, Alford submitted 25 fraudulent invoices totaling $1,006,500 for machine parts that were never ordered or delivered, while also evading taxes on the fraud proceeds from 2017-2022. He was ordered to pay $1,006,500 in restitution to his employer and $319,793.02 to the IRS.

During the holiday season, scammers in Indiana are impersonating USPS representatives and sending text messages claiming packages are held due to invalid zip codes, with links designed to trick recipients into clicking. The Floyd County Sheriff's Office warns recipients to delete these messages and verified with the post office that this is a scam. Authorities advise checking package status directly through tracking apps or contacting the postal service directly rather than responding to unsolicited messages.

An 82-year-old Florida woman lost over $40,000 in a lottery scam where a caller claiming to represent Mega Millions told her she had won $8 million and instructed her to send cash to an Indianapolis address to cover taxes. The scammer used fake check deposits and promises of prize money to convince the victim to wire multiple shipments of cash via UPS, though authorities have not recovered the funds or identified the actual perpetrator. This case exemplifies the rising tide of elder fraud, with the FBI reporting $3.4 billion in losses to people age 60 and older in 2023—an 11 percent increase from the previous year.

This article is not related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It announces the opening of a new Community Health Network clinic at a Walgreens location in Fishers, Indiana, offering services such as routine physicals, chronic disease management, and wellness visits. This is a standard healthcare facility announcement and falls outside the scope of the Elderus fraud research database.

An Indiana woman who lost $1,000 to a gift card scam was denied a class action lawsuit against Google after a federal judge ruled that Google had no legal obligation to refund victims, determining the losses resulted from third-party fraud rather than Google's misconduct. The victim, Judy May, had fallen for a scam in April 2021 in which a fraudster impersonating a relative directed her to purchase Google Play gift cards as supposed upfront costs for federal grant money. The ruling reflects broader concerns about gift card fraud, with Americans losing $217 million to such scams in 2023, though the judge allowed May to refile certain claims within 45 days.

Indiana's older population lost nearly $38 million to fraud in the past year, with imposter scams being the most frequently reported type, including schemes using AI-generated voice cloning and fake charity requests following disasters. The FBI ranks Indiana 25th among the most scammed states, and experts recommend that residents verify suspicious requests through trusted contacts before taking action and report suspected fraud to the FTC.

After her husband's death, Indianapolis widow Rosalie Douglass turned to online dating and was targeted by romance scammers who posed as wealthy professionals; over the course of a year, she wired more than $430,000 to two different scammers, depleting her retirement savings and forcing her to take a reverse mortgage on her home. The FBI reported 88,262 fraud victims over age 60 in 2021, growing to 101,068 in 2023, with romance scams accounting for $1.1 billion in losses nationally in 2023. Experts warn that seniors new to online dating are particularly vulnerable to romance scams and should be alert to requests

Two correctional officers at an Indiana prison, Martins Tochukwu Chidiobi and Lawrence Onyesonwu, were sentenced to three years in federal prison for stealing the identities of at least five inmates and using them to open fraudulent bank accounts between 2015 and 2019. The defendants deposited at least $331,282 in fraud proceeds—largely from romance scams and other schemes—into these accounts, then withdrew most of the money as cash or transferred it to Nigerian bank accounts. Both men pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and making false statements to financial institutions.

A man lost $800 purchasing fake Taylor Swift concert tickets through an unauthorized Facebook seller using a money transfer service, and several others fell victim to scams involving hacked Facebook accounts posing as friends selling tickets. The Better Business Bureau recommends purchasing tickets only from reputable resellers that accept credit cards with money-back guarantees, such as StubHub, Vivid Seats, and GameTime, and verifying in-person with anyone offering tickets on social media before completing any transactions.

A 90-year-old in Noblesville, Indiana, received a threatening letter claiming to be a "Final demand for payment" from a fake "Tax Processing Unit" demanding $8,000 for unpaid taxes, which her family identified as a scam by noting the urgency, lack of online payment option, and absence of verifiable contact information. The FBI reports that scams targeting people 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with victims averaging $33,915 in losses, as scammers exploit seniors' politeness, savings, and reluctance to report fraud.

An 82-year-old Florida widow lost approximately $6,000 in a lottery scam after receiving a call from someone claiming to represent Mega Millions promising her an $8 million prize. The scammer, using the name "Michael Baxter," convinced her to send cash advances to an address in Indianapolis by falsely claiming he would pay off her credit cards and send her a larger payment, but the initial payments were made with fraudulent checks that were later reversed. The FBI reports that elder fraud complaints increased 11% in 2023 to 101,000 cases involving $3.4 billion in losses, and the victim now faces nearly $40,000 in debt with significantly damaged credit