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Nebraska is experiencing an increase in "pig butchering" scams, a relationship-based fraud scheme where criminals slowly build trust with victims over weeks or months before luring them into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. These scams can affect anyone regardless of financial sophistication, with the FTC reporting that Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, including a notable case where a Kansas banker lost $47 million. Warning signs include unexpected contact from strangers, emotional manipulation, requests for financial information, and promises of guaranteed high returns; victims should avoid sharing personal information with unknown contacts and report suspected fraud to authorities.

A woman in Arkansas has been charged with theft and fraud in connection with romance scams that allegedly resulted in at least one death. The charges stem from her involvement in scamming victims through romantic deception schemes, though specific dollar amounts and additional victim details are not provided in the headline excerpt.

Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, faces federal charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death for a scheme in which she met older men on dating websites, drugged them, and stole thousands of dollars from their financial accounts between 2021 and 2022. Three of her alleged victims died, and she has been charged in connection with one death; she also faces separate 2019 Arkansas charges for drugging a woman and fraudulently using her credit card for over $5,000 in purchases. The FBI is seeking additional victims and notes Phelps used multiple aliases and operated across Arkansas, Nevada, an

Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was federally charged in February 2025 with wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft for carrying out romance scams targeting older men between July 2021 and December 2022, in which she allegedly drugged victims and stole from their financial accounts. She also faces Arkansas charges stemming from a June 2019 incident where she drugged a woman and stole her credit card, resulting in approximately $5,000 in fraudulent charges. Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges, with her Arkansas hearings postponed to March 2025, and authorities are

**Summary:** Shan Hanes, former CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas, was sentenced to 24 years in prison in August 2023 for embezzling over $47 million through a cryptocurrency pig butchering scheme. The bank's collapse wiped out generational wealth for hundreds of residents, including the Tucker family ($1.4 million in lost shares) and the Houtz brothers (hundreds of thousands), while Hanes also stole from his church and investment club to fuel the scam.

**Article:** 10 States Where Retiree Fraud Is on the Rise According to analysis of government elder fraud complaint data, ten states experienced significant increases in elder fraud cases between 2022 and 2023, with Arizona leading at a 36% increase (212 to 289 cases per 100,000 seniors). Other notably affected states include Utah (23% increase), Rhode Island and North Carolina (22% and 20% increases respectively), and Texas, Washington, Oregon, Mississippi, Kansas, and Oklahoma (ranging from 18-20% increases). The data underscores the need for retirees in these high-risk states to heighten financial vigil

A 2025 analysis of government elder fraud complaint data identified 10 states experiencing significant increases in fraud cases targeting retirees between 2022 and 2023. Arizona led with a 36% increase (212 to 289 cases per 100,000 seniors), followed by Utah (23% increase) and Rhode Island (22% increase), with Texas, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, Kansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma also showing substantial growth ranging from 18-20%. The data underscores the need for vigilance among retirees in these high-risk states.

Ten U.S. states experienced significant increases in elder fraud cases between 2022 and 2023, with Arizona leading at a 36% increase (212 to 289 cases per 100,000 seniors), followed by Utah (23% increase) and Rhode Island (22% increase). Other states with notable rises include Texas, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, all ranging from 18-20% increases in fraud complaints per capita. The analysis highlights that popular retirement destinations are experiencing elevated fraud risk, prompting seniors in these states to increase financial vigilance.

A 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, Aurora Phelps, was arrested in Mexico for operating romance scams targeting older men across multiple states from 2019-2022. Phelps met victims on dating sites, gained their trust, drugged them with sedatives, and stole their financial information and bank accounts, with one victim allegedly losing millions in liquidated stock; the FBI identified at least four victims (two from Nevada, one each from Arkansas and Mexico) and believes three U.S. citizens died as a result of her crimes. Phelps faces 21 federal charges including bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, and is awaiting extra

The North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging and Kansas Legal Services launched a free "Scam Scan" seminar series beginning January 24th to educate older Kansans about recognizing and avoiding common scams involving theft, fraud, and financial exploitation. The educational seminars, presented by managing attorney Corinne Petrik, provide prevention tips to help attendees protect themselves, their money, and personal information from email, phone, and text-based scams, with sessions continuing through April due to high demand.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old remote customer service representative for a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers by abusing her access to their personal information and account details. Brown used wires, electronic debits, and Zelle to transfer victim funds and attempted to steal an additional $428,526.85 in total during her employment from December 2021 to May 2023.

Russell Rahm, 54, of Olathe, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his central role in what prosecutors describe as the largest elder fraud conspiracy in U.S. history, involving over 60 defendants and 100,000 victims who were defrauded of more than $300 million over 24 years through telemarketing scams. As owner and CEO of Kansas-based companies including Subscription Ink Co. and Millennium Marketing, Rahm orchestrated fraudulent magazine sales schemes using deceptive scripts targeting vulnerable and elderly consumers, personally collecting approximately $103 million from victims; he has been ordered to pay $110 million in restitution. The

A 28-year-old caregiver in North Little Rock, Arkansas pleaded guilty to elder abuse after striking an 82-year-old dementia and Alzheimer's patient at a senior living facility, leaving her with facial and forearm bruises. McClendon was sentenced to five years of probation and a $1,000 fine in Pulaski County Circuit Court.

A man in his 70s in Wichita, Kansas, lost $15,000 to a scam in which fraudsters impersonated Amazon, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Marshals Service, falsely claiming his account was compromised and involved in money laundering. The victim was instructed to withdraw cash and purchase bitcoin at two separate locations in Newton before bank employees recognized the scheme and alerted authorities. The Sedgwick County District Attorney's office warns that legitimate government agencies and companies will never call to report hacked accounts or request money transfers.

**Summary:** Pig butchering scams—where criminals gradually manipulate victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency schemes—resulted in $3.6 billion in stolen assets from crypto investors in 2024, with ethereum being the primary target due to its irreversible smart contracts. The scams, often initiated through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, affected victims across all financial literacy levels, including a Kansas bank CEO who lost $47 million and "Shark Tank" star Mark Cuban who lost $870,000.

During the 2023 holiday season, Arkansas saw a surge in scam reports, with 53 complaints submitted to the Better Business Bureau in one month, including fake Facebook ads for online shopping and "smishing" text messages impersonating USPS requesting personal information. One victim, Lisa Kirkpatrick, lost money on a counterfeit Old Navy ad and was further threatened by scammers claiming that disputing the charge would damage her credit. The USPS Inspection Service launched a "Don't Get Snowed" campaign urging people not to click suspicious links, report messages to authorities, and conduct urgent financial transactions in person rather than via unsolicited online communications.

Trung Nguyen, a 48-year-old Massachusetts man, was convicted Friday of money laundering charges for operating an unlicensed Bitcoin exchange service from 2017 to 2020 that converted over $1 million in cash into cryptocurrency. His operation facilitated money laundering for a methamphetamine dealer and multiple romance scammers, including $325,000 from a Kansas City victim, $60,000 from a Connecticut victim, and $60,000 from a Massachusetts victim. Nguyen faces decades in prison and hundreds of thousands in fines at his February 12 sentencing.

Three Arkansas residents were arrested on October 31 on separate charges of elder abuse and Medicaid fraud. Ja'Layia McClendon was arrested for physically assaulting an 82-year-old woman with Alzheimer's at an assisted living facility, leaving her with facial and forearm bruises; Trey Franks was arrested for fraudulently transferring over $1,000 from a long-term care resident's bank account in five transfers between September and October 2023; and Hannah Christmas was charged with Medicaid fraud for billing school districts $5,500 for physical therapy services never provided between August 2023 and April 2024.

Three individuals were arrested in separate incidents involving Medicaid fraud and elder abuse following investigations by Arkansas's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Hanna Christmas faced felony Medicaid fraud charges for billing school districts $5,490.72 for physical therapy services never provided; Ja'Layia J. McClendon was charged with felony abuse after witnesses saw her strike an 82-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease at an assisted living center; and Trey Franks was charged with felony abuse for making unauthorized bank transfers totaling $1,086.26 from a long-term care facility resident's account between September and October 2023.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit arrested three individuals—Hannah Christmas, 34, of Hamburg; Ja'Layia McClendon, 28, of North Little Rock; and Trey Franks, 28, of Jacksonville—following fraud investigations. The article does not specify the nature of the alleged Medicaid fraud or provide additional details about the charges or outcomes.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the arrest of three individuals in separate Medicaid fraud and elder abuse cases: Hanna Christmas was charged with felony Medicaid fraud for billing school districts $5,490.72 for physical therapy services never provided; Ja'Layia McClendon was charged with felony abuse of an endangered person after witnesses saw her strike an 82-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease at an assisted living center, causing facial and forearm bruising; and Trey Franks was charged with felony abuse after $1,086.26 in unauthorized transfers were made from a long-term care facility resident's account to his credit card between September and October

Shan Hanes, CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas, was sentenced to 24 years in prison after embezzling $47.1 million from the bank, a local church, and an investment club in an 8-week period after being lured into a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam via WhatsApp. The scam crashed the bank and devastated the small city of Elkhart; the FBI recovered approximately $8 million in stolen funds that will be returned to victims. Hanes exploited his position of trust and 30-year tenure at the bank to authorize fraudulent wire transfers without serious oversight.

The 22nd annual Senior Life Fair in Lyon County held an educational event focused on scam prevention, attracting hundreds of seniors to learn about fraud risks and community resources. Kansas Assistant Attorney General Melanie Jack delivered the keynote address emphasizing the prevalence of scams targeting seniors, including romance scams and internet-based fraud, while noting that fraud against Kansas residents over 60 is now treated as a criminal investigation. Nearly 40 vendors provided information on senior services, health screenings, and safety topics.

**Summary:** Senator Kit Bond held a hearing in Kansas City to address elder abuse and discuss the pending Elder Justice Act, which would establish federal offices of Elder Justice, create victim support programs, and require criminal background checks for federally funded long-term care facilities. U.S. Attorney Todd Graves testified that while his office has prosecuted nursing home abuse cases using federal False Claims Act provisions, prosecutors need stronger tools to directly charge elder abuse, and AARP reported that elder abuse reports jumped 150 percent between 1986 and 1996 (from 117,000 to 293,000 cases). Bond warned that elder abuse cases will increase as Baby Boomers age and emphasized the need for

An Arkansas nurse lost over $1M in life savings to the XChief cryptocurrency investment scam, which promised high returns but prevented withdrawals when she attempted to access her funds. Crypto Crime Investigation (CCI) successfully recovered the majority of the stolen cryptocurrency through specialized investigative techniques and collaboration with law enforcement. The case underscores the importance of reporting crypto scams and seeking expert guidance to prevent future victimization.

Evergy utility company is warning customers about two escalating scams: one targeting seniors by falsely claiming $200 refunds through the Evergy Cares Kansas Fund in exchange for account information, and another offering discounts in exchange for credit card numbers over the phone. The company emphasizes that legitimate assistance is provided directly to accounts only after customer-initiated contact, and regulated utilities cannot offer unsolicited discounts, advising customers to verify caller identity, avoid sharing personal information, and contact Evergy directly through official channels when suspicious.

Evergy warned customers about two recent scam attempts targeting both seniors and general customers: one falsely claiming the utility company would return $200 to seniors through its Evergy Cares Kansas Fund in exchange for account and personal information, and another offering immediate discounts in exchange for credit card numbers over the phone. Evergy clarified that its assistance program provides direct account credits (not cash refunds) only after customers initiate contact, and that legitimate rate changes require state regulatory approval rather than phone-based offers. The company provided guidance including verifying employee identity before sharing information, avoiding unsolicited emails/texts about bills, and reporting suspected scams through its website or local law enforcement.

Former Heartland Tri-State Bank CEO Shan Hanes was sentenced to 24 years in prison for illegally wiring $47.1 million from the bank in a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam, ultimately causing the bank's collapse. The scheme harmed multiple victims including church funds, investment clubs, and children's college savings, resulting in $9 million in losses for bank investors and forcing the FDIC to absorb the $47 million loss. Hanes faces an additional 28 charges in North Dakota with a potential 86-month sentence scheduled for trial in October.

Shan Hanes, former CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas, was sentenced to 24 years in prison after embezzling $47.1 million from the bank and routing it to cryptocurrency accounts controlled by pig butchering scammers. Between May and June 2023, Hanes made 11 wire transfers using stolen bank funds while also embezzling from a local church, investment club, and his daughter's college savings account, ultimately causing the bank to collapse. Pig butchering scams, which lure victims into fake cryptocurrency investments through relationship-building on messaging apps and social media, have cost victims over $75 billion globally in recent years

Shan Hanes, CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas, was sentenced to over 24 years in prison for embezzling $47 million after falling victim to a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam. Over eight weeks in 2022, Hanes transferred stolen funds from the bank, a local church, an investment club, and his daughter's college savings to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by scammers, ultimately losing all the money and causing the bank's collapse and FDIC takeover. The scheme devastated shareholders and community members, with victims losing 70-80 percent of their retirement savings and facing severe financial hardship.

Kansas bank CEO Shan Hanes was sentenced to 24 years in prison for embezzling $47.1 million through wire transfers to cryptocurrency wallets as part of a "pig butchering" scam in which he was the victim-turned-perpetrator. His actions directly caused Heartland Tri-State Bank to collapse, resulting in $9 million in losses to investors, with the FDIC absorbing the remaining $47.1 million. Hanes circumvented internal banking controls with the help of employees to facilitate the fraudulent transfers between May and June 2023.

A fire broke out in the attic of Brandon Woods senior living facility in Lawrence, Kansas on Monday afternoon, prompting emergency evacuation of residents by facility staff and police officers before firefighters arrived. The fire was brought under control by 2:20 p.m. with no resident injuries reported, though one police officer was treated for smoke inhalation; the cause remains under investigation.

Shan Hanes, former CEO of Kansas Heartland Tri-State Bank, was sentenced to over 24 years in prison for embezzling more than $47 million between May and July 2023 to fund a cryptocurrency pig butchering scam. His fraudulent transfers, which also included stealing from a local church and investment club, directly caused the bank's collapse and resulted in $9 million in investor losses. Hanes pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a bank officer, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Law enforcement in Kansas City reports an increasing number of cryptocurrency scams targeting residents, with scammers using two primary methods: directing victims to fraudulent investment platforms promising high returns, and calling victims to pressure them into paying bills with cryptocurrency. Clay County Prosecutor's office has implemented new investigator training to recognize cryptocurrency evidence and track stolen funds, while experts advise using U.S.-based crypto companies with regulatory oversight and urge the public to report scams to help recover losses.

A Nebraska middle schooler created a scam awareness flyer after his grandmother fell victim to fraud, which the Better Business Bureau expanded into a distribution campaign across senior centers in Nebraska and Kansas. The flyer, "A Senior's Guide to Scam Prevention," includes a QR code to help seniors easily report scams, addressing an issue where the BBB estimates seniors lose billions of dollars annually to fraud. According to 2023 data, adults 65+ reported a median loss of $109 per scam and were increasingly targeted through social media, phone calls, and online classifieds.

Scammers impersonating law enforcement officers are calling Arkansas residents and demanding payment via wire transfer, prepaid cards, or gift cards to resolve alleged criminal matters or enroll in fake rehabilitation programs, using caller ID spoofing and pre-recorded messages to deceive victims. Attorney General Tim Griffin advises people never to send money to callers claiming to be law enforcement, to verify caller identity by independently calling the agency, and to never share personal information over the phone. Victims should report fraudulent calls to the Attorney General's Office with details of the call time, number, and message.

Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield provides guidance on identifying senior scams. The article emphasizes awareness and prevention strategies to help seniors recognize and avoid fraudulent schemes targeting their age group.

A Kansas resident was scammed by a caller impersonating a Kansas State Treasurer employee who claimed the victim had won a lottery jackpot and needed to wire funds and load money onto a gift card to collect the winnings. The scammer promised the treasurer would deliver the winnings to the victim's home. The Kansas State Treasurer's office warned that imposter scams are rising in the state and reminded residents that legitimate government entities never request payment via gift cards or wire transfers to release funds.

Kansas enacted the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act on July 1, 2024, joining over 40 states in giving financial advisors, brokers, and investment representatives the authority to halt suspected fraudulent transactions and report them to authorities. The law addresses a significant problem: according to the FBI, scams targeting people 60 and older resulted in more than $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with seniors targeted due to less experience with technology and online security practices.

Kansas enacted the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, joining over 40 states in giving financial advisers the power to pause suspicious transactions when elder fraud is suspected. The law addresses a significant problem: older Americans lost an average of $33,915 to fraud last year, with total losses exceeding $3.4 billion, and constitute 30% of consumer fraud victims despite being only 12% of the population. When advisers pause transactions, they must notify the Kansas Department of Insurance to investigate, with safeguards in place to prevent delays to legitimate transactions.

Kansas enacted the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, joining over 40 states in authorizing financial advisers to pause transactions suspected of defrauding seniors. Older Americans lost an average of $33,915 to fraud last year with total losses exceeding $3.4 billion, with tech support scams being the most common fraud type against those over 60, followed by data breaches, romance scams, and investment schemes. The law requires financial institutions to notify the Kansas Department of Insurance when pausing transactions and includes timelines to prevent delays to legitimate transactions.

Kansas passed the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, which requires financial advisors to report suspected fraud involving seniors or dependent adults to the Kansas Insurance Department, strengthening investigative tools to identify illegitimate actors. The law addresses a significant vulnerability, as scammers frequently target older adults for their liquid retirement assets, with only a 7% recovery rate once funds are stolen.

A Kansas grandparent received a phone call from a scammer impersonating their grandson in Hope, Kansas, claiming he needed $10,000 due to an accident, but the grandparent avoided the scam by verifying the grandson's actual location. The Better Business Bureau warns that "grandparent" scams use high-pressure tactics to manipulate seniors into sending money quickly without consulting others, and recommends taking time to verify requests before responding, regardless of the claimed urgency.

A Kansas City woman lost $15,000 in a grandparent scam when a caller impersonating her daughter claimed to be in jail and needed bail money; Lucia Hanna withdrew the cash from her bank after being instructed not to answer questions, only discovering the fraud when she called her actual daughter. Clay County authorities report that such scams are occurring daily and increasingly targeting vulnerable individuals, with law enforcement urging victims to report incidents immediately to help track and deter scam activity.

The IRS issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting senior citizens in Kansas and nationwide, where fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and texts. Scammers use tactics including caller ID spoofing, fabricated tax debts or refunds, threats of arrest or deportation, and demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS advises recipients of suspicious calls claiming to be from the IRS to hang up immediately and contact IRS customer service at 800-829-1040 to verify any legitimate tax issues.

86-year-old Sandra Jung of Little Rock, Arkansas lost nearly $10,000 in a tech support scam after seeing a malware pop-up and calling what she believed was Microsoft's official number from a Google search result. The scammer convinced her that an erroneous $15,000 refund (instead of the promised $150) had been deposited and manipulated her into sending back nearly $10,000 to "resolve" the issue. Jung filed a report with the Attorney General's office but is unlikely to recover the funds.

Arkansas ranks #10 among the most dangerous states for online dating, according to a study by PrivacyJournal.net that analyzed FBI and Federal Trade Commission data on romance scams, identity theft, fraud, sex offenders, and other risk factors per 100,000 residents. Arkansas reported 4.6 romance scams per 100,000 people, 133 identity theft cases, 200 fraud cases, 606 registered sex offenders, and 926 reported STDs, with Nevada and Alaska ranking as the most dangerous states overall.

Shan Hanes, former CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas, pleaded guilty to embezzling $47 million in bank funds through a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam, where he was lured by an unidentified scammer via WhatsApp into making fraudulent cryptocurrency investments with false promises of returns. Hanes made 11 wire transfers to cryptocurrency accounts while lying to bank employees and investors, resulting in shareholder losses of $9-13 million and leading to the bank's insolvency in July 2023. He faces up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and $60.5 million in restit

A Kansas City resident lost over $1 million to a pop-up scam that displays fake computer error messages claiming device malfunction, then directs victims to call a provided number and transfer funds to Bitcoin for supposed repairs. Multiple victims aged 65-80 in the Kansas City area fell for the scam, which sometimes includes an offer to send couriers to collect the funds. KCPD is collaborating with law enforcement agencies nationwide to locate the perpetrators and urges victims to report losses to local police.

Following a state of emergency declaration in Arkansas, Attorney General Tim Griffin warned homeowners about post-storm rebuilding scams and reminded contractors that price-gouging prohibitions under Act 367 are now in effect, limiting price increases to 10 percent above pre-disaster rates for essential goods and home repair services for 180 days. Griffin advised homeowners to obtain multiple repair estimates, verify contractor references, avoid signing blank contracts, and never pay in full before work completion. Violations of the price-gouging law carry fines up to $10,000 and are prosecuted as violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.