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A 74-year-old Kentucky woman lost her entire life savings of $180,000 in a gold coin scam after receiving a phone call from someone impersonating a Social Security Administration employee who claimed she was under fraud investigation. The scammer convinced her to drain her savings, purchase gold coins, and hand them off to a courier in a bank parking lot; after realizing the fraud, the emotional trauma led her to attempt suicide, and she remains hospitalized in critical condition. The FBI confirms a rising trend of government impersonation and precious metals scams targeting seniors, with Kentucky alone reporting 908 elder fraud complaints totaling over $12 million in 2023.

A 74-year-old Kentucky woman lost $179,000 to a federal impersonation and gold coin scam in January 2024 after receiving fraudulent emails from scammers posing as the Social Security Administration and Inspector General's Office, threatening her with prison unless she paid money for investigation purposes. The scammer convinced her to purchase gold coins in person at a Lexington bank parking lot, after which he disappeared with her life savings; the traumatized victim attempted suicide but is now recovering, and her grandson is sharing their story to raise awareness and help prevent similar crimes.

AARP Kentucky is hosting free "Scam Jam" educational events and document shredding in Bowling Green (September 30) and Henderson County (October 3) to combat rising fraud, which the FTC estimates affected $137.4 billion in 2022 compared to only $9 billion reported. The events aim to educate consumers about recognizing and avoiding scams, with research showing that knowing about specific scams reduces engagement risk by 80%, particularly important given that nearly two-thirds of fraud victims experience serious health or emotional impacts.

Darlington Akporugo, 47, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy for operating a nationwide romance scam targeting elderly victims through fake social media profiles. The scheme defrauded more than 25 victims of approximately $3 million and included convincing victims to open credit lines and purchase luxury items in his name. Akporugo faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine upon sentencing.

In 2023, the FBI received 908 elder fraud complaints in Kentucky totaling over $12 million in losses, with gold and precious metals scams on the rise. Scammers impersonate government officials to pressure elderly victims into converting their savings to gold, often failing to deliver the promised metals; one Kentucky woman lost $113,000 in such a scheme. The FBI advises that legitimate government agencies would never call to pressure gold purchases and recommends researching dealers and reporting suspected fraud to the FBI's Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.

A 47-year-old Nigerian national, Darlington Akporugo, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy for operating a nationwide romance scam from Houston that defrauded more than 25 elderly and retired victims of over $3 million. Operating over seven years, Akporugo and co-conspirators used fake identities on social media to build trust with victims, then manipulated them into sending money for fictitious business ventures and emergencies, with much of the stolen funds funneled overseas. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing scheduled for June 6.

Lise Rossopoulos, 59, of Queens, New York, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for her role in a nationwide scam that defrauded elderly victims of over $500,000. Working with a co-conspirator posing as a government official, Rossopoulos received wire transfers into bank accounts in her name from victims who were falsely told their identities had been stolen, including a 92-year-old Hawaii woman who lost $446,000 and an 83-year-old Kentucky man who lost nearly $102,000. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Lise Rossopoulos, 59, of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for orchestrating a nationwide elder fraud scheme that defrauded senior citizens of over $500,000. The scam involved co-conspirators impersonating government officials (FTC and Amazon representatives) who convinced victims to wire money to bank accounts in Queens and upstate New York that Rossopoulos controlled, with funds withdrawn immediately after each transfer. Two identified victims—a 92-year-old from Hawaii and an 83-year-old from Kentucky—lost $446,000 and $101,980 respectively between February and July

Lisa Rossopoulos, 59, of Kew Gardens Hills, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for operating a nationwide elder fraud scheme targeting senior citizens through impersonation of government officials and companies. Between February and July 2023, she fraudulently obtained approximately $548,000 from a 92-year-old Hawaii resident and an 83-year-old Kentucky man through coordinated phone scams claiming their identities were stolen, with the victims wiring money to bank accounts under Rossopoulos' name that she promptly emptied. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison.

Marvin Upton, a 58-year-old pastor in Crofton, Kentucky, was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison for defrauding an elderly parishioner with dementia between 2013 and 2016, along with filing false tax returns to conceal the scheme. Upton was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to the victim's estate and $222,037 to the IRS, and the case was prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force's efforts to combat financial exploitation of older adults.

Former Crofton Pentecostal Church pastor Marvin Upton, 58, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison for defrauding an elderly congregation member with dementia between 2013 and 2016 through a bank fraud scheme, and for filing false tax returns to conceal the illicit income. Upton was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to the victim's estate and $222,037 to the IRS.

Marvin Upton, a former pastor at Crofton Pentecostal Church in Kentucky, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison for defrauding an elderly congregation member with dementia between 2013 and 2016, along with filing false tax returns to conceal the fraudulent income. Upton was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to the victim's estate and $222,037 to the IRS.

A former pastor in Crofton, Kentucky, Marvin Upton, was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison for defrauding an elderly parishioner with dementia between 2013 and 2016 through bank fraud, and for filing false tax returns that concealed the fraudulent income. Upton was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to the victim's estate and $222,037 to the IRS. The case was prosecuted under the Department of Justice's National Elder Justice Task Force as part of broader efforts to combat financial exploitation of seniors.

A 34-year-old Dominican Republic citizen, Luis Alfonso Rodriguez, was arrested and federally charged with orchestrating a grandparent scam that targeted families across western Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Kentucky between December 2024 and March 2025. Rodriguez allegedly impersonated grandchildren in distress and convinced victims to withdraw thousands of dollars in cash, which they handed to rideshare drivers who unknowingly delivered the funds to him; victims lost tens of thousands of dollars total, with funds later wired to an unidentified person in the Dominican Republic. The FBI urges potential victims to report incidents to its Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

**Hardik Jayantilal Patel, a ringleader of an international telemarketing fraud scheme, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution to 85 elderly victims.** From 2019-2020, Patel coordinated a network of "money mules" across the United States who picked up hundreds of cash packages sent by victims responding to scams originating from call centers in India, where fraudsters impersonated government officials claiming victims were under investigation. The scheme victimized primarily elderly individuals nationwide and resulted in millions of dollars in losses, with seven total conspirators sentenced an

Hardik Jayantilal Patel, 37, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for leading a money laundering operation that supported an international telemarketing fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans from March through November 2019. Operating from Kentucky, Patel coordinated with "runners" who picked up hundreds of cash-filled packages mailed by victims across multiple states after scammers impersonating government officials convinced them they were under investigation; Patel and his conspirators caused significant harm to 85 identified victims, with Patel ordered to pay $3,203,478 in restitution. The case involved seven total defendants sentenced, with co-conspirators receiving

Two elderly widows in Graves County, Kentucky lost approximately $320,000 combined to scammers using emotional manipulation tactics, including a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes scam and fake emergency requests. The Graves County Sheriff's Office warns that scammers target vulnerable seniors on social media and through phone calls, using realistic scenarios to convince victims to wire money, and recommends that families have conversations with elderly relatives about recognizing scams and contact law enforcement immediately if suspicious contact occurs.

"Pig butchering," a financial grooming scam where perpetrators build trust over months before soliciting investments (often in cryptocurrency), has resulted in victims losing thousands to millions of dollars, with investment scam losses increasing from $3.3 billion in 2022 to $4.5 billion in 2023. One Kentucky victim lost $1.7 million in assets after being manipulated into selling her home and liquidating retirement accounts. AARP recommends victims research investments, ignore unsolicited messages, use reverse image searches, and work with certified financial advisers to protect themselves from these schemes.

I cannot provide a summary for the Elderus database based on this content. This article reports on a tornado-related death and emergency response in Washington County, Kentucky—it does not involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. This material falls outside the scope of elder fraud documentation.

A Kentucky family is advocating for stronger protections against "sextortion" scams, in which perpetrators threaten to release intimate images unless victims pay money, after their son's death. The FBI reports that at least 20 teenagers in the U.S. have died by suicide as a result of sextortion schemes since 2021. A new law signed by President Trump aims to help combat these online scams and prevent further tragedies.

AARP hosted its Summer Scam Jam event in Louisville, Kentucky to educate seniors about rising fraud schemes, as reported losses reached $12.5 billion in 2024. One victim, Mary Ellen Strange, lost approximately $378,000 over seven weeks to an Amazon impersonation scam that used fear tactics and false law enforcement claims, leaving her facing additional IRS debt. Common fraud schemes include impersonation scams (family members, law enforcement, and customer service representatives), and AARP stressed that anyone regardless of education level can become a victim.

Scammers sent fraudulent text messages across Kentucky impersonating the state DMV, claiming recipients had outstanding traffic tickets and directing them to click links to provide personal information and make payments. The Kentucky DMV does not request information via phone or text message, and multiple local police departments warned residents to delete and block such messages.

Patrick Waite, accused of murdering his wife Alma Waite and two others in Haubstadt, Kentucky, also faces a separate elder abuse and fraud complaint alleging that Alma pressured him to allow her family to move into their shared home, restricted his access to his children, and transferred property ownership to her children without his knowledge. An injunction was filed preventing Alma's daughter Alondre Tepia Medrano from selling the home or its contents, with another court hearing scheduled for January 2026.

A 36-year-old Canadian citizen, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in July after a multi-state scam targeting elderly victims, with confirmed losses exceeding $309,000 across Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, and Tennessee. In the initial Charlestown, Kentucky case, an elderly resident was defrauded of $27,000 after being tricked into withdrawing funds from his retirement account; three additional elderly victims in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan were nearly victimized for an additional $70,000 before family members intervened. Liu was charged with theft, fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, and police believe there are

A 36-year-old Canadian man, Jia Liu, was arrested on July 2 at Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport for defrauding elderly people across multiple states. Liu targeted an elderly man in Charlestown who withdrew $27,000 from his retirement account in May, and investigators linked him to at least five additional victims in Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, and Tennessee, with total losses exceeding $309,000. Liu faces charges including theft, fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, and authorities are seeking additional victims who may be in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

A 36-year-old Canadian man, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested in July after conducting a multi-state door-to-door scam targeting seniors across Ohio, Indiana, New Mexico, and Tennessee, defrauding victims of an estimated $309,000 total. One Charlestown, Indiana resident was tricked into withdrawing $27,000 from his retirement accounts and handing it over in cash; three additional attempted scams in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan were prevented by family members, potentially saving another $70,000 in losses. Liu was apprehended at Louisville airport while attempting to flee the country and faces charges including theft, fraud, conspiracy, an

Governor Andy Beshear announced the launch of StopScams.ky.gov, a new website designed to help Kentuckians report scams, learn prevention strategies, and access recovery resources. According to a 2024 FBI report, Kentuckians lose over $74 million annually to online scammers, prompting the state to partner with the Better Business Bureau and AARP to equip residents with tools to identify and avoid fraud. The site emphasizes a "pause, check, and protect" approach and offers scam alerts via email or text, along with free educational "Scam Jam" events throughout the state.

An elderly couple in Hopkinsville, Kentucky was victimized by an asphalt paving scam in June when an unsolicited contractor approached them offering to patch their driveway at a low cost. After the mother signed a mostly blank invoice, the scammers filled in details and paved the entire driveway, charging $64,000 (totaling $79,000 with a duplicate charge), which the parents charged to multiple credit cards before their son stopped payment on three of the four cards. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to avoid unsolicited door-to-door home improvement offers that use urgency tactics and to verify quotes before signing any documents.

An elderly couple in Hopkinsville, Kentucky was charged $64,000 (totaling $79,000 with a duplicate charge) in an asphalt paving scam after an unsolicited worker approached their home claiming to have extra asphalt materials available. The scammers had the homeowner sign a mostly blank invoice, then filled in details afterward to make it appear the couple had approved full driveway paving work, and demanded immediate payment via multiple credit cards. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to watch for common scam patterns including unsolicited door visits, pressure tactics creating urgency, and incomplete contracts, and advises victims to dispute charges and contact authorities immediately.

An elderly couple in Hopkinsville, Kentucky was charged $64,000 (totaling $79,000 with a duplicate charge) after signing a blank invoice for asphalt driveway patching work in June. A man solicited the work unsolicited, claiming his crew had extra asphalt available, but after obtaining the wife's signature on a mostly blank invoice, the scammers completed a full driveway paving job and demanded immediate payment on multiple credit cards. The Better Business Bureau warns this is part of a pattern of door-to-door asphalt scams where fraudsters create urgency, use high-pressure tactics, and exploit blank or misleading invoices to

Antonio Peña and Brandi Durst were indicted in August 2025 for operating a "gold bar scam" that defrauded senior victims across the United States between April 2024 and July 2025. The defendants posed as Federal Reserve agents and government officials, convincing elderly victims to liquidate retirement funds to purchase gold under the false premise of protecting assets from identity theft, then stole the gold and laundered the proceeds. Both face up to 40 years in prison, fines, and restitution if convicted.

The Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky reported an uptick in "emergency scams" targeting families, particularly as college students return to campus. Scammers impersonate loved ones claiming urgent situations (arrests, accidents, medical emergencies) and request money, using voice-altering technology and social media details to make their pleas convincing. The BBB advises verifying requests by contacting loved ones directly, asking verification questions, and never sending money to unverified sources through payment apps, gift cards, or wire transfers.

Scammers are targeting job seekers, particularly those aged 18-34, through unsolicited texts, emails, and calls offering fake employment opportunities to steal money and personal information. Common warning signs include job offers without interviews, requests for upfront payments or credit card information, and unrealistic salary promises (such as $250-$500 daily for virtual assistant work). The Better Business Bureau recommends verifying job postings directly on company websites, never sharing personal information with unsolicited contacts, and reporting suspected scams to their scam tracker.

A 2025 PrivacyJournal study ranked U.S. states by online dating safety based on reported romance scams, fraud, identity theft, violent crime, STD rates, and registered sex offenders per 100,000 residents. Vermont was found to be the safest state for online daters, while Nevada ranked as the most dangerous due to high rates of fraud, identity theft, and romance scams. Kentucky ranked fifth-safest overall, with notably low fraud and romance scam reports, though it had elevated identity theft cases and registered sex offenders among the top five states.

Scammers in Jessamine County, Kentucky impersonated law enforcement to target elderly residents by claiming they owed debts, had outstanding warrants, or needed to report for jury duty, with the goal of extracting money from victims. The Jessamine County Sheriff's Office warned that legitimate law enforcement agencies will never contact citizens about warrants or request payment by phone. Multiple arrests related to similar impersonation scams have been made across Kentucky in recent years.