Explore the Archive

A Louisiana state judge ordered the seizure of a fraudulent website (geauxpass.info) operating from a Russian server that was phishing for credit card information through scam text messages. The texts falsely claimed recipients owed $3.75 in unpaid toll fees and directed them to the fake site, threatening a $30 fine for non-payment. Law enforcement including Kenner Police, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Intellectual Property Rights Center successfully identified and shut down the operation, which mimicked the legitimate GeauxPass toll payment website.

AARP Louisiana hosted an "Unmasking Fraud" educational event on October 15 featuring keynote speaker Paul Greenwood, a retired San Diego Deputy District Attorney who prosecuted over 750 elder abuse and fraud cases during his 22-year career. The free public event included a resource fair, stakeholder roundtable, and presentation of the AARP Fraud Fighter of the Year Award to recognize organizations dedicated to combating fraud in Louisiana.

An elderly woman in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana received a spoofed phone call from someone impersonating Sheriff Becket Breaux claiming she had an outstanding warrant related to a magazine purchase and was being sought by the FBI. The scammer convinced her to withdraw $2,000 from her bank, purchase gift cards at Dollar General, and provide the card numbers and CVV codes while remaining on the line with her. The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office warns that these impersonation scams targeting elderly residents use scare tactics and caller ID spoofing, and advises victims to hang up and contact local law enforcement rather than providing personal information.

A Louisiana physician, Adrian Dexter Talbot, was convicted of illegally distributing over 1.8 million doses of Schedule II opioids and defrauding health care programs of more than $5.4 million. Talbot operated a clinic that dispensed prescriptions for cash without proper patient examinations, pre-signed prescriptions while working elsewhere, falsified patient records, and allowed individuals to bill Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield for prescriptions written without medical necessity. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each count and sentencing is scheduled for October 23.

Rachel Watts Sanders, a 39-year-old mail contractor from Louisiana, was indicted in July 2024 for stealing over forty checks from the mail, forging endorsements, and depositing them into her own bank account. She faces up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and 5 years for mail theft, with potential fines totaling $1.25 million.

The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors nationwide, particularly in Louisiana, where fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use advanced tactics including spoofed caller IDs, fabricated debt claims, and pressure for immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers to exploit victims. The IRS recommends hanging up on unexpected calls about tax issues and verifying legitimacy by calling official IRS customer service at 800-829-1040.

A Lafayette, Louisiana resident lost $50 to a rental scam after finding a fake apartment listing on Facebook and sending an application fee to a fraudster posing as a landlord. According to FBI data, 11,500 people nationwide reported rental and real estate scams in 2021, resulting in $350 million in collective losses. Experts recommend meeting landlords in person, viewing properties before payment, researching landlords' legitimacy, and avoiding wire transfers to strangers.

During Memorial Day 2024, the Better Business Bureau warned of toll service scams targeting travelers, primarily through fake text messages claiming to be from Louisiana toll services with fraudulent payment websites. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advised the public to verify toll communications through their official website and report suspected scams to the BBB.

A text scam circulating in Lake Arthur, Louisiana falsely claims recipients must appear in court and directs them to call "Pretrial Services of Acadia Parish" at an out-of-area number, threatening dispatch of local authorities. Lake Arthur Police Department advises residents to discard these messages and report them to Louisiana State Police, as the scam is designed to extract money or personal information from victims.

Louisiana State Police are warning residents about a resurfacing phone scam in which criminals impersonate law enforcement to solicit personal information and money from victims. Authorities advise that legitimate law enforcement officials never request payments or personal information over the phone and encourage residents to report suspected fraudulent calls to the Louisiana State Analytical and Fusion Center.

Jo Ann Deal from the Better Business Bureau discussed unfair and deceptive trade practices, emphasizing that these violations occur across all states and highlighting the importance of understanding paper and electronic billing laws. Consumers are encouraged to contact the BBB at (318)-387-4600 to learn more about their rights under Louisiana billing laws and how to identify deceptive trade practices.

The FBI released its 2023 IC3 Elder Fraud Annual Report warning of rising fraud targeting elderly people, with call center fraud (tech support, consumer support, and government impersonation scams) being the most common method and investment scams causing the greatest financial losses. In Louisiana alone, over 700 reported victims lost more than $18 million in 2023, though officials acknowledge the actual number of victims is significantly higher due to underreporting. The FBI provides protective measures including recognizing scam attempts, verifying contact information online, resisting pressure to act quickly, and safeguarding personal information and devices.

AARP highlights that fraud schemes targeting older Americans persist in the digital age, with scammers continually developing new tactics to impersonate legitimate entities and access personal financial information. The organization provides comprehensive protective measures including securing sensitive documents, monitoring credit reports, using strong passwords, and verifying businesses before sharing personal information. In 2023 alone, Louisiana residents lost nearly $47 million to fraud with identity theft being the most common type, reflecting a broader national problem where known fraud losses reached between $10-43 billion.

Lynn Schofield, age 60, from Louisiana, was sentenced to 12 months in prison (with 6 months home detention) in March 2024 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications. Schofield and her two adult children submitted false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications that misrepresented nonexistent or low-earning businesses and falsely claimed loan proceeds were for business purposes, resulting in approximately $282,650 in losses to the Small Business Administration. She was ordered to repay full restitution and serve three years of supervised release.

A Lake Charles, Louisiana man lost $300 in gift cards when two of four cards totaling $300 were drained before he could use them—one card was emptied in Ohio the same day it was purchased in Texas, while another was drained in Texas while in his possession in Louisiana. Scammers employ tactics including tampering with cards at retail kiosks, replacing PIN information, and purchasing additional gift cards to obscure the money trail, making resolution difficult for victims. Experts recommend examining gift cards for signs of tampering before purchase and treating them like cash.

The FBI is warning Louisiana residents about an increase in scams targeting people receiving tax refunds, particularly phishing attempts via text messages and automated calls impersonating legitimate companies like UPS and Amazon. Residents are advised never to click links from unknown senders and to verify suspicious messages by searching them online, as most are phishing attempts designed to steal sensitive information.

The FBI is warning Louisiana residents about a surge in scams targeting people receiving tax refunds, particularly phishing attacks via unsolicited text messages and calls impersonating legitimate companies like UPS and Amazon. Residents are advised never to click links from unknown senders and to verify suspicious messages by searching them online, as most are attempts to steal sensitive personal information.

**Summary:** Shavonda Chambers, 43, of New Orleans was charged with wire fraud on February 8, 2024, for submitting false payroll vouchers while administering payroll at a local business to steal money from her employer. She faces up to twenty years imprisonment, fines up to $250,000 or twice the amount of losses to the victim, and mandatory supervised release. The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Private investigator Brianne Joseph, owner of Sly Fox Investigations in Louisiana, is featuring in Netflix's "Love Con Revenge" to help romance scam victims pursue recourse against con artists who have defrauded them of thousands of dollars and personal information. Joseph emphasizes that romance fraud cases often go unprioritized by police, allowing perpetrators to evade accountability and target new victims; her firm specializes in investigation and surveillance to help clients obtain payback against their scammers.

On June 3, the Terrebonne Parish Government was defrauded of $129,745.16 by a scammer impersonating a Louisiana Department of Transportation Development employee through a targeted phishing email campaign. The attack used social engineering tactics, including forged government documents, a spoofed email address, and fabricated urgency rather than technical exploits, to manipulate employees into authorizing a wire transfer. Authorities arrested one suspect and recovered partial funds, with experts noting this case exemplifies the rising trend of cybercrimes targeting the "human element" rather than system vulnerabilities.

Oklahoma seniors are receiving fraudulent Medicare enrollment postcards that appear official but are scams designed to trick them into calling unknown numbers during the Medicare open enrollment period. The Oklahoma State Insurance Department reports multiple scam types targeting seniors in October-December, including fake enrollment cards and unauthorized charges for medical devices appearing on Medicare statements, with similar fraudulent mailers also reported in Kansas and Louisiana. Seniors are advised to independently verify government agency phone numbers rather than calling numbers on suspicious mailers.

AARP Louisiana hosted a fraud awareness townhall event featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to educate seniors about scams targeting older adults. The event aimed to provide practical protection strategies and highlight how fraud impacts seniors beyond financial loss, including emotional and trust-related consequences. AARP encourages seniors to utilize resources like their FraudWatch Network to stay informed about emerging scams and safeguard personal information.

AARP Louisiana hosted an educational presentation titled "Unmasking Fraud" featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to address senior fraud targeting older adults in Louisiana. The event emphasized that fraud against seniors impacts not only financial security but also causes lasting emotional and psychological harm, and provided practical strategies for protection. AARP directs people to its Fraud Watch Network resource for current scam information and personal data protection guidance.