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Beth Hyland, a Michigan administrative assistant, was targeted by a romance scam artist who posed as a Frenchman named "Richard" on Tinder, using deepfake videos during Skype calls and stolen photos to deceive her. The scammer manipulated her emotionally by presenting himself as a potential romantic partner while employing AI-generated deepfakes, which are difficult to detect without specialized tools.

A 53-year-old Michigan woman was deceived in a romance scam involving deepfake technology, where a scammer posing as a French man named "Richard" used AI-generated video calls and fake photos to manipulate her into taking out loans totaling $26,000. The scam exemplifies a growing threat, with projections of 8 million deepfakes to be shared globally in 2025—approximately one-fifth of which will be used in romance scams—as scammers increasingly employ artificial intelligence to impersonate romantic interests.

Scammers are impersonating Garth Brooks on dating apps and social media, convincing victims they are in romantic relationships with the country singer before requesting money, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. This romance scam scheme has also targeted impersonations of Kid Rock and Snoop Dogg, with perpetrators using elaborate tactics to extract funds from unsuspecting fans.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued consumer alerts about a rising trend of scams impersonating celebrities (Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, Kid Rock) and military leaders. The scams include romance fraud, cryptocurrency/pig butchering schemes, merchandise fraud, and AI-generated deepfake audio and video impersonations designed to extract money from victims. The alert advises consumers never to send money or personal information to online contacts claiming to be celebrities or officials, to verify requests through trusted contacts, and to be wary of urgent investment opportunities or requests for banking details.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned of a surge in scams where fraudsters impersonate celebrities like Garth Brooks, Snoop Dogg, and Kid Rock, as well as military officials, to steal money from victims. The scams typically involve romance schemes, cryptocurrency/"pig butchering" investment frauds, and merchandise purchases, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes to create convincing audio and video impersonations. The attorney general advised consumers never to send money to online contacts, avoid sharing personal or financial information with strangers, and to be wary of high-pressure tactics, unusual payment requests, and demands for gift cards or cryptocurrency.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned consumers about a rising trend of scams impersonating celebrities (including Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, and Kid Rock) and military leaders to defraud victims. The scams include romance schemes, cryptocurrency/pig butchering investment frauds, and merchandise scams, often using AI-generated deepfakes to appear authentic. Nessel advised consumers never to send money to online contacts claiming to be celebrities, to verify requests through trusted contacts, and to avoid sharing personal or financial information with unverified online sources.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned of a surge in online scams where perpetrators impersonate celebrities (Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, Kid Rock) and military/government officials to defraud victims. Common schemes include romance scams, cryptocurrency/pig butchering fraud, merchandise scams, and AI-generated deepfake calls, with scammers using high-pressure tactics and requests for money via untraceable methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency. The advisory recommends never sending money to online contacts, verifying identities through official channels, and avoiding sharing personal or financial information with unverified online sources.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a public advisory warning residents about increasingly common celebrity impersonation scams, in which fraudsters pose as famous figures like Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, and Kid Rock to deceive victims into sending money. Common schemes include romance scams (where victims believe they're in relationships with celebrities and send substantial sums), cryptocurrency/investment scams, and merchandise fraud; one notable case involved a French woman who sent over $800,000 to someone impersonating Brad Pitt. Nessel advises never sending money to online contacts, avoiding pressure to rush into relationships, and consulting trusted contacts before engaging with strangers on social media.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a consumer alert warning of an uptick in celebrity impersonation scams, where fraudsters pose as celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Kid Rock, and Garth Brooks to steal money through romance scams, cryptocurrency schemes, and merchandise fraud. The scams often exploit victims on dating apps and social media by building fake relationships or promoting fake investment opportunities, with scammers using AI to create convincing voice and video impersonations. The AG recommends victims avoid sending money to online contacts, verify caller information independently, and report scams to the Department of Attorney General.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a warning about increasing celebrity impersonation scams targeting state residents, involving fraudsters posing as celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, and military leaders to perpetrate romance scams, cryptocurrency "pig butchering" schemes, and merchandise fraud. Common tactics include creating deepfake audio and videos, using high-pressure tactics and fear appeals, and requesting money, sensitive information, or unusual payment methods. The attorney general advises victims to avoid sending money to online contacts, never share personal or financial information with strangers online, and report suspected scams to Michigan's Consumer Protection Team.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned of an uptick in celebrity-impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as famous figures like Snoop Dogg and Garth Brooks to steal money through romance scams, cryptocurrency/investment schemes, or merchandise fraud. The AG advised residents to never send money or personal information to online contacts claiming to be celebrities, and to verify requests through official channels before responding.

A Warren, Michigan man, Mohammad Gazi, was charged with false pretenses and computer fraud after a senior citizen from Oakland County lost over $40,000 in a tech support scam. The victim received calls from someone impersonating a McAfee Computer Security representative who claimed funds were mistakenly deposited in her account and instructed her to withdraw and hand over cash on three separate occasions; she became suspicious after a fourth contact and alerted police, leading to Gazi's arrest through a sting operation.

Michigan's senior centers face significant funding inequities as the state's rapidly aging population strains its services. Well-funded centers like Rochester's OPC operate with comprehensive programs and modern amenities supported by local millages, while underfunded centers like Plymouth's operate limited hours and struggle to survive on cobbled-together budgets from municipal contributions and grants. Twelve of Michigan's 83 counties lack dedicated senior care taxes, creating a "have and have-nots" system that limits seniors' access to activities proven crucial for combating dementia and extending life.

Michigan's senior centers face a crisis due to inconsistent state funding, creating stark inequities in services available to older adults. Well-funded centers like Rochester's OPC offer comprehensive activities (pickleball, tai chi, pools) supported by local millages, while under-resourced centers like Plymouth's operate part-time with minimal budgets and struggle to survive without dedicated tax support. As Michigan's population ages faster than most states, advocates call for systemic change to ensure equitable access to senior recreation and services across all communities.

Online scammers stole a record $12.5 billion from consumers in 2024, with text message scams alone accounting for $470 million in losses and phone scams averaging $1,500 per victim. Michigan Legacy Credit Union partnered with Wayne State University's Institute of Gerontology to train employees in fraud prevention, enabling staff to identify and stop scams through careful questioning—such as one incident where a teller prevented a woman from withdrawing $20,000 after confirming her daughter was not actually in jail. The initiative focuses on educating consumers and front-line workers to recognize common impersonation schemes involving government agencies like the IRS, Social Security Administration, and local

**Title:** Older Adults Embracing AI Tools for Daily Living with Growing Educational Support Older adults across the country are increasingly using AI-powered tools such as voice assistants (Alexa, Siri, Google Home), chatbots (ChatGPT), and health wearables to simplify daily tasks, improve medication adherence, and support independent aging. Educational programs like AARP's Senior Planet and Michigan's GetSetUp offer free or low-cost classes to help seniors learn these technologies, with research showing that older adults respond positively to user-friendly AI applications for household control, health monitoring, and personal productivity, though experts recommend caution when using AI for medical

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a scam awareness roundup highlighting major fraud schemes targeting state residents, including disaster relief and charity scams, government imposter fraud, phishing/smishing attacks, cryptocurrency "pig butchering" romance scams, and data breach identity theft. The advisory recommends consumers verify charity legitimacy before donating, never click suspicious links or provide personal information to unsolicited contacts, monitor credit reports regularly through AnnualCreditReport.com, and implement security measures like two-factor authentication and password changes following data breaches.

The Michigan Senate passed a four-bill package designed to strengthen protections for seniors and vulnerable adults facing abuse and exploitation. The legislation increases penalties for financial crimes against older adults, extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting embezzlement cases from six to ten years, allows vulnerable adults to obtain personal protection orders, and establishes multidisciplinary teams to prevent and detect elder abuse—addressing a statewide problem affecting over 73,000 older adults and costing victims more than $28 billion annually in financial scams and fraud.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich warned consumers about an increasing toll scam in West Michigan involving fraudulent text messages falsely claiming recipients owe unpaid tolls to MDOT and threatening legal action. The scam uses deceptive links mimicking the official MDOT website, though legitimate toll bills are only sent by mail—never via text—and Michigan has no toll roads except at three specific bridge facilities. Consumers are advised to ignore unsolicited texts with urgency language, suspicious links, and requests for financial information, and to report such "smishing" texts to SPAM (7726) and the Federal Trade Commission.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a consumer alert warning residents about Bitcoin ATM scams targeting older adults, in which fraudsters pose as representatives from companies like Apple, Google, or law enforcement to convince victims their accounts are compromised and demand immediate payment. Victims are instructed to withdraw cash from banks and deposit it into Bitcoin ATMs, where it is converted to cryptocurrency and sent to scammers; once transferred, the money cannot be recovered because Bitcoin ATMs lack oversight, regulation, and fraud prevention measures unlike traditional financial institutions. The alert advises consumers never to deposit money into Bitcoin ATMs at anyone's request, to be wary of urgent calls, to verify requests with their banks, and to report suspecte

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a consumer alert warning about a Bitcoin ATM scam targeting unsuspecting victims, particularly older adults. The scam involves fraudulent calls or messages claiming financial accounts are compromised, with callers impersonating legitimate companies or law enforcement and threatening prosecution to coerce victims into withdrawing cash and depositing it into Bitcoin ATMs, after which the money is irretrievably converted to cryptocurrency. Because Bitcoin ATMs lack regulation and oversight, unlike traditional banking systems with fraud prevention measures, victims have no meaningful consumer protections and funds cannot be recovered once the transaction is complete.

The Michigan Department of Treasury is warning taxpayers about cybercriminals attempting to commit tax-related identity theft by fraudulently filing state income tax returns and claiming refunds during tax season. Scammers use tactics like creating urgency and threatening criminal action to extract personal information from unsuspecting victims. The department recommends cybersecurity measures including using secure networks, avoiding suspicious links and unsolicited requests for personal information, using strong passwords, and reporting suspicious activity to authorities.

In 2024, Michigan residents reported $204 million in fraud losses—a dramatic increase from $60 million in 2020—with an 84-year-old woman losing $40,000 to a man posing as a bank employee serving as one documented case. Scams targeting older adults have diversified to include impersonation, extortion, investment fraud, tech-support schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud, with crypto scams alone affecting Michigan seniors at growing rates (141 instances in 2022 vs. 262 in 2023, with losses rising from $14 million to $24 million). AARP Michigan is responding with fraud prevention education sessions, document sh

**Summary:** Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned residents to watch out for post-storm scams following severe weather that swept across Michigan in late March 2025. Common fraud schemes include contractors overcharging for repairs, imposters claiming to offer government funding for disaster relief, and fraudulent charity solicitations; residents are advised to verify contractor credentials, obtain multiple written estimates, research charities before donating, and avoid unsolicited payment requests via wire transfer or gift cards.

A 68-year-old Oxford, Michigan woman lost nearly $500,000 in life savings to a romance scammer who impersonated "NCIS" actor Mark Harmon over a ten-month period beginning in April 2023. The victim sold her home and car to wire funds to the scammer, who claimed his money was tied up in California and he needed the loan to return from Italy, but disappeared after receiving the money. The Oakland County Sheriff's Department is investigating the case, and authorities note that such romance scams are increasingly common and often originate overseas, making recovery of funds difficult.

A Northern Michigan woman lost over $20,000 in an online romance scam in 2024 after being contacted by someone impersonating a celebrity actor on Instagram. The scammer used love bombing and emotional manipulation, gradually building trust before requesting money for fabricated emergencies; the victim only recognized the fraud when asked for an additional $100,000. Experts note that romance scammers exploit emotional vulnerabilities and common interests to establish trust, and victims should understand that such crimes result from criminal manipulation rather than personal fault.

A 68-year-old Oxford, Michigan woman lost approximately $475,000 of her life savings in a romance scam after being contacted on Facebook by someone impersonating actor Mark Harmon. Over ten months, the scammer convinced her to wire money by claiming he was in Italy under contract and needed funds to return to her, with promises of marriage and financial security for her and her adult son with special needs. She sold her home and car to send the money, and when the scammer disappeared after claiming to board a flight to her, she faced eviction with nowhere to go.

An Oxford, Michigan woman, 68-year-old Sandy Selvan, lost her entire life savings of approximately $475,000 to a romance scammer who impersonated actor Mark Harmon over Facebook and a messaging app. The scammer convinced Selvan to sell her home and car over the course of ten months, claiming he needed funds while working on a film in Italy and promising to marry her and support her and her adult son with special needs. After Selvan sent the money, the scammer's account disappeared, leaving her with no assets and facing eviction.

Global cybercrime cost nearly $10 trillion in the previous year and is expected to rise in 2025, with scammers increasingly targeting everyday people through common fraud schemes. Michigan State University experts highlight three major scam types: package delay scams (smishing texts impersonating delivery services), romance fraud (building fake emotional relationships to extract money), and other cyber threats, offering guidance on protection strategies such as verifying official websites and recognizing common fraudster tactics like fake military profiles or stolen social media images.

The Michigan State Police urge residents to recognize and avoid common scams transmitted through phone calls, text messages, and social media, including romance scams that manipulate victims into sending money through fake emergencies, tech support scams offering fake virus solutions, and toll payment scams. Key warning signs include unsolicited contact, artificial urgency, unusual payment demands (cryptocurrency or gift cards), and requests for personal or financial information. Authorities recommend trusting instincts, consulting trusted contacts or law enforcement if something seems suspicious, and not feeling ashamed to report suspected fraud.

Michigan residents and others nationwide have received phishing text messages falsely claiming unpaid toll bills from services like EZ Pass, with scammers using fake links and professional-looking payment pages to steal credit card information. The Better Business Bureau reported approximately 800 complaints about this scam in 2024, with scammers also impersonating the Michigan Department of Transportation despite Michigan having no toll roads; authorities warn that legitimate toll agencies never request payment via text message and advise victims to report such messages to the FTC or file complaints with state attorneys general.

Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with investment scams accounting for nearly half at $5.7 billion and bank transfers and cryptocurrency being the most commonly exploited payment methods. The Federal Trade Commission data shows 38% of consumers reported losing money to fraud in 2024, up from 27% in 2023, with the number of fraud reports remaining stable at 2.6 million. Michigan consumers alone reported $204 million in losses, with seniors ages 60+ losing $45.9 million, though younger consumers are also increasingly victimized.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a consumer alert during National Consumer Protection Week about "pig butchering" scams, which combine romance fraud with cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting seniors. The scam operates by criminals building trust with victims through fake online profiles on dating sites and social media, then gradually persuading them to invest in bogus cryptocurrency opportunities through fraudulent websites. Consumers are advised to avoid sending money to online contacts, refrain from sharing financial information with strangers, be skeptical of promises of quick returns, and contact AARP's ElderWatch program at 800-222-4444 for peer counseling if they suspect fraud.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reissued a consumer alert on "pig butchering" scams during National Consumer Protection Week, describing a sophisticated fraud that combines romance scams with cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting seniors. The scam typically begins with fraudsters creating fake profiles on dating apps or social media to build trust with victims before gradually introducing fake investment opportunities in cryptocurrency, often promising unrealistic returns. Nessel and AARP experts recommend consumers avoid sending money to online-only contacts, never share financial information with strangers, and be suspicious of unsolicited investment opportunities, with AARP's ElderWatch program available to help at 800-222-4444.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel highlighted ongoing efforts to combat illegal robocalls during National Consumer Protection Week, noting that Michigan residents filed 32,647 robocall complaints in fiscal year 2024. The Attorney General's office has received over 14,000 robocall complaints since launching its crackdown initiative in 2019 and has taken enforcement action against voice service providers and companies transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic. The article advises consumers to avoid providing personal information to suspicious callers, be wary of payment requests via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and report suspected fraud immediately.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reported that the state's Consumer Protection Team received over 10,000 written complaints and 20,000 phone calls in 2024, recovering $1.9 million for consumers through mediation, settlements, and refunds. The top complaint categories were internet/online purchases, retail delivery issues, motor vehicle sales, credit/financial concerns, personal services, health services, landlord/tenant disputes, utilities, contractors, and telecommunications billing problems.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Michigan Bankers Association launched the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign during National Consumer Protection Week to educate consumers about phishing scams, which are on the rise. The campaign advises that legitimate banks never request confidential information via unsolicited calls, emails, or texts, and provides guidance on how to identify suspicious communications and report them to the FTC, Anti-Phishing Working Group, and state authorities. Resources include an interactive website at BanksNeverAskThat.com with videos, quizzes, and a video game, plus Spanish-language materials.

Matthew Mencarelli, a 39-year-old from Kent County, Michigan, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for defrauding 15 investors of $1.6 million through a Ponzi-like scheme that began in 2018. He solicited funds from family and social acquaintances by falsely claiming to have lucrative infrastructure contracts in Traverse City, guaranteed high returns, and used the money for personal expenses including a $400,000 home while using new investor funds to pay earlier investors. When unable to repay investors, he allegedly threatened them and forged documents to perpetuate the fraud.

**Summary:** Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 23 state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief to support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and its federal employees, following the Trump administration's directive to halt ongoing investigations into deceptive and abusive financial conduct. The CFPB has returned over $20 billion to defrauded consumers since its 2011 creation, and the coalition warns that shutting down the agency could reduce oversight of major banks and prevent consumers from reporting fraud, potentially recreating conditions similar to those preceding the 2008 financial crisis.

Lenawee County TRIAD is hosting a free educational workshop called "Shield Against Scams" on March 12th in Onsted, Michigan, designed to teach older adults how to recognize and prevent fraud targeting seniors. The event will feature Cory Reindel, a certified fraud examiner and senior fraud investigator, who will discuss common scams, warning signs, and protection strategies, followed by a Q&A session for personalized advice.

An Ottawa County, Michigan man lost $23,000 to a tech support scam after a fraudulent Apple security alert appeared on his computer, instructing him to withdraw cash and convert it to Bitcoin. The scammer used shame tactics, falsely claiming the victim had authorized suspicious transactions involving gambling and illegal content, then instructed him to lie to his bank teller about the purpose of the withdrawal. Ottawa County Detective Joe Monger reports handling approximately 40 fraud cases, noting that common scams include romance, grandparent, and tech support schemes, with AI technology making scams harder to detect.

FBI warned Gmail users nationwide, including in Michigan, of sophisticated AI-powered phishing scams impersonating Google support staff who contact victims by phone (with spoofed caller ID) and follow up with emails requesting account recovery codes that grant scammers access. The scam is particularly dangerous because it uses AI technology to create highly believable impersonations, with even tech-savvy victims describing it as "the most sophisticated phishing attack" they've encountered. The FBI advises never responding to unsolicited contact from companies claiming to be Google, banks, or other support services, and instead independently contacting those companies to verify any suspicious communications.

**Summary:** Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel expanded the Auto Insurance Fraud Unit into the Auto Fraud Task Force to combat both auto insurance fraud and vehicle theft, which increased 48.4 percent over five years with 28,408 reported thefts in 2023. The task force partnered with Michigan State Police to embed a dedicated prosecutor targeting organized auto theft rings in Metro Detroit and collaborated with the FORCE Team, which has charged 14 defendants in connection with hundreds of vehicle thefts in Southeast Michigan.

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

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned residents about a government imposter scam involving fraudulent letters claiming recipients owe overdue taxes and threatening property seizure if they call a specified number to pay. The fake letters use personal information from public records and official-looking forms to appear credible, but the actual Michigan Department of Treasury sends official correspondence through the U.S. Postal Service with governor and treasurer names on letterhead. Residents are advised to contact the Treasury Department directly to verify suspicious letters and report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission or Attorney General's office.

Michigan State Police are warning businesses across the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula about a fraud scheme involving stolen credit cards and lottery scratch-off tickets, with related cases also reported in Wisconsin and Nebraska. Scammers purchase large quantities of lottery tickets using stolen credit cards by requesting manual entry of card information, then quickly cash in winning tickets before the fraud is discovered. Businesses are advised to refuse manual credit card processing, limit lottery ticket purchases, and verify card legitimacy when transactions seem suspicious.

A Michigan man and woman were charged with financially exploiting an 87-year-old Rochester Hills resident through fraudulent power of attorney, with one defendant embezzling over $400,000 and the other stealing thousands through unauthorized checks. A Michigan State University study in rural communities found that preventative training for family caregivers and seniors, combined with caseworker follow-up visits, effectively empowers people to identify and prevent financial exploitation of older adults. Michigan reports increasing financial exploitation cases, with over 4,000 referrals in fiscal year 2024, and research shows that even basic community education can raise awareness and help prevent elder fraud.

Shelley Letzer, 67, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, was arraigned on four felony charges including three counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult and fraudulent obtaining of a signature for allegedly exploiting an 87-year-old man with her co-defendant Kirk Lanam. The pair allegedly obtained power of attorney over the victim under false pretenses and used it to write checks to themselves, with Letzer accused of embezzling thousands from the vulnerable man who already had an appointed guardian. Letzer faces up to five years per embezzlement count and ten years for the signature fraud charge.

**Summary:** Shelley Letzer, 67, of West Bloomfield, Michigan was charged with four felonies for financially exploiting an 87-year-old vulnerable adult in her care, including fraudulently obtaining power of attorney and embezzling thousands of dollars through unauthorized checks. Letzer and her co-defendant Kirk Lanam allegedly exploited the elderly man despite knowing he had a court-appointed guardian, with Letzer facing charges for embezzlement of between $1,000-$20,000 and fraudulently obtaining a signature.

This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It concerns a legal ruling in a 2020 domestic terrorism case involving a plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The article is outside the scope of Elderus, which focuses on fraud and abuse affecting older adults.