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The Federal Trade Commission warned consumers about gift card scams in which fraudsters can obtain gift card numbers and PINs before the cards are even purchased. The advisory highlights a theft method that allows scammers to intercept sensitive card information at the point of sale, putting consumers at risk of financial loss during the holiday shopping season.

California's Attorney General warned of scams targeting wildfire victims and also highlighted illegal price gouging occurring during the state of emergency. The warning appears to address fraudulent schemes exploiting disaster victims seeking aid and services during wildfire recovery.

Fei Liang and Ziguang Li were sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for laundering over $6 million in proceeds from a nationwide "tech support" elder fraud scheme. The conspirators opened fictitious business bank accounts used to receive victim wire transfers after scammers falsely convinced elderly targets that they had criminal or technical account issues requiring immediate payment. Law enforcement recovered evidence from Li's residence including lists of fictitious businesses, victims' personal information, and bank account details for at least 25 entities involved in the money laundering operation.

During tax season, the IRS warns taxpayers to be cautious of scams, noting that the agency only initiates official contact with taxpayers via mail for tax documentation, not through other means. The warning alerts people to fraudulent schemes that may impersonate the IRS during the filing season.

George Ronald Russell, a 68-year-old former Thousand Oaks resident, was sentenced to over one year in prison and ordered to pay $600,000 in restitution for a $1.1 million investment fraud scheme targeting elders. Russell pleaded guilty to 18 felony counts including elder grand theft, grand theft over $500,000, attempted grand theft, and money laundering, with the scheme connected to a DUI awareness booklet.

An 82-year-old Boulder City woman lost $40,000 in a Facebook-based romance scam involving a gold shipping scheme, and was nearly conned into sending an additional $100,000 before her daughter discovered the fraud through a joint bank account. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is hosting two public educational events in early February featuring Chase Bank officials and financial crimes specialists to teach residents how to identify romance scam red flags and protect themselves from similar frauds.

43-year-old Aurora Phelps of Las Vegas was charged in a 21-count indictment for running a romance scam targeting older men through online dating services between July 2021 and December 2022, during which she allegedly drugged victims and stole from their bank accounts. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping, with a potential life sentence if convicted on all counts. The FBI is seeking additional victims and has established resources including a dedicated webpage and the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311) for those 60 and older who may

I cannot provide a summary of this article because the content shown is only the webpage header, navigation menu, and headline listings from a Telemundo Reno news website. The actual article text about "SB 76 aims to compensate victims of financial scams" is not included in what you provided. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please share the full article content.

Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar presented Senate Bill 76, which would redirect money from successful judgments against financial scammers into a victim compensation fund offering up to $25,000 per victim, with initial funding of $500,000. The bill aims to encourage victims—particularly elderly residents who AARP noted are most vulnerable to these scams—to come forward by reducing shame and stigma, as Nevada ranks third nationally in financial crimes. Aguilar advised victims to verify financial planners' legitimacy through his office and warned that scammers typically build trust before presenting fraudulent investment opportunities.

**Romance Scam with Drugging and Theft** Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was indicted on 21 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping for allegedly meeting older men through online dating services, drugging them, and stealing money from their financial accounts between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps, currently in custody in Mexico, faces up to life in prison if convicted, and the FBI is actively seeking to identify additional victims through an investigative website.

Aurora Phelps, a Las Vegas woman currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, has been indicted by federal prosecutors for orchestrating romance scams targeting older men between July 2021 and December 2022. Phelps allegedly lured victims through online dating applications, drugged them with prescription sedatives, and stole millions of dollars through unauthorized access to their bank accounts, brokerage accounts, credit cards, and vehicles; at least three victims died, including one man she allegedly pushed across the border in a wheelchair. She faces multiple federal charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, kidnapping, and kidnapping resulting in death, with a potential life sentence if convicted.

Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, ran a "romance scam on steroids" targeting elderly victims primarily in their 60s and 70s through online dating applications over more than three years, resulting in at least three deaths. Phelps drugged victims with prescription sedatives and controlled substances, then stole their vehicles, bank accounts, and credit cards; in one case, she liquidated $3.3 million of a victim's Apple stock. She faces a 21-count indictment including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping charges, is currently incarcerated in Mexico awaiting extradition, and the FBI has

Aurora Phelps, 43, a Nevada woman currently in custody in Mexico, faces 21 counts including wire fraud, identity theft, and one count of kidnapping resulting in death for operating what the FBI called a "romance scam on steroids." Using dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, Phelps targeted at least four men between 2021 and 2022, luring them to meet in person before secretly drugging them with sedatives and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through theft of vehicles, bank withdrawals, credit card purchases, and unauthorized access to investment accounts—with three of the victims dying and one victim being transported across the U.

I cannot provide a summary for the Elderus database, as this article does not contain information about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The article covers unrelated news topics including a hiking rescue, road safety initiatives, a shooting, and a campus shooting anniversary. Please submit an article relevant to elder fraud or abuse for summarization.

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

This content does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database. The articles cover a hiking rescue, road safety initiatives, a shooting incident, and a UNLV anniversary—none of which involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. No summary is applicable.

Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, has been charged in a 21-count indictment for an elaborate romance scam in which she allegedly used online dating apps to lure elderly men, drug them, and steal from their bank and investment accounts, resulting in at least three deaths and over $3 million in losses. One victim was allegedly drugged, pushed across the US-Mexico border in a wheelchair, and found dead in a Mexico City hotel room hours later; another victim died on his bathroom floor after a date in Guadalajara. Phelps, currently in Mexican custody, faces charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, kidnapping, and kidnapping

Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was indicted on multiple federal charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping for allegedly luring older men through dating apps and online services, drugging them, and stealing their financial information. Her alleged victims include at least two men who died and one who disappeared; in documented cases, she stole approximately $3.3 million in Apple stock from one victim and over $10,000 from another before his death in Mexico. The FBI is seeking additional victims and has taken custody of Phelps, who was arrested in Mexico in September 2023 pending extradition to the United States.

A new scam is spreading nationwide that targets people with text messages claiming they owe unpaid tolls, attempting to trick recipients into paying fraudulent fees. The scam uses deceptive messaging to convince victims they have outstanding toll violations, though specific dollar amounts and victim numbers are not detailed in the available excerpt.

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

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, currently incarcerated in Mexico and awaiting extradition, has been indicted on multiple charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, and kidnapping resulting in death for allegedly targeting older men through online dating applications, drugging them with prescription sedatives, and stealing millions in cash, vehicles, and assets between July 2021 and December 2022. At least three of her victims died shortly after encounters with her, including one Nevada man she allegedly drugged and transported to Mexico City where he was found dead hours later, while another survivor emerged from a coma after she administered large doses of sedatives over a week. The FBI describes the scheme as "one of the most egregious and repreh

A 72-year-old Las Vegas woman, "Cozy" Giles, lost over $12,000 from her Citibank account after falling victim to a scam in January 2024, one of three fraudulent incidents targeting her savings. Despite reporting the theft to Citibank multiple times and contacting numerous agencies including the FBI, Metro Police, and the Nevada Attorney General's Office, she received minimal assistance and was told by the bank that she needed a subpoena to access her own transaction records. The case illustrates a broader problem: more than 369,000 financial abuse incidents targeting older adults are reported annually in the United States, resulting in estimated losses of $

Social Security imposter scams remain prevalent across the U.S., with scammers using deceptive tactics to obtain sensitive information or money through fraudulent letters, texts, emails, and calls. The Social Security Administration clarifies that it will never text/email ID images, suspend Social Security numbers, threaten arrest, demand payment via gift cards or wire transfers, or promise benefits in exchange for fees. Individuals should report suspected Social Security fraud to the Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report and verify suspicious communications through official channels.

This educational article identifies New Jersey as the safest U.S. state for retirees based on FBI data analysis, citing low violent and property crime rates, minimal senior involvement in fatal accidents, and strong healthcare access. The article also lists nine additional safe states for retirement (New York, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, Alabama) and warns against five states with higher risks of elder fraud, property crime, and scams (Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico).

The Nevada State Contractors Board issued a consumer alert warning homeowners, particularly seniors, to watch for contractor scams during summer months, including unsolicited door-to-door offers and suspicious online advertisements. Red flags include requests for cash-only payments, "free" inspections, pressure tactics, and mismatched company information, while protective measures include verifying contractor license numbers, obtaining multiple bids, and confirming employee status through the Board's website before hiring.

Congresswoman Susie Lee hosted a scam prevention event at a Las Vegas senior center to address growing fraud concerns as Social Security Administration changes create vulnerability among Nevada's 480,000 Social Security-dependent seniors. Older adults lost a record $12.5 billion to scams in 2024 (a 25% increase from 2023), with Nevada leading the nation in per-capita financial fraud and scammers exploiting confusion created by SSA office closures and policy changes.

Karina Singer is pursuing a Nevada Supreme Court appeal (Case No. 89171) involving allegations of elder financial abuse, fiduciary misconduct, and over $1 million in improper trust asset distributions from her late father Steven J. Singer's estate. The case was transferred from the Nevada Supreme Court to the Court of Appeals without addressing Singer's pending motions and evidence, which she contends violated appellate procedure rules and constitutional due process protections. Singer has filed an emergency motion to recall the transfer and retain jurisdiction, arguing the Supreme Court has a mandatory obligation to address the uncontested allegations of judicial misconduct and systemic failures in Nevada's probate system.

**Summary:** Barbara Trickle, 80, of Las Vegas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for operating a prize notice scam from 2012 to February 2018 that defrauded thousands of consumers, predominantly elderly, of over $15 million. Trickle and her co-conspirators mailed fraudulent notices claiming victims had won cash prizes and would receive them upon paying $20-$50 fees; victims instead received worthless reports or trinkets and were subsequently inundated with additional fraudulent mailings. The scheme was shut down following a U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigation and court order.

An 80-year-old Las Vegas woman, Barbara Trickle, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a nationwide prize scam that defrauded over $15 million from victims between 2012 and 2018, primarily targeting senior citizens through fake lottery and sweepstakes notices requesting fees of $20-$50. No victims received promised prizes, and federal authorities shut down her printing and mailing business operation through multiple search warrants. The Department of Justice encourages seniors and fraud victims to report similar scams to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11.

Barbara Trickle, an 80-year-old Las Vegas resident, pleaded guilty to operating a prize notice scam that defrauded over $15 million from thousands of elderly victims across the United States between 2012 and 2018. Using her printing and mailing company, Trickle designed and distributed millions of fraudulent letters claiming recipients had won cash prizes but needed to pay small upfront fees ($20-$50) to claim them; victims received only cheap trinkets or bogus reports and were repeatedly targeted with additional mailings. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service shut down the operation in February 2018, and authorities warn the public to avoid responding

Nevada officials warned seniors about rising SSA impersonation scams, following an FTC report showing Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with adults aged 70 and older heavily targeted. Scammers use spoofed numbers and fear tactics—claiming suspended Social Security numbers or unpaid taxes—to extract personal information, with Filipino-American seniors particularly vulnerable due to language barriers and cultural factors. Authorities recommend hanging up on suspicious calls, never providing personal information unsolicited, and reporting incidents to the FTC or Nevada Attorney General's office, while community groups advocate for multilingual prevention resources.

Seniors in Henderson, Nevada are being targeted by scammers using calls, emails, and AI-generated voices to steal money, with one woman's mother losing a quarter of her net worth over nearly two years before intervention stopped the fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, people lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with seniors particularly vulnerable to employment offers, loan scams, tech support fraud, and AI impersonation calls. Former FBI agent Thomas Quilty recommends seniors establish secret code words with family, limit WiFi connections, use strong passwords, and report fraud without shame to help combat the growing problem.

Three individuals were arrested in Douglas County, Nevada in connection with extortion schemes using fraudulent emails impersonating Microsoft or offering unsolicited services, with threats escalating if payment was not made. Junyan Wu (22) and Lirui Diao (21) were arrested on May 2 in Genoa after arriving to collect money from a homeowner, while Quan Fu Ma (45) was arrested on May 7 in Gardnerville under similar circumstances; all three faced charges including extortion, exploitation of the elderly, and conspiracy. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office partnered with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and other agencies on the joint investigation and is offering a free Senior

A scam awareness seminar presented by the Better Business Bureau and Douglas County Sheriff's Office emphasized that fraud can affect anyone regardless of age, though seniors are disproportionately targeted due to having savings, home ownership, and good credit. Key scam tactics include robocalls, identity theft, and cryptocurrency investment schemes that use fear and urgency to pressure victims into immediate payment, with Nevada ranking fourth in fraud reports and third in identity theft cases. Protection strategies include regularly monitoring financial statements, reporting suspected fraud to relevant companies and agencies, and utilizing free resources like IdentityTheft.gov to create recovery plans.

Two men were arrested in Reno on May 14, 2025, for operating a "pig butchering" elder fraud scheme that defrauded victims of millions across northern Nevada and California. The scam involved impersonating federal law enforcement to convince elderly victims their assets were under investigation, coercing them into withdrawing cash and gold bullion for fake "agents"; a 64-year-old Truckee victim alone lost hundreds of thousands of dollars before suspects were caught attempting to collect a package worth over $213,000. Amit Bhanwala-Singh and Anil Kumar were charged with obtaining money under false pretenses and exploiting an older person.

Two California men were arrested in a "pig butchering" elder fraud scheme that targeted a 64-year-old Truckee woman, coercing her to withdraw and deliver over $213,000 in cash and gold between April and May 2025 by impersonating U.S. Marshals. Amit Bhanwala-Singh and Anil Kumar allegedly used fear tactics and false claims of asset investigations to manipulate the victim into making multiple transactions across Northern California and Nevada. The coordinated operation by Reno Police and U.S. Secret Service resulted in charges of obtaining money under false pretenses and exploitation of an older person.

In 2023, elder fraud losses reached $3.4 billion affecting over 101,000 seniors aged 60 and older, representing an 11% increase from the previous year with an average loss of $33,915 per victim. Financial institutions and experts are emphasizing the need for increased awareness and prevention strategies to protect vulnerable seniors from financial exploitation.

The Reno Police Department arrested two men, Amit Bhanwala-Singh and Anil Kumar, in connection with a "pig butchering" elder fraud scheme targeting northern Nevada and California residents. The suspects impersonated U.S. Marshals to convince elderly victims that their assets were under investigation, then coerced them into withdrawing cash and gold; one 64-year-old victim from Truckee lost hundreds of thousands of dollars before the suspects were apprehended attempting to collect a fake gold package valued at $213,000.

This article describes a traffic accident, not elder fraud or abuse, and is therefore outside the scope of the Elderus database. The incident involved an impaired driver who crashed into a power pole in Sparks, Nevada, resulting in a power outage and DUI arrest—a public safety matter rather than a scam or fraud case targeting seniors or vulnerable populations.

Scammers are sending phishing text messages to Nevada residents (and victims as far as Oklahoma) impersonating Las Vegas Courts with fake .gov addresses, demanding immediate payment for outstanding traffic tickets to avoid fines or legal action. Clark County and Las Vegas officials warn that legitimate court entities do not solicit payments via text, and advise residents to delete suspicious messages and verify tickets directly through official channels rather than clicking links.

The Carson City Senior Center is hosting multiple educational events in June, including a scam prevention workshop by the Better Business Bureau on June 6 that will cover current scam trends and provide tips to help seniors avoid fraud. The center is also offering a 4-week estate planning workshop, farmer's market coupon distribution for eligible seniors 60+, and various cultural and educational programs throughout the month.

Scammers are sending text messages impersonating the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, falsely claiming recipients have outstanding traffic tickets requiring immediate payment under a non-existent regulation. The Nevada DMV warns that they only contact residents via mail or email—never text messages—and legitimate communications never come from out-of-country phone numbers like those originating from the Philippines.

A Las Vegas couple, Jong Rhee, 45, and Neelufar Rhee, 34, were arrested in May 2025 and face multiple charges for operating a $57 million investment fraud scheme through their businesses Twisted Twins Motorsports and Lusso Auto Spa, where they promised investors extraordinary returns on luxury vehicles and boats allegedly being resold to overseas buyers who investigators say never existed. The couple claimed vehicles like a $526,000 Rolls-Royce could be sold for $7.5 million and promised one investor a $57 million investment could yield $2.5 billion, but instead allegedly used investor funds for personal luxury purchases, travel, an

On June 20, 2025, Rushabh Rajesh Desai, 35, of San Jose, was arrested by Nevada County Sheriff's Office deputies after attempting to scam a 75-year-old woman out of $30,000 through a phone scam; a concerned friend called 911 during the scam in progress, and deputies located Desai's vehicle near the victim's residence before the money could be handed over. Desai was charged with conspiracy to commit crime, attempting to obtain money by false pretense, and elder theft. The incident highlights the importance of contacting law enforcement or a trusted person immediately when suspicious contact occurs, as this quick action prevented the

During World Elder Abuse Awareness Month in June, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Nevada and FBI Las Vegas Division announced intensified efforts to combat elder fraud, which costs the U.S. billions annually and affects over 100,000 seniors each year. The agencies highlighted a case involving Aurora Phelps, who faces a 21-count indictment for luring older men through online dating services and stealing their money; she is currently in custody in Mexico. The National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311) offers support to victims aged 60 and older, with officials emphasizing that reporting fraud helps authorities identify perpetrators and recover financial losses.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada and FBI Las Vegas Division are reinforcing efforts to combat elder fraud during World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, noting that such schemes cost billions annually and affect over 100,000 elder Americans each year. The office charged Aurora Phelps with 21 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft for allegedly defrauding older men she met through online dating services; Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico. The Justice Department provides a National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11) offering personalized support to victims age 60 and older, with case managers helping victims report fraud an

Senior Scam Alerts, a free weekly newsletter, launched in June 2025 to educate older Americans about fraud prevention following a crisis year in which Americans aged 60+ lost nearly $4.9 billion to scams in 2024—a 43% increase from the prior year with average losses exceeding $83,000 per victim. The newsletter covers various scam types including health insurance fraud, pig butchering, smishing, and grandparent scams, providing prevention tips, real-life case studies, and reporting resources drawn from trusted sources like the FBI and Department of Justice.

Senior Scam Alerts, a new free weekly newsletter launched in June 2025, aims to educate older Americans about fraud prevention through coverage of scam types, detection methods, and reporting procedures. According to FBI data, seniors aged 60+ lost nearly $4.9 billion to scams in 2024—a 43% increase from the previous year with an average loss of $83,000 per victim—prompting this educational initiative drawing from trusted sources like the FBI and Department of Justice.

On June 20, 2025, Rushabh Rajesh Desai, 35, of San Jose, was arrested by Nevada County Sheriff's Office deputies after attempting to scam a 75-year-old woman out of $30,000 through a phone scam; a vigilant friend called 911 while the scam was in progress, allowing deputies to intercept Desai's vehicle near the victim's residence. Desai was charged with conspiracy to commit crime, attempting to obtain money by false pretense, and elder theft. The sheriff's office emphasized that scams targeting elderly individuals are common and often go unreported due to victim shame, and recommends immediate action including