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**Summary:** Antranette Echols, 57, of Indianapolis pleaded guilty to wire fraud for preparing and submitting falsified COVID-19 relief loan applications on behalf of borrowers, including some in Pennsylvania, while collecting fees for her services. Sentencing is scheduled for August 16, 2024, with potential penalties of up to 40 years in prison and $1 million in fines.

A 70-year-old Philadelphia Phillies fan with Parkinson's disease was scammed out of $50,000 by an imposter posing as shortstop Trea Turner on Facebook and Google Chat. The scammer built trust over three weeks by incorporating details about Turner's personal life and family, then convinced the victim to send money to various accounts under the false pretense of hiding assets from his wife. Towamencin Township Police are investigating, though they suspect the perpetrator is located outside the United States.

**Summary:** A Senior Fair and scam prevention seminar will be held on May 23 at Centre Care in Benner Township, Pennsylvania, featuring representatives from state agencies including the Departments of Banking and Securities, and Aging, and the Office of Attorney General to educate attendees on identifying and preventing current scams. Additionally, Congressman John Joyce will host a telephone town hall on May 22 to answer questions about Social Security and Medicare with assistance from CMS and Social Security Administration officials.

State Rep. Paul Takac hosted a free educational event on May 23 at Centre Care in College Township to help seniors protect themselves against scams. The Scam Seminar & Senior Fair featured representatives from Pennsylvania state agencies including the Department of Banking and Securities, Department of Aging, and the Office of Attorney General, who provided information and tools to help attendees identify and prevent fraud targeting older adults.

State Representative Paul Takac hosted a Scam Seminar & Senior Fair on May 23 at Centre Care in Benner Township, Pennsylvania, designed to educate seniors about recognizing and preventing fraud schemes. The event featured representatives from state agencies including the departments of Banking and Securities, Aging, and the Office of Attorney General who provided information and tools to help attendees identify and protect themselves against scams. This educational initiative underscores the growing threat of fraud targeting older adults and aims to empower seniors with knowledge to defend against deceptive practices.

Scammers are using automated voice messages impersonating banks to trick customers into revealing sensitive financial information like debit card and account numbers. Recent incidents in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ohio targeted customers of Wayne Bank, banks in Madison, and Brookville National Bank with fake security breach alerts designed to prompt account reactivation. The advisory warns customers never to provide financial information over the phone in response to unsolicited calls and to independently verify such requests by contacting their bank directly.

State Rep. Jeanne McNeill hosted a senior scam prevention presentation on May 29, featuring David Shallcross from the Pennsylvania attorney general's office who provided guidance on avoiding scams. According to McNeill, seniors lost over $3.4 billion to scams in the previous year (an 11% increase), with individual victims losing an average of $33,915 each.

Scams targeting seniors aged 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses during 2023, with individual victims losing an average of $34,000, and incidents increased 11 percent year-over-year. To address this growing problem, Pennsylvania Rep. Jeanne McNeill's office is hosting a free Senior Scam Prevention Presentation on May 29 featuring Dave Shallcross from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, who will provide guidance on avoiding scams and steps for victims. The event includes a question-and-answer session and is open to people of all ages.

A 25-year-old woman in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania was scammed after being contacted by individuals in Colombia claiming to perform tarot card readings who threatened to place a "spell" on her family unless she sent money via Western Union. The victim complied with the demands out of fear for her family's safety. The Wilkes-Barre Police Department is investigating the case.

The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities hosted multiple educational presentations throughout June to help seniors and the public recognize and prevent financial fraud and elder abuse. Programs covered topics including elder financial abuse recognition, cybersecurity, identity theft prevention, and investment fraud awareness, with sessions delivered through interactive formats like Fraud BINGO in partnership with organizations such as AARP Pennsylvania and local libraries across the state.

Pennsylvania's aging population faces growing elder fraud risk, prompting Rep. Joe Hogan to introduce House Bill 2064, which would allow banks to flag suspicious transactions, delay potentially fraudulent payments, and share information with law enforcement and area agencies on aging. The National Council on Aging reported nearly 90,000 fraud complaints in 2022 totaling over $3 billion in losses nationally, with common scams including government impersonation, grandparent schemes, and romantic fraud targeting vulnerable seniors. The legislation aims to protect elders through financial institution safeguards, public education, and coordination between banks and protective services.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are advancing House Bill 2064, which would allow banks to flag suspicious transactions, delay potentially fraudulent transfers, and share information with law enforcement and aging agencies to combat elder financial abuse. The legislation addresses a growing national problem—the National Council on Aging reported nearly 90,000 fraud complaints in 2022 totaling over $3 billion in losses, with common scams including grandparent fraud, romance scams, and government impersonation schemes. The bill aims to protect the state's aging population by giving financial institutions liability protections when they voluntarily report suspected exploitation and providing guardrails against high-pressure scams.

Romance scams in the Susquehanna Valley have affected multiple victims, including a 53-year-old Lebanon County man who lost over $10,000, Mark Heath who lost $165,000, and a woman who lost $40,000, with scammers posing as romantic interests to extract money from vulnerable individuals, particularly widows and widowers. The FBI recommends victims be cautious about online information sharing, verify profiles through reverse image searches, avoid sending money to online-only contacts, and watch for red flags such as requests to move off dating platforms, promises to meet that never materialize, and requests for financial or personal information.

The Lehigh County District Attorney's Office is hosting a free "Safeguarding Seniors" symposium on June 25 to educate older residents and caregivers about recognizing fraud, abuse, and neglect. The event will feature personal stories from families affected by elder abuse, training on identifying scam red flags from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Elder Abuse Unit, and interactive "Fraud Scam Bingo" sessions to help attendees detect financial fraud.

Philadelphia Corporation for Aging held an Elder Abuse Awareness Day panel discussion to address rising financial fraud against seniors, highlighting that elder abuse affects approximately 1 in 10 seniors nationally, with Pennsylvania victims losing about $12.5 million to financial exploitation. The panel discussed common fraud schemes including dishonest caregivers, unauthorized account withdrawals, and vacation rental scams, and emphasized that 60-90% of perpetrators are family members, making reporting difficult. Officials recommended protective measures such as establishing power of attorney, monitoring joint accounts, and contacting authorities like the Philadelphia District Attorney's Elder Justice Unit at (215) 686-5710 or the AARP Fraud Watch Network at (

The Federal Trade Commission reported over 170,000 imposter scam cases in the current year, resulting in losses exceeding $645 million with an average loss of $780 per victim. Pennsylvania's Attorney General's office has established a dedicated team to respond to scam reports by contacting victims, freezing funds, and working with law enforcement to shut down fraudulent communications, while urging consumers to report scams immediately to their state attorney general's office and the FTC. Officials are also pushing banks to take greater responsibility for preventing wire and check fraud, similar to their established fraud prevention practices in the credit card industry.

The Federal Trade Commission reported over 170,000 imposter scam reports totaling more than $645 million in losses as of mid-2024, with an average loss of $780 per victim. Pennsylvania's assistant chief deputy attorney general highlighted that wire transfers account for 75% of scams in the state and stressed the need for banks to implement stronger fraud prevention measures similar to those used in credit card protection. Officials urged scam victims to immediately report incidents to their state attorney general's consumer protection division and the FTC to freeze funds and prevent further fraud.

The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities is hosting educational presentations throughout July 2024 for seniors, employees, and the general public on financial fraud prevention and investor protection. Topics include avoiding identity theft, selecting investment professionals, preventing elder financial fraud, recognizing common scams, and cybersecurity best practices, with sessions held at libraries, government offices, and community organizations across Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's Shapiro Administration warns older adults during Elder Abuse Awareness Month to be cautious of predatory annuity sales practices, where agents pressure seniors into purchasing annuities that don't suit their financial needs and may lock their savings for 5-10 years with surrender charges. The state's Insurance Department recommends that seniors read contracts carefully, utilize free look periods, avoid pressure tactics, and work only with credentialed agents, while noting that since 2023 Pennsylvania has recovered over $2 million for consumers, including one case where $130,000 was returned to an older adult sold an unsuitable annuity.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department is warning older adults about deceptive sales tactics used by agents pressuring seniors into inappropriate annuity purchases without full understanding of the products. The department has recovered over $2 million for Pennsylvania consumers through "free look" period reviews since 2023, including a $130,000 refund in one case, and advises seniors to thoroughly review contracts, understand surrender charges, verify agent credentials, and utilize cooling-off periods before committing to annuity purchases.

**Summary:** The Pennsylvania Shapiro Administration issued a consumer-protection warning during Elder Abuse Awareness Month alerting older adults to predatory annuity sales practices. Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys cautioned that seniors are often pressured by agents into purchasing annuities that don't suit their financial needs, resulting in loss of income and restricted access to savings, and urged older adults to educate themselves and remain vigilant against aggressive sales tactics.

A Lancaster County, Pennsylvania resident selling a boat received a fake certified check for $9,995, exceeding the $7,500 asking price, with the scammer requesting the overpayment be returned via wire transfer. The bank identified the check as fraudulent several days after deposit, highlighting how this common scam exploits the 24-48 hour fund availability window to pressure victims into sending money before the fraud is discovered. The article warns that requests to return portions of large checks through electronic transfers are typical indicators of check fraud schemes.

AARP Pennsylvania has warned of an increase in utility scams targeting older adults during summer months when energy usage and bills peak, with fraudsters posing as utility company representatives and using threats of service disconnection or offers of discounts to obtain personal information or payments. A recent AARP poll found that 62% of Pennsylvania voters aged 50 and older expressed concern about fraud and scams including robo-calls and phishing emails. AARP advises residents to verify any unsolicited utility claims by contacting their utility company directly using the number on their bill, noting that legitimate companies send multiple notices before disconnection and never demand immediate payment over the phone.

McAfee identified five cities with high rates of travel booking scams: Fort Myers Beach (FL), Sandusky (OH), Pocono Manor (PA), Waimea (HI), and Chicago (IL). Common scams include phishing fraud, rental scams (fake listings), and ticketing scams (fraudulent entertainment tickets), with families particularly targeted at attractions like Cedar Point amusement park. To protect yourself, book only through official channels and credit cards with fraud protection, avoid providing payment details on suspicious websites, and be skeptical of requests to complete transactions outside booking platforms.

McAfee identified five U.S. cities—Fort Myers Beach, Sandusky, Pocono Manor, Waimea, and Chicago—as hotspots for travel booking scams, including phishing fraud, rental scams, and ticketing scams targeting families and travelers. The company recommends booking only through official channels, using credit cards with fraud protection rather than debit cards, and avoiding requests to complete transactions off-platform or on suspicious websites to prevent identity theft.

This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It is a local news roundup from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, covering community events including a Santa helicopter visit, school board meetings, municipal budget decisions, and youth activities. There is no content related to scams, fraud, elder abuse, or financial exploitation of seniors.

Pennsylvania State Police issued an alert about a rental scam in which a woman was defrauded after being instructed to pay with gift cards. The scam involved requests for multiple gift cards and sharing of gift card numbers. AARP identifies these red flags—requests for multiple cards or to share card numbers—as key warning signs of gift card scams.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is warning of a resurgent smishing scam in which fraudulent text messages claiming to be from "Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Services" trick recipients into clicking links and sharing personal financial information by threatening additional charges for overdue tolls. The scam targets random individuals and mirrors similar schemes reported by toll agencies nationwide. Consumers should verify account information only through official channels like the PA Turnpike website or app, and report suspicious messages to the FTC or FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Following the shooting at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, Mark Cuban warned the public about scammers exploiting the tragedy through fake fundraising pages and fraudulent solicitations on social media. AI startup founder Josh Olin identified multiple instances of fraudsters, some allegedly sponsored by foreign actors, attempting to profit from the incident, while a legitimate Trump-backed GoFundMe for victims raised over $1 million within hours.

Pennsylvania House Bill 2064, sponsored by State Representative Joe Hogan, passed the House with bipartisan support (152-49 votes) and is headed to the Senate. The legislation aims to protect seniors from financial exploitation by requiring financial institutions and fiduciaries to report suspected abuse, temporarily halt suspicious transactions, and share information with area agencies on aging, while granting them immunity from liability. According to Hogan, tens of thousands of dollars are lost weekly to scams and fraud in Bucks County alone, making this decade-long legislative effort critical to safeguarding seniors' assets.

**Summary:** This is not a scam article—it is an informational page from the official Pennsylvania state government website. The page advises users to verify they are on legitimate government websites ending in ".gov," "pennsylvania.gov," or "pa.gov" before sharing personal information, and provides information about state services including license renewal, vehicle registration, SNAP benefits, and grants.

State Rep. Tina Pickett held a town hall meeting at the 23rd annual Bradford County Senior Expo in Athens, Pennsylvania, where seniors and their families gathered for information and discussion. A representative from the Department of Banking presented educational information to attendees about telephone and online scams targeting seniors.

A 52-year-old Maryland man was charged with operating a "Gold Bar Scam" that defrauded a 74-year-old Bethesda victim of over $1 million between May and June. The scam involved sending official-looking FTC lawsuit letters, then posing as an attorney who convinced the victim to convert his assets into gold eight separate times. Investigators believe this is part of a larger scheme affecting multiple elderly victims across Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia.

AARP Pennsylvania issued a fraud alert about rising AI-powered scams targeting older adults that use deepfake videos and voice cloning to impersonate trusted individuals and steal money and personal information. The alert was prompted by a recent incident in Hong Kong where a finance worker was defrauded of $25.6 million after a videoconference with AI-generated versions of his company's CFO and executives. AARP recommends verifying caller identity, being skeptical of unsolicited requests, using safe communication practices, and establishing family code words to protect against these sophisticated scams.

A 57-year-old Emmaus man lost $62,115 in a cryptocurrency investment scam that operated from October 2023 to April 2024. The victim was deceived by a scammer impersonating a legitimate cryptocurrency investor and entrepreneur over a Google Workspace chat, who convinced him to complete multiple bitcoin transactions over seven months. Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office are investigating the case.

Three Dominican Republic nationals were extradited to the U.S. and charged in a multi-state "grandparent scam" that defrauded hundreds of elderly victims across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts out of millions of dollars. The defendants operated call centers that impersonated family members claiming relatives needed bail money for vehicle accidents, with scammers posing as attorneys and police to pressure victims into sending thousands of dollars via courier or mail. The three men face charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering as part of an 11-person indictment involving a long-running operation targeting vulnerable seniors.

AARP Pennsylvania warns of a surge in AI-powered scams targeting older adults that use deepfake videos and voice cloning to impersonate trusted individuals and extract money and personal information. A notable case involved a Hong Kong finance worker who was tricked into wiring $25.6 million after a video call with what appeared to be his company's CFO, which was entirely AI-generated. AARP recommends verification tactics such as calling back using known numbers, establishing family code words, and avoiding unsolicited links to protect against these increasingly sophisticated scams.

A 49-year-old home health aide in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania was charged with stealing over $1,600 from an elderly woman she was caring for Monday through Friday. Helen Reaser was identified through ATM surveillance footage showing her withdrawing cash from the victim's account without authorization and faces 12 misdemeanor counts including access device fraud, theft, and financial exploitation of an older adult.

The U.S. State Department offered a $10 million reward for information on six Iranian government hackers affiliated with the IRGC's Cyber-Electronic Command who allegedly conducted attacks on American water utilities in fall 2023 using the CyberAv3ngers hacking group. The group compromised programmable logic controllers made by Israeli company Unitronics, forcing at least one Pennsylvania water authority to switch to manual operations, though there was no evidence that safe drinking water provision was actually impacted. The hackers justified the attacks as retaliation for Israeli actions in Gaza.

Elder fraud cases are increasing in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, with a woman in her 70s losing $87,000 to a tech support scam in which fraudsters posed as Apple security personnel, convinced her that her computer and banking information were compromised, and directed her to withdraw cash and convert it to Bitcoin. Police Detective James Degori notes that scammers target elderly individuals because they typically have substantial savings, and the most common scams are phishing, romance, and grandparent schemes originating from outside the country. The Beaver Police Department is conducting community education seminars on fraud awareness at local venues to help prevent these crimes.

Pennsylvania State Police warned residents of an increasing scam where callers impersonate Sheriff's office officials claiming victims have warrants that can be cleared through Bitcoin payments. The scammers exploit Bitcoin's difficulty to trace, though legitimate law enforcement cannot clear warrants via cryptocurrency. Residents are advised to ignore such calls and report them to their local State Police Barracks.

This article is a professional recognition announcement rather than fraud or elder abuse reporting. Marielle Hazen, founder of Hazen Law Group in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was named a 2024 Best Lawyers Honoree for her two decades of work in elder law, including advocacy for seniors' rights, legislative contributions, and legal representation in estate planning and asset protection. The recognition is based on peer-review evaluations and highlights the firm's commitment to serving elderly clients, disabled individuals, and their families through comprehensive legal counsel.

A Pennsylvania woman nearly fell victim to a romance scam involving a fake foreign inheritance scheme, where an online acquaintance convinced her to front money for supposed legal fees and escrow to unlock a British estate. Red flags included fake legal documents with spelling errors, an implausible timeline, and a fabricated London law firm address, which legal experts confirmed were fraudulent. The article highlights how elder fraud is increasingly difficult to recover due to modern money transfer methods and cryptocurrency, and emphasizes the importance of verifying credentials and seeking professional legal advice before sending money in estate-related matters.

The Pennsylvania State Police warned the public about an active grandparent scam in which callers claim a family member has been arrested and demand cash payment for their release, often instructing victims to have couriers pick up money from their homes. The alert provided protective measures including advice to verify requests with family members, avoid sharing sensitive information over the phone, never use gift cards for payments, and to hang up on suspicious callers. Victims of such scams are urged to contact law enforcement for investigation.

More than 100 seniors were evacuated from Duff Manor, a senior high-rise in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, on Saturday after a transformer fire knocked out power to the building. The fire left the facility without electricity, water, or air conditioning in elevated temperatures, forcing residents to relocate to a nearby senior center or stay with family for an estimated 24-36 hours while utilities were restored. The building's generator failed to activate because it was not up to code, but all residents were safely evacuated with assistance from first responders who helped those with mobility issues.

State Rep. Mike Armanini hosted two Senior Scam Jam educational events in Pennsylvania's 75th District in partnership with the Department of Banking and Securities to teach older adults how to recognize and avoid common scams leading to identity theft and financial fraud. The interactive seminars, held in DuBois and Ridgway in September, aimed to help seniors identify red flags, protect themselves and their families, and report suspected fraud cases.

Rep. Mike Armanini is hosting two Senior Scam Jam educational events in Pennsylvania's 75th District to raise awareness about elder fraud among older adults. The events are designed to inform seniors about common scams and fraud schemes targeting their population.

State Rep. Mike Armanini hosted two Senior Scam Jam educational events in Pennsylvania's 75th District in September, partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities to teach older adults how to recognize and avoid common scams related to identity theft and financial fraud. The interactive seminars, held in DuBois and Ridgway, covered red flags to spot fraud and how to report suspected cases, with support from local district attorneys' offices.

Rep. Mike Armanini partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities to host two Senior Scam Jam educational events in the 75th District designed to teach older adults how to identify and avoid common scams that lead to identity theft and financial fraud. The interactive seminars took place on September 17-18 in DuBois and Ridgway, with support from local district attorneys' offices, and covered red flags for spotting scams and procedures for reporting suspected fraud.

Representative Mike Cabell is hosting a free educational seminar in Dallas, Pennsylvania on October 7 to help seniors recognize and protect themselves from financial fraud schemes. The event, led by David Shallcross from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, will cover safety tips and current holiday scams targeting older residents. Reservations are required by September 30 by calling 570-675-6000.