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Jefferson County, Tennessee authorities warned of two recent scams: truck drivers were targeted at a Love's Travel Stop on Interstate 40 on June 11, where suspects lured victims into betting games and stole money and jewelry; additionally, a phishing scam involving text messages falsely claiming to be from the Tennessee Department of Vehicles threatened recipients with fines and legal action for unpaid traffic tickets and included malicious links. The scam is part of a multi-state pattern targeting residents in at least 10 states with fraudulent DMV messages demanding payment for unpaid tolls or traffic violations.

A workshop in Crockett County, Tennessee educated seniors about Medicare fraud schemes, which cost the program an estimated $60 billion annually. Common scams include unsolicited calls from fraudsters posing as Medicare representatives requesting personal information, offering free equipment or prescriptions, or using stolen Medicare numbers to submit false claims. The Senior Medicare Patrol supervisor advised residents to refuse unknown callers, protect personal information, monitor their Medicare statements against actual services received, and report suspected fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE or local authorities.

Scammers on Facebook Marketplace are posing as eager buyers and requesting sellers' email addresses or login credentials for payment apps like Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App under the guise of technical errors, with the goal of stealing personal information and accessing financial accounts. The scam, exemplified by a case involving a scammer named "Angela," targets sellers nationwide by building trust before requesting sensitive information that legitimate payment apps do not require. Users are advised to never share email or login information, complete transactions in person with cash when possible, and be wary of urgent buyer tactics or suspicious payment error screenshots.

Smishing—fraudulent text messages—is increasing as criminals use SMS to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information or clicking malicious links. The article illustrates a common example where someone received a fake Tennessee DMV text claiming an unpaid traffic ticket with a 24-hour payment deadline and threatened license suspension. The key red flags include artificial urgency, unofficial sender information, and the fact that government agencies contact citizens through official mail, not text messages; protection involves verifying sources, avoiding suspicious links, blocking numbers, and reporting incidents to carriers.

Tennessee law enforcement agencies warned residents about fraudulent text messages impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles, claiming recipients have outstanding traffic tickets and threatening driver's license or registration suspension unless fines are paid via fake websites. The scammers use official-looking messages and links to trick victims into providing payment information. Authorities advised residents to avoid clicking suspicious links, verify contact information directly through official channels, and report scam messages to the Federal Trade Commission or Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Two men were indicted on six counts of wire fraud for a $1.6 million phishing scheme targeting Fresno County between September and October 2020, in which they compromised the email account of a nonprofit finance director to redirect ACH payments to accounts they controlled. Jafaar September Nyangoro, 52, of Tennessee, was arrested in May 2025, while Peter Bah Acha, 45, of Germany, remains at large; the fraudsters posed as the finance director to convince county officials that the nonprofit's banking information had changed and payments should be sent to Nyangoro's newly opened bank account instead.

Crime Stoppers Lieutenant Mike Johnson conducted a scam awareness presentation at Brookdale Senior Living in Jackson, Tennessee, highlighting that billions of dollars are lost annually to people over 60 through various scams including romantic schemes and fake court warrant threats. Johnson emphasized the importance of in-person education because seniors may not read all digital communications, and noted that many scams go unreported due to victims' reluctance to inform family members, with recent cases in the Jackson-Madison County area involving losses exceeding $50,000.

Residents of Tennessee received fraudulent text messages claiming they had unpaid toll balances requiring immediate payment to avoid fines, registration suspension, or collections action. The Tennessee Attorney General's Office confirmed the texts are scams designed to steal personal information and money, advising recipients to delete them and report suspicious messages that come from unknown numbers and direct to non-government websites. According to the FBI, scams of this type cost Tennesseans over $190 million in 2024, with seniors accounting for one-third of those losses.

Tennessee residents are being targeted by a phone scam impersonating the SafeTN App, with fraudsters sending text messages claiming recipients owe overdue toll fees and threatening license suspension to pressure immediate payment. The scam messages often contain links to fake government websites designed to steal personal information. Officials advise residents to never click suspicious links, verify communications through official channels using known phone numbers and "@tn.gov" email addresses, and report such messages to their carriers.

West Tennessee women lost nearly $50,000 to online romance scams over three weeks, with two victims each losing approximately $24,000 to men claiming to be military personnel who needed money due to financial hardship or restricted bank access abroad. The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers use fabricated "hard luck stories" and stolen social media photos to build trust before requesting money, and advises victims to use reverse image lookups to verify photos and report incidents to the BBB Scam Tracker or FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

A Hixson caretaker, Dreama Jude, was arrested and charged with exploitation of an elderly adult and theft of property after using her client's credit card to purchase personal items while grocery shopping. The incident prompted Chattanooga police to share protective measures for seniors, including hiring from reputable companies that conduct background checks, monitoring bank and credit card statements, obtaining receipts for purchases, and consulting the Tennessee Abuse Registry before hiring caregivers. The FBI reports that scams targeting people aged 60 and older caused over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023.

Tennessee seniors lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with an 18% increase from the previous year, largely driven by romance scams on dating apps where perpetrators build trust before requesting money or financial access. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users if they've communicated with someone banned for fraudulent activity and include warnings about potential scam attempts. The bill would be enforceable by the FTC and state attorneys general, addressing a nationwide problem in which romance scams alone cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022.

Romance scams targeting seniors on dating apps have escalated significantly, prompting Senator Marsha Blackburn to introduce the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating platforms to notify users about fraudulent accounts they've interacted with. Seniors lost $1.3 billion nationally to romance scams in 2022, with Tennessee residents over 60 alone losing $43 million in 2023—an 18% increase year-over-year—as scammers exploit recently widowed or divorced individuals seeking meaningful connections.

Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act to protect dating app users, particularly seniors, from romance scams that cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022 and $43 million to Tennessee seniors over 60 in 2023 alone. The bill requires dating platforms to notify users when they have interacted with someone banned for fraud, addressing a gap where scammers shift conversations to private platforms like WhatsApp to avoid detection. Romance scam losses increased 70% between 2020 and 2022, with median individual losses of $4,400, prompting support from advocacy groups like AARP, though tech companies have raise

Tennessee seniors lost $43 million to scams in 2023, with an 18% increase from the previous year, largely driven by romance scams on dating apps where fraudsters build trust before requesting money for emergencies or loans. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act to require dating apps to notify users who have interacted with accounts banned for fraudulent activity, including the banned member's profile details and fraud warnings. The bill would be enforceable by the FTC and state attorneys general, addressing a national problem where romance scams alone cost victims $1.3 billion in 2022.

As romance scams targeting seniors surge, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the Romance Scam Prevention Act, which would require dating apps to notify users if they've communicated with someone banned for fraud. According to the FTC, nearly 70,000 Americans reported romance scam victimization in 2022, with people aged 70 and older experiencing median losses of $9,475, and Tennessee seniors over 60 losing $43 million in 2023. The legislation would be enforced by the FTC and allow state attorneys general to bring civil actions, addressing a growing threat exemplified by cases like Aurora Phelps, who was charged with using dating

Three Rutherford County, Tennessee residents reported scam attempts in which callers impersonated sheriff's deputies and threatened arrest via phone calls, text messages, and fake court documents to coerce victims into sending money via bitcoin or other payments. One senior victim nearly complied with a fake court document ordering bitcoin deposits after being threatened with 30-60 days jail time for missed jury duty, but stopped when she visited the Sheriff's Office in person; another senior recognized a toll road payment demand as fraudulent; and a third victim traced a caller's number to a China-linked company. The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office clarified that it does not call citizens threatening arrest or demanding money, and urged residents

A Jamestown, Tennessee pharmacist, Philip Hall, was indicted on nine counts of health care fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft for submitting false claims totaling over $6 million to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Blue Cross Blue Shield between 2018 and May 2024. Hall submitted claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, drugs that were never dispensed, or medications not ordered by physicians, while also using other people's identities without authorization to obtain reimbursement. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in federal prison per health care fraud count and the government is seeking a money judgment of approximately $6.5 million in fraud proceeds

Two Ghanaian nationals, 34-year-old Wigbert Bandie and 30-year-old Adam Khadijah, were sentenced in November 2024 to 63 and 30 months in prison, respectively, by a U.S. federal judge in Tennessee for internet fraud and money laundering. From June through December 2019, the defendants conducted romance and advance-fee scams via social media, impersonating overseas individuals and fake gold shippers to defraud at least 11 victims, including one victim (Richard Coleman) who lost $73,550; Bandie was ordered to pay $2.18 million in restitution.

**Summary:** Xiao Kun Cheung, a 58-year-old deported Chinese national, was indicted in September for his role in a multi-state elder fraud conspiracy targeting seniors in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. The scheme involved fraudsters contacting elderly victims via phone or pop-up messages claiming their accounts were compromised, then convincing them to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars for "safekeeping"; Cheung was arrested in March attempting to collect $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia. According to the FBI, seniors lost over $3.5 billion to fraud in 2023, with Georgia victims alone losing

A 58-year-old man, Xiao Kun Cheung, was indicted for his role in a multi-state scheme that defrauded elderly victims out of more than $1 million, targeting seniors in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee through phone calls and pop-up messages falsely claiming their computers or financial accounts were compromised. Cheung convinced victims to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars for "safekeeping," and was arrested in March attempting to collect $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia. He faces up to 20 years in prison and financial penalties upon conviction, reflecting a broader crisis where seniors lost over $3

Xiao Kun Cheung, a 58-year-old Chinese national, was indicted for his role in a multi-state elder fraud conspiracy that defrauded senior citizens (up to age 92) of over $1 million across Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. The scheme involved contacting victims by phone or pop-up messages claiming their computers or accounts were compromised, then convincing them to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars; Cheung was arrested in March while attempting to collect approximately $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia. He faces charges including wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, carrying up to 20 years in federal

Xiao Kun Cheung, 58, a Chinese national, was indicted for his role in a multi-state elder fraud conspiracy that targeted seniors up to age 92 across Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee, swindling over $1 million through phone calls and pop-up messages falsely claiming compromised accounts, then persuading victims to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars. Cheung was arrested in March 2024 while attempting to collect approximately $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia, and faces charges including wire fraud and extortion with potential penalties up to 20 years in prison. The case

A Chinese national, Xiao Kun Cheung, was arrested and charged for his role in a scam that defrauded elderly people across the U.S. of $1.2 million through fake pop-ups and phone calls claiming computer or financial account compromises. Cheung and his co-conspirators convinced victims to withdraw money to purchase gift cards and gold bars, which were then collected by conspirators posing as government agents; victims in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee were affected. Cheung faces up to 20 years in prison and was charged with wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and drug possession charges.

This article is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database. It reports the death of Bob Bryar, former drummer of My Chemical Romance, found in his Tennessee home with no suspected foul play or criminal elements. This is a celebrity news obituary and does not involve scams, fraud, elder abuse, or financial exploitation.

Wigbert Bandie, a 34-year-old from Ghana, was sentenced to over five years in prison for operating a romance scam that defrauded 11 elderly victims of $2.18 million total. The scheme involved establishing fake online relationships and friendships before requesting emergency money or fake investment opportunities, with one East Tennessee victim losing over $280,000; Bandie must repay the stolen funds and serve three years of probation following his sentence.

WSMV4 Investigates documented a multi-city funeral scam in which solicitors hold signs featuring photos of children who allegedly died, requesting money for funeral expenses. The investigation found the same gray 2007 KIA van with an Arizona temporary tag being used in both Nashville, Tennessee and Grand Rapids, Michigan, with solicitors becoming hostile and aggressive when confronted, and police indicated those involved could be charged with theft by fraudulent means.

An educational meeting was held in Memphis where the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs taught seniors about common scams targeting older adults. Key advice included being skeptical of unsolicited calls, never sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers, and hanging up on suspicious contacts. The top scams affecting seniors include government imposter calls (especially during Medicare enrollment), fake tech support, sweepstakes scams, and grandchild-in-distress schemes, with scammers exploiting emotional manipulation and targeting older adults for their typically greater assets.

Four Nigerian nationals—Patrick Edah, Efe Egbowawa, Igocha Mac-Okor, and Kay Ozegbe—were sentenced to federal prison (30 to 60 months) for operating a romance and investment scam that defrauded victims across the U.S., including Western Tennessee, from 2017 to 2021. The defendants used fake identities and dating site profiles to establish romantic relationships and solicit emergency financial assistance, with victims losing thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, including one Tennessee resident who lost over $400,000. They were convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering after laundering scam proceeds through

Four Nigerian men were sentenced to federal prison for operating a romance scam targeting victims in West Tennessee. The scam involved perpetrators posing as romantic interests to deceive and defraud victims, though specific victim counts and financial losses are not detailed in the provided excerpt.

Four Nigerian citizens residing in the U.S. and Canada were sentenced to federal prison (ranging from 2.5 to 5 years) for operating romance and investment scams between 2017 and 2021, using fake identities on dating sites and social media to deceive victims into sending money via wire transfers and mail. The conspiracy involved dozens of victims who lost between thousands to over $400,000 each, with the defendants functioning as "money mules" to launder proceeds through shell companies and multiple bank accounts. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee

During Medicare open enrollment season (October 15 – December 7, 2025), scammers pose as Medicare representatives to target seniors in Rutherford County, Tennessee, using fake calls, phishing attempts, and impersonation schemes to steal personal information and financial details. Common tactics include requesting Medicare numbers or credit cards under the guise of "updating" information, falsely claiming Part D coverage is mandatory, and using scare tactics about benefit cancellation. Seniors should never provide personal information to unsolicited callers and instead verify directly with Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or use legitimate resources like Medicare.gov or Tennessee's SHIP program for enrollment assistance.

Four Nigerian citizens were convicted of operating romance scams across the United States between 2017 and November 2021, defrauding victims out of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars each by creating fake identities on dating websites and social media to build false romantic relationships and solicit emergency financial assistance. The defendants acted as "money mules," laundering stolen funds through multiple bank accounts and shell corporations to obscure the money trail; one victim in Tennessee alone lost over $400,000. The four received federal prison sentences ranging from 30 to 60 months, with sentencing occurring between April and October 2024.

Four Nigerian citizens were sentenced to federal prison for operating romance and investment scams between 2017 and 2021, using fake identities on social media and dating platforms to build relationships with victims before requesting money transfers. The scheme affected multiple victims across the U.S., with one West Tennessee victim losing over $400,000, and the defendants acted as money mules moving proceeds through bank accounts and shell companies. Sentences ranged from two-and-a-half to five years in federal prison.

Four suspects from Alabama and Tennessee were arrested in Maryland after scamming a 74-year-old woman out of over $30,000 in a "pigeon drop" scam, where they approached her in a parking lot claiming to have found money that needed to be deposited into an account to avoid tracing before being returned to her. The suspects, ranging in age from 36 to 77, may be connected to similar frauds across multiple states, and police emphasize that elderly citizens should be wary of unsolicited interactions involving monetary gain or urgent requests for money or account information.

Four suspects were arrested in Prince George's County, Maryland on October 25 after scamming a 74-year-old woman out of over $30,000 in a "pigeon drop" scheme, where they posed as people who found money and convinced the victim to deposit funds into an account to avoid tracing. The suspects, with addresses in Alabama and Tennessee, allegedly approached elderly victims alone in parking lots claiming they had found cash and needed help laundering it through the victim's bank account before splitting the proceeds. Police warn that this scam targets seniors with promises of quick financial gain or threats of legal trouble, and urge families to discuss such schemes with elderly relatives.

Four suspects from Alabama and Tennessee were arrested in Maryland after defrauding an elderly woman of nearly $40,000 through a "pigeon drop" scam, in which they falsely claimed to have found cash and convinced her to withdraw her own money as "collateral" for a charitable donation. Police apprehended James Davis, Connie Williams, Kenneth Gooden, and Mary Daniel on October 24 just as they attempted to target a second victim at a shopping center in Clinton. The Financial Crimes Unit tracked the suspects following the initial incident on October 21 and encourages anyone with information to contact them.

Tennessee seniors are at high risk for online fraud due to limited digital literacy, with over 1,500 complaints filed to the FBI by Tennesseans 60 and older in 2023. Digital literacy classes, including programs like "Tech Goes Home," aim to educate seniors on internet security, password protection, phishing scams, and tech support fraud—the most common schemes targeting this population. The initiative addresses a critical gap, as seniors with fixed incomes face devastating financial and emotional consequences when defrauded.

Tennessee seniors made over 1,500 digital fraud complaints to the FBI in 2023, with tech support scams being the most costly type of fraud affecting older adults. The Enterprise Center and "Tech Goes Home" are offering digital literacy classes to teach seniors about internet safety, password security, phishing scams, and how to avoid fraudulent emails and pop-ups that exploit their unfamiliarity with technology. These educational programs aim to reduce fraud victimization among seniors aged 60 and older, who are particularly vulnerable due to fixed incomes and limited digital knowledge.

The U.S. Department of State's new online passport renewal system, launched September 18, has created opportunities for scam websites targeting consumers seeking renewals. A Jackson, Tennessee resident lost $109 to a fraudulent passport renewal site, highlighting the importance of verifying the legitimate government website (travel.State.Gov/renewonline, which ends in ".gov") before providing personal information or payment. The BBB advises consumers uncertain about the process to renew through their local U.S. post office instead.

This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It describes a humorous social media post by a Tennessee truck stop that went viral, featuring staged photos claiming a cashier tackled a shoplifter—later revealed to be a joke about a vendor employee who wasn't wearing proper identification. This is a lighthearted marketing post, not a documented scam, fraud scheme, or elder abuse incident.

Tennessee's Department of Disability and Aging is working to combat scams targeting seniors, a growing concern as the state's population over 60 is rapidly increasing and projected to reach 28% by 2030. Commissioner Brad Turner emphasizes that caregivers should monitor loved ones' communications and social media accounts for suspicious activity, particularly on Facebook where page cloning and identity theft scams are accelerating. The state offers resources through TN.Gov/disabilityandaging to help victims report scams and recover damages.

Kate Kleinert, a widow, lost tens of thousands of dollars to a romance scam when a fake doctor contacted her on Facebook during the pandemic, posing as a romantic interest. The financial devastation prevented her from repairing her air conditioning, and a resulting house fire destroyed her home and killed her six hospice dogs. Her story was featured on AARP Connected, a new Tennessee television program that addresses fraud prevention and other issues affecting older adults.

A Tennessee man's wife fell victim to a sophisticated scam where thieves posed as bank representatives following a legitimate fraud alert text, tricking her into revealing the answer to her account's security question. Using this information, the scammers disabled notifications, transferred funds between accounts, and set up an ACH withdrawal—though the victim's daily account monitoring allowed her to catch the fraud quickly and recover most funds through her bank and IC3 reporting. The incident illustrates how scammers exploit trust and use security question answers to bypass account protections, and highlights the importance of verifying caller identity and being cautious about sharing personal information even when requests seem legitimate.

The Johnson County Board of Education in Tennessee lost $3.36 million in April when a finance director was deceived by a fraudster impersonating a Pearson curriculum vendor using a spoofed email address (pearson.quest instead of .com). The stolen funds were laundered through multiple accounts operated by "money mules"—individuals who were themselves deceived into opening accounts, including a 76-year-old Texan who believed he was helping his online fiancée with an inheritance. As of September, approximately $742,000 of the stolen funds had been recovered, with this business email compromise (BEC) scam exemplifying a common threat to school districts nationwide.

The Tennessee Attorney General's Office warns that QR code scams are rising, including phishing scams that steal personal information, payment scams using fake codes in public places, package scams directing users to malicious websites, cryptocurrency scams, and donation scams impersonating charities. The office recommends verifying QR code sources, inspecting codes for tampering, using secure scanner apps, previewing URLs before clicking, avoiding unsolicited codes from mail/email/text, and keeping device security software updated.

The Tennessee Attorney General warned consumers about two imposter scams: a jury duty scam where fraudsters pose as court officials threatening fines or arrest for missed jury duty, and a customs/border patrol scam claiming illegal items were shipped in the victim's name. The Federal Trade Commission advised consumers never to wire money or provide personal/financial information to callers claiming to be government officials, and to distrust caller ID and unsolicited links or messages.

This educational article outlines common rental scams including fake listings, unauthorized fees, and deposits for non-existent rentals, and recommends verification strategies such as viewing properties in person, verifying landlord identity and credentials, and checking county property records. The Better Business Bureau reports 2-3 rental scam complaints weekly in West Tennessee, with younger renters aged 19-29 showing 42% higher victimization rates than other age groups.

The Tennessee Attorney General's Office and Secretary of State issued a warning about scammers impersonating celebrities through fake charities, bogus product endorsements, and phishing schemes on social media. Victims are targeted to donate money or provide personal information under the false pretense of legitimate charitable organizations or celebrity endorsements. Authorities recommend verifying charities through tools like Charity Navigator, contacting organizations directly using known contact information, and never sending money or personal details to unknown individuals regardless of their claimed celebrity status.

A study by Badcredit.org analyzing Federal Trade Commission data found that 78% of Gen Z and Millennials report receiving fraudulent debt collection calls or emails, with 28% expressing concern about becoming victims. Georgia leads states with the highest rate of debt collection scams (77.8 per 100,000 people), while Atlanta, Georgia has the highest rate among cities (102.9 per 100,000), and Memphis, Tennessee ranks fifth among cities most affected. Legitimate debt collectors must provide valid debt information within five days and cannot harass, threaten, or contact consumers more than seven times weekly, while common scam tactics include phishing, identity theft, and mobile