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Policy confusion surrounding Social Security Administration changes—which were initially announced and then reversed—has created an environment that scammers are exploiting to target Virginians, according to AARP Virginia's state director. Con artists typically initiate contact via phone, text, or email claiming urgency and impersonating Social Security Administration officials to defraud beneficiaries, with more than 1.6 million Virginians relying on Social Security benefits as critical income. The SSA's planned office closures and in-person appointment requirements would have further complicated access for seniors, particularly the 9% of Virginia seniors already living more than 45 miles from the nearest office.

Nearly 150,000 West Virginia households rely on SNAP benefits, with the state ranking third nationally for participation. The USDA reported over $220 million in stolen SNAP benefits nationally in 2024, with West Virginia experiencing $92,000 in theft from 171 families through card skimming—where devices capture card data and PIN codes from ATMs and terminals. State officials are advising SNAP recipients to block out-of-state transactions, inspect card readers for suspicious devices, update PINs monthly before benefits are issued, and note that fraudulent withdrawals typically occur between midnight and 6 a.m. on benefit distribution days.

Policy changes to Social Security's appointment requirements have created confusion among Virginians that may increase vulnerability to scams, which typically begin with urgent-sounding phone calls, texts, or emails falsely claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. Over 1.6 million Virginians depend on Social Security benefits, and proposed in-person-only signup requirements would have particularly burdened seniors, especially the 9% of Virginia seniors living more than 45 miles from the nearest Social Security office.

In 2023, Americans aged 60 and older lost over $3.4 billion to fraud, making them high-risk targets due to increasingly sophisticated scam tactics and technological advances. Residents of Lake Prince Woods, a 55-plus community in Suffolk, Virginia, are combating this trend by publishing scam alerts in their neighborhood publication to educate and protect their community members.

AARP offers Dr. Virginia Vincenti, a University of Wyoming professor with over a decade of research experience in elder abuse and financial exploitation, as a speaker for community events. Dr. Vincenti delivers presentations on recognizing abuse warning signs, understanding vulnerability factors, and implementing protective legal measures through power-of-attorney documents and wills. Her research-based, compassionate approach is designed to help seniors, caregivers, and professionals prevent financial exploitation and elder abuse.

The IRS Criminal Investigation division has charged more than 1,000 people with CARES Act-related fraud over the five years since the pandemic relief program's passage, with particular focus on the Paycheck Protection Program and Employee Retention Credit loans. In Virginia alone, a federal grand jury indicted 24 people from the Roanoke area for wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering related to PPP fraud, while a Southwest Virginia woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a separate scheme involving over $1.5 million in stolen unemployment benefits. The IRS states it will continue investigating fraudulent use of pandemic relief programs.

AARP Virginia is hosting three free webinars in April to educate the public on protecting personal information online, addressing the $158.3 billion stolen by scammers from Americans in 2023. The sessions will cover recognizing online scams, managing privacy settings, limiting ad tracking, and current fraud schemes targeting Virginia residents, with support from the state Attorney General's office. AARP also offers a free hotline (1-877-908-3360) to help individuals determine if they've been contacted by scammers, noting that AI tools are making scam messages harder to detect.

A high school student named Arhan Menta founded the Kumar Project, a nonprofit organization, after his grandfather lost money to a remote-access scam, to educate seniors about financial fraud prevention. Through workshops at senior centers and libraries across Northern Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, and Texas, Arhan and his partners have reached over 1,000 seniors with educational programming and recommendations such as sharing account access with trusted relatives to monitor suspicious activity. Arhan is now working with Virginia state legislators to advocate for laws requiring greater financial scam education and bank transparency to protect seniors from exploitation.

**Fraud Prevention Efforts in Virginia** Fraud losses among Virginia adults 60 and over surged from $25 million in 2020 to $94 million in 2023, prompting AARP Virginia to launch widespread fraud prevention workshops throughout the state. Common scams targeting seniors include tech-support impostor schemes, utility bill fraud, identity theft, and impostor scams, with veterans being 40 percent more likely to lose money when targeted. AARP Virginia is combating this rising threat through community presentations, online workshops, and trained volunteer speakers who educate residents on recognizing and avoiding the latest fraud schemes.

This article does not contain sufficient substantive content for the Elderus fraud database. While the headline references "Savvy Senior: How to protect yourself from identity theft scams," the only actual advice provided is that individuals concerned about personal information privacy should place a "fraud alert" or "credit freeze" on their credit file. This is a brief educational tip rather than a news event involving actual fraud or elder abuse.

West Virginians reported over $27 million in fraud losses in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission, as scams continue to rise across the state through phone calls, emails, and text messages. The article outlines common scam tactics including IRS/Social Security impersonation, romance scams, tech support scams, and phishing emails, and advises consumers to watch for red flags such as urgent language, requests for payment via gift cards or wire transfers, and unfamiliar contact information. Key protective measures include not answering unknown numbers, never clicking suspicious links, verifying charities before donating, and reporting suspected scams to authorities.

The Pleasant Community Education Outreach Service (CEOS) in Point Pleasant, West Virginia held a meeting on March 13 where member Elaine Matheny presented an educational lesson on scams targeting senior citizens, covering ten types of fraud including telephone scams, IRS scams, romance scams, tech support scams, and lottery scams, along with prevention tips. The lesson, written by Gina Taylor and Carter Taylor, was designed to educate the community on how to recognize and avoid common elder fraud schemes.

Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, according to FTC data, with the increase driven by a higher percentage of victims reporting losses rather than more fraud reports overall. Impostor scams were the most commonly reported type of fraud, followed by online shopping issues, job/business opportunities, investments, and internet services. Regional losses included $30.4 million in Washington D.C., $198.9 million in Maryland, and $293.7 million in Virginia in 2024.

A Romanian man, Florin Doroiman, was arrested after card skimmers were discovered at multiple Walmart locations in Central Virginia (Bedford, Lynchburg, and Amherst County), compromising customer payment information and potentially EBT cards. Doroiman faces multiple felony charges for credit card theft and possession of skimming devices, with potential sentences up to 20 years per charge. Authorities urge shoppers who used checkout registers at these stores on February 25-26 to monitor their bank statements, and security experts recommend using contactless payment methods when available as the best protection against skimming devices.

Multiple transportation authorities across the United States, including the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, have issued warnings about a widespread smishing scam targeting consumers with fake text messages impersonating toll road collection services like EZ-Pass and FastTrak. The scam attempts to steal victims' money and personal information by directing them to fraudulent links demanding payment for unpaid tolls, with variations appearing across multiple states since at least February 2025. The FBI and FTC recommend recipients avoid clicking links, verify toll accounts directly through official websites, and report suspicious messages to authorities.

Fraudsters are sending text messages impersonating tolling agencies like E-Z Pass, claiming recipients have unpaid tolls and must pay immediately or face penalties to steal personal and financial information. Virginia residents including Tyler Sapp and Kim Graham received these scams, with Sapp's credit card company blocking an attempted charge after he reported it, while state agencies including the Virginia DMV and Department of Transportation are warning the public not to click links, verify messages directly with tolling agencies, and report suspicious texts to authorities.

The Virginia DMV warned residents about widespread scam text messages falsely claiming unpaid tolls or E-Z Pass penalties and demanding immediate payment via suspicious links to avoid legal action and fines. The fraudulent texts, originating from various phone numbers and emails, aim to steal money and personal information from recipients. The DMV advises residents to never respond to unexpected toll-related texts, verify messages directly with E-Z Pass, and report suspected scams as junk rather than engaging with them.

**Financial Exploitation via Unauthorized ACH Transfers** Steven and Ashley Simpson of Charmco, West Virginia were arrested and charged with financial exploitation and computer fraud after allegedly stealing approximately $36,000 from an 82-year-old victim's bank account between August 2023 and December 2024. The couple obtained the victim's banking information from a payment check issued for construction work they performed, then used it to conduct unauthorized ACH transfers until the victim discovered her account was overdrawn. Both defendants face 103 counts of computer fraud and related charges, with bonds set at $50,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Janine Williamson, administrator of the Larry W. Cook Estate, is advocating for stronger protections against elder financial fraud following her uncle's loss of millions of dollars in a phishing scam. Williamson has met with banking industry leaders and is lobbying federal lawmakers to support legislation like Virginia's "Larry's Law," which would require financial institutions to train employees to identify and report senior exploitation, while also pursuing a $3.6 million negligence lawsuit against Wells Fargo and Navy Federal Credit Union. She is calling for a government-appointed Fraud Task Force to disrupt fraud schemes and help victims.

West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey issued a consumer warning about scammers impersonating charities and disaster relief organizations to solicit donations following severe flooding in southern West Virginia. The office provided guidance to consumers on identifying legitimate charities, including verifying established organizations, avoiding cash or wire transfer payments, using credit cards, and checking for secure website connections (https://). Consumers can report suspected fraud to the Attorney General's consumer protection division at 800-368-8808 or file complaints online at www.ago.wv.gov.

This article is not about elder fraud. It covers a community response following the deaths of two Virginia Beach police officers, including warnings from the police department about fraudulent fundraisers that may emerge during times of tragedy, and legitimate donation options for supporting the officers' families.

Self I Solar received a stop work order from Richmond County earlier in 2025 and subsequently faced two violation notices from Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality for environmental infractions. The company was assessed over $61,000 in penalties as a result of these violations.

A Texas man, Rockey Kuykendall, was arrested and extradited to West Virginia for defrauding an elderly Marshall County woman of approximately $53,000 through a prize-winning scam, in which he posed as a local representative claiming to deliver a cash prize and vehicle. The victim's alert family member reported the scheme, enabling detectives to trace checks and identify the suspect, with assistance from Texas National Bank and Marshall Police. Authorities indicate the investigation is ongoing and warn of increasing elder fraud cases, urging victims and their families to report suspected scams immediately.

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Dayton, Virginia is hosting an educational event called "Coffee with a Cop" on February 21, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Dayton Market to address the rising prevalence of senior scams. The event, organized by the Dayton Market and Dayton Police Chief Justin Trout, will educate seniors about common fraud schemes and provide tips for avoiding victimization.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Virginia is warning the public about a resurgent snail-mail scam in which fraudsters send letters posing as legitimate businesses with checks, asking recipients to pose as "secret surveyors" by purchasing multiple gift cards worth hundreds of dollars each in exchange for promised reimbursement. The scammers claim the check is on hold until the survey is completed, but authorities clarify this is false and victims will not be reimbursed. Law enforcement urges residents to discard suspicious mail and remain skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, noting that scammers are typically not local and difficult to prosecute.

Senior citizens in Frederick County lost at least $2.6 million to scams in 2023, part of a statewide trend where Virginia residents over 60 lost more than $94 million that year. The Top of Virginia TRIAD, a law enforcement initiative, is hosting three educational classes and an expo in 2025 covering topics including financial planning, health resources, and personal safety to help seniors protect themselves from fraud and exploitation.

Drivers across multiple states are being targeted by a phishing scam impersonating EZDriveMA, Massachusetts' electronic toll collection system, with fraudulent texts claiming small unpaid tolls of $6.99 that direct victims to fake websites to steal personal and financial information. The scam has generated thousands of complaints to the FBI, with Massachusetts residents as primary victims, though texts have been sent nationwide, prompting alerts from highway authorities across six New England states and New York. Authorities advise recipients never to click links in such messages, as the legitimate EZDriveMA system never requests payment by text and only communicates through www.EZDriveMA.com.

A scam targeting EZ Pass users in Hampton Roads, Virginia sends fraudulent text messages impersonating EZ Pass Virginia or toll facilities, requesting payment for alleged outstanding toll charges and threatening a $35 late fee to trick victims into clicking malicious links. VDOT warns users to contact customer service to verify any toll payment requests before submitting payment and directs them to tollroadsinvirginia.com to check legitimate account information.

Duane Dixon, Jr., a 35-year-old Maryland man, was convicted of wire fraud conspiracy and three counts of wire fraud for his role in a real estate impersonation scheme targeting a Virginia realtor. The fraud involved a co-conspirator impersonating a property owner to fraudulently list a Hampshire County, West Virginia parcel for sale, with Dixon providing his bank account to receive the sale proceeds; Dixon lied to an undercover FBI agent about his involvement in the scheme. Dixon faces up to 20 years in federal prison per count.

Following a cybersecurity breach affecting Virginia school divisions, a UVA cybersecurity expert warns that cyber-scams are evolving with new tools and artificial intelligence, enabling increasingly sophisticated tactics like deepfake impersonations of loved ones. The expert recommends consumers assume their personal information has been compromised, track where they share data, and advocates for stronger consumer protection laws and identity theft management programs including social security number replacement for breach victims. Organizations and schools should work with cybersecurity professionals to implement updated protection measures, as data breaches are viewed as inevitable rather than preventable.

Joseph Beach, a 55-year-old West Virginia man, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing $253,867.12 from his elderly father by misusing veteran's disability, retirement, and Social Security benefits that he managed as his father's fiduciary. Beach pleaded guilty in March 2024 and was ordered to pay full restitution plus serve three years of supervised release.

Joseph Beach, age 55, of West Virginia, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for wire fraud after fraudulently obtaining $253,867.12 from his elderly father while serving as the father's fiduciary. Beach misappropriated his father's veteran's disability, retirement, and social security benefits for personal use, and was ordered to pay full restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

A smishing scam targeting drivers across the DMV region (Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) uses text messages impersonating toll agencies to trick recipients into sharing personal information through fraudulent links. The FBI recommends recipients report the scam to IC3.gov, verify accounts through official toll service websites, contact legitimate customer service, and secure their financial accounts if they clicked any links or shared information.

A retired FBI special agent, John Schwartz, founded the Center for Combating Elder Financial Abuse in 2021 to protect the nation's 58 million seniors from financial scams. He emphasizes that scammers exploit trust and isolation, recommending that seniors conduct vulnerability assessments, slow down new relationships, and "harden the target" through education and vigilance. Schwartz collaborates with Virginia organizations to build community support and empower seniors and families against financial predators.

A retired U.S. submarine commander lost $3.6 million to scammers in Asia despite his banks' concerns, prompting Virginia lawmakers to propose "Larry's Law" requiring banks to report suspected fraud to police; however, industry lobbyists successfully removed this clause before passage. Across the United States, elderly Americans lose an estimated $28 billion annually to fraud, yet states struggle to hold banks accountable as the industry resists legislation that would increase their liability, citing concerns about costs and customer impact, while existing reporting requirements often go unenforced.

An 80-year-old Virginia woman lost tens of thousands of dollars in life savings to a bank imposter scam after receiving a fraudulent message claiming to be from Wells Fargo and providing a phone number to call. She unknowingly gave her account information to scammers posing as bank security, resulting in unauthorized withdrawals; Wells Fargo initially denied reimbursement citing that she willingly provided the information, though the bank is now investigating the case. The victim urged others to verify caller identity independently and never share account information in response to unsolicited contact.

A Richmond, Virginia woman lost over $30,000 in a phishing scam after receiving a fake PayPal email warning of malware purchase. The scammer posed as a PayPal representative who claimed she had accidentally sent too much money and appealed to her sympathy by saying he would lose his job, prompting her to withdraw $34,300 from her banks and attempt to transfer it via bitcoin machine. Police obtained a search warrant to shut down the bitcoin machine before the funds could be withdrawn, recovered all of the victim's money, and traced the scammer to a location outside the United States.

A retired submarine commander lost $3.6 million to scammers despite his banks' concerns, prompting Virginia to propose "Larry's Law"—legislation requiring banks to report suspected fraud to police. However, industry lobbyists successfully removed the mandatory reporting clause before the bill passed, and similar elder fraud protection measures in California and Pennsylvania have also been blocked or weakened by banking industry opposition, even as elderly Americans lose an estimated $28 billion annually to fraud. Banks argue that consumer education and voluntary reporting to adult protective services are sufficient, but enforcement of existing reporting requirements remains lax across states.

An elderly Navy veteran, Larry Cook of Virginia, lost $3.6 million to scammers through fraudulent wire transfers processed by Navy Federal Credit Union and Wells Fargo after suffering a stroke; notably, the bank continued processing 42 transfers totaling $2.3 million even after adult protective services notified them in January 2021 that Cook was a suspected fraud victim. Cook's niece, Janine Williamson, appealed the case after it was dismissed in 2023, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has granted the appeal, scheduling oral arguments for March 2025. Williamson has since advocated for elder fraud protections,

Attorney General Jason Miyares announced charges against 18 individuals in connection with elder abuse and neglect at Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Virginia, initiated after a complaint and subsequent patient death in October 2024. As of December 18, 2024, five individuals were arrested and warrants were issued for 13 others, with charges including seven felony counts and two misdemeanor counts of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults, two counts of obstruction, and 27 counts of falsifying patient records. The investigation involved the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Colonial Heights Police Department, and Virginia Department of Health.

Ohio and West Virginia rank 4th and 9th respectively on WalletHub's list of states with the best elder-abuse protections, with Ohio particularly strong in legal protections and low fraud prevalence. However, both states face opportunities for improvement, including West Virginia's need for more certified volunteer ombudsmen and better nursing home quality standards, especially as their elderly populations are projected to grow significantly by 2030. Experts emphasize that continued legislative efforts, public awareness, and family vigilance are essential to safeguard these vulnerable populations from physical, financial, and mental abuse.

This article reviews WalletHub's rankings of elder-abuse protections, finding that Ohio ranks 4th nationally and West Virginia ranks 9th, with both states performing well on legal safeguards and resources despite some areas needing improvement. As Ohio's elderly population is projected to reach 25.1% by 2030 and West Virginia's to reach approximately 30%, the article emphasizes that lawmakers, officials, and families must prioritize continued efforts to prevent elder abuse through accessible quality care facilities, volunteer ombudsmen programs, and public education.

Phishing scams impersonating delivery services like USPS are prevalent during the holiday season, with scammers sending text messages with malicious links designed to steal personal information or install malware. The IRS also warns of fraudulent emails falsely claiming tax refunds or bills, while the Better Business Bureau advises consumers to avoid clicking suspicious links and never pay with Bitcoin or gift cards, using bank or credit cards instead. One victim in the Central Virginia area lost $22,000 after being tricked into purchasing Bitcoin, illustrating the serious financial consequences of falling for these scams.

As holiday shopping season approaches with record-breaking online sales predicted, scammers are deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics to defraud consumers. Virginia Tech cybercrime expert Katalin Parti outlines key warning signs and prevention strategies, including: avoiding unsolicited requests for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, being skeptical of high-return investment ads, verifying company contact information through official websites rather than provided links, and remaining cautious of romance scams, job scams, and fake charitable solicitations. Consumers should also monitor financial statements for fraud, keep software updated, verify website URLs, and be aware that scammers can now spoof voices and area codes to impersonate trusted contacts.

A Collin College student, Mark Aiseosa Kadiri, was arrested on November 21, 2024, for operating a financial fraud scheme targeting elderly victims across multiple states, including Virginia and Texas. Investigators found approximately $61,000 in fraudulent funds deposited into his bank account and executed a search warrant at his campus residence to gather additional evidence. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify additional victims and file further charges.

A scam targeting Navy Federal customers in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area involves criminals asking to borrow victims' phones in public locations, then using their Navy Federal app to take out loans and cash advances in their names before transferring the funds elsewhere. One 19-year-old victim, Angel Taylor, lost $4,000 in March 2023 when a man she lent her phone to in a Walmart parking lot obtained a personal loan and cash advance; despite reporting it to Navy Federal within minutes, she was held liable for repayment. Dozens of similar cases have been reported across the region, with police citing insufficient evidence to pursue charges despite having the recipient's account information.

A 26-year-old Minnesota man, Benjamin Yakah, was arrested following a five-month investigation by the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit for stealing over $100,000 from a 77-year-old Bradenton widower through a romance scam. The victim was deceived by a fake Facebook profile using photos stolen from a West Virginia woman, with the scammer posing as "Julia" and convincing the victim to send money for an alleged debt settlement in Minnesota. The victim's children discovered the fraud in June 2024, and Yakah is currently awaiting extradition to Manatee County; investigators believe there may be additional victims in other

**Summary:** This educational piece presents financial fraud prevention advice from Jeff Sandy, a former West Virginia law enforcement official, highlighting common scams targeting the Mid-Ohio Valley including impersonation of loved ones (such as the "grandparent scam") and too-good-to-be-true offers. Sandy recommends critical thinking (asking "who, what, when, where, why"), maintaining open communication with elderly family members, limiting personal information shared online and in obituaries, and reporting fraud immediately to law enforcement or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov) without shame.

A 77-year-old widower in Bradenton, Florida lost $100,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a British woman named "Julia" on Facebook and claimed she needed money to pay off a debt before relocating to be with him. The investigation, launched in June 2024 by the victim's children, revealed that suspect Benjamin Yakah used stolen photos from a West Virginia woman's Facebook account and had the victim send cash and checks to accounts in Minneapolis over an eight-month period. Yakah was arrested in Minnesota and is awaiting extradition to Manatee County; police suspect he scammed multiple victims across different states.