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A Broken Arrow woman testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee about the rising threat of romance scams targeting seniors, sharing how her mother lost $350,000 to such a scam before her death. The hearing featured multiple advocates presenting data showing Americans lose between $7 billion and $62 billion annually to romance scams, emphasizing the need for federal action including the creation of a task force and stronger protections for elder victims.

A Broken Arrow woman testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee about romance scams targeting seniors, sharing how her mother lost $350,000 to a scammer before passing away—a tragedy April Helm attributed directly to the fraud and sleep deprivation tactics used by scammers. Advocates testified that adults lose between $7 billion and $62 billion annually to romance scams, urging Congress to establish a task force and strengthen enforcement measures to prosecute these criminals and protect elderly victims.

April Helm, a Broken Arrow woman and host of the Scammer Stories Podcast, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 17 about her mother's loss of at least $350,000 in a romance scam. Helm discussed both romance scams and "pig butchering" scams (hybrid romance and cryptocurrency schemes) and emphasized that addressing the problem requires coordinated efforts from dating platforms, law enforcement, prosecutors, and mental health professionals to combat transnational scam networks.

Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced a resolution designating June as National Elder Abuse Awareness Month to increase public awareness and prevention efforts. According to the resolution, an estimated one in six older Americans experienced some form of abuse in community settings last year, with only one in 24 cases of elder abuse and one in 44 cases of financial exploitation being reported. Grassley will chair a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to examine how scammers target seniors and promote long-term protections for vulnerable older adults.

The FBI released a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day reminder highlighting that elder fraud caused $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints in 2024, representing a 46% increase in complaints and 43% increase in losses from 2023. Seniors are frequently targeted through investment scams, technical support schemes, romance scams, and money mule schemes because they are often perceived as trusting, financially stable, and less likely to report fraud. The FBI advises seniors to verify unknown contacts, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid unsolicited offers, never share personal information with unverified sources, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement, the FBI's tip line, or

Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to address a widespread text message scam targeting Minnesotans, in which fake DMV messages claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threaten arrest to coerce online payments. The scam has been reported across multiple states including Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, and Smith has requested intervention from the Department of Justice to combat the scheme's scale and sophistication.

A "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam has targeted at least 40 real estate professionals, where fraudsters pose as wealthy cash buyers, build trust with agents, and gradually convince them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms that appear legitimate before disappearing with their money, often including victims' retirement accounts. The U.S. Secret Service warns that these scams, which originated in China around 2016, are likely to increase and recommends victims report incidents to the FBI's IC3.gov within 72 hours for the best chance of asset recovery.

Scammers in New Orleans are targeting families of recently arrested individuals by using spoofed caller IDs to impersonate law enforcement and electronic monitoring companies, convincing victims to pay bail or monitoring fees via Bitcoin ATMs and Cash App. At least two victims—Marcus Downs ($2,000) and a New Orleans mother ($1,045)—lost money after receiving calls within hours of their relatives' arrests, suggesting the fraudsters have access to confidential law enforcement data such as arrest information and hospital visits. The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office has made these cases a priority and is investigating how scammers are obtaining sensitive information about newly detained individuals.

Fairfax County leaders are advocating for a coordinated regional approach to combat senior fraud, noting that inconsistent messaging across jurisdictions weakens prevention efforts. The county's Silver Shield campaign has reached over 60,000 residents since 2017, but data shows the problem remains significant—the county's Financial Exploitation Task Force handled nearly 160 cases in fiscal year 2024 involving $19 million in losses, with only about 20% recovered. County officials plan to work with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to develop consistent anti-fraud messaging across the D.C. region and potentially statewide.

I cannot provide a summary for the Elderus database based on this content. This article reports on a tornado-related death and emergency response in Washington County, Kentucky—it does not involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. This material falls outside the scope of elder fraud documentation.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Funnull Technology Inc., a Philippines-based company that provided computer infrastructure supporting hundreds of thousands of "pig butchering" virtual currency investment scam websites, resulting in over $200 million in reported U.S. losses. These sophisticated scams, often perpetrated by Southeast Asian criminal organizations using trafficked workers, deceive victims into fake investment platforms through elaborate romantic or trust-based schemes, with average individual losses exceeding $150,000. The FBI is publishing a cybersecurity advisory with technical details to help the private sector identify and dismantle Funnull-associated websites.

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James J. Mastrogiovanni, a 44-year-old Washington Township man, pleaded guilty to multiple federal fraud charges for orchestrating schemes that included submitting false tax returns claiming over $1.4 million in pandemic-related employment credits (resulting in $545,692 disbursed) and stealing more than $180,000 from an 85-year-old customer through unauthorized bank withdrawals. His accomplice, tax preparer Leon Haynes, faces separate charges for submitting over 1,600 fraudulent returns totaling $150 million. Mastrogiovanni faces sentencing on November 6, 2025, with potential sentences ranging from 5 to

Two women, Leah Maria Wedgeworth (34) and April Marie Tomisser (43), were charged with first-degree theft, identity theft, and forgery for stealing thousands of dollars from an 87-year-old blind and bed-ridden man in Ellensburg, Washington in 2023. Wedgeworth withdrew at least $6,014 from the victim's bank account using fraudulent means, while Tomisser, a caregiver employed for only 11 hours, made multiple unauthorized withdrawals for personal expenses; both face enhanced felony charges due to the victim's vulnerable adult status and have pleaded not guilty with trials scheduled for August 4

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center issued a public service announcement on May 15 warning of a malicious text and voice messaging campaign active since April that impersonates senior U.S. officials and targets current or former federal and state officials and their contacts. The scheme uses "smishing" texts and AI-generated voice messages to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or sharing credentials, which attackers then use to compromise personal and work accounts. The FBI advises recipients to verify unsolicited messages through known phone numbers, inspect URLs carefully, enable multi-factor authentication, and report incidents to local FBI field offices or IC3.gov.

Congressman Jamie Raskin led a bipartisan group in introducing the Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act, which would restore the Casualty and Theft Loss Deduction for taxpayers from 2018-2025 to prevent victims from facing additional tax liability on stolen or lost income. The legislation was prompted by a Maryland constituent who lost $655,000 in retirement savings to fraud and faced a $148,000 tax bill, and addresses a critical issue as elder fraud caused over $4.885 billion in losses in 2024 with an average victim loss of $83,000.

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ashley Moody (R-FL), and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act to provide tax relief to individuals who have suffered losses from fraud, scams, thefts, accidents, and personal casualty losses. The legislation reinstates tax deductions for personal casualty and theft losses that were previously suspended.

The FBI warned in April against a sophisticated medical insurance scam where fraudsters pose as legitimate insurance companies to deceive consumers seeking affordable coverage, resulting in hundreds of victims losing thousands of dollars across the country. Scammers use tactics like claiming to offer time-limited discounts, requiring upfront payments, and misrepresenting coverage, leaving victims with unexpected medical debt when claims are denied—including a Maryland man stuck with a $7,000 emergency surgery bill and over 100 Washington state residents defrauded by a multi-named company. The FBI recommends verifying insurance through state commissioners or the Better Business Bureau, confirming provider acceptance, reviewing fine print carefully, and never paying upfront.

Mohammed Asif, a 34-year-old Indian national, was indicted for operating American Labworks LLC, a fraudulent diagnostic testing laboratory in Everett, Washington, that billed Medicare over $8.7 million for COVID-19 and respiratory tests that were never ordered or performed, resulting in $1.1 million in fraudulent payments. Medicare received over 200 complaints from beneficiaries reporting they were billed for tests they never received, with some billing records showing tests billed for deceased individuals or by deceased physicians. Asif was arrested in April 2025 while attempting to board an international flight after withdrawing $260,000 from the company account in May 2

Congressman Bryan Steil and Representatives Josh Harder and Dan Meuser introduced a congressional resolution to designate May 8th as National Scam Survivor Day. The resolution highlights that in the prior year, 2.6 million Americans lost more than $12.5 billion to scams, and commends scam survivors who speak out to raise awareness.

The FBI issued a nationwide alert about fraudulent "discount" medical insurance schemes targeting seniors and other Americans, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. Scammers impersonate legitimate insurance companies through unsolicited calls, texts, and emails, using high-pressure tactics to pressure victims into enrolling in fake plans that provide no actual coverage when medical services are needed. Documented cases include victims in Washington, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Maryland who were denied coverage claims, subjected to unauthorized charges, and refused refunds after discovering the plans were fraudulent.

The FBI warns of an ongoing discount medical insurance scam that targets people seeking affordable healthcare through unsolicited contact via calls, texts, or emails, promising discounted rates and coverage that fails to materialize when victims need medical services. Scammers use pressure tactics like time-limited offers and misrepresent coverage while refusing refunds, with Washington state issuing a cease-and-desist against one company operating under multiple names after receiving over 100 complaints. Victims reported unpaid medical bills ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, as well as difficulty canceling policies and receiving promised refunds.

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The Trump administration proposed cutting approximately 90 percent of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) workforce, an agency responsible for protecting consumers from financial scams and fraud. Federal judges temporarily blocked the layoffs, but Senator Kirsten Gillibrand expressed concern that staffing reductions could leave seniors vulnerable to fraud, noting that in 2023 over 100,000 adults aged 60+ reported financial scams averaging $33,000 in losses per victim, while the CFPB has returned $21 billion to consumers including many seniors.

A Kansas City digital literacy program called "Show Me Seniors Digital Literacy Cohort" graduated its first group of senior citizens who learned computer skills and scam prevention techniques. The initiative, funded by Senator Barbara Washington and Lincoln University, responds to a concerning trend: the Federal Trade Commission reports that the number of older adults losing $100,000 or more to fraud has tripled since 2020, with investment scams being the most common cause. Participants received free laptops and certifications, with the next cohort scheduled to begin in May.

The FBI warns of discount medical insurance scams that promise reduced rates but provide no actual coverage, resulting in millions in annual losses and primarily targeting people seeking affordable healthcare through unsolicited contact. Washington state issued a cease-and-desist order against one fraudulent company after over 100 complaints, with victims reporting misrepresented coverage, denied refunds, and unauthorized charges; specific cases included Pennsylvania residents pressured into plans with no actual coverage, a Texas senior deceived into unwanted dental insurance, and a Maryland man left responsible for $7,000 in surgery costs after his purchased plan was not accepted by his hospital. To protect themselves, consumers should verify that insurance companies are licensed in their state through the state

A 67-year-old retired man was scammed out of approximately $2,700 over three months by a fraudster impersonating a London-based glamour model on Facebook and messaging apps. The scammer, posing as "Sophie" from Washington DC, built an emotional relationship with the victim, claiming to need money for family medical expenses, and the victim sent gift card codes totaling $2,700. The victim's wife discovered the fraud through unusual credit card payments, and after the husband acknowledged the scam (triggered by watching a TV segment about similar cons), the couple separated after 16 years of marriage due to the emotional infidelity involved.

**Summary:** The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that cybercriminals stole a record $16.6 billion from Americans in 2024, a 33% increase from the previous year, with over 850,000 reported scams and fraud cases. Adults age 60 and older were disproportionately affected, with over 80% of victims experiencing financial, data, or identity theft losses.

Two brothers were sentenced for stealing over $435,000 from a Washington homeowner in a contractor fraud scheme targeting elderly homeowners across the country. Beginning in January 2024, they falsely claimed the victim needed urgent roof and foundation repairs, pressuring him to write checks totaling thousands of dollars while performing minimal or fake work, including demanding $200,000 for non-existent building supplies. The victim expressed profound feelings of shame and betrayal, which experts note are common among fraud victims, while federal agencies provide red flags such as door-to-door solicitation, pressure for immediate payment in cash, and aggressive sales tactics to help seniors avoid similar scams.

Two Bremerton, Washington women, Heather Marquis and Emily Vranic, were indicted on charges of conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft for stealing mail and using personal documents to take over the identities of approximately 278 victims between April 2019 and November 2024. The defendants opened credit cards, lines of credit, and accessed bank accounts in victims' names, transferring funds to their own accounts and using victim accounts to pay their mortgage, resulting in an estimated $620,000 in losses. Both defendants face trial in June 2025, with potential sentences ranging up to 30 years in prison depending on convictions.

A 24-year-old Indian national living in California was arrested on April 9, 2025, in Washington County, Wisconsin, after attempting to defraud an elderly woman through a tech support email scam that gained access to her bank account. The suspect convinced the victim that a large refund had been accidentally deposited and instructed her to prepare $26,500 in cash for courier pickup, but the victim became suspicious and contacted authorities, leading to the suspect's arrest during the coordinated pickup. The suspect confessed to conducting similar fraud operations across multiple states under instructions from relatives in India, with travel and expenses covered by the fraud operation.

Washington Trust Bank employees launched a Senior Fraud Awareness workshop series in April 2023 to combat rising scams targeting older adults, after branch staff witnessed seniors being pressured to withdraw cash while on phone calls with scammers. The trio of bank managers has conducted five workshops in Spokane senior living communities and plans to expand regionally, providing FTC data, practical fraud prevention tips, and resources for reporting elder fraud. According to federal data, older adults lost over $1.9 billion to fraud in 2023 alone, with estimates suggesting actual losses could reach $61.5 billion.

Employment scams have nearly tripled since 2020, with Americans losing $501 million to job and fake employment agency scams in 2024, according to the FTC. Scammers target vulnerable job seekers—particularly recently laid-off federal workers—by creating fake job listings that mimic legitimate employer websites and request sensitive personal and financial information, with victims losing an average of nearly $3,000 per scam. Red flags include requests for expensive equipment purchases or banking information before employment begins, as illustrated in a case involving a Washington state woman who was approached via LinkedIn with a fraudulent remote transcriptionist job offer.

A 56-year-old former financial advisor in Fox Island, Washington was indicted for stealing over $920,000 from a widow in her 70s by exploiting her trust and moving funds from her brokerage and bank accounts into his own accounts through multiple transactions. Winslow used the stolen money to purchase personal assets including an island home, hot tub, car, and jewelry, and attempted to conceal the fraud by funneling funds through gold coin purchases and layered transactions while falsifying his tax returns. He faces charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud, with trial scheduled for June 2025.

Congressmen David Valadao, Brittany Pettersen, Tom Suozzi, and Craig Goldman introduced the bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act, which requires online dating platforms to notify users if they have interacted with someone removed from the app for fraudulent activity. Romance scams cost Americans over $1.1 billion in 2023, with scammers using fake identities to manipulate victims into financial exploitation on platforms used by over 60 million Americans.

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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).

Beth Hyland, 54, lost $26,000 in a romance scam after meeting "Richard," a man posing as a French construction manager on a dating app, who used "love bombing" tactics and a fake Qatar job opportunity to extract money via bitcoin before disappearing. The scammer was identified as part of a Nigerian criminal group known as the "Yahoo boys," and law enforcement was unable to apprehend him. Her case inspired bipartisan federal legislation requiring dating apps and social media platforms to remove or flag known scammers and notify users who interacted with fraudulent accounts.

A 52-year-old Federal Way, Washington woman was indicted on wire and bank fraud charges for operating a fake investment scheme targeting elderly members of the Korean community, defrauding at least 28 victims of over $3 million by falsely claiming to be an investment advisor while funneling funds into personal accounts and shell companies. Lee allegedly spent nearly $1 million of investor funds at casinos and operated the scheme in a Ponzi-style fashion, with approximately $2.2 million in net losses after some payments were returned to victims. The case carries potential sentences of up to 30 years in prison and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for

Washington State has experienced a surge in text message scams impersonating Good To Go!, the state's toll billing system, which direct victims to fake websites and threaten legal action to collect payment information. A victim described losing access to her accounts after providing her driver's license and credit card number through a fraudulent link. WSDOT advises that legitimate Good To Go! communications never request payment via text or direct users to external websites; customers should only log into the official Good To Go! account to address toll issues.

Jacci Gruninger, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization (LARSO), was selected to present the organization's S.A.F.E. (Scam Awareness for Elders) program at the National Council on Aging's Age+Action Conference in Washington, DC. The S.A.F.E. initiative educates seniors about common scams and provides them with tools to protect themselves and their families from fraud. Gruninger's presentation will showcase LARSO's collaborative community efforts and success stories in helping vulnerable older adults recognize and avoid increasingly sophisticated scams.

The FTC reported $12.5 billion in consumer fraud losses in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, with investment scams ($5.7 billion) and imposter scams ($2.95 billion) leading the categories. The percentage of fraud reporters who lost money jumped from 27% to 38%, indicating scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics, particularly through bank transfers and cryptocurrency payments that are difficult to reverse. Job and employment scams saw explosive growth, tripling in reports and skyrocketing from $90 million to $501 million in losses between 2020 and 2024.

State officials are warning Americans about a surge of "smishing" scams—SMS text messages impersonating toll collection agencies—that attempt to trick recipients into revealing financial information like credit card or bank account details. A cybersecurity firm identified a threat actor who registered over 10,000 domains to conduct these scams across at least 10 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada, with messages falsely claiming unpaid tolls and threatening fines or suspended driving privileges. Authorities advise recipients not to click suspicious links or reply to these texts and to report them to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Residents in the Spokane, Washington region received fraudulent text and email messages claiming unpaid toll fees, a scam targeting people in an area with no tolls. One couple fell victim after the husband received a fake toll notice email following a red-light camera incident; he attempted payment with a credit card before the courthouse confirmed they do not send violation notices via email. Law enforcement and WSDOT warn the public not to respond to unsolicited toll payment messages and advise reporting such scams to local police or the FBI's internet complaint center.

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 77-year-old blind military veteran in Opelousas, Louisiana was financially exploited by his caregiver, Marvin Washington (63), who illegally collected the victim's $1,408-monthly VA benefits and accessed his financial account without authorization, resulting in the veteran being denied necessary rehabilitation care. Washington was charged with exploitation of the infirmed and access device fraud, while his wife Mary Washington was charged as an accessory after the fact; both suspects turned themselves in on March 10th. The article advises anyone suspecting veteran financial exploitation to report it to the VA Office of Inspector General at (800) 488-8244 and to contact local authorities and Adult Protective Services as

A woman in her 70s in Clark County, Washington lost over $500,000 in a gold coin scam after scammers impersonating law enforcement and federal agents convinced her that her social security number was compromised and her money needed to be safeguarded. The scheme operated over several months, ultimately tricking the victim into withdrawing funds and purchasing gold coins that were promised to be returned by an "undercover agent" but never were. Authorities are investigating whether this case is linked to a nearly identical scam in Portland, Oregon involving gold bars, as the pattern of official impersonation and asset protection claims appears consistent across both incidents.

An elderly woman in her 70s in Clark County, Washington was defrauded of over $500,000 in a sophisticated gold scam in which perpetrators impersonated Federal Office of Inspector General officials and convinced her that her social security number was compromised. The scammers pressured her to withdraw funds and purchase gold coins, which they claimed an "undercover agent" would safeguard and return, but the money was never returned. The Clark County Sheriff's Office is investigating this case alongside a similar incident in Portland, Oregon, and authorities believe the crimes may be linked.

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.

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, including Susan Collins, Rick Scott, and Mark Kelly, designated March 6, 2025 as "National Slam the Scam Day" to raise awareness about financial scams targeting older Americans. One in four people report being scammed, with elder fraud losses exceeding $10 billion in 2023 alone, prompting the senators to emphasize public education, vigilance, and reporting suspicious activities as key prevention strategies.