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Older adults in Modesto lost thousands of dollars to fraud in 2022, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting a 30% increase in fraud losses nationwide and 3,500 reported incidents in the county. Three prevalent scams targeting seniors locally are romance scams (exploiting social isolation), banking scams (where fraudsters pose as bank IT to gain phone access), and solar scams (linked to the unregulated PACE program). The average loss for victims age 80 and over is $1,500, more than six times the average loss for younger victims, with scammers specifically targeting vulnerable populations including the recently widowed, lonely, or isolated.

In 2023, Wyoming residents and companies lost $13.7 million to scams, with investment fraud being the costliest at $5.7 million, followed by business email compromise ($2.3 million) and data breaches ($1.5 million), according to the CyberWyoming Alliance's annual report. Extortion, tech support, and non-payment scams affected the most victims, while impersonation of companies like PayPal, Geek Squad, and Kohl's and spoofing of individuals were common tactics. The report recommends that business leaders educate employees to verify unusual requests through alternative channels before acting on them.

A Spring Hill, Florida couple, Wendy and Samuel Bunner, defrauded an elderly Berkeley County man with dementia of over $1.9 million by fraudulently obtaining cashier's checks, emptying bank and investment accounts, and opening credit cards in his name. The couple used the stolen funds to purchase homes, vehicles, campers, and consumer goods for their personal benefit, with Wendy pleading guilty to money laundering and Samuel previously pleading guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft; they face up to 10 and 30 years in prison respectively.

This is an educational piece warning Medicare beneficiaries about phone scams falsely claiming to represent Medicare and offering new plastic cards with chips. The article advises that legitimate Medicare will never call requesting personal information, recommends using a safety script to refuse unsolicited callers, and directs fraud victims to report scams to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 877-808-2468.

Heritage Village Assisted Living in Mesa was sued by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes for abuse and consumer fraud, with allegations that owners Gary Langendoen and Matthew Arnold falsely marketed the facility as capable of providing specialized care while consistently understaffing it and failing to provide proper physician evaluations for vulnerable residents. The facility's license was revoked by the Arizona Department of Health Services in January 2024 due to repeated violations, and the attorney general requested that the court appoint a receiver to take over operations and remove the owners from control to protect the approximately 150 residents, including many who are bedbound.

This is a community announcement listing local senior services and events in the Mahoning County, Ohio area. Highlights include free AARP tax preparation for seniors, a P.E.R.I. meeting featuring a presentation on preventing healthcare fraud and medical identity theft, meal programs, job training opportunities for low-income seniors age 55+, and various social and recreational activities. No specific fraud incidents or financial losses are reported.

Shannon and Kit Abell are retired professionals in Roanoke County, Virginia who volunteer as fraud prevention educators through the Triad program, a partnership between AARP, law enforcement, and community groups designed to reduce crime against older adults. Shannon delivered 52 fraud prevention presentations in 2023 covering scams such as romance fraud, identity theft, and grandparent scams, while the Triad program has expanded from over 200 Virginia locations at its peak to 59 chapters, with AARP and state officials working to revitalize participation. The program emphasizes peer-to-peer education and local law enforcement involvement to build community trust and help victims connect with appropriate resources.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell established a new Elder Justice Unit to combat the frequent and pervasive fraud targeting older residents, with director Mary Freeley coordinating resources across multiple bureaus to enhance prosecution and education. In 2023, Massachusetts consumers reported over 87,000 fraud cases resulting in $142.3 million in losses, though experts note significant underreporting due to shame and lack of awareness. Common scams include impostor fraud targeting bank and government agency impersonation, grandparent scams, and cryptocurrency schemes, with prevention experts recommending victims slow down and avoid emotional reactions that bypass logical thinking.

Seniors on Medicare are being targeted by "phantom billing" scams in which fraudulent health care providers and medical equipment companies submit unauthorized charges—such as urinary catheters—to Medicare accounts. Cases documented include Ann Midkiff of Indianapolis who was billed over $3,000 for catheters she never requested, and the scam has grown dramatically, with catheter charges jumping from affecting 40,000 patients in 2021 to over 450,000 by 2023. Experts recommend seniors regularly review their Medicare statements and immediately report suspicious charges by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, as such fraud costs the Medicare system approximately $60 billion annually.

Medicare scams involve fraudsters impersonating government representatives to trick older Americans into providing personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers, and bank account details. Common schemes include false refund offers, free medical equipment promotions, and new card notifications, with government impersonation fraud losses exceeding $136 million in 2022 alone. To protect themselves, Medicare enrollees should verify caller identity through official channels and never provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited contacts.

AARP South Carolina is launching a fraud prevention education initiative to help members protect themselves from financial exploitation. The organization offers resources on preventing elder abuse, identifying Medicare and veterans scams, and evaluating suspicious calls at aarp.org/scfraud, along with a series of upcoming fraud prevention events featuring former prosecutor Paul Greenwood, who specializes in elder fraud cases.

Social Security scams targeting the 68 million American beneficiaries use five common tactics: impersonating SSA officials to steal personal information, falsely claiming benefits have been suspended, alleging overpayment and threatening legal action, promising automatic benefit increases that require activation, and offering fraudulent investment schemes to multiply benefits. The Social Security Administration advises recognizing scams by the four "P"s—scammers pretend to be official, present problems or prizes, pressure immediate action, and request specific payment methods—and remembers that SSA will never threaten arrest, demand personal information to activate benefits, or pressure immediate payment.

Yolanda Brooks, a 52-year-old Medicaid Supervisor in Indianapolis, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for stealing approximately $920,148.51 in checks intended for healthcare reimbursements. Between March 2018 and July 2021, Brooks deposited roughly 486 checks into two personal bank accounts opened under her maiden name, falsely representing herself as authorized to negotiate them, and spent the stolen funds on personal expenses including shopping, gambling, and vacations. The court ordered Brooks to pay full restitution of $920,148.51 and serve three years of supervised release following her prison term.

This is a community newsletter from Grant City, Missouri, not an article about elder fraud. The only fraud-related content is a brief announcement that the Young at Heart organization is holding an educational meeting on April 18 at 10 a.m. to help attendees detect, prevent, and report Medicare fraud, identity theft, and other scams. The remainder of the newsletter discusses weather, local events, and social activities.

This educational article discusses aging in place and the rising threat of elder fraud, reporting that seniors age 60+ filed 88,262 fraud complaints in 2022 resulting in $3.1 billion in losses—an 82% increase from 2021. Scammers target older adults due to accumulated savings, daytime availability, lower tech literacy, and potential cognitive vulnerabilities, with the five most common scams being government imposter schemes (Medicare, IRS, Social Security), sweepstakes/lottery fraud, phishing/vishing/smishing, tech support scams, and grandparent scams. The article emphasizes that seniors may underreport scams due to fears

This educational article identifies five common Medicare scams targeting seniors: unsolicited contact from fake Medicare representatives, false claims that Medicare plans have been canceled, offers of free products or services not covered by Medicare, requests to replace or activate Medicare cards, and pressure to switch to alternative plans during enrollment periods. The article advises seniors to verify information independently through Medicare.gov, never respond to unsolicited contact, protect personal information like Medicare and Social Security numbers, and call Medicare directly with questions rather than trusting solicitors.

The Senior LinkAge Line® offered two educational classes on May 8, 2024, teaching older adults how to detect, prevent, and report healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse. Participants learned to identify potential Medicare scams, protect their beneficiary numbers, and review suspicious Medicare paperwork through online instruction via Microsoft Teams.

A Miami home healthcare worker, Dahamara Cuervo Alonso, 48, was charged with grand theft, exploitation of the elderly, and organized fraud after fraudulently transferring an 86-year-old woman's condominium to herself through deceptive document signing. Cuervo Alonso exploited her position as caregiver to vulnerable clients—an elderly woman with cognitive impairment and her disabled son who spoke only Spanish—by having them sign English-language documents they could not read under the pretense of verifying work hours, ultimately stealing the home they both owned and relied on for their future security. The fraud was discovered when the son saw a YouTube video about

Linda Laird, 59, and her father James Blizzard, 80, of Cordova, Maryland, were indicted on charges including Social Security fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and financial exploitation of an elderly person. Beginning in November 2017, the defendants fraudulently obtained guardianship and conservatorship of an 81-year-old cognitively impaired nursing home resident, then diverted over $21,000 in Social Security benefits and $85,000 from the victim's bank account for their personal use instead of applying the funds toward her care. Both defendants were released pending trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The Senior Medicare Patrol warns that Medicare scams are increasing, with fraudsters exploiting beneficiaries' failure to review account statements by charging for unrequested items like urinary catheters, diabetes supplies, and COVID-19 test kits. To protect themselves, Medicare beneficiaries should carefully review their monthly Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) or Explanations of Benefits (EOB), treat their Medicare card like a credit card, and report suspected fraud to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468 or 855-613-7080. Medicare will never contact beneficiaries unsolicited by phone to issue new cards or other services.

Healthcare providers paid nearly $2 billion to resolve False Claims Act allegations in 2023, marking a historic annual record with 543 settlements and judgments involving federal investigations. The Department of Justice is intensifying efforts to investigate elder abuse and fraud in nursing homes, particularly targeting facilities providing substandard care and engaging in fraudulent billing practices, with notable cases including a $7.1 million settlement against a New York nursing home for worthless services and safety violations. Federal agencies are expanding enforcement actions across long-term care and Medicare Advantage plans, signaling that investigations and recoveries are likely to increase significantly in coming years.

Scammers are using caller ID spoofing to impersonate Medicare, Social Security, and doctors' offices in order to steal seniors' personal and medical identity information. The New York StateWide Senior Action Council highlighted this as its April Medicare Fraud of the Month, recommending seniors hang up on unexpected calls, verify caller identity through trusted numbers, never share personal information with unsolicited callers, and regularly review Medicare statements for suspicious claims. Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion nationally per year.

A 69-year-old Billings resident received a fraudulent Medicare impersonation call from someone claiming to be with Medicare who possessed his personal information including date of birth and address. The scammer was exposed when the caller provided an incorrect date for when Kunnemann received his Medicare card, prompting him to verify with the legitimate Medicare hotline and confirm it was a scam. Kunnemann's warning emphasizes that Medicare and other government agencies will not initiate calls requesting personal information unless the agency has been breached or the recipient contacted them first.

Congressman Raul Ruiz, in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, hosted a Senior Fraud Workshop on April 24, 2024, in El Centro, California to educate seniors about recognizing and avoiding scams. The workshop covered identity theft, Medicare fraud, and other schemes targeting seniors, with experts providing practical advice on warning signs and steps for reporting suspected fraud to law enforcement.

**Summary:** A free educational program titled "Medicare 101" is being offered on April 25 at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville, hosted by certified counselor John Chicoine. The presentation covers Medicare basics, supplements, Advantage plans, prescription plans, and includes information about Medicare scams to help those approaching Medicare age navigate their options.

Scammers are impersonating Medicare and conducting a growing phone scam targeting Medicare beneficiaries, falsely claiming to issue new cards and requesting verification of Medicare numbers and personal information. Victims report receiving numerous unsolicited calls daily, with scammers using professional tactics and detailed personal information to build trust. Medicare clarifies that it does not call beneficiaries, already has their information, and completed distribution of new Medicare cards by January 2019; the public should report suspected fraud to the California Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-855-613-7080.

Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz is hosting a senior fraud awareness workshop on Wednesday in El Centro with representatives from the Federal Trade Commission, Social Security Administration, IRS, and Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program. The workshop will educate seniors on recognizing and avoiding common scams including identity theft and Medicare fraud, while providing guidance on steps to take if they suspect they are victims of fraud.

Aging services agencies in Montana are warning Medicare enrollees about a scam where fraudsters pose as government officials and offer free medical equipment (such as catheters) in exchange for Medicare numbers, which are then used to commit identity theft and fraud. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General reports that scammers contact victims via phone, email, or social media claiming to represent Medicare or state health departments, requesting personal information under false pretenses like settling debts or providing grants. Medicare beneficiaries are advised to hang up immediately on unsolicited offers of free equipment, never provide their Medicare number to callers, review Explanation of Benefits statements, and report suspected fraud to the H

Lawrence Montgomery, Jr. pleaded guilty to exploiting his 77-year-old mother, Ruth Montgomery, who had Alzheimer's disease, by diverting her social security checks to himself over five months (October 2019–February 2020) while she was in a nursing home, putting her at risk of discharge. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation, ordered to pay restitution, and barred from serving as a guardian or power of attorney. Georgia's Attorney General emphasized that protecting seniors from family-member exploitation remains a priority and noted that the state's Medicaid Fraud Division has secured 90 convictions for elder abuse and fraud since 2019.

Federal and Montana aging services are warning Medicare enrollees of a scam where fraudsters impersonate government officials and offer free medical equipment or services in exchange for Medicare numbers. Scammers use phone calls, emails, and social media to solicit personal, medical, and financial information, which they then use to steal money or commit identity fraud. Victims are advised to hang up immediately if offered free medical equipment in exchange for their Medicare number and to report suspected fraud to the HHS OIG Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.

Organizations in Montana are warning of increased scams targeting Medicare enrollees, where fraudsters solicit victims' Medicare numbers by offering free services, gift cards, or medical equipment. Scammers then use stolen numbers to bill Medicare fraudulently before disappearing. Montana's Senior Medicare Patrol advises Medicare recipients to never share their numbers with unknown callers and to regularly review their Medicare summary notices for unrecognized providers or services.

Fraud losses reached a record $10 billion in 2023, representing a 317% increase from $2.4 billion in 2019, with seniors frequently targeted through phone, email, mail, and in-person scams. AARP recommends seniors protect themselves by placing credit freezes with all three major credit bureaus using their social security number, birth date, and past addresses, and recording their PIN for future reference. Those who suspect fraud can contact the Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360 to report incidents.

The Association of Health Care Journalists reported that elder scams have become increasingly sophisticated through artificial intelligence, making them harder to distinguish from legitimate interactions. The AARP Fraud Watch Network received nearly 100,000 calls in 2023, and the National Council on Aging documented 88,000 fraud victims age 60+ in 2022 alone, losing $3.1 billion collectively. Common schemes include the grandparent scam (impersonation requesting wire transfers), romance scams (nearly 70,000 reported in 2022 with $1.3 billion in losses), government impersonation, tech support fraud, and voice recording scams, with

Congressman Raul Ruiz held a senior fraud awareness seminar in El Centro after his own mother nearly fell victim to a "grandparent scam" in which a scammer impersonated a relative in Mexico requesting $5,000 for bail. The event highlighted that fraud is a national epidemic affecting seniors, with Ruiz noting that 198 fraudulent cases were reported in the prior year (likely representing only a fraction of actual incidents due to underreporting caused by embarrassment and fear), and emphasized the importance of reporting scams to law enforcement and sharing fraud prevention information within communities.

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is warning Medicare enrollees of increasing scams where fraudsters offer free services, medical equipment, or gift cards in exchange for Medicare numbers to commit fraud. Aging Services agencies advise Medicare beneficiaries to never share their Medicare number unsolicited, carefully review their Medicare statements for discrepancies, and hang up immediately on suspicious offers, as compromised information can be used in multiple fraudulent schemes.

Criminologist David Maimon's research team at Georgia State University has documented extensive criminal activity on the dark web, where organized groups anonymously buy and sell stolen personal information, forged checks, and hacked financial accounts at minimal prices. The research reveals that stolen personal identification data is often more valuable to criminals than cash itself, as it enables them to open fraudulent bank accounts, obtain fake documents, and commit various financial crimes. Dark web criminals also engage in romance scams, mail theft using stolen postal keys, and bank fraud, operating through sophisticated networks that steal billions of dollars annually.

The Senior LinkAge Line offered two educational classes on May 8 covering health care fraud, waste, and abuse prevention for older adults. Attendees learned to detect and report Medicare fraud and scams, protect their Medicare beneficiary numbers, and review their Medicare paperwork, with instruction provided by the Senior Medicare Patrol federal education program.

The FBI issued a warning to Houston residents about a hospice care scam in which fraudsters illegally enroll seniors in Medicare's $22 billion hospice program without their knowledge or consent, then bill insurance thousands or tens of thousands of dollars before victims realize what happened. The scam involves doctors, recruiters, and company employees working together, and can prevent victims from accessing end-of-life care with providers of their choice when they actually need it. The FBI recommends residents avoid sharing personal information with strangers, hang up suspicious calls, and report them to authorities; meanwhile, Medicare has increased oversight in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas, and recently convicted a California hospice company owner who

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is warning Medicare enrollees of a rising scam in which fraudsters offer free services, medical equipment, or gift cards in exchange for sensitive Medicare numbers to commit fraud. The Statewide Senior Medicare Patrol Program advises recipients never to share their Medicare numbers with unsolicited callers and to hang up immediately if approached with such offers.

Medicare beneficiaries in Missoula are being warned of a rising genetic testing scam where fraudsters pose as representatives offering free DNA and cancer screenings, then use victims' Medicare numbers to file unauthorized claims that appear on Medicare statements. Senior Medicare Patrol advises beneficiaries to consult their own doctors rather than unknown phone contacts, carefully review Medicare statements for suspicious service codes like "gene analysis" or "molecular pathology," and report suspicious requests for health information to their local Senior Medicare Patrol office.

Jeremy Cook, a security officer with Exchange Bank, presented information on financial fraud prevention to seniors at the Jones County Senior Center on April 17, covering common scams including government imposter, grandparent, charity, romance, and technical support scams. Cook advised attendees to ignore unknown callers, never share personal information or send wire transfers, verify charities before donating, and conduct transactions in person when possible, while noting that romance scams alone generated $2.1 billion nationally in 2022. The presentation materials were designed for distribution at churches and other community venues to raise awareness among seniors about financial security threats.

A Florida woman received an unsolicited genetic testing kit with her Medicare information and was contacted by someone claiming to represent the lab offering "free" testing covered by Medicare—a common healthcare fraud scheme. Scammers target seniors at public venues and through mail to obtain Medicare numbers for identity theft and fraudulent billing, with false claims sometimes reaching thousands of dollars; Medicare only covers genetic testing when ordered by a patient's physician and deemed medically necessary. Victims are protected from liability if investigations confirm their non-participation, with the burden shifting to the fraudulent provider instead.

This AARP educational article outlines three major scams targeting homeowners and consumers, particularly older adults: contractor fraud involving upfront payment demands and shoddy work; digital package delivery scams using fake text messages from shipping companies to steal personal information and payment details (which cost Americans $330 million in 2022); and Medicare scams including false billing for unreceived services, fraudulent "free" product offers, and genetic testing schemes designed to obtain Medicare numbers. The article recommends getting multiple contractor estimates, avoiding upfront payments, ignoring unsolicited messages, verifying package issues directly with retailers, and carefully reviewing Medicare statements while protecting Medicare numbers from unauthorized parties.

**Summary:** Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (June 3-9) educates beneficiaries, caregivers, and families on how to prevent fraud that costs Medicare beneficiaries their medical identity, time, and stress. Common Medicare fraud schemes include charging for services not provided, misrepresenting diagnoses, and prescribing unnecessary tests, which can be prevented by opening and reading Medicare statements, reporting suspected fraud to the NY Senior Medicare Patrol (1-800-333-4374), and detecting unrecognized providers or services. The New York Senior Medicare Patrol provides free resources including My Health Care Trackers and certified counselors to help Medicare beneficiaries and their support networks protect against fraud, errors

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nebraska identified an impersonation scam using U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr's name, image, and title in fraudulent emails requesting payment from victims; several concerned citizens reported receiving the emails, but no financial losses occurred. The office advises recipients to avoid opening attachments or sharing personal information, and to report such emails to the FBI Tip Line and FTC Fraud Line, noting that the U.S. Attorney's Office only collects money for court-ordered restitution in criminal cases.

Malachi Mullings, 31, from Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering and conspiracy related to a fraud network that defrauded over $4.5 million from victims through business email compromise attacks, romance scams, and healthcare benefits fraud, including $310,000 diverted from a state Medicaid program and $260,000 from romance scam victims. Mullings was part of a 10-person conspiracy that caused more than $11.1 million in total losses by targeting Medicare, Medicaid programs, private health insurers, and vulnerable individuals. FBI data shows elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023

Georgia resident Malachi Mullings received a 10-year prison sentence for laundering $4.5 million in proceeds from business email compromise (BEC) attacks targeting healthcare providers and romance scams targeting individuals, including numerous elderly victims, between 2019 and July 2021. Mullings used multiple bank accounts under his company name to conceal the fraud, purchasing luxury items including a Ferrari with stolen funds; one romance scam victim alone lost $260,000. He pleaded guilty to eight charges including money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a larger scheme involving nine other suspects across Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia that defrauded state Medicaid programs

Malachi Mullings was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through romance fraud scams and business email compromise schemes that targeted elderly victims and companies from 2019 to July 2021. Operating under the fake company name "The Mullings Group LLC," Mullings opened 20 bank accounts to conceal fraud proceeds, including $310,000 diverted from a state Medicaid program and $260,000 obtained from an elderly romance scam victim, which he used to purchase luxury items including a Ferrari. The case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice's Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force and involved investigation by

This is an educational awareness piece announcing a Medicare fraud prevention event scheduled for June 6 at the Pagosa Senior Center, presented by the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office and San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging. Medicare fraud costs the program an estimated $60 billion annually and has devastating impacts on beneficiaries, families, and caregivers through lost time, stress, and compromised medical identities. The article provides practical prevention advice for beneficiaries, caregivers, families, healthcare providers, and community members, including monitoring insurance statements, protecting Medicare numbers, reviewing statements for unauthorized medical equipment shipments, and reporting concerns to the Senior Medicare Patrol program.

**Summary:** AARP warns of three prevalent Medicare scams in 2024: false billing for services not rendered (such as diabetes treatments for non-diabetic patients), fraudulent "free product" offers that deliver cheap or no items, and free genetic testing schemes at health fairs designed to steal Medicare numbers. Consumers should protect themselves by carefully reviewing Medicare statements, never sharing their Medicare number with unsolicited callers, and reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.