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Two Nigerian nationals and a U.S. citizen were sentenced to federal prison for conducting inheritance scams, romance scams, and business email compromise schemes that defrauded victims of at least $3.5 million. Anthony Emeka Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, received 20 years in prison after conviction on 14 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering, while his co-conspirator Samuel Aniukwu, 50, was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges. The schemes involved using aliases to convince victims they had inheritances or build romantic relationships through social media before soliciting money transfers.

An elderly couple in Williamson County, Illinois lost $121,000 to an imposter scam in which fraudsters posing as PayPal representatives and federal agents convinced them their accounts were compromised and persuaded them to withdraw cash for "secure" federal custody. Three Chinese nationals have been arrested and charged with federal wire fraud for their roles in the conspiracy, which involved sending pictures of withdrawal slips and arranging cash pickups using code words. U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe warned southern Illinois residents about the prevalence of such scams, which typically begin with communications claiming suspicious account activity and escalate through threats about losing savings and retirement funds.

The U.S. Attorney's Office warned southern Illinois residents of imposter scams targeting older Americans, where criminals pose as PayPal representatives and fraudulent federal agents to convince victims their accounts are compromised, then pressure them to withdraw savings for "secure custody." Three Chinese nationals face federal wire fraud charges after an elderly couple in Williamson County lost $121,000 in the scam; the suspects were arrested in October when attempting to collect the cash from the victims' residence.

An elderly couple in Williamson County, Illinois lost $121,000 in an imposter scam where criminals posing as PayPal representatives and federal agents convinced them their accounts were compromised and persuaded them to withdraw cash for "secure" federal custody. Three Chinese nationals were arrested in October and face federal wire fraud charges after attempting to pick up the withdrawn funds at the couple's residence. U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe warned southern Illinois residents about the prevalence of imposter scams targeting seniors, which typically involve fraudsters impersonating legitimate companies or government officials to manipulate victims into draining their accounts.

An elderly couple in Williamson County, Illinois lost $121,000 to an imposter scam in which criminals posing as PayPal and federal agents convinced them their accounts were compromised and directed them to withdraw cash for "secure" deposit. Three Chinese nationals were arrested in October and now face federal wire fraud charges after attempting to collect the cash from the victims' home using code words provided by the scammers. The U.S. Attorney's Office reports a rising trend of such imposter scams targeting seniors in southern Illinois, where fraudsters use scare tactics and pressure victims to keep withdrawals secret from their banks.

Two Irish brothers, Patrick and Matthew McDonagh, were sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud targeting elderly homeowners across the United States. The scheme involved falsely claiming homes needed urgent repairs (roof holes, foundation damage) and pressuring victims to write checks; one Shoreline, Washington homeowner lost $435,000, while victims in Oregon, Illinois, and Bellevue lost an additional $798,000 combined. The defendants have agreed to pay over $1 million in restitution to their victims.

Irish brothers Patrick and Matthew McDonagh were sentenced to 18 months in prison for defrauding elderly homeowners across the country of over $400,000 through a roofing and foundation repair scam. The pair traveled nationally approaching elderly homeowners, falsely claiming urgent repairs were needed, then pressured victims into writing multiple checks for unnecessary or fake work; in one Shoreline case, they stole $435,000 from a single homeowner before the scheme was uncovered. The defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to pay over $1 million in restitution to victims in Washington, Oregon, and Illinois.

Patrick and Matthew McDonagh, two brothers from Co Fermanagh, were sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud against elderly homeowners across the United States. The brothers defrauded victims nationwide by falsely claiming homes needed urgent repairs (roof holes, foundation cracks, driveway work), extracting over $1 million total—including $435,000 from a single Shoreline homeowner through aggressive, daily demands for checks and wire transfers. They have agreed to pay restitution exceeding $1 million to victims in Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and other states.

Criminal organizations are conducting imposter scams targeting older Americans by posing as representatives from legitimate companies (like PayPal) and then connecting victims to fraudsters claiming to be federal agents who convince them to drain their bank accounts for "security." An elderly couple in Williamson County, Illinois lost $121,000 in such a scam before three Chinese nationals were arrested attempting to pick up the cash; the defendants face federal wire fraud charges.

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A woman in New Hope became the victim of a romance scam after sending her entire life savings ($20,000) via FedEx to an online boyfriend who did not actually exist. Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins highlighted this case while warning the public about multiple prevalent scams, including phone spoofing schemes impersonating the sheriff's office, utility companies, and government agencies, as well as employment, cryptocurrency, lottery, and tech support scams. Hawkins emphasized that scammers are sophisticated professionals and advised victims to hang up and call official numbers directly rather than staying on suspicious calls.

Pulaski Savings Bank was closed by Illinois regulators on January 17, 2025, with the FDIC serving as receiver and Millennium Bank assuming all deposits and assets. Depositors' full account balances have been transferred to Millennium Bank with no interruption to ATM cards, checks, or direct deposits, while borrowers should continue making loan payments as usual. The FDIC warns customers to beware of scams impersonating the bank or regulatory agencies seeking private information.

Three Chicago-area residents involved in a romance scam network that bilked victims of over $3.5 million were sentenced, with one receiving probation and two receiving 10 and 20-year prison sentences respectively. The case centered on 57-year-old Laura Kowal from Illinois, who sent nearly $2 million to a fraudulent online persona called "Frank Borg" over almost two years before her death; the scammers, based in West Africa, used the defendants as "money mules" to launder the stolen funds. The sentencing highlighted the growing use of accomplices to facilitate romance scams and the devastating impact on victims and their families.

In 2023, Illinoisians lost nearly $19 million to romance scams, in which criminals create fake online identities to build trust with victims and steal money or personal information. The FBI identifies common red flags including requests to move communication off dating platforms, rapid professions of love, requests for money, and canceled in-person meeting plans, and recommends victims go slow, verify identities independently, never send money to online-only contacts, and report suspected scams to law enforcement.

The FBI Springfield Field Office warns that romance scams—where criminals use fake online identities to exploit victims for money—remain prevalent, with Illinois residents losing nearly $19 million to these scams in 2023 and nationwide losses totaling $652.5 million. Warning signs include requests to move communication off-platform, premature declarations of love, claims of living far away, and requests for money or personal information. The FBI recommends moving relationships slowly, researching profiles, avoiding sharing personal details, and not sending money to people you haven't met in person.

This article announces upcoming educational and social events at Senior Services Plus in Alton, Illinois, rather than reporting on a fraud case. Senior Services Plus will host a free Consumer Fraud Panel on January 31, 2025, featuring speakers from the Illinois Attorney General's office and U.S. Attorney's office who will discuss common consumer scams and provide protective advice to older adults and community members. The organization is also hosting a Speed Connections social event on February 7, 2025, designed to foster friendships and connections among adults aged 55 and up.

Two Indian nationals were convicted in federal court for operating a massive money laundering scheme that defrauded victims across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana through "phantom hacker" scams between May and November 2023. Pranay Kumar Mamidi and Kishan Vinayak Patel posed as customer service representatives and fake law enforcement agents (impersonating Amazon, FTC, and DEA) to trick elderly and unsuspecting victims into converting their life savings to cash or gold bars for purported "investigations," with tens of millions of dollars laundered through their U.S.-based operation connected to a criminal network in India. Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison for each money

The Springfield FBI raised awareness about romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, noting that victims lost over $650 million nationally to such scams in 2023, with $19 million of those losses occurring in Illinois. A Clark County resident lost $30,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a woman online, and the FBI highlighted common red flags including requests for money, fake photos, quick professions of love, and false emergencies. The agency recommends victims stop contact immediately, never send money to online contacts they haven't met in person, and report incidents to FBI Springfield at 217-522-9675.

**Summary:** The FBI Springfield office warned the public about romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, noting that criminals use fake identities on dating websites and social media to establish trust with victims before exploiting them financially. Illinois residents lost nearly $19 million to romance scams in 2023, with nationwide losses totaling $652.5 million that year. The FBI provided warning signs including requests to move off dating platforms, quick professions of love, claims of overseas locations, and requests for money, urging people to take their time vetting potential online partners and report suspected scams immediately.

A 26-year-old Illinois man, Harmish Patel, is accused of defrauding an elderly couple from Rensselaer County by swindling them out of gold bullion between December 2023 and March 2024. Patel allegedly conspired with others to transport the stolen gold from New York to New Jersey across multiple trips. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Harmish Patel, 26, of Illinois was indicted for his role in a gold bullion scam targeting an elderly couple in Rensselaer County, New York. Between December 2023 and March 2024, Patel conspired with others to transport gold bullion obtained through fraud across state lines from New York to New Jersey on three separate occasions. Patel faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

Harmish Patel, 26, of Illinois was indicted for his role in a multi-state gold bullion scam targeting an elderly couple in Brunswick, New York, between December 2023 and March 2024. Patel allegedly conspired with others to transport fraudulently obtained gold bullion across state lines from New York to New Jersey on multiple occasions. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to launch sophisticated phishing and romance scams targeting university students, faculty, and staff, particularly around Valentine's Day. AI-generated deepfake videos, voice cloning, and realistic fake profiles make these scams harder to detect than traditional fraud, as attackers can now personalize messages by mimicking authentic university communications and creating convincing long-term online relationships. Universities face significant challenges in defending against these evolving threats, with particular vulnerability among international students, new students, and those with access to financial systems or sensitive data.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to regulate cryptocurrency ATMs, which have been used in scams targeting seniors and other vulnerable adults. The bill would limit new users to $2,000 daily or $10,000 over 14 days, require verbal customer service interaction for transactions over $500, and mandate refunds within 30 days of police reports; this legislation follows reports of at least $114 million in crypto ATM scam losses to the FTC in 2023, including a case where a 67-year-old man lost $7,000 to a jury duty scam.

Illinois drivers have been receiving phishing text messages falsely claiming to be from the Illinois Tollway, demanding payment for alleged toll evasion or unpaid tolls and threatening to report violators to the DMV. This scam has been targeting Illinois Tollway and I-Pass customers for nearly a year, with evolving message variations using different sender names and area codes. Authorities advise recipients not to click links or provide payment information, instead verifying claims directly through the official Illinois Tollway website, app, or customer service line, and reporting suspicious texts to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Multiple Chicago residents fell victim to a street-based charity donation scam between June 2024 and November 2024, where con artists used emotional stories (such as raising funeral funds or awareness for causes) to gain trust, then charged victims thousands of dollars through Apple Pay and other digital payment methods when they believed they were donating only small amounts. The Illinois attorney general's office received approximately 10 complaints about this scheme, though one victim, Eliazar Rodriguez, was charged $3,000 for a carpet purchase after believing he donated $15, and he eventually recovered his funds after disputing the charge with his bank.

State Representative Amy Elik and an Illinois Attorney General's Office expert are hosting a free senior fraud protection seminar on March 14, 2025, in Granite City to educate seniors on recognizing scams, stopping fraud attempts, and accessing the Attorney General's Senior Help Line. The educational event aims to equip vulnerable seniors with knowledge and resources to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes targeting older adults.

Illinois drivers have been receiving "smishing" scam text messages impersonating the Illinois Tollway, threatening toll evasion fees and demanding immediate payment to avoid increased costs and DMV reporting. The scam has persisted for over a year since spring 2024, with the FBI receiving over 60,000 complaints nationwide in 2024 alone, using various spoofed sender names and evolving to simply say "toll roads." Authorities advise recipients not to click links or provide payment information, verify legitimacy through official channels (illinoistollway.com, 800-824-7277, or the I-PASS app), and report suspicious texts to the FBI's Internet

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).

**Summary:** Bumble launched a biometric ID verification feature across 11 markets, including the US and UK, allowing users to verify their identity through government-issued IDs and selfies to combat romance scams on the platform. The optional feature provides a profile badge for verified users and includes a companion safety tool called "Share My Date" that enables users to share date details with trusted contacts; however, Bumble is simultaneously facing a $40 million class action lawsuit in Illinois over biometric privacy violations.

Candice Trees, a 71-year-old Illinois retiree, lost $12,000 in a romance scam after developing an online relationship with a man claiming to work abroad who eventually asked to borrow money. In 2024, over 71,000 Illinois consumers reported fraud cases totaling $318.1 million, prompting AARP Illinois to expand prevention efforts through monthly educational programs and advocacy for stricter cryptocurrency ATM regulations, as losses from crypto-related scams topped $65 million nationally in the first half of 2024 with seniors disproportionately affected.

Scammers are using fake text messages claiming unpaid tollway balances to steal personal and financial information through "smishing" (SMS phishing), with Illinois residents particularly targeted at rates higher than the national average. The fraudulent messages impersonate E-ZPass accounts and direct victims to fake websites; authorities warn consumers never to click links or reply to such messages, as the Illinois Tollway uses the I-PASS system instead. Americans lost 25% more money to fraud in the past year compared to 2023, with complaints in Illinois reaching 1,470 per 100,000 residents versus the national average of 1,215 per 100,000.

The Iowa Department of Transportation warned residents about a text message scam claiming recipients have unpaid tolls or registration fees. The scam targets people who may have traveled on toll roads in other states (like Illinois) and creates urgency by threatening consequences, but the Iowa DOT does not collect tolls and never sends collection notices via text. Recipients are advised not to click links or share personal information if they receive these fraudulent messages.

An 88-year-old Hingham, Massachusetts resident lost $15,500 in a phishing scam after receiving a fraudulent email impersonating the Federal Trade Commission. The scammers convinced her that her daughter was in financial trouble and instructed her to send a cashier's check to an address in Illinois, where it was cashed immediately. Police emphasize that awareness and education are the most effective prevention methods, recommending residents delete, block, or ignore suspicious communications.

A 2024 survey of over two million FTC and FCC complaints found Ohio leading the nation with 859 scam call and text complaints per 100,000 residents, followed by Illinois and Delaware. The study identified the top 10 states most targeted by phone scams, with common schemes including IRS fraud, Medicare scams, debt relief, and toll violations, possibly due to large population centers, favorable regulations, and high concentrations of seniors. The article advises screening calls, avoiding suspicious links, and considering identity theft protection services with credit monitoring and insurance coverage.

According to the FBI's 2023 Elder Fraud Report, elder financial exploitation victims lost an average of $33,915 each, with total losses exceeding $3.4 billion that year. Illinois State Senator Steve Stadelman introduced Senate Bill 1551, which would require investment advisors to report suspected elder financial exploitation to state agencies and allow them to delay account disbursements during investigations, while providing legal immunity for good-faith actions. The measure aims to give financial professionals the authority and protection needed to prevent seniors from losing their life savings to fraud.

In 2023, U.S. elders lost $3.4 billion to financial fraud, with complaints increasing from 20,000 in 2018 to 120,000 by 2023. Illinois State Senator Steve Stadelman introduced legislation that would empower financial and investment advisors to delay transactions when they suspect an elderly client is being defrauded, noting that perpetrators are often trusted individuals such as family members or caregivers. The bill is currently pending review on the Illinois Senate floor.

Employment scams are increasing as the job market becomes more competitive, with scammers exploiting job seekers through unsolicited messages offering work-from-home positions. In 2023, 810 people in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin reported employment scams resulting in $2.4 million in losses. Job seekers should be cautious of unsolicited offers, avoid clicking links or sharing personal information, proceed slowly through the hiring process, and look for verified badges on legitimate job postings.

Illinois Senate Bill 1551 passed the Senate 38-17, allowing financial advisors and qualified professionals to delay suspicious transactions and report suspected elder financial exploitation to state authorities while providing them liability protection if acting in good faith. The legislation aims to strengthen senior protections amid rising elder fraud, with the FBI reporting over $3.4 billion in losses to elder fraud victims in 2023 alone. The bill now moves to the Illinois House for consideration.

This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It describes a local Chamber of Commerce luncheon event in Herrin, Illinois, and contains no information about fraud, scams, elder abuse, or related topics.

FBI data reveals that scammers stole over $16.6 billion in 2023, a 33% increase despite heightened public awareness, with victims losing an average of $19,000 each. Adults over 60 were disproportionately targeted, filing the most complaints and losing the most money at $4.8 billion total (averaging $80,000 per victim), with investment scams, romance scams, and tech support scams being the leading fraud types.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Southern Illinois partnered with the Du Quoin Public Library to host a fraud prevention seminar educating seniors on common scams targeting them via phone, text, email, and online platforms, including schemes where fraudsters impersonate federal agents to extort money. Prosecutors from the Southern District of Illinois presented information on fraud schemes, federal cases, and tips for detecting scams, noting that local scammers have previously defrauded seniors in the region of substantial portions of their life savings.

**Title:** Older Adults Embracing AI Tools for Daily Living with Growing Educational Support Older adults across the country are increasingly using AI-powered tools such as voice assistants (Alexa, Siri, Google Home), chatbots (ChatGPT), and health wearables to simplify daily tasks, improve medication adherence, and support independent aging. Educational programs like AARP's Senior Planet and Michigan's GetSetUp offer free or low-cost classes to help seniors learn these technologies, with research showing that older adults respond positively to user-friendly AI applications for household control, health monitoring, and personal productivity, though experts recommend caution when using AI for medical

The U.S. Attorney's Office partnered with the Du Quoin Public Library to host a free fraud prevention seminar on May 15 aimed at educating seniors about the latest online and phone scams targeting them. The presentation covered online scams, fraud schemes specific to seniors, and federal prosecutions in Southern Illinois, while providing attendees with detection tips and guidance on contacting law enforcement if victimized.

The City of Aurora is hosting a free educational workshop on May 15 to help seniors, families, and caregivers identify and prevent scams, featuring presentations from local officials including Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser. According to the city, fraud targeting seniors is increasing, with older adults in Illinois losing nearly $76 million to fraud in 2023 alone.

Over 75 seniors and family members attended a Fraud and Scam Prevention Seminar in Chicago on May 6, presented by JPMorgan Chase, the Chicago Police Department, and Chicago Commons, to learn protective strategies against financial fraud targeting older Americans. Illinois residents lost over $324 million to scams in the previous year, with seniors remaining highly vulnerable, and the event educated participants on common tactics including romance fraud, fake IRS calls, tech support scams, and impersonation schemes using the "Four Ps" framework (Pretend, Problem/Prize, Payment, Pressure). Attendees received practical guidance on fraud prevention, including setting up account alerts, using unique passwords, enabling

Katie Walsh of the Cook County Sheriff's Office warned senior citizens about the "grandparent scam," in which callers impersonate distressed relatives claiming to need emergency money and demand secrecy to prevent rational intervention. Walsh identified multiple scam types targeting people of all ages—including IRS impersonation, romance scams, and fake charities—noting that seniors are vulnerable not due to lack of intelligence but because emotional manipulation disrupts rational thinking. She advised victims to hang up before sharing information, consult trusted contacts, report to police and the Federal Trade Commission, and contact Illinois Adult Protective Services if needed, while emphasizing that recovery options are limited.

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A St. Louis man, Alen Saric, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for his role in a vehicle sale scam that defrauded victims across four Illinois counties from 2018 to 2023 using fake cashier's checks to purchase vehicles on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, with the scheme totaling $1.7 million and involving the theft and resale of vehicles before victims discovered the fraud. The case highlights growing concerns about elder fraud, with financial institutions urging seniors to verify cashier's checks directly with banks, avoid acting under pressure, and consult trusted individuals before completing transactions with strangers online.

Illinois state representatives are preparing to vote on SB 2319, the Digital Asset Kiosk Act, which would establish protections against cryptocurrency ATM fraud. In 2024, crypto scams resulted in $5.7 billion in losses nationally, with adults in their 60s accounting for $1.18 billion of that theft; the proposed legislation would implement registration requirements, disclosures, and transaction limits to safeguard consumers from these schemes.