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Following severe storms and flooding across Indiana, scammers are targeting homeowners with fraudulent repair services, promising quick affordable fixes then disappearing after collecting down payments or delivering substandard work. The Indiana Attorney General's office advises vigilance and provides resources for reporting suspected scams through their website or hotline (1-800-382-5516).

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.

On April 10, 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana honored 22 federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals who demonstrated exceptional commitment to supporting crime victims and advocating for their rights and well-being. The ceremony recognized individuals across five categories—Federal Law Enforcement Victim Assistance, Victim Advocate, Assistant U.S. Attorney Victim Assistance, Support Professional Victim Assistance, and Community Partnership—for their compassionate work in guiding survivors through the criminal justice process and connecting them with critical resources.

Indiana State Police warned the public about text and email scams impersonating legitimate companies like PayPal, Geek Squad, and McAfee, where scammers attempt to trick recipients into calling back and divulging personal information or granting computer access. Sgt. Stephen Wheeles advises recipients of suspicious messages to verify the sender independently, research before responding, and look for red flags in supposedly legitimate communications.

Mary Ellen Strange, a retired nurse from Indiana, fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam in June 2024 where fraudsters posing as Amazon, FTC, and federal officials falsely accused her of money laundering, drug trafficking, and other federal crimes. The scammers convinced her to withdraw cash from her bank accounts under the guise of an "alternative dispute resolution" process, exploiting her fear of legal consequences and promises of eventual restitution. This case illustrates how sophisticated fraud schemes manipulate victims through authority impersonation and psychological manipulation, with the victim's story being shared as part of AARP's awareness campaign to encourage fraud victims to speak publicly about their

In June 2024, Mary Ellen Strange, a retired nurse from Indiana, fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam in which fraudsters posing as Amazon, FTC, and federal agents convinced her she faced serious federal crimes including money laundering and child pornography. The scammers used a fake "alternative dispute resolution" process to manipulate Strange into withdrawing large amounts of cash from her bank under the false premise that she would receive restitution and clearance letters from government officials. This case illustrates a common elder fraud tactic combining authority impersonation, fear-based manipulation, and false promises of resolution.

**Summary:** Scammers exploited compromised contractor accounts within Granicus's GovDelivery email system—used by U.S. federal and state governments to send official notifications—to send fraudulent emails impersonating government agencies in Indiana and New Mexico. The fake toll and payment scam emails, sent from official government addresses, contained malicious links directing recipients to phishing websites designed to steal personal and financial information. Granicus confirmed the breaches resulted from compromised user accounts rather than system vulnerabilities, but did not disclose the number of affected recipients.

Multiple states including Kansas, New Mexico, Missouri, and Oregon have warned residents about widespread text and email scams falsely claiming unpaid toll debts and threatening license suspension or legal action to pressure victims into revealing personal and financial information. Scammers are targeting states with no toll roads, and in Indiana's case, fraudulent emails posing as the state DOT requesting payment for TxTag balances were traced to a contractor's hacked account. Authorities recommend reporting suspected scam texts and emails to the Federal Trade Commission and Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Following weekend storms in Indiana, officials warn residents to watch for contractor scams targeting disaster recovery, where fraudsters pose as repair or cleanup services, collect down payments, and either disappear or deliver poor work. The Indiana Attorney General advises verifying contractor credentials, avoiding upfront full payments or payment via gift cards and cryptocurrency, and being cautious of FEMA impersonators requesting fees and donation fraud schemes. Suspected scams can be reported to the Indiana Consumer Protection Division at indianaconsumer.com or 800-382-5516.

Michigan residents are being targeted by text message scams falsely claiming they owe tolls through EZ-Pass or the DMV, with scammers directing victims to fraudulent links to steal credit card information. The Michigan Department of Transportation warns that these scams are not legitimate—MDOT operates no toll roads and never contacts residents via text or email about payments. Residents should avoid clicking links in suspicious toll-related messages and instead contact official agencies directly before making any payments.

Nirav B. Patel, a 44-year-old illegal immigrant from India, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in an imposter scam that defrauded elderly victims across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana of over $400,000. Patel served as a cash collector for the scheme, which involved fraudsters posing as federal agents and convincing elderly victims that their accounts were compromised, then pressuring them to withdraw life savings into fake government trust accounts; in one instance, he collected $177,000 in gold bars from an elderly woman using a walker at an assisted living facility. The scammers, based in India, use

Residents of South Bend, Indiana received fraudulent text messages impersonating the Indiana Department of Motor Vehicles, claiming unpaid traffic tickets and threatening vehicle registration suspension unless recipients clicked a link and paid a "fine" by June 6. The scam can be identified by several red flags: it comes from a suspicious email address, references nonexistent agencies ("Indiana Department of Vehicles" and "North Indiana State Administrative Code"), and promises an illegal 35% service fee. Police advise recipients not to click the link and note that legitimate DMV issues are handled through official mail, not text messages.

DMV text message scams, known as "smishing," are expanding across multiple states including Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, California, Michigan, and North Carolina, with earlier warnings issued in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. These fraudulent texts falsely claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets or outstanding bills and threaten consequences like vehicle registration loss, driving privilege suspension, or credit score damage unless they click a link and pay. The Federal Trade Commission advises recipients not to click links or respond, instead contacting their state DMV directly through official channels and reporting the messages to their wireless provider, the FTC, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

An Indian Master's student at Indiana University Bloomington lost $5,000 in gift cards to scammers impersonating ICE and police officers who threatened her with arrest and deportation over a three-hour phone call in May. The scammers used spoofed phone numbers, detailed personal information about her, and psychological manipulation to coerce her into purchasing Apple and Target gift cards before disappearing without following through on promised bond papers. The victim emphasized that legitimate government agencies never call directly or request gift cards, and she advised international students to hang up and contact a lawyer rather than comply with such demands.

This UITS News article is primarily an educational resource covering IT services and updates at Indiana University, with one fraud awareness component. The article includes tips for spotting scam emails and text messages that impersonate trusted sources and request personal information, alongside announcements about new Microsoft 365 AI tools, VPN upgrades, email domain changes, digital accessibility requirements, and various student and faculty programs.

Indiana's Secretary of State Diego Morales is warning elderly residents about financial scams and exploitation, particularly around World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. The Indiana Securities Division recommends protective measures including naming trusted contacts on accounts, shredding personal documents, and recognizing red flags like threats of arrest or demands for payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. Residents seeking fraud prevention education can contact the Secretary of State's Office at 317-232-6681.

Thousands of Minnesotans received fraudulent text messages impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles, threatening legal consequences and demanding payment for fictitious traffic violations. This scam, which has also affected residents in Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, puts victims at financial risk and creates anxiety about message authenticity. Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to take action against the widespread scheme.

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.

Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 to encourage vigilance against elder financial abuse, exploitation, and scams targeting vulnerable seniors. The Indiana Securities Division provides ongoing education through events at churches, retirement homes, and civic organizations, offering prevention strategies such as naming trusted contacts on accounts, shredding personal documents, and recognizing common scam tactics like threats of arrest or demands for payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency ATMs, or gift cards. The state partners with IN-CASE (Indiana Council Against Senior Exploitation) and encourages organizations to request fraud prevention presentations by calling 317-232-6681.

**Summary:** Medicare fraud costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $60 billion annually, with recent investigations uncovering widespread schemes including unordered genetic testing kits, phantom billing for medical equipment, and catheter scams affecting individuals across Indiana and beyond. Notable prosecutions include a North Carolina man laundering $3 million in a $100 million DME scam and two Texas residents charged with $359 million in fraudulent genetic testing claims. Seniors should protect themselves by never sharing Medicare numbers with unverified callers, monitoring billing statements for unauthorized charges, and reporting suspicious activity to Medicare, the Senior Medicare Patrol, or the HHS Fraud Hotline.

A nationwide DMV scam involves cybercriminals texting people claiming they owe fines for traffic violations or unpaid tolls, threatening license revocation or vehicle registration suspension to pressure victims into clicking malicious links or paying money. These phishing scams, reported in Indiana, Ohio, Maine, Texas, and other states, use official-sounding language, fake ordinance codes, and threats of jail time or credit score damage to create urgency, but legitimate DMVs typically only send texts that users have opted into and never request payment or personal information via text.

Michael Jerome Wright and Cortney Lashea Young of Princeton, Indiana, were sentenced to 12 and 2 years in federal prison, respectively, for operating a mail theft and identity fraud scheme in 2023-2024. The pair stole hundreds of checks totaling $1,857,460.91 in face value by illegally using arrow keys to open USPS collection boxes, and investigators also discovered dozens of stolen credit and debit cards, personal identifying information, and illegal firearms including a "ghost gun" with automatic capabilities in their apartment.

A 36-year-old Canadian citizen, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in July after a multi-state scam targeting elderly victims, with confirmed losses exceeding $309,000 across Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, and Tennessee. In the initial Charlestown, Kentucky case, an elderly resident was defrauded of $27,000 after being tricked into withdrawing funds from his retirement account; three additional elderly victims in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan were nearly victimized for an additional $70,000 before family members intervened. Liu was charged with theft, fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, and police believe there are

A 36-year-old Canadian man, Jia Liu, was arrested on July 2 at Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport for defrauding elderly people across multiple states. Liu targeted an elderly man in Charlestown who withdrew $27,000 from his retirement account in May, and investigators linked him to at least five additional victims in Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, and Tennessee, with total losses exceeding $309,000. Liu faces charges including theft, fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, and authorities are seeking additional victims who may be in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

A 36-year-old Canadian man, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested at Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport after police connected him to impersonation scams targeting seniors across multiple states including Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, and Tennessee. Liu allegedly defrauded victims of approximately $400,000 by posing as a Department of Treasury employee and convincing them to withdraw money from retirement accounts, with one documented victim losing $27,000. Police are continuing to identify additional victims and investigate co-conspirators believed to be in other countries.

A 36-year-old Canadian man, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested in July after conducting a multi-state door-to-door scam targeting seniors across Ohio, Indiana, New Mexico, and Tennessee, defrauding victims of an estimated $309,000 total. One Charlestown, Indiana resident was tricked into withdrawing $27,000 from his retirement accounts and handing it over in cash; three additional attempted scams in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan were prevented by family members, potentially saving another $70,000 in losses. Liu was apprehended at Louisville airport while attempting to flee the country and faces charges including theft, fraud, conspiracy, an

Joe Schulz, a New Jersey-based custom clothing manufacturer, received a suspicious order from a Dubai company for 200 coats and was targeted by an overpayment scam when they deposited a fraudulent check for $93,000 instead of the $14,000 owed, then requested he wire back the $79,000 difference. Schulz avoided the scam by investigating the check's origin, discovering it was fraudulently drawn on a legitimate Indiana construction company's account, and immediately contacting his bank to freeze his account. The incident illustrates how fake checks can appear legitimate and clear quickly, but may take weeks for banks to detect as fraudulent.

Phishing scams work by impersonating trusted brands (most commonly Microsoft, Google, Apple, Spotify, and Adobe) through fake websites and mass emails designed to trick users into clicking malicious links and revealing personal information. To protect yourself, hover over links to verify the actual URL before clicking, contact companies directly using verified contact information if suspicious, and use unique passwords for each account so compromised credentials cannot be used across multiple sites.

Impersonation scams targeting older adults have surged dramatically, with the FTC reporting a four-fold increase in reports of losses exceeding $10,000 and an eight-fold increase in losses over $100,000 (from $55 million in 2020 to $445 million in 2024), totaling nearly $5 billion in fraud losses in 2024. Common scam tactics include fake security alerts impersonating banks, government agencies, and tech companies like Microsoft and Apple, as well as fraudsters posing as FTC officials directing victims to Bitcoin ATMs or cash couriers. Arizona, Indiana, and Nevada reported the highest fraud complaint rates among

Romance scams caused record losses of $547 million in 2021, affecting victims across all intelligence levels. The article advises families to establish safeguards such as adding trusted contacts to accounts—which allows banks to alert designated individuals of suspicious activity—or establishing power of attorney to enable decision-making authority, though these measures cannot prevent determined victims from sending money to scammers.

A 70-year-old Port Richey man lost $47,000 in a romance scam after befriending someone on Facebook who posed as an interior decorator and used AI-generated video chats to build trust before requesting money for supposed work in Australia. The victim wired funds through multiple methods including Bitcoin before reporting the scheme to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, which traced the account to Nigeria. Law enforcement warns that romance scams targeting vulnerable older adults are increasing, with money sent via wire transfer or cryptocurrency being nearly impossible to recover.

Three men were sentenced to federal prison for stealing $520,910 in pandemic unemployment benefits between August and October 2020 through a scheme involving stolen debit cards and fraudulent unemployment claims. Kamaldeen Karaole, Stephen Olamigoke, and Johnson Omodusonu obtained 168 UI debit cards issued by California, Arizona, and Nevada using stolen personally identifiable information, then made 529 ATM withdrawals in Indianapolis to steal funds intended for workers unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each defendant received sentences ranging from 2 to 4.25 years in prison and was ordered to pay full restitution of $520,910.

Regene Newman, 59, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 1.5 years in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing over $125,000 from public institutions and nonprofits over seven years while serving in positions of trust as Director of Finance for the Prosecutor's Office and later as Business Director for Community Corrections. She made unauthorized purchases totaling approximately $121,063 across multiple accounts (including at retailers like Sephora, Target, and Macy's) and concealed the theft through fraudulent donation vouchers; she has already paid $101,133.55 in restitution to victims. The funds were intended to support at-risk youth programs an

A Caring.com report found that Indiana has the second-highest rate of senior fraud in the nation, with 76.9 complaints per 100,000 residents among people over 60, who collectively lost $4.8 billion to fraud nationally. Indiana experienced a 240% increase in fraud cases against older adults over three years, attributed partly to the state's growing elderly population projected to reach 20.1% by 2030. The report recommends seniors and families guard against pressure tactics, tech support scams (the most common type with over 17,000 cases in 2023), and cryptocurrency fraud schemes.

Indiana ranks second nationally for senior fraud complaints at 76.9 per 100,000 residents, with seniors age 60+ losing $4.8 billion to fraud nationwide in 2023. The state experienced a sharp 240% increase in elderly fraud complaints over three years, driven partly by its growing senior population expected to exceed 20% by 2030. The most common scams involved tech support impersonation, while cryptocurrency fraud proved most costly, with victims averaging losses exceeding $108,000 per case.

Indiana State Police report a surge in fraud cases involving Facebook Marketplace and investment scams, warning the public against sending money via digital payment services or wire transfers to unseen sellers or remote contacts. Authorities recommend verifying sellers through in-person meetings, avoiding remote computer access requests, and refusing to share banking information, noting that spoofed phone numbers and unrealistically low prices are common red flags for scams.

In 2024, the FBI recorded 147,127 scam reports involving Americans age 60 and over, resulting in nearly $5 billion in stolen funds. Arizona had the highest rate of fraud complaints among seniors (88.3 per 100,000 people age 60+), followed by Indiana and Nevada, with imposter scams and tech support scams being the most common types. Experts note that seniors should be alert to unsolicited contacts, unusual payment methods, and pressure to act urgently, as scam attempts and underreporting vary significantly by state.

Eight members of a transnational money laundering conspiracy, seven Indian nationals and one Ohio resident, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 2 to 6 years for laundering proceeds from "phantom hacker" fraud schemes that victimized residents across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana between May and November 2023. The scam involved fraudsters falsely claiming victims' accounts were compromised, then impersonating law enforcement to pressure victims into transferring their life savings under the guise of account protection. The eight defendants were ordered to pay nearly $4 million in restitution to victims who lost their life savings.

Eight individuals were sentenced to federal prison for operating an international "phantom hacker" scam that defrauded victims across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana of tens of millions of dollars between May and November 2023. The conspirators posed as company officials and law enforcement agents to convince victims their financial accounts were compromised, then persuaded them to withdraw cash or gold bars for alleged safekeeping, which was then distributed among the scammers. The defendants were ordered to pay nearly $4 million in restitution, with sentences ranging from 24 to 72 months in prison.

Eight defendants, all Indian nationals except one Ohio resident, were prosecuted for operating a transnational money laundering conspiracy that defrauded victims across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana of their life savings between May and November 2023. The scheme involved "phantom hacker" scams where fraudsters falsely claimed victims' accounts were compromised, then impersonated law enforcement to pressure victims into transferring funds for supposed "protection," resulting in nearly $4 million in restitution ordered and prison sentences ranging from 2 to 6 years. The last defendant, Kishan Vinayak Patel, 26, received a 46-month sentence after conviction on money

A 36-year-old Canadian man, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested in July at a Louisville airport after defrauding seniors across multiple U.S. states of approximately $309,000 through in-person and attempted scams. Liu targeted vulnerable seniors by convincing them to withdraw cash, with one Charlestown, Massachusetts resident losing $27,000; family members prevented an additional $70,000 in losses by intervening in other attempts. The article notes that seniors are particularly vulnerable to fraud due to factors including significant savings, lower familiarity with digital scams, cognitive decline, and social isolation, with 2024 Canadian fraud losses alone exceeding $638

Dekoda Scott Clark, a 32-year-old bank employee in Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison for stealing approximately $158,208.53 from customer accounts between January 2023 and March 2024. Clark exploited his position as a Relationship Banker to make unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling $142,500 from three individuals and create fraudulent debit cards linked to seven victims' accounts, using them to purchase high-value technology items and other goods. He must pay full restitution of $158,208.53 to the bank.

This article does not relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse and is therefore outside the scope of the Elderus database. The press release concerns immigration law enforcement and a domestic abuser's illegal reentry into the United States, not fraudulent activity targeting or affecting seniors.